STORY 2018 is an immersive, two-day conference-style gathering designed to inspire, challenge and equip artists, creators and storytellers who work in a variety of industries.
Sep. 20-21, 2018
Nashville, TN
Join Storytellers from Organizations Like:
Chick-fil-A
Disney
Gates Foundation
Hasbro
IBM
IJM
Intel
ISL
NatGeo
Publix
Saddleback Church
Global Leadership Summit
The STORY 2018 Theme
At STORY 2018 we’ll be hosting a conversation about the role of wonder in the creative process and the stories that we tell. Come replace your cynicism with possibility as wonder is reawakened, and you discover a new-found appreciation of your madness as a storyteller. Bring your team, and together, begin to re-imagine what could be.
You're entirely bonkers, but the good news is, all the best ones are.
Part Instruction. Part Inspiration.
STORY is an event where you’ll be stretched by innovative talks and unique performances in an immersive, transformational atmosphere. Bring your team to regroup and redefine your process as you set out to push past your organizational goals. Or come to discover a supportive community of forward-thinkers and visionaries to champion you as you set out on creative endeavors. Join us at what many call the "TED for Creatives".
The Atmosphere
STORY 2018 will be at the beautiful Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN. While the theater is beautiful, the entire building will be completely transformed into a space filled with adventure and wonder in every hallway and through every door so that you can be immersed into a world of possibility.
What is STORY?
What to Expect
Gain Inspiration
Experience immersive experiences and innovates talks in a transformative atmosphere that spark creative ideas.
Acquire Access
Leave equipped with the training and tools you need in order to take the next steps in the creative process that your STORY experience inspired.
Get Connected
Leave feeling empowered to succeed with new connections and community, championed by a likeminded tribe of storytellers from a variety of industries.
Find New Meaning
Find new meaning and significance in your creative work due to the impact of your stories on the future of our world.
Invest in yourself and your work
Speakers
Don Hahn
Don Hahn is producer of the worldwide phenomenon The Lion King and the classic Beauty and the Beast, the first animated film nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. He also Executive Produced this past year’s blockbuster Beauty and the Beast starring Emma Watson and is producing the upcoming live action version of The Lion King, starring everyone important (kidding, kind of).
Along with producing, Don has directed projects, founded companies, written books, and even sits on the board of PBS. We’ve already gotten to learn from Don during a STORY University event, and you guys better get ready to laugh a lot, take a ton of notes and be in awe of his wealth of knowledge.
Don Hahn
Legendary Producer of The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast
Ruth Carter
Ruth’s unparalleled ability to develop an authentic story through costume and character has made her one of the most sought after and renowned costume designers today. She has garnered two Academy Award nominations for “Best Costume Design” for Malcolm X and Amistad. In her 30 years in film, Ruth has made her career putting images of African-American history and contemporary culture onscreen, and the Afrofuturistic designs for Black Panther are no different. We’re so excited to hear about her vision, creative process, and how she helped create a world awake with possibility.
Ruth Carter
Costume Designer for Black Panther, Selma, Malcolm X & More
Brad Montague
The STORY team spent the better part of 2017 traveling the country with Brad Montague sharing the Wonder Workshop to sold out rooms filled with storytellers. We couldn't spend two days in Wonderland without him. He is a writer and director on a mission to create things for kids and former kids. He is the creator of the hit web series "Kid President”, in partnership with Rainn Wilson’s Soul Pancake. He’s also the author of the New York Times bestseller Kid President's Guide to Being Awesome and is a popular online storyteller whose stories of birds, balloons, and floating people have become friends of classrooms all over the world. He’s become part of the STORY family and we’re so glad that he’s back to share some whimsy and wonder on the main stage, and during The Wonder Workshop on the Wednesday before!
Brad Montague
Creative Genius behind Socktober, Kid President, and Founder of Montague Workshop
Abby Fuller
If you haven’t seen an episode of Chef’s Table, then you’ve heard about it. But what is so special about this show about food that is capturing so much attention? And what could we as storytellers of all kinds learn from it? We can’t wait to hear all about it from the only female director on the Emmy-nominated show that is now in its fourth season on Netflix. Not only has she awakened wonder through her work on Chef’s Table, she has directed, produced and edited documentaries for Ron Howard / Imagine Ent., Sundance Channel, Food Network, AOL Originals, Google, Amazon and National Geographic that have shifted the cultural narratives on various subjects. We're ecstatic to see what kind of wonder she sparks for us.
Abby Fuller
Director of Chef's Table, Storyteller and Activist
Kevin Carroll
Who did Nike call when they were needing a creative boost in their company? Kevin Carroll. Kevin was instrumental in bringing innovation and storytelling to life at Nike during his time there. Author of multiple books, including one of our favorites around the STORY offices, Little Red Rubber Ball, Kevin has been a dream speaker of ours for years now. He brings a playful curiosity, an avid intellect, a keen understanding of human nature, a lifelong love of competition and a "dash" of inspiration impresario to all of his creative endeavors. He sees humanistic potential and possibilities everywhere. And he’s sure to bring a ton of wonder to the STORY 2018 stage.
Kevin Carroll
Author and Creative Katalyst for Nike, Target and ESPN
Steve Feldman
Who better to talk about the role of wonder than a children’s programming veteran director? We’re so excited that Steve Feldman will be joining us this year. Steve is a multiple Emmy award-winning director and his credits are fascinating. His IMDB page is an impressive list of projects, ranging from children’s programing to TV documentaries. Imagine directing Sesame Street, then walking down the street in NYC to a different studio to direct Bill Maher. Obviously, that kind of experience offers a unique perspective on the creative life, and we can’t wait to hear from him on the STORY stage.
Steve Feldman
18-Year Veteran Director of Sesame Street and More
Vera Leung
Vera Leung is the Creative Director at International Justice Mission, the world's largest anti-slavery organization. She is leading a bold team of change-makers and storytellers to create ground-breaking, award-winning work, leading many to comment that IJM is producing some of the best storytelling work in the world. Vera is passionate about creating social change through inspired people, powerful stories, and compelling design. She has taken her passion and skills to countries all around the world to tell the stories of those enslaved in some of the darkest situations. Her work brings these issues to light in the most beautiful ways that initiate change and celebrate the hope that can be found in the darkness. Is it possible to find wonder in the darkness? Vera’s work has proven that it is, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from her.
Vera Leung
Creative Director at International Justice Mission
Todd Henry
Todd is the author of 4 books all about living the creative life. He’s a speaker, a consultant, and host of the podcasts “The Accidental Creative” and “Herding Tigers” where he delivers weekly tips and ideas for staying prolific, brilliant and healthy. Todd was a guest on our podcast recently, and we’ve already learned so much from him about leading creative teams. Get ready for what we believe will be one of the most practical and insightful talks of the year.
Todd Henry
Arms Dealer of the Creative Revolution
Pei Ketron
Pei was born in Taiwan and raised in the Navajo Nation in Arizona. After time studying abroad in Prague, she discovered photography. Countless trips around the world and almost a million Instagram followers later, she has built a successful career as a photographer and storyteller. She was featured by Apple in their popular “shot on iPhone” campaigns, and is a popular speaker and class instructor for groups like Adobe, Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, CreativeLive and more. Pei specializes in travel and commercial photography worldwide, and her clients include: American Express, Apple, Carnival Cruises, Google, Mercedes, Michael Kors, Save the Children, Travel & Leisure Magazine, Turkish Airlines, UNICEF and so much more. I’m not sure what else we need to say. She’s an amazing artist and an even better human being, and it’s an honor to have her on the STORY stage.
Pei Ketron
Renowned Travel Photographer and Educator
Chris Logsdon
After a decade spent in traditional advertising in New York City, a chance meeting with Gary Vaynerchuk landed Chris Logsdon an opportunity at VaynerMedia. A husband and father of two, Chris is also the founder of The GodSpeed Company - a motorcycle-inspired lifestyle brand rooted heavily in American manufacturing. When not working or changing diapers, you can usually find him heads down in a sketch pad crafting logos. Chris currently resides in the Scenic City, Chattanooga, TN.
Chris Logsdon
Creative Director at VaynerMedia
Samantha Edwards
Over the course of 12 years, Samantha has gained a stellar reputation for her in-depth knowledge of brand strategy, design, and marketing within the digital landscape. She’s worked within industries that range from startups to media conglomerates, fashion and lifestyle brands to financial corporations.
Her unique ability to fuse business needs with relevant and inspiring creative and storytelling has resulted in a number of successful campaigns throughout her career. Samantha has worked on a wide variety of brand strategies and creative digital campaigns for numerous national and international brands and companies including; Bloomberg Media, Bulova, COTY, Ellen Tracy, Esteé Lauder, DKNY, PepsiCo, Sage, TOTO USA and Warner Music. We’re excited to learn how she’s built a successful company and thriving culture around the importance of telling an authentic story.
Samantha Edwards
Co-Founder and Creative Director of The Charles Agency
Jason Jaggard
Jason is the founder of Novus Global, a tribe of elite executive coaches who work with Fortune 500 Companies, Professional Athletes, World Renowned Artists and Multimillionaire Business Leaders to create lives, teams and companies that go beyond high performance. He is also the cofounder of The Apprenticeship Program, a 9-month executive coaching certification program that trains individuals to design life-changing conversations for high performing leaders. Jason’s first book, “Spark: Transform Your World One Small Risk at a Time” is available wherever books are sold.
If you’ve experienced his talks at STORY before, then you know you always walk away equally inspired and challenged. And not only will you get to hear from him on the main STORY stage, but this year you have the opportunity to spend a full day with him during his pre-conference workshop. His short breakouts have always resulted in standing-room only and we’ve had to turn people away. Don’t miss this!
Jason Jaggard
Executive Coach & CEO of Novus Global
CJ Casciotta
For over 15 years CJ has helped some of the biggest brands in the world discover their unique identity and share it creatively including Lululemon, The United Nations, MGM Studios, and Whole Foods. His work has been featured on national media, including CBS, MTV, Amazon Prime, and The Huffington Post. CJ is also the author of the upcoming book Get Weird: Stop Fitting In. Start Standing Out, in bookstores everywhere this September. We can’t wait to learn how to stay weird in a growing sea of same.
CJ Casciotta
Author, Serial Media Maker & Advocate for Weird Thinking
Yoko Sen
Yoko is an ambient electronic musician, fellow at the Halcyon Incubator, and Citizen Artist Fellow at the Kennedy Center. After getting sick and spending many hours in the hospital, she became horrified at the noises that many people hear as they pass. She began to wonder, “What’s the last sound that I would like to hear at the end of my life?”. This led her to create Sen Sound, a social enterprise to reimagine the sound environment in hospitals. If Yoko can reimagine that, we wonder what she will inspire you to reimagine. We can’t wait to find out, can you?
Yoko Sen
Sound Alchemist & Founder of Sen Sound
Jeremy Casper
Jeremy Casper is a writer, director, producer as well as a film instructor and guest lecturer. He currently teaches narrative storytelling at his alma mater, the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, and has led screenwriting and directing seminars all over the world, in partnership with The Global Short Film Network and the Visual Story Network. Jeremy is currently writing his third book on transcendent storytelling which delves into the deep psychology and spirituality of cinematic characters. On the heels of one of our most talked about podcast interviews of 2017, we can’t wait to learn from Jeremy live, in person on the STORY stage, about how to tell stories that will be transcendent and stay with an audience for a lifetime.
Jeremy Casper
Award-Winning Director, Writer & Producer
Danae Dougherty
Danae believes that design principals, from all disciplines, should create solutions that address our most pressing cultural and social issues. She is currently curious about the changing architectural landscape and what to do with under-utilized, aging, and, decaying infrastructure and buildings. Danae possesses extensive knowledge of all project phases from concept to construction, with prior experience in retail, hospitality, high density housing, education, and civic design and is passionate about the next generation of design thinkers. We love the way that she reimagines every space to tell a story. We can’t wait to hear what she has to share with us.
Danae Dougherty
Managing Principal at Visioneering Studios
Lagueria Davis
Since graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 2007, Lagueria has established herself as an award-winning filmmaker with placing in the Nicholls Fellowship of Screenwriting, Austin Film Festival, and others. For her next project, she’s teaming up with her aunt, Beulah Mae Mitchell to create a documentary about black female representation through the history of Barbie. She and Beulah have set out to tell the story of the first black Barbie as it was championed through a collective of Black Mattel employees, Beulah Mae being one of them. This led to Mattel’s decision to release the first Black Barbie in 1980. It is a story that needs to be told and we can’t wait to hear about their vision behind the film, and gain insight and practical takeaways for our own work by discovering what she is learning along the way.
Lagueria Davis
Director of the Upcoming Film, Black Barbie
Beulah Mae Mitchell
Imagine being a woman of color at a legendary toy company like Mattel in the 1960s. Now imagine being one of several Black employees speaking the words, “Why don’t you make a Barbie that looks like me?” Meet Beulah Mae Mitchell, one of the employees who spoke those very words. We can’t wait to hear the legendary full story, and all of the creative insight and experience Ms. Mitchell has to share that she's learned along the way.
Beulah Mae Mitchell
Pioneer of the First Black Barbie
Justin Kauflin
Justin Kauflin is a “jazz pianist who favors a clarity of touch and ideas, rarely spinning into an orbit he can’t control” (The New York Times). After losing his sight at the age of 11, Kauflin gravitated towards playing jazz piano, despite having a background in classical violin. He received top honors at jazz festivals across the U.S. and began performing professionally by age 15, most notably with the Jae Sinnett Trio. Since then, he has garnered many awards and toured the world, leaving his audiences in awe of his rare talent. He's sure to leave us in wonderment after his performance at STORY 2018.
Justin Kauflin
Renowned Jazz Pianist
David Paull
What would an expert researcher with years of experience studying how audiences react to stories be able to share to a room full of storytellers? Obviously, a lot. This year we’ll be joined by the CEO of Dialsmith, David Paull, to share his insights as a research industry veteran. He and his team are also creating an interactive research experiment on-site at STORY 2018 to help identify some of the roadblocks and signs of cynicism that are competing with our childlike wonder. Prepare to be amazed.
David Paull
Founder & CEO of Engagious & Dialsmith
Susan Blackwell
Susan Blackwell is on a mission to free people's creative expression. As a performer, writer, educator and business consultant, Susan champions this cause around the world, on Broadway, Off Broadway, in classrooms and conference rooms, in writing, and on TV, film, sound recordings and the internet. She has empowered thousands of people to identify and slay the vampires and the communication blocks that stop them from being free. We can't wait to hear how she will help us lean into our own creative expression.
Susan Blackwell
Broadway Actor, Writer & Producer
The Evasons
During the early 19th century, a small number of married couples gained significant notoriety with performances called Second Sight. The Evasons are one of very few couples in history who have mastered this unusual talent. They continue to travel around the globe, carrying on this rare and mysterious tradition. Additionally, they are the only mentalists to ever receive the SARMOTI Award which legendary magicians Siegfried & Roy present to their favorite act in Las Vegas. If you’ve never experienced this unique skill in person, you are in for a mind blowing performance from this duo that is sure to awaken wonder. Your. Mind. Will. Be. Blown.
Jeff & Tessa Evason
Mentalist Duo
Allison Fallon
Allison Fallon is an author, speaker, and creative coach set on helping you gain confidence, discover what makes you secretly incredible and create something meaningful in the world. She’s written 12+ books, coached hundreds (yes, hundreds) of authors to outline and complete their projects, and is committed to helping you access the beauty and brilliance already inside of you. Last year at STORY 2017, an attendee came out of Allison’s 40-minute breakout saying, “She just wrecked my life in the absolute best way possible.” Due to the demand, we asked Allison to join us for a full-day workshop this year in addition to joining us to deliver a talk on the main 2018 stage.
Allison Fallon
Author & Creative Coach
Steve Daugherty
Author & Storyteller
Harris, III
Harris “the Third” is an award-winning illusionist and communicator, but in recent years his career has grown into becoming one of America’s most sought-out speakers, storytellers and creative consultants. In 2015, he expanded his entrepreneur endeavors as he founded the Istoria Collective, a production company that creates meaningful and transformative experiences for people and brands through events, films, and digital media.
Since becoming the leader of the STORY community has become a podcast host, event curator and experience developer. He secretly creates this event so that he can also learn from the people that are doing amazing creative work around the world.
Harris, III
Curator and Host
We've always got surprises up our sleeves!
2018 Schedule
Wednesday
Thursday
| 8:30 am | Session 1 |
| 10:45 am | Session 2 |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 pm | Immersive Breakout Experiences |
| 3:30 pm | Session 3 |
| 5:00 pm | End of Day 1 |
| 8:00 pm | Evening Activities |
Friday
| 8:30 am | Session 4 |
| 10:45 am | Session 5 |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 pm | Immersive Breakout Experiences |
| 2:30 pm | Session 6 |
| 4:00 pm | End |
| 4:30 pm | After Party |
Pre-Conference Workshops
Join us in Nashville on Wednesday, September 19th for a pre-conference workshop. In these smaller workshop-style classes, you’ll be challenged and inspired by a leading practitioner on a specific topic or craft. This is a great way to advance your skill set as a storyteller, and gain greater, more exclusive access to the creative influencer leading the workshop of your choice. Click here to learn more about STORY 2018’s current pre-conference workshop options.
Get Tickets
Individual
Group (4+)
VIP Experience
FAQs
The VIP Package
Reserved Seating
Reserved seating in any seat on the floor. Want to sit on the front row? Great. Prefer the aisle? Awesome. We will send you the venue map prior to our gathering so that you can choose your seat. This will be yours for the duration of the conference, no questions asked.
VIP Lounge
In addition to us reserving a seat of your choice, you will also be given access to the VIP Lounge where you will be able to fuel up with drinks and snacks throughout the day. This is your opportunity to have a private meet and greet with some of the STORY presenters, as well as continued mingling with the STORY team.
STORY Swag
To complete your experience you will receive special STORY swag that other attendees will not. You can expect for this to be some really great stuff, in typical STORY fashion.
If you have more questions, please email [email protected].
Why You Should Attend STORY
Learn from the best
You'll learn how companies like Disney use out-of-the-box creative techniques to drive their stories. Get a peek behind the curtain at their creative process as they work to tell some of the most well-known stories of our time.
Turn ideas into reality
Discover the universal techniques that the team at Chef’s Table used to take a simple idea like food and turn it into an Emmy-Nominated series.
Tap into your imagination
Hear how the costume designer of Black Panther helped transport audiences to the fictional world of Wakanda and how we can create the same experience for our audience.
Break through roadblocks
Learn how to adopt a mindset that will help us break through roadblocks and allow us and our team to dream bigger and be more productive than we ever have before.
Refresh your perspective
Walk away with a refreshed perspective on why our creative work matters and with daily action steps to keep our creative work on track.
Need help convincing your boss that you should be at STORY?
Book Your Stay in Nashville
Unfortunately both of our room blocks are now sold out. Please check out the surrounding hotels or Air BnBs in or near downtown.
Thanks to Our Sponsors
Want to partner with STORY? Email [email protected] to begin a conversation today!
Hurry! Seats are going fast...