Meet Regina Stoops

What kind of storyteller are you? What is your storytelling “style”? What kind do you tell?

I tell true, personal stories drawn from a chaotic life full of detours off the supposed path.

How long have you been telling?

Seven years, although I had 15 years of stand-up comedy before I discovered storytelling.

What do you do when you’re not storytelling?

I’m a coproducer at Six Feet Apart Productions, an online storytelling platform started during COVID. We wanted a place for tellers to keep telling their stories while the world shut down.

Does the story you’re telling have a name?

Haunted Love.

Tell us a little bit about this story. Why did you choose it for “DARK HEARTS”? How are you interpreting the theme?

I’m interpreting it as a story about the love of a parent for their son and the ridiculous lengths you’ll go to in order to see them smile.

Any thoughts on what it means to commune with the darker side of life? How do we face what is harder, darker, more negative or less rosy?

Humor. That’s all I got.

Do you celebrate spooky season? What’s the best way to Halloween? Favorite trick? Favorite treat?

I don’t celebrate as much as I did when our kids were younger. We park ourselves in the driveway and ooh and ahh over the ghosts, goblins, princesses, and superheroes that come by.

Who is your storytelling idol and why?

There are many, many, many tellers I admire, but if I have to choose, I’d go with Bil Lepp and Ingrid Nixon.They are both amazing at weaving stories and landing the ending. Stories where you wonder, “Where are they going? Where am I?” Only to be brought full circle, with it all wrapped up in a neat little bow.

What’s your best piece of advice for someone who is a beginner and wants to learn how to tell a story?

Write your story, cut it in half, cut it in half again. Look at what is essential for the narrative arc and ditch the rest. Taking a class or workshop is a good idea, too.

Why should people come see “DARK HEARTS” on October 16?

One of my idols is in it, and you’ll be surprised by the human connections made during the evening.

Thanks, Regina! If you want to see Regina tell her DARK HEARTS story, she’ll be at our show on October 16!

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Regina Stoops

is an award-winning storyteller, comedian, writer, and co-producer of the online storytelling platform Six Feet Apart Productions. Her stories have been heard on the Risk! podcast, The Moth Grand Slam stage, NPR’s Story Borealis, Unreeling Stories, and the Women’s Storytelling Festival. Regina uses storytelling as her weapon of choice to help tackle diversity, adversity, and suburban chaos.

When the world shut down in 2020, Regina helped build a place online so storytellers could keep telling. That instinct, that this stuff has to keep happening, somehow, somewhere, is the same one that keeps us showing up at The Sofia every month. Paid subscriptions are how we make sure our storytellers get paid for it, and how we keep The Nutshell True Story Hour podcast free for everyone. If these spotlights are your thing, consider joining us. xoxo, Amy

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Before anything else, mark your calendar because we’re two weeks early this month. DARK HEARTS is on Friday, October 16, not the last Friday like usual. I’ll probably repeat this a whole bunch of times because I don’t want a single one of you to miss this show. Our Storyteller Spotlights will come out a bit quicker than normal, too.

One more thing to know: there’s no November show. After October 16, the next time we’re all together is December 12, so this one matters because I’m going to miss you. (WANT TO SEE US IN NOVEMBER? Check out our open mic’s Grandslam: Shiny Thing Showcase!)

October 16 brings us DARK HEARTS: true stories from the parts of the heart we don’t easily put on display.

Dark Hearts

Get your tickets here!

The Four Haunted Storytellers:

Ingrid Nixon

is a retired National Park Service ranger and an award-winning, world-traveling storyteller who loves to whisk listeners away on journeys of the imagination. Exploration nail-biters, lies, ghosts, traditional and personal stories... she tells them all. From Antarctica to the North Pole, Ingrid’s 40+ years in expedition tourism have taken her on a magic-carpet ride around the planet. She produces and hosts Story Borealis, a program dedicated to the art of storytelling on NPR’s KBBI Public Radio in Homer, Alaska. She holds an MA in storytelling from East Tennessee State University. Alaska is home. More at IngridNixon.com. 

Her story: An ordinary day turns curious, and a series of events brings a beloved father back into the room. 

Liv Styler

is a Chicana journalist focused on telling stories at the intersection of art, culture, and the social sciences. She fights for radical joy, BAMN. She feels the world is her oyster, but, ironically, she is allergic to shrimp and, unrelated, has never met a cup of coffee she didn’t like. Liv is a finalist for the Ida B. Wells Investigative Journalism Fellowship, serves on the board of the Institute for Independent Journalists, and is an active member of the Association of Raza Educators. She has bylines in Business Insider, Stacker, MSN, Miami Herald, The Courier, Alta Journal, Comstock’s Magazine, The Sacramento Bee, The Americano, Nuestro Stories, Submerge Magazine, and others.

Her story: The death of her father prompts Liv to search back through the paternal lineage of policemen and overseers, men whose jobs placed them on the side of somebody else’s suffering, until she reaches her grandfather RJ . . . and the part of his life nobody had passed down. What she finds are the dark hearts that can beat at the center of families, how that darkness preserves itself through silence, and how a strange, stubborn goodness can grow when one person finally turns the light on. 

Regina Stoops

is an award-winning storyteller, comedian, writer, and co-producer of the online storytelling platform Six Feet Apart Productions. Her stories have been heard on the Risk! podcast, The Moth Grand Slam stage, NPR’s Story Borealis, Unreeling Stories, and the Women’s Storytelling Festival. Regina uses storytelling as her weapon of choice to help tackle diversity, adversity, and suburban chaos.

Her story: a mother, a son who loves horror, and the ridiculous lengths a parent will go to just to see their kid smile. 

Note: Regina told us a story last year about receiving her son’s autism diagnosis, and she discussed it with us on The Nutshell True Story Hour. Have you heard the story? Check it out!

David Rodriguez

first took the stage to impress his date at a story slam competition. Years later, he’s a two-time Moth GrandSlam champion and is married to his story-slam date. David is the program director at St. Vincent’s Day Home, an Oakland nonprofit that provides child care for families in need. 

His story: When David’s brother Daniel dies suddenly, grief begins to erase the memory of the funny, kind genius who taught him to find magic everywhere. So when an eccentric friend pitches a weekend ayahuasca ceremony, David agrees to go and shows up armed with a cult checklist, a plastic vomit bucket, and a healthy (?) skepticism. Prepare for a funny, unguarded story about grief, cynicism, and learning to forgive yourself enough to let someone you love stay close.

A little Nutshell trivia: when we asked Tom Darci back in August who his storytelling idol was, he named David. “There’s something about the way he speaks to us, like he’s working out the meaning of what he’s telling us right in the moment. It’s often hilarious and moving and insightful and very true.” High praise from a man who is himself very good at this.

Are you ready to go into the dark with us, Story Friends? I sure hope so. One thing I keep thinking about this lineup: every single story is about family, and that was a happy (??) accident. It seems the people closest to us—family, ancestors, the ones who made us—take up permanent residence in the deepest parts of us, for better and for worse. Why not shine a light on them, friends? In October, the veil is supposed to be thin, anyway.

 Thank you, as always, for showing up in person and sharing this very human experience with us. Let’s keep it going. Get your tickets for October 16 now (two weeks early! Cheaper in advance!).

Take me to tickets!

You KNOW I can’t wait to see you in real life, humans! It’s going to be a great time, even better with you there. xoxo, Amy Bee and her full-of-heart sidekicks, Keith and Aaron

(P.S. Speaking of Keith (HI, KEITH!), Nutshell is hosted by the one and only Keith Lowell Jensen, whose heart is only slightly dark and who will hold this whole spooky business together with his usual charm and impeccable comic timing. He’ll walk us out of each story and into the next without anyone getting lost. He’s very good at it. Consider yourself in good hands!)

If you enjoy what we’re building here, one of the most helpful ways to support it is by becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps us pay storytellers, pay ourselves, keep live shows going, and continue producing The Nutshell True Story Hour podcast for everyone to enjoy. No pressure, but it truly does make a difference.

And as always: showing up, listening, and bringing friends is already real support💜

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Something big is coming on November 14, and we want you there for all of it.

All year, WILDCARD! has been creating and experimenting with a monthly open mic story swap where anyone can walk in, put their name in the NOT HAT, and tell a true personal story in front of a room that actually listens. At the end of the night, the storytellers themselves vote for their favorite story. The winner takes home $50 and a feature spot in the following month.

But now what do we do with all these winners?

This:

Get your tickets here →

Welcome to the WILDCARD Shiny Thing Showcase!

Our season’s best storytellers, the ones who not only wowed the audience but moved their fellow storytellers, who won the vote and earned a featured spot, return for one extraordinary night. Every storyteller gets 12 minutes to tell their best true story and have their moment to shine.

And here’s the thing about our particular, Sacramento-style competition: everybody wins!

Every storyteller takes home a Shiny Thing because that’s who we are: a community that believes in celebrating the people brave enough to stand up and tell the truth out loud, with craft and intention. At the end of the night, the audience votes for one story to take home the Even Shinier Thing.

Because some stories are just that good.

This is WILDCARD!’s Grand Slam, but Sacramento-style, with our own twists, and it’s going to be a fantastic night.

The storytellers so far:

​Michelle Wood: WILDCARD!’s inaugural winner. She walked into the NOT HAT in June, told her story, and walked out with $50 and a feature spot. Then she came back in July and wowed as a feature. Michelle is exactly the person we had in mind when we came up with our Shiny Thing Showcase idea.

​Victoria Goldblatt: actor, playwright, award-winning director, and Neuroscience Health Consultant, which remains the most interesting combination of credentials we’ve ever put on a WILDCARD poster. She brought a story about the day everything changed.

​Frances Southwick: friendly family doctor, storyteller, and nonfiction writer from Davis. They told a tale of love and narcolepsy and completely won over the crowd. Bobby and Small (the cats) are very proud.

John Keenan: Told a harrowing childhood story about friendship and a gun that left the audience completely still. It was the kind of story that sticks with you and reminds you exactly why we all love this art form so much.

​THERE IS ONE SPACE LEFT! WILL YOUR STORY BE THE ONE? (Come to October’s WILDCARD! and put your name in the NOT HAT!)

​(More storytellers will be added as our season continues. Watch this space.)

The venue: Two Rivers Cider Company

We are so excited to bring the Shiny Thing Showcase to Two Rivers Cider, Sacramento’s original micro-cidery, founded in 1996 and a genuine neighborhood institution in Land Park. There’s a real stage, a food truck outside, and a lineup of small-batch ciders that will make you very happy you came.

A special recognition

Some people show up for the storytelling community not because it benefits them directly, but because they genuinely believe in the art form and what it can do for the people involved. John Aubert is one of those people: a storyteller, instructor, story coach, and host of Capital Storytelling’s Do Tell Open Mic. John has spent years showing up for Sacramento’s storytelling scene, teaching, coaching, producing, and cheering everyone else on, while also being a fantastic storyteller, by the way. At the Shiny Thing Showcase, we’re going to take a moment to celebrate him. Details to come, but know this: it’s going to be good.

Your nutshell Three:

Keith Lowell Jensen: host, comedian, and the person Amy Bee trusts most to hold a big night together with warmth, wit, and exactly the right amount of chaos.

Amy Bee: creator, producer, and the woman who had a vision for what Sacramento’s storytelling scene could be and refused to stop until it existed. The Shiny Thing Showcase is proof she was onto something.

Aaron Carnes: author, music journalist, and the steady hand behind every wild card that’s happened this year. He scanned every ticket, held every room together, and, according to Amy Bee, looked absolutely wonderful doing it. Tonight he gets a night off from the NOT HAT logistics, probably, maybe. Ummmm, on second thought . . .

Tickets!

(More info on ticket page!)

We are building something wonderful here in Sacramento, and this is where we celebrate how far we’ve come. Come be a part of it, humans! You KNOW we love seeing you out there in the real world.

Meet Maryam Moosavi

What kind of storyteller are you? What is your storytelling “style”? What kind do you tell?

Not sure about this one!

How long have you been telling?

My first real story was about a year ago, but I’ve been storytelling through stand-up comedy since 2018.

What do you do when you’re not storytelling?

I love so many kinds of art! I like to spend my time lettering, collaging, and taking photos.

Does the story you’re telling have a name?

Maybe we could call it “Are We Home Yet?”

Tell us a little bit about this story. Why did you choose it for “The Long Way Home”? How are you interpreting the theme?

My story is about a long night stranded in San Francisco. It’s a classic Dude, Where’s My Car? scenario that almost ends a friendship. Thankfully, it has a happy ending, and I even learned a little life hack!

Any thoughts on how where we live defines who we are? Is “home” a state of mind? Is life a journey?

I genuinely feel like home is wherever your people are!

Do you have a dream adventure? A journey you’d love to take? Why?

I don’t necessarily have the travel bug, but I love photography and sometimes daydream about taking photos all around the country.

Who is your storytelling idol and why?

Mike Birbiglia, because he has mastered the balance of tragedy and comedy in a story, and his pacing sometimes lulls me into a trance!

What’s your best piece of advice for someone who is a beginner and wants to learn how to tell a story?

We don’t need every detail, and things can be embellished! Yes, the truth can be interesting in its own right, but don’t feel obligated to it.

Why should people come see “The Long Way Home” on September 25?

I think people should come see any of your storytelling shows because they make us all feel more human and more connected!

Thanks, Maryam! If you want to see Maryam tell her Long Way Home story, she’ll be at our show on September 25! Also, Maryam told one of my favorite stories at Nutshell last year. Have you heard it? It is worth a listen:

Get Tickets!

Maryam Moosavi

got her start 7 years ago in Sacramento, where she produced shows like Living Room Live and Comedy in the Park. Today, she is a regular at Laughs Unlimited and Punch Line and performs all over the Bay. She works a grocery store job by day and pursues comedy at night, and her immigrant parents are very proud of her.

Maryam bags groceries by day, does comedy by night, and says home is wherever your people are. For a couple of hours on September 25, her people are us, and you. Paid subscriptions are how we make sure storytellers like Maryam get paid for showing up, and how we keep The Nutshell True Story Hour podcast free for everyone, including her sexting story, which you really should hear (link above!). If these spotlights are your thing, consider joining us. xoxo, Amy

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(You’re receiving this because you’ve interacted in some way with Keith, Amy, or Aaron of The Nutshell Three. We love that you are here, but feel free to unsubscribe at any time.)

Meet Linda Atousa Salimi

What kind of storyteller are you? What is your storytelling “style”? What kind do you tell?

I would say I’m generally really poetic, and I try to pull people into the experience, have them walk through it, and feel it with me.

How long have you been telling?

I would say about 2 decades if you include improv and stand-up comedy.

What do you do when you’re not storytelling?

I teach improv and professional development classes.

Does the story you’re telling have a name?

School Uniform.

Tell us a little bit about this story. Why did you choose it for “The Long Way Home”? How are you interpreting the theme?

I think, generally, people are able to say very clearly where “home” is. I want to show/convey that it is not so simple for me.

Any thoughts on how where we live defines who we are? Is “home” a state of mind? Is life a journey?

Home is somewhere “we go back to.”

Do you have a dream adventure? A journey you’d love to take? Why?

I’d love to live in Europe for 2 years and study Art History like the Hearst Family!

Who is your storytelling idol and why?

I would say Trevor Noah; I feel what he says in my gut.

What’s your best piece of advice for someone who is a beginner and wants to learn how to tell a story?

You need to go up there, be prepared to mess up, and do it anyway.

Why should people come see “The Long Way Home” on September 25?

It’s time for us to be in the “real” instead of the fantasy of AI or the movies. Come listen to people and their real-life experiences. Cultures have done this for generations.

Thanks, Linda! If you want to see Linda tell her Long Way Home story, she’ll be at our show on September 25!

Get Tickets!

Linda Atousa Salimi

describes herself as a servant-based leader and the villager who does what needs to be done to create the village. She relates mostly to other “third culture kids,” generally to those who have fully lived in another country. During the day, she works in Workforce Policy, and at night she turns into an improv teacher and a professional development trainer/corporate trainer. Check out her improv classes at The Stage!

Linda says most people can tell you exactly where home is, and that it has never been that simple for her. She also says it's time to spend an evening in the real instead of the fantasy—which is about the best description of what we do here that anyone's given us. Paid subscriptions are how we make sure our storytellers get paid for it, and how we keep The Nutshell True Story Hour podcast free for everyone. If these spotlights are your thing, consider joining us. xoxo, Amy

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(You’re receiving this because you’ve interacted in some way with Keith, Amy, or Aaron of The Nutshell Three. We love that you are here, but feel free to unsubscribe at any time.)

Meet Kathleen Taylor

What kind of storyteller are you? What is your storytelling “style”? What kind do you tell?

Not sure I have a style, per se. The kind of story I like to tell is the one you’re not expecting to hear.

How long have you been telling?

Nine years.

What do you do when you’re not storytelling?

Writing, hiking, cooking, resisting.

Does the story you’re telling have a name?

Slow Road.

Tell us a little bit about this story. Why did you choose it for “The Long Way Home”? How are you interpreting the theme?

Specifically, [I’m interpreting it] around the idea that “home” can be a spiritual place.

Any thoughts on how where we live defines who we are? Is “home” a state of mind? Is life a journey?

No, yes, and yes. Although this is easy to say when one is securely housed.

Do you have a dream adventure? A journey you’d love to take? Why?

No. And yes, I do want to walk Japan. I’ve walked the Camino Santiago five times, and perhaps I can shake that up. For sure, I would like to walk another 500-mile path, but is it a dream? Not so sure.

Who is your storytelling idol and why?

Spalding Gray, RIP.

What’s your best piece of advice for someone who is a beginner and wants to learn how to tell a story?

Attend inexpensive open mic events to feel the crowd's support. Maybe jump in? Then, maybe, buy a book to help you (if that's your jam) in terms of learning how to build the architecture of a story.

Why should people come see “The Long Way Home” on September 25?

Stories make your world bigger.

Thanks, Kathleen! If you want to see Kathleen tell her Long Way Home story, she’ll be at our show on September 25!

Get Tickets!

Kathleen Taylor

is a writer, educator, and storyteller. Trained as a social-cultural psychologist, she believes that art disrupts complacency and that true human inclusion kicks cynicism to the curb. A triple Moth Story Slam winner, Kathleen is easily found on various Bay Area stages. Check her out!

Kathleen has walked the Camino de Santiago five times and says stories make your world bigger. We think she's right, which is why we keep putting people like her on a Sacramento stage. Paid subscriptions are how we make sure our storytellers get paid for it, and how we keep The Nutshell True Story Hour podcast free for everyone. If these spotlights are your thing, consider joining us. xoxo, Amy

Subscribe now

(You’re receiving this because you’ve interacted in some way with Keith, Amy, or Aaron of The Nutshell Three. We love that you are here, but feel free to unsubscribe at any time.)

Meet Ruven Hannah

What kind of storyteller are you? What is your storytelling “style”? What kind do you tell?

I tell narratives that are easy to follow, easy to picture, entertaining as well as moving, sometimes might be surprising, maybe shocking to some, pushing the envelope and told with love and respect. My life events I keep coming back to include coming out as a gay man after years of denial, refusal to join the Israeli army, and getting lost or stranded in the wilderness.

How long have you been telling?

I co-founded Abrakadabra, a clowning puppet theater company, with Barbara Hannah (my wife at the time) in Jerusalem in 1973. I moved the show to London, toured Europe until 1980 and got rave reviews from Time Out. After coming out and moving to SF in 1981, I became a solo performer, continuing to this day. As a solo performer, I told stories influenced by physical theater that were also visual (with large props such as a red ladder, a large red weather balloon, a foot pump and costumes) and featured unique audience participation. In March 2024, I started telling stories (without physical movement, props, or costumes) at The Moth and related venues such as Oakland Story Slam, Conundrum Chronicles, Pretty Good Stories, Simply Said, and a few local storytelling festivals.

What do you do when you’re not storytelling?

Active participant and leader in the Radical Faeries and The Billies (Gay communities in California and Oregon), travel, hike, cook, make videos and now a retired software engineer/corporate trainer.

Does the story you’re telling have a name?

From Jerusalem to San Francisco: A Long Way Home

Tell us a little bit about this story. Why did you choose it for “The Long Way Home”? How are you interpreting the theme?

I struggled for a long time with being gay; along the way were temptations, shame, fear, and bullying. This all happened first in Jerusalem and later on in London, where I ended up leaving everything behind (two children and a puppet theater company I founded with my wife). I moved to Gay Mecca San Francisco, where I found other gay men who had similar experiences and offered support, as well as therapy, friends, playmates, communities and a husband.

Any thoughts on how where we live defines who we are? Is “home” a state of mind? Is life a journey?

Life is definitely a rollercoaster. Where we live supports the kind of life we want, and home is a state of mind and heart.

Do you have a dream adventure? A journey you’d love to take? Why?

I think I'm living my dream at this point.

Who is your storytelling idol and why?

I know he seems to be everyone's idol, and I wish I could be more original, but I like JP Frary’s stories. They are moving and funny and sometimes almost unbelievable, but I believe them.

What’s your best piece of advice for someone who is a beginner and wants to learn how to tell a story?

Consider The Moth, which offers open-mic and topics. Once given a topic, look at your own life and try to find a story you have already lived through and describe it using details. Write longhand and then edit it down and maybe tell it to a friend. Consider joining a storytelling class/workshop.

Why should people come see “The Long Way Home” on September 25?

It's a great topic that can be interpreted in many ways, and I'm going to tell a story that I hope will be moving and funny. The stories I heard at NUTSHELL were inspiring; the Sofia Theatre is a great venue and has one of the best MCs [HI KEITH!] I've encountered recently. The curators find great storytellers, including Ruven Hannah 😁

Thanks, Ruven! If you want to see Ruven tell his Long Way Home story, he’ll be at our show on September 25!

Get Tickets!

Ruven Hannah

was born in London, grew up in Jerusalem, and came out in Amsterdam. He co-founded a clown-puppet theater in Jerusalem/London, participated in Solo Mio Festival SF, and has written and performed several solo shows. His storytelling has been featured at Simply Said and Pretty Good Stories. He doesn’t really like competitions unless he wins, and he’s since won both a Moth and Conundrum Chronicles StorySlam. Some of his happiest, most worry-free moments are on stage, when his audience laughs, sighs, and sometimes wipes away a tear.

Ruven left two kids and a theater company on another continent to find out who he was. Fifty years later he's telling us about it on a Sacramento stage. Paid subscriptions are how we make sure storytellers get paid for that kind of honesty, and how we keep The Nutshell True Story Hour podcast free for everyone. If these spotlights are your thing, consider joining us. xoxo, Amy

Subscribe now

(You’re receiving this because you’ve interacted in some way with Keith, Amy, or Aaron of The Nutshell Three. We love that you are here, but feel free to unsubscribe at any time.)

Sometimes the most important journeys are the ones that choose you, taking years before you understand where they were leading.

And sometimes we’re just literally lost, and the wifi’s not working, and the maps app keeps telling us to drive into a brick wall, and we need to get home to pay the babysitter and sleep off the Jello shots and the bad date from earlier (who we kissed anyway) and CAN WE JUST GO HOME PUH-LEASE??!! But no, life has other plans, alas.

The Long Way Home

Get your tickets here!

“The great danger is to stand motionless on the bank as the river of your life rushes by. It is not easy, learning how to stop waiting and start living; not easy not to waste your life; not easy knowing whether or not how you spend your time and mind and love is worthy of the improbable fact that you, against the vastly greater odds otherwise, exist.”- Maria Popova (read her 18 Life-Learnings!)

The Four Meandering Storytellers

Kathleen Taylor

is a writer, educator, and storyteller. Trained as a social-cultural psychologist, she believes that art disrupts complacency and that true human inclusion kicks cynicism to the curb. A triple Moth Story Slam winner, Kathleen is easily found on various Bay Area stages. Check her out!

Her Story: Sometimes the search for place can take you across oceans and onto the footpaths of the world’s most famous religious pilgrimages. What will Kathleen find as she leaves comfort behind to traverse the Camino de Santiago in Spain?

Ruven Hannah

was born in London, grew up in Jerusalem, and came out in Amsterdam. He co-founded a clown-puppet theater in Jerusalem/London, participated in Solo Mio Festival SF, and has written and performed several solo shows. His storytelling has been featured at Simply Said and Pretty Good Stories. He doesn’t really like competitions unless he wins, and he’s since won both a Moth and Conundrum Chronicles StorySlam. Some of his happiest, most worry-free moments are on stage, when his audience laughs, sighs, and sometimes wipes away a tear.

His Story: After a childhood “was-it-or-wasn’t-it-sexual?” experience came years of denial of Ruven’s gayness until an American woman ever-adorned in beautiful dresses appeared and everything changed, leading to an escape from Europe and finding home in the Gay Mecca: San Francisco.

Maryam Moosavi

got her start 7 years ago in Sacramento, where she produced shows like Living Room Live and Comedy in the Park. Today, she is a regular at Laughs Unlimited and Punchline and performs all over the Bay. She works a grocery store job by day and pursues comedy at night, and her immigrant parents are very proud of her.

Her Story: In a classic Dude, Where’s My Car? scenario, Maryam finds herself stranded in San Francisco, leading to a long night that almost ends a friendship. Thankfully, the night has a happy ending, and she even learned a little life hack! Will she share it with you? Better come find out!

Linda Atousa Salimi

describes herself as a servant-based leader and the villager who does what needs to be done to create the village. She relates mostly to other “third culture kids,” generally to those who have fully lived in another country. During the day, she works in Workforce Policy, and at night she turns into an improv teacher and a professional development trainer/corporate trainer.

Her story: Linda escapes a war-torn country as a child in the ’80s.

Are you coming to take the journey with us, Story Friends? I sure hope so! This is going to be a wonderful night of storytelling on a grand scale and a celebration of all the different ways and places we find home. And we, The Nutshell Three, are so incredibly happy to call Sacramento and the Sofia Theatre our home, and we are proud to announce that our third season of true, personal storytelling will continue in 2027. Thank you for all your support and for showing up in person to spend an evening pondering how our unique stories create a beautiful, universal tapestry of the human experience. Let’s keep it going by getting your ticket (cheaper in advance!) to September 25’s show now!

Take me to tickets!

I can’t wait to see you in real life, humans! You KNOW I love spending two hours in the dark with you!

xoxo, Amy Bee and her two favorite homebodies, Keith and Aaron

(P.S. Speaking of Keith ((HI, KEITH!)), Nutshell is hosted by the one and only Keith Lowell Jensen, who will hold the whole night together with his usual charm and impeccable comic timing. Consider yourself in good hands.)

If you enjoy what we’re building here, one of the most helpful ways to support it is by becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps us pay storytellers, pay ourselves, keep live shows going, and continue producing the Nutshell True Story Hour podcast for everyone to enjoy. No pressure, but it truly does make a difference.

And as always: showing up, listening, and bringing friends is already real support💜

Subscribe now

Meet Kari Kiernan

What kind of storyteller are you? What is your storytelling “style”? What kind do you tell?

I think someone else would have to tell me what my style is. I tell funny stories about events that, when they happened, were not funny. Like, at all.

How long have you been telling?

My first onstage story was about 20 years ago. Which means unfunny things have kept happening to me for two decades. Harsh.

What do you do when you’re not storytelling?

My day job is at a high school on the admin side of things. This is where Bay Area custom demands that I say I also enjoy hiking with my dog, but I’m not much of a hiker and I don’t have a dog. I do see a lot of plays.

Does the story you’re telling have a name?

I call it Mud Slinging.

Tell us a little bit about this story. Why did you choose it for “Epic Fails”?

I went into an experience to indulge in some oft-touted “self-care” and learned that the best way to care for yourself is to stay home. It counts as an epic fail because it went so very, very wrong. Not only was my experience at odds with what was advertised, but also with who I was trying to be.

Any thoughts on failure?

We’re told that if you’re not failing, you’re not growing. Do we believe that, though? That works for the scientist who persevered through years of failed experiments and then cured polio, but less so if you went on a hike and came home in traction. Again, beware of hiking. Unless you’re a genius iterating toward greatness, failure is only good if you’re a storyteller.

What makes a fail “Epic”?

Fail is: I baked a cake for my best friend’s birthday, and it was so dry that no one ate it. Epic fail is: I baked a cake for my best friend’s birthday and burned down the house. It’s a question of scale.

Who is your storytelling idol and why?

Mike Birbiglia. I think he’s a master of long-form storytelling. He is funny about hard things (and about himself), and he meanders delightfully, but still brings a story home.

What’s your best piece of advice for someone who is a beginner and wants to learn how to tell a story?

The way I was taught as a beginner is to start with something that is already a story in your mind. What’s the one you and your wife still tell each other? Or the one that gets repeated every Thanksgiving? Or that one you and your high school friends can’t believe you got away with? Everyone has a story. Start with that one.

Why should people come see “Epic Fails” on August 28?

What’s more entertaining than a failure that’s not your own?

Thanks, Kari! If you want to see Kari tell her EPIC Fail story, she’ll be at our show on August 28!

Get Tickets!

Kari Kiernan

is a writer, storyteller, and Bay Area native. She has worked in both nonprofit theatre and high school administration and holds a Masters Degree she did not need and does not use. Over the past 20 years, she’s been onstage at Porchlight, the Throckmorton, The Vent!, and Literary Death Match, among others. She is a returning performer at Naked Truth and Redwood Nights. You can see some of her past work at Kari Kiernan.

Kari says unfunny things have been happening to her for twenty years, and she's been turning them into funny stories the whole time. That alchemy is what we're all showing up for, and paid subscriptions are how we make sure our storytellers get paid for it, and how we keep The Nutshell True Story Hour podcast free for everyone. If these spotlights are your thing, consider joining us. It really does help. xoxo, Amy

Subscribe now

(You’re receiving this because you’ve interacted in some way with Keith, Amy, or Aaron of The Nutshell Three. We love that you are here, but feel free to unsubscribe at any time.)

Meet Tom Darci

What kind of storyteller are you? What is your storytelling “style”? What kind do you tell?

I would love for someone to tell me what my storytelling style is. My guess is that I’m somewhat funny, kind of irreverent, and on a hunt for truth in the specific details of experiences. I love the alchemy that happens when a story is shared with an audience, raising the intensity and emotion. Also, I am an obsessive preparer. I write and rewrite my stories, using audio and video recordings to shape and reshape the writing. By the time I go to tell a story, I have spoken it enough times that I hope I can be free to be in the moment and go where it needs to go, without being concerned about being completely faithful to the written version.

How long have you been telling?

I went to a Moth StorySlam in Berkeley in March 2020 and thought, “This is great. This is how I will get back on the stage.” Two days later, the world shut down. But I started writing, using Moth prompts as inspiration. In April 2021, I told my first first-person story at a virtual Moth. I’ve been telling stories ever since. Before storytelling, I had a past life that involved some amount of acting in plays.

What do you do when you’re not storytelling?

I ice my knee. Walk our dog. Get into the woods. Make dinner for friends and family. Play pickleball. Program computers. Swim. Read novels.

Does the story you’re telling have a name?

The name I use for it is too revealing of what happens, so I will say let’s call this Almost Home.

Tell us a little bit about this story. Why did you choose it for “Epic Fails”?

I chose this story because it features something quite dramatic happening (epic, perhaps), something we didn’t want to happen, yet there it was, unfolding right in front of me. And I was unable to stop it. Equally important is another thread in the story, one more significant than the dramatic event that drives it. I wanted to see if I could keep these two threads alive at once and convey the excitement of the drama alongside the undercurrent of the deeper story.

Any thoughts on failure?

We try so hard to do the right thing, to be who we need to be, and to provide for the people we love and are responsible to/for. And yet, despite our preparations, we sometimes do not succeed and have to regroup.

What makes a fail “Epic”?

A fail is epic when it is very public, out there for the world to see. Bonus if it requires first responders. A fail is also epic when your identity rests somewhat on your established success in a certain domain, and you come to realize that maybe that success is in question.

Who is your storytelling idol and why?

David Rodriguez. There are many great storytellers, and I so appreciate what they bring to an audience. I am truly in awe of many of the folks who join us on stage at Pretty Good Stories. And for me, I am so often just astounded at what David is able to accomplish. There is something about the way he speaks to us, like he’s working out the meaning of what he’s telling us right in the moment. It’s often hilarious. And moving. And insightful. And very true.

What’s your best piece of advice for someone who is a beginner and wants to learn how to tell a story?

Some of the best stories are told by beginners. And you already know how to tell a story. Focus on the specific details as you remember them, and just tell us one event, in present tense. Before getting into that event, let us know what we need to know so we can feel the stakes of your story. Breathe.

Why should people come see “Epic Fails” on August 28?

Failing sucks. Instead of crawling in a hole when they failed, these storytellers are daring to share their screwups with you. Come out and feel better about yourself. Commiserate with the storytellers and the people around you.

Thanks, Tom! If you want to see Tom tell his EPIC Fail story, he’ll be at our show on August 28!

Get Tickets!

Tom Darci

is the cofounder and cohost of Pretty Good Stories, a long-form storytelling showcase in Oakland. He’s also been featured at Simply Said, Conundrum Chronicles, StorySlam Oakland, Alameda StorySlam, and more. Tom thinks telling the same story over and over again in front of an audience just might be more therapeutic than actual therapy. When he’s not telling stories, you’ll find him on the pickleball court, knees permitting.

Tom rewrites his stories over and over before he ever gets onstage. That kind of care is what makes a Nutshell night worth showing up for, and paid subscriptions are how we make sure the tellers get paid for it, and how we keep The Nutshell True Story Hour podcast free for everybody. If these spotlights are your thing, consider joining us. It really does help. xoxo, Amy

Subscribe now

(You’re receiving this because you’ve interacted in some way with Keith, Amy, or Aaron of The Nutshell Three. We love that you are here, but feel free to unsubscribe at any time.)

Meet Silvana Clark

What kind of storyteller are you? What is your storytelling “style”? What kind do you tell?

I do mostly personal stories.

How long have you been telling?

I was a corporate trainer for 25 years and told more business-oriented stories. I’ve been doing “storytelling” for about 5 years.

What do you do when you’re not storytelling?

I’m retired. We’ve traveled to 76 countries and want to hit 100 before we’re too old to find our way home! I also tell my three-year-old granddaughter very dramatic, flamboyant stories.

Does the story you’re telling have a name?

Poor, Poor Randy.

Tell us a little bit about this story. Why did you choose it for “Epic Fails”?

It is about a time when my husband [and I] wanted to do a great job as pet/house sitters. No matter what we tried, we failed.

Any thoughts on failure?

Don’t complain about it. Try again or try something different. I’ve had 12 books published by major publishers, and all but one were duds.

What makes a fail “Epic”?

I think the emotional aspect connects to an epic fail. If I fail at making a cake, it’s not a big deal. But if I have a dream of having a baking show on TV (📺 don’t!), and I dream, work, and study to become a great baker, only to fail the TV audition, that makes it epic.

Who is your storytelling idol and why?

*Silvana didn’t answer

What’s your best piece of advice for someone who is a beginner and wants to learn how to tell a story?

There are so many books on storytelling! Or just Google “10 tips to tell a great story.” People think rambling about an incident is a story. As basic as it sounds, have a beginning, a middle, and a strong ending! Also, start your story with a strong sentence. My pet peeve is storytellers who begin with “Soooooooo.”

Why should people come see “Epic Fails” on August 28?

You’ll laugh and sympathize with what others have gone through. It might make your failure not seem so bad!

Thanks, Silvana! If you want to see Silvana tell her EPIC Fail story, she’ll be at our show on August 28!

Get Tickets!

Silvana Clark

began telling innovative stories to get a hall pass out of boring high school classes. Since then, she’s told stories to audiences ranging from the Canadian Llama Association to the Nude Recreation Association. She’s written twelve books, appeared on Fox’s Trading Spouses, and considers one of her greatest achievements to be training her dog to star in TV commercials and print ads.

Storytellers like Silvana travel a long way (sometimes 76 countries' worth!) to stand on our stage and tell us their truth. Paid subscriptions are how we help make sure they're paid for it, and how we keep The Nutshell True Story Hour podcast free for everyone. If you're enjoying these spotlights, consider joining us. It genuinely helps. xoxo, Amy

Subscribe now

(You’re receiving this because you’ve interacted in some way with Keith, Amy, or Aaron of The Nutshell Three. We love that you are here, but feel free to unsubscribe at any time.)

Meet Max Houghton

What kind of storyteller are you? What is your storytelling “style”? What kind do you tell?

I mostly tell stories about what I’ve learned from making very dumb mistakes. I tend to learn the hard way. But it’s not all bad. I’ve hit my head so many times I can smell color.

How long have you been telling?

I started telling stories two years ago, after a skateboarding injury left me with time to write. Since then, I have won several story slams, including a Moth GrandSlam in San Francisco, and have appeared on The Moth MainStage. I have performed all over the SF Bay Area and am expanding to new spaces and faces. Storytelling has become my whole world.

What do you do when you’re not storytelling?

I am a writer, and I help other people edit their stories and improve their stage presence. I also recently gave in to a trend I swore I would never join, and I’ll admit it: pickleball is really fun.

Does the story you’re telling have a name?

The story is titled Road Therapy.

Tell us a little bit about this story. Why did you choose it for “Epic Fails”?

I had a lot going on in my life and in my head, and my therapist suggested I start a new hobby to motivate me to get outside and socialize. I was also struggling with the idea that I was reaching an age when there were physical activities I would not be able to do for much longer. I wondered, is middle age too late to start learning how to skateboard? Spoiler: the answer was yes.

Any thoughts on failure?

I have learned that the only way people can grow and change is when they’re allowed to make their own choices and their own mistakes. I say take the leap.

What makes a fail “Epic”?

For me, ‘epic fails’ involve vehicles with flashing lights on the roof. I have many stories that begin or end that way.

Who is your storytelling idol and why?

I grew up listening to Garrison Keillor tell stories on A Prairie Home Companion. I thought it was amazing that a person could make a living just by telling stories about the amazing people they love.

What’s your best piece of advice for someone who is a beginner and wants to learn how to tell a story?

Write down some thoughts and share them with friends. Their reactions can help you to improve your writing. Then, practice a few times, and get out on stage. Any stage. I sometimes do standup comedy, even though I’m really bad at it, because it helps me with my confidence. The more I stand in front of a crowd, the easier it gets.

Why should people come see “Epic Fails” on August 28?

I will tell you the story of a redeemable idiot who, despite having crashed every kind of vehicle known to man, from motorcycles to wild mustangs, keeps getting back up and finding new ways to learn old lessons. I will make you laugh, maybe cry, but ultimately believe that it’s never too late to take a leap and chase a dream.

Thanks, Max! If you want to see Max tell his EPIC Fail story, he’ll be at our show on August 28!

Get Tickets!

Max Houghton

is a writer, editor, human rights activist and multi-award-winning storyteller. He has won The Moth GrandSlam in San Francisco and has appeared on The Moth MainStage. His stories of learning through waves of epic failures entertain and inspire crowds of all ages. Follow him on Instagram @storiesToTheMax.

If Max's story got you even a little excited for August 28, consider becoming a paid subscriber. It helps us pay storytellers like Max for the work of standing up there and being honest with us. Suporting Nutshell also helps us make true, personal stories available to everyone on The Nutshell True Story Hour podcast. No pressure; just know it helps. xoxo, Amy

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Stay tuned, because we’re gonna try something new this month. Our teller spotlights are now going to include a short Q&A with each storyteller, and we’ll send those out to you once a week so you can get to know them throughout the month in preparation for the show on Aug 28th, which will be an EPIC showcase of EPIC failures culminating in an EPIC success of a night. I highly suggest you circle the date on your calendar and get your tickets now, as they are about 20% cheaper in advance.

Get tickets from The Sofia here!

The Four Foolish Storytellers

Tom Darci

Tom is the cofounder and cohost of Pretty Good Stories, a long-form storytelling showcase in Oakland. He’s also been featured at Simply Said, Conundrum Chronicles, StorySlam Oakland, Alameda StorySlam, and more. Tom thinks telling the same story over and over again in front of an audience just might be more therapeutic than actual therapy. When he’s not telling stories, you’ll find him on the pickleball court, knees permitting.

His Story: After surviving five days in the wilderness, the drive home seemed like the easy part. But that would not be the case for Tom and his family, nestled in their camper van, speeding down the freeway. What could go wrong, you ask? Well, how about everything?

Silvana Clark

Silvana began telling innovative stories to get a hall pass out of boring high school classes. Since then, she’s told stories to audiences ranging from the Canadian Llama Association to the Nude Recreation Association. She’s written twelve books, appeared on Fox’s Trading Spouses, and considers one of her greatest achievements to be training her dog to star in TV commercials and print ads.

Her story: Silvana and her husband are international house/pet sitters who always get five-star reviews because they do a great job taking care of pets. On a housesit in Portugal, the pet owner asked them to do an impossible task with one of her pets. They tried everything imaginable and still FAILED!

Max Houghton

Max is a writer, editor, human rights activist and multi-award-winning storyteller. He has won The Moth GrandSlam in San Francisco and has appeared on The Moth MainStage. His stories of learning through waves of epic failures entertain and inspire crowds of all ages. Follow him on Instagram @storiesToTheMax

His story: A therapist suggested Max start a new hobby to get outside and socialize. He wondered whether middle age was too late to start to learn how to skateboard, and spoiler: the answer was YES.

Kari Kiernan

Kari is a writer, storyteller, and Bay Area native. She has worked in both nonprofit theatre and high school administration and holds a Masters Degree she did not need and does not use. Over the past 20 years, she’s been onstage at Porchlight, the Throckmorton, The Vent!, and Literary Death Match, among others. She is a returning performer at Naked Truth and Redwood Nights. You can see some of her past work at Kari Kiernan.

Her story: It was just supposed to be a relaxing day at the spa. A rejuvenating act of self-care, nothing to see here, right? WRONG! (Cue the dramatic music!) Buh-bum-bummmmmmm!

Story Friends, you’re a great audience; you know that, right? We’ve been hanging with you for 1.5 years now, sharing together, listening together, showing up for each other in real life, out there in the big ol’ world. And it’s just gonna keep getting better.

EPIC Fails on August 28 is gonna be so much fun. I don’t know why it feels good to commiserate on our shortcomings and mistakes together, but it does. So let’s show up and support these brave and (fool)hardy tellers willing to go up there onstage and be our foils, our schlemiels and our schlimazels, our dum-dums, our accident-prone, and our silly-billies, all so we can listen, laugh, commiserate, and cheer them on for making the mistakes and reporting back so we don’t have to.

Take me to tickets!

I can’t wait to see you in real life, humans! You KNOW I love spending two hours in the dark with you! xoxo, Amy Bee and her two silly-billy buddies, Keith and Aaron

(P.S. Speaking of Keith ((HI, KEITH!)), Nutshell is hosted by the one and only Keith Lowell Jensen, who will hold the whole night together with his usual charm and impeccable comic timing. Consider yourself in good hands.)

If you enjoy what we’re building here, one of the most helpful ways to support it is by becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps us pay storytellers, pay ourselves, keep live shows going, and continue producing the Nutshell True Story Hour podcast for everyone to enjoy. No pressure, but it truly does make a difference.

And as always: showing up, listening, and bringing friends is already real support💜

Subscribe now

Johnny Taylor grew up with a mother with bipolar disorder with religious mania. That included bouts of serious delusions, which he first witnessed as a small child. It was often confusing, scary and strange. Without a doubt, it shaped the person he became as an adult.

He has been a comedian for many years, and leans into the storytelling style of comedy. But he’s rarely told the story about his mom on stage. It just never felt right for a comedy audience

But storytelling audiences are different! For our May 2026 Nutshell show (Cults, Crackpots and Swindlers), Johnny got real with our audience and told stories about his mom that he generally told off stage—ones where his mother was convinced that he was John the baptist, or that she was the real killer of Nicole Brown.

Though there still was some humor, it was dark, and an emotionally raw experience for him. After the story, we sat down with Johnny in his Roseville home to discuss the story. We learned a whole lot more about his mother, his siblings, the complexities of his family dynamics and how there’s enough for Johnny to make a 1-person show if he ever wants to.

The Nutshell Three:

Amy Bee

Keith Lowell Jensen

Aaron Carnes

Sound Engineer: Chris Reeves

Thank you to:

DJ Yuma Tripp for allowing us to use his song “Lazy Skank” for our episodes and our live show.

Hyperpixel for audio and video services.

Sofia Theatre for a beautiful stage to gather around.

Our photographer, Antonio Lovig.

Babalou and Suzon Lucore for watching over our event table and engaging with people in the best way possible.

We believe stories deserve to be heard and storytellers deserve to be paid, including the ones who make this podcast possible. If The Nutshell True Story Hour has ever made you laugh, cry, or feel a little less alone, consider becoming a paid subscriber. It's the most direct way to keep this going. And we are so grateful for every single person who does. xoxo, Amy

Subscribe now

Keith Staten is a Sacramento lawyer turned storyteller. But before he ever got on stage (or presented a convincing case to a jury), he spent his days “sigging.” As a kid in Vallejo, he and his friends would sling insults back and forth, supposedly in fun, though it could also be mean and hurtful. If you wanted to keep hanging with this crew, you had to develop a thick skin and hone a sharp tongue. Which is exactly what Keith did, and it served him well as a lawyer years later.

But not everyone took to sigging. Rita, Keith’s sibling, stayed at Keith’s family home for a while. Because she had to walk home with Keith and his friends, she soon became deeply enmeshed in the game of sigging, whether she wanted to or not. And when his friends piled on Rita with insults about her weight, Keith felt it was in his best interest to join in.

Keith told this story at the In a Nutshell Storytelling “All You Can Eat” show. It was a powerful and blunt performance, and at times the audience was asked to confront their own biases and consider whether it’s good or bad to be toughened up by insults.

After the story, we talked to Keith at his lawyer’s office. We had a fascinating conversation, and he explained the context and shared some pieces of the story that had been intentionally left out.

The Nutshell Three:

Amy Bee

Keith Lowell Jensen

Aaron Carnes

Sound Engineer: Chris Reeves

Thank you to:

DJ Yuma Tripp for allowing us to use his song “Lazy Skank” for our episodes and our live show.

Hyperpixel for audio and video services.

Sofia Theatre for a beautiful stage to gather around.

Our photographer, Antonio Lovig.

Babalou and Suzon Lucore for watching over our event table and engaging with people in the best way possible.

We believe stories deserve to be heard and storytellers deserve to be paid, including the ones who make this podcast possible. If The Nutshell True Story Hour has ever made you laugh, cry, or feel a little less alone, consider becoming a paid subscriber. It's the most direct way to keep this going. And we are so grateful for every single person who does. xoxo, Amy

Subscribe now

Get tickets to Best in Show!

This month’s theme is Best in Show: true stories about the animals in our lives. Not just the cuddly-wuddly Instagram versions. The real ones: complicated, convoluted, funny, and sometimes tragic. Often, the relationships we form with animals teach us more about ourselves than the human ones do.

There’s a reason animal stories hit different than most stories. We don’t just love our animals; we build entire emotional worlds around them. We project, we assume, we grieve them before they’re even gone—and sometimes, like storyteller Manuel, we don’t trust them at all. And somehow, that one-sidedness is exactly what makes the bond so specific, so revealing, and so occasionally devastating.

These are stories about what we do with that love (or distrust) that can’t be easily explained. About the unexpected joy that comes from sharing the tedium of daily life with a creature who lives entirely in the moment. About the loss that blindsides you harder than you predicted, because you didn’t know how much of yourself you’d handed to something with fur (or feathers). In these stories, a duck named Luna can carry an entire love story, a stray cat can define a decade, a pet shelter can be a secret, and sometimes, you meet the one dog that makes sure you’ll never tie yourself to an animal again.

Take me to The Sofia for Tickets!

The Storytellers

Chip Powell writes memoir, music essays, and poetry, and serves as Storyteller in Residence at Word of Mouth in Placerville. A regular at The Moth’s StorySLAM, he’s also the proprietor of Police Horse, a ukulele enthusiast, and a man permanently mid-improvement on his chess game.

His story: A stray black cat with more toes than seem physically reasonable found Chip on the worst day of his life. Pure stubbornness (his and the cat’s) has kept them together for years. Come hear about a man and his best friend, who just happens to be a tiny, yellow-eyed panther.

Diane Amos is a San Francisco-based actress, improv artist, and comedian best known as “The Pine-Sol Lady,” a role she has held for over 30 years. Her film credits include Nine Months, Copycat, Angels in the Outfield, and Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine. She was raised in San Francisco by two lesbian mothers, and it was an improv class at Washington High School that started the whole thing.

Her story: This is the story of the one dog that made sure Diane would never be a pet person.

Zai Gulmohar is a writer, filmmaker, and storyteller whose work explores migration, memory, ecology, and the bonds between humans and other animals. Originally from India and now based in California, she holds a PhD in French Literature from UC Davis and is currently directing a documentary on sound and belonging in western India. Her stories have appeared in print, onstage, and around campfires.

Her story: Zai befriends a beautiful white duck named Luna and becomes wrapped up in the dramas of her life—her romances, her obstacles, and one tragic night that shakes Zai to this day.

Manuel Camacho came to the US as an undocumented immigrant and is now a college professor, short-story writer, poet, and storyteller with three published bilingual (Spanish/English) books to his name.

His story: everyone assumes he doesn’t like dogs. It’s not that; he doesn’t trust them, and there’s a difference. Come find out why.

JP Frary (special guest) never thought he’d end up on a stage. In his mid-50s, he told a story at The Moth about the worst thing that ever happened to him, and now no one can shut him up. He says storytelling is cheaper than therapy, and plus, the therapist never applauded. He’s the Resident Storyteller at Redwood Nights in Fairfax and a 13-time Moth StorySLAM winner.

His story: he and his wife agreed: no more pets. So naturally, JP started secretly volunteering at a pet shelter.

Nutshell is hosted by the one and only Keith Lowell Jensen [HI KEITH!], who will hold the whole beautiful night together with his usual charm and impeccable comic timing. Consider yourself in good hands.

Why you should be at this show:

Here’s what I know about our audience: you are curious, you are open-hearted, and you understand that showing up in real life, in a room with other humans, listening together, is one of the few things that still feels like genuine connection in this world.

That exchange, that quiet, mutual act of showing up, is special. It’s magical! And when it happens, you feel it for days. That’s what you come for. That’s what you carry home. That’s what you’re still thinking about on Monday.

This is one of those nights. Don’t be the person who meant to go. There are no regrets in going!

🎟️ Tickets are here—cheaper in advance, and seats will go early!

I can’t WAIT to see you at this one, humans! You know how much I LOVE seeing you in real life.

xoxo, Maxi the dog’s one and only Amy Bee, Marmalade and Jabberwocky’s Keith Lowell Jensen, and Maxi the dog’s favorite dude, Aaron Carnes)

If you enjoy what we’re building here, one of the most helpful ways to support it is by becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps us pay storytellers, pay ourselves, keep live shows going, and continue producing the Nutshell True Story Hour podcast for everyone to enjoy. No pressure, but it truly does make a difference.

And as always: showing up, listening, and bringing friends is already real support💜

(You’re receiving this email because you either signed up for it or interacted somehow with Keith, Amy, or Aaron in the past. We’re so glad you’re here!)

This is a short clip from storyteller Alex Paez, who’ll be joining us for NSFW on June 26.

A sexy office romance? Oh hell yeah!

One day, Becky Lynn found herself on the other side of a long-term relationship, finally with enough distance and a healthy headspace to get back out there. It’d been a long time since she’d been on the dating scene, and much had changed. How does one even find “Mr. Right” nowadays? And did she even want a Mr. Right, something serious? She wasn’t totally sure. But then she DID meet Mr. Right, the perfect man, someone she might be able to build a fulfilling life with. So Becky jumped in, heart first.

Soon, something happened that made it clear Mr. Right was living a double life. Faced with the crushing reality that the man she loved had been lying to her, she weighed her options and came up with three solutions. At our live show, Becky tells the audience her three solutions, lets them choose which one she should’ve acted on, and ends her harrowing, emotional story without saying what she ultimately decided.

Fortunately, when we interviewed Becky for this podcast episode, she dishes on all the details, including her choices for dealing with a lying fool and why she handled it the way she did. It’s a fantastic conversation!

We also get updates on her love life. Spoiler alert: Things have gotten much better.

Becky has her feet firmly planted in the storytelling scene and the comedy world. For more info, go here. 

The Nutshell Three:

Amy Bee

Keith Lowell Jensen

Aaron Carnes

Sound Engineer: Chris Reeves

Thank you to:

DJ Yuma Tripp for allowing us to use his song “Lazy Skank” for our episodes and our live show.

Hyperpixel for audio and video services.

Sofia Theatre for a beautiful stage to gather around.

Our photographer, Antonio Lovig.

Babalou and Suzon Lucore for watching over our event table and engaging with people in the best way possible.

We believe stories deserve to be heard and storytellers deserve to be paid, including the ones who make this podcast possible. If The Nutshell True Story Hour has ever made you laugh, cry, or feel a little less alone, consider becoming a paid subscriber. It's the most direct way to keep this going. And we are so grateful for every single person who does. xoxo, Amy

Subscribe now

Hey story friends!

Friday is in three days, and I have one question for you:

Are you coming?

Because if you’ve been thinking about it, and I suspect some of you have, this is me telling you: come. It’s going to be one of those nights you’ll remember.

Can we talk about Dixie De La Tour for a second? Because I want to make sure you understand what it means that she’s coming to Sacramento.

Dixie is the founder of Bawdy Storytelling, aka “The Moth for Pervs,” according to the LA Weekly, and this year marks its 20th anniversary. For two decades, she has created space for people to tell the truth about their bodies, desires, identities, shame, and joy, when almost no one else was doing so. She didn’t just create and produce shows. She built a culture. She changed what was possible to share onstage and in storytelling form. She is, in the storytelling world, genuinely iconic. And one of the warmest humans you’ll ever meet. Go say hi to her after the show. Seriously.

Her story? Well, Dixie is going to take the stage and tell you about the birthday orgy she threw to honor a friend who passed away. It’s the kind of story only Dixie could tell, and she’s gonna tell it to US!

I mean, come on. You HAVE to hear this, right?

We also have three other fabulous tellers with titillating tales: Addy Sakler is gonna tell you about the awakening that came after a lifetime of intimacy that never quite landed. Amber Elektra is going to tell you about a back-page ad and fate stepping in for quality control. And Alex Paez is going to tell you about the lunch that was not a lunch—although there was eating out?—I dunno! You’ll have to come find out yourself!

Four people. Four true stories. One Friday night at The Sofia.

And here’s the thing about this kind of show, the NSFW kind, the bawdy kind, the honest-about-bodies-and-desire-and-ourselves kind: people leave feeling oddly validated and seen, even if the teller’s thing isn’t their thing. It’s kinda life-affirming. It’s definitely magic, like all good storytelling is. 

⚠️ Fair warning: this is an adults-only show. Sex will be discussed honestly, bravely, and yes, sometimes explicitly. If that’s not your cup of tea, no hard feelings (Animal stories in July!). But if it IS your cup of tea, or even if you’re just curious, Friday night is calling.

One more thing: tickets are still cheaper in advance than at the door. That gap closes Friday night. Grab yours now and save 20%.

🎟️ Get your tickets here: 

Get tickets to NSFW

📅 Friday, June 26 | 7pm | The Sofia, Sacramento

Don’t be the person who meant to go!

And finally, I mean this sincerely: shows like this one need an audience to exist. The Sofia is one of Sacramento's great venues, and getting to host a NSFW storytelling show there with Dixie De La Tour headlining is not something we take for granted. If we fill those seats on Friday, we’ll get to do more shows like this one, ones that explore the many twists and turns of being human. If you've ever wanted Sacramento to have more of this kind of night—brave, honest, adult, alive—Friday is how you vote for that. With your presence. In that room.

Come sit with us. You KNOW I can’t wait to see you there in real life, humans!

xoxo, Amy Bee (and her two hot-peppered buddies, Keith and Aaron)

P.S. A birthday orgy, grief, and joy. Three days. Come on. You gotta!

This is a short clip from storyteller Amber Elektra, who’ll be joining us for NSFW on June 26.

Oh man, what a hook! I gotta hear this whole story. Can’t wait!