Storyteller Spotlight Q&A: Meet the man behind "Road Therapy"

Max Houghton on EPIC Fails

Welcome to Nutshell’s Storyteller Spotlight, where we give you a chance to get to know this month’s storytellers a little more. We asked our four storytellers to answer a few questions about stories and storytelling. August 28’s theme is “EPIC Fails.” It’s true, it’s personal, it’s LIVE, and it’s gonna be a lot of fun.

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!

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