Facing the Fear: Finding the Courage to Tell My Story at My First Moth StorySLAM

They say the fear of public speaking outranks even the fear of death. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health, 75% of people rank it as their number one fear. I’m no exception. Standing in front of a room full of strangers, with all eyes on me, has always been something I dreaded—and avoided. Yet, courage, as Nassim Nicholas Taleb wrote in Skin in the Game, “is the only virtue you cannot fake.” If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my career, it’s that courage and authenticity are essential, especially in storytelling and communications.

For the past five years, I’ve critiqued c-suite executives' public speaking, media presence, and ability to deliver compelling stories. I’ve helped them prepare for live interviews, refine their messaging, and push them to embrace authenticity and poise. But as I kept encouraging them to face the camera or podium, I realized I needed to “walk the talk” myself. If I’m going to advise my clients to step into the spotlight, I should be willing to do the same. And so, I decided to tackle my fear head-on and signed up for my first Moth StorySLAM this week.

Why Storytelling Matters

Storytelling is more than sharing information. It’s about creating connection and meaning—the heartbeat of effective communication and the reason public relations programs resonate. As Matthew Dicks, a master storyteller and 58-time Moth StorySLAM winner, writes in Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling, “We all have our own Mount Everests to summit.” It’s an idea that resonates with me, as storytelling, after all, is one of the ways we can climb those mountains.

In a recent episode of The Knowledge Project podcast with Shane Parrish, Dicks emphasized the importance of stakes, suspense, surprise, and humor in every story, calling them the "Mount Rushmore" of storytelling:

“The world is filled with information. The internet exists. You’re competing against every bit of information that has ever existed on the planet. So you better give me a reason to listen.”

Whether it's a story shared in a meeting, on a podcast, or at an open mic, good storytelling brings people in and keeps audiences engaged.

Taking the Stage at The Moth StorySLAM

With Dicks’s words ringing in my ears, I arrived at my first Moth StorySLAM earlier this week at WBUR CitySpace in Boston. The theme for the night was “YES, CHEF!” and I knew exactly what story I wanted to tell: the time I challenged a Michelin-trained chef to a duel in his own kitchen. My heart was pounding as I took the stage, ready to dive into five minutes of storytelling. The room was packed, and the supportive energy was palpable. I knew I was about to face my biggest fear, but in a way that would leave a lasting impact.

As I told my story—reliving the heat, intensity, and fiery tension of that kitchen duel—I felt a mixture of exhilaration and relief. I wasn’t just sharing a story; I was proving to myself that I could do it. By the end, the audience response was beyond what I’d hoped for. A regular Moth storyteller told me it was one of the best stories he’d heard on the local stage, which meant a lot to me. I also made a new friend who came up to me after the show, telling me she’d faced similar challenges in the same kitchen (we’re getting drinks next month!). And I was thrilled to find out that I’d come in second place, just a few fractions of a point behind the first-place winner who had a score of 27.8, with a score of 27.2.

What made the night even more special was a surprise visit from my colleague, Anisa Lacey, a Senior Account Executive at Greenough Communications, who came to cheer me on (how luck am I to be on such a supportive team?!).

Lessons Learned  

Looking back, this experience reminded me why storytelling is essential. Public speaking requires courage, authenticity, and, most importantly, connection. Now, when I advise clients to find their voice, I truly understand what it means because I’ve lived it. From now on, whenever I’m crafting a story on behalf of my clients, I’ll ask myself—as Matthew Dicks does—are there stakes? Is there suspense? Is there surprise or humor?  

The next time I step on stage (and, yes, I will be back at The Moth), I want to push those boundaries further and continue honing the craft. And if you ever get the chance to stand up in front of an audience, whether at a StorySLAM or in any other setting, challenge yourself to take it. As Steve Jobs once said, “The storyteller sets the vision, values, and agenda of an entire generation that is to come.” In a world brimming with information, it’s the stories we tell that make us memorable, and it’s through storytelling that we shape the future. So find your courage, face your fears, and go for it.

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