I’ve been telling stories since I learned to talk. I was lucky enough to grow up in a storytelling family, so I come from a long line of inspiration. My father used to make up stories about an imaginary superhero named “Tom Tuchus.” (Inside joke: In Yiddish, “tuchus” means “butt.” A guaranteed laugh!) My mother told us poignant stories about her childhood sufferings. And my Grandma Elsie was a prize-winning orator in the recitation contests of her day, famous for her prodigious memory for names, faces, and biographies. These are my roots.

As a child, I fell in love with the folktales and myths that I found in the 398 section of the library. Then, as a student at UC Berkeley, I saw a professional storyteller, Nancy Schimmel, perform, and I was hooked. I finally knew the name of the thing I’d always wanted to be.

Since college, I’ve performed from Bolivia to Scotland to Fiji, sharing folktales and personal stories, and improvising stories based on audience suggestions right on the spot.

My passion is helping others find their authentic storytelling voice. Because when you can become the narrator of your own stories, you gain control over the story of your life.