Podcasts Business Storytelling School How Your Reactions Influence the Stories You Tell

How Your Reactions Influence the Stories You Tell

Published: Oct. 4, 2023, 7 a.m.

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I\\u2019m in Los Angeles at the beginning of my Improv exploration. During an advanced class I\\u2019m taking, I go out on stage to do my scene.

As I\\u2019m sitting there, painting my nails in this scene, my scene partner comes in and starts suddenly lighting fireworks and firecrackers all around me. I go on painting my nails, not reacting to the situation.

The instructor stops the scene right there and says, \\u201cKymberlee, react.\\u201d\\xa0

I\\u2019m thinking, \\u201cWhat do you mean? I\\u2019m focused. I\\u2019m painting my nails.\\u201d

She responds, \\u201cI need you to react with the fireworks going on around you. What\\u2019s your point of view on that? Do you care? Do you not care? Even if you don\\u2019t, we need you to react in some way.\\u201d

Lightbulb moment.\\xa0

So often, we as storytellers and speakers are so focused on getting to the end of the story or the speech. We\\u2019re trying to make sure we deliver every line and paragraph correctly that we forget to react and respond to what just happened. And oftentimes, that reaction might just be internal.\\xa0

My guest today, Niccole Thurman, lives a life reacting as an actress, writer, and Improv performer. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you\\u2019ll hear about how she does it and answers questions like:

What\\u2019s the difference in choosing how you react within a role or character in life (or through Improv) versus a scripted version? What different facets can flow into creating a variety of characters? And what can you do when you\\u2019re having trouble adapting to a role or character?

What you will learn in this episode:

  • How to best get into the head of a character you\\u2019re creating (or co-creating)
  • How to deal with rejection as a storyteller (or in life generally)
  • What story element truly makes comedy work and go viral

Who is Niccole?

Niccole Thurman is a Los Angeles-based actress and WGA award-winning writer. She is the voice of Jabberjaw, Squiddly Diddly and Dee Dee Sykes in the HBOMax series Jellystone. Her past work includes voiceovers and appearances on: Grace and Frankie and Desperados (Netflix); Kenan , Indebted, and Superstore (NBC); A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO); and Shrill (Hulu). She was also a correspondent on Comedy Central\\u2019s The Opposition w/ Jordan Klepper.

As a writer Niccole has worked on the ESPYs, the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards (hosted By Jimmy Kimmel), Sherman\\u2019s Showcase (AMC), Baking It (Peacock), Haute Dog (HBO Max), Phoebe Robinson\\u2019s show Everything is Trash (Freeform), and Robert Smigel\\u2019s Let\\u2019s Be Real (Fox).

Links and Resources

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