Put your best foot forward with a

STORY TUNE-UP.

It’s like a bike tune-up, but for stories and presentations. No grease involved.

(Unless you’re committing to a musical number, which is a bold choice and… let’s discuss.)

With a Story Tune-Up, you’ll have the clarity and confidence to:

Give a keynote speech that feels like you, at your absolute BEST

Pitch an idea to secure funding

Finish your film (or memoir, or TV pilot, or…)

Finally tell a story that’s been stuck inside for decades

I got into story coaching because I love helping people craft meaningful stories.

You don’t have to be a comedian or share your most vulnerable story to captivate an audience.

All you need is an idea that you feel passionate about — and a trusted partner for focused feedback. That’s where I come in: your personal story guide/nerdy cheerleader (who is partial to a solid bike metaphor).

What we do in a story tune-up:

  • Clean it up

    Get to the heart of your story faster, deeper, and with more YOU. Together, we’ll find a structure that captivates your audience the whole way through.

  • Tighten the Brakes

    Know exactly what piece of information to cut and what joke to punch up (or if you should tell a joke at all!). No screw goes unturned!

  • Safety Check

    Gain confidence and clarity around what you want to share and why. Presenting and telling stories can feel risky and during our time together, we’ll make sure you’re equipped for every scenario. Helmets, for example.

  • Put on those cute little shorts and get in the bike lane*

    Get the job, funding, laugh, or sense of accomplishment knowing you put the best version of your story or presentation into the world.

    *Perfect example of when you take a metaphor too far (though I am NOT sorry, I’m kind of getting into this).

From personal projects to your highest career ambitions, I’m here to help you create something you’re proud of.

  • Micaela coached me for a presentation at a high profile national conference. She helped me clarify how I describe what I do, and this clarity worked its way into my slides AND my prepared remarks. Her questions and suggestions helped me appeal to the widest possible audience— and as a result, the response was great! People wanted to know more about my work— which is exactly what I hoped for.

    Joe Salvatore, NYU

  • Micaela's instincts for narrative are truly special - she not only knows what the story needs, she knows what the storyteller needs to tell the story.

    Sam Dingman, creator and host, Family Ghosts

  • I had the great joy of working with Micaela on a story I was developing for a live event. She helped me to brainstorm ideas around a specific theme and narrow down my options to the one that felt just right for this particular night. Her humor, warmth and support gave me the confidence to see my story develop from the seed of an idea into a fully realized 15 minute long piece. We had check-ins along the way and that helped me to stay on track. What I found incredibly valuable was her ability to give me guided feedback and questions to consider as my story found its footing. She never imposed an idea of what the story "should be", but helped me to find what it wanted to be, in my style and voice.

    Melle Powers

  • Micaela Blei, PhD is a wizard at storytelling.

    Meg Ferrill, Nimbly Insights

Questions?

Ask me all your questions here, or book a free, 15-minute phone call with me to see if we’re a fit.

How does it work?

Step 1: Schedule a 15-minute call with me here. We’ll talk about your project and I’ll send you information to register. My rates start at $199 per project.

Step 3: Once you’re booked, you’ll get a confirmation email from me with a link to schedule your sessions (or instructions to share your work).

Step 4: We’ll meet. You’ll have as much or as little homework as YOU have time for.

Step 5: You’ll dazzle them with your story! (And make them think you’ve been training all your life.)

About your story coach

I’m Micaela Blei.

I've got 12 years of experience coaching storytellers and working in corporate and nonprofit storytelling. I co-founded the Moth Education program and developed their Education curriculum— which is now used by thousands of teachers and students worldwide. I also won a couple GrandSLAMs and tour nationally with their acclaimed MainStage show. So I walk the walk.

In 2018, I headlined the opening keynote for South by Southwest EDU. It was their first ever sold out ballroom of 9,000 people. I was nervous and I did it anyway, and you can too. 

While I’ve got a PhD in storytelling and I do love story structure — storytelling is so much more than following a formula or getting information across. It's about letting people into your experience, and letting them connect to you.

Telling a story or giving a presentation is a courageous act, but you’ll be astonished at what can happen when you do the work. And check your tire pressure. And pedal in a higher gear. (I promise we won’t talk about bikes in our Tune-Ups together).