Creating Stage-Worthy Personal Stories Workshop with Kent Whipple

Unleash your inner storyteller and captivate your audience, whether it's in a professional setting, among friends and family, or on stage. Gain confidence and bring your stories to life. Share your unique narrative and make a lasting impression.
Learn the power of personal storytelling and the art of vulnerability in this fun 8-week class. Develop relatable, engaging, and entertaining personal stories from your life experiences. The workshop explores the art of oral storytelling, including story creation, enhancement, and presentation. You'll learn simple, practical story guidelines and step-by-step tools to create honest and incredible stories.
Kent Whipple, founder of the storytelling program at Unexpected Productions Improv School, is the instructor. He teaches intro and advanced classes, is the narrative coach for the improv ensemble, and hosts Inside Story, a storytelling show. He was also featured on the PBS show, Stories from the Stage, showcasing the power of real stories told by masterful storytellers.
This workshop is suitable for novice storytellers, or to enhance the skills of a seasoned performer. Attendance at the first session is mandatory, as it sets the agenda for the entire class.
Skills taught in class include successful storytelling techniques, identifying story arcs, creating story stakes, identifying story-worthy material, and gaining audience trust. The objective is to create a stage-worthy story to be presented in front of a live audience.
Date and Time: 8 weeks, 8 Saturdays, Jan 9 to Feb 26, 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Location: 1428 Post Alley, Seattle, WA, 98101
Maximum Students: 12
About the Teacher: Kent Whipple Kent Whipple is a storytelling teacher, coach, and performer who helps people turn lived experiences into honest, engaging stories. Whether you have a story you’ve wanted to tell for years or aren’t sure where to begin, Kent helps you discover what matters, find the details that bring it to life, and tell it in a way that feels like you.

As founder of the storytelling program at Unexpected Productions Improv School in Seattle, Kent teaches introductory and advanced classes and serves as narrative coach for the ensemble. He is also the story coach for Ignite Seattle and Senior Producer for The Story Collider in Seattle. His approach combines practical tools for structure and delivery with curiosity, attentive listening, and respect for each storyteller’s voice. Students explore humor, vulnerability, and meaning while learning to connect with an audience.

Kent won the first Moth StorySLAM he entered and became a Moth GrandSLAM champion in March 2023. He was named Best of Bawdy Storyteller in 2019 by audience vote, has been featured three times on the RISK! podcast, and appeared on PBS’s Stories from the Stage in March 2022. He has also shared storytelling guidance on KUOW and performed at Fresh Ground Stories, The Story Collider, the Intersections Festival, and Over the Rainbow Storytelling.

His teaching and coaching experience includes work with the University of Washington Medical School, World Health Organization, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft, Yelp, and WE Communications. Through The Story Collider, he has hosted programs featuring Boise State University students and co-hosted Voices of Open Science with the Allen Institute. He brings that breadth of experience to working with first-time storytellers and seasoned performers alike.

Kent holds a B.A. in Arts Administration from the College of Santa Fe. His training includes mentorship with Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones, and study with Larry Rosen of The Moth; Kevin Allison, creator of RISK!; Margot Leitman, author of Long Story Short; Matthew Dicks, author of Storyworthy; and poet Joan Logghe.

At the heart of his teaching is a simple belief: you don’t need an extraordinary life to tell a compelling story. Your experiences are worth exploring, and your voice is worth hearing. https://www.facebook.com/Kentstoryteller/

"Such a great telling of the story and the audience reaction was amazing."Kevin Allison, Risk! Podcast,

“Kent Whipple is a treasure.” Paul Currington, Producer, Fresh Ground Stories

"Such a great telling of the story and the audience reaction was amazing."Kevin Allison, Risk! Podcast,

Cancellation policy: We apologize, but we are unable to offer refunds within two weeks of a class starting.