TL; DR: A new cohort of The Storytellers’ Circle starts November 2! Join for $250, and I have payment plans available.
Hey Beautiful People,
I don’t know what I expected 2026 to be, but it wasn’t this! That damn fire horse the astrology girlies were talking about tossed me to and fro all year. At some point I said, “you know what? You got it.” I let it run into the sunset, leaving a cloud of dust in its trail. I wish it well on its journey.
After the dust settled and I recollected myself, I got a chance to look around and appreciate all I’d blurred past while hanging on for dear life. Things like You Had Me at Black celebrating 10 years! The Community Core reaching 6 months! Organizing a festival! The Storytellers’ Circle completing its first cohort! Bracing myself for every gallop and bump, I forgot to look up. I almost missed the beauty of terracotta hues and purple sunsets. Sometimes, you’ll find rejuvenation in the desert.
All Were Brave
In our early days, my sister and I made the decision to focus on passing the mic to everyday people over influencers, personalities and celebrities. Over time, that decision proved to be the right choice. The way folks transform throughout the storytelling experience became one of my favorite parts of You Had Me At Black.
Back in the day, I’d comb Instagram and hop in strangers’ DMs to ask if they’d like to tell a story. Some of the folks who said yes were skeptical, many were nervous, and all were brave. Most had never done something like this before, sharing a personal story in front of strangers. But by the end of our time together, regardless of how they came in, every single one emerged as a storyteller.
What Your Story Can Awaken
I love storytelling for what it can teach us about ourselves. The scales it can shake off. The things it can awaken, the light it can spark. The power it unlocks.
You’ve never shared a personal story before but now you have, and you feel more confident telling people about that idea that’s been keeping you up at night for years.
You haven’t really thought deeply about that moment and how you handled yourself since it happened, but now you have, and you’re calling that family member to reconcile.
You didn’t think you had a single story to tell at first but now you know that you contain multitudes, and you’re speaking up more at work and setting boundaries you should’ve been set a long time so.
The distance between where we are and where we want to be is the length of a story: the story we tell ourselves about what is possible. You never/ haven’t/ didn’t before, but now you have written a new future for yourself and are moving boldly in its direction.
One of the most common responses I receive to our stories is something along the lines of, “Everyone sounds so good, I could never sound like them.”
Oh baby, yes you could!
Many don’t realize that every storyteller on our podcast has been coached, using a framework that’s now been refined over 100 stories and 5 years. We’d help folks mine their memories, then spend a few weeks developing one into a story. During COVID I started coaching storytellers virtually in small groups, and that unlocked a new special layer of camaraderie and community.
This is what you can expect within The Storytellers’ Circle - a five-week small group journey to excavate our memories, develop a story, and perform it for each other.
The best part is that the skills you learn you can carry with you for life, and you’ll leave with a keepsake recording of your story.
But don’t take it from me, here’s what folks in the first cohort had to say:
“This was such a validating and empowering experience. The small cohort size made it really easy to be vulnerable and experiment.”
“It really has given me so much - more than I could have ever imagined… I really appreciate this reawakening - the experience was affirmation I really needed. Thank you for being you and sharing your gifts and medicine with us so generously.”
The next cohort begins Monday, November 2 and meets for 5 weeks. Join me for $250. I offer payment plans. Only 5 spots are available.
Peace,
Martina
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com
