I really enjoyed this podcast for a long time. Matthew has a systems approach to storytelling, and he is a great communicator. The structure of the podcast was consistent and I learned a lot from his examples and analysis. And then something happened. He became political. Something began to bleed from his personal life into the podcast, and whether he realized it or not, began to make subversive political statements and occasionally was insulting to people who didn’t think quite like him. That’s when he lost me.

I really enjoyed the “Remember Your Story” episode with Thomas Krafft - such a lovely conversation to help us all remember to telling our life stories and how to remember the content when you’re on stage. Is it better to memorize it word for word or something else? Great tips!!

I never knew storytelling was even a thing people did and worked on. I happened upon Matt who was a guest on another podcast I listen to and was so interested in his story and info so I started listening. So many great stories and I love hearing both his and his wife’s thoughts about the craft of storytelling. I absolutely loved the Storytelling Workshop Sneak Peek episode! It was soooo interesting to hear stories from beginners who are working on them. I hope they do another one like that. It also made me think I might enjoy participating in one of his workshops.

Heard Matthew first time on the Risk. I’m really enjoying Matt & Elyssa”s program.

Matthew and Elysha have a wonderful dynamic in which they are so kind and respectful to each other even when they disagree. They bring to life stories which I thought were mundane or just regular occurrences. I haven’t yet begun telling stories on stage, but I have paid more attention to the stories I tell to others. We share life with so many people that we barely know. Sharing stories has been the bridge to a new level of building relationships. These relationships and the intimacy that we share through stories will always be more treasured than material possessions. Thank you for shedding light on a whole new world for me.

I’ve become obsessed with storytelling over the past decade... not just listening to them, but also telling and coaching. This podcast offers the best of all worlds: sharing stories; breaking stories down, explaining what works and why/what can be improved and why (and how); and taking steps to inspire me to consider the story worthy moments of my own life. All this, delivered with the beautiful-to-experience camaraderie of the hosts, married couple Elysha Dicks and Matthew Dicks. I am simultaneously keeping up with them as I go through their backlog. Thank you, Elysha and Matthew!

Highly entertaining. I am hooked.

I just started listening, and I am already hooked. I am doing homework for life daily, and I have already written five stories in just over a week. I cannot wait to share my stories with my students when we return to school!

This is a fantastic storytelling podcast, especially if you're working on your own craft, because brilliant story coaches Matt and Elysha break down each story.

Absolutely one of my favorite podcasts. The stories are always excellent (since they come from the carefully curated live Speak Up events), and the commentary from Elysha and Matt makes you appreciate why they're so good. Matt is a master storyteller (he literally wrote the book on it), and is committed to sharing his knowledge with everyone. Even if you never bring your own stories to the stage, you should be recognizing and preserving the stories in your life.

I love this podcast as it’s “Game Day” for storytelling. Listening to a story and having it deconstructed into art and science is insightful beyond belief. The analysis and preparation required to tell a great story is studied in each episode. I’m a huge fan of this podcast and have been a subscriber to Matt’s email for over a year now.

This pod cast is the perfect blend of education and entertainment. There is a great variety of topics, lessons and humor. I am a self described pod cast aficionado and probably listen to 4-6 a day while working and this is one of only two that I am up to date on (I’ve listened to every last one). When a new one drops, it goes to the top of my playlist.

I really wanted to continue to listen to this podcast. The podcast’s agenda for each episode is great. Only problem is I hear things like OMG a lot and it happens on many episodes. That type of language offends me so I stopped listening. I tried again several months later and it still happens so I unsubscribed.

So inspired. I have already recruited my husband and son to start homework for life - a way to view, document, and share key moments in your life in a more deliberate way. Thank you

The Dicks have magical chemistry, good structure and honeyed voices. If you want to discover how stories can elicit the whole spectrum of emotions in your work-saturated mind, listen to this podcast! Not only did I experienced laughters but sadness, joy, anger or nostalgia, listening to those recorded stories. Understanding how this magic works have delighted my scientific mind, but is a melted cherry at the center of their podcast cake.

I would suggest this podcast to anyone with an inquisitive and thirsty mind, and a story to tell. I’ve never told a story quite like the ones featured in these episodes, but it is a new goal to have one or two in the bag and get up and tell them, wherever I can. It’s strange, but after learning even the basics about storytelling, it seams like something I just need to try. Thank you, Speak Up!

If you are looking for an entertaining, funny and thoroughly enjoyable podcast which helps you feel more connected to other human beings, with the added benefit of helping you to find stories in your life and tell them well, you are in the right place. I stumbled upon the Speak Up Storytelling podcast when someone recommended the practice of Matthew’s Homework for Life(TM), and I googled it. I started at the beginning of the podcast, and was hooked with episode one. Nearly every day since, Matthew and Elysha Dicks have kept me company as I do my dishes, clean my house and wrestle with the stories of several decades of life, which often resist my efforts to corral and share them in a coherent way. I love the banter and deep affection obvious between the husband-wife team; I enjoy the professional quality and predictable format of most episodes—I’ve found some new favorite things through the weekly “recommendations” segment—and I also value the variety added by occasional special episodes. The featured stories from various storytellers are funny, heartwarming, well-crafted and well-told, and Matt freely shares valuable advice on finding, structuring and sharing stories for maximum clarity, impact and emotional power. I recently applied what I’m learning from the Speak Up podcast at a local storytelling meetup, and the host complimented me on diving right into the action of my story before sharing background information, a skill I learned from Matt. The host also told me that, with a little work, my story could fit right in on a Moth storytelling stage. And I used to be the one who bored with too much background info! This podcast works. Recently, I have watched the archive of past episodes dwindle as I burn through them—I have a lot of dishes to wash! Two days ago, I recorded my chagrin at being almost caught up in my Homework for Life entry. Today, I finished the most recent episode. I am more than a little bereft at the loss of as much Speak Up Storytelling as I want, whenever I want. Which brings me to the only problem I have with this podcast...it makes me wish I lived next door to Matthew and Elysha, instead of across the country because, after seventy-something episodes, they feel like friends.

I just stumbles upon the Storyworthy book and website, which led me to this podcast. After just one episode, I feel like I've not only learned so much but have so many new story strategies to try.... Not to mention tons of new content to consume between the previous 75 episodes and the other recommendations. So thank you. Can't wait to dive in, hear more, and start sharing more of my own stories.

I’m writing this review to say a huge thanks to Matthew and Elysha. I believe in giving back when something is really good! I listen (or have) to podcasts like “How I Built This," "Radio Lab," Freakonomics," "The TED Radio Hour," "Wait, Wait..." "Revisionist History”, etc...and this year, “Speak Up" has dominated my driving time. Listening to great stories is fun and thought provoking. Speak Up takes remarkable stories and packs in great insights about what makes a good listen. Hosts, Matt and Elysha, have a great way of inviting you into their family relationships and friendships while teaching the art of being authentic and real. They teach how to capture life on a daily basis and how to take some of life's highlights/lowlights and share them effectively with others. BTW, I also recommend Matthew's book, "Storyworthy." Really enjoyable (even if you're not into telling stories). Matthew and Elysha wrap the podcast in a dialogue, offering simple and pragmatic thoughts on life. I like their weekly "recommendation" they provide at the end. Speak Up has certainly made my life a richer. Thanks!

The most powerful form of teaching a principle is through story telling. This Pod cast is a great and entertaining way to learn how to tell stories and convey principles.

Matt, I am a senior engineering student finishing college soon. I recently was flown out to an interview where one of the things I was being judged on was a 4 minute presentation with no guidelines other than I wasn’t able to use any props or a PowerPoint. Through months of journaling, practicing, and practicing my skills I was able to tell a story about the importance of introductions. Because of your help my story impressed them. In front of all the candidates, the director of the program congratulated me on my story! Needless to say, with over 2,000 candidates I was one of four selected. I believe I am qualified but what really made me stand out what my ability to communicate and tell that story. Big fan of your book, I have gifted it to many members of my family. Thanks for the show. This is a crucial to have. Since getting your book I found a great woman who shockingly, fell in love with me because of my stories.

Matt, for someone with children I am disappointed that you choose to use vulgarity so much in your storytelling. I have been an avid listener and believe you are truly gifted. However, when I sit down with my children to listen and you feel you need to drop F bombs... I agree that vulgarity emphasizes a point, however I also feel you can get the same emphasis through a more constructive manner. Appreciate the viewpoint shared! Matt responded to my complaint and I didn’t realize individual episodes had ratings that warned us ahead of time. Keep up the great work!

As someone who has been teaching Podcasting for 15 years, I now tell all my students to read Matthew’s book, and listen to this podcast. I love listening to the stories, and then seeing if I agree with all of Matthew’s points. I started doing homework for life, and it’s amazing.

I've been binge listening to this podcast for 3+ months, so truthfully I listen to Elysha and Matt's voices more than anyone else in the world right now. They are amazing human beings and they do a great job pointing out the factors of an amazing story. I love how Elysha's calm and free flowing personality offsets Matt's resolute and analytical personality. It's not uncommon for me to listen to 3 episodes of the podcast in a day, or even to re-listen to an episode I've just heard. The most transformative lesson I've learned is how to recognize 5 second moments that hold so much meaning in my life. The only thing I don't utilize at the moment is the recommendations at the end of each episode, but that's mostly because I'm not fully caught up and I don't believe there is a better recommendation for storytelling than just listening to the next episode (maybe when I'm all caught up I'll go back and start checking out any the recommendations). Anyway, this is a great podcast... And if you've read this far into the review I'm sure you already know that.

Hi folks. I have been a story slammer teller for 3-4 years, and although I have met Matt and Alecia a few times and told 1x at speak up, I had no idea how to bring up my game until I started binging the podcast last spring. My 30 year old daughter said we should do a moth together and asked for my advise. I told her to listen to your podcast and she did and came up with a great story. I cant wait for our Moth next month. thanks Don F.

I heard Matthew on the Art of Manliness podcast, watched the TED talk, and now listen to SpeakUp religiously. I won’t have room for other podcasts until I clear all the back episodes. I’m 30 days into Homework for Life and just ordered the book Storyworthy and am signing up for one of Matthew’s storytelling workshops. What I really appreciate about the podcast is the structure Matthew and Elysha follow. It breaks up the podcast into meaningful sections and makes it easy to pause at a transition or end of a story. Elysha is a delightful foil to Matthew and wish them many long and happy years together and great success. This podcast is changing how I view myself and the world around me and is helping me to be more present and to see my life and what is going on around me in a new way.

Entertaining, but so much more. After each story there’s a breakdown of what worked and what could be improved. I just finished his book Storyworthy, a how-to on the telling a good story. Read it and you’ll never tell a boring story again.

I am obsessed with this podcast. I listen to several a week. I am also doing Homework for Life.

My 90-year old father tells a story beautifully. I’ve long admired this gift yet felt my own abilities in this area were greatly lacking. Now I have a very practical handbook to help me grown and learn at my own pace. Thank you Matt and Elysha for this terrific podcast and Matt, for your wonderful Storyworthy book!!! PS, there is a fabulous ripple effect going on in my world from your input!

Great podcast. I’ve listened to every episode over the last few months. Lots of good advice that I’ve found helpful. I would give it 5 stars if not for the explicit episodes.

If you want to learn how to tell better stories — as I do! — this podcast with the very enjoyable and insightful and funny Elysha and Matt is invaluable! Also, Matt’s book, Storyworthy provides an incredible foundation, and is fun to read (or to listen to)!

Thank you for such a great podcast. I loved you book Storyworthy. ( I also loved Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend.) I use this stuff all the time now to tell stories and it is life changing.

I started listening to Speak Up in May 2019. I went all the way back to the beginning and am just now listening to episode 20. I have Matt’s book, Storyworthy, but have yet to read more than the first few pages. In my defense, I’ve only had it a week. I also have yet to start Homework for Life. Though I can see the benefit of doing so. I find myself using some of the story telling rules put forth in the podcast in my professional communication. I find these rules helps me to better communicate with my bosses, my coworkers, and my customers. Even if I’m not actually telling them a “story.” I also have begun to write Christmas and Easter plays for the children’s department at my church. I’m excited to put these rules into practice for our next production. Finally, I absolutely LOVE the recommendations section of the podcast. I have already watched YouTube videos and downloaded apps recommended my Matt or Elisha. Most recently (from episode 19) I have purchase Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls from Amazon as a gift for my niece. I expect I will buy that book several more times as gifts for young girls in my life. What a fantastic recommendation! I listen to this podcast every day. I think I will be a little sad when I finally catch up to current episodes and have to wait a week between each one. Cheers!

I started listening to this podcast back in March and decided I needed to go back and catch up with all of the back episodes to gather all of the lessons that the Speak Up Storytelling podcast provides. Matthew Dicks' book "Storyworthy" is the primer on storytelling that I have been searching for a few years and this podcast reinforces and expands upon the lessons found in that book. Matthew and Elysha work really well as a couple and as a team on this podcast and it is really enjoyable the different perspectives they bring to critiquing stories. I know I am going to be a better storyteller if I can implement what I have learned in this podcast.

I clicked on this podcast about a month ago thinking it might be entertaining but figuring it would be aimed at a demographic older and more storied than my own. It RAPIDLY became my favorite and gave insight to a community I never knew existed. Each story is we'll chosen and thought provoking and each analysis is insightful and constructive. Whether you listen to the whole podcast or, like one friend, just like the stories, it provides a wealth of quality content. I'm dreading the day I run out of episodes and have to wait a whole week for more. While it's not beyond criticism, it truly is my absolute favorite right now, and I hope to see it grow.

I’ve listened to every episode of this podcast and every one is entertaining, inspiring and educational. I never knew how much I enjoyed the craft of storytelling (or that there was such an art) until I started listening. I see more magic in my every day life because of what they teach and I am inspired to tell my own stories. I absolutely recommend this podcast.

I’m a film student right out of college turned truck driver/deliverer, and this podcast has brought so much meaning and joy to my days as I now look for story worthy moments in my otherwise depression inducing work week. Thank you for the gift that this podcast truly is.

I first found Matthew Dicks from listening to him on The Art of Manliness podcast. I’ve since been listening to this podcast every day on my commute home and it helps the time fly. I can zone out and feel as though I am one with the story. I recently read “Storyworthy,” and found it to be very helpful. I am looking forward to attending my first Moth event in Atlanta tomorrow. Love the podcast!

I have been in Toastmasters for many years and have heard hundreds of stories and evaluations. I have learned so much from Matt’s insight to what is good and what could be improved on in the weekly speeches. There have been a lot of “ oh yea, I hadn’t noticed that, but he’s right on” moments. Love the format of follow up, speech, feedback, and recommendations.

I have been telling stories for the last several years and thought I knew a lot. I started bionging this podcast last week, and cant get enough. Even without the story telling related material Alysha and Matt are charming enough to make this one of my favorites.

In the 1920s, researchers theorized that the average person needed energy intake boosts during the 10am, 2pm, and 4pm hours of a day. And what better energy is there than an ice cold refreshing bottle of Dr. Pepper? Nearly 100 year later, I’ve concluded that the average person should consume the Speak Up Storytelling podcast at the same intervals, at 10-2-4 every single day. And that’s exactly what I did for one straight week leading up to a presentation I was asked to give at a conference. I had originally intended the 30 minute presentation to emulate a college lecture, but decided to use the storytelling techniques discussed on Speak Up instead. The presentation morphed into a series of 6 short stories that had an over-arching and connected theme with a surprising ending. My delivery was smooth and I could tell the room of 200+ people was captivated throughout. My presentation received the highest survey reviews of the conference and I was asked to come back for future speaking opportunities. The personal feedback was glowing and unique for me: “You’re a natural storyteller” and “Well crafted stories!” And, all of the thanks and praise I received belongs to Matthew and Elysha Dicks. Thank you both for sharing your personal stories and talents and for taking the time to help us all hone the craft of Storytelling with your Speak Up podcast. If not for you, I’d probably be wearing my “paint-in-the-basement” clothes while drinking copious amounts of Dr. Pepper watching Seinfeld reruns and dreaming of yesteryear. So, as I lift my bottle of carbonated caramel-colored pepper-flavored sugar water, I say Cheers to Elysha and Pocket Aces to Matthew - and Godspeed to you both!

I love this podcast. I just found it and am staring from the beginning. After listening to several episodes I now feel like I’ve been in a storytelling workshop and am feeling more peppered for an up coming event I’m participating in.

I’m 46 year's old. I’ve tried stand-up comedy (not good at it). I’ve tried improv theater (wasn’t my cuppa tea). I’ve had a Blog without focus for years. Dumb hobbies that were fun for me. Over the years, people have asked me to speak (weddings, funerals, at Church, to their businesses, lectures) but so what. Or so I thought. 2018 was a bad year for me. A friend from h.s. shattered my entire social media world by paying me a compliment. A very good friend died and I spoke at his funeral. But so what? As if angels in heaven guided me to the Art of Manliness Podcast with Matthew Dicks, I heard what story telling is, and that it’s a thing-to-do. It has changed my life. Matt has changed my life. Matt’s message is simple - you have a story inside of you. Actually, he’s consistent in saying we all have hundreds of stories inside us and he’s relentless in pushing his listeners to believe it, and then showing them how to find those stories. Nothing about the Podcast is preachy or self-serving. I can tell he (and his wife) are teachers. I’m married to one. Teachers (good ones) aren’t thinking “what’s in it for me”, but always about how they can help their students, all of them, but each student in his or her own way. This Podcast has lessons for kids in their Teens and 20s, or guys like me in my mid-40s dealing with a mini-midlife-crisis. This Podcast could help a manager, CEO, or middle manager. Heck. It could help someone just communicate better with their kids ...wives ...parents. Friends. If you’ve ever wanted to tell your story, or you see other people effortlessly engage people at a dinner party or get-together, or if you want to win a StorySLAM or tell at story at your local library, this Podcats is a must-listen (and Matthew’s book is a must-buy). Thank you Matthew and Elysha.

I do appreciate both points of view here: a professional storyteller and a highly knowledgeable fan with a ton of insider information. It makes it seem more accessible. I do think the podcast could benefit from another storyteller who may have opposite views. The main problem I see is just how much aggressive pushback Elysha gives Matt almost every time he has some constructive, but ever positive, feedback. This especially so when Elysha either really likes the story or the storyteller, or both. The whole point of the podcast is how to tell better stories. Everybody, including Matt can improve. Episode 20 almost made me quit listening when Elysha had such a problem with Matt’s use of the term “pretty girls.” I would bet that most people listening know exactly what Matt was trying to say from the perspective of a 20-something young man. The stories are supposed to be about the truth and should not involve the kind of dishonesty that would demand in this story for Matt to avoid the reality of physical attraction in relationships, especially in young people.

This program is wonderful on several different levels. I discovered it through the Art of Manliness podcast where Matthew Dicks was interviewed during the recent holiday season. Each of the stories featured are entertaining in their own right and often provide insights into the human condition. The banter and thoughtful responses that Matt and Elysha exchange come across as authentic and endearing. The analysis of each story is chock full of helpful hints that can make the listeners' own storytelling more effective and enjoyable. If I have any criticism it is that a general rule that Matt has cited for storytellers is that the use of profanity should only be rarely used and then only when quoting someone or when the idea or feeling can be expressed in no other way. However, a significant number of episodes are marked with "e" for explicit. Matt says that the reason for this rule is that the language makes your stories more inaccessible for some listeners. This has been especially true for me as I skip over those episodes, so I am unable to access them at all. I have purchased and read Matt's book and find great value in it as well. This podcast is so genuine that I almost feel that Matt and Elysha are friends that sit at my breakfast table as frequent visitors.

I stepped into this podcast at the recommendation of a fellow speaker who told me briefly about homework for life. Holy cow - what a great practice, but even better honestly is Matthew and Elysha's hilarious, honest and experienced perspective around what makes good stories great. I love the podcast - every moment of it - and am looking forward to using the tips as well as HFL to launch my own speaking experience to a new level. Thank you Matthew and Elysha for sharing this gift with all of us.

This show has everything someone could want! It equips you to find, understand, and tell stories better. Then you get to enjoy a story before they analyze it. All the while, the hosts are uber personal and down to earth. Honestly, what else could a person possibly want?!

I first heard Matthew on The Art of Manliness podcast. I immediately ordered his book, Storyworthy, and begin listening to his podcast, Speak Up. I have now read the book and listened to the first 19 episodes of the podcast. The podcast is very entertaining, and Matt and Elysha do a great job of selecting stories to feature. Perhaps the most useful part of the podcast is the section immediately after the story where Matt and Elysha give feedback for how the storyteller could make the story better. It is clear from listening to the podcast that both Matt and Elysha really care for other people and each other. They genuinely want to help their listeners become better storytellers. I also enjoy the fact that there are no ads on the podcast. I would recommend this podcast to anyone who wants to improve as a storyteller or just be entertained.

I love this podcast! I’m on day 25 of Homework for Life and I’m excited to email Matt and Elysha on day 100. I listen to this podcast every morning, although there aren’t many episodes left until I’m caught up and that will be kind of sad because I’ll have to wait for more episodes. It gives me a great mindset and mood for the day ahead of me. I’ve learned a lot, it’s very entertaining, and I would recommend this podcast to anyone. It has helped me grow in my storytelling abilities, and Homework for Life has helped me find more value in each day. Thank you Matt and Elysha for this podcast!

This podcast is an absolute jewel. Perfect for the seasoned and casual storyteller, Matthew and Elysha somehow manage to combine a casual workshop in with a master class. Thank you!