Tell me a Story Coaching Session
A free, virtual 90-minute session to test story ideas, get feedback, and strengthen your narrative.
July 15 - 12 - 1:30 PM ET
August 5 - 12 - 1:30 PM ET
The first six to register get coaching on the spot.
Everyone else gets a front-row seat to watch it happen.
Get real feedback
You present all the time. Rarely does anyone help you get better at it. Here, you get honest, specific notes from two coaches who do this for a living.
Find the real story
The story you think you’re telling is often just the starting point. We help you find what it’s actually about.
Learn by watching
There’s no better way to understand how a story gets built than watching it happen live. What works, what doesn’t — you’ll see it in real time
What a session looks like
The first six people bring a story idea, something from their work or their life they’ve thought about telling but haven’t cracked. Over 90 minutes, they pitch it live and get real feedback from two coaches who have spent decades helping people find the story underneath the story. The rest watch — and watching turns out to be its own education. Either way, you leave with insights into why some stories stick and what it takes to make yours one of them.
Who's This Perfect For
Leaders who want to communicate with more clarity and influence
Professionals building a personal brand or stepping into a bigger public role
Anyone prepping for a high-stakes pitch, interview, keynote, or panel
Founders and executives who want their story, and their organization’s, to land
Managers who want to coach their teams to tell sharper stories
Anyone curious about storytelling who has never gotten real feedback on theirs
Your Coaches
AMY SAIDMAN
Founding Artistic Executive Director of Story District
Amy Saidman is the founder and artistic executive director of Story District. Over the past 25 years, she has played a central role in building the storytelling field in Washington, DC and beyond, producing hundreds of live shows, training thousands of storytellers, and developing programs that move participants from their first story to sustained artistic and civic engagement. Her work focuses on how crafted, publicly shared stories deepen understanding, strengthen connection, and build trust across personal, professional, and community life.
SCOTT C. HOLLINGSWORTH
Director of Narrative Strategy
Scott C. Hollingsworth is the director of narrative strategy at Story District, working with leaders and institutions to rebuild trust, clarity, and influence through storytelling. His work spans executive advisory, leadership development, and high-visibility programs that elevate both individual voices and the organizations behind them. He was previously an independent litigation consultant for 13 years, embedding with AmLaw 100 and boutique firms, and began his career as a trial attorney for the City of Indianapolis Office of Corporation Counsel.
TESTIMONIALS
Why trust us with your story
"I started to trust myself more"
"The coaches were giving me such helpful and specific feedback that I started to trust myself more, trust the process, trust the feedback."
Stephanie Bailey
"Everyone should do it"
The arc is so simple but can be so effective when applied correctly. I have actually suggested that everyone at Boathouse should be given this training."
Eileen Mullen
"Highly recommend this"
"It was a huge success and I've heard nothing but positive feedback and appreciation for the workshop"
Judy Ruttenberg
About Story District
Story District has spent 30 years elevating the art of true, first-person storytelling — on stages across Washington and inside organizations nationwide. The Washington Post called us the “gold standard in storytelling”. Each year we bring more than 2,500 people into live storytelling experiences, train hundreds of storytellers through our development pipeline, and help teams at organizations like the American Psychological Association, the Aspen Institute, and Children’s National Association communicate with clarity, authenticity, and impact. Rooted in DC. Working across the country.
READY TO REGISTER?
You've got a story. Let's find it
Pitch one story idea and get live coaching from Amy Saidman and Scott C. Hollingsworth. The first six to register get coached on the spot. Everyone else watches it happen. Either way, you leave knowing what makes a story land.
DETAILS
When: Tuesday, July 15, 12:00–1:30 PM ET
(encore August 5)
Where: Online. The link arrives when you register.
Only Six live coaching slots, first come, first served
Story District a 501(c)3 nonprofit in Washington, DC (EIN: 52-1710488). We are supported, in part, by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, The Bridge Fund, The Cares Act, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and individual donors.
© 2026 Story District. All rights reserved.