Do any of these sound familiar?
This you?
You've got a high-stakes presentation, pitch, or keynote coming up, and while you're not exactly having stress dreams about it yet... okay, maybe just one. Or two.
You want to develop a more genuine leadership presence (in person or online), but you aren't sure how to be personal without oversharing.
You need to explain complex ideas to a new audience, and you’re worried about losing their attention. Or leaving them wondering what's so important about your work, anyway.
You know storytelling is powerful for all kinds of communication, but it’s so tough to translate personal experiences into professional contexts.
You're a solopreneur trying to share your vision, but standard corporate language won’t do it with your audience.
Do any of these sound familiar?
This you?
You've got a high-stakes presentation, pitch, or keynote coming up, and while you're not exactly having stress dreams about it yet... okay, maybe just one. Or two.
You want to develop a more genuine leadership presence (in person or online), but you aren't sure how to be personal without oversharing.
You need to explain complex ideas and you’re worried about losing your audience's attention.
You know storytelling is powerful for all kinds of communication, but it’s so tough to translate personal experiences into professional contexts.
You're a solopreneur trying to share your vision, but standard corporate language won’t do it with your audience.
You don't need another generic public speaking course or corporate communication template. You need practical storytelling strategies that work for your world.
And you need an expert who understands both the power of well-told stories and the unique demands of professional environments. That’s me!
Let’s give your communication some real power.
I hear you.
For the past 14 years, I've combined my award-winning storytelling, teaching expertise, research background, and real-world communication experience to offer a truly unique approach to storytelling in professional contexts.
As a two-time Moth GrandSLAM champion, former Director of Education at The Moth, and author of a hit Audible Original memoir, I bring both proven expertise and real-world storytelling success to our work together. I've been part of leadership teams training professionals across diverse fields—from software engineers and tech managers, to healthcare leaders and spin instructors—to tell more impactful stories.
As a story coach, I help my clients find confidence in their communications, develop more honest leadership voices, and create presentations they're proud to deliver. From fundraising pitches that secured major donations to keynotes that helped transform company culture, I've supported professionals through their overthinking, perfectionism, and communication anxiety so they can share stories that create real impact, while feeling true to themselves.
If you're looking for someone who can help you cut through the corporate jargon, find the human connection in your professional communication, and create a clear plan for your compelling business stories, my Tune Ups are for you.
Hi, I'm Micaela.
For the past 14 years, I've combined my award-winning storytelling, teaching expertise, research background, and real-world communication experience to offer a truly unique approach to storytelling in professional contexts.
As a two-time Moth GrandSLAM champion, former Director of Education at The Moth, and author of a hit Audible Original memoir, I bring both proven expertise and real-world storytelling success to our work together. I've been part of leadership teams training professionals across diverse fields—from software engineers and tech managers, to healthcare leaders and spin instructors—to tell more impactful stories.
As a story coach, I help my clients find confidence in their communications, develop more honest leadership voices, and create presentations they're proud to deliver. From fundraising pitches that secured major donations to keynotes that helped transform company culture, I've supported professionals through their overthinking, perfectionism, and communication anxiety so they can share stories that create real impact, while feeling true to themselves.
If you're looking for someone who can help you cut through the corporate jargon, find the human connection in your professional communication, and create a clear plan for your compelling business stories, my Tune Ups are for you.
Hi, I'm Micaela Blei.
Since 2017, I’ve applied my narrative expertise (and enthusiasm) to the audio space with clients like Wondery, Panoply and Marketplace APM. If you need to make sure your project has a riveting narrative arc and just the details you need, I can help.
Craft impactful brand and mission stories
Develop resonant leadership communication
I offer targeted, 60-minute consultations to level up your story, narrative project or presentation with clarity and confidence. Let’s create something you’re proud of!
Create compelling presentations that move audiences to action
I've helped my clients...
What's possible with a Story Tune Up?
And I want to help you do it, too.
Craft impactful brand and mission stories
Develop resonant leadership communication
Create compelling presentations that move audiences to action
I've helped my creative clients...
What's possible with a Story Tune Up?
And I want to help you do it, too.
Introducing:
Tune Ups are one-on-one, personalized consultation calls-plus-feedback, where we'll work together to solve the storytelling puzzles you can't seem to crack alone.
A one-on-one, personalized consultation program for busy people. Tune Ups combine 1:1 meetings and asynchronous feedback to transform your challenging professional communications into stories that work.
The Story Tune Up Program
Tune me up!
Since 2017, I’ve applied my narrative expertise (and enthusiasm) to the audio space with clients like Wondery, Panoply and Marketplace APM. If you need to make sure your project has a riveting narrative arc and just the details you need, I can help.
I offer targeted, 60-minute consultations to level up your story, narrative project or presentation with clarity and confidence. Let’s create something you’re proud of!
One 45-minute coaching call focused on your specific story goals
One round of detailed feedback on up to 2,000 words or 10 minutes of audio
Feedback delivered in writing or video format (your choice!)
Recording of our call for your reference
Single Tune Up
What's included in a Tune Up?
Let’s work together
I offer three options for Tune Ups, depending on how much time you’ve got and how much storytelling support you’d like.
2 Week Tune Up
4 Week Tune Up
Two 45-minute coaching calls: one to kick things off and a closing call to discuss your work
Two weeks of asynchronous feedback and support as you revise
8,000 words or 40 minutes of audio total to submit for support
Feedback delivered in writing or video format (your choice!)
Recording of our calls for your reference
One 45-minute coaching call to kick off our work, plus two additional 30-minute check-ins
Four weeks of asynchronous feedback and support as you revise
16,000 words or 80 minutes of audio total to submit for support
Feedback delivered in writing or video format (your choice!)
Recording of all calls for your reference
$499
$299
$849
IF YOU NEED POWERFUL ADVICE ON A SINGLE PROJECT
MORE SUPPORT IF YOU WANT TO WORK ON MULTIPLE DRAFTS
PERFECT FOR MORE COMPLEX PROJECTS OR MORE THAN ONE PROJECT
One 45-minute coaching call focused on your specific story goals
One round of detailed feedback on up to 2,000 words or 10 minutes of audio
Feedback delivered in writing or video format (your choice!)
Recording of our call for your reference
Single Tune Up
What's included in a Tune Up?
Let’s work together
I offer three options for Tune Ups, depending on how much time you’ve got and how much storytelling support you’d like.
2 Week Tune Up
4 Week Tune Up
Two 45-minute coaching calls: one to kick things off and a closing call to discuss your work
Two weeks of asynchronous feedback and support as you revise
8,000 words or 40 minutes of audio total to submit for support
Feedback delivered in writing or video format (your choice!)
Recording of our calls for your reference
One 45-minute coaching call to kick off our work, plus two additional 30-minute check-ins
Four weeks of asynchronous feedback and support as you revise
16,000 words or 80 minutes of audio total to submit for support
Feedback delivered in writing or video format (your choice!)
Recording of all calls for your reference
$499
$299
$849
IF YOU NEED POWERFUL GUIDANCE ON A SINGLE PROJECT
MORE SUPPORT IF YOU WANT TO WORK ON MULTIPLE DRAFTS
PERFECT FOR LONGER OR MORE COMPLEX PROJECTS
Micaela has a way of honing in on the exact thing that can kick your story up a notch, and she explains her feedback with great simplicity and clarity. She has a wonderful way of teaching what not only isn't working about your story, but what IS as well. She fosters a supportive, collaborative environment in which real learning - and better stories - can happen! Follow her methods and watch your stories blossom!
“Follow her methods and watch your stories blossom!”
-- Yvonne Perry, Actor and StorytellER
When we start, you'll have a total "word count" to use however you need. For example, with the 8,000 words included in the two-week program, you could:
- Get feedback on one big 8,000-word project
- Share four different 2,000-word drafts
- Submit two versions of a 4,000-word piece
- Mix it up however works best for you
We'll use a simple, custom Notion workspace to share everything. I'll help you keep track of what you've submitted so you always know where you stand.
How does feedback work in a Tune Up?
At this point, you might ask...
If you’re in a longer package, you’ll schedule your next calls so that you can check in 1:1 while you’re working and before we end our time together!
04
After our call, I’ll share a Portal where you can upload your work for feedback, and I can respond. I’ll keep track of your word count for you so you always know how much feedback you’ve got left.
03
Schedule your first call and share as much as you like about what you’re working on. On our first call, we'll hit the ground running on your project and set some goals for the rest of our time.
02
Choose your package and make your payment: choose Single, Two Weeks or Four Weeks. Payment plans are available for longer packages.
01
The A-Z of working with me
The Logistics
First of all, I don’t just study storytelling in some theoretical way – I tell my own stories all the time, on national platforms.
And I didn't take a couple of classes and decide to call myself a story coach. I designed those classes, and I’ve helped hundreds of storytellers just like you share work they feel great about.
So with years of experience as an artist, a nonprofit leader and an educator, I'm uniquely positioned to guide you through your sticky professional narrative questions. I’ve helped solve almost every kind of storytelling problem, and I’m known for doing it with care, humor and enthusiasm.
Empathy and flexibility are the core of my practice, not an afterthought. I’m deep enough in this work that I know we don’t have to depend on a formula to get you there. I’ve opened the hood on a lot of stories: they don’t all run the same!
And I’ve made a life’s work of exploring the nuances of storytelling and learning, in their many forms, so I can dig deep to help you identify the true blocks standing in the way of your best story. We will find what works for YOU.
Why work with me?
Still reading? Maybe you're wondering...
What will you use a Tune Up for?
This is all about your goals and needs. Here are some of the things we can work on together:
Developing personal stories for marketing emails, conferences, etc. that enhance your professional brand without oversharing
Developing effective storytelling for pitches, presentations, and high-stakes meetings
Crafting a compelling story to open a grant proposal or pitch that clearly communicates your creative vision
Crafting a leadership narrative that builds trust and inspires your team
Turning complex data or initiatives into engaging stories that you can share with your stakeholders
Writing an “about” page that helps people see you and your mission clearly
Micaela has an extraordinary combination of experience, technical skill and talent that allows her to understand and support storytellers in a unique and special way. Unlike some story coaches who have one approach that they apply to every storyteller, Micaela co-creates a developmental environment that serves the specific needs of each individual and allows the teller to discover their own voice and style.
Working with Micaela is empowering, revelatory and fun. I understood my own story much better after just 30 minutes with her.
Whether it's for a high-stakes engagement, or just a personal desire to discover and claim one's own stories, everyone should be lucky enough to work with Micaela.
“Working with Micaela is empowering, revelatory and fun.”
-- KAT KPPETT, CEO, KOPPETT TRAINING
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers
Absolutely! So many of my professional clients don't consider themselves natural storytellers when we start working together. My approach is designed to work with your unique communication style rather than forcing you into a performance that doesn't feel authentic. We'll discover the storytelling techniques that work best for your personality and professional context.
Some of my most successful clients come from technical backgrounds! In fact, storytelling can be especially powerful in technical environments precisely because it creates a bridge between complex information and human understanding. I'll help you find ways to maintain your technical credibility while making your communication more accessible and memorable.
Traditional public speaking coaching focuses on delivery techniques like voice projection, body language, and slide design, and my Story Tune Ups focus on the narrative structure and content of your communication, and your confidence in your own style. We'll certainly chat about how you want to deliver your message, if that’s your goal, but we can also look at your written communication.
Get in touch! You can fill out my inquiry form here, or email me at hello@micaelablei.com.
Not necessarily! You could do some great brainstorming with me if that’s the part of the storytelling you’re feeling stuck on.
Yes! Just get in touch with my inquiry form or at hello@micaelablei.com and tell me about your situation or project. We can schedule a quick, no-strings call to see if we'd be a match for longer-term work together.
This depends on a couple things– including how much time you’ve got, and what you’d like support on! If it’s a longer piece, you might want a longer package. But feel free to sign up for a single and we can always add on. I don’t want you to sign up for something you don’t need.
My prep questionnaire will ask you for things like context on an event, aspects of communication you're finding challenging, and other info that can get me up to speed on your project quickly. The questionnaire takes between 10 and 30 minutes.
Will this help me if I'm not a "natural" storyteller?
I work in a very technical/analytical field. Can storytelling really help me?
How is this different from public speaking coaching?
How should I decide which package I need?
What should I do to prepare for our first call?
Should I wait until I have a story in mind before booking?
Can I work with you more long-term?
What if I have a different question?
This depends on a couple things– including how much time you’ve got, and what you’d like support on! If it’s a longer piece, you might want a longer package. But feel free to sign up for a single and we can always add on. I don’t want you to sign up for something you don’t need.
Yes! Just get in touch at hello@micaelablei.com and tell me about your situation or project. We can schedule a quick, no-strings call to see if we'd be a match for longer-term work together.
Traditional public speaking coaching focuses on delivery techniques like voice projection, body language, and slide design, and my Story Tune Ups focus on the narrative structure and content of your communication, and your confidence in your own style. We'll certainly chat about how you want to deliver your message, if that’s your goal, but we can also look at your written communication.
Absolutely! So many of my professional clients don't consider themselves natural storytellers when we start working together. My approach is designed to work with your unique communication style rather than forcing you into a performance that doesn't feel authentic. We'll discover the storytelling techniques that work best for your personality and professional context.
Some of my most successful clients come from technical backgrounds! In fact, storytelling can be especially powerful in technical environments precisely because it creates a bridge between complex information and human understanding. I'll help you find ways to maintain your technical credibility while making your communication more accessible and memorable.
My prep questionnaire will ask you for things like context on an event, aspects of communication you're finding challenging, and other info that can get me up to speed on your project quickly. The questionnaire takes between 10 and 30 minutes.
Not necessarily! You could do some great brainstorming with me if that’s the part of the storytelling you’re feeling stuck on.
How should I decide which package I need?
What should I do to prepare for our first call?
Should I wait until I have a story in mind before booking?
Will this help me if I'm not a "natural" storyteller?
I work in a very technical/analytical field. Can storytelling really help me?
How is this different from public speaking coaching?
Can I work with you more long-term?
Get in touch! You can fill out my inquiry form here, or email me at hello@micaelablei.com.
What if I have a different question?
A great intro to telling personal stories, for lots of reasons -- not just onstage.
Read my guide in Psyche magazine
A guide to telling stories
A publication for the story-obsessed. Join me as I nerd out about narrative strategies, cultural storytelling, and the fascinating mechanics behind great stories.
Subscribe to The Story Letter
A Newsletter
Brand new and coming soon! A 10-episode journey through the art of personal storytelling. Subscribe to The Story Letter and be the first to know when it drops.
Brand new and coming soon! A 10-episode journey through the art of personal storytelling. Subscribe to The Story Letter and be the first to know when it drops.
