The Search for Voice in Storytelling — and the Best Bagel in the Midwest with Jen Rubin

This week, I spoke with Jen Rubin, the former executive producer of Love Wisconsin and a seasoned storyteller who leads workshops across the state. She’s also the creator of The Great Midwest Bagel Quest, so if you’re as much of a bagel fan as Jen and I are, you’ll want to stick around to hear about that later in the episode. 

Jen shared how she began her storytelling career in advocacy work in her 20s and is now an expert in her craft. We discussed the differences between writing and storytelling, including the 5 elements that Jen believes build a compelling story. 

We also explored the impact of storytelling in various settings, including Jen's work in prisons and her involvement with The Moth, where she produces events in Madison, WI. Through her storytelling workshops, she helps individuals grasp the power of personal narrative and harness their voices for greater impact. Jen also spoke about the intersections between storytelling and writing, noting how each practice enriches the other. 

Jen’s current project, The Great Midwest Bagel Quest, blends her storytelling abilities with her desire to find the best bagels in the Midwest and discover what makes them so great. If you’re a storyteller, a writer, a bagel lover, or a blend of all 3, this episode will help you uncover and claim your voice through the lens of great storytelling. 

Key Topics:

• The advocacy work that led Jen to storytelling
• How Jen formally evolved into storytelling in a corporate career
• Jen’s involvement in The Moth and The Odyssey Project
• What you decide to leave out in storytelling is just as important as what you leave in
• Finding your confidence in sharing your voice
• What makes for good storytelling and how it differs from writing
• Jen’s 5 tips for putting together a good story
• What’s Love Wisconsin, and how did it come to be?
• How Jen overcomes stage fright
• Tips for finding your voice from a storytelling perspective
• The Great Midwest Bagel Quest

Connect with Jen online:

Website: https://www.rubinjen.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenrubin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwestbagelquest/

The Moth: https://themoth.org/

Love Wisconsin: https://www.lovewi.com/

The Great Midwest Bagel Quest: https://www.rubinjen.com/midwest-bagel-quest.html

We Are Staying book: https://www.rubinjen.com/my-book.html

Find more from Jill:

Email: [e-mail]

Website: https://www.thewritersrefuge.com/

Writing Coaching Programs: https://www.thewritersrefuge.com/coaching

Sign up for my free 3x weekly writing session: write to [e-mail] for ZOOM info

Special thanks to LVDY for allowing us to use their song, Saltwater, in the intro and outro of the podcast!