Welcome to the Nobody Knowz podcast with Callie Zamzow. Join us for conversations with local changemakers and hear the stories that don't always get told. It'll be honest, messy and beautiful. Touching and humorous. Slow down for a glass and pull up a chair. This is the nobody knows podcast. Welcome to Nobody Knows. I'm your host, Callie Zamzow. I hope you're having a wonderful day. And I'm glad that you're listening in. I'm excited about today's guest. Before I get going on that, I want to thank our sponsor, Zamzows and I have a quick tip of the week for you. at Zamzows, we we have a tendency to do these, free classes for various things. And this upcoming Saturday, March 7th, 2026, in case you're listening, in the future, we will be having our long class. But even if you've been before, there, sometimes there's new things that come up and reminders that sometimes we forget we'll be talking about, the various different types of turf. So if you're thinking about planting a lawn, we can help you with that. We'll be talking about, fertilizer basics and like, kind of how you do it and when you do it and why you do particular applications. We talk about nitrogen types and the runoff impact that happens with that. And that's for anybody who's concerned about the Boise River and all of our wonderful water that we have here in Idaho. We talk about soil pH and, you know, some of our proprietary products and how those work and of course, weeds and insects and all the disease prevention things and many, many other things, including watering, which I think could be an issue this year. We'll have to see. Anyway, it's going to be a great class. So it will be at 10 a.m. this Saturday, March 7th, 2026, and it is at all of our 12 Zamzows locations. So there's your tip of the week. I hope to hope to see you there. I usually show up to one or more of them. So, come say hi. Okay, so today I kind of prepared for this, for this guest because, there's a storytelling component, and it got me thinking about my always thinking about my childhood. That's how so many of my stories start. But I was thinking about the fact that most of the lessons that I learned came through stories. Zamzow family is big storytellers. And so I so I was like, well, what's a good story? And the only one that could pop in my head was we were trying to my father and my brother and I were trying to hang a rope from a very tall limb to create a swing in our backyard, and my dad had decided that he would tie a small string onto an arrow and then shoot the arrow up and over the branch, and then obviously, then we could tie that string to a rope and then pull the rope over, and then we could create this swing. Okay, we love the idea, but he's got these two young kids. I was probably, I want to say seven and my brother then would be nine. And so we were pretty young and he was shooting an arrow up, up and over. And he really wanted us to kind of stay back. And so he told this story. He said, kids, there was a kid in my class in high school who shot an arrow up in the air, and he was going to catch it when it was coming down, and it stabbed him in the eye and took his eye out. And it was so on a day that we were kind of he's creating a swing. And it was all this. It was such a dramatic story, like, I've been afraid of bows and arrows ever since. Like, it's just it's one of those funny things. But I was thinking about how the stories. But man, he got it into our heads like we stayed and we were completely away from it. And he got the message through, and I was thinking about how that's the stories. Do they just cement things for us? And they explain things and they just, they're they're just wonderful. So with that, I want to welcome our guest, Jessica Holmes. She's the co-founder of Story Story Night, and she's also associate creative director at Stoltz. So welcome to the studio. Thank you so much. I'm so glad to be here. Gosh, I feel like I feel like this has been a little while coming because I my whole as long as I've known about story, story night, I've wanted to be a part of it. And I just, I it's such a stroke of genius and such a wonderful thing that you created. And I cannot wait to have this conversation and and hear some stories from you. Before we do, do you want to just kind of give us a little just a little background on you, a little, you know, quick, quick, who you are. Sure. Well, I, I was an English major in college, but I've always been fascinated with with books and stories. So I my whole career has been in advertising and I've been called a we're called creatives in This world, which is the the best title in the world, I think. And, I have also been interested in performance quite a bit. So I, you know, started story Story night 16 years ago. And I've also tried my hand at stand up comedy and other weird endeavors, so I. Okay. You did not try your hand at start. You weren't you. Why don't you one of the. We were like the first funniest person in Boise, right? Yes. Correct. Yes. I did a stand up comedy competition to kind of dip my toes in. And so. All right. Thank you. I first, for someone who's never done stand up, that seems so intimidating. It was like, did I want to do it? Not really. One of my stand up comedian friends kind of forced me to. Wow. But it was worth it. Yeah, yeah, I learned so much. Well, now you've got a title that no one can take away from you. Yeah, I love that title. That's pretty great. OG funniest person. Yeah. Yes. It's awesome. So great. Thank you. Okay, so for anybody who doesn't know what story story night is will you kind of describe what it is and, and like, yeah, we just start from scratch. Create. Yeah. That's story. Story night. We tell true stories on a theme, live on stage and without notes. And that involves featured storytellers who tell about ten minute stories that we help prepare and train them for, and also an open story slam. So people who come to the show can just drop their name and a hat, and we randomly draw them and they come up on stage and tell a five minute story on the theme spontaneously. So it's a really good mix of like a little bit practiced and a little bit raw and magical to business completely. Your idea that you were kind of had another person help you with that? What? I'm a I'm a co-creator of story Story Nights. So we had someone from Ali Repertory Theater that is, you know, that, theater company is still going strong. And then someone from Boise State as something called the Story Initiative. And then we also involve the cabin. So it was kind of four different people coming together and creating this program. Very cool. Yeah. How did that begin? I had been fascinated with live storytelling for a while. I really loved there's this writer named David Sedaris who used to go on stage and read his stories in New York, so I was fascinated by that. And also The Moth. So if you've heard of them, I have. Yeah, that that was going strong even back then. And they were just starting to expand into other cities. So they had just gone from New York to L.A., but those were the only two cities they were in. So our initial idea that I brought to these people, I was like, we should bring the moth to Boise. And the moth was like, we're not interested in what way we come to Boise. So, I ended up we ended up just starting a room program, which I think was even better because The moth does themed nights that involve only slam stories, and it involves, like, a winner and a prize. And I think story story Night is even better with the featured storyteller story slam thing. And like, no competition, it may add to me. It makes it even better. So, so can you tell me about, like, the very first story? Story night? Yeah, the very first story, Starry Night was totally magical because some of the people that I co-created this with, they were like, we're not sure how popular this will be, so let's put out like 30 chairs and see how we go. So, before the show started, we were in the linen building upstairs. At that point, before the show started, we looked out the window and there was a line all the way down the block, and, we just frantically started setting up more chairs. And even that first night it was sold out. The very first time. And it was just such a magical evening, like people were really raw and really vulnerable, and you could feel to me like sometimes when the when the storytelling is really, really good, I can sort of feel it in the air, like it feels like energy. And you could feel it that night. It was just instant. It was an instant hit, so we were just sold out. After that, we moved downstairs to the linen building so we could fit like 200 plus people and sold out for years, to be honest. Yeah. What does it feel like when you when? Because I think sometimes when we're creative we we don't know yet. Right. We're like, okay, I think this sounds cool. This is a thing I and then when you actually create it, many times nobody picks up what you're putting down. But what does it feel like when they do when they do in like, as as much as they did? Like, I mean, that's at the shoot. Nothing feels better. You know, it was so much work getting this even off the ground. So it took six months of planning and work and creating this story, story, story night brand and websites and promotions. But when it it just when it just took off like that, it it just felt right. You know, everything feels like so aligned and like you're in the slipstream of some sort of magic. Yeah. Love it. How where did you come up with the name story? Story night? It was one of our co-founders, Clay Morgan. He's a writer. He's the husband of Barbara Morgan. Oh. Was launched into space. Yes. So he came up with story. Story. And I, you know, story story night story story night. It's it's such a great name. I just and it was an instant like love for all of us. Yeah. It's perfect. It is. It's so good. Yeah. It's it's it's wonderful. So why so obviously from the get go, people leaned into it and then it's, it has endured like, holy cow, has it endured. Yeah. And it still. So what do you what do you think that's about? Is that, is that about Boise, do you think is that just about like how it's put on. Is it. What do you think. Why do why do you think it has the longevity that it has. Yeah I think it really like hit a nerve. Even when we started, I think it was 2010. And there was it was the beginning, sort of the early stages of social media and stuff and a little bit more distance that people had with real life, I think. I think it, I think it's because we come together and we, we look each other in the eyes and we tell our stories, and it feels different than anything else out there. It's not like watching a movie or a play. It's it's like this connection forms that you can't really find anywhere else except for in your friend groups when you're sitting around a fire. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We have moments right where it's like, that was it? Or, you know, we'll leave something like, okay, that was special. Yeah. Sometimes we're in it. We don't even know until we walk away from like, oh, right. So that that brings me to that point. Like what? When you think about all these people that that come and sometimes they're the storytellers, sometimes they're an audience member and they're just listening to these connecting. What do you what do you hope that people will walk away from? Story, story night feeling? Well, I always I tell the storytellers that we train that they're going to leave people not with their complete story, but they're going to leave people with a feeling and an emotion. So I think that's what our themes are all about, like trying to hone in on that emotion. But the feeling. Oh, and also they come away with like a mental image. So usually you remember like one searing moment of that story and then a feeling that's connected to it. So I think that people walk away from a really good show with all of these different images and a really strong emotion and really it's the emotion of the human experience of they. Nobody would say that to me. I totally feel that. I totally feel that I live for those moments. You know, it's that that where you like, okay, that's that, that's that's like the crux of life right there. It's that connection with other humans and the feeling of somebody else's feeling and, and connecting with our stories. Yeah. The fun thing for me when I think about stories is they're they're never ending because they're constantly being created. Mean we're creating one right now. I'll tell this. I'll tell my husband when I leave here, have what we talked about, and it'll be my story. And, you know, it's I, I love that that that will never run out of them. No, no. And it's so cool because so many stories. So there's like the universal experience that we have that when you go down to individual stories, they're so particular and so specific to that person and how it shaped them, you know? And I've always lived my life by the belief that there's no bad thing that could happen to you, because usually the worst things are what creates the best stories. Are you if you when you get through to the other side, you have a great story. Yeah. Yeah, that's sort of unfortunate. I know, I know, I always think awkward is one of the best themes. Yes. Me. So those those moments create great stories. Yes. I, you know, I've, I saw my daughter's in college. She, she, it was home for Christmas break and we had all these conversations about. And she's in performing arts and you know, she's so like it's very intimidating to do performing arts in New York City. You know, it's just she's like, I'm just this Idaho gal and there's these super talented people and and I just keep mind and lots of times where she, you know, it feels like she messed up her wasn't wasn't good enough or whatever. And I said just collect those so that those are your story. That's like, someday this is going to all it's going to mean something. You're gonna be able to share it with other people. And I'm not sure she appreciated that. But okay, that's good advice. It really is. Nobody appreciates it in the moment. No, no, this is horrible. No. And you know, it's hard for me because she's the greatest thing since sliced bread as far as I'm concerned. Like, I think she's the best thing ever. And, you know, obviously I'm not in New York City amongst millions of people trying to do the same thing. And I, I get it. She's what she's doing is very challenging. Right. But I do see something unique. I mean, I guess I do that with everybody, you know, you meet somebody and you can see, oh, this is this is a spark. There. This is something that's interesting. And usually it comes from stories. It comes from think, you know, what they've gone through and what they're willing to share. Absolutely. And it's not about living our lives perfectly or doing you know, perfectly. It's about our imperfections and those moments that take us by surprise that are actually the best. Yeah. You know. Yeah, yeah. Again, unfortunately, I know it's hard. This life is not easy to get through. Exactly. So let's say that we have somebody listening right now who who like. Well, I don't have any stories. I don't, I don't what would you say to that person? First of all, I would say everybody says that. And I used to say that too. At the beginning of every month we would have a theme and I would be like, I don't have any stories for this theme. And then over the course of that month, I think, oh, there was this and this and this. So I always tell people to look at their turning points and their surprising moments, like what? When is a time in your life that just that you weren't expecting, that that took you by surprise and that maybe shaped you and changed your perspective? Those those moments are great stories, and it kind of doesn't matter what the theme is sometimes, for those are really great stories that you have. Like you can pick the details that will make it fit the theme, usually with the the way you shape the beginning and the end. But that turning point moment is what really matters. Oh no. Oh my. My brain's going. Oh, good. I can't wait to hear your story. Stories. So where, where do you think this is? You are a very creative person, and it's it's not just for story story night or you're creative, kind of. You sort of live creative. I mean, you're dressing creator like you're just a creative person. Where do you think that comes from? Well, I think when I was younger and I would get assignments that I didn't really want to do in school, I would always think, what would make this interesting to me? So how can I execute it in a way that I am actually interested in? And I and I find that to be the trick, especially with advertising. Like people actively ignore advertising, they don't they don't want to consumer, they don't want to hear or see do anything with it. But if you can make them interested and if it can hit a core truth in them, like it's sort of the same magic as storytelling, I think. So, I think it just started there, and then I just kept developing it and kept wanting to see things that were more beautiful and more interesting and more, you know, fun. I love that. Yeah. Right. I think there's a part of me that, that squashes my creativity on occasion because I feel like I feel like creativity is fun and it's light and it's. And, you know, life's serious sometimes. Yes. But then I'm reminded sometimes when creative, when I'm able to creatively solve a problem, for instance, I'm like, no creativity, is it? You don't have to. Well, it's not that bad thing. It's a wonderful thing. Yeah. And it's also not a I don't know why fun always kind of seems to, you know, get a bad rap. Like you got to go be serious sometimes. Right. So I don't I don't know why that is why that's built into me. But but but I love creativity and I love being around creative people and that energy. And how fun is it when you're brainstorming and then, you know, people adding to people and all of a sudden you're like, you come up with this idea and it's awesome. It's so fun. Yeah, it feels like magic. And I think creativity is really problem solving and great creative just solve problems in really unexpected and unusual ways. And it just makes you like, look at that thing again in a, in a fresh light. And believe me, I deal with this a lot because people come to us in advertising with really serious business problems, and they want to see like ROI and KPIs and a bunch of other acronyms and, you know, merging those desires with something that will actually stand out is it's not easy, but it's so fun and so rewarding. So and then we get there in the end, you get to those ROI KPIs, acronym, things. Love that. Yeah. That's so great. Yeah, yeah. You're you're exactly right. I've seen, as you were saying, that I'm like, oh yeah, there's that. We definitely go into that realm and you almost have to briefly set all those acronyms aside because you almost squashes the creativity when you when you do that, when you are immediately going there for that. Because the, the world is, mean. It's loud right now. There's lots of things being thrown at us and lots of, you know, and most of it is impersonal. Most of it is just kind of, you know, throwing darts at, I was going to say a dartboard, but I don't think that's lost anyway, you know what I'm saying? I don't, you know, hoping that something sticks, right? Maybe it's spitballs. What is it you throw against a wall to make it stand? Noodles? Okay, whatever. Anyway, you know what I'm saying? I love the spitball idea. I'm just picturing it plastered on. And you. Yeah, people don't do spitballing in it. No. Clearly not clearly not. Oh, my gosh, I you know, I so this is funny. I'm going to stop for a second. I tell you a story. It's not my story, it's my dad's story. But apparently when they were kids, they would go to the Egyptian theater and they would bring straws and spit balls, and they there was like a there was some like a chandelier or something that was up above that maybe had like it was like maybe paper. Anyway, I don't know what. But anyway, it was up there and they would shoot. They would just shooting spitballs. I won't even tell me this term. Like how gross. Why why would the poor person who had to clean the. Exactly. Kids are the most creative, but often in destructive ways. So this is true. You gotta harness it. I think sometimes I'm a Gen Xer. I think sometimes it's Gen X, like, we were like, raised. I mean, we just like, raised ourselves out on that. But I'm going next year. Like okay. Yeah. But then you go to our parents level and like it's a totally different level of chaos that they did I mean I oh yeah, my dad tells I mean my dad still has a pellet in his fanny from being shot by one of his neighbors, just in a fun gunfight they were having with real guns. Oh, yeah. And it's still in there like he's. Yeah. So it's still in there anyway. That's that's it. Yeah. Okay. We really digress. Okay, here we go. All right. So, so let's talk about your fashion blog. Oh, I love talking about my fashion blog. It's I, I am so intrigued by. So I went on it and to look at it is incredibly unique. Oh thank you. Yes, it's very cool. So tell me what what what caused you to decide to do that? I, I so I started that when, in 2008 when the whole economy kind of fell through. Okay. So it's been an over a decade long creative endeavor of mine. And, I was just really looking at the world in a lens of like, how can we consume less but enjoy more? So I started thrift store shopping, which I think is a wonderful creative pursuit because it's sort of like life. You see all of this stuff just that looks like junk. And then you, you have to sort through it and find, like, the gems in there. And then I always, named my outfits something dumb and funny. Usually, and take pictures in a place that inspires me in some ways. So to me, it's about this celebration of place and the celebration of like that, that search for meaning, even if that meaning is just in a great wool sweater that's Italian, you know, or some wonderful silk dress from the 1960s that you found for $5 or something like that. Yeah, that's the cool thing, I think. I mean, it is like a treasure hunt, right? You go and you have to go through a lot sometimes, sometimes, sometimes you go out to this with my daughter and send her to like, this is a huge day, like we got six items or whatever, you know, that's it feels so good. It's so boarding and it's so cheap. Yes, it's wonderful, but I think there's a difference. And I was talking with Laura Tully. I don't know if you know who she is. She's a stylist, but she I was talking to her about that. And just the fact that when you're, when you're thrifting, like, you're really looking for that thing, you know? And so number one, it has to have that style that you like, you have to you put it on and it has to fit. And there's usually one of them there's not to like there's seven of them like in a store where you can decide what's you know. So when you find something that is the right fit, it's you like the way it looks on you. It's, you know, maybe you got some other fun little side thing about it that makes you excited. It's huge. And then really, by the time it ends up in a thrift store, you're probably not going to find anybody else who's got the same thing, which makes it very unique. And so it's fun, and you get to draw from a lot of different eras. You know, and maybe find stuff that you could never afford if it was brand new, you know? Absolutely. So it's it's so much fun. Yeah. Yeah. I found up some shoes, one time. And I bought them, despite the fact that clearly the person had, worn them near a fire. Oh, God. So they were a little, like, partially melted, but they were, and I forget what they were, but they were brand that I never could have ever afford it. Like something ridiculous that I can't and that I don't even know if they sell them in Boise, Idaho. Like, this was a while ago and I anyway. And I was like, I gotta say, I have these shoes. And I wore them. People were like, what's going on with that shoe to look at that? These are I wish I knew the brand name too. It'd be so much better if I actually knew the brand name. But anyway, it was something. Some fancy brand that. Yeah, I remember one time I found these Ferragamo suede boots at the youth ranch for $40, and, I love those boots. So great. Yeah. Awesome. So often. What's the what's the best find you have? Is that. Was that. Maybe it was the best find. Every new find is my best find. So the sweater that I'm wearing now is my recent best find. It has a kind of a Modigliani like painting sort of looking thing on the back. And it's vintage in Italian and it's real wool. I just love it so much. So I've been wearing it all the time. But do you? I part of what when I do, when I buy something that belong to somebody else, who it may have belonged to several somebody else's. You don't know. You don't know the history of it, do you? In your mind at all kind of wonder, like, I wonder who had this first. I wonder who bought it first. And when they bought it and where they bought it and. Yeah. And what kind of awesome woman were they always like? I'm just wearing someone's just badassery, you know? Yes. Usually. Like the stuff that I find and that I like to wear just eccentric, wonderful dresses usually. And I'm like, whoever wore this must have been so cool, you know? So I feel like I'm just wearing somebody else's, like, coolness. Yeah, I love that. It's really great. Yeah. And I feel like it's it's kind of paying homage to our history. You know? It absolutely is. Because a lot of the really good stuff that you find, you know, is made in the U.S by a seamstress union. And it really like it's really powerful to to recognize the past the way people made clothes so well, you know. Yeah. If they're lasting. Yeah. They're good. Yeah. Yeah. Made well right. Right. Oh yeah. You've got my brain going all over. We should go through stores out there. I would love that. It's so fun. I'm really fast for it now. I would love that because I do struggle. I well, first of all, I, I'm still kind of working through body issues. I'm, I'm, I'm recovering. I'm, you know, I'm being kind to myself, which my daughter constantly is like, mom, let's try that statement again that you just said about your butt. Like, how can we reframe that so that it's kind to my mother? Yeah. What a sweetie. I love her, she's my biggest fan, and I'm hers. Oh, yeah. That's right. Okay, so this may be I suspect, a little awkward for you just because you're so. I am the champion of awkwardness. I mean, you're you're just. You're so down to earth, and you don't seem full of yourself at all. And so. But can we talk about some of the awards that you've won? Oh, I can name them. And you can tell me. Tell me about each one. How about that? Okay, okay. So, you are a fellow Idaho Business review accomplished under 40. Yes. That felt really good. Yeah. I was like, when I got it when I was 31, I was like, yes, I am under the water. No, I think, I think I might have been, I think I might have been closer. I might have been like 48 or 40. No, I mean 38. Right. Okay. I was like, they cheated for you. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Can I give. It's 140. Carly I'm not I'm not great at math. However, you weigh on the farm. No, it's very young now that I'm 50. Like, anything below seems really youthful. I mean, I remember I there's something about a certain things were like. Like there's whole globs of just time where you're like, oh, well, we're all about the same age. Yeah, right. If that's what you mean. Then they're like, I'm 28. I'm like, everyone in my ad agency is like, I'm 33. I'm like, oh, okay, that's great. When I was, going through my pregnancy classes with my daughter and I was a later aged, and although I still I don't think it's that much, I think I had my daughter was 31, so it wasn't like super old, so young, but and so I was in these classes and I went to work at one day, and one of the people at work was kind of asking me about it, and she was like, so, you know, are you all about the same age? And I was like, yeah, yeah, I think we're, we're I think we're actually all right there together and then let it go. Well, then we all had our babies and we had a reunion, so we can all meet our babies. And it came out that the, the person who was next closest in age to me was ten years younger than me. And I thought we were all the same. Wow. Yeah. So young. Yes. Yeah. So these were like. I think they were. It was 19, 20 and 21. Okay. And I was 30 and I thought there 31 or whatever. And I thought we were the same age. Oh well gosh, I think everyone looks the same age in their 20s up until 40. And then something happens. I'm not sure what. Gravity. Yeah. Gravity takes over certain body part. Something happens. All right. Well, okay. Well, congratulations on that award. Thank you. Okay, then we talked about the fact that you won the inaugural, Boise's funniest person. Yeah. That was what had been an amazing experience. It was. It was wild. Yeah. It was a one month, one month competition. And every week we went from 20 people telling three minute sets to ten people telling five minute sets to five people telling seven minute sets to like the final competition. So it just kept getting harder and longer. So yeah, winning that was a shock. Yeah. When you got it, like if your first one gets you through and you're like, oh, well, that was all my funny stuff. Now what am I? No, no it's true. And then you have to build like, comedy is so hard because you instantly have to give people a sense of who you are through, in a way that they just laugh continuously like that. It's so hard. Stand up comedy is the hardest thing I've ever done. And so the way that I opened is I just stared at someone in the audience for an awkwardly long period of time before I said anything, and then I said, I'm totally hitting on you. That was the way I've always flirted. Yeah, this intense staring, I'd say no. And then I went to a string of jokes about my bad dating experiences. And I, you know, I since I had been doing stories story night for so long, I picked the theme for myself. I'm like, the thing I want people to take away from me is awkward. So I just had every joke was the most awkward thing I could think of. And it worked. Yeah. That's awesome. I'm. Why do you have to like to let your ego go a little bit to to do that kind of stuff? That's amazing. Yeah. I have a friend who, who was and I don't know what year it was. Around 2000. I want to say, Mel Hopkins is her name, and she won one year. And in, like, one of her, I think she asked me to kind of one of the finalist ones. And she had just house that for us. And so we went to it and all of her jokes were about our house and all the crazy shit. And yes, it was the funniest. I was laughing so hard. She was laughing about our our squatty potties that we have like one. And everybody was like, and it was hilarious. It's a squatty potty. Oh my gosh. How yeah. Unfair. Yeah I know, it was so funny. It was, it was. And then I was like very I was honored. I was like wow look at that. She's I know kicked it a laugh. Then all of our quirky stuff in our house, let's call this fair. You can't say that about everybody who's had standup jokes made about them. Could you not talk about the deepest recesses of our relationship? Right, exactly. Well, it's kind of fun, too, because I. I think she may have said something to me like, do you mind if I, if you know, if I that's the way use this. And I was like, sure or whatever. And then when she invited me, she didn't say, hey, by the way, this is the set that has all the jokes about you. So yeah. So she and she delivered it with flawlessly with I mean, she knew I was in the audience. I don't yeah, I was I'm super impressed that she was able to like just people that can come up with jokes based on their daily life. They're they're my favorite. I feel the same way. Yeah. It's awesome. They're fun to be around, too. They are. They're just like, oh, you see that in such an interesting way? Yes. Yeah, I, I yeah, she's one of my good friends. I very much so enjoy being around her. She's a good person. Okay. This is my favorite one, so best invite to your next cocktail party. And I didn't even know that that was an award. I think it was a special designation. So it was on the Best of Boise issue. The the the month after I won Boise's Funniest Person. And they were just like this girl invited to your cocktail parties. But the thing is, I feel like nobody invited me to their country. It's like it did nothing for my actual cocktail party. Street crowd. So do you still have cocktail parties? Is that a thing I should say? I'm gonna. I'm gonna throw one of those together. Okay, good. Yeah. I mean, oh, please. That's awesome. So how are you with receiving awards? I mean, you never expect it, but it feels real, real good. And you probably wouldn't know any of this about me if I didn't stop repeating it. I'm like my wedding sites and stuff. So, yeah, I really I really do like awards, but I never you never expect them or go after them. I think at least I don't. So that's why they're all in the past. Yeah. Yeah, they're I think they can be validating. They are. And sometimes, the surprise of it all is it kind of take your back like, oh, I didn't realize you saw me that way. And so there's just something kind of nice about that when somebody outside does that. And yeah, it's really special because I always, you know, I was a very shy kid. Like, I barely talked to anybody through all of my schooling. And so it was just it's it's just an amazing way. Like it showed me my own transformation, sort of, you know, just to open the weekly and be like, oh, okay. I have evolved, but not at all. Yeah. Still awkward. And now it's winning awards. Yeah. So let's talk to that person who's listening. Their mom's probably listening, and they're having to listen in the backseat of the car because the mom's got it on now. And so they're being forced, and they hear that and they say, well, that kind of sounds like me. I am don't say much. So I don't. But how did she get to be so cool? What would you say to that person? I would say the very things that you think make you uncool are actually the things that are shaping you in the moment. And you will grow into yourself, and you will grow into those stories, and eventually you'll be able to to talk about who you really are to other people in a way that will resonate. Like, I believe that for everybody. So maybe you won't be winning a stand up comedy competition, but you will be connecting in real ways and living the life that you're supposed to through the way that all your weirdness shaped you. Yeah. That's a great answer. Thank you. My, my little girl could have me myself as a little girl could have used hearing that like that. Right, right. Because I think when we're young we're like I just want to be popular. Yeah. You know, I just want to be perfect. Yes. Well, and I can't like, now who I look at especially, especially girls. But like, growing up, there's so much that's coming at you of perfection and how things should be and, and trying to fit into that, particularly while your body is changing and you're learning as fast as you humanly can. And and you know, I don't mean to put all girls down, but girls can be real assholes. Work. We can be real mean, you know? And there's a there's a period of of that of age where it's hard. It's really hard. And especially if you don't feel like you fit in or like you just or you feel like you're weird or there's something a little different about you, right? And then you and then you pass through and like, that's the greatest thing. Like, that's the those are the people I want to be around, you know? Lutely. Right? Yeah, yeah. You don't love the perfect people who do everything right, right. Oh, please, let me just. Oh, let me just be with my friend over here. Yeah. And you don't get to know those people. The perfect ones. They've they've got a facade on. And and so you don't get to get to know them and and that makes me sad too. I know, and I've been thinking a lot lately about AI and the perfection of AI. And how important this there's this Japanese term called wabi sabi, which means like. Yeah, the imperfection of something that makes it so beautiful. And I think that will rise to the surface anymore, like, even more now because, like, the imperfection of the way somebody looks will be what makes them stand out from all these, like, plastic images people are seeing and the imperfection in the way that we speak and the way that we tell a story, it's it's what makes something interesting. So yeah, that to me is the, the way forward. I love that. Yeah. Very hopeful. Yes. It's very human. It is. Yeah. It is exactly. That's, that's well said. I think that's the crux of it right there. Well let's take this moment to thank our sponsor, Zamzows. this episode of Nobody Knowz is brought to you by Zamzows, your local source for Garden Pet and planet friendly products. At Zamzows we believe the stories we share and the places that we gather and grow matter. Whether it's cultivating a healthy garden or building a community where people feel connected. Visit Zamzows.com or stop by one of our 12 Treasure Valley locations. Nobody knows like Zamzows. My heart swells when we have conversations like this. And you know what? I you know what I want to do is I want to, like, shout it from the rooftops. There's been a few podcasts like this where there have been moments when I'm like, every woman needs to hear this and like, feel it and love themselves and know that they are loved. And I just, I there's, there is pain and suffering in the world and and I think there are little things that can sometimes alleviate that. And I, I just I love things like that. And I hope somebody is listening and feeling this, you know. Right, right. And I think that's what story story nights all about to just it's just about feeling more human and more connected to other people through empathy and through what people have gone through, including yourself. Because you always reflect when you hear those stories, you always reflect on what about how is my life been shaped? You know? Yeah. And what what what parallels can I draw between what I've gone through and what this person has gone through? So it's really about this human connection. I think that's so vital. Yeah, I agree. All right. Well, so if there could create transition. Kelly, I'm feeling so many things right now. I'm just like herky jerky. It's just, this is a lovely conversation. Oh. Thank you, I love it. Yeah, I do too. I, I just I want to be your friend, and I want to hang out, and I want to do creative things with you. Yeah. Please. It's wonderful. It's really. It's great to just talk with you and connect with you too. And feel how how you do things. Do you surround yourself with creative people, or do you do you kind of try to balance it out with people that, like are more nuts and bolts? Oh gosh, you know, I'm always like, I need to marry a Type-A person who has a set routine, you know, because it is a little bit hard being. So type B, you know. Yeah. But, I do have a lot of really creative friends and it's I've done a lot of projects with my friends that have been super rewarding. So. Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. I'm around lucky. She's phenomenal. Right. And I don't even think he knows how phenomenal he is. But for me and all the crazy for me, he just he lines the blocks up. You know exactly what I want. Yeah. Sign my blocks up. And he. Made that sound really dirty. I love it. Clint's going to appreciate that too. All right. How about we take a transition into the sharing is caring portion of this, conversation? Okay. This is sort of rapid fire questions. So are you ready? Yes. Okay. First question. How about a storyteller, a writer or a creative who has influenced you? The the first person who comes to mind is, comedian named Maria Bamford. She is hilarious. She tells really vulnerable, amazing jokes, using a lot of wild voices. She's so fantastic, and it's been great to watch her just develop from the time when she became popular, when she was in her 30s, and now she's in her mid 50s. And just to see her growth as a person and her dealing with all the hard things that she's dealt with in the most hilarious way, I just I just love her. Oh that's awesome. Okay, so what's her name again? Maria Bamford. Okay. All right. Got a little girl. Thank you for that. Yeah. All right. How about a book, an idea or a quote that shapes how you think about storytelling? Well, I feel like one of the biggest influences for me was storytelling. Is a writer named David Sedaris. I just feel like his stories are perfectly written. They usually have a clear theme, but it's not so like moralistic. It's more just humorous. They're all of his books are amazing, and it's been amazing to watch him develop, too. From the time he became popular in his early 40s to to now, because his life, it just it's a constant mind of gold, you know, people like that are such a gift, aren't they? They are. Yeah. So great. All right. How about something outside of work that brings you joy or keeps you grounded? Well, I love walking in the foothills. I love thrift store shopping. I would say those two things. Yeah I get that. Yeah. For both right. Yeah. Yeah. And for similar reasons I think. Yeah. They kind of clear your mind and they're kind of aimless. But you have a path. Yeah. So yeah. Yeah I agree that oh I love that answer okay. Now it's time. Okay. For the one question that we ask everybody at the end, there are no rules. This is a no rules kind of a thing. So you can answer it however you like. Okay. Fantastic. So what is something that nobody knows okay. So I've thought about this a little bit because I have mined my entire life for things that I can tell on stage and usually. So everything that most people would have a secret, it has turned into like a joke usually, or a story. So there's not that much that nobody knows. But, I sort of one thing. So I had an occasion to to meet with John Prior, who was the lawyer for Chad Daybell. You know that serial. Yeah. Mormon serial killer. And so we had a moment, together and he when he found out I knew who he was, he was just got really excited. And he pulled me into a back room, and he just started laying all the hot goss about what Chad Daybell was thinking and, like, what he thought about the whole trial and just, like, amazing stuff. So like 20 minutes in, I was like, you know, this is a really good story. And his head snaps over to me and he was like, what do you know about stories? Because he had no idea who I was. So I explained to him about Story Story Night. And he was like, so you cannot tell anybody about this and good bye and good day, ma'am. Yes. Good day, good day. So I can't tell anybody the details, but nobody knows that story. Yeah. That's amazing. Cool. I was super excited and then you got all these things inside your brain. Now, you two, you know these things. Oh, the inside view. It was fascinating. Yeah that's delicious. Right. That's good stuff right there. It is. I love that answer. And I'm so curious I know do you drink I don't drink, but do you kind of get you really drunk and sometimes. Oh yeah. Give me some glasses of champagne and lips and I'll start mine. And the details of that part. Right. Great. Hey, listen, you said something. One time dot, dot dot. This has been a wonderful conversation. You're so fun. Your your creative, your your energy is contagious. I feel just overjoyed just having spent some time with you this morning. So thank you. It's been a joy to hear your stories too. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, mine are a little wacky, but no, I love them. So if people wanted to follow me, that's cheap, right? Yes. Yeah. So you kind of give those details like how people, if they want to get Ahold of you or learn more about story story night because you kind of give that quick rundown of how people can find you. Yeah. You can follow cheap, it's called cheap it up and you can spell it cheap as. And that doesn't cost very much money or cheap like the bird watch. This is what I call it. And then story. Story night... StoryStoryNight.org. It's a fantastic program. They usually have shows every month, so come to the next one, I think I will. Oh good I love it. Yes Jessica thank you. I appreciate your time today and thank you for living in Boise, Idaho so that we can all enjoy the fruits of your labor. Oh, thank you so much for being a joy to be here. If you enjoyed today's episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. Next week we'll hear from another incredible voice shaping the Treasure Valley. Until then, thanks for listening.