Sponsored by: East Tennessee State University Department of Communication Studies & Storytelling
Jane Dorfman
Jane Dorfman tells folk and fairy tales, myths, and colorful personal stories about her New Orleans childhood and her Bethesda, Maryland neighbors — with a few lies mixed in for good measure. A Storytelling World award-winner known for painting vivid images in the minds of her listeners, Jane transports audiences from the enchanted worlds of The Arabian Nights to the tall-tale adventures of Calamity Jane.
Naomi Faw
Naomi Faw draws from her life growing up and living at “the foot of the mountain” in the North Carolina hills. Her beautiful stories and unique voice invite listeners along to meet her family, leaving them feeling as though they’ve known and loved them for years. A Story Slam Championship winner and recipient of a New Voice Award from the Stone Soup Storytelling Festival, Naomi lives in Millers Creek, NC, with her one-eyed rescue dog, Rascal Flatts.
Yasu Ishida
Yasu was inspired by the movie Patch Adams to come to the United States and become a professional hospital clown. With an M.F.A. in Theatre for Young Audiences and a graduate of the Chavez Studio of Magic, he brings interactive storytelling to audiences across the country. His honors include the Don Doyle Fellowship from the American Alliance for Theatre & Education and the J.J. Reneaux Spotlight Award from Artists Stand Strong Together.
Errol McLendon
https://www.innerstatestories.com/
A four-time Moth StorySLAM winner, Errol McLendon was born in Mississippi before moving to Atlanta, Dallas, and eventually Chicago, where he currently hosts two storytelling shows. His personal stories spring from growing up in the South, adventures as a roadie for top country music acts, road trips with his mother, and years spent ghost hunting with a paranormal investigation group. Errol’s stories have taken him across the country and been featured on the Moth and Story Collider podcasts, KPFT radio, and online at Chicago’s Elmhurst History Museum.
Rajesh Mirchandani
https://www.storytellerconsulting.com/about
Rajesh Mirchandani has been a storyteller all his life, by profession and passion. A former BBC global journalist and nonprofit communications leader, he is now the founder and chief storyteller of Storyteller Consulting. A three-time Moth StorySLAM winner, Rajesh also hosts the Finding Our Flavor podcast about food and family. He fuels his work by performing on storytelling stages around the country—and sometimes he sleeps.
Kona Morris
Kona Morris is a storyteller, writer, and educator. She has won Story Slams at The Moth and Ojai Storytelling Festival, and she appeared on PBS’s Stories From the Stage. Her solo show about living in a remote village north of the Arctic Circle received critical acclaim at Edinburgh Fringe and New York City Fringe (both in 2026), winning multiple awards, selling out theaters, and receiving five-star reviews. Kona spent 14 years as a professor of literature, mythology, and creative writing, and now teaches storytelling workshops that inspire others to tell their stories.