Storytelling is as Good as Sex

For realz! An actual Harvard University study said as much.

If you are up for the challenge, you can read the study here, or you can just trust me. Trust me, trusting me is gonna be a lot easier!

The study set out to understand why human beings spend so much time talking about themselves. Apparently 30 – 40% of the hot air we generate is devoted to sharing thoughts, insights, fears and stories about, you guessed it, ourselves. Now, to take that into the modern age, 80% of social media posts are about what we just did, saw, or experienced, like just now. Anyone who has ever been on Facebook or Twitter knows what that means – “I just had coffee.” “Man, there’s a lot of traffic.” “I love Fridays!”

So, why do we do it? Why do we feel the need to talk about ourselves, and post banal or intimate details about our comings and goings? Why do we tell stories?

It’s cause it feels as good as sex!

Here’s the skinny on what the Harvard study did and found. Researchers hooked up test subjects to an MRI machine and watched their brain activity. They asked them to answer questions about other people, general knowledge or about themselves. The brain regions associated with reward – like from eating or having sex – lit up like the Fourth of July when people talked about themselves, and not so much when they talked about other stuff.
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Open Mic?

That’s right folks – Better Said Than Done is opening our microphone up for the August show. Normally our shows are curated, rehearsed, carefully planned out. But we thought it would be fun, for the dog days of summer, to see what would happen if we just let you at it!

The theme for our August 25th show at Epicure Cafe is “Love, Sex, and Relationships.” Oh boy! That is a great big can of worms. I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Though it is an open mic, storytellers will be given only 6 minutes to tell their tale. Then they get the boot.

Also, to avoid a mad rush to the stage, I am asking (suggesting) people email me in advance if they would like to tell that night. We already had five people sign up! If you have a story idea and would like to get in the lineup, please email jessica at bettersaidthandone.com and I will put you on the list.

Hope to hear from you soon and see you on August 25th!

Upcoming Shows Listed Here!

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Better Said Than Done’s Independence Day Videos

The one benefit of watching the stories from our June 30th show on YouTube instead of live is that you don’t have to sweat through the night watching them! That was the day of heat and no power for a lot of us. Fortunately Epicure Cafe did have A/C, but it was still a warm evening, and you can see the glow on all the storytellers smiling faces.

One of the most surprising takes on the theme was John Tong’s story of his days at Independence high school.

We also had a First Time Teller at the show. Lisa Kathleen blew up the night with her women’s prison story.

All the stories were great and if you weren’t there, you definitely need to check out all of them. Here’s the playlist for the night:

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Our Independence

Last weekend, in celebration of the recently passed holiday, Better Said Than Done presented: “Independence Day – stories of declarations, freedom, and fireworks” at Epicure Cafe, in Fairfax. And boy did we have some fireworks!

Jessica Piscitelli hosted and started off the night with a story of her surprising, though not so perfect, 4th of July engagement. John Tong followed by telling us about the time he ran for President…of his high school student body.

Ellouise Schoettler brought out the explosions, or, rather, her father did, and then didn’t get to a safe distance in time. Michael Zhuang had a really interesting meeting in the men’s room.

Our First Time Teller, Lisa K, blew us all away with her tale from prison. Adam Ruben, on the other hand, was held prisoner by his high school girlfriend. Geraldine Buckley had her most declarative moment at a pro wrestling match.

And Derek Hills rounded off the night with a lurid trip through Amsterdam’s seedier side.

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Surviving the Apocalypse – at Epicure Cafe

The show DID go on Saturday night. I am sorry I wasn’t able to post on the blog/website about it as we had no power. In the future, please check our Better Said Than Done Facebook page for updates if another apocalypse should occur on show night.

We were so happy Epicure Cafe had power, and staff, cold drinks, hot food, and a sound system. “Independence Day,” the latest Better Said Than Done storytelling masterpiece was explosive, and the standing room only audience was great. Sorry to those of you who didn’t get there in time to get a seat, but please come back again!

I will have a full recap with photos posted soon – and videos to follow. Just wanted to thank all the performers, who were thankfully all right and able to make it to the show, all the audience members who braved the dead stoplights, extreme heat, and fallen trees to come to the show, and, of course, Epicure Cafe for sharing their coolness with all of us!
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Storytelling Saturday

We are bringing the fireworks this Saturday. Join Better Said Than Done for an explosive night of storytelling!

Independence Day: stories of declarations, freedom, and fireworks
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Epicure Cafe
11213 Lee Highway
Fairfax, VA
7:00PM Show
Doors Open at 6:00PM
$10 Tickets at Door (Cash Preferred)

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Capital Fringe Festival

Better Said Than Done is taking July off – partly because it’s too hot to think and partly because there are so many amazing shows already going on as part of the Capital Fringe Festival. Many of the shows are starring some of the overly talented storytellers you’ve seen at Better Said Than Done. I don’t want to play favorites, but I’m gonna anyway.

Here are our top picks for the Capital Fringe Festival.

Apocalypse Picnic
starring Derek Hills and Jason Pittman
Amid the devastation of the apocalypse, survivors are having a little trouble letting go… Day spa, anyone? Group therapy? As self-obsessed as ever, their new world’s an inventive and hilarious culture of denial… and mutant cockroaches. Watch our heroes struggle to hang on to the civilization they once knew and ponder, in their own ways, the eternal question: Can humanity survive? With cameos by Jesus and Superman.

Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza
starring Adam Ruben and Chuck Na
In this hilarious parody of science demonstrations, the charismatic Dr. Science takes the audience on a science–tastic journey filled with dry ice, potato clocks and a baking–soda–and–vinegar volcano…until something goes horribly, horribly wrong. Horribly.
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Independence Day Stories

Our next show is just over a week away and we are going to bring the fireworks. Join Better Said Than Done for an explosive night of storytelling!


Independence Day: stories of declarations, freedom, and fireworks
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Epicure Cafe
11213 Lee Highway
Fairfax, VA
7:00PM Show
Doors Open at 6:00PM
$10 Tickets at Door (Cash Preferred)

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Our Body Videos

It’s not quite like being there, but it is great that you can experience some of the show through the magic of YouTube.

It was such a fantastic night of stories. Many of the stories told were both funny and emotional. Renata Lana’s, for example, had people laughing and getting teary eyed – a rare accomplishment in under ten minutes!

Karen Lee was telling for only the second time and she performed her story about sexy sleep apnea like a pro.

And Mike Kane is an old hat at this storytelling thing, but it was his first time with Better Said Than Done. I guess he knows this audience well, since he brought the big joint.

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All About Our Bodies

“Our Bodies, Our Selves was another great fundraising, storytelling event at the Walker Nature Education center. Better Said Than Done raised nearly $1000 to help fund camp scholarships for local children to attend summer camp this year. If you’d like to contribute to the Friends of Reston’s Camp Scholarship fund, please send your check to ATTN: Katie Shaw, Friends of Reston, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston VA 20191 and write “Camp Scholarship” in the memo section.

As for the stories, well, they were all about bodies, and selves. Jennifer Luu started us off talking about sperm, and how she just wished she could make some. It was a gentle way to kick off the night. Renata Lana told a touching story about a vibrator. Really.

Mel Pine talked about his days as a health crazed marathon runner. Karen Lee showed us exactly how sexy sleep apnea can be. Ellouise Schoettler told the story of the tattooed man. Mike Kane regaled us with some middle school high jinks.

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