Storytelling Mentorship

Storyectomy is a social justice "storymaking" mentorship focusing on using our real, raw, and personal lived experiences to find healing, destigmatize societal shame, and open our eyes to accepting and empathizing with all people.

Each Storyectomy “cohort” has up to 10 participants and revolves around a shared theme or life experience that is our communal focus for the six week class and mental health initiative. Storyectomy educators safely guide participants to find their own voice, create and compose their own hero’s journey, and discover the power in sharing it with a worldwide audience to help foster compassion for ourselves and others. The class culminates in a night of live storytelling raising funds to support communal focus of the season (e.g. Alzheimer's, Cancer, Maternal Mental Health). 

Themes Covered:

Maternal Mental Health

Cancer

Unhoused

Veterans

LGBTQIA+

Blood Cancer

Parkinsons

...and more to come!

See the numbers

1239

Live audience members reached

96.6%

of the AUDIENCE gave a definitive "Yes" to future participation

120

Stories told

4.92

out of 5 agree the Program Mission was Accomplishment

120

TUITION-FREE program participants

94.8%

of PERFORMERS gave a definitive "Yes" to future participation

32,125

Dollars raised & donated to health orgs

** All data as of: July 6, 2026

"Storyectomy helped me connect more deeply to my story than I ever had before. I was able to take the scariest chapter of my life and transform it into something beautiful."

- Storyectomy Performer

55%

Audience & Performer Impact

Inspiration & Emotional Impact

Audience

Described the experience as deeply moving, beautiful, or inspiring, with many noting they were "moved to tears."

Performers

32%

Felt deeply inspired by hearing their peers' stories and stepping into their own vulnerability.

Community & Connection

Audience

59%

Explicitly highlighted feeling closer to their local community, experiencing deep empathy, or feeling a sense of shared human support.

Performers

44%

Heavily emphasized the safety, camaraderie, and unconditional support built within their workshop cohorts.

49%

Audience

Recognized and valued the program's ability to help people process heavy life challenges like cancer treatments or unhoused experiences.

Trauma, Healing & Resilience

Performers

33%

Explicitly called the program "life-changing" or "life-affirming," noting it provided a safe structure to process personal trauma.

  • "I am disabled (Hard of Hearing) and both the teachers and classmates worked to make sure I was fully included at all times, which I deeply appreciated. Our performance night will go down as one of the best nights of my life."

    Storyectomy* Family Pride Performer

  • "The experience was incredible. Being in Nicole’s class helped me heal from my birth trauma more than years of therapy and medication had. It was truly life changing and so fun.”

    Storyectomy* Baby Bumps Performer

  • "This event lit up Santa Monica for a night. [It] was a huge breath of fresh air, and I think there should be many more like it."

    Storyectomy* Family Pride Audience

  • "As an oncologist, Storyectomy made me a better doctor. Hearing stories from both sides of the desk was transformative and life affirming."

    Storyectomy* End Cancer Performer

Press & News

  • NEWS BREAK

    The safety of the room....breeds vulnerability, which leads to connection and friendships…

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  • THE ARGONAUT

    The Crow is committed to bettering the world through stand-up, performance art, music and storytelling…

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  • SMPD

    Storyectomy classes act as a unique support group where experiences are shared and meaningful connections are made…

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  • SMPD

    When you have to watch that person on stage... you realize the reflection in the mirror could be you or is part of you…

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  • LA TIMES

    Storyectomy: the Crow Cancer Comedy Class

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