LogoBehind the Slam: A WYSS Newsletter
Authors
Login
Subscribe
LogoBehind the Slam: A WYSS Newsletter
Oliver Buchannon
Anna Ong

Creator of What's Your Story Slam, where people tell stories and strangers become a community.

I almost cancelled the first show.

Jul 15, 2026

•

1 min read

I almost cancelled the first show.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
⏰ Early bird ends tonight at midnight

Jul 5, 2026

•

1 min read

⏰ Early bird ends tonight at midnight

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
We're going home.

Jun 30, 2026

•

1 min read

We're going home.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
 I owe you an explanation

Jun 14, 2026

•

2 min read

I owe you an explanation

I went quiet. And you deserved better than that.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
✨ A New Chapter Begins in January 2026

Dec 9, 2025

•

4 min read

✨ A New Chapter Begins in January 2026

Why the most important leadership moments never come with a script

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
🪢 Relatable With a Twist: The WYSS Storytelling Superpower

Dec 3, 2025

•

4 min read

🪢 Relatable With a Twist: The WYSS Storytelling Superpower

The stories that win at What's Your Story Slam? They start normal... and end wild.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
Specificity Sells: Why “Cigarette from a Soviet Stallion” Beats “We Hung Out”

Nov 7, 2025

•

5 min read

Specificity Sells: Why “Cigarette from a Soviet Stallion” Beats “We Hung Out”

General = forgettable. Specific = iconic.Why your next presentation might flop — and how one specific detail can save it.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
🧠 Funny Isn’t Enough: Why Laughter Alone Doesn’t Make a Story Stick

Oct 22, 2025

•

4 min read

🧠 Funny Isn’t Enough: Why Laughter Alone Doesn’t Make a Story Stick

You tell funny stories — but are they memorable?

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
🪞 The Reflection Trap: Why Your Lesson Isn’t the Story

Oct 14, 2025

•

4 min read

🪞 The Reflection Trap: Why Your Lesson Isn’t the Story

If your story starts with “I realised...”, you’ve already told us the ending.That one phrase kills more stories than bad delivery ever could.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
🩺 Anatomy of a Winning Story – Part 3: The Likeability Factor

Oct 7, 2025

•

5 min read

🩺 Anatomy of a Winning Story – Part 3: The Likeability Factor

If your story makes you look too good, it's not a story. It's PR.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
 If I Knew Then What I Know Now

Sep 30, 2025

•

4 min read

If I Knew Then What I Know Now

Messy moves that built my business (and why the same applies to your career visibility).

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
Why Your Presentation Lost the Room

Sep 16, 2025

•

3 min read

Why Your Presentation Lost the Room

Tell the ending first, or save it for last? Depends who’s listening.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong

Storytelling Tips

+1

Why Your Story Needs a Spine

Sep 2, 2025

•

4 min read

Why Your Story Needs a Spine

Two WYSS winners prove: without structure, even the best story falls flat.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
Why Most “Stories” Aren’t Stories at All

Aug 26, 2025

•

4 min read

Why Most “Stories” Aren’t Stories at All

If it’s just what happened, it’s not a story. Here’s what is.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong

STORY_CRAFT

+3

The 7 Deadly Sins of Storytelling (and How to Repent)

Aug 19, 2025

•

4 min read

The 7 Deadly Sins of Storytelling (and How to Repent)

Lessons from 300+ submissions: why truth isn’t enough, and what makes stories stick.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong

Overcoming Fear

+2

30 tickets. 110 seats. And a decision.

Aug 12, 2025

•

3 min read

30 tickets. 110 seats. And a decision.

The show that almost never happened — and why that moment still shapes every WYSS stage.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong

STORY_CRAFT

+1

The #1 Reason Your Story Falls Flat

Aug 5, 2025

•

5 min read

The #1 Reason Your Story Falls Flat

If nothing’s at stake, no one cares. Here’s how to fix that.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
The Story I Almost Didn’t Celebrate

Jul 10, 2025

•

3 min read

The Story I Almost Didn’t Celebrate

41 shows later, I’m still here. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
 When everyone sounds the same, your real voice becomes your biggest advantage.

Jul 6, 2025

•

4 min read

When everyone sounds the same, your real voice becomes your biggest advantage.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
The Anatomy of a Winning Story – Part 1: Emotional Stakes

Jul 2, 2025

•

3 min read

The Anatomy of a Winning Story – Part 1: Emotional Stakes

Why your story isn’t landing (yet)—and the question that changes everything.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong

Events

+1

What school didn’t teach you—but the stage might

Jun 29, 2025

•

3 min read

What school didn’t teach you—but the stage might

You don’t need another framework.You need to get in the room.

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
We’re turning 6 🎉 And I’ve got something special for you

Jun 24, 2025

•

2 min read

We’re turning 6 🎉 And I’ve got something special for you

Behind the Slam: WYSS turns 6 — and the winning stories return

Anna Ong
Anna Ong
Behind the Slam: A WYSS Newsletter

Behind the Slam: A WYSS Newsletter

The official newsletter of What’s Your Story Slam — for people who love a good true story

envelope-simple

I consent to receive newsletters via email. Terms of use and Privacy policy.


Home

© 2026 Behind the Slam: A WYSS Newsletter.
beehiivPowered by beehiiv