The Search for Voice in Storytelling — and the Best Bagel in the Midwest with Jen Rubin Artwork

Voice Lessons: Uncovering and Claiming Your Unique, Creative Voice

You're a writer, artist, singer, choreographer. Think Lady Gaga, Judy Garland, Prince. Hemingway, JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien. Picasso, Van Gogh. You're tired of trying to uncover your voice by imitating other artists. If you've peeled back the layers of your voice and think you finally recognize it as yours, do you have the courage to claim it? These are the questions we aim to answer during my biweekly podcast, Voice Lessons: Covering and Claiming Your Unique, Creative Voice.

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Voice Lessons: Uncovering and Claiming Your Unique, Creative Voice

The Search for Voice in Storytelling — and the Best Bagel in the Midwest with Jen Rubin

July 16, 2025 • Jill Quist • Episode 21

This week, I spoke with Jen Rubin, the former executive producer of Love Wisconsin and a seasoned storyteller who leads workshops across the state. She’s also the creator of The Great Midwest Bagel Quest, so if you’re as much of a bagel fan as Jen and I are, you’ll want to stick around to hear about that later in the episode.

Jen shared how she began her storytelling career in advocacy work in her 20s and is now an expert in her craft. We discussed the differences between writing and storytelling, including the 5 elements that Jen believes build a compelling story.

We also explored the impact of storytelling in various settings, including Jen's work in prisons and her involvement with The Moth, where she produces events in Madison, WI. Through her storytelling workshops, she helps individuals grasp the power of personal narrative and harness their voices for greater impact. Jen also spoke about the intersections between storytelling and writing, noting how each practice enriches the other.

Jen’s current project, The Great Midwest Bagel Quest, blends her storytelling abilities with her desire to find the best bagels in the Midwest and discover what makes them so great. If you’re a storyteller, a writer, a bagel lover, or a blend of all 3, this episode will help you uncover and claim your voice through the lens of great storytelling.

Key Topics:

The advocacy work that led Jen to storytelling
How Jen formally evolved into storytelling in a corporate career
Jen’s involvement in The Moth and The Odyssey Project
What you decide to leave out in storytelling is just as important as what you leave in
Finding your confidence in sharing your voice
What makes for good storytelling and how it differs from writing
Jen’s 5 tips for putting together a good story
What’s Love Wisconsin, and how did it come to be?
How Jen overcomes stage fright
Tips for finding your voice from a storytelling perspective
The Great Midwest Bagel Quest

Connect with Jen online:

Website: https://www.rubinjen.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenrubin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwestbagelquest/

The Moth: https://themoth.org/

Love Wisconsin: https://www.lovewi.com/

The Great Midwest Bagel Quest: https://www.rubinjen.com/midwest-bagel-quest.html

We Are Staying book: https://www.rubinjen.com/my-book.html

Find more from Jill:

Email: jill@thewritersrefuge.com

Website: https://www.thewritersrefuge.com/

Writing Coaching Programs: https://www.thewritersrefuge.com/coaching