From my new comedy storytelling show, Strong Feelings About Being Alive. Performed at the Flying Pig Improv in Wichita, KS on June 28, 2024.
Best of Taylor 2024
This year I really enjoyed spending time on my Substack, Crying Laughing. Every week I share stories about all the ridiculous things we do when we feel like we’re falling apart. Stories about laughing so hard you cry, or crying so hard it’s funny.
Here are some of my favorite stories from the year.
Everybody Bombs and Everybody Poops: People love to ask about my worst experiences on stage. This is definitely one of them. A story about what changes when we don’t have to suffer alone. READ
My Father, The Godlike Iceberg: Growing up it always felt like my dad kept most of himself hidden. One day in high school I saw an emotional side of my dad that nearly broke my brain. READ
The Sting of Change: I got sting by a wasp for the first time this year and I still haven’t stopped crying about it. READ
How Grief Changed My Dreams: A lot of people tried to say all sorts of things to try and prepare me for what it would be like when my dad died. No one warned me about what grief can do to your dreams. READ
Can We Still Have Tonight: The West Wing taught me how to love someone in the middle of their suffering. READ
Pressing Play on Phantom Pain: The story of the movie I watched with my dad the night before he died and why it was exactly what I needed. READ
When You’re So Angry It’s Silly: A man tried to threaten my life but it ended up just being funny to watch. READ
A Safe Place I Carry: I told a group of kids the story my mom loved to tell about me when I was younger. READ
Ride the Fear: Why did the movie terrify me as a kid but the ride was my favorite thing in the world? Is there something I can learn from this?! READ
Taylor Johnson Wrote a Christmas Song
It’s that time of year again! Pull out all your favorite Christmas songs! Don’t forget the one I wrote in 2018.
I spent 30 minutes writing the dumbest lyrics before handing them off to the incredibly talented David Hale and just said “can you turn this into something?” I didn’t clarify what were verses and what was the chorus. It was just a bunch of silly words. And somehow this man turned it into something catchy and beautiful. It’s a timeless classic!
Special thanks to my brother, Drew Johnson, for mixing and mastering the song.
Please enjoy.
Taylor Johnson Live in McKinney, TX
I’m bringing my new comedy storytelling show to McKinney, TX on October 19.
It’s about mental health, Mister Rogers, and all the ridiculous things we do when we feel like we’re falling apart.
Strong Feelings About Being Alive
It’s a very funny show about being sad.
June 14 Show in Wichita
June 14 I performed my new comedy storytelling show, Strong Feelings About Being Alive, in Wichita KS.
A giant shoutout to Josh Peoples for taking such great pictures. And for knowing how much I’d love having some “less traditional headshots” (his phrase that I enjoyed).
It was so much fun. I’m so thankful for everyone who came out to the two shows.
And we’ve got two more shows later this month!
Taylor Brings His Comedy Storytelling Show to Wichita!
This June I’m brining my new comedy storytelling show to Wichita, KS.
I’ll be at the Flying Pig Improv on June 14 and June 28. Both dates have an early and late show (7 pm and 9 pm). Space is very limited so I’m encouraging people to get tickets ASAP. In fact, the 7 pm show on the 14th is already sold out!
On the 14th, I’ll be joined by musical guest, Sweetly Bitter, a sister duo who compose and cover sweet and sad songs.
On the 28th, I’ll be joined by Lynde Langdon, a popular Wichita comic who incorporates family and faith into her jokes.
In my storytelling show I tell surprising and hilarious true stories about mental health, Mister Rogers, and the ridiculous things we do when we feel like a mess. The show is clean-ish. While there won’t be foul language or crude humor, some stories touch on heavier themes, like mental health, depression, and suicide. We recommend that the audience be at least 14+.
Writing Hours Livestream
I wanted to make something that could hold me accountable to my writing and help me focus.
I’ve used the “Pomodoro Technique” where you set timers, going back and forth between working for 15 minutes and taking 5 minute breaks. After doing that 4 times you take a longer break.
It really does help me focus and keep me from checking my phone all the time.
It’s also been super helpful to use it with a friend over FaceTime. One one of us sets a timer. No talking, just working, using the breaks to catch up. That’s been a lot of fun.
I thought it would be cool to do it with everyone.
It’s a Focus Livestream. Every Tuesday on my Youtube channel. Anybody else who needs help setting aside time to write, read, chores, homework can do the Pomodoro Technique with me! We’ll all focus for 15 minutes and chat in the breaks. Keep it open on your laptop, phone, or TV and we can all get stuff done together!
January Live Events in Texas (FREE!)
I’m performing my new comedy storytelling show in Texas later this month. It’s called Strong Feelings About Being Alive. I tell stories about Mister Rogers, depression, and what it’s like to bomb during a school assembly.
Here’s some more info about the shows…
January 19th in Houston, TX
Since this is my first time performing the show in front of an audience, this is a chance for me to workshop the material. After the show, everyone will have a chance to submit any feedback/reactions. I want to make this show the best and I need your help!
Go to Eventbrite to reserve your spot for free (space is limited)
Share the event on Facebook to spread the word
January 26th in San Antonio, TX
I’m bringing the show to San Antonio for two nights!
Go to Eventbrite to reserve your spot for free (space is limited)
Share the event on Facebook to spread the word
January 27th in San Antonio, TX
Last chance to catch the new show this month!
Go to Eventbrite to reserve your spot for free (space is limited)
Share the event on Facebook to spread the word
Follow Taylor on Substack
My name is Taylor Johnson and I’m writing to you from the internet. It’s been years since I last showed up in your inbox. Now I am back writing my newsletter. But with a few lil changes.
A FEW LIL CHANGES
I’m focusing on storytelling. How do we tell the stories of our lives? How do stories shape our imagination? What stories do we have to share? How do we hear hope in other people’s stories?
MORE THAN WEEKLY (AT FIRST). I’m launching this writing project on November 1st with 30 days inspired by 1 Thessalonians. Something small everyday: stories, prayers, questions, resources, and recommendations. Between 200-800 words a post. Back to once a week in December.
I changed my website url from taylorjohnsononline to followtaylor.com, and my email address changed with it. If you’ve been trying to reach me because you wanted to gift me a large sum of money, please try the new email address. If you’ve been trying to reach me because I owe you a large sum of money, keep trying the old one.
I’m using Substack now because it’s easier and makes more financial sense than the newsletter service I used 3 years ago. You’ll still receive updates in your inbox, but now there’s an easy to access archive in case you missed a post.
I’ve started stretching everyday and for the first time in my life I can touch my toes. I know that’s not related, but I’m proud of myself and wanted to share.
How I Learned to Fill a Journal
I have so many half filled spiral ring notebooks from high school and college. Buying a new one was always more exciting than finishing the one I had. Moleskins made the joy of buying and the shame of abandoning even stronger (they’re so expensive!). I couldn’t do it.
But then I started reading Austin Kleon’s blog. And then Kleon pointed to Lynda Barry. Both wrote about journaling and keeping notebooks in a way that made it less intimidating. I was jealous of their attitude.
Here’s what I try to do now because of them…
Use one notebook to catch EVERYTHING. Let it all commingle. A to do list next to a prayer next to doodles next to a “I’m depressed enough to try writing a poem” poem (an example of which will NOT be included in the post). Cast a wide net and add something every day. But most of all, have fun. Play around. Let loose. Who cares.
And make sure you go back and revisit old journals later. You’ll be surprised at all you caught. Stand back and see the big picture. Connect the dots. Check for themes. Let that inspire what comes next in your current notebook.
Read again all the words you once thought important enough to write down. They might still mean something.
It’s a lot easier for me to get stressed and frustrated when I don’t start the morning journaling. I’ve also had to start journaling with my phone on the other side of the room. I kept catching myself picking it up whenever I started writing about something that made me uncomfortable.
I need to take away that distraction. If what I’m journaling about is making me uncomfortable, it’s probably a sign I’m heading in the right direction. That’s the exact thing I should be working out in writing.
Another book that’s really helped me with this is Opening Up by Writing It Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain.
My main takeaway: Have a difficult memory or situation you’re struggling with? Set a timer for 20 minutes and write nonstop the whole time. Just get in the zone and get it out. When the timer is up, close the journal. Give yourself a moment to breathe. Do it again tomorrow. See how you feel after 3 or 4 days of this.
Everything I put in my notebooks: journaling, prayers, plans, rants, stories, jokes, lists, quotes, questions, sermons, memories, and a drawing of Homer Simpson from memory.
Austin Kleon on keeping a notebook
A journal is a magic space to hang out
The page is a place (based on Lynda Barry quotes!)
Journaling exercise from Lynda Barry
Sometimes when I’m having trouble writing a story, I’ll play this video. Lynda Barry recorded this memory writing exercise for her college class (which you can read all about in the awesome book Syllabus).