In 2007, Scott Whitehair discovered the joy of sharing stories with his friends, neighbors, and fellow
Chicagoans. Ever since then, he has dedicated most of his time to spreading the love to as many people as
possible, in as many ways as he can dream up.
Scott proudly embraces a DIY punk producing ethic and enjoys working in found spaces. He spends as
many hours moving chairs around as he does speaking into a microphone. He believes storytelling is your
birthright as a human being, and that the only permission you need to be the storyteller you are is your
own.
He is the producer of This Much Is True, Chicago’s longest running monthly personal narrative series
(since 2008), where he carefully curates lineups of professional storytellers, fresh voices, and fascinating
people to share tales with an audience of attentive listeners.
Scott is the creator of Story Lab Chicago, a showcase based on the belief that if you give people the space
to be great, they will fill it. This belief has been validated every month since 2011, with 850+ new or first
time storytellers taking the stage. No one has failed at it.
He is also the director of Do Not Submit, a grassroots series of open mics in venues across the
Chicagoland area committed to creating community in an obnoxiously supportive environment. Please
note that this project would not exist without the contributions of a remarkable team of thoughtful,
passionate hosts.
In the fall of 2022, Scott created Solo Sunday, a long-form series taking place in a handmade, pop-up
theater located in the side dining room of an Irish pub. This artist forward series charges no rental fee for
the space and has partnered with a wide variety of creatives to put up memorable performances in an
intimate setting.
Scott is the co-host of Story Vroom Vroom, Evanston’s monthly storytelling party featuring storytelling,
sing-a-longs, trivia, and more. He also produced The Chicago’s Biggest Liar Contests, a trilogy of large-
scale immersive storytelling events taking place in a funeral home parlor, a church, and a secret “bomb
shelter” to which blindfolded attendees were transported on buses.
He is the originator of The Get-Together, a radically inclusive and ridiculously affordable hybrid of
retreat, conference, and house party. In 2023 & 2024, over a hundred people gathered in the greatest city
in the world to learn, play, work, daydream, listen, share, and enjoy some quality time with kindred
spirits.
Scott tells stories anywhere someone will listen, including festivals, showcases, and radio, but also on
front porches, around fires, and at dinner tables. He teaches an independent storytelling course that has
been consistently selling out for over ten years, and he has been a guest speaker at the city’s top
universities. He spends many of his days assisting individuals, companies, and organizations in
developing their stories and voices as storytellers.
At this very moment, Scott is still trying to process the fact that he was invited to join this extraordinary
roster of artists and is beyond grateful to everyone at The Meier Foundation for their belief in and support
of his ongoing work.
He is also deeply appreciative of anyone who has ever told him a story or listened to one of his.