Our Story.
We founded theWholeStory because we wanted organisations and their people to reach their full communication potential.
We met at university at the tail end of the last millennium, on a theatre studies BA. Josh then worked with vulnerable adults for a housing association, whilst developing his skills as a storytelling performer in museums, festivals and schools. Lily continued post graduate studies at Central School of Speech and Drama and gained an MA at Goldsmiths, while devising theatre productions as a director.
Our paths crossed again on a project with young actors in Mumbai where we discovered we enjoyed working together. On our return we started to deliver open storytelling workshops as a means to develop our product and explore its uses and applications.
Initially, we thought storytelling was perfect for presentation skills and museum tours. Now we also use it to investigate and build understanding with individuals and in collaborative groups as well as to grow connections, values and relationships.
Ben Joiner became one of the core team in 2014. We were drawn to his in-depth knowledge and expertise in voice and body-language and his gift to comfortably take people outside their comfort zone.
Over the past couple of decades, we have honed our skills and our love of training and coaching. We have stayed curious, and use that curiosity to help us adapt and evolve how we use storytelling to the benefit of contemporary working life.
Lily Pender
When people ask me what I do, the simplest answer is that I teach people to think and speak better. I find ways to make communication enjoyable and easy.
At school I was the girl who never put her hand up to ask a question and stuttered her way through reading her work out-loud to the class. I struggled to arrange my thoughts into words.
But I found a confidence in drama. It showed me I could and should speak and communicate and gave me a creative set of tools with which I could explore and articulate my thoughts. I founded theWholeStory with Josh to help others think clearly, find their voice, get it heard and make things happen.
When designing a workshop or working face to face with someone, I look for the challenge or barrier that is stopping their thinking, listening or speaking and find the simplest, most pragmatic approach to overcoming it. What technique, process, exercise or alternative thinking does this person need to be able to do or say what they want well?
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What can’t you be without?
My day has to start with strong coffee and toast with butter and marmalade. Movement – a short walk to notice the weather and see the sky and the trees, pilates to remind my body how to move, routine housework to process my thinking.
What was your first job?/What did you want to be when you grew up?
There were the usual babysitting jobs and bar work but my first real job (PAYE, paid holidays, overtime…) was working as a Dresser at the National Theatre. I think I wanted to be a teacher, which has come true.
What do you do that makes you happy?
I love my work and enjoy the company of my children and husband. But I also like to take a day off, on my own; I’ve always loved walking around London, noticing what is there. I have also been known to cry happy tears at a beautiful landscape.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
Make kindness a bigger influence in everyone’s decision making and behaviour.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“I was going to.../I was about to…” (If it wasn’t for post it notes and to do lists I wouldn’t get anything done/completed).
“Hello… Good morning…” (Greetings are an important element to delivering training but I like to challenge myself to say hello to people around me, because I know I like it when people are friendly to me).
Josh Gaillemin
I’ve always been a bit of a talker, so it came as no surprise to many friends that I became a storyteller. Although it did to me.
I found the storyteller stereotype of my childhood: velvet cape, alternative facial hair, patchouli oil etc uncomfortable. It didn’t mirror with how I saw myself. However, I got a lot of happiness from performing (in jeans and a hoodie), so I persisted.
Setting up theWholeStory with Lily, the skills I’d inadvertently honed on stage came into their own again: to be fully present, to listen to your audience and adapt your material to best allow them to engage with it, to have clear purpose and meaning to your content, to leave no one behind.
I get the same pleasure facilitating that I did performing, and an even greater sense of satisfaction and achievement when I see how people have progressed at the end of each workshop.
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What can’t you be without?
Excellent headphones and podcasts, as I love to immerse myself in someone’s voice and mind. When I discover a new one, I’ll hoover up the back catalogue solidly for a few weeks until I’m up to date.
What was your first job?/What did you want to be when you grew up?
My first job after finishing A-levels was a cleaner in a school’s boarding hostel. A daily 6 hour shift that included a dozen toilets and double that number of teenage bedrooms. This was about as far as it got from the dream: to be on Radio 4.
What do you do that makes you happy?
The good stuff: This could be going to stand up (I would happily make Soho Theatre my home), tending to my stolen garden (three tree bases outside the block I live in), live music (nice and loud and sweaty), vinyl, Scotland, wine, my children.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
That people discovered what made them content, and had enough time in their life to put that insight into reasonable use.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
‘It’s not actually that interesting…’ (as I keep catching myself unconsciously starting sentences with ‘Interestingly’ or ‘It’s interesting’ and need to manage expectations.)
Ben Joiner
I started out as a professional dancer, became an actor and then a voice coach. I combine these three elements to help people present and speak publicly. This trio of body language, authentic behaviour and vocal presence provides an integrated approach when building trust and rapport with others
Half of my time is spent taking actors to the limits of their expressive potential. I spend the other half providing solutions to entrepreneurs, leaders and teams who wish to engage in meaningful dialogue with their clients, colleagues and customers.
I have performed and taught all over the world, from major film studios, West End theatres to small fringe venues…including the streets! I have coached for big tech, banks, energy companies, non-profits, arts education, charities and government agencies. I’ve coached film stars, models, celebrities, politicians, poets, executives, TED talkers, teachers, lawyers, journalists, coaches, teenagers and many more.
If my experience has taught me one thing it’s you do not need any special skills or hidden talent to be a better communicator. Presence can be taught and what’s more…you have it within you already.
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What can’t you be without?
The outdoors. I have recently moved to a coastal area and discovered I enjoy cold sea swims in the middle of winter!
What was your first job?/What did you want to be when you grew up?
I was a paper boy and my round was in a wealthy area with people who worked in the city during the week, Mon-Fri was easy but the Sunday papers killed me!
I’m not sure I have grown up yet but if I did…I am happy with my current choices.
What do you do that makes you happy?
Coaching is definitely where my passion, vocation and profession collide. I am a keen veg grower and have obsessed over my allotment for a few years now.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
I’d like to implement a ‘hey, we only have one planet, can we make it last’ policy in all our decision making.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I overuse “Do you see what I mean?” sometimes. I do swear…a lot! This is something I am trying to change so that when I do curse it really lands.