Last Story Standing is a storytelling competition owned and operated by the National Speakers Association (NSA) and is intended to raise awareness and heighten the importance and power of storytelling for professional speakers. Last Story Standing includes three levels of competition: Chapter, Regional, and National. Below is the process, eligibility rules, and FAQs applicable to the NSA Arizona Last Story Standing competition.
PROCESS
All videos are reviewed by a three-judge panel.
Submissions are judged on the following three categories: Purpose, Impact, and Delivery.
ELIGIBILITY RULES
FAQs
Once I submit my story, can I change it if I reach the regional or national competition?
A participant cannot change their primary storyline. The general story can be enhanced based on feedback/coaching received during mentor sessions, but the story at large must remain the same.
Can I use slides or props in my video submission?
No. Any use of slides or props will automatically disqualify participants.
Can my story be a little over 5 minutes long?
No. 5 minutes is a strict cutoff. Any stories that go over 5 minutes will be disqualified.
Why is our chapter charging a $25 entry fee?
The winner from each chapter must submit a $500 entry fee to enter the NSA regional competition. The NSA AZ chapter will use the $25 entry fees to cover the $500 regional entry fee for our winner.
Are all NSA chapter competitions being operated in the same way?
No. Every chapter is given discretion by NSA HQ to operate their competition differently.
Who can I contact with questions?
Matt Silverman, NSA AZ President: matt@blueprintorg.com or (847) 946-6500.
By registering for this event, you are giving permission for NSA-Arizona to add your contact information to our email list and to use any photographs that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as NSA-Arizona deems appropriate and desirable.
What is it? A casual, virtual co-working support space
Why do it?
How long is it? 2 hours, once weekly
When is it? Monday from 12:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m. (excluding holidays)
Project Lab Flow:
Start at 12:00 p.m.
Facilitator schedules a 50-minute work session
The regular host is Michele Redmond, with co-host Cassandra Thompson.
By registering for this event, you are giving permission for NSA-Arizona to add your contact information to our email list and to use any photographs (screenshots) that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as NSA-Arizona deems appropriate and desirable.
This meeting will be held upstairs in the training room, Suite 201.
Please note: Coffee and water will be provided. You are welcome to bring your own beverage and snacks.
3 Ways to Participate:
As a speaker, your stories are your superpower. They’re what transform a talk
from “pretty good” into unforgettable. But too often, speakers stay on the
surface—sharing anecdotes without tapping into the deeper resonance that
makes audiences lean in, laugh, cry, and remember.
In this transformational session, you’ll discover an ancient yet practical
framework: The 5 Layers of Storytelling. You’ll learn how to craft stories that
don’t just inform but truly move people, blending physical details, energy,
emotion, wisdom, and universal truth into narratives that set you apart from the
crowd. This is not just theory. You’ll walk away with practical techniques you can
immediately apply to your next talk, webinar, or podcast.
Whether you’re speaking to a room of 10 or a stadium of 10,000, you’ll learn
how to turn your stories into signature assets that amplify your brand and leave
lasting impact.
Key Benefits for Speakers:
This isn’t just about telling stories. It’s about elevating your impact as a speaker
and making sure your audience remembers you long after you leave the stage.
EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS ON MARCH 9TH. REGISTER EARLY TO SAVE!
About our speaker: Nick Demos is a Tony and Olivier Award winning Broadway producer, award winning documentary filmmaker, speaker, and internationally recognized story coach. He has produced hit musicals like Come From Away and Memphis as well as acclaimed documentaries Body Electric and Invisible.
As a keynote speaker, Nick shares insights on storytelling, authentic leadership, and creative impact, inspiring audiences to own their voice and share their message with confidence. Drawing from his background as a master yoga, pranayama, and meditation teacher, he brings a unique blend of artistic mastery and spiritual wisdom to stages worldwide.
Through his coaching, speaking, and productions, Nick helps people tell their “soul stories” —the narratives that move hearts, spark change, and leave a lasting impact.
Connect with Nick
https://www.facebook.com/TheNickDemos/
https://www.instagram.com/thenickdemos/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenickdemos/
By registering for this event, you are giving permission for NSA-Arizona to add your contact information to our email list and to use any photographs (or screenshots) that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as NSA-Arizona deems appropriate and desirable.
Cancellation Policy: No refunds.
Please notify us if you have any special needs for the meeting.
When 90% of her speaking income vanished in 2020, Alaina G. Levine didn’t hit pause—she hit play.
By harnessing the power of webinars, she tripled her income, delivered 100+ engagements (including a TEDx!), and created a recurring revenue stream that continues to grow year after year.
In this energizing session, Alaina pulls back the curtain on the exact strategies she uses to pitch and sell high-value webinar series—with some clients booking her 15+ years in a row.
You’ll walk away with:
Don’t miss this workshop if you want to:
Join us and learn how to get booked, rebooked, and build a business that thrives—virtually and beyond!
"Alaina Levine delivered an outstanding presentation on webinars at Influence! Her content was packed with practical, actionable ideas I can implement right away. Even better, she delivered it with energy, humor, and a truly engaging style. A valuable and fun learning experience from start to finish!" -- Cathy Fyock CSP, The Business Book Strategist
"Absolutely fantastic! Alaina Levine, CSP delivered one of the most engaging seminars I’ve attended. She was funny, entertaining, and incredibly relatable, making every minute both enjoyable and valuable. Her practical strategies for building webinars into a speaking business were clear, actionable, and immediately applicable. I left inspired, equipped, and excited to implement what I learned. If you want a speaker who delivers results with energy and heart, she’s the one!" --Nicole Greer, CSP, MSOD
"Alaina’s session on creating a Winning Webinar Strategy was packed with clarity and value. Her framework to create webinar packages was simple, smart, and clearly effective. The product offering ideas sparked fresh inspiration, and her pricing advice was grounded and actionable. I walked away with a clear roadmap and renewed confidence to launch a webinar strategy that actually converts. Highly recommend!" --Tania Will Jeppesen
EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS ON APRIL 6TH. REGISTER EARLY TO SAVE!
About our speaker: Alaina G. Levine, CSP© is a professional speaker, coach, corporate comedian, science writer, and author of 3 books: Networking for Nerds, which beat out Einstein for an award, and Create Your Unicorn Career and Your Unicorn Career Workbook. An expert in STEM workforce development, Alaina helps organizations recruit, retain, and grow their STEM talent, including NASA, who said “her work is worth its weight in gold!”
She has delivered ~1000 speeches for clients in 15 nations, 35 states, and 5 continents, and her 500+ articles have appeared in Scientific American, National Geographic News Watch, World Economic Forum, and Smithsonian, including her column, “Your Unicorn Career,” published in the world’s #1 science magazine.
As a career coach, Alaina helps clients create their Unicorn Careers, and as a speaking coach, Alaina empowers leaders to improve their speaking abilities, grow their speaking business, and land fat stacks of funding. Recent projects included providing speaking coaching to teams of experts who pursued venture funding from NASA and $120 Million in federal grants.
The winner of over 20 business awards, including Tucson Leader of the Year award (previously bestowed upon the former US Surgeon General), Alaina was recently named the Johnson Lecturer in Science Communications at Penn State. She studied at the American University in Cairo as a US Department of Defense Boren Fellow, and holds bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and anthropology from the University of Arizona (UA). Fun fact: as an undergrad, Alaina was a championship billiards player and competed in national tournaments under her nickname, Lady Dyn-o-mite, and as a skilled panel moderator, she once prevented a fist fight on stage between a Nobel Laureate and a CEO. No nerds were harmed.
Connect with Alaina
https://www.facebook.com/alaina.levine
https://www.instagram.com/alainaglevine/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alainaglevine
NSA Arizona's Elevate Live! is a curated speaker showcase where each speaker delivers a 10-minute presentation showcasing their best material.
To maximize your investment, please consider:
Event Planners: Join us to discover and evaluate multiple professional presentations in a single day. Sign up as an Event Planner or RSVP to NSAArizona@gmail.com.
Speakers: Step into the spotlight and present for the people who book stages.
To access NSA-Arizona Member special rate, log in to your account.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Location: MAC6, 1430 W. Broadway Road, Suite 201, Tempe (Also broadcast thru Facebook Live)
Lunch Included!
Plus bonus educational sessions!
Speakers limited to 24.
Contact Us
480-382-0638
info@nsa-arizona.org
10869 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 103, PMB 238
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
