Diane Kastiel is the producer and host of First Person Live. A writer and storyteller from Chicago, she’s a three-time winner of the National Public Radio’s Moth StorySLAM; her work has been featured on the Moth Radio Hour, its podcast, and at special events for WBEZ, NPR’s Chicago affiliate. Diane has told stories on stage at The Second City, Steppenwolf, the Park West, Victory Gardens and other theaters as well as comedy clubs, art galleries, the basement of a tattoo parlor - she even did a show in the middle of the woods! Diane works with libraries, schools, community centers and homeless shelters to bring storytelling to a wider audience, and leads storytelling workshops at Northwestern University. Diane is an alumna of The Second City Conservatory and the University of Chicago’s Great Books program. She also has an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School…just in case. 

Allen George, a former marketing project manager, was born and raised in Miami but now hails from Louisville, Kentucky. He’s in love with his wife, and a proud dad of two. Having had two near-death experiences, one by way of lightning bolt to the chest, along with countless ridiculous out-of-this-world experiences, Allen is a self-proclaimed “ordinary dude living an extra-ordinary life.” He enjoys caring for his dogs, attending concerts (Pearl Jam!) and is an avid fan of movies, Disney, and all things Star Wars. A Master Jedi by trade, he uses the force to help random people in the most random of situations. Allen took The Moth stage for the first time in July of 2022 and walked away with the win – and the confidence to begin sharing his life stories on stages in Louisville and Chicago.

Ann Tennes is the mayor of Skokie and a lifelong storyteller, on stage and in public. Before her election in 2025, Ann spent 25 years leading the village’s award-winning communications team and now brings that same passion for connection and community to her role as mayor. She leads with openness, humor, and heart - and proudly turned down a municipal car to keep driving her beloved (and badass) 2013 Special Edition Dodge Charger with a Hemi, the subject of one of her stories. When she’s not at village hall, she’s with family and friends, on the tennis court, or traveling to watch professional tennis.

Margaret Burk got into storytelling after a career in fundraising for arts organizations. She enjoys telling personal stories, as well as traditional folktales, throughout the Chicago area and on the national and virtual stage. She also produces Tellers' Night, a monthly storytelling show in Forest Park and Back Room Stories OUTSIDE! in River Forest during the summer months. Margaret loves perennial flower gardening and traveling to visit family throughout the U.S. and Ireland. Her special passion is teaching “Sharing Your Legacy” writing classes to senior adults, believing that our stories are heirloom gifts to future generations.

Nick Narcisi was a theater actor before the pandemic and since has worked in a cancer research laboratory in Chicago. (He is as surprised with that career pivot as you are.) Nick has worked with theater companies from Arkansas to Montana, spending a lot of time in small towns and dive bars throughout the country. As an actor, Nick got very good at telling other people’s stories, and now enjoys telling his own. He is a Moth StorySLAM winner and is thrilled to be back at First Person Live (we’re thrilled too). Nick spends most of his time fighting imaginary dungeons and dragons with friends or hanging out with his new wife and even newer puppy.

Susan Rohde’s life started to change when she decided she owned her own story. After going back to school to earn a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University at age 35, she realized she could do anything and went on to careers in both professional development and clinical research. But she is most proud of the family she and her husband created as foster parents for 20+ years. Susan is a three-time Moth StorySLAM winner and Director of Professional Development for a local higher education institution.

Errol McLendon Errol McLendon spends his day portraying patients for medical students and guiding them in developing communication skills. He is also an adjunct professor at Indiana University Medical School. Errol has told stories at many venues in Chicago and is a Moth StorySLAM winner. Errol toured his solo show in Indianapolis and Atlanta last year, and will be taking it to Orlando in April. The first in his series of middle grade books will be published this summer.

FPL Special Correspondent Chad the Bird is a journalist, podcaster and contributing writer to several publications including the Chicago Reader. He has been bringing so much logic and truth to his Op-Ed columns and other writing, you'd think he has a mission. And you'd be right but you gotta figure it out for yourself, so follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Chad the Podcast on iTunes - or you could get your lazy butt off the Weekend Couch and head to the Green Mill EVERY Saturday at 3:00 for the Paper Machete and catch him live in the pink with opinions made just for you. Chad would like to thank you ‘cuz you know what you did.  

Chad the Bird is brought to you by Josh Zagoren -  voice actor, social provocateur, and host of the Chadcast.

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