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…just in case. 

Miguel Salazar, in his heart of hearts, is simply a nerd. He uses his software engineering hobby to pay for his mixology, coffee snobbery, and CD/DVD collecting careers. He'd like to thank First Person Live for being a party of his storytelling journey - his fourth career in the making (also self financed). After years of telling stories in the esteemed "mom's kitchen" venue, Miguel went on to tell stories at the Moth and is a a recent Moth StorySLAM winner. Miguel spends whatever free time he has hanging with his dog, learning new random trivia, and working on his one true vocation: talking to himself.

Rajneesh Sehgal hails from the vibrant city of Mumbai, India, where he grew up and studied computer science. His life journey took him across continents to settle in the suburbs of Chicago, where he now cherishes life with his wife and two boys. As CTO and co-founder of SKUforce, he thrives on the challenges of entrepreneurship. Amid a mid-life crisis, Raj sank into depths of depression yet emerged more vital than ever, shedding 70 pounds(!) and conquering not just one but two marathons and eight half-marathons (!!). He discovered storytelling in May 2024, winning the Moth StorySLAM on his second attempt. Raj is driven by mindfulness, curiosity, and a desire to be the change he wishes to see in the world - constantly striving to learn, grow, and find his place in an incomprehensible universe.

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Lucy Riner is a native Chicagoan who has been dancing, choreographing and teaching in the Midwest for 28 years. She has had the pleasure of working in dance programs at Stevenson, Oak Park/River Forest and New Trier high schools. Lucy serves as Executive Director of RE|dance group, a dance theatre company based in Chicago where she shares her love for storytelling and movement through evening-length works focused on the human connection and relationships. Lucy can be found most often sharing stories with the teenagers she surrounds herself with, including the two she birthed at home.

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 recently started telling his own. He is a Moth StorySLAM winner and is thrilled to be back at First Person Live. Nick spends most of his time fighting imaginary dungeons and dragons with friends or hanging out with his definitely real French girlfriend, and their even more real English Bulldog. 

Nicole Campbell is a proud native of Los Angeles who moved to the Chicago 'burbs for love. She's an award-winning former journalist who's now in her Real Housewives of the Great Lakes era. Nikki has shared stories at the Moth and won a spot in the Mortified storytelling show, which went much better than her turn on the game show "Win Ben Stein's Money." (She got $150 worth of lobster as a consolation prize.) Nikki loves music - especially new wave and yacht rock - artsy movies, Scrabble and used to be in a double-dutch jump rope club. Her special skill sets include being able to rap the first verse of Public Enemy's "Bring the Noise" and knowing the location of every Wendy's within a 20-mile radius of her house.

Charles Schoenherr is a voice-over talent and working actor with more than 22 years of experience. From Shakespeare, to TV and film, to improv, animation, and video games, his favorite art form has remained storytelling. When not on stage, Charles enjoys cooking, making terrariums, reading, and cycling along Chicago’s lakefront. 

Evelyn Troutman works in event production but finds that boring to talk about and is currently unemployed anyway. She first started performing standup comedy nine years ago and has since incorporated storytelling, poetry, sketch, clowning, music, and performance art into her work as well. Evelyn loves playing Wingspan with her friends, journaling in cemeteries, painting, collaging, and being outside for any reason. She does not own a cat..