Diane Kastiel is the producer, director, 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. Diane has told stories on stage at The Second City, the Park West, Victory Gardens and other theaters - but also in more unconventional settings, including comedy clubs, art galleries, the basement of a tattoo parlor, homeless shelters – she even did a show in the middle of the woods! Diane is an alumna of The Second City Conservatory and the University of Chicago’s Great Books program, and has an MBA from Northwestern University…just in case. 

Steve Miller has been a high school math teacher for 16 years. His favorite topic is algebra and his favorite victims are freshmen. Prior to teaching, Steve practiced patent law, where he sub-specialized in disposable absorbent nonwoven hygiene products (aka, tampons and diapers). He enjoys playing guitar, seeing movies, and walking his dog, Amelia.

Kim Buck loves participating in any aspect of Chicagoland’s perfoming arts scene whenever she can spare a few minutes between happy wife and motherhood and a career in high-tech marketing. She’s a graduate of the Second City Conservatory, has reviewed theatre for the Chicago Reader, performed in local theatre productions, and sings her guts out in the First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights (FUMCAH) choir. Kim is so grateful to First Person Live for growing this storytelling community and bringing this inclusive, fascinating art form to the northwest suburbs.

Donna Martin grew up in a dance studio and brings that theatricality to everyday life - usually involving accessories and embellishment. During her 35 years teaching high school drama, Donna directed a lot of good stories. Her recent work with the underserved community has taken her down a new and heartbreaking path that requires no embellishment. At home, she’s a collector of vintage costumes and anything kitsch. (You say “drama queen” like it’s a bad thing!)

Paul Teodo is a retired healthcare executive. Born and raised on Chicago's south side, Paul has been telling stories in real life for the past 65 years and on stage for the past six years. He a 5-time Moth StorySLAM winner and a Moth GrandSLAM Champion. He's been invited to perform in New York at the prestigious Moth Ball and featured on CBS Sunday Morning. Paul's first novel, "Pastaman," is available on Amazon and he is working on a second.  Paul raised two great sons as a single dad and is a lifelong dog lover.

Steve Magnino is a marketing strategy and research guy who has told stories with data about everything from processed cheese to credit cards to robotics to tax policy. He discovered the power of telling stories in college when a professor told him, "Any answer is okay as long as you can defend it." To Steve, a question that has only one "right answer" just shows a lack of imagination. A resident of Arlington Heights, you may see Steve biking around town, taking in a movie, visiting the library or attending storytelling events like First Person Live.

Shawn Cobb has worn many hats over the years, working jobs ranging from forklift operator to Cosmetologist, and pretty much everything in between.  He finally settled in at the railroad where he has worked as a mechanic for over 13 years. Also a published Sci-Fi author, Shawn has always been passionate about writing and illustration, however it was through Toastmasters that he found his voice as a storyteller. For Shawn, to be vulnerable while operating from a place of love has proven to be the perfect counterbalance to the sometimes harsh and less forgiving conditions of the railroad. He aspires to inspire through life experiences and stories that find and exposes that common thread that binds us all. 

For years, Nancy Burkholder has had one foot in the arts and one foot in the madcap world of marketing research. Part of the creative team behind the long-running show Late Nite Catechism, and a marketing research consultant, Nancy understands the importance of both following your artistic dreams and having a sensible fallback career. However, winning a Moth StorySLAM has definitely amped up her focus on storytelling. A stint in the record business put Nancy’s pop music fixation to good use in a pre-Google world, not to mention provides some pretty interesting stories.  As a kid she saw the Beatles live and has the $2.50 ticket-stub to prove it.