You\u2019ll laugh, you\u2019ll cry and you\u2019ll become part of something bigger than yourself. Last Friday, The Sofia brought back its monthly event, \u201cIn a Nutshell<\/a>\u201d live storytelling.<\/p>\n The event featured storytellers JP Frary, Brian Copeland, Joe Klocek and Meghna Bhat. They delved into the theme \u201cThe People Who Made Us,\u201d which explored parental bonds, chosen family and the people who raised them..<\/p>\n The storytellers interpreted the prompt in different ways to create four distinct stories on stage based on their experiences. Depending on the speaker, some stories carried themes of joy, sorrow, triumph or anger.<\/p>\n JP Frary<\/a>, the \u201cstory pope,\u201d is a storyteller, comedian and craftsman. He told his first story at The Moth in his mid-50s and has become a decorated storyteller, winning The Moth StorySLAM 13 times. Last weekend, Frary challenged himself and the audience with vulnerable topics in a story he\u2019s never told before.<\/p>\n \u201cThe story I\u2019m going to tell at this upcoming show is very serious, and what I am hoping is that I connect with people in the audience who have experienced something similar,\u201d Frary said.<\/p>\n \u201cBy sharing it, we can find our way through.\u201d<\/p>\n Frary shared a story about the people he met through a difficult and lonely period of his life. He talked about how they helped each other heal.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe invisible people can see each other,\u201d Frary said.<\/p>\n Frary said he values the emotional connection that live storytelling and vulnerability bring, creating a community between himself and the audience.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like as a man to talk about emotions honestly and to put them out there \u2013 I feel a responsibility to do that,\u201d Frary said. \u201cTo let people know you can talk about things and that doesn\u2019t make you less.\u201d<\/p>\n Brian Copeland<\/a> is an actor, author, playwright, television host and comedian from San Francisco. His one-man show, \u201cNot A Genuine Black Man,\u201d became the longest-running show in San Francisco theater history. Copeland was an inductee for the 2025 Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n Copeland shared a difficult story from his past about his mother passing away when he was 15, leading to him and his siblings moving in with their grandmother.<\/p>\n \u201cSuddenly, my grandma was taking on five kids, ranging in age from 1 to 15, by herself,\u201d Copeland said. \u201cHow in the world did she pull that off?\u201d<\/p>\n Copeland talked about how confusing and difficult his mother\u2019s passing was for everyone. Once everyone left after the funeral, they didn\u2019t know what to do.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that my mother\u2019s funeral is over and everybody\u2019s gone, it\u2019s just me, my four little sisters and grandma. Once they left the room, my grandma looked at me and said, \u2018What are we gonna do, Brian?\u2019 Copeland said. \u201cThe uncertainty in her voice still breaks my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n Copeland\u2019s story moved the audience by describing how he sought the support of his family while facing difficult times. He said he learned about himself and was able to understand his grandmother better. Even in heartbreak, they were not alone.<\/p>\n RELATED: <\/strong>Four voices, one night: \u2018In a Nutshell\u2019 dives into \u2018Unreal Reality\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n