Simplify the message
- Find the essential idea
- Remove the language that gets between you and the audience
A book by Carlos Maestas
Mommy Lied to God.
Life lessons in authentic storytelling from the founder and Chief Storysmith of Key Ideas.
The practical guide
Authentic stories build trust—and trust moves people.
Mommy Lied to God: Life Lessons in Authentic Storytelling is a practical guide filled with insights, real-life examples, and a touch of humor. Carlos Maestas shows how to simplify a message, communicate value, and create meaningful connections that inspire action.
Available in print, digital, and audiobook formats, the book translates lessons from thousands of interviews and more than two decades of story-led work into tools anyone can use.
Order the bookWhat you will learn
Make every story clearer, more human, and easier to remember.
Build trust
- Use specificity and vulnerability
- Create connection without manufacturing emotion
Communicate value
- Show why the work matters
- Connect information to a consequence people understand
Inspire action
- Give the audience a reason to care
- End with a clear and credible next step
About the author
Carlos Maestas
Carlos is the founder and Chief Storysmith of Key Ideas, a San Antonio storytelling firm that helps organizations sharpen and share their messages. Since 2002, he has interviewed thousands of people, directed projects across five continents, and led workshops for organizations throughout the United States.
A stand-up comedian who once opened for Saturday Night Live alum Dennis Miller, Carlos brings humor, leadership, and practical experience to every lesson in the book.
Bring the ideas into the room
Storytelling That Moves People
Invite Carlos to lead a keynote, Lunch and Learn, half-day session, or customized workshop for your team.
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