Up Next…
2026 at the Sound Room
Feb 25
April 22
June 17
August 26 ← up next
October 28
December 16
all on Wednesday
Past Shows…
In the mood for a good, true story? How about four?
Pretty Good Stories brings you stories you can sink into, this time with VIVEK VENUGOPAL, MARGA GOMEZ & JOHNNY TAYLOR JR. So much talent in one room! Please join us as we gather to experience these amazing storytellers. (Plus a story and a half from us, your hosts.)
We’ll also have JON on the piano getting things going with the Pretty Good Theme Song.
Take a look here to see what it’s all about.
About our guests:
Vivek Venugopal: facilitator, improviser, comedian, and host based in the San Francisco Bay. He has performed around the world with Speechless, American Immigrants, and Freestyle+. You can see him nearby at The Moth (where he hosts sometimes), Interwoven Stories, First Hand Stories, and Third Culture Tales. Vivek lives in San Francisco with his wife, two kids, and dog, Mango, where he improvises being a good parent and partner every day — with varying degrees of success.
Marga Gomez: GLAAD-Award-winning writer and performer of fifteen solo plays which have been presented nationally, Off-Broadway,internationally and in the Bay Area. She coaches solo performers and storytellers online at https://www.margagomez.com/. Her work has been supported by the San Francisco Arts Council, United States Artist Fellowship and The Cultural Center For Innovation.
Johnny Taylor Jr.: Sacramento-based stand-up comic, writer, and podcaster with a dark, personal, story-driven style built on bad decisions, honest damage, sharp turns, and jokes that somehow make the worst parts of life feel survivable. Johnny has toured with Brian Posehn and Chris Porter, regularly opens for Patton Oswalt, and was named one of Medium’s “25 Comics to Know” in 2025. His albums Tangled Up in Plaid and Bummin’ with the Devil showcase his conversational delivery, escalating stories and willingness to make himself the punchline. Since 2018, Johnny has taught stand-up through the Sacramento Punch Line, helping new comics develop material while touring, writing and building his third comedy album.
About your hosts:
Beau Ryder Davis: Beau Ryder Davis: Moth Grand Slam champ and winner of 9 Moth StorySLAMs. Featured at Redwood Nights, In A Nutshell, The Punch Line, Simply Said, StorySlam Oakland, Alameda StorySlam and so many more. You may have heard him on the Moth Radio Hour. Also a comedian and seasoning-packet hawker.
Tom Darci: Moth StorySLAM winner. Featured at In a Nutshell, Simply Said, StorySlam Oakland, Conundrum Chronicles, and more. Shakespeare lover, pickleballer.
We created Pretty Good Stories to give the room for experienced storytellers to showcase longer, more in-depth stories. Some are funny. Some are moving. All are pretty good. Join us.
In the mood for a good true story? How about five?
Our June Show features:
⭐️ ⭐️ Don Reed ⭐️ ⭐️ - NPR Snap Judgment Storyteller of the Year, Simon & Schuster author, creator of 7 award-winning solo shows, including The Never Too Late Show, lead actor in Bartlett TV series, alongside Lin Manuel-Miranda, and so much more, as well as the creator and host of Redwood Nights storytelling series in Fairfax and Carmel.
🎤 Eva Schlesinger - Moth Grand SLAM champion and multi-time Moth StorySLAM winner, award-winning writer, including Remembering the Walker & Wheelchair (Finishing Line Press) and contributor to several Chicken Soup for the Soul titles. She is working on a short fiction collection and YA novel.
🎤 Ben Bourdon - tearing it up in Petaluma, winner of Grand Slam at West Side Stories.
PLUS, the hard-to-define songs of Jon Smear. And stories from Beau and Tom.
About your hosts:
Beau Ryder Davis: Moth Grand Slam champ and winner of multiple Moth StorySLAMs. Featured at Redwood Nights, In A Nutshell, Simply Said, StorySlam Oakland, Alameda StorySlam and so many more. Comedian and seasoning-packet hawker.
Tom Darci: Moth StorySLAM winner. Featured at Simply Said, StorySlam Oakland, Conundrum Chronicles, Alameda StorySlam. Shakespeare lover, pickleballer.
They created Pretty Good Stories to give the room for experienced storytellers to showcase longer, more in-depth stories. Some are funny. Some are moving. All are pretty good. Join us.
In the mood for a good true story? How about five? Look no further.
Pretty Good Stories is… …stand-up for artsy people …entertaining oversharing …deep dives into moments that shape our lives, both small and large …all coupled with some live music to smooth the edges.
Please join us at the Sound Room (note: excellent food and drink). We are thrilled to bring you true-life stories from Diane Amos, Kimberlli Joy Walker, Craig Byrne, and ourselves, as well as original songs from Jon Smear. It’s a packed show, and we’re looking forward to it.
At Pretty Good Stories, Hosts Beau Ryder Davis and Tom Darci bring you a selection of the best storytellers from the Bay Area and beyond to present true stories in longer form. Come sink in to these stories that make you laugh, cry, and feel connection to all that makes us human. Plus, there’s music.
About our guests:
Diane Amos: Diane is a stand-up comedian, actress in film and television, and one of the most recognizable brand spokespeople in television history. In that role, she has become a trusted cultural icon while redefining authority, confidence, and representation in American advertising. If you’ve ever heard her voice and instantly felt like things were about to get handled… that’s Diane. Today, storytelling is where her heart truly lives. Diane’s stories are funny, insightful, deeply human, and often unexpected—pulled from lived experience, cultural observation, and a lifetime of being both seen and heard on stages large and small.
Kimberlli Joy Walker: Kimberlli Joy has been weaving the truth into humorous stories for as long as she can remember. She is a familiar face at Redwood Nights Storytelling under the Stars and has entertained audiences at In a Nutshell, StorySlam Oakland, About Last Night, and The Marsh. She was also the co-host of the Gem Tales podcast.
Craig Byrne: Craig has been tearing up the story scene with his unique approach and take on life ever since discovering public storytelling in 2021. He has graced the stages of Simply Said, The Moth, StorySlam Oakland and Alameda StorySlam. He is also in the process of setting up his own open mic storytelling experience at A Great Good Place for Books in Oakland.
Jon Smear: Jon is a singer songwriter with many performances and recordings to his name. He brings us songs that tell stories from his unique vantage point, lightening the evening and giving us all a welcome reset between stories.
About your hosts:
Beau Ryder Davis: Moth Grand Slam champ and winner of multiple Moth StorySLAMs. Featured at Redwood Nights, In A Nutshell, Simply Said, StorySlam Oakland, Alameda StorySlam and so many more. Comedian and seasoning-packet hawker.
Tom Darci: Moth StorySLAM winner. Featured at Simply Said, StorySlam Oakland, Conundrum Chronicles, Alameda StorySlam. Shakespeare lover, pickleballer.
They created Pretty Good Stories to give the room for experienced storytellers to showcase longer, more in-depth stories. Some are funny. Some are moving. All are pretty good. Join us.
In the mood for a good true story? How about four? Look no further.
Pretty Good Stories is… …stand-up for artsy people …entertaining oversharing …deep dives into moments that shape our lives, both small and large …all coupled with some live music to smooth the edges.
Please join us at the Sound Room (note: excellent food and drink) for our first show of 2026. We are thrilled to bring you true life stories from Thomas Laymon, Tanna Hall and ourselves, as well as original songs from Jon Smear.
At Pretty Good Stories, Hosts Beau Ryder Davis and Tom Darci bring you a selection of the best storytellers from the Bay Area and beyond to present true stories in longer form. Stories that make you laugh, cry, and feel connection to all that makes us human. Plus, there’s music.
About our guests:
Thomas Laymon: Multi-time Moth winner (and host). Comedian. Featured at Redwood Nights, Conundrum Chronicles, Pretty Good Stories. Fan of Pokemon Red.
Tanna Hall: Host of Comedy Q Bay Area. Moth winner (and host). Featured at Redwood Nights, Conundrum Chronicles and more.
Jon Smear: A singer songwriter whose storyesque tunes must be experienced to be believed.
About your hosts:
Beau Ryder Davis: Moth Grand Slam champ and winner of multiple Moth StorySLAMs. Featured at Redwood Nights, In A Nutshell, Simply Said, StorySlam Oakland, Alameda StorySlam and so many more. Comedian and seasoning-packet hawker.
Tom Darci: Moth StorySLAM winner. Featured at Simply Said, StorySlam Oakland, Conundrum Chronicles, Alameda StorySlam. Shakespeare lover, pickleballer.
They created Pretty Good Stories to give the room for experienced storytellers to showcase longer, more in-depth stories. Some are funny. Some are moving. All are pretty good. Join us.
Pretty Good Stories is…
…stand-up for artsy people
…entertaining oversharing
…a series of one-person reality shows
…Castaway meets Oprah
…all coupled with some quirked up anthems, disquieting ditties, and tunes to tickle your mind
Hello folks! We are so excited to begin Season 2 of Pretty Good Stories in our new home at The Sound Room in Oakland, and we’re kicking it off with our most star-studded lineup yet! We’ll be bringing Pretty Good Stories to life every third Wednesday of even-numbered months. (On odd-numbered months, please check out the open mic awesomeness of StorySlam Oakland, also at The Sound Room.)
At PGS, Hosts Beau Ryder Davis and Tom Darci bring you a selection of the best storytellers from the Bay Area and beyond to present new and classic stories. Stories that make you laugh, cry, and feel like you just had a good meal, all held together by a musical guest.
So who will be telling the stories this month?
Corey Rosen has told stories all around the world. He is the face of the Moth in the Bay Area, the he hosts the Berkeley Moth each month, an accomplished improviser, storytelling coach, and author. His newest book, A Story For Everything, will be out in early December, and you can find out more at www.coreyrosen.com
Kay DeMartini grew up in Minnesota with 4 brothers. If surviving that wasn’t impressive enough, she is a Snap Judgement featured storyteller, a film & commercial actress, an improv teacher, a Moth winner, a standup comic, a story instructor at National Storytelling Festival and she’s produced Oakland monthly storytelling events for 10 years.
Our musical guest, Jon Smear, made his on-stage return to the Bay Area during our October show, and he’s back to delight our audiences with his signature songs of the quirky, for the quirky. Ask anyone at our last show, Jon brought the roof down (metaphorically) and we’re excited to watch him do it again at the Sound Room (hopefully still metaphorically).
Beau Ryder Davis has numerous Moth StorySlam wins to his credit, including a Grand Slam win. When not telling stories, he is performing comedy and selling little packets of seasoning. Tom Darci has a single Moth StorySlam win and is really hoping some of Beau’s winning ways rub off on him.
They created Pretty Good Stories to give the room for experienced storytellers to showcase longer, more in-depth stories. Some are funny. Some are moving. All are pretty good. Join us.
Please join us for this night of four stories told by expert storytellers, plus original songs from a live musician on the piano.
Beau and Tom are delighted to welcome David Rodriquez and Ruven Hannah to the Pretty Good Stories stage, along with singer-songwriter-musician Jon Smear, who will be playing a few of his songs, in addition to tying the evening together with music.
David recently appeared in a Moth Mainstage at the Herbst, and has 2 Moth GrandSLAM championships under his belt. He told his first story on stage to impress his date. They are now married. To what extent she was impressed continues to be litigated, but we are pretty sure you’ll come away impressed with his down-to-earth and vulnerable storytelling. Ruven is a dynamic storyteller, a Moth StorySlam winner, and has created several solo shows, including performing at the Solo Mio festival. Jon will join us on the grand piano, singing his original, quirky and insightful compositions. You do not want to miss this trio.
Beau Ryder Davis has numerous Moth StorySlam wins to his credit, including a Grand Slam win. When not telling stories, he is performing comedy. Tom Darci has a single Moth StorySlam win and is really hoping some of Beau’s winning ways rub off on him.
They created Pretty Good Stories to give the room for experienced storytellers to showcase longer, more in-depth stories. Some are funny. Some are moving. All are pretty good. Join us.
Pretty Good Stories comes to Berkeley!
Becky Lynn and Amy Bee join Beau and Tom for this edition of Pretty Good Stories. And we are thrilled to have them. Becky is a veteran of the Northern California comedy scene, as well as an experienced storyteller, with appearances at Redwood Nights and In a Nutshell and more. Amy is the co-creator of the In a Nutshell storytelling show in Sacramento, and also an accomplished writer. They are both amazing.
Please join us for this night of four stories told by expert storytellers, woven together by the amazing Don Doblados of E.S.C. on electric guitar.
Pretty Good Stories is a workshop for developing longer-form pieces. And for entertaining the heck out of everyone in the room. Join us.
Pretty Good Stories invades the Sound Room in a hybrid mashup collab with StorySlam Oakland.
Beau and Tom telling stories, along with amazing guests Keith Lowell Jensen and Kari Kiernan. PLUS Don Doblados of E.S.C. on electric guitar.
And… 5 open mic slots… and prizes… and the amazing food of The Sound Room.
Pretty Good Stories returns! In the Pavilion at Park Day School in Oakland.
Featuring your hosts Beau Ryder Davis & Tom Darci.
With very special guests Marga Gomez and Thomas Laymon. And the keyboard stylings of Kevin Gibson-Weinberger.
Pretty Good Stories arrives! In the Pavilion at Park Day School in Oakland.
Featuring your hosts Beau Ryder Davis & Tom Darci.
With very special guests David Rodriguez and JP Frary.
Also, snacks.