Tall Tales & Truth Bombs w/ Bil Lepp

Behind the ballcap

On stages across America, you’ll find Bil Lepp—the master of Appalachian tall tales—breaking stereotypes about West Virginia. In his ballcap and jeans, with hands casually tucked in his back pockets, he captivates audiences with stories that defy expectations.

Since 2003 Bil has been a full-time storyteller and lived an exaggerated life on stage while embracing the love of family and hometown joys at home. He hosted History Channel's the Man Vs. History He performs in storytelling festivals across the country and plans on doing it until his stories are no longer relevant, which if you have ever heard him speak, you will find they are timeless and entertaining.
In Business I don’t see a need for tall tales!?
Tall tales, when used wisely, can be a powerful tool in business communication. By starting with relatable truths and gradually introducing humor or exaggeration, leaders can highlight challenges, poke fun at inefficiencies, or make abstract ideas stick—without sounding preachy.

These stories simplify complexity, create emotional resonance, and make messages memorable. In meetings, presentations, or training, a tall tale offers a playful yet purposeful way to engage teams, inspire creative thinking, and land a meaningful point that lasts long after the laughter fades.

 

How tall can you tell a Tall Tale?

As tall as your audience will let you.
The art of a tall tale isn't in how outrageous it gets—it's in how believable it feels before it gets there. You stretch the truth just a bit at first—something everyone nods along with. Then a little more. If you’ve earned trust and built relatability, your audience will want to follow you into the absurd. It's like climbing a ladder into the sky—one believable rung at a time—until they suddenly realize they’re laughing in the clouds. So how tall? Just tall enough to surprise them... and still land the truth underneath.

Bil’s storytelling style is deeply Appalachian, full of larger-than-life characters and humor that’s both relatable and wild. But what does it take to tell a tall tale that truly lands? Here are a few tips I gathered from Bil’s experience you can use to improve your storytelling.

Start with Audience Relatability:

start with something simple and true that everyone can agree on. For example, Bil begins a story by saying, “My dog has a name” or “My dog can smell well.” This shared truth creates common ground with the audience because they surely have the ability to believe he has a dog. Also this relatability makes it easier for them to follow the story when the exaggeration comes later on. Eventually they accept that this is plausible and they only later get to decide what is real and what is just for the fun of the tall tale. Bil’s story ends with his flying by his frozen tongue to the side of a train, he knows where he is going as soon as he starts the audience just needs to strap on for the ride.

Use what Bil calls, “Gradual Exaggeration”:

For a tall tale to be believable, the absurdity must unfold gradually—like slowly turning up the heat on a frog in water so it doesn’t jump out. As you build humor and exaggeration step by step, the audience warms up to the wildness. But push too far too fast, and it backfires—just like yanking a Stretch Armstrong and tearing the arm right off. The key is to anchor the outrageous in something familiar and relatable, so the stretch feels playful, not jarring.

Be Unique:

“You have to be doing what nobody else is doing!”- Bil Lepp.

Bil’s tall tales thrive because they’re fresh, authentic, and rooted in Appalachian culture—told in a way that only he can. His competitive advantage comes from leaning fully into his unique identity and perspective. The same principle applies to you. When crafting your own life stories, ask yourself: What can I share that no one else can or will? This is how you position yourself as a one-of-a-kind storyteller, not just another voice in the noise. If others are doing what you do, your story might still be golden—but if you tell it like everyone else, it becomes a commodity. To truly stand out, share stories only you can tell, from a lens only you possess.

Know Your Story Deeply:

Memorizing the plot, details, or even the exact words of a story isn’t enough. To truly move an audience, you must know your story inside and out—understanding the deeper motivations of each character and why the story matters to you. When you connect with that personal meaning, you can translate it into real value for your audience. That emotional clarity is what builds trust and resonance. Even the most powerful tale can fall flat without it. Whether you’re telling a parable or a tall tale, the more you own your story, the more naturally you can relive it—and help your audience feel it too.

Test Your Story:

Don’t judge your story too soon. “Share it with at least 5 different audiences” was Bil’s suggestion.  That will help you see what lands and what needs refinement. This suggestion is one that impressed me as a content crater. I often will give up on ideas too quickly based on Bil’s experience because of poor audience feedback. We may just be in the wrong audience.
Sometimes, a story—or a message—doesn’t land with every audience, and that’s okay. I remember a parable about a father who gifted his daughter a classic car for graduation—a rare Nissan Skyline R34. She first took it to a pawn shop where they offered her barely a hundred dollars, calling it scrap. Then she tried a used car lot, where they offered a thousand dollars. Finally, she brought the car to a collector’s club, and suddenly she had multiple offers well over $100,000. The car hadn’t changed, but its value shifted drastically depending on who was looking at it.

Her father explained that the car’s true worth was only recognized by those who understood its rarity. This illustrates a powerful lesson: your message, like that rare car, will be deeply valued by some and overlooked by others. The key is to find—and keep—your right audience, the people who truly see your worth. Don’t give up on your story just because it isn’t appreciated everywhere. Some audiences simply aren’t ready or worthy of it yet. When you find your people, your message will shine and your value will be undeniable.

Bil Lepp’s Truth Bombs

Beyond tall tales, Bil drops some powerful truths about storytelling and success as a speaker. These were the ones that I felt highlighted the most insight from his interview.

 

Treat Every Show Like a Job Interview:

Every time you step on stage, it’s like an audition—because everything really is an audition! How you show up during your stage time is your job interview to get hired again. Bil Lepp emphasizes, “Never take a show off.” Bring your absolute best to every performance, because your audience could be your next client, fan, or connection. Most of Bil’s future gigs have come simply from being present and giving his best on stage. This consistent effort creates opportunity—because someone is always watching.

I remember sitting in an acting 1 class at Dixie State University when Shakespearian Actor and professor Michael Harding, with intensity in his eyes, told us to really look hard at the people sitting to our right and left.

“Someone here will either cost you a job or earn you a job in the next ten years.” -Michael Harding

That same principle applies to speaking.

Every chance you get to share your story on stage is a chance to build—or lose—trust and interest. How you treat that valuable stagetime is crucial to you being hired again.

The quality of your storytelling and delivery is often reflected in whether people want to hear you again. Being asked back, is the easiest way to know you delivered well for your audience.

If your last speech sparked inquiries or follow-up conversations, you know you did well enough to serve others. Because at the end of the day, you are only as good as your last gig.

Know Your Audience:

Tailor your stories to the people listening. Whether you’re in West Virginia or beyond, being funny and authentic goes hand in hand with showing respect for the culture and people. The better you can tailor your message to the audience the better your message will be received.

Storytelling is More Than Entertainment: Bil quoted master storyteller Ed Stymer who encouraged,

“Never take the audience hostage.”

Storytelling is a responsibility—a connection and a gift—not just a performance. We must honor the time that the audience entrusted us to deliver what we promised we would deliver. As you build trust with others your opportunity to connect goes up and your ability to perform at higher level events will open up.

Stay Humble and Keep Growing:

Even after TV appearances and national recognition, Bil approaches every show with humility, viewing each as a chance to learn and improve.

Consistency is Key:

Success in storytelling isn’t luck. It’s earned through relentless practice and showing up ready, able and willing to deliver your best you can. Bil lives by the mantra: “I’m your man,” signaling commitment and readiness to deliver. Performing for all sizes of organizations with all kinds of budget restrictions allows him to see what he can do to add value to any organization. He doesn’t work for free at all but when you give the organization what they want they pay what they can.

Final Thoughts

Bil Lepp’s journey teaches us that storytelling is a craft that demands passion, authenticity, and discipline. Whether spinning tall tales or dropping truth bombs, the goal remains the same: to connect deeply with your audience and leave a lasting impression.

Want to hear an example of his Appalachian tall tales? And hear more of his hard-earned wisdom? Watch to the full episode of Tall Tales and Truth Bombs now!

Bil's Children's Book:

The King Of Little Things by Bil Lepp

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