Who We Are

We are artists with a passion for telling stories.

Our quest is to improve lives through the power of storytelling and audience experience. Together, we embark on a journey that combines research, brand work, strategic partnerships, talent acquisition, marketing, impact measurement, expansion, continuous improvement, and above all, stories.

We dive deep into your message with research, creative conceptualizing, and analyzing the demand for storytelling focused on your cause; humanitarian aid, arts, wellness, hunger, faith, addiction, mental health, human rights issues, and more. 

We dissect the issues and identify strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in the current narrative that we can fill.

We pinpoint potential target audience segments and understand their preferences, ensuring that our storytelling resonates with them.

The result is an emotionally driven narrative that supports your message and improves your mission financially, or through designated action from your audience.

  • Zak Ferry

    CEO

    A CU Boulder alum with a heart for social entrepreneurship which began in Southern California but ultimately led me to Colorado where I co-founded a college ministry for Flatirons Church attracting over 1500 students every Sunday night. Based in Denver now, I serve as the Founder and Executive Director of The Lion Project and CEO of Narrative Paintbrush. Thus far, my organizations have contributed over $3 million to the local community, demonstrating the significant impact of storytelling and community engagement. Outside the office, I enjoy spending time with my family, smiling, being active, and the occasional cigar. My faith is a central aspect of my life, keeping me grounded and focused on pursuing a greater narrative in everything I do.

  • Adam Stielstra

    Chief Storyteller

    Dedicated to making an impact, I use my storytelling experience and skills to create narratives that improve lives. With extensive experience in film, the arts, and storytelling, I collaborate with clients to create narratives that deeply connect with audiences. My work has been recognized with a number of awards over the years. I have tackled diverse topics and causes, and, notably, I played an integral role in creating the acclaimed Nooma film series, sparking global conversations. When I’m not telling stories, I’m basking in music and nature, playing with my dogs, and being a dad.

Let’s stand out.

  • "Adam has a very unique and creative ability to take you on a journey in his storytelling that draws you in and helps you see, hear, feel, and engross yourself in his created experiences. He is a natural at seeing and expressing a story in a way that is very compelling. "

    David Reid, CTO & CMO of NOV

  • "Creative and Edgy are a couple of words the English language provides to describe Adam.Thanks for all the precisely executed projects!"

    Neil Kirby, Product Operations at Meijer Stores

  • "Many of the projects we have collaborated on, under Adams direction, have gone on to win various awards and recognitions... And I'm glad to offer him the highest of recommendations."

    Steven Shauer, Director of External Communications, San Antonio River Authority

  • "Adam has it all, the vision, the execution and the ability to bring multiple voices and personalities together to create amazing work."

    Andy Slopsema, Director, Product Design

  • "Working with Adam is a exercise in creative thinking. Always willing to push to get great results and it's always an interesting journey getting there. A lot of fun to work with too."

    Derk Baartman, Executive Producer, DB Studio

  • Adam has a great vision to take a concept and really evolve the idea in new and exciting directions... An incredibly talented artist who is looking to invest his time and energy into meaningful work."

    Bill Butler, CEO and co-writer of The Energy Dilemma

  • "Adam can't help but want to explore creatively; whether music, film, experiences, conversations, writing - life is a creative sandbox and he loves playing in it. "

    Brett Vantil, Producer of the Nooma short film series