#mySTLbiz Small Business Video Series Starts

Ron Watermon • March 30, 2021

StorySMART Provides Free “in their own words” Video Brand Journalism Profiles

#GreaterSTL - March 30, 2021 -

StorySMART has launched #mySTLbiz , a free “in their own words” video brand journalism series profiling start-ups and small businesses throughout the greater St. Louis metropolitan region.

Led by courageous entrepreneurs, small businesses are driving innovation, investment and job growth throughout a bi-state region that spans 15 counties. #mySTLbiz is about sharing some of those inspiring stories by hearing directly from their leaders in their own words.

#mySTLbiz is a way for StorySMART to give back to the community while also showcasing the company’s brand journalism approach to storytelling. The #mySTLbiz small business profiles are videos running about 2 minutes in length that are the result of an interview conducted with the business owner or key company leader.

We learn about the business directly from the business. We launched the series by sharing a profile of Cicadea Biotech , which is located in the Helix Center Biotech Incubator in Creve Couer.

In the short video, Lucy Burns, the Founder & CEO of Cicadea Biotech , tells us about the innovative and important work the company is doing in providing custom PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing strategies and services for gene and microbe detection.

I am grateful to the entire team at the STL Partnership for connecting us to Lucy and to other businesses you will be hearing from soon.

Our Schedule

Each week we will share at least one #mySTLbiz story, posting the story to storysmartnews.com and to our various social media channels.

We will also encourage the profiled business to share the story directly through their website and social media.

If you own a small business somewhere in our region, I encourage you to reach out to us to have us profile your business. I’ve included all our information at the end of this post to help make the connection.

How Are We Doing #mySTLbiz?

We work directly with each business owner in telling their story. While it is a free video, the business becomes our client for purposes of the profile. Our approach is brand journalism. We work for the brand using a journalism model like we do with all clients.

Right now, we are doing all of our work virtually. That means we interview the business owner over zoom and produce an “in their own words” video story and companion written story so it can be shared online.

I conduct the interviews and do much of editing. I also have help from two talented StorySMART interns – Ethan Bacott and Connor Schwinn – both seniors at Webster University.

#mySTLbiz - is a win for everyone involved

#mySTLbiz is win-win. You could actually say it is a win, win, win, win.

To start, most importantly, it is win for the businesses we profile. They get a high-quality professional video and written news story for free that they can use to promote their business.

It is a win for audiences online because they get to learn about these amazing businesses.

It is a win for StorySMART because we get to showcase our brand journalism work, while we refine our approach to virtual production.

Finally, it is a win for our interns who are helping me with #mySTLbiz.

They are joining us as innovative pioneers in the realm of direct storytelling. Connor and Ethan are learning about brand journalism while getting real experience with editing and building their portfolio.

What is Included with Each #mySTLbiz Profile - A Video & A Written Story

Every business we profile gets a free video and a written news story they can use to share directly with their brand community via their website and social media.

#mySTLbiz is an example of how we roll at StorySMART.

We specialize in honest, authentic, and credible brand journalism. Telling not selling. We adhere to a brand journalism credo to ensure integrity in our work.

Every brand should be blogging and sharing videos on their website today. More media is created by the masses than mass media today. All brands should be acting like media outlets online by sharing content consistently via their website blog. We help brands do that professionally and ethically using journalists. We think that is important in this day and age because there is as much misinformation on the internet as information.

Why is StorySMART giving away Free Videos?

We wanted to create this #mySTLbiz series because it is much easier to show people what we mean when we say brand journalism than to explain it. As a small business, we know how hard it is to run a business and get noticed. And not just during a pandemic.

We know you are out there plugging away with your business just like we are.

We want to help you share your story. That is our specialty. We want to help other small businesses grow their business in a high-integrity way. We won’t lie – we would love to earn your business. We would love for you to hire us to help you promote your business. But we know that is not realistic for many companies right now.

We created #mySTLbiz to be a win-win all the way around – allowing us to show you brand journalism in action while helping others. Along the way, we also promote the community we love. How cool is that?

Who is eligible for a Free #mySTLbiz Video Profile?

Our goal with #mySTLbiz is to profile small businesses throughout our entire region – from Jersey County Illinois to Jefferson County Missouri and everything in between. We are looking for all types of businesses in every industry.

We value diversity and inclusion. We want to help MBE/WBE and DBE companies, as well as majority owned. Everyone.

If you own a small business in one of the 15 counties in our bi-state region, I’d love to share your story. It is that simple.

Why the entire region and not just the city of St. Louis?

Businesses operate to serve a market. That market isn’t limited by some line drawn by politicians who died long before I was born. The fact is we are one region, competing within a global economy. We are #greaterSTL. We are all in it together.

Forgive me for my soapbox moment, but nothing annoys me more than when we act parochially and at cross-purpose with one another in this region. We must do better and act as one region. And when I say region, that isn't just St. Louis city and St. Louis County. It is inclusive of the eight counties in Illinois and the six counties and city of St. Louis in Missouri.

I’ve headquartered my business in Clayton because I work from my home, not because I don’t like other areas. I'm a start up on a budget that didn't want to pay rent to anyone as I get my business going. I have been working from home (#WFH) long before the pandemic made it cool.

Many of our journalists do the same thing - and they are from a variety of neighborhoods around our diverse, expansive and awesome community. We are committed to being inclusive and showcasing businesses in neighborhoods throughout our diverse region.

Facts About Our #greaterSTL Business Environment

Get these facts about our #greaterSTL: as the 4th largest economy in the Midwest, the #GreaterSTL region is home to more than 80,000 businesses employing over 1.4 million people. The region has one of the fastest growing startup scenes in the country.

Those facts underscore how important small business is to our community.

Let us Profile Your Small Business

If you own a small business and want to be profiled, let me know.

You can email me directly at ron@getstorysmart.com or you can go to storysmartnews.com and fill out the #mySTLbiz form. It is that simple. In the meantime, to see more #mySTLbiz small business profiles bookmark storysmartnews.com.

Springsteen's New Film is a Boss Lesson in Storytelling

By Ron Watermon • October 21, 2025
When Deadline first reported that Bruce Springsteen’s Deliver Me From Nowhere was headed for the screen, I expected it would be more than another typical music biopic because it was based on a book that focused on a sliver of Springsteen’s life. That “sliver” was a singular defining period of Springsteen’s life. When I wrote my book, I took note of the fact that when Hollywood came calling, they first reached out to Warren Zanes who wrote the book and not Springsteen himself. I was trying to make the point about the importance of securing storytelling source material. The real work in telling a story is that of the author. Writing a great story isn’t easy. When it happens, someone in Hollywood is bound to notice. What I didn’t fully appreciate until now is that Springsteen’s story to screen journey is a masterclass in focus — a case study in how a single defining period, a writer who truly understands his subject, and a team of champions can move a story from the page to the screen in record time. Zane’s book was published 2023. A little more than two years later, the film is being released. That is amazing in of itself, but the approach to the story told is also instructive. Most people think you need your whole life story to make a film. Springsteen — and Warren Zanes — show us you don’t. It can be a sliver. The story behind this storytelling is a Boss lesson in storytelling that help you deliver your story from nowhere. 

Friday Night Lights

By Ron Watermon • October 13, 2025
Your Clear Eyes, Full Rights, Can't Lose Playbook.  If you’ve ever watched Friday Night Lights, you know the phrase: Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. It’s the mantra Coach Taylor preached to his team. But when I look at the 35-year storytelling journey of Friday Night Lights—from a reporter’s notebook to a bestselling book, then a film, a beloved series, and now talk of a reboot—I see a slightly different mantra: Clear eyes, full rights, can’t lose. Because underneath the inspirational football story is a lesson we can draw from in how one journalist’s immersive reporting became a durable, multi-platform franchise. And for me, it’s a perfect demonstration of a pathway we advocate for at STORYSMART®. It all starts with investing in good clear-eyed journalism. It is the single most important investment you can make in developing a true story. When you take control of your source material to tell a true story and develop your story properly, your story can live on for years far beyond the page. I’m a big proponent for adopting a story franchise mindset when approaching storytelling projects. That is why I tell clients to think like a studio executive by adopting a media mogul mindset. When you open your mind to that, it opens the doors of possibilities. The storytelling journey of Friday Night Lights helps illustrate what is possible, as well as offer other lessons on what to do and not do in designing your own professional storytelling path. How a reporter’s notebook became a franchise In 1990, journalist Buzz Bissinger published Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream. It wasn’t just another sports book. He moved his family to Texas to immerse himself in this story. Bissinger spent a year in Odessa, Texas, embedded with the Permian High School Panthers, capturing the obsession, pressure, and community identity that revolved around high school football. He conducted hundreds of hours of interviews and built his narrative from a deep archive of source material. Every interview he conducted is his work product, what I often refer to as copyright protected storytelling source material. Make note of that. That depth of Buzz’s reporting gave the book credibility. It also gave it power as intellectual property. It was a fantastic book that was a hit.

Media Lens: NCAA NIL Guidance & Storytelling

By Ron Watermon • October 3, 2025
The NCAA just approved new guidance on NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals — and while the headlines mostly talk about money, what’s really at stake here is storytelling. Starting this past August, athletes have had to disclose NIL agreements over $600. Schools will help monitor and even facilitate opportunities, and standardized contracts are being promoted to protect athletes. Meanwhile, new rules for collectives are meant to stop disguised pay-for-play deals while still allowing legitimate business arrangements. ( Full NCAA release here )​ On the surface, this might sound like dry compliance policy. But here’s the STORYSMART® takeaway: Transparency is power. The clearer your contracts and disclosures, the harder it is for someone else to hijack your story or exploit your image. Standardization levels the playing field. Whether you’re a star quarterback or a swimmer at a smaller program, having clear terms makes it easier to protect your rights. Your story is the real asset. NIL isn’t just about a jersey deal or an autograph session. It’s about controlling your narrative — the way your life, your legacy, and your values are presented to the world. ​ This guidance is another reminder that athletes — like families, public figures, and estates — need to see their story as intellectual property. The athletes who win aren’t just the ones who score on the field; they’re the ones who invest in how their story is told off the field. ​ STORYSMART® Rule of Thumb: Don’t just cash a check. Build a story that grows in value over time.

What is The STORYSMART® Way?

By Ron Watermon • October 1, 2025
At it's heart, STORYSMART® is about democratizing access to elite-level professional storytelling. Storytelling has been controlled by gatekeepers for far too long.

What "The Studio" Gets Right (and Wrong) About Storytelling

By Ron Watermon • September 24, 2025
The Studio offers a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos of Hollywood, but there are lessons about what the industry gets right & wrong about storytelling.

Goodnight, John-Boy: Lessons in Family Storytelling from The Waltons

By Ron Watermon • September 14, 2025
Storytelling for ALL™ LinkedIn Newsletter Vol. 3

Be Like Mike: Own Your Story Like a Champion

By Ron Watermon • September 14, 2025
Storytelling for ALL™ LinkedIn Newsletter Vol. 2

Forget AI - the Two Letters That Matter Most to Your Story Are IP!

By Ron Watermon • September 14, 2025
Storytelling for ALL ™ LinkedIn Newsletter Vol. 1

Why I Wrote STORYSMART® Storytelling for ALL

By Ron Watermon • July 21, 2025
July 22, 2025, St. Louis, MO - There’s a line in Jerry Maguire that has always stuck with me. Young Ray asks his mom, “What’s wrong, Mom?” And she replies: “ First class is what’s wrong, honey. It used to be a better meal. Now it’s a better life. ” That line hits hard. Because access—access to opportunity, tools, and professionals—changes everything. And when it comes to storytelling, access has long been unequal. For decades, only a small group of insiders had the power to tell stories at the highest level. If you weren’t already in Hollywood or publishing, your story stayed in coach—often ignored, misrepresented, or lost. I wrote STORYSMART® Storytelling for ALL to change that. This book is a roadmap. It’s designed to give you—whether you’re a public figure, entrepreneur, athlete, or someone with a life story worth telling—the same tools used by insiders. The same strategies that power studios, presidents, billion-dollar production companies, and bestselling memoirs. It’s also deeply personal. I’ve seen too many remarkable true stories disappear because people didn’t know how to protect them—or worse, were taken advantage of. I’ve felt like an outsider myself. And I know what it means to want your story told right. That’s why I developed the STORYSMART® Framework. To empower people with meaningful stories to protect their rights, preserve their vision, and share it with the world—on their own terms. I’m making the Author’s Note from the book available as a free PDF download as part of this post. And if you’ve got 90 seconds, I invite you to watch the short video message from me below. This is your story. Let’s tell it the right way. About The Book In a world hungry for authentic narratives, STORYSMART® Storytelling for ALL™ : How to Take Control, Own Your True Story and Profit Like a Hollywood Insider delivers a rare insider’s guide to turning a true story into a cultural and financial asset while maintaining control. Designed for public figures, entrepreneurs, and individuals with powerful life stories, the book introduces the STORYSMART® Way, a step-by-step framework to organize, preserve, and professionally develop your story for books, film, and television. The book pulls back the curtain on how stories move through publishing, Hollywood, and streaming—and empowers readers to navigate the process like seasoned insiders. Topics include copyright and licensing, collaborating with elite-level professional filmmakers and ghostwriters, developing a pitch-ready treatment, and monetizing true stories through publishing, streaming, and merchandising. STORYSMART Storytelling for ALL is available currently as both a paperback and e-book. It will be available soon be in hardcover and audiobook formats. About the Author Ron Watermon is the founder of STORYSMART®, a cinematic storytelling consulting service and story development film studio. A lawyer, filmmaker, and Emmy-nominated television producer and writer, Ron’s led strategic communications for an MLB team, advised high-profile clients, and has produced both film and television productions. Ron lives in St. Louis with his family. Learn more about Ron at storysmart.net and ronwatermon.com #STORYSMART #StorytellingForAll #NewBook #MediaRights #TrueStories #BookLaunch

STORYSMART® Film Receives Major Grant Support from St. Louis Film Project

By Ron Watermon • April 24, 2025
We are honored to share some big news. Our documentary, A Steak Guerrilla in St. Louis: The Dr. Arturo Taca Story, has been selected as one of five projects to receive funding from the St. Louis Film Project , a collaboration between the Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Louis and Continuity . This recognition comes from a highly competitive pool of 115 applicants. The grant—up to $100,000—represents a decisive vote of confidence in our story and our approach to telling it. It also offers meaningful momentum as we enter the next phase of production. Most importantly, it reinforces what we believe: Dr. Arturo Taca’s story matters and deserves to be told. A Story Rooted in St. Louis — and Felt Across the World “A Steak Guerrilla in St. Louis” is a documentary rooted in the unlikely convergence of midwestern Americana and Filipino resistance. It follows the story of Dr. Arturo M. Taca, a Filipino surgeon and political exile who made St. Louis his home while taking a stand against Ferdinand Marcos's brutal dictatorship. Before terms like “fake news” and “disinformation” became common in American discourse, Dr. Taca uncovered the truth behind the Philippine president's fraudulent war record. That investigation began here—in dusty archives just outside of St. Louis—and set off a chain of events that toppled a brutal dictator. Our film uses a hybrid storytelling format, combining animated reenactments, interviews, and archival research to tell this story in an emotionally resonant and visually striking way. The Grant That Helps Make It Possible The St. Louis Film Project grant, funded through RAC and administered by Continuity, is part of an initiative to uplift the film community in St. Louis. RAC’s press release states that the fund was created to “support local filmmakers and organizations to tell stories rooted in St. Louis.” The evaluation process was rigorous. “Choosing five projects from over 100 submissions was no easy feat," said Vanessa Cooksey, President of RAC. "The talent and stories presented were incredible.” That’s why being one of the five chosen is more than just a financial boost—it affirms this story’s value and connection to our community. It means much to us, and we don’t take it lightly. A Delayed Start But a Firm Deadline While the grant announcement arrived months later than initially expected, we’ve been working behind the scenes to be ready to go once we receive funding. With this grant officially in place, we’re full steam ahead. The grant contractually obligates us to deliver the completed film by January 2026. That’s a fast turnaround in documentary filmmaking, especially for a story with historical depth, international relevance, and a visual style that blends live action with animation. That means every day counts. While the grant covers significant production costs, it also comes with essential parameters: 75% of funds must be spent within the City of St. Louis. We’re proud of that requirement—it aligns with our belief in investing locally and elevating regional talent. But it also means we must be innovative, strategic, and resourceful with every dollar we spend. We have our entire team in place, minus one critical position. We need a gifted DP to join our elite team. We are eager to work with a tremendous city-based production company or cinematographer who calls St. Louis home. If you know a great cinematographer who would like to join us, please have them email me at ron@storysmart.net. Why We’re Still Seeking Donor Support Even with the RAC grant, bringing this film to life in the way it deserves will take more. Animation, archival licensing, original score composition, color grading, distribution planning—it all adds up. And some of this can't be sourced in a way that fits grant guidelines. And because of the ambitious deadline, we’ll need to scale quickly without cutting corners. That’s where you come in. We’re seeking additional donor support to help us: Expand our animation sequences and visual storytelling capacity. Secure the rights to key archival materials that deepen the film’s historical accuracy. Shoot at least a couple of interviews with key individuals who live outside our region, including the Philippines. Invest in editorial and post-production tools that allow us to move efficiently without sacrificing quality. Ensure the finished film reaches the broadest possible audience, from film festivals to classrooms to international broadcast platforms. Your contribution—no matter the size—helps ensure that Dr. Taca’s story is told with the care, accuracy, and cinematic impact it deserves. If you believe in the power of truth-telling… if you value stories that connect communities and illuminate buried history… we hope you’ll consider becoming a supporter. Click here to donate Learn more about our film at steakguerrilla.com A Final Word: Why This Story Matters Now We often think history is distant, locked away in textbooks or museums. But A Steak Guerrilla in St. Louis reminds us that history is constantly being rediscovered—sometimes in our backyard. It’s a reminder that exile doesn’t silence the truth, that one person in one city can stand up to a dictator and change the course of a narrative written in lies, and that the work of defending democracy happens quietly, persistently, and often without recognition. Now, it’s time to give that recognition. With this grant—and with your support—we’re going to finish the film. And when we do, we’ll bring a hidden chapter of St. Louis history that reverberates far beyond our city limits. Thank you for sharing this journey with us, and a special thanks to each member of our talented filmmaking team. I'm grateful for your willingness to work to bring this story to the screen, your patience through this process, and your unselfish (uncompensated) work to make it happen. I have no doubt it will all be worth it! --Ron Watermon, Executive Producer & Director, A Steak Guerrilla in St. Louis: The Dr. Arturo M. Taca Story
Show More