We’re looking forward to introducing you to Chetter Galloway. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Chetter, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My mornings start very early, around 4 am or, as we say in the country, before the rooster crows! The next two hours are the best time for me to create, and I am at total peace, allowing me to focus on storytelling. It is the best time to rehearse stories because they will be in my head all day. Often, I will record difficult parts of a story for listening later, so that when I reach that portion of it, telling live, I don’t screw it up!
Practicing Ghost stories at this time of morning works well because of the quiet stillness and darkness, which are the perfect elements for sharing “Jump Tales”. Jump Tales draw listeners in with their suspenseful elements, building up to a climax that causes listeners to “jump” at the scary part of the story.
Sometimes, if I am really into the story, I find myself getting scared or even chills. That’s when I know I have a great ghost story! This happened to me recently while practicing for a show. When the time came to perform it at night, everything was perfect, and the story was a hit!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
After graduating with a degree in History from Virginia Tech, I became a Living History Interpreter and Tour Guide at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. That’s where I was formally introduced to the world of storytelling, and the rest, as they say, is history! Since then, I have immersed myself in the craft and received an M.A. in Storytelling from East Tennessee State University. For many years, my focus was on folktales and folklore from the African diaspora. However, over the last decade, I have focused more on personal stories and narratives.
Storytelling has taken me to places I never thought I’d visit, including a Monastery in New Mexico, a Haunted Bed and Breakfast, and a Tennessee Cave where bats flew through as I performed! My career highlights include winning the September 2024 Atlanta MOTH Story Slam on my birthday, being a finalist at the 2023 National Storytelling Festival Story Slam, and being featured on the RISK! Podcast.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
My father taught me about work ethic because his was impeccable. He served in World War II and was meticulous about time, attendance, and organization. It is one of the reasons I get up so early today and am obsessed with the passage of time. As a self-made businessman in General Contracting and Brick Masonry, he instilled values in me that I am forever grateful. His motto was “I don’t care what other people do, you go do what you are supposed to do,” and he meant exactly that because he was a straightforward person.
My brothers and I had to work for our allowance during the summer and on weekends. He treated us like one of the guys and reprimanded us when we screwed up. As a teenager, occasionally he would leave me in charge, which taught me a great deal about responsibility. Even though I was the boss’s son, I still had to gain their respect.
In fact, there was one time when my recklessness almost killed a man, and it took a while for them to regain their trust in me. Eventually, they did, which also taught me a great deal about forgiveness and second chances, another thing my father did. He’d often hire men who needed a job to keep them out of trouble or in jail. As long as they showed up and performed, they had a place to work.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
In 1997, shortly after coming out to my family and moving to Atlanta, my partner dumped me. Afterwards, I was evicted and found myself homeless for two months. I couldn’t go back home, and I was too embarrassed to tell my family. So, I stuck it out in Atlanta until I found a place of my own, which became a defining moment in my life.
Twenty years ago, I would never have shared this story with you. However, it was through this experience that I found myself exhibiting strength, courage, and resiliency. Sharing this not only empowered me, but it is also relatable to others who may have had a similar experience they’ve always wanted to share. Whether it’s dealing with death, substance abuse, an illness, or something else, the important thing is to show your realness and transparency so that the listener will see your authenticity.
One way of doing that is through laughter. As the saying goes, “If you can’t laugh at yourself, then who can you laugh at?” In my personal stories, there is always some humor to break the ice and make sense of dark times. It lets me relax and get comfortable with the audience, which in effect puts them at ease.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My Non-Profit Organization, Kuumba Storytellers of GA, is co-hosting the 43rd Annual National Association of Black Storytellers Festival and Conference in Atlanta, GA, from November 19-23, 2025. Our theme is Journeys Well Traveled: Preserving the Oral Tradition of the African Diaspora.
Although this is our third time co-hosting, having done so previously in 2007 and 2011, it took considerable effort to garner member buy-in, secure letters of support, and raise funds. Coincidentally, we are also celebrating Kuumba’s 30th anniversary of Telling it Well in the ATL! In fact, this is one of the reasons we decided to co-host the festival for a third time.
Unfortunately, in the midst of all this, we lost our devoted Festival Director, Storyteller-Dylan Pritchett, who passed away. His dedication and commitment to the festival were unmatched. So, this was a huge loss and has made finishing the work he started quite a challenge. Nonetheless, we are determined to ensure the festival goes on without a hitch, because that is what he would have wanted and is the right thing to do. So, we will forge ahead to complete it in his honor and make him proud.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Yes, I am doing exactly what I was born to do! Carrying and sharing the torch of storytelling is my calling. It is with me 24/7 and runs through my soul like the blood in my veins! There is never a time when I don’t think about storytelling or, more importantly, story preservation. I am often reminded of the African folktale The Cowtail Switch, which is a “passing of the torch” tale. Its moral is that a person is only dead if they are forgotten. I believe that in every breath we take, we create chapters for the stories of our lives. We are living history, and when we share this rich history with the next generation, our culture and traditions continue to thrive. So, with that in mind, I leave you with these closing words: the story is told, the story is gone, and now this story is yours to carry along!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chettergalloway.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griot70
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chetter-galloway-606aa2273/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chetter.galloway/
- Other: https://kuumbastorytellers.org/
https://www.nabsinc.org/2025-festival-registration
Image Credits
Rhythmic Images Photography – Personal Photo
