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MEA 3-Day Deep Dive

Unmute Yourself: Writing Your Truth

Jan 29 - Feb 1, 2026 Santa Fe, USA
Ann Randolph

Award-Winning Playwright | Performer | Storytelling Coach

Break free from the patterns that keep you stuck by writing the truth you've never dared speak.

Your most important stories are trapped. Buried under years of self-censorship and worry about what others think.

This experience is for you if you know you have something to say but can't access it.

You're tired of repeating the same patterns.

You crave permission to speak without shame.

You want to heal through your story and find your authentic voice on the page.

This workshop with storytelling guide Ann Randolph is the solution.

It’s not about perfecting your prose or learning literary techniques. It's about finding the courage to get out of your own way and let your authentic voice emerge.

With Ann's 30+ years of experience creating permission-giving spaces, you'll find safety to access stories buried deep in your bones.

Over three days, you’ll use uncensored writing and embodied practices to break through decades of self-censorship and speak your deepest truth.

"Truth asks us to pass through shame. Liberation is the gift on the other side."
– Ann Randolph

Meet

Ann Randolph

Award-Winning Playwright | Performer | Storytelling Coach

Ann Randolph helps people find their voice by getting them out of their heads and into their bodies. For over 30 years, she's guided writers and non-writers alike to speak their deepest truths through a unique blend of writing, movement, and experiential exercises.

Her approach breaks the traditional writing workshop mold. Instead of sitting quietly with pen and paper, participants move, improvise, and engage physically with their stories. This embodied approach unlocks material that purely cerebral methods can't reach.

As an award-winning playwright and performer, Ann has taken her own vulnerable stories to stages across the country, including Arena Stage in Washington, DC. She's the creator of Unmute Yourself, a hugely successful online writing program.

  • Liberation Guide: Ann creates spaces where people can speak the unspeakable without shame or judgment.
  • Pattern Disruptor: She helps participants recognize and break through limiting narratives that no longer serve them.
  • Voice Activator: Uses movement and improvisation to bypass the inner critic and access authentic expression.

Supported By the MEA Team

Amie Tullius

MEA Experience Facilitator

Amie Tullius is a New Mexico-based writer, gallerist, and creative collaborator. She’s spent over a decade as a gallery director, helped launch an international dance company, and has profiled and promoted artists and creators from around the world. She has an MFA in writing and is currently working on a bo ...

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Daniel 'DL' Landes

Experience Facilitator

Before joining MEA, Daniel “DL” Landes spent decades as a restauranteur, author, and publisher. As the owner of multiple restaurants in Denver, CO – and then a hostel in Mexico – he dedicated himself to creating environments where people could work out their humanity while eating and drinking (which i ...

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This Workshop Is For You If…

  • Your story feels stuck inside you and traditional writing approaches haven't worked
  • You know you have something important to say but fear judgment or shame
  • You're tired of the same patterns showing up in your life and want to understand them through story
  • You're curious about using your body and voice to unlock deeper creativity
  • You crave permission to speak without censoring yourself
  • You want to leave a legacy or heal family dynamics through truth-telling

What You'll Gain

Permission to Speak Your Truth
Through writing, simple experiential exercises, and supportive witnessing, you'll access stories you've never dared tell and discover the liberation that comes from speaking without shame.

Your Authentic Voice
Learn how your voice sounds when you're not editing or performing. Discover the power and clarity that emerges when you stop trying to sound like someone else.

Material That Matters
Walk away with chunks of writing that excite you - stories pulled from your deepest experiences that feel alive and worth sharing.

Tools for Ongoing Practice
Master the art of writing sprints and discover how 15-minute bursts can unlock profound material, making creativity accessible even with a busy life.

A Supportive Tribe
Connect with fellow truth-tellers who understand the courage it takes to speak authentically and will witness your story with compassion.

Our Agenda at a Glance

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

4:00 PM: Arrival / Check-In

5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner

7:00 PM: Orientation Session

9:00 PM: Free Time

Friday:

7:30 AM: Mind + Body

8:30 AM: Breakfast

10:00 AM: Classroom Time

1:15 PM: Lunch

2:00 PM: Free Time

3:00 PM: Classroom Time

6:30 PM: Dinner

Saturday:

7:30 AM: Mind + Body

8:30 AM: Breakfast

10:00 AM: Classroom Time

1:15 PM: Lunch

2:00 PM: Free Time

3:00 PM: Classroom Time

6:30 PM: Dinner, Dessert & Graduation

8:00 PM: Evening Gathering

Sunday:

7:00 AM: Breakfast

10:00 AM: Checkout / Departure

*Please note that not all “classroom time” activities take place in the actual classroom.

*Please note all times are estimates as some activities go longer or shorter depending on the group. This agenda is meant to give you an idea of the general flow of activities.

Step into transformation in the high desert

Rising Circle Ranch | Santa Fe, USA.

Our spectacular Santa Fe campus is located on an upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails in the arroyo, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.

PLUS: Gourmet from-scratch meals, snacks, and drinks featuring locally sourced ingredients, made by our in-house chefs

  • Big-sky desert country
  • Breathtaking nature
  • Interaction with horses and donkeys
  • Evenings around the campfire
  • Star-gazing

Explore the Ranch
on Horseback

Our Rising Circle Ranch spans 2,600 acres of New Mexico high desert, offering guided horseback riding for all experience levels through diverse terrains under the vast Southwest sky

You’ll experience highlights like:

  • Wildlife habitats and arroyo trails
  • Ancient petroglyphs
  • Breathtaking high desert vistas
  • The tranquil setting of our regenerative ranch

Horseback riding is an optional add-on activity you can book once you arrive on the ranch. Whether you’re seasoned or brand new to horseback adventures, this guided experience lets you discover the ranch’s natural wonders alongside our gentle horses.

Your Workshop Also Includes:

  • Three nights of lodging at our world-class retreat center at Rising Circle Ranch, Santa Fe, with all of your meals, snacks, drinks, and other amenities included
  • Daily sessions and experiential activities to help you connect with your inner self, envision your desired experience, and release what no longer serves you
  • Mindfulness practices to soothe your nervous system and help you cultivate greater mindfulness and presence in the moment
  • Movement to get the energy flowing and build your strength and agility as you chart your course forward to the life you want to live
  • Incredible bonding experiences with the most amazing humans you’ll ever meet
  • Intimate gatherings to cultivate connection and celebrate the joy and beauty of life

Your Story Deserves to Be Told

Every life contains wisdom worth sharing, patterns worth understanding, and truths worth speaking.

This workshop isn't about perfecting your prose or learning literary techniques. It's about finding the courage to get out of your own way and let your authentic voice emerge.

In three days, you'll discover that the stories you've been afraid to tell are exactly the ones the world needs to hear. You'll learn that writing is about having the willingness to speak your truth.

By the end, you’ll have:

  • Stories that feel alive and worth sharing
  • Confidence in your unique voice and perspective
  • Tools to continue accessing your deepest material
  • Community of fellow truth-tellers who understand your journey

Your story matters. Your voice matters. It's time to unmute both.

Book Your Spot Today

Unmute Yourself: Writing Your Truth

Jan 29 - Feb 1, 2026 Santa Fe, USA
Starting at
$2,600 per person

“Ann Randolph is a multi‑tiered invitation and adventure in interiority, grief, healing; and her teaching touches a part of my heart that brings me to my knees…laughing, sometimes crying. Ann is a master teacher.”

– Singer, songwriter, author Alanis Morissette

“I value every second of every moment I have spent in Ann’s workshops. She has brought inspiration and light into my world as an artist I didn’t know existed. For that I will be forever grateful.”

– Artist & playwright Michael Bonnabel

“Ann Randolph is a magnificent teacher. I’m a seven‑time published author and I teach writing all over the world—and Ann is my go‑to teacher.”

– Seven-time published author & writing teacher Laura Davis

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this workshop for?

It’s for anyone who feels they have a story to tell but struggles to access it through traditional writing methods. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or have never written creatively, this workshop meets you where you are and helps you find your authentic voice through embodied practices.

Do I need writing experience to benefit?

Not at all. Some of Ann’s most powerful breakthroughs happen with people who have never considered themselves writers. This workshop is about accessing your truth, not perfecting your technique. The stories and voice you discover matter more than your credentials.

Will I have to perform or be put on the spot?

No individual performances are required. All movement and improvisational exercises happen in pairs or small groups, never solo in front of the entire workshop. The focus is on creating safety and permission, not performance pressure.

What if I’m not comfortable with movement or improvisation?

Ann has spent 30+ years helping people move beyond their comfort zones gently and safely. The practices are simple, gentle, and accessible for all. They are designed to unlock creativity and self-expression, and everything can be adapted to meet you where you are.

Is this therapy or is it writing?

While the work can be deeply healing, this is fundamentally a creative workshop focused on storytelling and authentic expression. Ann is not a therapist, but she creates containers where profound personal insights naturally emerge through the writing process.

What if I’m worried about sharing personal stories?

The workshop creates a judgment-free environment where participants witness each other’s work with compassion and positive reflection. You control how much you share and when. Many find the supportive community makes vulnerability feel much safer than expected.

Still deciding or have questions?
Connect with our helpful team of Advisors

Our Advisors are all MEA alumni who can offer genuine insights into our programs. They’re passionate about helping you finding the right fit to make your next chapter the best one.

Daniel Booz

Lucas Erie

Leslie Bartlett