ABOUT
Kirk Sheppard
Standing at the threshold. Storyteller. Dreamer. Guide
Kirk Sheppard has spent his life collecting stories—in wrestling rings, on theatre stages, in therapy rooms, and at his keyboard. Now, turning fifty, he's asking different questions about what comes next.
THE PATH HERE
Kirk grew up in Richwood, Ohio, captivated by stories in all their forms. That fascination led him to professional wrestling, where he learned that the best narratives are the ones that feel true—even when they're not.
He landed in Cincinnati in 1996 and never left. Wrestling gave way to playwriting and theatre criticism. Fifteen years covering Cincinnati's stages taught him to recognize the difference between a performance and a revelation.
Along the way, he became a therapist specializing in trauma recovery—particularly religious-based trauma. His work centers on helping people align with who they actually are, not who they were told to be.
“The opposite of humility isn’t confidence—it’s certainty.”
THE WORK NOW
In 2026, Kirk is leaning into threshold—that charged space between what was and what's becoming. His Substack, Fifty, explores what it means to arrive at this particular doorway. His podcast, This is 50, invites others into the conversation.
His latest book, Broken Stools: Falling Off Furniture and 52 Other Lessons About Humility, collects fifty-two stories about falling down and getting back up.
He also writes novels, takes photographs, and provides therapy through his private practice, Story and Soul. Most days, you'll find him at his desk, probably with a Coca-cola in hand, definitely avoiding vegetables.
LET’S CONNECT
Kirk believes stories have the power to heal, to connect, and to make the unbearable a little more bearable. If you're a fellow traveler—writer, reader, someone asking hard questions—he'd love to hear from you.