“Beware, there really are monsters in the world.” Ken Oguss recorded this original story LIVE at the Festival of Ghost Stories in 2017. HONEY CAKE is a work of fiction based on his work in recording oral histories and a folk tale collected by two brothers in Germany. It is a dark tale, but it …Read More
Author: Dr. Joel Ying, MD
Physician-Educator-Storyteller. Integrating the power of story into medicine, healing sessions, workshops, speaking and performance.
International Week of InterPlay 2020
Why would adults play? Isn’t that a waste of time? My friends, Olaf and Jamie, invited me to an InterPlay workshop. After quick introductions, the group of us started off with “warm up” exercises. (If you haven’t used your play muscles in a long time, you might strain them.) Stretching, playful, free movements loosened the …Read More
Homework for Life ~ Matthew Dicks
“As you begin to take stock of your days, find those [story] moments — see them and record them — time will begin to slow down for you. The pace of your life will relax.” ~ Matthew Dicks, Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling Matthew Dicks assigns his …Read More
Storytelling as Medicine ~ Workshop
For many indigenous peoples, “medicine” is anything that heals the body, mind, emotions, or spirit. Beyond the herbs and drugs to heal the physical body, this expanded definition of “medicine” includes the healing power of stories to change our hearts, inspire our spirits, and move our minds past limiting beliefs. When we release our raw …Read More
Telling the Difficult Story
“We know from the testimony of both victims and perpetrators that silence makes abuse possible.” ~Loren Neimi and Elizabeth Ellis, Inviting the Wolf In: Thinking About Difficult Stories We tell our difficult stories to make the world a better place. In therapy or therapeutic safe space, sharing our raw stories allows us to process emotions, …Read More
I absorbed the stories
We live in a multimedia world of sound and images moving across screens. It takes a lot to hold attention these days. Or so it seems? The first time that I unknowingly walked into a live performance of a twenty-minute story, I was surprised. One person, front of the room, one voice, no multimedia, no …Read More
“Doc, will you help me die?”
It was my first day on service at the hospital ward. I had a list of patients already admitted from the previous doctor. For the next week, I would be responsible for their care. I read over the electronic charts of the first three patients. Then, with white coat, stethoscope, and a few notes, I …Read More
I absorbed the stories
We live in a multimedia world of sound and images moving across screens. It takes a lot to hold attention these days. Or so it seems? The first time that I unknowingly walked into a live performance of a twenty-minute story, I was surprised. One person, front of the room, one voice, no multimedia, no fancy props. …Read More
Brandon Leake brings Spoken Word to AGT
Emotions bottled up can lead to explosions. Young men are often not allowed to have their range of emotions. The tears of sadness are ridiculed. Toxic shame hides under the bravado. There is no place for fear. Anger masquerades as strength holding back the pain of bottled up sadness and shame. This leaves two acceptable …Read More
May the Road Rise Up to Meet You
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. ~ Irish Blessing, Author Unknown Today’s inspiration is from …Read More