“We don’t know what we don’t know.” Beginner’s Mind When I first discovered the art of storytelling performance, I had beginner’s mind. Here was my process: Pick a story that I like. Learn the story. Tell it. I relied on “natural talent.” Vocal variety, facial expressions, and gestures came naturally to me. Other skills had …Read More
Category: Storytelling
Stories are powerful medicine ~ Regi Carpenter
There was once a young woman whose only son died. Her heart was so heavy with grief that she could not go on. She went to Buddha and asked for a magic potion to take away the grief. “Of course,” said the Buddha, “I just need one small thing. You must bring me a mustard …Read More
Introverts on Stage
When I see people on stage, I used to think. “I can’t do that … but I wish I could.” I think of how lucky the extroverts of the world are. Extroverts have no problem talking in front of people. They get energized by attention and people. I get drained. After two weeks of a …Read More
Photograph ~ Andrea Gibson
“I wish I was a photograph tucked in the corner of your wallet…”~ Andrea Gibson When you ask people about love, they will often tell you about longing and loss. When you ask about triumph, they will inevitably also remember stories of failure. The artist walks right into those stories of pain to find healing, …Read More
Night Terrors – Shane Koyczan
“Where words leave off, music begins.” ~ Heinrich Heine Music can bypass the mind and go straight to the heart. The Snap Judgment series pairs live instrumental music with live oral storytelling for a powerful performance — creating “stories with a beat.” Music creates the mood for the words to have an even deeper emotional …Read More
Storytelling as Medicine, Online Courses
I’m a physician and storyteller. How does a physician become a storyteller? Well, that’s a long story (coming soon), but right now I’ll just say that “healing” comes to us in so many different way. Today, along with my stethoscope and my prescription pad … I carry stories as my medicine. Stories are Medicine Stories …Read More
What is sex?
Sara could not believe this was her first day as a substitute teacher for 2nd grade. This was supposed to be an easy day. They were practicing for the standardized test required by the state. The number two pencils were sharpened. She had passed out the sheets for bubbling in their answers. The students were …Read More
Man rain, woman rain
My mom once told me the difference between man rain and woman rain. Here in Florida, the humid summer months bring rainstorms every afternoon like clockwork. “The weather is horrible! It rains every day,” complained a friend who recently moved from New York. “But the rest of the day is fine,” I said. Growing up …Read More
The Cliché of Cinderella
Nearly every child in America can tell you the story of Cinderella. Some of them have watched the Disney version of the movie so often they can recite the dialogue. By the time they are old enough for the story of Cinderella to be of real emotional help to them, they have heard it so …Read More
Operating Theater
It is a splendor to behold. Hidden in the recessed bowels of the building. Down in the basement. Long halls with windowless rooms. Bright lights. Down here it is always daytime. The operating rooms of the University hospital live in the snaked caverns of the basement. The floors and walls tiled. Industrial cleaners creating a …Read More