In the Fall of 2020, walking onto campus again after isolation during a pandemic, I had a smile on my face. The day was beautiful, sunny but cool, which is rare in South Florida in August. I was happy to be back teaching storytelling in person and back in the classroom. I walked by a …Read More
Category: Video
There is a balm in Gilead
“There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole.There is a balm in Gilead to Heal the sin-sick soul…” In the ancient biblical city of Gilead, there was a healing salve that was said to cure anything. This balm has faded into myth and legend, and today the term “Balm of Gilead” has …Read More
Ninth Night ~ Texas Storytelling Festival
I had the honor of telling a story in the regional showcase of the Texas Storytelling Festival on March 8, 2024. The community of Denton, Texas, (just outside of Dallas) hosts this 4-day event with performances, workshops, and other community events. If you are looking to experience a well-organized storytelling event, put it on your …Read More
How Great Thou Art!
My grandmother passed away over 10 years ago, and I wonder at the memory that is beginning to fade. We have family photos. My uncle has recordings somewhere on an old video camera. I’ve crafted stories about her, and I can see her face every time that I describe her. There is a deep connection …Read More
Pig Butchering Scams
It is a well-known fact that you should “fatten the pig” before slaughter. If you raise livestock, you need to feed the livestock (and feed them well) if you intend to harvest them for meat. If this offends your sensibilities, you might want to think twice about eating bacon. The facts behind how food gets …Read More
Can you learn to be happy?
Arthur Brooks teaches a course on happiness at the Harvard Business School. He teaches how to be happy and how to make those around you happy. Why would happiness be important in business? “According to the best research available (which we will read in this class), to be a successful leader, you need to understand …Read More
This Is Going to Hurt ~ Adam Kay
The double doors burst open breaking the anticipatory silence. The ambulance had called ahead. The paramedics rushed the gurney into the emergency room bay. One person was on the gurney doing chest compressions. One of the other voices yelled, “62-year-old African American female found unresponsive…” As the medical student, I had been prepped by my …Read More
How to Get Your Brain to Focus ~ Chris Bailey
I’m resting on the recliner. Without realizing it, I pick up the phone. Unlock the screen and click on the email app. It’s almost as if some entity had taken over my body. I know there’s no new email or text. The phone has no alerts, but something inside of me is searching. If I …Read More
Living a Life of Meaning ~ Norman Lear
Norman Lear brought the marginalized voices of America to television starting in the 1970s as a TV producer. His culture-altering sitcom stories included All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Good Times, … just to name a few. There was time when 120 million people watched his television content every week! Eric Hirshberg sits down with …Read More
Te Ata: Native American Storyteller
The role of the Storyteller goes beyond entertainment. The Storyteller holds the cultural wisdom of the people and keeps it alive for the next generation. Everyone can tell a story, but few are called to the role of Storyteller. Born in 1895 in Indian Territory, Mary Thompson Fisher grew up when Chickasaw children were not …Read More