From Cork to New York

The Waters of Truth: Hoarded Wells, Sacred Rivers, and the Magic of Spoken Words What happens when sacred water is hoarded by power, or unleashed through supreme sacrifice? From the sun-baked plains of Yorubaland to the ancient limestone springs of Cork, Máire and Jim sit by the hearth fire to explore how rivers mirror human longing, how myth preserves real history, and why our spoken words still...

What happens when stories refuse to stay penned within physical or political borders? In this luminous gathering, guest storyteller and musician Colin Urwin joins Maria and Jim to trace the migratory magic of folktales - from the wind-scoured cliffs of Antrim to the Gaeltacht of Ballyvourney and the star-strewn gardens of Armenia. Through shape-shifting grandmothers, protective swarms of bees, and...

What happens when we step out of four-walled consultation rooms and let ancient woods, rushing rivers, and mythic memory do the heavy lifting of healing? In this rich, sunlit gathering across the Atlantic, Maria, Jim, and guest Shane Ibbs explore how bushcraft, folklore, and conflict-free tales re-tune human hearts to natural reciprocity, selfless giving, and the courage to say the unsayable. Our...

The "Hook" What happens when our bravest adventures are interrupted by the absurd, our greatest resentments are softened by unexpected love, and our deepest grief reveals the secret heroic lives of those we've lost? In this soul-stirring and laughter-filled gathering, Maria and Jim welcome storyteller Rachel Smith to explore how first-person vulnerability, ancient folk wisdom, and legacy tales hel...

The Stories "The Singer and the Valley of Paradise" (Kabyle Folktale from North Africa) — Told by Jim "Midnight Mariah" (Personal Ancestral Narrative) — Told by Denise Paige "Nancy of the Notions" (Cork City Heritage Story) — Told by Maria The Hook Storytelling carries us across physical borders and generational divides, revealing that our lived experiences—no matter how distinct—are bound by a sh...

From Cork to New York in Marrakech: Stories at the World Storytelling Cafe Jim Brulé hosts a special “From Cork to New York” podcast episode from the street-side World Storytelling Cafe in Marrakech, Morocco, noting that background city sounds are part of the setting and that the transcript is less precise than usual; Maria is absent. Resident storyteller Omar Belaarej joins, along with local gues...

The Threshold of Bealtaine and the Three Nourishments of the Road Featured in this Episode: Echtra Condla (The Voyage of Condla) : Told by Paddy Doyle The Black Hand : Told by Jim Brulé The Three Nourishments of the Road (A Butter Roads Tale) : Told by Maria (Máire) The "Hook" In this Bealtaine episode of From Cork to New York , hosts Maria and Jim are joined by Cork storyteller Paddy Doyle to exp...

Welcome to a deeply moving episode of From Cork to New York . In this gathering of the storytelling circle, hosts Jim Brule and Maria are joined by special guest Hears Crow, a seasoned storyteller from the woodlands of Vermont who lives in the Eastern Woodlands Long House tradition of the Narragansett. Together, they weave a beautiful tapestry of grief, survival, and the enduring power of oral tra...

The Stories "Lunja" (Traditional Kabyle / Eastern European Jewish folklore) — Told by Jim "The Story of Balor of the Evil Eye" (Irish Mythology / Tory Island) — Told by Maria "The Fire in Chelm" (Yiddish Folklore) — Told by Jim The Hook What happens when we dare to step outside the locked rooms of our comfort and venture into the wild caverns of our shadow? In this intimate, host-only episode, Jim...

The Stories "The Rabbit and the Bees" — A traditional Irish shape-shifting tale of Bealtaine, love, and protective magic, told by Maria (Máire, Seanchaí Corcaí) . "The Baal Shem Tov and the Weeping Forest" — A Hasidic story of ecological rupture, unpermitted taking, and the grief of the natural world, told by Jim . The Hook What happens when we forget to ask permission of the land we inhabit? In t...

Our Guest - Maria Credali Maria has been commissioned to tell stories for The Royal Shakespeare Company, Festival at the Edge, Toronto, Galway Moth and Butterfly, Listowel, Montreal, and Marrakech International Storytelling festivals and many beautiful heritage venues. She has also featured at Stafford and Wolverhampton Literary Festivals and delivered workshops and talks for The Society for Story...

The Universe in a Drop: Soul Travel and the Weaver of Dreams The Stories "The Initiation of Manannán mac Lir" told by Maria Gillen. "The Kabbalist of New Jersey" told by Jim. The Hook From the depths of the Atlantic to the edge of the galaxy, Maria and Jim explore the power of visualization and the ancient art of "leaving the body" to find truth. This episode bridges Irish myth and Jewish mysticis...

In the "dreaming time" of late winter, Maria and Jim explore the liminal spaces where our deepest longings meet ancient wisdom. This episode journeys from the mist-covered gardens of Ireland to a mystical forest hidden beneath a ritual bath, revealing that the lives we dream of are often closer than we think. The Chapters 00:00 WinterSpring and the Story Road : Maria and Jim share a "WinterSpring"...

Can a story hold more wisdom than a textbook? In this episode, Maria and Jim explore the difference between data and understanding, traveling from an ancient Irish forest where a heart of starlings heals a feud, to an Eastern European kingdom where a musician’s song breathes life into a rose. Join us on the Story Road to discover why our brains "sync up" when we share a tale. The Chapters [00:00]...

As the darkness of winter begins to stretch toward the light of spring, Maria and Jim explore the parallel mysteries of the Celtic and Jewish calendars. From St. Brigid’s miraculous sunbeam in Cork to the earth-born babies of ancient Egypt, this episode honors the fierce nourishment and quiet magic of the feminine spirit. The Chapters [00:22] The Season of Imbolc: Maria introduces the Irish season...

What happens when the thing holding you back isn't a lack of luck, but a forgotten promise? In this episode, Jim and Maria explore two hauntingly beautiful tales—one from the Hassidic tradition and one born from the imagination of German youth—that reveal how unaddressed grief and broken vows can darken our world until we find the courage to face them. Introductory Summary Join Maria Gillen in Cor...

What if a blank piece of paper held more power than a signed decree? In this episode, Maria and Jim explore the stories of radical faith, the strength required to step outside our roles, and the invisible threads that connect us to the wild and to each other. In This Episode: Jim recounts a profound Jewish story where a blank page becomes a miraculous passport, opening borders that logic could not...

In this episode of 'From Cork to New York,' Maria Gillen from Cork and Jim Brule from New York weave together timeless stories from their homelands. Jim shares the tale of 'Love Like Salt,' a story about a king and his three daughters, and the youngest daughter's profound love expressed through the simple comparison to salt. Maria follows with the enchanting story of Muirish and the mystical white...

In this episode of 'From Cork to New York,' Maria Gillen and Jim Brule share stories and reflections that traverse continents and emotions. They explore the connection between physical distance and emotional closeness, neuroscience, and the bond between people and places. Maria recounts a profound experience on Spike Island and shares a mystical Irish story about the She Wolf, while Jim tells a he...

From Cork to New York is not your typical storytelling podcast; it is a dedicated exploration of the transformative alchemy that occurs when ancient narratives meet modern souls. Hosted by Jim Brulé , a professional storyteller and author based in the forests of Central New York, and Maria Gillen , a storyteller broadcasting from the "Rebel City" of Cork, Ireland, the show serves as a bridge acros...

In this premiere episode of ' From Cork to New York ,' Maria Gillen , a storyteller from Cork, and Jim Brule , a storyteller from New York, share insights on how they met through a shared love for spiritual storytelling. They recount their experience at the Guinness World Record Storytelling session in Marrakesh and discuss the importance of connection through stories. They weave a path down the S...