Storytelling Matters

Embark on a transformative journey in this episode of our podcast, "Hanuman's Gift: The Storyteller's Journey with Usha and Jim." Join host Jim Brulé and special guest Usha Venkatraman as they explore the timeless wisdom of Hanuman, the legendary figure from the Ramayana, and uncover the power of storytelling to inspire, heal, and connect. Through personal anecdotes, ancient tales, and insightful...

This episode, our guest is Baya Salmon-Hawk, a storyteller, psychotherapist, and a specialist in the treatment of trauma who brings us her version of a traditional story which is sometimes called "The Silver Hands."

This episode, our guest is Kristin Pedemonti, a professional storyteller, speaker, facilitator, and coach from Washington DC who brings us her version of a traditional Yoruba story called "The Greatest Gift."

This episode, our guest is Cindy Rivka Marshall, a professional storyteller, workshop facilitator and consultant from Massachusetts who brings us her version of a traditional story which might best be called "The Magic Pomegranate."

This episode, our guest is Noa Baum, a storyteller originally from Jerusalem who now lives in Maryland. She brings us three powerful stories about healing: one about drought, a story about Nabek and a horse, and a story about a fire.

Welcome to this week's episode of the second season of Storytelling Matters. This episode, our guest is Hears Crow, a storyteller from the Narragansett people who has a story for us about a sparrow, some trees, some life-or-death challenges, and a lesson for us all. What you are hearing today originally aired in December of 2020, and yet I think you will find it very relevant today. Hears Crow tel...

This episode, our guest is Martin Manasse, a storyteller from England who has a story for us about two kings, and two kingdoms, and ... well, you will be certainly be engaged by both the story and the way Martin tells it. What you are hearing today originally aired in November of 2020, and yet I think you will be moved by its currency.

David Heathfield, a storyteller and educator from England, tells a classic story about Fatima, with lessons for today.

Yours truly, Jim Brule, tells a traditional Hasidic story about how to open the gates of heaven.

Our guest this week is Laura Packer, who shares two classic Arthurian tales that she has woven together into a single story - with deep meaning for her, and important insights into healing and the power of story.

Storyteller Laura Deal tells "The Witch of Kamalalaya" - a story of healing. In addition to writing and telling stories, Laura Deal studied the deeper meanings of dreams for 18 years with dream expert Rev. Dr. Jeremy Taylor. She's a certified Dream Work Facilitator from the Marin Institute for Projective Dream Work, and the founder of the First Church of Metaphor.

Valentina Ortiz weaves together two stories that have a lot to teach us about wounds and healing.

Sangitaa Sehgall retells a portion of the Mahabharata epic set two days before the beginning of the battle of Kurukshetra.

In this episode, Rebecca Lemaire shares a traditional story from Northern Africa about the moon, grief, healing, and tears.

In this episode, Maja Bumberák, who weaves a traditional story with a very powerful encounter, and teaches us all about the power of story and healing.

Stories for Healing - the second season of Storytelling Matters - begins with a story from and discussion with Andrea Kamens. She weaves together both personal and traditional stories to create a compelling narrative about the power of story in our modern world.

This episode, we hear from yet another distinctive voice in storytelling: Eric Wolf, known in the storytelling world as Brother Wolf. He's a prolific storyteller, and amongst his many achievements, he produced a series of interviews with over 120 storytellers about a decade ago. We'll hear from him about some of the twists and turns of his career, a story from another world, and of course some pea...

Some of the more observant among you may have noticed that this episode, number 11, has been delayed. There is a story, of course, and it is a challenging one. Without getting too deep into the details, earlier this month my father died. While his passing wasn't a real surprise to us in one sense – he was 91 years old, and his health had been declining for most of 2018 – it was then, and remains,...

What are our obligations to a story when we tell it? What happens to a story when we write it down? How can stories change our world? Our guest this episode is Leah Lamb, a writer, producer, and transformational storyteller. She's worked in and produced plays off-Broadway and around the country, been a wilderness leader, an author, but centrally, is a storyteller. We'll hear from her about her exp...

This episode, we explore the boundaries of belief: what happens when we discover we can believe something that we never expected, when things we believe turn out not to be true, and when we decide to believe something unbelievable. Our guest this episode is Bob Kanegis, a New Mexico storyteller and coach who helps people uncover, craft and tell their most important stories; he's been in the busine...

In this episode, we hear about the power of stories to affect our lives, especially when we learn to tell the story that's been pursuing us. For many, that story is our own story, seen through a different lens.

In this episode, we learn about myth and magic, which carry some of the deeper themes within stories – and how they affect our modern lives. Our guest this week is Doctor Leonia Kurgan, a Psychoanalyst and a Psychodramatist from Poland and South Africa – late of Los Angeles – who uses stories professionally, as well as a storyteller. Importantly, she has found deep resonances with them in her own...

In this podcast, we visit the world of the hidden – and how it can be revealed. Storytelling has a lot to do with things that are hidden, that can be hidden in many different ways. The most obvious form of hiding is in plot elements that are deliberately hidden, such as in a murder mystery. Then there are the things that are hidden that are far less concrete, but still part of the intent of the st...

In this podcast, we visit the topic of turning and returning: how one turns away from darker points in our lives. The Hebrew word for "repentance" is t'shuvah­, which literally means to turn (around). It implies an act of will, and also the notion of not simply turning, but REturning to a better state. In this episode, we hear stories that open some of those darker spaces and the ways that people...

In this podcast, we visit the world of humorous stories – and how they can be transformational. Many times, when we imagine a transformational story, we think of something deep, with layers of meaning that are soul-stirring, full of emotional moments and archetypic characters, plot, and setting. However, light-hearted stories can be full of healing in unexpected ways; and healing, after all, is an...