Tom Derksen

Wisdom of the World

Society EN ↓ 101 episodes

Inspirational and fun stories from all over, that collectively represent the Wisdom of the World. Told by Tom Derksen - anthropologist and storyteller from the Netherlands who travelled to over 70 countries and lived in 11 countries in Asia, Africa, North and South America and Europe. All the stories told are old stories, told and retold by storytellers, sometimes collected in a book. As they are old stories there is no form of copyright. All stories told are in the English language and are made available for free. A new story will be added every week, and maybe more often.

Author

Tom Derksen

Episodes

The Seagull and the Whale (Wisdom from Italy) 31.01.2026 5:56

About: ‘Letting Your Friend Be’ This story is also available in video at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

Live and Learn (Wisdom from Guatemala) 23.01.2026 5:19

About: ‘When You Are Ready Trying to Learn from Your Mistakes’. This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

Maiden from the Sky (Wisdom from Japan) 02.01.2026 3:22

About: ‘When You Really Want Someone’. This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

The Gifts (Wisdom from the USA) 26.12.2025 6:25

About: ‘When You Don’t Know What To Give Someone You Love’. This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

Bopoluchi (Wisdom from India) 19.12.2025 7:12

About: ‘When Injustice Comes Your Way’. This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

The Big Flea (Wisdom from Japan) 12.12.2025 1:49

About: ‘When You Get Caught Red Handed and You Have to Improvise’ This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

St. Peter’s Wishes (Wisdom from Cuba) 05.12.2025 3:07

About: ‘When Advice You Get Doesn’t Seem To Make Sense’. This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

The Possessed Wife (Wisdom from India) 28.11.2025 5:42

About: ‘When You Are Smart And Cover Up Your Greed’ This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

To Bribe or not to Bribe (Wisdom from Mali) 21.11.2025 4:03

About: ‘When You Have to Choose between your Principles and your Love’. This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

The Riddle of the Will (Wisdom from India) 14.11.2025 5:08

About: ‘When We Change Our Mind’ This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

Salt and Bread (Wisdom from Sweden) 07.11.2025 4:25

About: ‘When You Are Feeling Jealous’ This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

Tit-for-Tat (Wisdom from India) 31.10.2025 4:16

About: ‘When You Think You Need To Take Revenge’ This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

Money Worries (Wisdom from China) 24.10.2025 5:03

About: When You Worry About Your Next Paycheck’ This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

Tug-of-War (Wisdom from Gabon) 17.10.2025 6:11

About: ‘When You Are Seen To Be Boasting’. This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

The Lucky Table (Wisdom from Costa Rica) 10.10.2025 7:22

About: ‘When You Are Really At Your Wit’s End’. This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

The 3rd October (True Story from the Netherlands) 03.10.2025 5:34

About: ‘When You Feel You Are Missing Out On Happiness’. This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

The Comfort of Lies (Wisdom from India) 26.09.2025 5:08

About: ‘When You Are Tempted to Lie’. This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

Scared Shitless (Own Experience From Morocco) 21.09.2025 6:10

About: ‘When You Are Really Afraid’ This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages

The Dog Fight (Ethiopia) 05.09.2025 6:24

About: ‘When You Want To End A Fight‘ This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

Simple Wang (China) 29.08.2025 5:34

About: ‘When You Feel Really Silly’ This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

Baby in the Crib (African-American Wisdom) 22.08.2025 2:26

About: ‘When You Are Covering Something Up’ This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

The Dreamers (India) 15.08.2025 2:13

About ‘When You Are Dreaming The Day Away’. This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

Savritri and Satyavan (India) 09.08.2025 5:59

About: ‘When You Truly Love Someone’ This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

The Priest’s Question (Poland) 01.08.2025 2:40

About: ‘When You Don’t Know What To Do’ This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.

Baby Power (American Indian) 25.07.2025 2:12

About: ‘When You Really Think You Are Better’. This story is also available at YouTube Tom Derksen Wisdom of the World with subtitles in 42 languages.