Dan Yashinsky is a self-proclaimed ex-hippy, originally from California, he is young at heart and has been telling stories for as long as he can remember. His interest was telling stories for adults and because if you don’t have a venue for telling stories, one needs to make one. Dan created several venues for telling after his me to Canada. He has written and edited books, won countless awards and is a very well-respected and popular storyteller throughout the world.

Dan’s website: https://tellery.com/dan-yashinsky/

Shonaleigh comes from an old Jewish tradition.  Hailing from Britain, she is a Drut'syla (pronounced Dreet-zella). who was taught around 3,000 stories by her Bubbe, Eldith Marks. These stories are told traditionally in cycles. Some stories are short, but some are incredibly long. They make the Odyssey look like a Saturday morning cartoon. Shonaleigh was a delight to chat with, and I hope you enjoy this episode of "Conversations with Storytellers."

Shonaleigh’s website: https://shonaleigh.uk/

Antonio Rocha has created a masterful piece of storytelling about a slave ship called Malaga. There is a connection between the ship and Antonio and this plays into his telling. I cannot wait to share this conversation with you.

Antonio began life as a mime, then became a storyteller. In 2020 he discovered a story about a slave ship which was built in Maine, where he now lives and operated between the States and Brazil. This episode is about his research and the story and what it meant to him to be able to tell this story.

Antonio’s website: https://storyinmotion.com/

Fran Stallings is a well respected storyteller and has been “at it” since 1978, and getting paid for it since 1982! I have been seeing and bumping into Fran Stallings for a long while and have had one or two conversations with her and we have talked about doing this for a long time. We talked about a lot of things, including suffragettes and I mis-spoke causing Fran to misspeak. I mis-pronounced Emily, or Emmeline Pankhurst’s name, it is not Parkhurst! Emily Pankhurst never met Susan B Anthony, the former coming to the United States a few years after Susan B Anthony’s death.

Fran Stallings started as a biologist hoping to dance. She has heard and collected stories in Japan from Hiroko Fujita, tells a great number of other folk tales, stories to help save the environment, and the occasional personal story. Fran started telling stories as a teacher, then to her kids. She is a wonderfully warm person and great teller of traditional tales. Here, she shares her journey and connection to Japanese stories and Hiroko Fujita, and her environmental work. Fran shares her work process and why folk and fairy tales are important to her.

I hope you enjoy this conversation with Fran Stallings.

Joseph Bruchac is one of the preeminent Native storytellers in the USA. He is part Slovak and part Abenaki. He is a keeper of Native traditional tales, marched with Martin Luther King Jr., told poetry with Robert Bly and is one of my favourite storytellers and writers. I love Joseph’s work, not just his storytelling but also his written work. I have not read a bad or even mediocre book by Dr. Bruchac. Did you know he drove (and maybe still drives) a Harley, and taught in Ghana? Now you do! Find out other fascinating things about Joseph in this wonderful interview including a new book.

Raised in Clayton, New York, Regi Carpenter came from the school of scrappy, studied music, but became a storyteller! Although steeped in folk and fairy tales, myths and legends, she also tells deep personal narrative. Digging deep in the well of truth she brings her love of language to all the tales she tells, and shares with us her two very different processes on learning stories, whether it’s a folk tale, or personal story. Regi also shares a folk tale!

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Regi’s website: https://regicarpenter.com/

Doug Elliot is storyteller and keeper of traditional tales, some told and shared by people who have lived on the land for many, many generations. He is also a naturalist and expert on wildlife. With these passions he combines stories and nature, and teaches people that there is a lot more to the wonders of life and human connection by showing points of contact between us and nature. There's a lot of vulture talk, too!

One of Doug's motos: "Life is like playing a harmonica - you find a good note and wail on it!"

And you'll get to hear how ignorant I can be sometimes!

Doug's website: https://dougelliott.com/

Doug's books and CDs: https://dougelliott.com/shop/

Michael D McCarty - the man with one of the greatest and most joyful of laughs! I first heard Michael D McCarty, laugh. It was in a far off room so I followed the sound and listened to him impart joy and happiness upon all around him. There was, and is, some sort of magical aura he gives off, and it is quite wonderful.

Originally from Chicago, and now of Los Angeles, Michael first wanted to be a physicist, or an astronaut, and became a Black Panther, an acupuncturist, and storyteller. There are very few people even remotely like Michael, and we only touched on a small part of what he’s done.

We talked comics, reading, book giveaways, gangs, racism, and how importnat mothers are, and could have talked about a lot of other things too.

Michael's website is: http://havemouthwillrunit.com/ 

Eldrena Douma is of the Tewa, Hopi and Laguna people of the South West. In this two part interview we talk about story and what story means to the Pueblo people and why some First Americans do not like their stories told outside of their people and community.

We cover a lot of history of Eldrena's upbringing, and growing up between Winslow and First Mesa. Eldrena also talks about her (great?) grandmother who pretty much saved the art of Pueblo pottery, and how Eldrena now creates her own animal stories to share her culture and world. There's a lot of history in these conversations.

I hope you enjoy them.

Eldrena's website: https://www.eldrenadouma.com/

This is part two of the Conversation with Joel ben Izzy. If you haven’t listened to part one, please do so, as you won’t know what’s going on. The last episode ended on a cliff hanger! Joel hales from the West Coast, living in California. He’s been telling stories for a long time. Then he lost his his voice with thyroid cancer. This is part two of his journey, process, and love of tales.

Filled with stories, compassion and a lot of joking around, this episode also includes a dating tip for LA!

Joel’s website: https://www.storypage.com/

Joel ben Izzy is a storyteller from California and has been telling stories for a long time. Although we chatted a few times, years ago, this is the first time we have properly met, and we got on like a house on fire! This is part one of two as the conversation went on for two hours. We talk about how Joel got into storytelling and what it was like when he lost his his voice with thyroid cancer.

Filled with stories, compassion and a lot of joking around, this is part one of two episodes with Joel.

Joel’s website: https://www.storypage.com/

Sebastian Lockwood is not British, although he sounds VERY British. Sebastian is one who tells the Epics! From the Odyssey and Gilgamesh to Beowulf and beyond. Sebastian raised an owl, talks about getting into trance when storytelling and about being twice born. Our coversation took place in a small cabin in New Hampshire sitting next to a stove, crackling away.

Alton Chung is a very funny guy, a scientist, a computer guy, theater tech but really a storyteller! We’ve only met once or twice and I have always enjoyed his company.  Alton is a Japanese-Korean storyteller who grew up with the stories, superstitions, and the magic of the Hawaiian Islands. Our conversation led us through the history of Japanese-Americans and Hawaiian’s in WWII, ghost stories and on finding stories, his process and healing.

Please enjoy this conversation.

 https://www.altonchung.com/

Judith Heineman began her career as a poet and actor, then found, like so many others of us, storytelling! She and I met years ago at Sharing the Fire, the North Eastern Storytelling Conference and bonded over dark chocolate. It was at a time when I always had some and some other person let her know! We talk about research, books, kids, energy, and the jitters amongst other topics. She has not looked back on her path as a storyteller, working for prestigious museums and working closely with musicians. Please enjoy this conversation.

Lorna Czarnota and I have bumped into one another at a few conferences and festivals, but I heard her play her harp and tell stories at Sharing the Fire, here in the North East. She blew me away. Award-winner, author, musician, and storyteller, Lorna is one of our true gems.

Join me to hear about how families need to be held together and how healing can work. And how you can begin learning a musical instrument at 40 and never look back after dropping the flutaphone at elementary school!

Lorna's website: http://storyhavenstudio.com/index.html 

Eth-Noh-Tec was founded in 1982 by Artistic Co-Directors Nancy Wang and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, longstanding San Francisco artists who have contributed greatly to the Asian American performing arts movement. They are not only business parteners, but also a wonderful couple!

They have many awards under their belts and are incredibly insightful. We talk about many things in this episode, including being invisable as an Asian-American. They discuss their process and who some of their favourite tellers are!

http://www.ethnohtec.org/

African-American story twister, and storyteller, Linda Gorham is this month’s guest with Simon Brooks.

I cannot wait for you to hear the conversation I had with Linda Gorham. We talk about a city girl and how she made herself a teller of tales. Taking folk tales and fracturing them, or twisting them, is Linda’s favourite type of telling. Her collection of stories, and words, made up and otherwise, is inspiring to hear about. Life of a young girl moving around the world and how she has now settled. Please enjoy the conversation with Linda Gorham.

lindagorham.com

Janice Del Negro is a bit of a hero in the world of storytelling. She teaches is at Dominican University, where she is a professor, teaching subjects such as storytelling, children's and young adult literature and foundations of library and informations services. I have been following Janice for a while, and love her work and over COVID-19 time have got to know her better. We first met years ago, but we rarely saw each other.

Why folks tales? "True love and money is what everyone wants." These are good episodes! Have a listen!

I hope you get as much from this as I did!

If you have not yet listened to part one of this interview scroll down - you don’t want to miss anything Clare says!
Clare Murphy hales from Ireland and is not my typical elder. She is not an elder yet, but carries the wisdom of one. She began a story club at college, and within four years was traveling internationally as a professional storyteller. Her work has depth to it that only those who were raised in the land where the stories took place can access. She brings a strong feminist leaning to her stories, and a great deal of inclusion and compassion.

Clare's website:  http://claremurphy.org/

Clare Murphy is NOT an elder, yet she carries the wisdom of one. An Irish storyteller who grew up in the landscape of traditional tales, who lives and breathes story, Clare is in my eyes, a remarkable storyteller. This is part one of two, and is a great introduction to her. We learn about her introduction to story and what she feels is important. We talk about epics and how she see storytelling CAN make a better world for all of us. Clare tells us how she went from being a college student holding storytelling parties, to becoming a world travelling teller of tales. In part two, we go much deeper about her craft - stay tuned!

http://claremurphy.org/

This interview with Connie Regan-Blake was the last I did on my laptop. Seems it is not geared to save and store large files from streaming platforms. This hour long interview is all my computer saved of the three hours we spoke. No idea what happened to the rest of it. Just vanished. It was recorded in one shot, and we had no idea of the time until I belatedly looked at my watch.

Connie is an amazing woman, and one whom I have got to know a little more and a little more, and we are now friends! I am thrilled to bring this sadly truncated interview to you. Connie Regan-Blake has been telling stories for a very long time. She and her cousin Barbara Freeman started at about the same time as Elizabeth Ellis and Gayle Ross. She is a teller of folk and fairy tales, and sprinkles in some personal narrative. Much of what she has done, is now in the Library of Congress. She’s played with musicians, hitch-hiked Europe and creates her own art. We pick up where I asked Connie about the duo storytellers The Folktellers made up of Connie and her cousin Barbara.

https://storywindow.com/about/

I had only briefly met Megan Wells in 2016 at the NSN Conference. She was telling a personal story in a room filled with people also sharing personal tales. Hers was stand out, in that it was rich, multilayered, and deep. It was a powerful experience to see her tell that story. The power of it lingers with me still. I then worked with Megan this summer of 2020 when she perfomed on the Hans Christian Andersen Storytelling Festival and on StoryStoryPodcast. I knew, despite not being an elder, she should be on this show. A Greater Chicago native, she tells folk tales, myths and tells literary tales. She is an incrediby gifted teller.

https://www.meganwells.com/

Lynette Ford and I met years ago, before we both turned grey, at the Northlands Confabulation. I really enjoyed her company, we got on well, and she told the best spooky stories I have ever heard. Not just were the stories great tales, but her telling could be classed as if not THE best telling of spooky stories, then one of the top three in the USA. Lynette is quiet and unassuming, but a force to be reckoned with. She has written a ton of books, and recorded a number of CDs. And she’s a Laughter Yoga Teacher! We spend quite a bit of time chatting before and after the interview which was done over StreamYard. There are a small number of places where the audio gets fidgety, so don’t think it’s you - it was me. Don’t they all say that? And you don’t miss anything, so don’t worry. Please enjoy this fun conversation with Lynette Ford.

Lyn's website is: https://storytellerlynford.com/

I have only met Liz Weir once or twice, and mostly in passing, but she is a very impressive woman. We hold some similar thoughts about accents in stories, although she is way more ‘strict!’ Her storytelling is captivating in the way someone who is a natural teller of tales can be. Relaxed, confident, just letting the story speak for itself. In this time of, well, 2020, it was recorded socially distanced, with Liz at Ballyeamon, and me in New London, NH recorded over StreamYard. There was a bit of echo, so if you think you hear the Irish equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster, it’s just me echoing slightly! Sorry about that. Tea and biscuits, a little Irish history, and what really matters in telling a story.

https://www.lizweir.org/

https://www.ballyeamonbarn.com/

Megan Hicks! Megan Hicks (so good you have to name her twice!) and her husband Jack have become good friends over the years. I met them at my first 'proper' festival years ago and both of them calmed my nerves before hitting the stage.

Megan tells stories with and without origami, she tells folk and fairy tales with depth and authenticity, as well as historical tales. Her personal stories are also great. Megan talks about her family growing up on the edge of the dust bowl, her time in Australia, to personal tales and her passion with groundhogs!

https://www.meganhicks.com/

Taffy Thomas - what can I say about Taffy Thomas? Ever wish you'd met Ruth Tongue and have her tell you a story? Or traveler Betsy White? My guest today was blessed with this and many other experiences. He has been a fire eater and fisherman as well being the amazing storyteller he is today. Both Taffy Thomas and his wife and partner Chrisy are wonderful, wonderful people. You'll hear both my son's voice and Chrisy's during the interview.

It is said that when you tell a story, all the storytellers who have passed who've told that tale stand behind you. Taffy Thomas, gladly, was sitting next to me when I had this conversation and I hope he won't be standing behind me for a good number of years. If I were starting out and didn't have a family, I would drop everything and become his assistant to archive his material, film and record Taffy, spending as much time as I could with Taffy and Chrisy as I could.

This has to be not just one of my favourite conversations to date, but one of my favourite experiences I have had. My son, Aidan and I were visiting family and our first stop was to pop in with Taffy. Although I thought after the first cup of tea Aidan would excuse himself and explore the Lake District where Taffy lives in England, he stayed for the whole time. We spent pretty much two days with Taffy and Chrisy and this is part of what was recorded. 

http://www.taffythomas.co.uk/

This conversation with Bobby Norfolk is a delight. Recorded over Zoom in Coronavirus Time, this light and calming experience was a great reprieve. I do not know Bobby well. He was incredibly gracious about spending this time with me, sharing how he became such a remarkable storyteller after being a child who stuttered. This is a man who worked in night clubs and met some wonderful people. I have to say I am very jealous of his experience with Roberta Flack! He is quiet, unassuming, generous yet explodes on stage! He commands attention and in such a genuine way, and he is funny.

Bobby tells us his influences (have a look at some of the comics he mentions, they are great to study for pace, timing and presence), his process and how he finds his stories.

Have a look at one Bobby's first influences, Jimmy Dean, the ballad singer: https://youtu.be/KnnHprUGKF0

Enjoy this enlightening and delightful conversation.

Bobby's website: https://www.bobbynorfolk.com/

This conversation with Len Cabral and Bill Harley was over three hours long, and Bill had to leave towards the end. I have edited it down but it is still in three parts - the final a short visit with just Len!
Social justice, growing up in New England, meeting and working together, creating theatre and entertainment, and childhood are all covered in this meeting with two of New England’s best loved family storytellers and entertainers. With awards that would fill any shelf these two tellers leave few stones unturned!

http://www.lencabral.com/

https://www.billharley.com/

Martin Shaw, poet, storyteller, mythologist. Rooted deeply in the land, performing a vision quest, and following a path to storytelling, Martin Shaw uses language rich and imaginative. His style is deceptively simply but in telling his tales he pulls you in to a place deep within. I was asked to interview Martin by the publisher of his most recent book, "Courting The Wild Twin." I had not heard of this British storyteller, but on looking him up found I very much wanted to add his voice to my podcast. Highly intelligent, incredibly well-read, and very approachable Martin was a joy to spend time with. On listening to the interview as I edited it, I found he spoke on many different levels and realized the sheer depth to what he was talking about. This interview is worth listening to multiple times.

I will let Martin tell you why he wrote "Courting the Wild Twin" in this conversation, but it is needed in this time more than any other. It's arrival has come at the right time.

He is so deeply rooted in myth, so totally in touch with the stories he tells I want to learn from this man. I read the book Chelsea Green Publishing sent me, and bought another of his books - "Night Wages." His words and work has inspired to go deeper still into my own work and improve my own writing, to get in touch with another, deeper part of myself on my storytelling journey.

I hope when you hear his words, his wisdom, you also get inspired in whatever work you do. And I truly hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

His website is: https://drmartinshaw.com/ and his school of mythology in England website is: https://schoolofmyth.com/

Odds Bodkin, the mythic maker. Odds Bodkin, is not just a medieval curse, but the name of one of America's greatest storytellers. His combination of gravitas, humor and music in his re-tellings of folk and fairy tales, myths and legends is, well, legendary here in America. Odds and I are neighbors and friends, I am lucky enough to say, and this conversation, sitting in his leather chairs, next to a crackling fire with a Christmas tree in the corner, was a delight. The interview was recorded a little bit before Christmas, with the heavy breathing and panting of Odds' dog, Samson.

https://www.oddsbodkin.net/

Ed Stivender has been telling stories for a long time. I first met him at Jonesborough a couple of years ago, and thought he was such a nice man. He came across as a very quiet and private person which was the total opposite to the man I saw on stage. This interview, edited down from two hours, follows Ed's passion and life from when he first started telling tales (about how windows got broken at home) through his introduction to professional storytelling and his beloved Jonesborough, National Storytelling Festival, his books and plans for future work.

Please enjoy this Conversation with Ed Stivender.

http://edstivender.com/

I have to admit when I first met Michael Parent I was intimidated by him. I couldn't figure him out - was he being serious, was he being funny? I couldn't tell. Over time I got to know him a little better and found him to be a very warm man indeed, sharp as a needle and quick witted.

He still is today, even though his challenge with Parkinson's disease sometimes slows his word choice down. This conversation, with Michael's permission, has been edited, cutting out some of the silences as he sought out the rights words. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with him and cannot wait to see him again and hang out.

Michael Parent talks about his family history in mills, how music was seen as something better than storytelling, but how Michael sees the two should go together. You will hear about his juggling skills, uke band, and sing-a-longs!

He mentions a song by Malvina Reynolds, and here is a version I heard as a kid by the Seekers, of that song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YP7GCXqdqU

We had many laughs during the chat, and I hope you join in laughing, too.

Elisa Pearmain was one of the storytellers who created a storytelling community in New England, particularly in the Boston area. Throughout her career her work has been deeply steeped in healing, from dance to storytelling to therapy. Her work is included in a number of books and CDs and Elisa’s compassion and depth is remarkable, as is her story.

http://www.wisdomtales.com/

Heather Forest forged her own way into storytelling, coming from a folk music background. A highly intelligent, thoughtful, and warm human being, Heather was great to sit down with. This is the third in a series of three interviews I conducted in March, 2019 at Sharing the Fire, the North East Story Telling Conference. The other two are previous episodes of Elisa Pearmain, and Loren Niemi.

Heather mentions the first guitar she ever had and I found a photo of one just like it - Heather confirmed this!

http://www.heatherforest.com/

Tim Jennings and Leanne Ponder were tandem tellers, although to call them that does not fulfill what they really do! As they tell their well crafted stories, they talk over each other juggling with words, and phrases, switching characters. One would think the recorded stories were carefully produced in a studio to make it work, but most of their recordings are done at live events.

Sadly Leanne has Alzheimer's and does not perform stories with Tim anymore, although sometimes plays music with him. It is incredibly sad that they can no longer perform live together. Their meeting, their working together, and Tim's passion of folk and fairy tales are all here. He talks about his influences, his solo work, Leanne's work and a little of his growing up.

I will be adding more on my Patreon site, but here is the interview, the conversation with Tim Jennings, and a little of Leanne Ponder.

https://www.folktale.net/

Milbre Burch is not just a storyteller, but a dancer, and theatre artist, has studied a lot, and has a remarkable and unshakable sense of humour. I first discovered Milbre for myself shortly after the falling of the Twin Towers on 9/11 in 2001. I purchased her CD Making the Heart Whole Again, a wonderful gift for anyone suffering from hate and intolerance. What she has not done? And what we did not talk about… We talk briefly about the Gullah people, those taken by force from their homes in Angola, to work on the rice plantations of SC way back when. She’s a Grammy nominee (wait til you hear who she was up against, if not sharing the table with), and also a scholar and an artist - so her witt is sharp!

Milbre is a wonderful human being. Her website is Kindcrone.com where you can find all of her CDs.