Un-Stuffing Our Story

In this weeks episode I interview gardener, Alys Fowler. She shares her passion for finding wilderness in the 'wild cracks' of urban settings and helps us understand the reciprocity between us and the natural world. In the story of mankind 'The Green' is vital and yet it has no speaking part within the narrative, Alys enables us to hear its voice and understand that our survival as humans is dependent upon our care for it.

Mateja is a Criminology/CPTED Research and Consulting specialist and a Doctoral Candidate in Criminology and Criminal Justice. She offers a fascinating perspective of story and how it relates to crime reduction in neighbourhoods and communities.

The story of Liz’s journey begins back in the 1970’s. As Children’s Librarian for the City of Belfast, she learned about the healing power of storytelling. Liz Weir is a storyteller and writer from Northern Ireland. She was the first winner of the International Story Bridge Award from the National Storytelling Network, USA, which cited her “exemplary work promoting the art of storytelling” She has told her stories to people of all ages on five continents. She has performed in pubs and prisons and hospital rooms. She worked on stages in the mighty Vanderbilt Hall of New York’s Grand Central Station and in the Royal Albert Hall and in 2019 was awarded an MBE from Queen Elizabeth in recognition of her work.

Psychologist and storyteller shares his wisdom on how stories shape us.

Artist Raymond Watson talks about art, peace, conflict and the dangers of being pigeon-holed. He shows us it is possible to hear stories in bog-oak, prison keys and much more. Come and listen to him share his story that starts with him as a young child during the ‘Troubles’ in Belfast and ends up with him becoming an international artist , with a period as a political prisoner in between.

In this episode I once more highlight some of the messages of the previous two guests through linking them to an old story. The story here involves a girl who is born riding a goat and brandishing a wooden spoon and covered in a tattered hood .... listen to find out more.

Rebbecca shares the wisdom she has gained on her journey from a young girl who witnessed gang activity and felt her story was already written into a woman who found the ability and strength to write her own. In her story she found mentos and helpers and battled and owned the beast of cancer. She is inspirational for all of us who feel we have no voice.

Ayesha shares the story of her journey with scoliosis, judgement and feeling ‘other.’ She shares insights that helped her take control of her story and explains how her art form, photography, helped her do this.

We often think this is the first time that we, as human beings have been faced with certain problems or situations. Here Katrice shows us that through linking present experiences into age old myths and stories, we can find comfort and wisdom to help us deal with what we are experiencing in the present. Weaving together the stories of the previous two guests, Anthony and Sandra and sharing parts her own personal narrative she allows us to see that we have been here before and we got through and we can do it again by starting to speak out the stories we want to live. Expect a little discomfort when she talks about race and discrimination, expect a little challenge when she invites you to ‘speak out the shame’ but most of all expect a gentle, kind exploration of what makes us human.

Sandra Carter loved sci-fi as a child but did not see any young black girls like herself represented in what she read. She also struggled with dyslexia but on her journey to who she is now, she defeated the beasts of uncertainty and met the helpers she needed to become the author she is today. She also works as a mentor and motivational speaker helping other neuro-diverse people discover the skill that lies behind their condition, that lies behind their superpower!

Who decides what ‘learned’ means and who decides who is ‘learned?’ This is one of the few points that are discussed during the podcast. Poet, publisher, educator, author and activist Anthony Anaxagorou shares his wisdom and thoughts with us. Race and representation in the publishing world, lack of ‘duty of care’ shown to certain marginalized groups and the need to be part of a wider community are all topics that come up and are mulled over and offered for us, the listener to respond to in a different way.