Conversations With Storytellers

Clare Murphy

Clare Murphy hales from Ireland and is not my typical elder. She is not an elder, 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 can find. She brings a strong feminist leaning to her stories, and a great deal of inclusion and compassion.
Clare's website:  http://claremurphy.org/

Connie Regan-Blake

This interview 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 go to know a little more and a little more, adn 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.

Megan Wells

I had only briefly met Megan Wells in 2016 at the NSN Conference in 2016. 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 ot 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.
Please welcome Megan Wells.
MeganWells.com 

Lynette Ford

Lynette 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/

Liz Weir

I have only met Liz once or twice, and mostly in passing, but she is a very impressive woman. We hold some similar thoughts about accents in stories, although I think 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, 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!
Join us, for this 1 hour 13 minutes episode of "Conversations with Storytellers."

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, 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. 

Bobby Norfolk

How are? Still listening? Thanks for being here, I know there are a lot of other things you could be doing.
This conversation with Bobby Norfolk is a delight. Recorded over Zoom in Coronavirus Time, this light and calming time was 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 jet explodes on stage! He commands attention and in such a genuine way, he is free and 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/
Sherry's website: http://www.sherrynorfolk.com/
Peace,
Simon

Len Cabral and Bill Harley part 3

This is the final and third part of the conversation with Len Cabral and Bill Harley. Bill had to leave, which left just Len and me. So this is just the two of us wrapping up what was, I felt a deep, and very interesting time spent with these two great people, and storytellers.
To find out more about these two gents, their websites are:
BillHarley.com and LenCabral.com
I hope you had as much fun listening as I did participating.
Be well, be happy and share your favourite stories.
 

Len Cabral and Bill Harley part 2

That's right, part two! Part two of three, so if you missed the first part of this episode, have a listen to the previous episode, if you have heard this one already, go to the next, where it's just Len and me.
In this episode we do get deeper into the process of storytelling and how voices are or can be found.
I hope you are enjoying this conversation with these storytellers!
Peace,
Simon