Transformational Storytelling

Welcoming the Stranger
2025-12-02 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | May Memorial, 3800 E Genesee St, Syracuse, NY, United States
Welcoming the Stranger:
What Do Our Faith Traditions Teach and Call Us to Do?
CNY Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition presents perspectives from
the three Abrahamic traditions shared by Central New York faith leaders:
Jim Brulé ~ Judaism
David Pasinski ~ Christianity
Magda Bayoumi ~ Islam
Live music by the Cadleys
December 2 at 7:00 pm
May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society
3800 E Genesee St, Syracuse NY
All are Welcome!

Woodstock Story Festival
2025-10-24 19:00 - 2025-10-26 15:00 (America/New_York) | Mountain View Studio, 20 Mountain View Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
The acclaimed Woodstock Story Festival returns to celebrate story in all its forms, featuring three days (Oct. 24-26) of diverse guest presenters. The festival brings a rich tapestry of stories from talented & masterful tale-tellers and artists. Experience close-up story encounters of every kind through 16 regional through international guest presenters showcasing the power & impact of story.
Tickets, per day or for the entire festival, are here: https://woodstockstoryfestival.com/tickets/

Presenters are as varied as their expertise, including, among others:

David Gonzalez, Joseph Campbell Foundation Fellow, master storyteller, director, poet, and playwright.
Irish storyteller Maria Gillen, popular storyteller internationally and on the storytelling circuit in Ireland, and a well-known Bean An Tí (Irish Session Host).
Noted author and teacher Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona, a leading proponent of narrative psychiatry and author of Coyote Medicine, Coyote Healing, and Coyote Wisdom, a trilogy on storytelling and traditional healing.
Laura Simms, worldwide storyteller, writer, healer, and humanitarian, combines sacred myth and fairytale with personal narrative.
Denise Manning Keyes Page tells stories to heal, challenge, inspire, inform and connect. Founder of Ubuntu Storytellers and “Women Tell by the Decades” with Jen Munro.
Matoaka Little Eagle (Tewa, Apache, Chickahominy), long-time Native singer, dancer, storyteller, and educator.
Jim Brulé, internationally respected storyteller and author for his stories of healing; his Transformational Storytelling school is certified by the National Storytelling Network.
Shelley Stockwell, world-renowned storyteller, author, and hypnotist, founder/ president of the International Hypnosis Federation, has authored 25+ books including Storytelling 101.
International bestselling author, seasoned storyteller, and classically trained pianist, Doug O’Brien’s book The User’s Guide to Storytelling has helped coaches, speakers, and therapists bring their stories to life.

Complete presenter biographies: https://woodstockstoryfestival.com/biographies/
The Woodstock Story Festival kicks off on Friday evening, October 24 from 7-10 pm, continues on Saturday, October 25 from 2-10 pm, and concludes on Sunday, October 26 from 9 am to 3 pm. Schedule details can be found here.

When Storytellers Write about Healing
2025-10-19 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Join us for the next event in Healing Story Alliance’s series, where authors are interviewed about their creative writing processes and the healing power of storytelling. Storytelling, unique among all narrative arts, engages listeners in a profound way, deepening our understanding of what healing means and how it functions.
In this session, Jim Brulé will interview noted author and physician, Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona, about his many award-winning books exploring indigenous healing ways and the power of storytelling. They will explore the evolution of Dr. Mehl-Madrona’s thoughts on story and healing.
Audience participation is encouraged, with opportunities to ask questions and share observations inspired by Lewis’ work and the interview. This event benefits The Healing Storytelling Alliance, dedicated to promoting healing through the art of storytelling.
Please register and learn more using this link.

Anti-War Stories with Jewish Voices
2025-10-12 08:15 - 09:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Join Beverly Schwartz, Jim Brulé, and Sara deBeer as they present three anti-war stories as part of the “Get A Word in Edgeways” storytelling festival from Much Wenlock in England.
This free, hybrid event is organized and MC’d by Despina Ariou, a well-traveled storyteller from Greece.
Join us at 13:15 UK time (8:15 a.m. Eastern US) on Sunday, 12 October, for this essential and moving session via this link: https://tinyurl.com/WSCzoomlink
You can view the entire program here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1495988171716269

Kind Stories in Concert
2025-10-05 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
‘Kindness is having the ability to speak with love,
listen with patience, and act with compassion.”
–Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
Join the Healing Story Alliance for a special gathering to share and explore stories of kindness in its many faces and forms. Through folk tales and personal stories, we will dive deeply into multiple experiences of kindness. What is it? How does it impact us and our relationships to ourselves, to each other, to the world? Come and listen to “kind stories” shared by both professional tellers and community members and see what memories of kindness emerge for you.
Featured Tellers
Jessica Piscitelli Robinson is the Founding Executive Director of Better Said Than Done, the organization behind the Women’s Storytelling Festival. In addition to producing storytelling shows since 2011, Jessica has performed at Exchange Place at the National Storytelling Festival, on WGBH’s “Stories from the Stage,” and for Artists Standing Strong Together, Six Feet Apart Productions, Mostly True Things, and three National Storytelling Network (NSN) Conferences. Jessica was featured at the Stone Soup, the Washington Folk, the Allegheny Highlands, the Florida, and the Hampton Storytelling Festivals and is a 2023 ORACLE Award recipient from the NSN. Jessica is a teaching artist, leading workshops for Story Crossroads, The Story Center at the MCPL, local Libraries and Community Centers, and through Better Said Than Done online. Jessica’s “Guide to Personal Storytelling” (published October 2024) is available through Story Crossroads. Jessica is the author of the urban fantasy novel Caged (p. 2019), as well as the memoir-in-stories, Stages: My Life in Stories. (p. 2024) JessicaPiscitelliRobinson.com
Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, death doula, teacher, and mentor. He teaches spiritual storytelling for healing and growth. His workshops address multicultural wisdom and end-of-life themes. Co-authored with Rebecca Lemaire, his book ‘Stories of the Heart’ presents 18 global tales for navigating life and death. He is one of the co-producers, along with lead producer Peter Blum, of the Woodstock Story Festival in October, 2025. https://transformationalstorytelling.org/
Rishi Nixon is a Maryland spoken-word storyteller and performing artist. For over ten years, he has performed for audiences from the Washington Folk Festival and National Parks Service to Artists Standing Strong Together and Irvington Peace Park’s annual summer camp for West Baltimore city youth. He was a performing member of award-winning youth touring group The Twinbrook Tellers from 2016 to 2020, after which he became an independent professional storyteller. Since then, he has been inducted a lifetime member of regional storytelling guild Voices in the Glen, served on its board, co-chaired the 2025 National Storytelling Conference, and is the incumbent president of the National Storytelling Network—the youngest person to hold that office.
Emcee
Lee-Ellen Marvin has explored storytelling as a performer, audio producer, educator, folklorist, and community advocate. She has told and taught storytelling to thousands in colleges and universities, developed and published Story Shifters, a non-competitive game, and holds a PhD in Folklore and Folklife. Lee-Ellen lives in Eco Village at Ithaca, New York. 607-229-8429

Community Tellers
Liz Walker co-founded EcoVillage Ithaca (EVI) in 1991, and dedicated her full-time work for the next three decades to bring this internationally acclaimed project from vision to reality. She’s written two popular books: EcoVillage at Ithaca: Pioneering a Sustainable Culture, (2005, New Society Publishers) and Choosing a Sustainable Future: Ideas and Inspiration from Ithaca, New York, (October, 2010, New Society) which have been translated into several languages. In 2022 Liz was interviewed about EVI for a YouTube video, which now has 2.1 million views. People are hungry for community! Liz lives with her husband at EcoVillage Ithaca. Whenever she gets a chance, she loves to go biking, or hiking in the beautiful gorges in the Finger Lakes region of NY.

Elan Shapiro has explored the integration of meditative practice with social and environmental activism since living in the SF Bay Area in the 1980’s. He was part of the birthing of eco-psychology and the flowering of the deep ecology and bioregional movements. He has taught about the intersection of social justice and sustainability through the Environmental Studies department at Ithaca College and co-founded Sustainable Finger Lakes, the Building Bridges coalition, and the local chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice.

The White Snake
2025-09-11 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
The White Snake
A Seminar in Chinese Culture through Traditional Story
Explore Chinese culture through the lens of “The White Snake,” a beloved Chinese story that dates back well over a millennium. As Chinese culture evolved, the characters, motivations, outcomes, and themes of the story also evolved in pace with it.
Join Bowen Lee and Jim Brulé as we explore Chinese culture through the lens of this iconic story. We will meet for four 90-minute sessions in September and October, approximately every two weeks.
The event lists a single date, but we will meet on these dates for 90 minutes at 11:30 am Eastern:

Sept 11 (Thu)
Sept 25 (Thu)
Oct 9 (Thu)
Oct 17 (Fri)

The Zoom link you will receive will be the same for all four meetings.
Limited scholarships are available; please contact Jim Brulé to learn more and apply.
Register at https://www.simpletix.com/e/the-white-snake-tickets-228584
Biographies
Bowen Lyam Lee has been on the stage of regional and national storytelling events, conducts workshops for educators, and performs virtually with national, international, and regional programs. Bowen Lyam Lee is a fifth-generation Chinese American with a rich family history on the West Coast. She is descended from pioneer Chinese from the Gold Rush, the railroads, and the Chinese fishing villages of Monterey.

https://www.bowenstories.com
https://bowenleecreative.com

Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, death doula, teacher, and mentor with a diverse background, holding advanced degrees in clinical psychology and artificial intelligence. His online school, Transformational Storytelling, trains spiritual storytellers from multiple traditions to tell stories that inspire healing and spiritual growth. It has been operating for seven years and is accredited by the National Storytelling Network; its faculty and students come from around the world.

https://transformationalstorytelling.org
https://lovingtransition.com

Stories and (Im)Mortality
2025-07-27 10:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Temple Concord, 450 Kimber Rd, Syracuse, NY, 13224, United States
In this session, you will experience a diverse collection of tales that delve into the profound themes of dying and living, revealing how stories can help us embrace our mortality. Discover how the timeless power of storytelling can be a vehicle for living more fully and carrying the essence of what it means to be human.

In person, led by Maggid (and Death Doula) Jim Brulé.
Contact the Temple Concord office for registration details.

Dive Deeply - Prince Lindworm
2025-07-24 13:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
In a kingdom of beauty and sorrow, a queen’s fateful choice leads to the birth of a serpent and a quest for true love. This tale of transformation and courage invites us to explore themes of desire, consequence, and the power of compassion. Join us for a four-session seminar where we’ll unearth the story’s rich symbolism and its enduring wisdom.
We will meet for four consecutive Thursdays at 1:30 pm Eastern in a seminar format from 24 July – 14 August. Everyone will be a full participant in this deep dive into this Nordic story that carries treasures deep in its murky telling. Led by Jim Brulé, this promises to be a transformational experience. Please join us!
The calendar lists a single date, but the link provided will be good for every class.

The Mysteries of Caves
2025-07-23 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Join Jim Brulé and Peter Blum for a special spiritual spelunking on July 23rd: “The Mysteries of Caves.” What treasures lie hidden beneath the surface of our day-to-day world? Explore with companions as we navigate the twists and turns of the paths of our less-visited spiritual worlds.
OARS in the Water is a facilitated Zoom gathering that meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 pm Eastern Time. The Healing Story Alliance’s OARS in the Water offers a community listening space in which to share the experiences and stories that have emerged in turbulent times. OARS co-hosts facilitate the evening and provide participants with a warm welcome and a meaningful theme which we hope will be healing, supportive and inspiring.
Format: A typical 90-minute meeting consists of a 20-minute, theme-based opening, followed by 20 minutes in breakout rooms, and then we reassemble for a whole group conversation. Admission is free, although donations are deeply appreciated and help support our programming. Your tax-deductible donation can be made here: https://square.link/u/d9xbGN2I
About our Hosts
Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, death doula, teacher, and mentor. He teaches spiritual storytelling for healing and growth. His workshops address multicultural wisdom and end-of-life themes. Co-authored with Rebecca Lemaire, his book ‘Stories of the Heart’ presents 18 global tales for navigating life and death. He is one of the co-producers, along with lead producer Peter Blum, of the Woodstock Story Festival in October, 2025.
Peter Blum has had a practice in neo-Ericksonian hypnosis and shamanic sound healing for decades. He has gathered many honors and awards in the field, including being inducted into the Hypnosis Hall of Fame in 2021. Peter specializes in narrative trance work, and is on the Board of Directors of The Coyote Institute. He has co-led trainings and retreats for years with psychiatrist and indigenous storyteller Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona.

Stories as Catalysts: Community Healing through Oral Storytelling
2025-07-18 09:00 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Jim Brulé and Laura Simms explore the profound connections between storytelling, healing, and human resilience. Through rich dialogue and experiential examples, we will share insights from our unique cultural and personal perspectives, followed by an interactive Q&A where the audience can deepen their understanding of storytelling as a healing practice. The discussion will probe the central question: What truly makes a story healing?
This workshop is part of the Georgia 2025 National Storytelling Conference, sponsored by the National Storytelling Network. It is being delivered in person only.

Legacy Storytelling
2025-06-24 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Join Jim Brulé in this engaging and interactive program, where you will:

Identify Your Core Values: Through creative exercises, uncover the principles that guide your life and decisions.
Recall Meaningful Experiences: Connect with personal anecdotes that exemplify your values, bringing them to life.
Retell Inspiring Stories: Collaboratively develop and refine your anecdotes into compelling narratives that resonate.

This online workshop will guide you on a journey of self-discovery and inspiration. It meets from 7:00 to 8:30 pm EDT on Tuesday, June 24.
Register here – pay what you can!
Come and learn how to discover the values we actually hold dear, and how to pass them along in stories.
Whether you’re seeking personal growth, interested in stories that will carry your legacy, or looking to inspire others, this workshop offers the tools and insights to transform your values into powerful stories. Come experience the deep satisfaction and joy of discovering and sharing what really matters to you!

Legacy Storytelling - Europe
2025-05-26 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Join Jim Brulé in this engaging and interactive program, where you will:

Identify Your Core Values: Through creative exercises, uncover the principles that guide your life and decisions.
Recall Meaningful Experiences: Connect with personal anecdotes that exemplify your values, bringing them to life.
Retell Inspiring Stories: Collaboratively develop and refine your anecdotes into compelling narratives that resonate.

This online workshop will guide you on a journey of self-discovery and inspiration. It meets from 1:00 to 2:30 pm EDT on Monday, May 26.

18:00 IST (Ireland and UK)
19:00 CEST (Europe)
20:00 EEST (Eastern Europe)

Register at https://bit.ly/LegacyEurope – pay what you can!
Come and learn how to discover the values we actually hold dear, and how to pass them along in stories.
Whether you’re seeking personal growth, interested in stories that will carry your legacy, or looking to inspire others, this workshop offers the tools and insights to transform your values into powerful stories. Come experience the deep satisfaction and joy of discovering and sharing what really matters to you!

American Stories
2025-05-08 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Everson Museum, 401 Harrison St, Syracuse, NY, 13202, United States
American Stories: A Community Storytelling Showcase
Thursday, May 8: 6:00-8:00pm
Exploring the American Experience Through Storytelling!
What does the American experience mean to you? How has the idea of the American Dream shaped your life, your family, or your community?
Join us at the Everson Museum for American Stories: A Community Storytelling Showcase, where I will be a featured storyteller. This will be a powerful evening of storytelling that amplifies diverse voices and perspectives, featuring ten selected storytellers—both youth and adults—sharing personal narratives, poetry, and reflections that explore themes of identity, ambition, resilience, and belonging.
Each story offers a unique glimpse into what it means to be American today, bringing together voices from across our community in an inspiring and thought-provoking evening.
This event is pay-what-you-wish. We invite you to experience the power of storytelling and the many ways our collective histories shape who we are.

Legacy Storytelling (US)
2025-04-28 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-04-28 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Legacy Storytelling:
Discovering and Sharing What Matters Most
This two-part online workshop will guide you on a journey of self-discovery and inspiration. It meets on two Mondays: April 28 and May 5. (Times are designed for the US).
Join Jim Brulé in this engaging and interactive program, where you will:

Identify Your Core Values: Through creative exercises, uncover the principles that guide your life and decisions.
Recall Meaningful Experiences: Connect with personal anecdotes that exemplify your values, bringing them to life.
Retell Inspiring Stories: Collaboratively develop and refine your anecdotes into compelling narratives that resonate.

Whether you’re seeking personal growth, interested in stories that will carry your legacy, or looking to inspire others, this workshop offers the tools and insights to transform your values into powerful stories. Come experience the deep satisfaction and joy of discovering and sharing what really matters to you!
Register at https://bit.ly/LegacyStories-US
Pay what you can at https://paypal.me/jimbrule/ or contact jimbrule@gmail.com for alternatives.
Times:

7:00-8:30 pm (Eastern)
4:00-5:30 pm (Pacific)

—
Jim Brulé, MS, MA, is a storyteller, teacher, coach, and end-of-life doula whose experience spans several decades. As a transformational storyteller, he creates opportunities for spiritual growth and transformation through encounters with stories, whether in performances, classes, or individual guidance. He has also served as an interfaith chaplain in hospitals, jails, and psychiatric facilities.
Jim serves on the board of the Healing Story Alliance and has delivered programs to storytelling organizations around the world. A trained family therapist, he has also completed advanced training as an end-of-life doula and received certifications from the National End-of-Life Doula Association (NEDA) and The Dying Year.
His latest book with co-author Rebecca Lemaire is “Stories of the Heart,” 18 lovingly curated stories for the journey into dying and living, available at https://StoriesOfTheHeartBook.com

The Golem of Prague
2025-04-22 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-04-22 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Diving Deeply into the Golem of Prague
Explore the legend of the Golem of Prague in this engaging three-session workshop led by Maggid Jim Brulé. Delve into the story’s spiritual roots, ethical dilemmas, and contemporary relevance through storytelling, discussion, and reflection. Uncover lessons on creation, power, and responsibility, gaining insights that resonate with modern life.
This workshop will be held on three consecutive Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30 pm Eastern:

April 22
April 29
May 6

Tuition is $54 for the complete series. Register and get more information at:

https://bit.ly/GolemPrague

This event is part of Aleph’s Tikshoret program.

Legacy Storytelling (Asia-Pacific)
2025-04-16 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-04-09 10:00 - 11:30 (Asia/Singapore) | Zoom
Legacy Storytelling:
Discovering and Sharing What Matters Most
This two-part online workshop will guide you on a journey of self-discovery and inspiration. It meets on two Wednesdays: April 9 and April 16. (Times are designed for India, Singapore, and Australia; see below).
Join Jim Brulé in this engaging and interactive program, where you will:

Identify Your Core Values: Through creative exercises, uncover the principles that guide your life and decisions.
Recall Meaningful Experiences: Connect with personal anecdotes that exemplify your values, bringing them to life.
Retell Inspiring Stories: Collaboratively develop and refine your anecdotes into compelling narratives that resonate.

Whether you’re seeking personal growth, interested in stories that will carry your legacy, or looking to inspire others, this workshop offers the tools and insights to transform your values into powerful stories. Come experience the deep satisfaction and joy of discovering and sharing what really matters to you!
Register at https://tinyurl.com/LegacyStories
Pay what you can at https://paypal.me/jimbrule/ or contact jimbrule@gmail.com for alternatives.
Times:

7:30 IST (India)
10:00 SGT (Singapore)
12:00 AEST (Canberra)

—
Jim Brulé, MS, MA, is a storyteller, teacher, coach, and end-of-life doula whose experience spans several decades. As a transformational storyteller, he creates opportunities for spiritual growth and transformation through encounters with stories, whether in performances, classes, or individual guidance. He has also served as an interfaith chaplain in hospitals, jails, and psychiatric facilities.
Jim serves on the board of the Healing Story Alliance and has delivered programs to storytelling organizations around the world. A trained family therapist, he has also completed advanced training as an end-of-life doula and received certifications from the National End-of-Life Doula Association (NEDA) and The Dying Year.
His latest book with co-author Rebecca Lemaire is “Stories of the Heart,” 18 lovingly curated stories for the journey into dying and living, available at https://StoriesOfTheHeartBook.com

The Forest for Opening Hearts
2025-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
OARS in the Water
March 12th
7:00pm-8:30pm EDT
Hosted by Jim Brulé & Dee Palanisamy
On Zoom
Discover the wisdom of the woods in “The Forest for Opening Hearts.” Explore themes of generosity and learn from nature’s quiet strength, fostering a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us. Join us for an inspiring experience of storytelling, meditation, and community.
OARS in the Water is a facilitated Zoom gathering that meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 pm Eastern Time. The Healing Story Alliance’s OARS in the Water offers a community listening space in which to share the experiences and stories that have emerged in turbulent times.
OARS co-hosts facilitate the evening and provide participants with a warm welcome and a meaningful theme, which we hope will be healing, supportive, and inspiring.
Format: A typical 90-minute meeting consists of a 20-minute, theme-based opening, followed by 20 minutes in breakout rooms, and then we reassemble for a whole group conversation.
Admission is free, although donations are deeply appreciated and help support our programming. Your tax-deductible donation can be made here.
About our Hosts
Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, end-of-life doula, mentor, and educator. Drawing on a blend of cultural, spiritual, and academic experiences, his stories and workshops explore themes of healing, multicultural wisdom, and end-of-life support. For over a decade, his NSN-accredited Transformational Storytelling school has trained spiritual storytellers from a variety of traditions. Known for his collaborative spirit, Jim has co-developed and led dozens of workshops with storytellers worldwide. Co-authored with Rebecca Lemaire, his book “Stories of the Heart” presents 18 global tales for navigating dying and living.
Dee Palanisamy (Durgah Devi) is a multicultural storyteller based in Melbourne, Australia. She weaves her Singaporean-Tamil background in telling Asian folktales and stories to audiences around the world. Dee loves all things stories and founded Deelightfultales, where she uses stories for performances, training, education and personal development. She also works closely with the Federation of Asian Storytellers, Generation Women Australia (personal storytelling) and is the current secretary of the Australian Storytelling Guild, NSW. Dee is grateful to connect with people and different communities through storytelling.
Jim and Dee met in Marrakech at the Marrakech International Storytelling Festival earlier this year and discovered they were kindred spirits.

Stories of the Heart
2025-02-21 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Join storytellers and death doulas Jim Brulé and Rebecca Lemaire for Stories of the Heart: A Transformational Journey into Dying and Living, an interactive workshop at the Chennai Storytelling Festival 2025. Through powerful stories, guided discussions, and creative activities, you’ll explore new ways to approach death and grief with understanding, reflection, and peace. Whether you’re navigating personal loss, supporting others through grief, or seeking to deepen your storytelling practice, this session offers a safe and enriching space to transform fear into meaningful connection.

Register for free by sending an email request to info@storytellinginstitute.org

Legacy Storytelling
2024-11-13 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Stories are the way we carry the legacy of our family throughout time. Telling and retelling those stories with an ear and heart for the future enables everyone to actively celebrate each other’s lives – past, present, and future. Join us as we discover new ways of uncovering – and sharing – the stories of our lives that matter to us.
OARS in the Water is a facilitated Zoom gathering that meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 pm Eastern Time. The Healing Story Alliance’s OARS in the Water offers a community listening space in which to share the experiences and stories that have emerged in turbulent times.
Admission is free, although donations are deeply appreciated and help support our programming. Your tax-deductible donation can be made here: https://square.link/u/d9xbGN2I
We’ll gather via Zoom. Here is the NEW link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84757183292?pwd=[REDACTED]
About our Hosts for Nov. 13th
Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, death doula, and teacher with diverse cultural, spiritual, and academic backgrounds. Jim’s workshops address healing, multicultural wisdom, and end-of-life themes. Known for his collaboration, he has developed and offered dozens of workshops with storytellers from around the world, including Hears Crow, with whom he collaborates closely. Co-authored with Rebecca Lemaire, his book “Stories of the Heart” presents 18 global tales for navigating dying and living.
Hears Crow (Nootauau Kaukôntuah) lives in the tradition of the Narragansett. As an educator, workshop leader, published poet, and facilitator of indigenous circles, she weaves teachings from the Longhouse, Indigenous ways, and Transformational Stories. She says, “Living in two worlds has offered me the opportunity to speak and listen with an open heart.”

Death Cafe and Legacy Storytelling
2024-11-02 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Unity Church, 300 W Seneca Tpk, Syracuse, NY, 13207, United States
Explore the profound impact of storytelling as a tool for coping with grief and end-of-life issues for yourself, your families, and those you care for.
Highlights:

Introduction to the Power of Storytelling
Creating Legacy Stories
Sharing in a Safe Environment

Main speaker: Jim Brulé
Fee: $25

Jim Brulé: When Storytellers Write about Healing
2024-08-21 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
When Storytellers Write about Healing
An Interview with Jim Brulé hosted by Laura Simms
Join us for the second event in a new Healing Story Alliance series where authors are interviewed about their writing processes and the healing power of storytelling. Storytelling, unique among all narrative arts, engages listeners in a profound way, deepening our understanding of what healing means and how it functions.
You can register for this event here: https://www.simpletix.com/e/when-storytellers-write-about-healing-an-i-tickets-176375
In this session, noted storyteller/author Laura Simms will interview Jim Brulé about his new book with Rebecca Lemaire, “Stories of the Heart: Journey into Dying and Living.” She will inquire into his writing processes and the healing power of storytelling.
Jim will share the journey of encouraging his book to blossom, enriched by the challenges of telling stories about death from oral traditions worldwide in a way that weaves oral and literary styles – all with a co-author in a foreign country. Our discussion will encompass how we bring the healing power of stories into the reader’s experience through creative exercises and prompts.
Audience participation is encouraged, with opportunities to ask questions and share observations inspired by Jim’s work and the interview. This event benefits The Healing Storytelling Alliance, dedicated to promoting healing through the art of storytelling.
While it will not be necessary to read Jim’s book in advance, copies may be obtained at StoriesOfTheHeartBook.com.
To learn more about Jim Brulé, visit TransformationalStorytelling.org.

Laura Simms: When Storytellers Write about Healing
2024-07-31 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
When Storytellers Write about Healing
An Interview with Laura Simms hosted by Jim Brulé
Join us for the first event in a new Healing Story Alliance series where authors are interviewed about their writing processes and the healing power of storytelling. Storytelling, unique among all narrative arts, engages listeners in a profound way, deepening our understanding of what healing means and how it functions.
In this initial session, Jim Brulé will interview noted storyteller and author Laura Simms about her book, “Our Secret Territory: The Essence of Storytelling.” You can register for this event here: https://www.simpletix.com/e/when-storytellers-write-about-healing-an-i-tickets-176367
Laura will share the inspirations and experiences that shaped her book, offering valuable insights into storytelling as a transformative and healing art. The conversation will explore the depths of creativity, the connection between storyteller and audience, and the therapeutic impact of sharing stories.
Audience participation is encouraged, with opportunities to ask questions and share observations inspired by Laura’s work and the interview.
This event benefits The Healing Storytelling Alliance, dedicated to promoting healing through the art of storytelling, and sets the stage for HSA’s second interview event on August 21st, where Laura Simms will interview Jim Brulé about his book, “Stories of the Heart: Journey into Dying and Living,” continuing the exploration of storytelling’s profound impact.
While it will not be necessary to read Laura’s book in advance, copies may be obtained on Amazon. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with a talented storyteller and discover the healing potential of stories. To learn more about Laura Simms, visit LauraSimms.com.

Experiences of Grief and Loss
2024-07-29 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Oasis, 6333 Route 298, E Syracuse, NY, 13057, United States
Experiences of Grief and Loss: a Multicultural Literary Exploration
In this class, participants will learn about their own and other cultures’ thoughts and practices via stories and literature around grief, death, and loss. There is no life without death, but we are often sidelined by devastation when we encounter it. How do folks in our own and in other cultures survive and thrive in the face of loss? We will review some Jewish, Christian, and other Faith Community customs as well as some European and African ideas and stories. Note: Class fee includes a copy of “Stories of the Heart: Journey into Dying & Living” by Jim Brulé and Rebecca Claire Lemaire.
This class is in person at the Oasis CNY Center. The fee is $40.
For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/OASIS-Grief

Journeying through Grief
2024-07-08 20:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
We will explore the healing power of storytelling in the context of grief and loss. Participants will engage with narratives and exercises that illuminate grief not as an obstacle to be surmounted but as a companion that, although born of pain, can also bring unexpected insights and growth.

By any other name...
2024-06-25 18:45 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Roses are a time-honored icon of love, so it should be no surprise that the stories about them are as tender and thorny as love itself.
Join Jim Brulé as he shares stories – and a little history – that transport us to the world of the rose, and the challenges of love. The cultural sources for this evening are:

Romani
Armenia
Poland

Free, but an $8 donation to Story Space is appreciated.

Journey into Dying and Living - (Im)mortality
2024-06-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Spiritual Renewal Center, 1342 Lancaster Ave, Syracuse, NY, 13210, United States
“Journey into Dying and Living” is a four-part series of “lunch and learns” led by Jim Brulé, a death doula and spiritual storyteller who volunteers at Francis House. During the lunch and learn, Mr. Brulé will tell a story and then lead us through a discussion of the deeper questions and understandings that the story evokes in us. Stories will be drawn from his book, “Stories of the Heart,” which is not required to be purchased but will be available.
Registration is free; you may attend online or in-person.
Each month we will explore a different topic through storytelling and discussion. We will gather on the second Wednesday of the month from 12-1 pm EST. The topics are:

March 13: Grief and Loss
April 10: Facing Our Own Death
May 8: Historic Grief
June 12: (Im)mortality

Enhancing Presentations with Narrative
2024-06-09 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
This interactive working session builds on the knowledge shared in the workshop “The Neuroscience
of Effective Presentations.”
Participants will bring ideas for specific presentations they wish to create which integrate narrative
structures and style. Each participant will work collaboratively with the workshop leader and other
participants towards this goal. The workshop will include guided exercises, live demonstrations of AI
tools in action, and interactive discussions.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have a draft presentation and plan to create a final,
workable presentation.
Preparation:
Participants will receive a pre-recorded video tutorial for using ChatGPT to generate
narrative outlines and content. Sample prompts will be provided. Participants are encouraged to use
this tool to “prime the pump” of their creativity.
Register for free here:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0sd-Chqj4jGtZAxC10wA9oNrUGSvNUGpix#/registration
