Golpo | Stories From Around the World

I end this season with a story that is close to me. I read this one as a young student of Literature and found it echoing through many of the things that have 'repeated' in my life! When does a task become a punishment? When does an endless loop feel overbearing? When and how do you find purpose in something that doesn't seem to end? Listen to this one...I will be back in March, until then, I am busy chasing for stories...****

Here is a story that I had shortlisted many many weeks ago, but I hadn't recorded it. In ways, I am glad I waited to put this episode together. My response of the story changed after a visit to the Partition Museum earlier this week and I cannot ignore the metaphor that speaks to me. I don't imagine you will retell Dividing the Goose in your history class, but I do hope you will read it like a metaphor.It is a great story to retell in the maths classroom though!When you retell this story in the living room or boardroom, consider how you divide responsibilities, ownership, losses and profits at home and in your organisations.*****

The Peasant's Riddle is a story suggests an investment strategy that will provoke both your thoughts and emotions. At the face of it, this is a story seeped in patriarchy. It is easy to overlook it, but I chose to retell it to enable immersive conversations in the Classroom, Living Room and the Boardroom. Remember to listen to the original story so you can make out the differences. ****

You may have heard this one as the Talkative Tortoise or The Tortoise who Wanted to Fly. A tale so popular that Panchantra, Aesop Fables, Jataka Tales, Katha Sarit Sagar all have versions of this. A cautionary tale that warns the 'talkative' to not talk out of turn, I think we have always misunderstood this story. Listen in and let me know what do you think... *******

This is a story about sleep.If you are listening to this at night, take a moment to listen to your body. Do you know when it needs sleep? Or have you surrendered to sleepless nights like the owl.Here is a story that will spark conversations about sleep in the classroom, living room and boardroom...because sleep is a primal need.****

What if you could get a route map out to wherever you want to be! That goal you have set in your life, your dream job, a promotion, better grades, that medal, award or certificate, social media growth, a sales target, or revenue…the quest for a better health, your peace of mind, happiness perhaps? Listen to this story, it may hold the clue to "How Long Will it Take?" ****

This week we decided to go back to Chelm, the fictional town of fools and bring to you two stories. Are fools really fools? Or are they so wise that we don't see their wisdom...? Listen to two pretty, pithy and powerful stories that will leave you with enough to talk about. ****

Quarrel of the Quails is the origin story behind the phrase "United we Stand, Divided we Fall", that simple phrase that we have all heard since we were young. Unity, a virtue as old as the ages, this adage has been illustrated in teaching tales and fables. They have also been retold in history, art and popular culture. Growing up as a child in India of the 1980's, this was one of my most favourite films. As a means to reinforce the need for national integration, this simple children's film is still a big part of India's psyche. And yet, just like the story, the film and the shared message in both, I wonder, why do we choose to divide over being united. I want you to listen to this story and retell it in the classroom, living room and boardroom...identify what keeps you together and what divides you! *****

The Teapot is a fairytale with a fable-like overtones. Here is an inanimate object telling its story, personified and humanised with a distinct character and personality. The Teapot has emotions, it transforms and learns a valuable lesson through the course of the story.It is also vulnerable to sounding too didactic a story! Particularly the kinds that I am NOT very fond of. And yet, it is there on my podcast! Why? Listen to the story to find out! *****

Fables are some of the world's oldest set of stories. They stories have survived the times, been passed on orally for centuries, instructed and inspired listeners in every era. While it is easy to tell a fable and prescribe a moral, I feel its power is better utilised when it is told to invite introspection, dialogue and discovery. Listen to The Peasant and the Apple Tree in your Classroom to discuss about trees that don't flower, or introduce this story in your Living Room to reassure a late bloomer in the family, or use this story in the Boardroom to have a difficult conversation about an underperforming business, team or employee. *****

This week's episode from Africa brings together myriad themes of #SpeakingUp #Truth #Whistleblowing #Proactiveness #ActionTakersIf you want to encourage a listener to speak up, or talk, retell this story by assuring a safe space for freedom of speech and opinion.Celebrate the power of voice by sharing what happens when you speak up.Tell this story to juxtapose the need to speak up when things go wrong. Or, despite if things go wrong.****

"For want of a nail the shoe is lost, for want of a shoe the horse is lost, for want of a horse the rider is lost." You have surely heard the proverb before! Here is the story that inspired English writer and George Herbert to write it. A crisp story that will help you gently nudge conversations around procastination, be careful when retelling this story in the Classroom, Living Room or Boardroom. Refrain from from telling it as a prescriptive, precautionary-tale. Don't use this story to instil a sense of foreboding, failure or defeat in your listener.Instead, use it to understand what is stopping your child, sister or colleague from taking the right steps. For all you know, they are unable to take the first step. Help them lay the steps out and take action.*****

“The Boy who wanted the Moon” is our little tribute to the scientist's of ISRO who achieved the momentous success of Chandrayan-3.The moon has charmed humans forever, we have always tried to reach for the moon, to see what lies in the glittering and shimmering land of craters. This pourquoi tale from Africa is a living proof of that.While the world celebrated ISRO's historical landing of Chandrayan - 3, this story is an additional metaphor for you to retell.Enjoy the story and retell it in the Classroom, LivingRoom and Boardroom. Listen to the story and dip into the additional resources for ideas.Bonus | Dive into our story prompts inspired by the moon! Go share your #MoonStory with someone today. *****

Why Trees Stopped Moving is a fascinating folktale from Nicobar Islands that blends in ideas of forests, trees, climate change, intergenerational relationships and migration. Like always, this story resonates equally within the classroom, living room and boardroom.As a storyteller I feel deeply indebted to folklorists who have gathered these stories from authentic sources to tell them in books and anthologies.*****

Gopal Bhand is a legendary court jester from Bengal, India. Growing up as a child in a Bengali household the stories of Gopal Bhand filled my childhood with a lot of laughter. This one is a very popular story that may be familiar with Indian story lovers, but it may be new to listeners around the world. Here is a story that talks of measurement, science, astronomy, business and data storytelling! Listen to this one and tell me what do you think. *****

"What's the one story you remember from your childhood?" I asked a room full of IT professionals. "Emperor's New Clothes" was the story that I heard in my first corporate workshop. "Does the story speak to you today?" I asked. "More than it did in my childhood," came the reply. This was in 2014. Since then, Emperor's New Clothes has been in my story bag, amongst the few fairy tales that I tell. This is a valuable story in every audience. Go ahead and enjoy this one! *****

A Story about money, negotiations, buying, selling and bargaining! Tell this at home to discuss money with your child, or take it to the math or economics classroom, or sprinkle some humour in your next sales meeting! This versatile story will make you smile. *****

Do you have the skill to turn a 'useless' thing into a valuable and useful thing with the power of storytelling? How does changing the narrative of an object change the perception of people? This week's episode takes you into this familiar and powerful use of storytelling. ****

Rivers have a life of their own. They too have stories of their own.Listen to this snappy Russian Folktale, the story of two Russian Rivers and their dispute to which is greater?Does it matter which is the greater river, as long as they both flow into the same sea?Listen to the podcast, to see how you can integrate it into your Classroom, Living Room and Boardroom.*****Watch stories from Ganga Utsav: Life on A River -Life on a River is a YSB Original Story written & performed at Ganga Utsav 2020. This is a YSB Original story. No reproduction / retelling is allowed.This is the story of two generations of fisherman who are divided and united by the river Ganga. One stands on the banks of the river that looked at the river as the giver, the other stands on the bank of the river where he is the taker. Between the two generations of fishermen, between a grandfather and his grandson, who wins?This story is based on the lives of fishermen living along the Ganga. While touching upon the realities of the fisherman community, the fishing trade, economics and livelihood, this is a story based on research and real-life events.For Karo & Koel -The Tribals of Jharkhand have fought for 'jal, jungle & jameen' for hundreds of years. Their struggles of resistance are born out of the myths, legends & folklore that have fuelled tribals to defend their water bodies, the forests & their land. What are those stories? Are the stories meant to inspire the Tribals only? Listen to this original story that brings together myths, legends & folklore with contemporary fiction.This story was originally written & performed at Ganga Utsav 2021. This is a YSB Original story. No reproduction / retelling is allowed.*****

The Legend of Mullah Nasruddin never fails to create magic!The stories make you laugh, make you think, and question something that you know. If told right, every story will give you something to talk about.In the previous season, we had a story, The Smell of Bread, another Nasruddin Story that opens up interesting thoughts and conversations about money and compensation."How Far Does my Voice Go?" is perhaps the shortest story on this podcast!!All it takes is 100 seconds of storytelling to take a story like this to your Classroom, Living Room or Boardroom. Listen to this story and my thoughts AFTER it to find some interesting ways to trigger conversations."How Far Does my Voice Go?" is also a question that I asked myself.How far does the sound waves of THIS PODCAST go? Listen to the Episode to find out the list of countries where listeners listen to these stories!!I would love to feature our Podcast Listeners! Please fill up GOLPO LISTENERS FORM to connect with me. This will mean a lot to me! ***********

Kokras Kuni Zang is a Kashmiri Proverb that means "an adamant / stubborn person."This is one of the few proverbs that has an 'original' story attached with it. Or at least, that's how I found it and so did the writer / storyteller who wrote the book I found it in.Proverbs, idioms or Corporate Jargons are extremely popular in everyday vocabulary. By sharing a proverb, a common phrase, or a jargon you tend to create a sense of shared understanding. However, what's more interesting is when you SHOW what you mean with a story.Enjoy this episode of the podcast where we speak in terms of proverbs and jargons and how to engage your listeners The Storied Way! ******

This week, we are retelling a story from Season 1, retelling a Hindi story in English and bringing it in context of this season of the podcast. In the process of translating this story I noticed some finer nuances about the Mountain and his personality that I had overlooked earlier.Here is an example of Story Pedagogy with concepts of Geography.In the Living Room, retell this story to talk about growing up!At the workplace, use this story to trigger ideas of Leadership, Mentorship and Ambition.*****

This Norwegian Folktale is entertaining wherever you choose to tell it...in the Classroom, Living Room or Boardroom. And true to every other story in this podcast, this one will trigger conversations, introspections and discussions.There is a WOLF in this one...two, in fact! And like every other story about wolves, I suspect these are NOT the bad ones. I would rather have you listen to this story and tell me what do you think.In the classroom, use this story to study the themes of farm animals, building a home, a fun folktale that has elements of a cumulative tale.In the Living Room, talk about YOUR home. How did you and your family make a home out of a house? How did your family deal with challenges, or the wolves who threatened your home?In the Boardroom, let this be a story to discuss what makes your team an A-Team? Who brings what to the table? How do you complement your skills?If you're an Entrepreneur, then use this story to introspect the kind of co-founder and team that you will put together to make your dream business.*****

I was listening to a podcast on the theme of Incognito when I was reminded of this story!Isn't it amazing when ONE thing reminds you of a story and then links to many concepts, themes, ideas?Here is a short, crisp Chinese wisdom tale with themes of #Perspectives #Optimism, #Pessimism, #Opportunity, #Setback and #Disguise****

Papa God's Well is an Haitian Folktale that I discovered in Dr Margaret Read MacDonald's Book Earth Care I remember telling this story in a workshop with a non-profit that was working with a rural community. We were exploring stories (real and traditional) that talk about community problem solving. Right now, I am working with a multinational in India that looks at water projects as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. The stories from their field is a wonderful companion to this traditional folktale for a lesson on water conservation for school students. Papa God's Well is a story about authority, leadership and power. It is a story of what happens when you yield your power with an iron fist. Listen to Papa God's Well and retell it in the Classroom, Living Room and Boardroom with the strategies mentioned in the podcast. Listen in! *********

Are you happy?What makes you happy?Who makes you happy? How does happiness impact your life?Here is a story that will take on a journey to find happiness. Here is a story that will help you talk about happiness and why it's critical to our wellbeing.To me, staying in the realm of story-verse gives me immense happiness. Working on a story, telling it, talking about storytelling, enabling someone to gather story dust, to produce this podcast....every part of my work gives me immense joy!Here is a story that will help you talk about what gives you happiness and what causes unhappiness.We need to speak about Mental Health. If you are looking for stories to talk about mental health If you are looking for stories to find stories you can share, look up 365 Days 365 Stories ****

Folktales are unkind to women and female characters. You cannot pick up a folktale to tell without passing it through the gender lens. At the face of it, this is a story that I wouldn't tell. But today I am. There are many things about this story that's disturbing. I have included it in this podcast, just because it IS an important story that we should listen and talk about. Here are a few links that will help you bridge meaningful conversations around Women's Rights, Gender, Politics and Inclusion. **** Women's History in 3 MinsWomen's Rights in Russia (Since its a Russian Story) Read: 10 Indian Women Who were the first to do what they did | Shruthi Rao Lady DoctorsDr Elizabeth BlackwellWomen Leaders in the Grassroots Levels Women in PeacekeepingWomen make Better LeadersWomen Leaders*****

How far is the Sun from you?When is it the farthest? When is it the closest? Does it seem close and far at the same time?The Sun, is a Chinese Tale that is versatile in the classroom. From Primary, to Middle to Senior School, this ONE story can be told and retold to introduce, teach and reinforce concepts of Sun, Latitude - Longitude, Solar Energy, Time, Distance and Trignometry!This is an example of what we call, Hook - a - Tale (a story that intrigues) and Story-Fix (a story that poses a problem). Tell this one at the right time of the teaching journey and you will see how it can used and reused over and over again.We are building a community of Storytelling Teachers, if you are interested in Story Pedagogy subscribe to our Exclusive Newsletter for Teachers How does this story work for adults? Listen to the podcast to know more! ****

This is a story for YOU, the Storytellers (closeted, learner, aspiring, amateur, professional) who listen to this podcast. The ones who tell stories to children, to families at dinner tables and colleagues & clients at business meetings. The ones who I imagine are spreading the story dust gathered from this podcast across classrooms, living rooms and boardrooms. Here is a story that will warn you about the dangers of telling a rambling, unprepared, non-sensical story. As much as it is entertaining, telling an unprepared story won't give you the wins you want. Wondering why are your stories not working with. your audience? This story may hold the clue! Unlike the storyteller in this story, an unstructured narrative won't help you make a business point, inspire a class, get you a job, get an investment, or attract listeners when on a stage. If anything at all, this is a story that will warn you about the possibility of Wasteful Storytelling. So before you set out to tell a story...prepare well. If you are working on your Storytelling Skills, then our consider subscribing to our our niche and exclusive newsletters, for teachers, not for profits, entrepreneurs and businesses.YSB Monthly Newsletters bring actionable Templates, Tips, Techniques and Tools that will help you leverage storytelling. And yes, there will always be a story!Our Newsletters will also give you a privileged access to our upcoming bootcamps, workshops, programs and courses.Remember to check the link to subscribe to the Newsletter that suits you.*****

Which is the one story that teaches you about the dangers of lying?Was it The Boy Who Cried Wolf?Teaching someone to say the truth is a tricky task. Understanding what is a lie and when is it okay to lie and when not is even tougher. Have you ever wondered when and how did you learn to lie? Yes, I am assuming that like me, you too have sinned and lied at some point of time in your life.To be human is to lie. And we all lie when we have to. Sometimes they are small lies. Sometimes they are big lies. Sometimes we lie to win. Sometimes we lie to hide our loss. The fact that we tell and accept each others lies is what makes us co-exist.Lying is a sensitive topic. No one likes to be called a liar, whether in the classroom, in the living room or in the boardroom. Take this story to any space and it will make a few people uncomfortable.The trick is how to talk about lying without making anyone feel like you're pointing a finger at them? I love this story because it doesn't moralise and tell you which of the two values / virtues is loftier. It ends rather ambivalently. You need to have a conversation with the listener to make sense of it.If you want to explore complex themes of truth, lies, integrity, ethics and honesty, whether in the Classroom, Living Room or Boardroom, begin with THIS STORY.*****

The 8th Donkey is MY story! I am the protagonist and I have lived like him for years, feeling ashamed of my weakness with numbers. I have struggled for years with mathematics, find it difficult to remember numbers, count, manage money and talk about it with people. I have lived for years telling myself that I am a DONKEY when it comes to numbers! The 8th Donkey is a gentle tribute to the defenceless donkey who has been ridiculed for years in every story about it! The 8th Donkey is a fantastic story in a maths class, in the living room and boardroom if you can tell it from a place of empathy. Go on and listen to this today! Plus, there is a BONUS Video version of The 8th Donkey! I told you, it is one of my favourite stories to tell! Enjoy this one! ****

I am sure you have heard this story in some form or the other. Two Goats on the Bridge is a popular fable that has been used to reminder listeners about conflict. I have been telling it to trigger conversations and stories. Earlier this week in a #BusinessStorytelling Training, we simulated this story with an intimate listening and storytelling experience. The bridge is transformed into a story bridge, finding common ground that has to be co-created between two individuals. While I suggested a story strategy to conduct one-on-one reviews the storied way, this is a great story that flows into any space where there are people at loggerheads. Between children, adults, teachers, families and workplaces, conflicts between individuals, teams and communities is inevitable. Creating a common ground with shared stories is a ONE way to bring people together. Listen to this story and tell me what do you think? ***Source | Peace Tales by Dr Margaret Read MacDonald To know more about my work, visit my website | Your Story BagIf you like this podcast & want to support our work, you could Gift-a-Story and help us make Storytelling sustainable.Book a Discovery Call with me, to know more about how I can help you tell better stories in business, life and work. Not sure about how to tell these stories in your life and work? Ask me!You can follow my content across Social Media with the hashtag #StorytellingWithRituparnaSubscribe to my NewsletterConnect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter or SwellYou can also write to me at contact@yourstorybag.comUntil the next story...Happy Storytelling!

When standing at the crossroads, which is the right way?If you ask me, I will always tell, it's "The Storied Way"!What do I mean by that?Well, here is a story just for that!The Right Way is a story that I have pulled out from my workshop & training content material. In my business / organisational / corporate trainings I often use tales such as this one. I call them 'Bridge Stories'.How do I use these bridge stories, and how can you retell it within the context of a boardroom, classroom or living room? I share a few scenarios with you.The story takes only 2:30 mins to tell! What is your excuse for NOT telling it?If you do tell it, remember to share your story about it!And if you need some help in telling this story in your world? Come, talk to me! ****

A little bird enters a flying contest, flying against the mighty falcon. What do you do when you are in a competition & you know that the odds are against you? Would you strive to win, play fair, or find any means to end up as winner? What you choose is YOUR choice. The Flying Contest is a story that throws up interesting conversations on contrasts, comparisons and competitions.The Flying Contest is from Suriname, one of the traditional stories that African Slaves brought with them. Within that cultural context, the significance of this story is immense. However, if you choose to retell the story in a sports field, living room or boardroom, there will be lots of interesting things to talk about. I share some of my hooks and anchors in the podcast.This story also reminds me of one of my earliest stories, Leader of the Birds, one in which all birds (like in this one) want a leader and the lion asks each bird to tell him why should he choose one. Each bird steps forward to talk about his / her virtue making it difficult for the Lion to choose the most appropriate leader. While there is no contest in that version, the lion's decision is guided by something else all together. Watch an old LIVE Recording of Leader of the Birds on our YouTube Channel. This one is in Hindi, and without subtitles. If you listen carefully, you will understand it.****

The Knee-High man took me back to school when I first heard the word Pygmy. I am not sure if I heard it in a good way, or did someone use it as an insult. You see, I didn't grow up beyond 5 feet. But that didn't stop me from winning a beauty pageant at 18! This story from the African-American tradition of stories has travelled with the people across the seas. I can see this story as a striving for basic human dignity, a stature that gives strength, leadership, dominance and perhaps respect.It's a story about needs, wants and all that we want to be without knowing why!Listen to this one, told with a little tact and sensitivity, this one can open up conversations that are difficult to have. Listen to it & tell me what do you think!*****

This is one of those stories that is a riot to perform before children. It's a clever tale that is both hilarious as is serious. If told well, this story will fit in to business conversations where risk is a topic of discussion.Listen to A Drop of Honey and tell me what do you think!A small word of caution for the stories in the podcast. In no way am I ‘moralising' any of these stories. I am not a champion of morals, and I strongly discourage using stories to teach or prescribe a moral to children or adults.In this podcast, I am trying to give you a context of where and how this and any other story in this podcast can be used to start a conversation. A story is a great hook for dialogue. Play this story out, or use it as a bridge to initial conversation with your student, family, a colleague or client. I champion a 2-way dialogue between you the teller and your listener. So no, don't try to package a moral or message with these stories. Be open to interpretation. Don't be threatened by it!!And if you are still lost for ideas, just listen…the story will speak to you when the time is right.If you want to talk to me, share your thoughts about these stories, or want to know HOW you can retell these stories in your work, just write to me at contact@yourstorybag.com****

For the longest time, I didn't tell this story because its so popular. The Stone Soup is every storyteller's favourite and listeners had heard this one somewhere or the other.I told this story for the first time in 2018 at a corporate event. I was invited to tell a story and bring the employees together in a dialogue.Listen to my version of The Stone Soup, in today's podcast.This story is one of the stories I will share with you on World Storytelling Day 2023."Together we Can" find a story to bring us together.****

Where and how you hear / read a story is an excellent way to interpret a story. Take this story for example: I read this first in an anthology of food tales. When I read the story in context of food tales, I was reminded of the significance of food and it being a cultural indicator. When I went looking for another version of this story, I discovered it on a website that seeks to preserve the cultural practices of the indigenous tribe that this story belongs to. In that context, this story is a gentle reminder of humans, communities and the nature of collective wisdom. If you are telling this story in a classroom, especially to young children, be imaginative with your telling! The humour in the story comes from the fact that the animals would roast their hunt anyway, despite. that they find reasons to not share nails, scales or skin! When you tell your story, don't spell it out...let the children spot this themselves. Use the story to talk about food and how humans & animals find their food. Blend in lessons of social customs, traditional foods and find an opportunity to weave in a class picnic with multi-cultural cuisines! For older classes, make this a story about Indigenous Tribes and their lives in nature. Weave in lessons on food security, economics and social structures. This is an interesting tale in #OrganisationalStorytelling handbook, a ready-to-tell-tale that will invite employees to share their wisdom. Stories die if they are not told. They become stale and perish if not shared and retold. But how do you invite people to think of a story to tell? This one is a good start. In my last episode, I mentioned that I am toying with the idea of an e-book on the stories in this podcast. This week, I have an update! I have a structure for the book & I hope to finalise it before I get into the next episode. Would you like a book based on this podcast? What would you like it have? Connect with me on social media or drop me an email. Links and details below! *****

I remember this story from a long time ago. Back in the day our favourite sport was doing better than a classmate. How can we outdo the other, a competitor on the sports field, in the classroom or on stage. We were all trying to draw our lines longer to make the others shorter.I think the memory of that life triggered the thought behind this story for me. Perhaps Emperor Akbar had a similar dilemma on how to outdo the legacy of his ancestors, Babur and Humayun? That Akbar was called Akbar the Great is perhaps a testimony to his own decision to draw his line longer than that of the Mughal rulers before him. Who knows?Listen to this story and tell me what do you think of it.I am toying with the idea of an e-book with an accompanying playbook to help you make better use of these stories in the Classroom, LivingRoom and Boardroom. If you have been listening to these stories, I want your feedback!***

What's common about common sense? How do we acquire them? Do we inherit or learn them? Do we share a set of common sense? Or does each one of us develop a sense that is most common and obvious to us? If these questions baffle you then today's story is for you! In this episode I retell the Jamaican version of Anansi & the Drum of Common SenseWe all need our share of common & uncommon sense. Agree? Listen to the story and share some of your uncommon stories. ****

I love the mystery and suspense in this story. It almost runs like a thriller! Make this a companion story with Hans Christian Andersan's Shilling and here you have a story that can trigger conversations about money, its history, its purpose and its management.What's the value of money, how we earn it, spend it, share it, grow it and preserve it. Listen to this story to discover some additional ideas on how to use this story in the Classroom, Living Room & the Boardroom! Who says, a story has to stay in the realm of the listening experience. A good story triggers introspection, conversation and action. Here in this podcast, each story is handpicked and retold to suit a plethora of possibilities in the classroom, living room and the boardroom.With every story I share some of my ideas, but if you want more actionable steps on using these stories more strategically, remember I am just a call way.****

Today's episode is a gentle tribute to the people of Syria and Turkey who suffered one of the greatest disasters of the century. The news and sights coming in the aftermath of the earthquake are devastating. This story comes from Aleppo in Syria, one of the parts worst affected by the earthquake. A few weeks ago we had a Turkish story on the podcast and today, this wisdom tale from Syria is a reminder of the stories that once came from the land. This week I went searching for Syrian Folktale's and I found Samir Tahhan's anthology of folktales the ONLY accessible collection in English. The preface carries the translator's notes of how the stories were collected and gathered. If not for Samir Tahhan's relentless work, we would not have the stories to listen to. Master Karshush's Tarbush is a bitter-sweet tale, that will speak to masters and amateurs alike. It is a story that will open conversations between talent and acquired wisdom. The tussle of who is right between those wiser in years and those with acquired wisdom between the ears! It is about leaders and juniors, its about superiority and enforcement of it. It is about acceptance that someone else may be more talented, gifted and wiser than you. Where and how will you retell this folktale? I will leave that to you. If you do, keep Syria and Turkey in your thoughts. ****

The title of the story drew me to it. This story spoke to the story trainer in me. When I started my journey as a storyteller, I had no plans to become a trainer, a facilitator or a story coach. But here I am, working with school teachers, businesses, not-for-profits and corporations helping them ‘learn' storytelling.****

The Language of the Birds takes me back to my 9th grade Physics class where I first studied Sound. If you are a science teacher, you would love this one!You would also like this story if you are a Language teacher! Or someone who has a patient ear for languages & linguistics. Listen more closely and this story would remind you of endangered languages.The Language of the Birds is also a story that would test your notion of leadership & wisdom. If you are a Leader/ Leadership coach then consider this story that would open conversations about how your inherent style.*****Story Source | Adapted from Told in the Turkish CoffehousesAlso look up - Turkish Whistling Language of Birds & Climate Change & LanguagesTo know more about my work, visit my website | Your Story BagIf you like this podcast & want to support our work, you could Gift-a-Story and help us make Storytelling sustainable.Book a Discovery Call with me, to know more about how I can help you tell better stories in business, life and work. You can follow my content across Social Media with the hashtag #StorytellingWithRituparnaSubscribe to my weekly newsletter on Tealfeed Connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter or SwellYou can also write to me at contact@yourstorybag.comUntil the next story...Happy Storytelling!

 Tails is an interesting story that triggers conversations in the Science & English Classroom. If you are a teacher looking for stories, here is one!Are there people, habits, practices that are tailing you down?What kind of a tail would you like to shed today?Or is there is a discussion waiting to happen between the old and the new?Let this classic evolution story (Odisha, India) spark a conversation at home or at the workplace.****

This story will compel you to the think of the phrase 'fruits of labour'. Rooted in the native philosophy of Taoism, this Chinese Fairy Tale will ask you to consider the question who bears the fruit and who enjoys it?This story, like every other story in this podcast is a conversation starter. It touches upon complex ideas likes haves versus have-nots, the balance of power and influence, of generosity, kindness and ownership, of hard work and loss, it talks of resources that we own, create and share, it has ideas of groupism, favouritism, compensation and reward, it has notions of justice, your sense of right and wrong, and a magical process of germination, consumption and destruction. This is one of the many tales in folk literature that talks about the mystical powers of nature. Who is the nurturer, the user and who its destroyer?Try replacing the fruit 'pear' with something else like wisdom, kindness, money, power, joy or anything else that is hoarded and seldom shared. You will have a new story!***

A New Year could mean different things to different people. For you a new year may be your birthday, the turn of the calendar year or the financial year, a new beginning or a day when you leave the old to begin the new.This week, I have the perfect new year story that you can listen & share in the classroom, living room or the boardroom. The Twelve Months is a Greek Folktale with a predictable end. In this story, I don't really end the story and so I invite you to tell it back to me.Like with other stories in this podcast, this story is most useful as a trigger inviting listeners to share their stories, plans and aspirations for the new year. How you look at the 12 months that have gone by or the 12 that you will begin now, is all that matters.Here's wishing the listeners of the podcast a very Happy New Year. This week, we opened the podcast to listener reviews. Our first reviewer is Ruchi Arora, a Yoga enthusiast, an entrepreneur and a storyteller. Ruchi is one of the members of YSB Tribe of Storytellers. If you are a listener of the podcast, I would love to hear from you. We are a month into the second season of this podcast and I am excited to share stories all along the year.***

Creation Myths are an important reminder that we exist for a reason. It is a special kind of story that binds our existence with the place where we belong. It helps us validate that the balance between the earth and us is sacred for all times.The Story of the Earth & Sky at one level is a Creation Myth, a Nature Tale that tells us about how the world came to be the way as it is today.At another level, if you read the story closely, it is about two individuals who need space and freedom to exist without the other. This story, like every other story in this podcast can be told in the Classroom, Living Room or Boardroom to trigger conversations.Listen to the story closely and find some of my suggestions towards the end.*****

As I watched Lionel Messi lift the FIFA World Cup after 36 years, I couldn't help but think of the stories that he grew up listening to!Did the stories of his childhood shape him to be the player he is?I realised that I don't have an Argentinian Story and so I went looking for one. And this is the ONE that instantly spoke to me.The Legend of Marianna, her stories and golden nuggets reminded me of the importance of a storyteller in our communities. It reminded me that each one of us has a repository of stories and unless we gather, document and archive them they will be lost for ever.What are you doing about your family stories?Do you make an attempt to document your personal stories?How are you archiving your organisational history?This holiday season, gather up to share stories with one another. Find the Marianna in your home, your community, your organisation. Or become the Marianna for a day...Do you think Lionel Messi heard The Legend of Marianna as a child? I wouldn't know...But as you listen to this story, tell me which are the stories that shaped you to be who you are today? You can tell me that, right? I'd love to know!********************

The Legend of Gwashbrari is a very interesting story. If you surrender to the charm of a love story, you will see this one as a story of love & deception. A story about about the bold & the beautiful. But there are other ways to listen to the story. With themes of #love #deception #trust #rejection #gender #conflict #hierarchy #superiority #challenge #competition #surrender The Legend of Gwashbrari can be told and retold in many ways.Take it like a story that you can share with young adults who are having their first brush with love.Or alter it gently to make it a story about inter-generational conflict within a family.Or tell the story within a team to bring discussions about rivalry, competition, hierarchy or pride.The story is now yours to retell.If you are sharing these stories in your business, life and work, drop me a line and tell me how did you use it! You can choose to listen to this story with someone, or retell the story in your own way.****

Following the trail of Stories of Stupidity from Chelm, this week we have another story from the same land!We had another story in the list, but we moved it aside because a few listeners asked for more Chelm stories.In the Pits is a story that reminds me of all the mistakes we make and how we cover them up with another mistake. Sometimes our solution finding mechanism is all wrong and we take decisions without thinking of the consequences.Listen to this story, share it with your child, partner, family, team, colleague or a listener who you want to talk about problems and solutions. With this story, I share a few ideas on HOW you can use this story to trigger conversations. The rest, I leave it up to you!In this episode I also share my intent behind telling these stories. Why do I feel we need stories to trigger conversations, and what can stories do for you?****