The Storying Project

We just wanted to say thanks for joining us for this first season of The Storying Project. We are so grateful to all of you listeners, as well as our guests, who came along for this adventure. www.thestoryingproject.com www.sparklestories.com  

Mick Sullivan wears many hats and has many passions. He is the creator and host of The Past and The Curious, a delightful history podcast for kids and families, among many other endeavors. But if you ask Mick, he is first and foremost a musician, having played in several successful jazz and folk bands. This life of music mixed with his deep appreciation for history is at the foundation of this conversation - and the sense that so much of the disconnect in modern life can be bridged through empathy.  Head over to Sparkle Stories to listen to the story created from this conversation. Enjoy an extended 30-day free trial of Sparkle Stories using the code STORYING by signing up here. For more about our guest and a transcript of this episode, please visit our website https://thestoryingproject.com  

Julie Paiva is a mother, a writer, an actress, and a first-grade teacher. Be it on the page, the stage, or in the classroom, storytelling is a vital part of Julie's life. In addition to sharing about storytelling, Julie and David discuss the joys and challenges of being a first-grade teacher. They go deep into the responsibility of being there at the beginning of a student's learning journey and how that impacts them as adults. Head over to Sparkle Stories to listen to the story created from this conversation. Enjoy an extended 30-day free trial of Sparkle Stories using the code STORYING by signing up here. For more about our guest and a transcript of this episode, please visit our website https://thestoryingproject.com

Kim John Payne, M.Ed., founded the Simplicity Parenting movement. He has also been a counselor, educator, consultant, and researcher for 27 years.  He helps children, adolescents and parents explore the vital importance of living a balanced, simple life. In this capacity, Kim provides support for families facing a variety of social, emotional, and behavioral challenges at home and at school. He and David regularly connect around creating a dependable and simple environment for children, and this is the focus of their conversation. Kim's message to children? You are safe here. Head over to Sparkle Stories to listen to the story created from this conversation. Enjoy an extended 30 day free trial of Sparkle Stories using the code STORYING by signing up here. For more about our guest and a transcript of this episode, please visit our website https://thestoryingproject.com

Rhea Pechter is the magical mind and versatile voice behind the top ranking children's podcast Little Stories for Tiny People. Together, Rhea and David discuss the joys, uncertainties, and challenges of storytelling and daily life. As these two storytellers discuss their creative processes, Rhea shares her belief that there is something deeply comforting about making tangible things. They explore how the act of creating can be a way to center oneself in an often unsettled world. If we can sit with the inevitable uncertainty of life, we convey to kids that sometimes it's okay to be unsure. Head over to Sparkle Stories to listen to the story created from this conversation. Enjoy an extended 30-day free trial of Sparkle Stories using the code STORYING by signing up here. For more about our guest and a transcript of this episode, please visit our website https://thestoryingproject.com

Justin Hilton is a father, CEO and humanitarian. He founded Safe Place International, an organization that works with refugees. They offer food, housing, and support to the most vulnerable among the refugee population: single mothers and those in the LGBTQIA+ community. When Justin's children ask, “Is everything going to be okay?” Justin believes they are not asking only about the situation at hand. Instead, they are often checking that the parent-child connection is strong and secure. Consequently, the story he and David craft focuses on creating a sense of safety for kids. Head over to Sparkle Stories to listen to the story created from this conversation. Enjoy an extended 30-day free trial of Sparkle Stories using the code STORYING by signing up here. For more about our guest and a transcript of this episode, please visit our website https://thestoryingproject.com

Meghan Fitzgerald is the Chief Learning Officer of Tinkergarten, a company she co-founded with her partner Brian. Together, they support families to help kids learn via well-designed, outdoor play experiences. Meghan's experience, within Tinkergarten and as a long-time educator and learner, inspires this conversation and the story she and David craft together. They explore the magical ways the natural world offers opportunities for connection, empathy, and collaboration. Reminding us that both giving and receiving are part of connection. Head over to Sparkle Stories to listen to the story created from this conversation. Enjoy an extended 30-day free trial of Sparkle Stories using the code STORYING by signing up here.   For more about our guest and a transcript of this episode, please visit our website https://thestoryingproject.com/

Laurent Linn is an author, illustrator, art director, and former puppet designer — he designed and built puppets in the legendary Muppets Workshop! He has been inventing worlds of wonder and magic for children for decades. In this episode, his conversation with David leads to a clear message for children today: Don't worry what other people think of you. In fact, it's none of your business! Embrace who you are, regardless of others' opinions. Head over to Sparkle Stories to listen to the story created from this conversation. Enjoy an extended 30-day free trial of Sparkle Stories using the code STORYING by signing up here.   For more about our guest and a transcript of this episode, please visit our website https://thestoryingproject.com/

Elisabeth Simard is a certified Simplicity Parenting Family Life Coach, author of Vivre Simplement (Living Simply) and the mother of three young boys. Through social media, her podcast, and her training programs, Elisabeth shares her journey toward simple, conscious, and present parenthood with her devoted and international following. Elisabeth and David discuss many topics including raising children in Quebec City, how parents should avoid letting their personal fears impact their children, and how fear can be used as a guide to learn and grow. Head over to Sparkle Stories to listen to the story created from this conversation. Enjoy an extended 30-day free trial of Sparkle Stories using the code STORYING by signing up here.   For more about our guest and a transcript of this episode, please visit our website https://thestoryingproject.com/

Throughout his entire career, Mashobane Moruthane has been bringing together the worlds of movement and learning. While working as a movement and games Waldorf teacher in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, he created the Ubuntu Initiative. As Mashobane defines it, Ubuntu is humanity, unity, togetherness. The Ubuntu Initiative meshes rhythm, balance, and movement games with anti-racism and diversity training. This helps create beautiful, joyful, and conscious communities. Throughout their conversation, Mashobane and David discuss how we can teach children important lessons of community, empathy, and intuition through physical movement and play. Head over to Sparkle Stories to listen to the story created from this conversation. Enjoy an extended 30-day free trial of Sparkle Stories using the code STORYING by signing up here.   For more about our guest and a transcript of this episode, please visit our website https://thestoryingproject.com/

Lindsay Patterson is the co-host of Tumble Science Podcast for Kids. She is also the CEO and co-founder of Tumble Media, which has pioneered the world of children's podcasts since 2015. As we hear more of Lindsay's story, we learn that she was originally drawn to storytelling through humanities and gravitated toward journalism. It was through her first interview with a scientist that her interest in science was piqued. David and Lindsay begin their conversation from a foundational examination. What do we actually mean when we use the word “science”? Head over to Sparkle Stories to listen to the story created from this conversation. Enjoy an extended 30-day free trial of Sparkle Stories using the code STORYING by signing up here. For more about our guest and a transcript of this episode, please visit our website https://thestoryingproject.com/  

Welcome to The Storying Project. As a practiced old-school storyteller, David Sewell McCann has produced hundreds of stories. His process involves paying attention, listening to his heart, stepping into curiosity, and ultimately trying to get out of the way of the true story. With this podcast, David and a guest navigate this process together. Our journey starts with one simple question: “What do children need to hear right now?” Our goal is to craft relevant and healing stories by way of a conversation.