Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Fran Stallings and Science as Stories

In this fascinating episode, I speak with U.S. storyteller Fran Stallings about her career as a biologist and storyteller. Fran offers some interesting insights in combining her interests as well as some of the projects she’s worked on including a fantastic collaboration with a teacher. She offers some great advice and weaves stories into the conversation seamlessly.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Marilyn McPhie and Stories of Ancestors

In this episode, I speak with U.S. storyteller Marilyn McPhie who has travelled internationally to tell stories. We share a love of ancestry and sharing family stories and dive into a rich conversation about this. We discuss working with people with dementia, running a storytelling organisation and being online and so much more.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Rachael Harrington and Time to Wonder

In this episode, I speak with U.S. storyteller Rachael Harrington about her career in storytelling, primarily working with children. Rachael and I have a great discussion about imagination, creating storytelling opportunities and the impact of the oral tradition on literacy.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Kelli Dunham and Working with Humour

In this episode that explores autobiographical storytelling, I speak with U.S. storyteller Kelli Dunham about their interesting life as a nun, nurse, stand-up comedian, and advocate for the LGBTQI community. Kelli shares her experience on The Moth stage and podcast working with humour and so much more.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Talia Levy and Connection to Lineage

In this episode, I speak to my Storytelling Beyond Words classmate, Talia Levy about her storytelling journey during the course and what she's been exploring since she returned home to Australia. Talia has been weaving up some wonderful offerings for her local community, this is a great interview with an early-career storyteller.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Jamie Brunson and Sharing the Personal

In this episode, we talk to U.S. storyteller and facilitator of personal stories, Jamie Brunson. Jamie’s work helping people to tell their own stories is inspiring and is the first episode where we focus just on the personal narrative.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Jim Brulé and an Invitation into Grief

In this episode, U.S. storyteller and death doula Jim Brulé shares his work sitting at the bedsides of the dying and grieving. He also shares the line between storytelling and artificial intelligence and working in interfaith/intercultural spaces. This is a wide-ranging interview that covers so much.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Mini-Episode #1

In June 2025, I went to the Sydney International Storytelling Conference and had an incredible time. While I was there, I chatted with a bunch of great people and this mini-episode is the result of that.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Christine Carlton and Story Relationships

In this episode, I speak with Christine Carlton, president of Australian Storytellers (NSW). It is timely because the biennial Australian Storytelling Conference is in the first week of June 2025. Christine is both a mentor with FEAST and an experienced storyteller who engages with traditional, personal, and impromptu stories.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Laura Packer and a Lifetime of Stories

In this episode, I speak with U.S. storyteller Laura Packer, whose wisdom and experience was inspiring. We discuss a range of things from her early childhood start in storytelling to being mentored, performance, holding integrity, working with your strengths, and boundaries around cultural appropriation. There’s so much in this interview for storytellers at all stages.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Daniel Abercrombie and Curating Stories

In this episode, I speak with Daniel Abercrombie from the Scottish Storytelling Centre, while not a storyteller (yet!), he is one of the behind-the-scenes people who nurture and support storytelling in Scotland. The interview provides invaluable information for people who want to facilitate and curate storytelling events.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Marcus Pibworth and Building Men’s Spaces

In this episode, I speak with English storyteller and Emerson College graduate Marcus Pibworth about his work in his home on the English-Welsh border with men’s and father’s groups. Marcus’ specialisation in this area provides a great insight into how we can niche our offerings in the storytelling spaces.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Lucia Luckett-Kelly and Creating Safety

In this episode, I speak with U.S. storyteller Lucia Luckett-Kelly about her work in storytelling, including the transition into online spaces and creating environments that work for both the teller and the audiences.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Donald Smith and generosity of spirit

In this episode, I speak with Scottish storyteller Donald Smith about his role with TRAC and the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. It’s an interesting discussion which includes a meaningful story at the end.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Michael Harvey and Social Storytelling

In this episode I speak with Welsh storyteller Michael Harvey about his work in social storytelling, bridging the divide between English and Welsh and so much more. Michael also generously offers some tips for storytellers regarding gaze, which I found incredibly helpful.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Laura Simms and storytelling magic

In this episode, I speak with the wonderful and wise Laura Simms about her extensive experience. There is so much in this episode it’s difficult to summarise what we discussed. Needless to say this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Melissa Min and sacred story medicine

In this episode, I speak with my Western Australian friend, mentor, and former Steiner teacher Melissa Harvey. Melissa’s work in the energetic spaces and sacred work with stories in groups is inspiring. You’ll find this episode is rich in deep, soulful sacred medicine.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Kavita Shah and weaving the story

In this episode, I chat with emerging Indian storyteller Kavita Shah who found her path to storytelling through a series of life events but it has always been part of her life. Kavita shares how she weaves stories and her storytelling practice.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Brian Walsh and Irish tales and landscapes

In this episode, I speak with Canadian storyteller Brian Walsh who specialises in myth and folktales of Ireland. We are treated to a story early in the episode as well as some rich discussion about Ireland, queer stories, and what is at the heart of storytelling.

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Alyssa Curtayne Alyssa Curtayne

Brenda Berrisford and building confidence

In this episode, I speak with Perth (Western Australia) storyteller Brenda Berrisford about her decades of experience in storytelling. Brenda offers lots of wisdom and knowledge and although I’ve never seen her tell, I feel honoured to have shared a wonderful cup of tea with her to chat about her career.

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