Des Moines Storytellers

Des Moines Storytellers

An evening of live storytelling, the Des Moines Storytellers Project features community members coached by Des Moines Register journalists taking the mic to tell true, first-person stories.

15 minutes 21 seconds

Deborah Svec-Carstens: How I built community through tragedy

Deborah Svec-Carstens found herself by being vulnerable with a tight-knit community in a foreign country after an assault.

This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.

The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.

Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’re willing to share in 8-10 minutes in front of a live audience.

See past stories, learn how to share your own or grab tickets to a future show at DesMoinesRegister.com/Storytellers.

20 March 2024, 12:30 am
9 minutes 30 seconds

Kenny Gaskin : How I help students find their voice as a Black teacher in Iowa

Kenny Gaskin spent his childhood looking up to his teachers. Now he's a teacher with DMPS inspiring students and building a classroom community.

This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.

The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.

Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’re willing to share in 8-10 minutes in front of a live audience.

See past stories, learn how to share your own or grab tickets to a future show at DesMoinesRegister.com/Storytellers.

13 March 2024, 2:18 pm
10 minutes 56 seconds

Jordan Brooks: How I use art to inspire and build a community

Jordan Brooks felt like he didn't belong — until he discovered art. Now he uses it to help others build their communities.

This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.

The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.

Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’re willing to share in 8-10 minutes in front of a live audience.

See past stories, learn how to share your own or grab tickets to a future show at DesMoinesRegister.com/Storytellers.

13 March 2024, 2:17 pm
15 minutes 49 seconds

Erlin Kakkanad: My son's curiosity about skin color helped me embrace myself

Erlin Kakkanad wasn't embracing her true self when her son asked an innocent question: "Mama, why am I brown?" It led to a long journey of discovery.

This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.

The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.

Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’re willing to share in 8-10 minutes in front of a live audience.

See past stories, learn how to share your own or grab tickets to a future show at DesMoinesRegister.com/Storytellers.

13 March 2024, 2:16 pm
16 minutes 46 seconds

Jim Sayers: How volunteering at an Iowa prison helped me build a community

Jim Sayers entered an Iowa prison thinking every inmate was the same. He left with a close-knit community.

This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.

The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.

Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’re willing to share in 8-10 minutes in front of a live audience.

See past stories, learn how to share your own or grab tickets to a future show at DesMoinesRegister.com/Storytellers.

11 March 2024, 5:57 pm
17 minutes 32 seconds

Louise O'Donnell: As the oldest of 13 siblings, I know a lot about family

From homemade school clothes to weekly chore lists, Louise O'Donnell's parents showed their 13 children what it was like to put family first.

This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.

The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.

Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’re willing to share in 8-10 minutes in front of a live audience.

See past stories, learn how to share your own or grab tickets to a future show at DesMoinesRegister.com/Storytellers.

8 November 2023, 8:30 pm
11 minutes 25 seconds

Ehsan Shaban: How an Afghan refugee found solace from a family in Iowa

Ehsan Shaban found family in Iowa when he fled the war in Afghanistan. They were refugees themselves.

This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.

The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.

Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’re willing to share in 8-10 minutes in front of a live audience.

See past stories, learn how to share your own or grab tickets to a future show at DesMoinesRegister.com/Storytellers.

8 November 2023, 8:23 pm
14 minutes 58 seconds

Luisita McBurney: How I built my family in Des Moines after moving from the Philippines

Luisita McBurney found herself alone after arriving in the U.S. So she created the Filipino American Society so other immigrants wouldn't feel stuck

This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.

The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.

Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’re willing to share in 8-10 minutes in front of a live audience.

See past stories, learn how to share your own or grab tickets to a future show at DesMoinesRegister.com/Storytellers.

8 November 2023, 8:22 pm
11 minutes 46 seconds

Sonya Jackson: How my trailblazing grandma and great aunt shaped my life

Sonya Jackson's great aunt Lulu was the first Black woman in Iowa to earn a Ph.D. What lessons she and her grandmother taught her growing up.

This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.

The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.

Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’re willing to share in 8-10 minutes in front of a live audience.

See past stories, learn how to share your own or grab tickets to a future show at DesMoinesRegister.com/Storytellers.

8 November 2023, 8:21 pm
15 minutes 46 seconds

Sam Blum: How I found family in crowds at metal concerts

Sam Blum always felt like an outcast, until he found others like him at metal shows across Iowa and the world.

This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.

The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.

Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’re willing to share in 8-10 minutes in front of a live audience.

See past stories, learn how to share your own or grab tickets to a future show at DesMoinesRegister.com/Storytellers.

8 November 2023, 8:21 pm
13 minutes 22 seconds

Monica Leo: What a trip behind the Iron Curtain taught me about our similarities and differences

Monica Leo was part of the only Western puppeteer troupe to be invited to East Berlin in the '80s, where she learned maybe we're more alike than we are different.

This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 20, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.

The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.

Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’re willing to share in 8-10 minutes in front of a live audience.

See past stories, learn how to share your own or grab tickets to a future show at DesMoinesRegister.com/Storytellers.

12 September 2023, 4:45 pm
More Episodes? Get the App

About Des Moines Storytellers

Links

Listeners Also Subscribed To

Your feedback is valuable to us. Should you encounter any bugs, glitches, lack of functionality or other problems, please email us on [email protected] or join Moon.FM Telegram Group where you can talk directly to the dev team who are happy to answer any queries.