Storylinking

Uniting Art and Conservation: The Mates for Life Journey with Filmmaker Tim Whalen

In this episode of Storylinking, filmmaker Tim Whalen joins host Tom Lietz to discuss his innovative project, Mates for Life, a unique collaboration between the Joffrey Ballet, choreographer Xavi Núñez, and the International Crane Foundation. Together, they've created a powerful film that tells the inspiring comeback story of the whooping crane, blending dance and conservation in a way that bridges the gap between performing arts and environmental advocacy.

The conversation touches on the challenges of the creative project, emotional connection both artistic expression and an important conservation cause, and the importance of stepping out of comfort zones to create something truly impactful. Tim shares valuable insights on building unexpected partnerships, fostering community through the arts, and how creative collaboration can drive meaningful change.

Check out Mates for Life:

• Mates for Life Website http://matesforlife.co (Watch the trailer and behind-the-scenes feature)
• Joffrey Ballet https://joffrey.org
• International Crane Foundation https://savingcranes.org

Check out our guest, Tim Whalen:

• @TimJWhalen on Instagram
• Big Foot Media https://www.bigfootcreates.com/ (Tim's production company)
• @big_foot_media on Instagram

Check out more from Storylinking:

• https://storylinking.com/blog/ep01 (read more about this episode)
• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

Key moments from this episode:

00:55 Introducing Filmmaker Tim Whalen 02:09 Mates for Life: A Unique Ballet Film 03:54 The Intersection of Arts and Conservation 06:54 Challenges and Inspirations 10:03 The Role of Collaboration in Creative Projects 12:48 Behind the Scenes: Making Mates for Life 16:46 Technical Feats and Production Challenges 18:48 The Iconic Comeback of the Whooping Crane 19:07 Partnering with the International Crane Foundation 22:42 The Power of Film in Conservation 25:59 Lessons from Mates for Life 31:38 The Role of Music in Ballet and Film 35:33 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

How Co-Creative, Inclusive, and Strategic Storytelling Can Build Stronger Communities and Drive Collective Impact

Hi, I'm Tom Lietz, and welcome to Storylinking. In this introductory episode, I share my perspective on storytelling and why I believe we're often doing it wrong when it comes to building communities. For over two decades, I've worked as a video producer and creative director, helping mission-driven organizations tackle tough challenges by rallying their communities through story.

In this episode, I lay out the vision for Storylinking—a podcast for community leaders and creative professionals about using narrative and the creative process to build culture and drive lasting impact. Too often, we focus on individual stories as one-off projects, but I believe the true power lies in linking stories together and engaging communities as partners in the process.

You'll learn about my understanding of storytelling as a system, and how co-creative, inclusive, and sustainable storytelling can transform communities. We'll explore questions, strategies, and techniques to tell better stories together—stories that connect and inspire.

Check out more from Storylinking:

• storylinking.com

Key moments from this episode:

00:51 Why I'm Starting a Podcast 01:21 Challenges in Traditional Storytelling 02:29 A New Approach 03:19 Engaging the Community 04:25 Launching Storylinking 04:49 Strategic Conversations 05:07 Making Choices for Change 05:29 Understanding Human Narrative 05:49 Systemic Change and Long-Term Engagement 06:17 Collaborative Community Storytelling 06:50 How Storylinking Works 07:18 Voices from the Community 08:55 Building Together