The Teller and the Tale

The Teller and the Tale

By Michael WilliamsArtsPerforming Arts
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The Teller and the Tale episodes

  • 14. The Teller and the Tale features Scottish storyteller Margot Henderson

    One of my early interviews, done while I was living in Forres, Scotland, with local storyteller and poet Margot Henderson.

    Margot is a Scots Irish poet, storyteller, songwriter and community artist. I see my work as celebrating our connection to nature, place, community and heritage. I write and devise performance pieces for festivals, conferences and cultural events, including Is This It and Tae Absent Friends. I have produced a number of poetry collections and CDs of poems, songs and stories.

    As well as creating my own work, I lead workshops for people of all ages and abilities, cultures and ethnicities in a wide range of settings, including schools, museums galleries, prisons, hospitals, homeless shelters, theatres, festivals, fields, forests, beaches and conferences. (from https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/authors/margot-henderson)

    31 min
  • 13. Teller and the Tale features Israeli-American storyteller Noa Baum

    Noa Baum is an award-winning storyteller, author, coach and public speaker presenting internationally for diverse audiences ranging from the World Bank, prestigious universities and congregations, to festivals,  government agencies and schools. Born and raised in Jerusalem Noa offers a unique combination of performance art and practical workshops that focus on the power of stories to heal across the divides of identity and build bridges of peace. Photo courtesy of Sam Kittner (www.noabaum.com)

    31 min
  • 12. The Teller and the Tale features Scottish storyteller and environmentalist Paula Cowie

    Paula Cowie is a storyteller and environmental activist. At the time of this recording (2015), Paula was the Development Manager for the Sustainable Communities Initiative and an Outdoor Facilitator for Wolf Ways, an initiative that offers children activities based in nature. She continues to work as a storyteller telling tales that integrate her passion for environmental education.

    32 min
  • Bonus: Embody the Story

    In this short episode, Intuitive Story Coach and host of the Teller and the Tale, Michael Williams reflects on the importance of incorporating the body into your storytelling.

    5 min
  • 10. The Teller and the Tale featuring Scottish storyteller Tim Porteus

    This episode is my first "field recording". Scottish storyteller Tim Porteus and I were literally walking through a forest and across a field when I recorded our conversation. I loved the relaxed quality of the conversation and it seemed to allow for a genuine flow of storytelling from Tim. In this episode, Tim shares a "Broonie" tale and some rich anecdotes drawn from his life as a father.


    Tim lives in Prestonpans in East Lothian, Scotland. The "Pans", as locals call it, is situated on the Firth of Forth, the waterway that reaches inland from the North Sea. The town has a rich history of fishing and mining, although sadly, much of that is gone. It's storytellers like Tim, however, who keep the history and stories alive, celebrating its people and pastimes. Tim has also been a regular contributor to the East Lothian Courier where you can find his "Tim's Tales" every week (https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/20603104.tims-tales-chest-stories/).

    30 min
  • 9. The Teller and the Tale featuring Tom Richardson

    In this episode, host Michael Williams meets Scottish guitarist and composer Tom Richardson. He invites Tom to tell the story behind his new album "Beatrice by the Spey". Consisting of 15 guitar instrumentals, Tom draws on Scottish folk traditions of fiddle and bagpipe music. Yet he also exhibits his love of bluegrass and jazz genres. "Beatrice by the Spey" is a brilliant album from an eclectic and talented performer and composer; it is also a musical project rooted in Tom's response to being locked down during the COVID pandemic. Judging from this album, there's no doubt we'll be hearing from Tom again in the near future. A brilliant star in the constellation of Scottish folk music.

    31 min
  • 7. The Teller and the Tale meets storyteller HearsCrow

    Storyteller Nootauau Kaukontuoh ("she who hears crow") tells tales in the tradition of the Narragansett people of Turtle Island. Based in Vermont, U.S.A., HearsCrow, as she is familiarly known, is a storyteller of Longhouse tales, which she also signs in Native Sign Language. During COVID, she has become a popular teller on social media: you can often find her "Tales from the Longhouse" being streamed live on Facebook. Learn more about HearsCrow and her stories at http://storyteller.eenantowash.org/.

    31 min
  • 6. The Teller and the Tale meets American storyteller Kevin McMullin

    Host Michael Williams speaks to American storyteller Kevin McMullin from his home in Wisconsin. While recovering from the death of his father as well as brain surgery, Kevin has found light in the darkness through his storytelling. Listen to Kevin talk about his life, his struggles, and how he transformed them into a dramatic stage show and book: "Into the Black Sea: Stories of Darkness and Light". Enjoy his telling of Robert Service's classic "The Cremation of Sam McGee". Previously broadcast on bluesandrootsradio.com.

    32 min

About The Teller and the Tale

From the publisher's feed

In each episode, host Michael Williams introduces a storyteller and their tales, inviting the teller to share their life and passion for story.