What I Tell

Storytelling Programs

  • Customized Storytelling Program. Do you have an event planned? I can fit your theme and time frame.
  • “Legacy of Love” — Storytelling Program (1st performed Fri Aug 25, 2017, Naples, FL)
    Description: Three personal stories weaved together with folk tales exploring the theme of love. Discover the legacy of a teacher, a song from the Civil Rights Movement, and one man’s love for his family. Stories to touch the heart, open the mind, and tickle the funny bone. Uplifting and inspiring.
    Time: 45 – 90 minutes (flexible)
  • “Myths & Legends: It’s all Greek to Me” — Storytelling Program
    Description: Beginning with Greek Myths, this set of stories explores the universal themes in folk tales, modernized Greek myths, and personal stories on the hero’s journey. Entertaining, mind-opening, and inspiring.
    Time: 45 – 90 minutes (flexible)
  • Showcase Events. I produce and emcee showcase events with local talent. Contact me if you would like to bring an event to your venue.
  • Workshops. Are you looking for an interactive and fun storytelling workshop for your group? Exploring personal storytelling is a great way to create community in a diverse group.

Storytelling Repertoire

  • Billy the Best Friend, a tall tale that might be true
  • The Box, personal story
  • The Teacher, personal story
  • Love or Money, personal family story
  • Skeleton Woman, Inuit folk tale, adapted from Clarissa Pinkola Estes and others
  • The Weeping Willow by Sheila Arnold Jones, modern folk tale
  • Joe and the Guru, fractured tale of the search for a guru
  • The Marriage Boulder, modern folk tale adaptation
  • The Man With No Luck, Irish folk tale
  • The Search for Truth, fractured folk tale
  • The Gift of the Magi by O’Henry (1905), literary story adapted for telling
  • The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs (1902), literary story adapted for telling
  • The Stonecutter, Asian folk tale
  • The Spring of Youth, Asian folk tale
  • The Emperor’s New Clothes: A Story of Fashion, fractured folk tale
  • Louise Bennett: A National Treasure of Jamaica, historical narrative
  • Anansi and the Snake, folk tale from Jamaica
  • The Rich Man and the Lazy Son, folk tale (4 min)
  • There’s Nobody Here, ghost story (3 min)
  • The Story of Kumbaya (historical story)
  • Balm of Gilead (personal story)
  • Pandora’s Box (Greek mythology)
  • The Midas Touch (Greek mythology)
  • Deadalus and Icarus (Greek mythology)
  • The Graveyard (Spooky story)
  • The Story of Santa Claus, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
  • The Three Sacks of Truth (folk tale)
  • Lucky the Leprechaun (fractured fairy tale)
  • The Little Bird That Didn’t Fly South for the Winter
  • Why the Mosquito Buzzes In Your Ear (African folk tale)
  • The Camel Driver (Middle Eastern folk tale)
  • Ninth Night (personal story)
  • Recipe for Life / Rum Punch (personal story)
  • Birdie and Jake (fanciful tale) – in progress
  • More Than a Box / Where are You From? (personal story)
  • Persephone and the Seasons(Greek tale)
  • The Family Book (personal story) – in progress
  • Orpheus and Eurydice (Greek tale) – in progress
  • The Juggler (folk tale)
  • The ICU (personal story / medical)
  • Pediatric Wards (personal story / medical) – in progress
  • Butterflies (personal story)
  • Gossip (personal story, first told at The Moth 5/2023)
  • …. and more … always working on new stories!

My Story

When I started my office practice bridging alternative and holistic medicine, I decided to give talks to get myself known in the community. There was just one problem: I was soft spoken and nervous. With the suggestion of a friend, I joined Toastmasters in 2005 to improve my public speaking. This organization helped me to grow as a confident speaker, but I was still working on becoming an engaging speaker. Yes, my talks were often boring!

I still remember the Toastmasters meeting where instead of a speech, someone told a story. I was captivated and entranced by the magic of storytelling. I knew right away … “I want to do that!” I still remember telling my first folk tale. Voices and characters came out of me. I felt as if the story had come through me. I felt alive! I had uncovered a hidden talent and a new passion.

In 2015, I began the journey as a storytelling performer. I discovered a new way to connect and touch an audience. In this age of information, it is not the facts and figures that inspire, but rather it is the power of story to create emotion and move us into action. I began to work on the craft of storytelling: workshops, writing stories, and watching other tellers. Promoting storytelling has also become one of my passions. With Storytellers of the Round Table, I have produced showcase events, sponsored National Tellers to perform locally, started a local guild, and of course perform!

I now perform an eclectic collection of world folk tales, touching personal stories, enlightening historical and literary tales.I perform monthly during the tourist season in Naples, Florida. I have also performed at the Florida Storytelling Festival, Stone Soup Festival New Voice in South Carolina, Timpanogos Timp Tell Contest in Utah, and to just about anyone that will listen.

I am a Physician-Educator-Storyteller.