We tell many kinds of stories here at Better Said Than Done. Some are epics that span decades. Others involve complex interconnected narratives. And every once and a while, we’ll indulge in some good-natured lying. But at the core, all the stories told here are personal. So this month, we’re turning our attention to fundamental principle.
This Thursday, August 10th at 8 P.M. Eastern, join BSTD online for Storytelling – Now It’s Personal. Yours truly Jack Scheer is the host this time out, and I’ll be shepherding six sensational tellers onto our streaming stage – Allen DeBey, Bonnie Gardner, Sam Pearsall, Jessica Robinson, Shani Womack, and Linda Yemoto!
Get you tickets here!
Since I’m both blogger and host for this show, I asked our tellers two questions related our theme. Their answers to the first question are below. And that question is…
What’s something many people find too personal to discuss that you have no problem talking about openly, and why?
And here’s how they responded…
Allen DeBey: What’s something many people find too personal to discuss that you have no problem talking about openly, and why? I have no problem talking about embarrassing things that have happened to me because afterwards they are funny like the time I slipped down 6 stairs and put my back in place. Yes, falling fixed my back rather than damaging it. 🙂
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Bonnie Gardner: How much I paid for something. I am a world-class bargain hunter, and I rarely buy anything that’s not on sale. So if you compliment anything I own or am wearing, the first words out of my mouth will be how much I paid for it, and how much I saved. And I’ll expect you to be impressed.
Sam Pearsall: I was a bonafide freak in the 1960s and early 1970s (only straights called us hippies). I was actively engaged in the free speech, civil rights, and anti-war movements, and I smoked a lot of dope. Stoned as we were, we got a lot accomplished on those three fronts, and I am proud of my contributions – stoned as I was. I have many friends who were also freaks back in the day, but they don’t like to talk abut it. It mystifies me. Maybe that’s why we, as a society, are now losing ground on all three fronts for the first time in decades.
Jessica Robinson: Sex. My parents were hippies, at least as far as sex was concerned. They both discussed it openly and often. I do think I have more of a filter than they did, especially since I am still a bit traumatized from all the things I had to hear about as a kid, but I forget sometimes that not everyone is okay with frank sex talk.
Shani Womack: Menopause, racism, politics and religion. Talking about these topics regularly, especially the last three, takes away the anxiety and fear the topics sometimes produce. There is so much to learn and understand by listening to other peoples’ perspectives. Talking about these issues with mutual respect helps us find common ground and build bridges into new communities and diverse groups. It teaches us that we are more alike than we are different. And we are better together.
Linda Yemoto: This has certainly changed over the years, when many people didn’t care about this topic, but I’ve always been willing to talk about climate change and other environmental issues.
In the same vein as the first question, I also asked our tellers…
What’s something many people are comfortable talking about that you think is too personal for open discussion, and why?
Want to find out their responses to that query? Well, they will be revealed at the show! So join us on Thursday night. The stream starts at 8 P.M. EDT, and the show kicks off a couple minutes after that once the audience takes their virtual seats. Tickets start at $15 (with a $5 minimum option for the online show).
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