Life and

14/11/2024

New Episode!📢📢
For the second episode of this season, we turn the spotlight onto Colum McCann.

Colum McCann, a celebrated writer, born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, counts among his honors the U.S National Book Award, the Dublin Literary Prize, several major European awards, and an Oscar nomination. His work has been published in over 40 languages. He is the President and co-founder of the non-profit global story exchange organisation, Narrative 4. His most recent novel, Apeirogon, became an immediate New York Times best-seller and won several international awards. His first major non-fiction book, Mother, was published in March 2024.

Proceeds from the book will be donated to the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation.

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07/11/2024

Life And returns for a new season and series of stories - this time, we tackle the complex and unavoidable topic of death. In this first episode, we hear Mary Rapach's powerful story of loss and resilience as they recount the profound impact of their two brothers, Paul and Chris. This episode is a testament to the transformative power of family, the complexities of grief, and the importance of cherishing the moments we have with our loved ones.

Mary is a comic, playwright, and author with an extensive background in writing for performance. A two-time featured reader/performer at the prestigious Printer's Row Book Fair, Rapach has also written pieces published in multiple anthologies and periodicals and produced on stage in the greater Chicago area. In addition, Rapach has also picked up awards for Northeast PA's Best Comic and Scranton Fringe's Big Gay Storyslam and acts as the Program Director & Comedy Lead for Scranton Improv & Comedy. Beyond performing, their passion is fostering the art form, and they're excited to contribute to expanding the Northeast PA comedy scene through instruction, coaching, and performance outlets for all skill levels.

Link in comments below
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11/04/2024

Another one of our storytellers, Mandy Pennington from season two, will be holding a workshop on analytics.

From Mandy -
Oh hey! I'm hosting a workshop with Hippocampus Magazine and Books!
While writing is in many ways an artistic endeavor that challenges us to take creative leaps and indulge our muses, thinking analytically and spending time with data can actually help us improve our craft and be more effective in our writing practice.
In this session, we'll explore:
- What analytics are and how they can be used to understand the space you currently occupy in the conversations around your work
- Basic analytics programs that can give you greater insight into where your readers come from and how they interact with you
- Tools for researching and understanding audiences who might be most interested in engaging with you and your work
- Strategies for analyzing your own work and performance
- How data can be used to strengthen your book proposal, brainstorm new work, and more!
- And more -- because there will be plenty of time for audience questions at the end!
By the end of this session, writers should feel more comfortable with data without the fear of losing the soul of what makes their work uniquely compelling and personal.
Interested in joining in? Register online:

This How-To Tuesday will focus on a marketing topic, led by writer and marketing pro Mandy Pennington.

11/04/2024

Congratulations to season 2 storyteller, Amber Viola!

We are so excited to announce the first of three local veteran entrepreneur grant recipients for the 2024 Veterans Recognition Luncheon: Amber Viola, Founder and Co-host of Politics but Make It Fashion, a podcast that explores the intersection of politics and fashion, discussing how clothing style trends can reflect and impact political and social issues. Amber is also the Commander of American Legion Post 274, and is an author and social media manager and consultant.

Join us for the annual HONOR Veterans Recognition Luncheon, a hallmark event organized by Wilkes-Barre Connect on April 29th. This year's luncheon will once again bring together the community to honor and celebrate the local veteran and veteran entrepreneur community in the Wyoming Valley. Register to attend at https://business.wyomingvalleychamber.org/chambercalendar/Details/honor-veterans-recognition-luncheon-1055365?sourceTypeId=Website

29/03/2024

On our final episode of Season 4, we continue the tradition of having a team member have a seat in front of the mic. Well, you're actually used to hearing from this weeks storyteller every week. Welcome - Tonyehn Verkitus.

Tonyehn Verkitus is the Executive Director of the Northeast Counties Medical Society and Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania. Her work in the nonprofit world has mostly centered on health and food though she also spent many years training organizations and communities on fundraising and telling their mission-based stories.

Tonyehn shares her story of living a nomadic childhood and how it impacted her views on home. She talks about living all over the world and the memories she carries with her. Tonyehn also opens up about finding community with her neighbor Sheila in Liberia and working at a tavern in Colonial Williamsburg. Now with kids of her own, she reflects on creating stability while still embracing change. She's embracing life's journey and discovering home isn't defined by walls.

To hear more of Tonyehn's story, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
https://pod.link/1537976599

21/03/2024

🎙NEW EPISODE OUT TODAY🎙

Alicia Grega is a published poet and award-winning playwright, theatrical artist, performance coach, and educator. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and the Lackawanna County ACE Council Outreach. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts from Drew University and an MFA in Writing for Screen and Stage from Point Park University and has received grants from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and an NEA Arts Journalism Institute fellowship.

Alicia shares her vision for the perfect retirement home - a storybook cottage on a lake surrounded by her favorite plants from places she's lived. She discusses creating a welcoming space for community while also valuing solitude. Alicia explores how studying Buddhism has helped her find happiness in the present moment. Tune in to hear insights on downsizing from memories to what matters most.

To hear more of Alicia's story, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

https://pod.link/1537976599

14/03/2024

🔈NEW EPISODE IS NOW LIVE!
Listen wherever you get your podcast!

Maureen Maher-Gray is an activist, community organizer, and nonprofit leader. Maureen is the founder and Executive Director of the NEPA Youth Shelter. The NEPA Youth Shelter serves as a safe place for at-risk teens to go after school. At the center, teens can do homework, socialize, and rest; the center also provides clothing, school supplies, food, and job resources for those who need them.

Maureen shares her story of being adopted at a young age into a large, loving family. She talks about growing up feeling fully part of her adoptive "Brady Bunch" family. Years later, her curiosity leads her to research her biological roots. After unexpected DNA matches, Maureen discovers long-lost siblings and learns the identity of her biological father. She describes the emotional experience of meeting her newfound biological relatives and reconciling her two families into her concept of "home."

The StoryWhat is home? For many people it is a place a building a space where people who are related by blood gather to celebrate their history and culture. But what if your home is different from what I described? What if your home is deliberately created by someone or some people who are not relat...

13/03/2024

🎙Season 4 Episode 2 drops tomorrow!🎧

Our second storyteller this season is Maureen Maher-Gray, who is an activist, community organizer, and nonprofit leader. Maureen is the founder and Executive Director of the NEPA Youth Shelter.

To hear her whole story and more, make sure you subscribe to Life and wherever you get your podcast!

09/03/2024

04/03/2024

🎙Mark your calendars, storytellers! ️🎙

Season 4 of "Life and" kicks off this Friday, March 7th!

Our first featured storyteller is Mary Pat Ward, the Development Director for the Catherine McCauley Center,

Want to hear her full story, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss out! https://pod.link/1537976599