Episode 30 - Stories

Story time! We all love a good story, and in this episode, we explore why storytelling is such an important part of being human. We also also consider in what ways stories can work against us, and what constitutes a good story. Robyn arranges flowers and befriends Disney characters, and Michelle (finally!) cleans out her filing cabinet.

Recorded on September 9th, 2024

Timestamps:

(0:20) Intro
(0:51) Robyn’s check-in
(7:52) Michelle’s check-in
(10:29) Robyn’s bonus fun/interesting thing
(11:51) Main topic start: Stories
(14:24) Hearing the music more than the lyrics of a song
(20:14) The tradition and art of storytelling
(24:33) The value and purpose of sharing stories
(42:34) The possible pitfalls of storytelling
(52:10) What makes for a good story?
(56:31) Robyn’s next couple of weeks
(56:53) Michelle’s next couple of weeks
(1:06:57) Outro

Resources, references, and further exploration:

Disney Dreamlight Valley (the game Robyn has been playing): https://disneydreamlightvalley.com/
Parks and Recreation (the television series Michelle has been watching): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1266020/
The Morning Show (the television series Robyn has been watching): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7203552/
Joseph Campbells Hero’s Journey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero's_journey
Don’t Shave That Yak! - Seth Godin blog post: https://seths.blog/2005/03/dont_shave_that/

Books mentioned:

The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr: https://www.thescienceofstorytelling.com/
Walden by Henry David Thoreau: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walden
The Practice by Seth Godin: https://seths.blog/thepractice/

Definitions, clarifications, and fact checking:

For anyone curious, here is the definition of a florist:

“A florist specializes in the art of floral design and arrangement. Florists work with various types of fresh, dried, and artificial flowers to create beautiful bouquets, centerpieces, wreaths, and other floral displays for a wide range of occasions and events. They have a keen eye for color, texture, and design aesthetics, allowing them to arrange flowers in visually appealing and meaningful ways that suit the occasion or the customer's preferences. Florists may operate their own floral shops or work in flower stores, garden centers, event planning companies, and other related establishments.

In addition to creating floral arrangements, florists also provide valuable advice and recommendations to customers regarding flower selection, care, and appropriate arrangements for specific events or sentiments. They may work closely with clients to understand their needs and preferences, crafting custom designs to convey emotions, celebrate special moments, and enhance the overall atmosphere of weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries, and other significant occasions.” Source: https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/florist/

Jon Hamm fact check: So, Jon Hamm is listed as being active as an actor from 1996 to the present, so that would make him around 25 when he started. But he did teach eight-grade acting after he graduated college, and one of his students was indeed Ellie Kemper! Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Hamm

Article - How Reading Fiction Increases Empathy and Encourages Understanding (there is a link to the study referenced as well, for anyone interested in reading that): https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/how-reading-fiction-increases-empathy-and-encourages-understanding

Links:

Learn more about Robyn at https://www.robynlester.com/
Learn more about Michelle at https://www.michellemonettemusic.com/
Follow Stream of Art on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/streamofartpodcast/
Follow Robyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robynlester.art/
Follow Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellemonettemusic/
Subscribe to Michelle’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC64o4jtMmYWJE-7qVoLxtQA
Please feel free to send questions and comments to streamofartpodcast@gmail.com
Connect with like-minded artists and creatives at our Discord server: https://discord.gg/mHa8GSQqsv
SOA September Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6fjUTgqUP1JG304gTQ8fkS?si=fb80b6eaee894205

Credits:

Podcast art by: Robyn Lester
Theme music by: Michelle Monette
Podcast editing by: Michelle Monette