Our guest this episode is Malu Halasa, a prolific and passionate observer of the Middle East through the lens of art and culture.  Our conversation explores how she provides readers with a unique window into the changing mores of the region, having written and edited over 8 anthologies, and several novels and short stories of her own. 

Born in Oklahoma, to Jordanian and Filipino parents, raised in Ohio, a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University, Malu now lives in London, where she is currently a Literary Editor at The Markaz Review.

As a journalist, Malu’s contributions include music journalism for Rolling Stone, and writing for Huffington Post, and The Guardian. 

Anthologies she has edited include: 

·      “Syria Speaks: Art and Culture from the Frontline”, 

·      “Culture in Defiance: Continuing Traditions of Satire, Art and the Struggle for Freedom in Syria”,

·      “Transit Tehran: Young Iran and Its Inspirations”

·      “The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie: Intimacy and Design”, 

·      “Woman Life Freedom: Voices and Art from the Women’s Protests in Iran”, 

·       And a new book coming out in January called “Sumud:  A New Palestinian Reader” 

Her debut novel “Mother of all Pigs” is an epic Jordanian family saga chronicling the comedy and pathos of the patriarchy in decline. 

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What could be more theatrical than stories told in a courtroom? Especially those told to represent individuals who cannot afford adequate defense when accused of a crime?

In this episode we chat with Matt Cleaver, Staff Attorney with Brooklyn Defender Services, a passionate public defender and a human rights activist. Trained in theater, experienced in arts administration and theater management, Matt pivoted to a career in law, to make a difference in lives of those disadvantaged in society. He brings a unique perspective to his role, representing and advocating for clients whose stories are often silenced by the nature of legal system. In our chat Matt shares anecdotes of using story to engage prosecutorial adversaries as collaborators, the need for specificity to amplify the stories of his clients, and the significance of language we use that can subtly impact the outcome of any defense.  

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In this week's episode we dive into the world of language and literature with the guru (midwife?) that is Roy Peter Clark. Roy is a master in the craft of writing. He has published twenty books, including the go-to reference book for writers - Writing Tools. He has also coached all levels of writer from school age children to Pulitzer Prize winners. There are so many great ideas and stories in this episode - we hope you enjoy!

Learn more about Roy here. And grab a copy of his latest book Tell It Like It Is: A Guide to Clear and Honest Writing - UK and US.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode we have the pleasure of speaking with Georgia Stitt. Georgia is a composer, songwriter, musician, teacher... the list goes on. She is also the founder of an organisation called Maestra that champions women and non-binary composers working in theatre. It's a brilliant conversation about the power of music, collaboration, and getting specific in your storytelling.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

And you can learn more about Georgia here.

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We're taking a mid-season moment to pause and reflect on where story is at in 2023. It's fair to say that the business story world is being dominated by everyone's favorite topic: large language models/generative AI. Come, hear our thoughts!

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Story Conversations Susan and Simon chat with the hilarious Kate Feeney. Kate is a stand-up, a storyteller, and a people science consultant with Glint - a division of LinkedIn. We talk all things the language we use in our stories matters, holding an audience, and dealing with hecklers!

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

And you can learn more about Kate here.

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In this episode Susan and Simon talk story with professional storyteller and learning specialist Saul Jaffe. It's a fascinating, deep dive into the world of storytelling as an art. We uncover brilliant backstories, learning about removing the space between teller and audience, and the power of adaptation.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susan and Simon talk story with the fantastic Micah Bucey. Micah is a spiritual leader in New York City. He shares his stories of growing up with his faith and living life as part of a queer community. As well as some fascinating insights into how stories work with faith, Micah shares his thoughts on how we can all work through difficult times.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Susan and Simon talk to Lisa Donmall-Reeve, the creative force behind LDR Creative. Lisa shares her story taking us from her days performing on London's West End stages to her role as a film producer in Hollywood. Along the way we learn about how stories require perseverance, need a clear destination, and discovering which parts of a story your audience may want to hear.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Susan and Simon talk to Jeremy Crisp, managing partner at Nail. He shares highlights of his career and explores everything from embracing growth to A.I. His story is marked by stories of fun and it's this playful outlook that has seen his career span both client and agency side.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

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It's season two!

In the first episode of our second season, Susan and Simon talk to Jon Chelesnik. We discover the world of sportscasting. Telling the story of a game in realtime, whether that's to picture or purely with sound. Jon shares his thoughts on what makes a great sports storyteller and the discussion covers a wide range of topics. From using the language of your listener to bringing your personality to the fore.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

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In this episode Susan and Simon wrap up the first season and look forward to season two of Story Conversations.

Don't forget to visit the website Story Conversations.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we couldn’t be prouder to chat with jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton.

A nine-time Grammy nominated artist, with an international performing career, Tierney is known for unique and inventive arrangements of jazz standards and other musical genres, a 20-year relationship with her band, and deft retellings of songs’ stories that we thought we knew. She is now performing own compositions in one of her most recent collaborations (or “consultations” as she explains on the podcast) with the San Gabriel 7 in the album and music video Good People.  

You can learn about all things Tierney, find a calendar of where she is performing, and links to listen to recordings her music and her on YouTube pages listed on her site: https://tierneysutton.com/

If you don’t know her work there are so many stand outs we would recommend listening to, including albums featuring songs from artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell and Sting, and songs we know from movies. (She has great stories about the band working with Clint Eastwood to creating the soundtrack to the movie “Sully”.)

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We're back! After brief delay due to COVID, we're here again for another story conversation.

In this week's episode Susan and Simon talk to the amazing Phil Galdston. Phil is the writer behind hundreds of hit songs, including the fantastic Save the Best For Last, made popular by Vanessa Williams. As well as his many Grammy nominations and award wins, Phil is also a lecturer at NYU. In this conversation we explore how stories are told through sound and how combining a message with music can make it more memorable.

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In this week's episode Susan and Simon talk to Diane Hessan, entrepreneur and journalist. Diane is an award-winning entrepreneur and innovator in market research. She is also an expert on the American voter. Since 2016, she has been studying the US electorate. Her work looks at the way people vote and why, and this has resulted in the book, Our Common Ground: Insights from Four Years of Listening to American Voters. This episode explores the impact of stories in this work and in her ground-breaking work as an entrepreneur in the world of online communities.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode Susan and Simon talk to Peter Lenz, VP of Data Science at Near. Peter has had a varied career with stories at their center. From his job as an Explainer at New York Hall of Science through to his work in big social science. Peter has a fascinating way of explaining the world and knows how important stories are in creating understanding.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode Susan and Simon talk to Dave McCaughan, keynote speaker and Chief Strategy Officer for AI Agency. Dave shares his vast knowledge of storytelling from his first jobs in Australian public libraries to later roles as a Creative Planner fro McCann. We hear about how stories can shift depending on the audience, the importance of allegory, and why brushing your teeth takes longer than you think!

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode Susan and Simon talk to Will Nolan, Group Director, Advocacy Relations at Real Chemistry. Will shares his experiences of putting story at the heart of his career as a professional communicator and as an entertainer. It's a great conversation about how stories can give customers a voice, glavanize a community, and change people's minds.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode Susan and Simon talk to Audrey Lartey, Head of Strategic Account Marketing at LinkedIn. Audrey has a had an interesting route into the world of marketing and she shares with us how her heritage helped her discover a world of storytelling. And she explores how this has impacted the way tells stories in her work across sales and marketing to engage customers both internally and externally.

Story Conversation is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

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In this week's episode Susan and Simon talk to Peter Tarshis Executive Producer A&E Networks. We're talking all things True Crime! How can you tell a story that hasn't finished? What makes factual storytelling so interesting? And how can you apply the practices to your business?

Story Conversation is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode Susan and Simon talk to author Sal Basile. Sal has worn many hats across his career. Amongst them is his role as the author of COOL!  The History of Air Conditioning in America. Who knew AirCon could be so interesting!

Story Conversation is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

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In this episode, Susan and Simon are joined by Vincent Bragg & Joe Nickson founders of creative agency ConCreates. Vincent and Joe came up with the idea for their agency while they were both serving prison sentences in the US. Following their release, they founded their business to help brands think differently about creative work. Stories are at the heart of that work and their own story is both fascinating and inspiring.

You can learn more about their agency here.

Story Conversations is produced by the teams at Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative and Iambic Creative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 3 of Season 3 we're thrilled to speak with author and marketing guru Mark Earls. Mark make the brain stuff simple to help brands and businesses understand how people behave.

Follow Mark on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-earls-a393982/ or visit his website https://herdhq.com/ for more.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susan and Simon are joined by Dr. Mary Fissell - PhD Professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland in the US. Mary researches and teaches on the History of Medicine, specifically the social history. She digs into stories from the past to understand how we lived and the implications for how we live now. A highlight is where she shares the real story of sex education before there was sex education. But she leads a double life. As a metal artist she uses her art to share different stories covering a wide range of topics.

Join us to hear Mary's stories and learn how you can unpack the lessons she shares to benefit your business.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 2 of Season 3 we have the privilege of chatting with the inspiring Mary Beech, CMO and Chief Transformation Officer of Scholastic Corporation, the renowned global children’s publisher, education and media company. 

It's hard not to think about “story” in the context of a 100 year old brand dedicated to publishing and distributing books that instill a love and passion for reading in kids of all ages. But Mary’s career journey before Scholastic, at companies like Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade and Disney, has included critical roles helping these organizations leverage their unique brand narratives.

Follow her on Linked in https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryrennerbeech/ where she shares her views on how to be a successful CMO, the role of story to convey purpose as well as driving a P&L, and generally how to be a good and gracious leader.

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Welcome to Season 3!

In our first episode of Season 3 we speak with the wonderful Emily Weiner (co-founder and Artistic Director) and Susan Goodwillie (Managing Director) from Houses on the Moon theater company: https://housesonthemoon.org

We hear all about how and why the company was formed and the philosophy behind their productions that amplify the stories of unheard voices.- including their latest show Hotel Happy, playing from Feb. 14th – March 3rd, 2024: https://housesonthemoon.org/production/hotel-happy/ 

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In this episode we speak with the wonderful Steve McCreary, General Manager of Collings Guitars. We explore why an authentic origin story is important, but also the power of association through storytellers. Who tells the story matters.

Learn more about Collings.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we speak with the fascinating Glenna Crooks. She's a Ph.D., a public health and policy strategist serving governments, companies, and organizations globally, helping them solve problems to improve health and well-being. And she tells a great story!

https://glennacrooks.com/

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Susan and Simon talk to Tony Award winning producer Jane Dubin. Jane is a producer for shows like Peter and the Starcatcher and the Prom, and now the lead producer of The Village of Vale. In a previous life she worked in the world of finance. She is also the chair of Houses on the Moon theater company.

In the episode we talk about the power of listening to get to the heart of a story, recognising good, and how to tell the story of the story.

Learn more about Jane here.

And explore the world of The Village of Vale more here.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Susan and Simon speak with Angel Bellon. Angel is a Senior Director of Insights & Cultural Intelligence at Paramount, and various bios describe him as hybrid strategist and cultural anthropologist. We talk about the importance of stories for marginalised communities and the dangers of taking a broad-strokes approach to people's experiences.

Please note - all opinions in this episode are those of Angel Bellon, and not Paramount.

Story Conversations is produced by Iambic Creative and Griffin + Skeggs Collaborative.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.