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Explore every episode of the podcast Confabulation

Dive into the complete episode list for Confabulation. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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1–50 of 68

TitlePub. DateDuration
#68 The Shortest Story XIII (part 2)26 Jul 202300:33:17

Stories: quick as we can tell them!  More!
Our annual Shortest Story extravaganza took place at the Centaur Theatre on January 13, 2023
The storytellers in Part 2 are:

  1. Mike Pellegrin
  2. Michele Luchs 
  3. Julia Haney 
  4. Ariel Shirker 
  5. Yigal Judah 
  6. Nisha Coleman 
  7. Francesca Esguerra 
  8. Myriam Ennajimi 
  9. Sherwin Tija 
  10. Jimmy Chow
  11. Amanda Perry 

If you want to watch the show, you can do that right here

And while you're on our page, please subscribe to our YouTube channel for more stories  @confabulationstories

Stay in the loop with all of our upcoming live shows by subscribing to our newsletter www.confabulation.ca   We'll be announcing next season's themes later this summer.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montréal and the Canada Council for the Arts for their continued support.

Produced and hosted : Matt Goldberg and Deb Vanslet
Post production: Deb Vanslet 

#67 The Shortest Story XIII (part 1)12 Jul 202300:39:37

Stories: quick as we can tell them!
Our annual Shortest Story extravaganza took place at the Centaur Theatre on January 13, 2023
Follow along, guess the storyteller! Here's the show order for part 1: 

  1. Matt Goldberg 
  2. Claire Sherwood 
  3. Zahraa Chorghay 
  4. Vadim Gran
  5. Erica Schmidt
  6. Deb VanSlet 
  7. Alexia Cote 
  8. Myke Wilder 
  9. Johanne Cadorette 
  10. Lukas Rowland
  11. Johanne Pelletier 
  12. Naika Joseph
  13. Emma Lanza  

If you want to watch the show, you can do that right here

And while you're on our page, please subscribe to our YouTube channel for more stories  @confabulationstories

Stay in the loop with all of our upcoming live shows by subscribing to our newsletter www.confabulation.ca   We'll be announcing next season's themes later this summer.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montréal and the Canada Council for the Arts for their continued support.

Produced and hosted : Matt Goldberg and Deb Vanslet
Post production: Deb Vanslet 

#58: Adapting27 Aug 202000:30:31

It's almost September, and la rentrée this year is a complicated one. We're all adapting, or trying to. In this episode, Elizabeth Varvaro shares a story about responding and adapting to a super complex situation. It's from our October 2018 show recorded at the Phi Centre.

Elizabeth Varvaro is a writer, tarot reader, and perpetual grouch. Her first ever collection of short horror stories called EVERYONE IS DEAD is free to read at horrificwriting.wordpress.com. She sometimes tells stories at Confabulation!

This is the last show of Season 3! We'll be back in a month with lots more stories to share.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Podcast production: Stephen Trepanier and Deb VanSlet

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#57: Reunited13 Aug 202000:19:34

Confabulation Montreal and Victoria are reunited (and it feels so good).
This week's podcast is co-hosted by Matt and Cassandra Tognari, a producer and storyteller from Confabulation Victoria. This episode features Cassandra's story about the timeline of a friendship, and was told in February 2020, in Victoria, B.C.

Cassandra is the co-producer, co-host, and story coach for Victoria BC's monthly Confabulation series. She has been living in Victoria for five years where she works in government communications and sits on the Board of Directors for Intrepid Theatre. 

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Podcast production: Stephen Trepanier and Deb VanSlet

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#56: Second Chance17 Jul 202000:24:58

This week Confabulation podcast producer and Technical Director Stephen Trepanier co-hosts the show with Deb, AND tells a story- from way back in January 2013, when he was still a kid, jumping out of runaway shopping carts!

Stephen Trepanier is an audio engineer, podcaster, comedian, visual effects editor, and electroacoustic music composer from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and has lived in Montreal, Quebec for the last ten years. Since 2012 Stephen has been involved in the production of live theatre & dance in the city. Stephen's work as an audio engineer has been featured on television, and radio, in formats ranging from documentaries to comedy.

Stephen is registered with the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Podcast production: Stephen Trepanier and Deb VanSlet

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#55: In the Wake03 Jul 202000:32:55

In the wake of crisis, chaos and care, pandemic and protest: who are we ?
This week's podcast features Sara Meleika telling a story about one of the turning points in her life.
This story was recorded April 2019 at the Mainline Theatre in Montreal.

*Note: Sara mentions a Charlene Nelson at McGill University, her name is actually Charmaine Nelson.

Sara Meleika is an Egyptian improviser, storyteller, and high-school teacher. She produces and performs in Colour Outside the Lines – a show created out of a desire to see greater representation appear on Montreal’s improv stages. She is the (Anglophone) Inclusion Coordinator at Montreal Improv, co-produced Ladyfest Montreal 2017 & 2018, and co-artistic directed MPROV 2019. She has performed in MPROV, Montreal Sketchfest, Ladyfest Montreal, the Ottawa Improv Festival, Toronto’s Combustion Festival, the Big City Improv Festival and OFF-JFL/Zoofest.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Podcast production: Stephen Trepanier and Deb VanSlet

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#54: Connection18 Jun 202000:38:24

This week's podcast features a story by Kadi Diop on making a connection by disconnecting. Her story was recorded February 2020 at the Phi Centre as part of Black History Month.

Kadi Diop is the francophone education director of Montreal Improv and an improviser, community organizer, storyteller, sexology student and devoted auntie. She loves sharing her many opinions with a flair of intersectional hullabaloo. She's performed at the Ottawa Improv Festival, Black and Funny, OFF-JFL and other North American festivals and loves plain chips.

After the story stay tuned as Matt checks in with Kadi about among other things, getting comfortable with uncomfortable situations.

In the interview, Kadi mentioned an online event she moderated -- a conversation with Dr. Myrna Lashley. The event, Systemic Racism and Allyship: Moving Forward Together, was a free event, hosted by the Westhaven Community Centre. Kadi also recommends Racism Explained to My Daughter, by Tahar Ben Jelloun, as a resource for your own essential, uncomfortable conversations.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Podcast production: Stephen Trepanier and Deb VanSlet

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#53: Medicine04 Jun 202000:29:36

Brief language advisory -- this week's story contains a couple of words that may not be appropriate for all audience. They're well-earned words, but still present.

This week's podcast features a story by Leigh Kinch-Pedrosa on the complexity of making medical decisions. The story was recorded November 2019 at the Phi Centre. The evening of storytelling was a collaboration with Broad Science, an initiative dedicated to making science inclusive, engaging, and intersectional, through podcasting. Learn more about them at https://www.broadscience.org.

After the storytelling, Deb talks to Leigh about how she and her family are coping in Covid times.

Leigh Kinch-Pedrosa is the marketing and communications manager for the Rebus Foundation and the former general manger of Confabulation Montreal. As a story producer and storyteller, Leigh finds creative ways to mesh the worlds of food and restaurants with contemporary autobiographical storytelling. She is the creator of Food Core/Essence Culinaire and a story producer for SOUNDBITES, both Phi Centre productions.

*During the interview Leigh referenced a story about a Haitian asylum seeker working in a long term care facility who passed away from Covid. His name is Sony Innocent. This is the news story referenced. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-low-income-inequality-covid-19-1.5570296

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Podcast production: Stephen Trepanier and Deb VanSlet 

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#52: Ritual21 May 202000:34:19

This week's podcast features a story by Smriti Bansal, recorded at our season opening show in September 2019 at the Centaur theatre. Bonus track: Matt checks in by phone with Smriti, who talks, among other things, about the silver lining of dating in the time of Covid.

Smriti Bansal is a full time communications maven, and a part time Confabulation producer. She spends her days (and some nights) creating content that empowers companies to reach the people they need to achieve their wildest dreams.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Podcast production: Stephen Trepanier and Deb VanSlet 

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#51: Gain07 May 202000:25:16

This week's podcast features a beautiful story by Emira Tufo about loss, escape and rebirth. The story was told before a live audience at our Families show in December 2017. Plus a bonus track! We catch up with Emira at home (where else) and talk about pandemical thinking and being--what to wear to the hardware store and recommended reading for these strange days.

Emira Tufo is a Bosnian Canadian lawyer and writer. Her essays have been featured in The Globe and Mail, the Montreal Gazette and on CBC. She is the recipient of the 2019 CBC/Quebec Writers' Federation Writer in Residence Award and is the co-author of Montreal Murmurs, a blog that chronicles the curious, the funny and furious aspects of life in Canada's most mischievous city.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Podcast production: Stephen Trepanier and Deb VanSlet 

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#50: Loss21 Apr 202000:31:01

This week we're doing something a little different with our podcast. We've paired a live event recording with a tale from our Stories in Isolation series.

This episode on Loss features Mike Pellegrin x 2:  an epic story recorded live at the Phi Centre in December 2019, and another story, recorded in isolation, at home in front of his computer.

Mike Pellegrin is a Montreal storyteller, teacher and craftsman.

You can watch the video of Mike's Story in Isolation on our Facebook or Instagram pages -- as well as catch up on our whole #storiesinisolation series. You can send us your own 2-4 minute Story in Isolation to storiesinisolation@confabulation.ca.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.
Podcast production: Deb VanSlet and Stephen Trepanier

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#49 : Bodies07 Apr 202000:28:15

We are very happy to launch another podcast! This week's episode features two very different kinds of stories about Bodies.

Born and raised in Nairobi, Sehar Manji is a Montreal-based actor, writer, improvisor and instructor at Montreal Improv.
Her hairy story is from our live show (remember those) in October 2019 at the PHI centre.

Gina Granter is a comedian, storyteller and English teacher in Montreal. Her story is from way back on January 2016, the show was recorded at the Mainline Theatre and the theme was The Body.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#66 Good Date / Bad Date 227 Jun 202300:20:39

This episode features a story by Lea Beddia from our Good Date/Bad Date show in March 2022 at the Centaur Theatre in Montreal. Stay tuned after the story for an interview with Lea about, among other things, the intersection of her writing life and her storytelling life.

Lea is a high school teacher and the author of two young adult novels. She is a compulsive reader and coffee drinker, and loves stories of family and childhood. You can follow her on social media and check out  her website at www.leabeddia.com

For more stories, please subscribe to our YouTube channel @confabulationstories

Stay in the loop with all of our upcoming live shows by subscribing to our newsletter www.confabulation.ca   New themes for a new season will be announced this summer!

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montréal and the Canada Council for the Arts for their continued support.

Produced and hosted : Matt Goldberg and Deb Vanslet
Post production: Deb Vanslet 



#48: Belonging23 Mar 202000:17:06

This week's story is about Belonging -- which is a feeling a few of us might need right about now.

Featuring a story by Emma Lanza from our October 2017 live show.


Emma Lanza is a born and bred Montrealer with a background in theatre performance and arts management. She has her Master’s degree in Library Science and currently works in the Psychology Department at Concordia University. She has performed at Confabulation, YARN, and Grownups Read Things They Wrote As Kids. She once saw Stephen Sondheim on 42nd Street in New York City and cried for half an hour straight.


Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#47: To Infinity and Beyond05 Mar 202000:34:21

This week's episode features two storytellers from our May 2018 collaboration with Broad Science: Maya Hey and Alex Allard.

Broad Science is an initiative dedicated to making science inclusive, engaging, and intersectional, through podcasting  — check out their work at www.broadscience.org.

Maya Hey is a Vanier scholar and doctoral candidate at Concordia University. She uses feminist theories to study fermentation.

Alex Allard is a member of the Indigenous Health Professions Program at McGill University. 

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#46: Shorts 2019 part 220 Feb 202000:32:23

We are gearing up for our Shortest Story X on February 29th, so to get you in the mood, here are twelve 2-minute stories from the Shortest Story 9 -- recorded at Mainline Theatre in March 2019.

Featuring stories from:
Smriti Bansal
Josh Budman
Zahraa Chorghay
Nisha Coleman
Audrey Charneaux
Johanne Pelletier
Vadim Gran
Michele Luchs
Mike Pellegrin
Eleanor Denis
Eli Varvaro
and
Ariel Shirker

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#45: Frantic06 Feb 202000:25:55

Confabulation co-producer Francesca Esguerra joins us for this episode, where we don't exactly explore the theme of Frantic.... we just are.

Featuring stories by Francesca Esguerra and Paul Van Dyck.

Paul Van Dyck is a graduate of Queen’s University’s Specialized Studies in Stage and Screen Program, he is a writer, director, performer, producer, and sound designer based in Montreal, Toronto, and Los Angeles.  In 2001, Paul founded Rabbit in a Hat Productions in Montreal with a mandate to produce new Canadian Independent Theatre. His work has since been produced throughout Canada and around the world. Paul's story was recorded at the June 2019 Summertime show at the Mainline theatre. 

Francesca Esguerra has been writing and creating ever since she became the self-elected editor of Canadian Girl Magazine at age 8. She is a graduate of Concordia’s Literature program. Currently a co-producer for Confabulation, Francesca has performed at the Centaur Theatre, The Wiggle Room, Yarn and Ottawa’s Arts Court. Francesca's story is from January 2018 Eye of the Storm show recorded at the Centaur Theatre.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/




#44: Trust21 Jan 202000:25:46

This week, Confabulation podcast explores the theme of Trust, featuring two stories from the archives, going way back to June 2017 and April 2018, with Jeff Gandell and Jane O'Faherty.

Jane O'Faherty is an Irish-born, Montreal-based twentysomething writer. By day, she works as a communications officer at a non-profit; by night, she reads, writes and cooks voraciously. Jane's story was recorded at the April 2018 Playing Politics show at Montreal's Phi Centre. 

Jeff Gandell is a Montreal writer, singer, and teacher. He teaches true-life storytelling at Montreal Improv and literature and writing at Dawson College. He’s currently co-writing his first musical, Blind Love: A Honky Tonk Opera, premiering at the Montreal Fringe Festival in June 2020. Jeff's story was recorded at the Mainline Theatre, Montreal, in June 2017. The theme was On the Edge.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#43 - Shorts 201909 Jan 202000:30:38

Happy New Year, everybody! This week on the show, we're presenting a selection of stories from Confabulation: The Shortest Story 9 -- recorded at Mainline Theatre in March 2019!

Featuring stories from:
Matt Goldberg
Claire Sherwood
Amy Blackmore
Joyce Peralta
Benny Augello
Tessa Brown
Devon Perlmutter
BA Markus
Emma Lanza
Christian Zaelzer
Francesca Esguerra
and
John Cotrocois

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#42: Acquired Taste, part 218 Dec 201900:35:00

This week, we're exploring two more stories from our April 2019 show Acquired Taste, plus we're talking about the flow of a show with Confabulation producer, Michele Luchs.

Featuring stories from MP Breton and Nisha Coleman.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#41 : Acquired Taste part 104 Dec 201900:37:23

This week, we're exploring three stories from our April 2019 show Acquired Taste.

We've got stories from Trevor Kjorlien, Carole Tenbrink and Nathan Elliot.

Carole Tenbrink is a Spoken Word poet and storyteller. She has performed around Montreal, Quebec and eastern Ontario for 14 years.  Carole likes to liven things up, bring verve and spirit to the audience.

Trevor Kjorlien is a freelance web designer by day, and the organizer of Plateau Astro by night. They run astronomy workshops and events in Montreal — you can learn all about them at plateauastro.com.

Nathan Elliot grew up in Idaho, was educated in Chicago worked as a professor in Georgia and Newfoundland, and now writes and lives in Montréal. He has published peer-reviewed research on the intersections of nineteenth-century British Literature and nineteenth-century science; he has published fiction and creative nonfiction in a variety of venues. He is the recipient of the 2016 NL Arts Council’s Lawrence Jackson Writers’ Award and serves as a creative nonfiction editor for The Citron Review. Currently, he is at work on a play about contingent contract faculty entitled Disposable.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#40: Families20 Nov 201900:32:33

This week, we're exploring two stories on one of our favourite recurring themes: Family.

We've got stories from Johanne Pelletier and Ellie Skye -- both from past December Confabulation events.

This is Ellie's first and only story with Confabulation -- we wish her all the best!

Johanne Pelletier works in communications at Concordia University in Montreal. Her work is in developing ways of promoting university research to the public and managing communications planning and training for communicators.  

She is also a coach with a focus on storytelling, working with faculty and startups. Beyond her formal work role Johanne is a writer, storyteller, amateur boxing judge (@pinkinthering) and a decoder of the Anne Lister diaries (@annelisterdiaries). She has performed her stories for Confabulation in Montreal & Toronto, The Wiggle Room and Violet Hour shows in Montreal.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

Catch our upcoming live shows:
Victoria -- Confabulation: Be Prepared
Thursday, November 21, 2019
7:30 pm - 9:45 pm
Victoria Event Centre (VEC) – 1415 Broad Street

Montreal -- Confabulation: Inheritance
Saturday, December 7, 2019
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Phi Centre – 407 Rue Saint-Pierre

#39: Rules and Identity06 Nov 201900:23:32

Hey Confab fans!  

This week, we have stories from Confabulation regular Taylor Tower and first time storyteller, Christina Mignacca. Both stories explore the complex relationship between rules and identity.

Taylor's story is from our April 2019 show, Encore; recorded at the Mainline theatre, Montreal, QC.

Taylor Tower is a writer, radio producer, performer and teacher based in Montreal.

She grew up in Portland, Oregon and studied creative writing at Portland State University before moving to Montreal in 2006, where she co-produced and co-hosted Confabulation. She has performed in numerous storytelling events including Literary Death Match (Montreal), The Moth GrandSLAM (St. Paul), and The Moth MainStage (Denver). 

Her writing has been featured on CBC Radio One's WireTap with Jonathan Goldstein, nerve.com, Maisonneuve magazine, and Public Radio Remix, among others.


Christina's story is from February 2019, First Comes Love; recorded at the Phi Centre, Montreal, QC.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

Catch our upcoming live shows:
Montreal -- Confabulation: Bodies
Saturday, November 16, 2019
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Phi Centre – 407 Rue Saint-Pierre

Victoria -- Confabulation: Be Prepared
Thursday, November 21, 2019
7:30 pm - 9:45 pm
Victoria Event Centre (VEC) – 1415 Broad Street

Montreal -- Confabulation: Inheritance
Saturday, December 7, 2019
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Phi Centre – 407 Rue Saint-Pierre

#65 En-Fabulous24 May 202300:28:01

This episode  features Juliana Léveillé-Trudel, host and producer of Enfabulation, a French-language storytelling show in Montreal. Juliana also produces the Enfabulation podcast. Her featured story was told live on the Mainline Theatre stage in 2017.

From June 22, 2023 to February 16, 2024, six Enfabulation shows will be part of the CAM on Tour program, a program that has been spreading the arts across the island of Montreal for 40 years.

For a schedule of Enfabulation's summer tour, check out www.enfabulation.ca or go to their FB page.
Check out their podcast, wherever you do your listening.

For more stories, please subscribe to our YouTube channel @confabulationstories

Stay in the loop with all of our upcoming live shows by subscribing to our newsletter www.confabulation.ca   And if you see a theme that inspires a story, pitch it here!

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montréal and the Canada Council for the Arts for their continued support.

Produced and hosted : Matt Goldberg and Deb Vanslet
Post production: Deb Vanslet 

#38: Perspectives24 Oct 201900:26:08

Hey Confab fans!  We're back -- with a new season of stories, true as we can tell them.

 This week, we have stories from our new co-hosts: Confabulation founder, Matt Goldberg and Montreal producer, Deb VanSlet!  The stories explore the theme of Perspectives.

Matt's story is from our October 2018 show, Awakenings; recorded at the Phi Centre, Montreal, QC.
 
Matt Goldberg is a Montreal-based comedian, writer, actor and storyteller, as well as a founder and featured performer with Uncalled For -- an award-winning Canadian sketch and improv comedy troupe, based in Montreal and Toronto.

He is also the founder and executive director of Confabulation -- a non-profit, dedicated to the art of true life storytelling, and has been the host of the Montreal Confabulation since its founding in 2010.

Matt hosts the Confabulation podcast, and has performed at Fringe Festivals and storytelling shows across Canada, as well as at special events with Centre Phi, CBC Books and Just for Laughs. He currently teaches English literature and storytelling at Vanier College, in Montreal.

Deb's story is from our January 2019 show, Rites of Passage; recorded at the Centaur Theatre, Montreal, QC.

Deb VanSlet is a Montreal videographer, storyteller and writer. 

She launched her media art career in the late 1980s with Sick World, a performance art video series. Her films How to Spot an Anorexic, Weather Permitting, Link, Twitch and Rules of the Road explore storytelling, performance and dance and have screened at festivals, and on airplanes, around the world.
 
For sixteen years, Deb produced and hosted Dykes on Mykes, a radio show at CKUT 90,3 FM. 

She was the 2015 winner of the 3Macs Carte Blanche prize for her story Self-Serve. Deb is a storyteller and producer at Confabulation.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation.

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#37: Manoosh Valipour18 Oct 201900:13:23

Confabulation is back with a new slate of stories, true as we can tell them!

In this mini-episode, we're teasing out our upcoming show in Montreal -- Confabulation: Hair. It's more than just fashion. Hair connects us to everything: cultural identity, generation, politics and so much more. We saw this theme in full effect in January 2019, with Manoosh Valipour's story from Confabulation: Rites of Passage at the Centaur Theatre.

Manoosh is a process engineer, quality management specialist and a problem-solver. Originally from Tehran, Iran, she now lives and works in Montreal at a United Nations organization. This was her first time sharing a story at Confabulation.

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montreal for their support of Confabulation. Thanks as well to Centre Phi for hosting us, and The Montreal Intercultural Storytelling Festival for welcoming us into their line-up!

Music credit: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water. You can find more of their music at https://bentbyelephantsband.bandcamp.com/

#36 • Rita Chand18 Dec 201700:37:11

This week, we have a story from Rita Chand. She told this story in Victoria in February, 2017. Our theme that night was Good Date/Bad Date — stories of hooking up, making matches …and um failing to do so
We also speak to New York-based journalist and author Emily Witt. She’s the author of Future Sex and Nollywood. She tweets as embot.
We also also spoke to Montreal filmmaker Adam Reider, who’s upcoming horror project is Woodland Grey. You can also find him, and presumably be set-up by him, on Facebook.

#35 • Telia Nevile14 Nov 201700:25:59

This week, we have a story from Telia Nevile, a writer, performer, photographer and poet. She told this story during our special event at the 2017 Montreal Fringe Festival. Our theme that night was On the Edge — stories of the outer limits, and beyond.
You can follow Telia on twitter here for more on her upcoming work.
We also speak to Montreal author Guillaume Morissette — definitely also follow him on twitter. His two books are The Original Face and New Tab.
We also also speak to Confabulation co-producer, Nisha Coleman. Her first book is Busker: Stories from the Streets of Paris. On Twitter, she’s @nishacoleman.
We also talk to lots of people — including Matt’s Dad, who has neither twitter nor a website, but may have an Instagram, Matt just doesn’t want to know.

#34 • Amy Preston-Samson (Season 2, Episode 3)23 Oct 201700:43:10
The Witches by Amy Preston-Samson
This week, we have a story from Amy Preston-Samson, PhD candidate and first-time storyteller. She told this story for the 6th anniversary of Confabulation Montreal. Our theme that night was, Now we are six — stories of childhoods lost and found.
Amy developed this story after working in a group workshop which inspired Montreal’s own Confab Story lab. If you’re interested in taking a public workshop, you can get more info here.
This episode also featured Bonnie Harnden – she’s an Associate Professor and practicum coordinator, in Drama Therapy, and Creative Arts Therapies at Concordia University in Montreal.
#33 • Sage Tyrtle (Season 2, Episode 2)06 Oct 201700:34:00
This week, we hear a story from Sage Tyrtle – a Toronto-based storyteller, writer and performer. She’s the host and producer of High Stakes Storytelling — check out their podcast too. Sage originally told this story in Toronto, at our very first Confabulation. The theme was only fitting: Firsts.
We’ve found the following to be really great resources for leaning about homelessness in Canada.
The Homeless Hub

Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness
We’ll update this list as we get more suggestions. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
#32 • Sophie Post-Croteau (Season 2, Episode 1)27 Sep 201700:38:30
Welcome back to Confabulation the podcast – this is the first episode of our relaunch. Expect stories, interviews and more from all three cities.
This week, we hear a story from Sophie Post-Croteau – a Montreal-based storyteller, writer and performer. She told this story in June 2017 – for Confabulation presents: On the Edge.
Here’s a TED talk from Susan Pinker — in it she talks about some of the ideas from The Village Effect.
The Kidney Foundation of Canada can be found at the best domain ever: www.kidney.ca
Season 2 is coming!26 Sep 201700:01:53
Hey all – Confabulation the podcast is BACK! Well, tomorrow. This is a brand new tradition – a monthly digest of our upcoming shows:
Confabulation Montreal presents:

DISCOVERY — Stories of creativity, innovation, and breakthroughs of all kinds

September 30th, 2017

Phi Centre – 407, rue Saint-Pierre | $15
Confabulation Toronto presents:

MASQUERADE — Stories of disguise, mistaken-identity, mystery and ghoulish intrigue

October 4th in Toronto

Burdock – 1184 Bloor Street West | $10
Confabulation Victoria presents:

BACK FROM THE DEAD — Stories of rebirth, reanimation, and near death experiences

October 18th, 2017

Victoria Event Centre – 1415 Broad Street | $10
#30 • Michele Luchs (Season 1)05 Jun 201500:23:37
For Confabulation’s 5th Anniversary on May 2nd, 2015, we had a night filled with Montreal Stories — stories that could only happen there, that remind us why we love that city, or that just feel like that place. An homage to the city where Confabulation dug it’s roots.
This week we bring you a story from Michele Luchs, who shared a rather unique experience exploring Montreal, with one goal in mind.
#29 • Cassandra Togneri (Season 1)24 May 201500:24:40
For Confabulation’s 5th Anniversary on May 2nd, 2015, we had a night filled with Montreal Stories — stories that could only happen here, that remind us why we love this city, or that just feel like this place. An homage to the city where Confabulation dug it’s roots.
This week on the show we bring one of those stories, shared by Cassandra Togneri.
#64 The Song that Saved my Life08 May 202300:22:47

This episode features a story by, and an interview with, Keith Serry. The story is from our Summer Love event — and Keith uses this theme to reflect not on romantic love, but that temporary, fleeting feeling of a youthful moment.

Keith Serry is a father, husband, performer, teacher, producer, host, journalist, and, when called upon, lawyer based in Montreal.

Since 2020, Keith has produced and hosted The Volume Knob (www.volumeknob.net), a podcast where some of North America's most talented storytellers share stories about the way music makes us feel.


Keith told this story live on the Centaur stage in September 2022.
You can watch it here

And while you're doing that, please subscribe to our YouTube channel for more stories  @confabulationstories

Stay in the loop with all of our upcoming live shows by subscribing to our newsletter www.confabulation.ca   And if you see a theme that inspires a story, pitch it here!

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montréal and the Canada Council for the Arts for their continued support.

Produced and hosted : Matt Goldberg and Deb Vanslet
Post production: Deb Vanslet 

#28 • Raeven Geist-Deschamps (Season 1)09 May 201500:19:04
This week we bring you a story and interview from Confabulation co-producer Raeven Geist-Deschamps. This story is from August 2014’s Down to the Wire, where Raeven shares her experience with hunting, and possums.
Also in this podcast, Raeven shares her experiences working on Confabulation, and what it means to tell a story.
#27 • Lexi Moscovitch (Season 1)01 May 201500:26:07
This week on the podcast we bring you a story from Lexi Moscovitch, about her, and her mother’s bizarre experience with a silver snake ring, and the person who claimed it was her own.
This week’s story is from April 2015’s April Fish – Stories of tricks, traps, and getting hooked.
#26 • The Shortest Story 5, Part Two (Season 1)18 Apr 201500:49:59
For the fifth year in a row, we’re excited to bring you our night of all-true short stories, as Confabulation presents The Shortest Story, our annual Nuit Blanche event in Montreal. Last year we had thirty-two short stories, this year we bring you more than thirty-four short stories!
This week on the podcast we bring you Part One of The Shortest Story 5, featuring stories from:
Paul Aflalo, Nisha Coleman, Jaymie Metivier, Jennifer Ansell-Clark, Brad Kane, Carole Tenbrick, Lorne Budman, Meags Fitzgerald, Trevor Kjorlien, Inga Knoth,Alanah Heffez, Britt Dash, Chris O’Brey, David Tabakow, Dominique Blain, Jeff Gandell, Al Lafrance
#25 • The Shortest Story 5, Part One (Season 1)11 Apr 201500:47:09
For the fifth year in a row, we’re excited to bring you our night of all-true short stories, as Confabulation presents The Shortest Story, our annual Nuit Blanche event in Montreal. Last year we had thirty-two short stories, this year we bring you more than thirty-four short stories!
This week on the podcast we bring you Part One of The Shortest Story 5, featuring stories from:
Matt Goldberg, Claire Grady-Smith, Alex Brown, Keith Waterfield, Vance Gillis, Jane Martin, Josh Budman, Sarah Stupar, Sarah Ma, Jean-Marc LeBlanc, Allie Weigh, Tessa Brown, Meredith Lingerfelt, Darren Schilling, Julia Hancock-Song, Joe Conto & Al Lafrance.
#24 • Dmitri Vitaliev (Season 1)27 Mar 201500:13:07
This week we bring you a story from Dmitri Vitaliev, he is a journalist, and also the founder of Equalit, a company that develops open and reusable systems with a focus on privacy, online security, and information management.
This story is from October 2011’s Scares and Scars Redux.
#23 • Joe Conto (Season 1)26 Jan 201500:15:33
Improviser, teacher and storyteller Joe Conto shares this story of early love(s), and the allure of authority. From February 2014’s I Put a Spell on You.
#22 • Sage Tyrtle (Season 1)17 Jan 201500:16:24
This week, Toronto-based storyteller, Sage Tyrtle, shares this story of facing the call of the wild, and learning what we’re really ready for. From November 2013’s Saving our Planet, Saving Ourselves.
#21 • Stéphanie Morin-Robert (Season 1)07 Jan 201500:14:11
In this week’s podcast, Montreal based dancer, choreographer and podcaster Stéphanie Morin-Robert shares this story of learning to be a parent, and caregiver to a young boy. From April 2014’s Confabulation presents Lies My Parents Told Me.
Be sure to see Stéphanie in For Body and Light presents Coming and Going, on stage at Montreal’s Centaur Theatre, as part of the 2015 edition of the Wildside Festival!
#20 • Andrew Zadel (Season 1)20 Dec 201400:22:34
In this week’s podcast, Andrew Zadel shares the story of his grandparents journey to a new home in Canada, and his own journey back to his roots. From 2011’s Confabulation presents: Tell the Family
#19 • Raeven Geist-Deschamps13 Dec 201400:12:59
This week we hear from Confabulation co-producer, Raeven-Geist Deschamps. In this, her first Confabulation story, Raeven shares a transcendental familial experience – and the limits of that single moment. From April 2014’s Confabulation presents: Lies My Parents Told Me.
# 63 Inheritance25 Apr 202300:23:40

This episode features a story by, and an interview with, Gracia Dyer Jalea about channelling the stories of our ancestors. 

Gracia is an award-winning change leader, founder, and mother of twins. Her work as an artist and researcher focuses on transnational learning and storytelling as a means for community building, connection, and personal and social transformation. Gracia has a podcast called Meet Me in the Square, which you can find on various platforms.


Gracia told this story live on the Centaur stage in May 2022.
You can watch it here

And while you're doing that, please subscribe to our YouTube channel for more stories  @confabulationstories

Stay in the loop with all of our upcoming live shows by subscribing to our newsletter www.confabulation.ca   And if you see a theme that inspires a story, pitch it here!

Thanks to the Conseil des Arts de Montréal and the Canada Council for the Arts for their continued support.

Produced and hosted : Matt Goldberg and Deb Vanslet
Post production: Deb Vanslet

Theme song: Can't Have You by Bent by Elephants from their album This is Water.
Additional music : Epidemic Sound

#18 • Michele Luchs (Season 1)05 Dec 201400:13:08
This week, we bring you a story from Michele Luchs that reminds us that, yeah: sometimes, you should just drop what you’re doing, and go see a doctor. Right away. Like now. And do your utmost from not letting anyone stop you. From October 2014’s Confabulation presents: Bad Medicine.
#17 • Leigh Kinch-Pedrosa17 Nov 201400:09:57
Leigh Kinch-Pedrosa shares the story of her family’s cottage and the people, the manners and the monsters that live there. Also, the best way to defend against the Pope. From April 2014’s Confabulation presents: Lies my Parents Told Me.
#16 • Asaf Gerchak (Season 1)07 Nov 201400:16:12
Comedian Asaf Gerchak tells a story about summer camp, pop music and the horrors that connect them. Also, raccoons. From October 2011’s Confabulation presents: Kids Stuff.
#15 • Nisha Coleman31 Oct 201400:13:17
This week’s story is by Nisha Coleman, and was told at April 2014’s Lies My Parents Told Me. Both hilarious and deeply personal, this exploration of her relationship with her father is perhaps the most perfectly themed story ever, and a sober reflection on how our relationships transform.
For more information about Confabulation, check out our website at http://www.confabulationmontreal.com.
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