The Story Apothecary – Details, episodes & analysis

Story Prescription: Story medicine for stories themselves. 

A story from Korea, about a greedy boy who demands stories from everyone he meets, stuffing them into a “story bag” and never sharing them. But the stories plan revenge!

Today is when my book Bulgarian Folk Tales is born into the world! Illustrated by the incredible Rima Staines. You can order your copy here: If you are in Bulgaria, then you can find them here.

If you wish to join me for the book launch, on the 4th or 7th June, you can find the details at: https://www.nanatomova.com/events

To support this podcast, you can '⁠⁠buy me a coffee'. ⁠⁠You can also tell your friends, which is free but means a lot. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave me a 5* review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Music: Thank you to ⁠⁠In Feathers ⁠⁠for the beautiful music.

 

Story Sources: The Story-Bag: A Collection of Korean Folk Tales, 1957. So-un, Kim. Translated by Setsu Higashi; https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/story-bag

Story Prescription: A story of hopes and dreams. For when you're lacking enchantment in your life, and need reminding that things might not be what they seem, and that there is some magic in the world.

A beautiful Scottish tale from the Isle of Skye about the place where dreams are made of. 

I have a book of Bulgarian Folk Tales out on the 4th June 2026. You can find out more about it and pre-order it here for delivery worldwide. Find out more about it here. To support this podcast, you can '⁠⁠buy me a coffee'. ⁠⁠You can also tell your friends, which is free but means a lot. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave me a 5* review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Music: Thank you to ⁠⁠In Feathers ⁠⁠for the beautiful music

Story Sources: I have read and heard the following storytellers tell this tale: Daniel Allison in his book Scottish Myths and Legends; Joanna Gilar during our Rewinding Sleeping Beauty project; Beverley Bryant via Map of Stories; Graeme Johncok via Folklore Scotland; Sarah Hobbs from Strathspey Story Walks.

   

Story Prescription: A story that shows us that it's possible to keep the inner fire burning no matter the challenging circumstances.

Story Caution: This story contains domestic violence as a central theme. If you choose to listen, take care of yourself.

A story from Russia about a woman who loves fairytales, and who only lets guests stay if they can tale a tale. Her husband however, does not agree.

WILD WOMEN starts in November 2024, for more information go to ⁠⁠https://www.nanatomova.com/wildwomen⁠⁠

To support this podcast, you can '⁠⁠buy me a coffee'. ⁠⁠You can also tell your friends, which costs nothing.

Music: Thank you to ⁠⁠In Feathers ⁠⁠for the beautiful music.

• Story Prescription: A story for relationships, with significant others and also with ourselves. It takes many transformations, a life-death-life cycle to make a relationship work. It is also a story about overcoming difficult experiences, and the journey it takes to do this. A story full of courage.

• A Baltic story from Lithuania, where a hardworking hedgehog wishes to marry none other than the King's daughter. How will he succeed? What does his future bride think of this? And how does an unequal marriage such as this one work? For lovers of the story East of the Sun and West of the Moon.

• If you enjoy this podcast, and wish to find another story, head over to https://www.nanatomova.com/story-prescriptions to listen to a story for the ailment you are looking for.

• If you wish to contribute you can 'buy me a coffee' as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.
• Music: Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

Story Prescription: A story about the greed and the dangers of prioritising gold over the real treasure of the land.

A sweet story from the Ural Mountains about a young man who gets given a sieve and three feathers by his grandmother and the advice about where to find real treasure.

To support my work financially can 'buy me a coffee' as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening. 

Music: Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

Story Prescription: A story about freedom. A story about overcoming fear, asking the right questions and speaking your longing aloud.

A story from Armenia, where a controlling king locks his daughter away so that she may never leave his side.

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To support my work financially you can '⁠buy me a coffee' ⁠ if you enjoy listening. 

Music: Thank you to ⁠In Feathers ⁠for the beautiful music.

For more Story Medicine, following this link to my website where each prescription is linked to a story of this podcast.

https://www.nanatomova.com/story-prescriptions

Story Prescription: A story about love, and that if we open our hearts to feel the fire, we take a risk. But if we don't then we live in the shadows of the basement, where life is grey.

A story from Russia, where a snow child becomes alive. But she wants to feel the fire in her heart, even if that comes at a price.

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To support my work financially you can 'buy me a coffee' if you enjoy listening. 

Music: Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

Links for events which are coming up:

https://www.nanatomova.com/events

Story Prescription: A reminder to live in the present to embrace each season of life as it arrives. A magical story from Bulgaria about the time that all the twelve months gathered together, and what happened when a brave young girl saw them in the midst of winter searching for snowdrops, for new hope. I wish you all very merry Christmas and a Joyful New Year! _To support my work financially you can become a a regular patron on Patreon, and you will receive the gift of stories and folklore.  .You can also 'buy me a coffee' as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.  _Music: Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

Story Prescription: A prescription about the moon and the Northern lights. A Saami story of love and loss, of hope and light. A story for the autumn and winter, so that we may find the light in the skies. 

If you wanted to join my Wild Women course, a 6 Months Journey into the Wild Feminine through Stories, starting on the 9th November, then find out more ⁠here.⁠ 

To support my work financially you can become a regular patron on⁠ ⁠⁠Patreon⁠, and you will receive the gift of stories and folklore. 

You can also '⁠buy me a coffee' ⁠as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening. 

Music: Thank you to ⁠In Feathers ⁠for the beautiful music. 

Story Prescription: A story for those who stay at home and don't have their work valued. For women whose labour doesn't get appreciated. A story for the equality and appreciation of women. A story of hope.

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A humorous story from Bulgaria (and all over Europe) about a husband who thinks that his wife's work at home is meaningless and easy. Then one day the husband stayed at home...

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To see my future Story events, courses and workshops visit my website here.

To support my work financially you can 'buy me a coffee' as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening. 

Music: Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.