Des Moines Storytellers Project
An evening of live storytelling, the Des Moines Storytellers Project features community members coached by Des Moines Register journalists taking the mic to tell true, first-person stories. We believe everyone HAS a story and everyone CAN tell that story. Learn more at DesMoinesRegister.com/Storytellers.
Episodes
Deborah Svec-Carstens found herself by being vulnerable with a tight-knit community in a foreign country after an assault.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have...
Kenny Gaskin spent his childhood looking up to his teachers. Now he's a teacher with DMPS inspiring students and building a classroom community.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors...
Jordan Brooks felt like he didn't belong — until he discovered art. Now he uses it to help others build their communities.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have...
Erlin Kakkanad wasn't embracing her true self when her son asked an innocent question: "Mama, why am I brown?" It led to a long journey of discovery.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neig...
Jim Sayers entered an Iowa prison thinking every inmate was the same. He left with a close-knit community.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-p...
From homemade school clothes to weekly chore lists, Louise O'Donnell's parents showed their 13 children what it was like to put family first.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and n...
Ehsan Shaban found family in Iowa when he fled the war in Afghanistan. They were refugees themselves.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person st...
Luisita McBurney found herself alone after arriving in the U.S. So she created the Filipino American Society so other immigrants wouldn't feel stuck
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbor...
Sonya Jackson's great aunt Lulu was the first Black woman in Iowa to earn a Ph.D. What lessons she and her grandmother taught her growing up.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and n...
Sam Blum always felt like an outcast, until he found others like him at metal shows across Iowa and the world.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-...
Monica Leo was part of the only Western puppeteer troupe to be invited to East Berlin in the '80s, where she learned maybe we're more alike than we are different.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 20, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled...
It wasn't clear that Keith Knapp would make it out of Argentina before the country closed its borders at midnight. He had just minutes to spare.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 20, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors an...
Olesya Holker: A life of travel led this Russian migrant to her husband in Las Vegas and later, Iowa
Olesya Holker started traveling as a child with her mother, a Russian actress. Her most notable trip started in Las Vegas and eventually led to Iowa.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 20, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbo...
Shir Agha Safi grew up around war and later fought in the Afghan National Army. Now he's fighting to help other refugees in Iowa live good lives.
This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 20, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors a...
Susan Sims wanted to see the real China after studying in Taiwan in 1986, though she didn't have much but the clothes on her back. A hilarious adventure ensued.
Susan told this story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 20, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with ...
Sarah Trone Garriott realized her first impressions of a couple she helped marry while an intern Lutheran minister were wrong. How scripture helped her realize that.
Sarah told this story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's “Love” on Feb. 14, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled wi...
Years of therapy and self love led to a new life for Sam Freese after their husband, who had increasingly become withdrawn, was criminally charged.
Sam told this story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's “Love” on Feb. 14, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and not...
As a wife of a man 20 years older, Anissa Deay is moving from partner to caretaker and learning about the complications that come with it.
Anissa told this story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's “Love” on Feb. 14, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables ...
From his mother walking up a flight of steps to see him in a play, to his father getting her out of bed each day: How love defined a relationship with illness.
Patrick told this story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's “Love” on Feb. 14, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with n...
Dan Douglas first met his wife 52 years ago when he served in Botswana for the Peace Corps.
Dan told this story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's “Love” on Feb. 14, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.
Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’re willin...
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