S1 EP5: The power of storytelling with Eun Ji Koh, Luis Ortega, and Becky Witmer

On today's episode we hear from three strangers with a particular connection. One is a published poet, another runs a non-profit organization, and the other works for a local regional theatre company. What they have in common is an understanding of the power of storytelling. 

Eun Ji Koh is the author of The Magical Language of Others and has a collection of poems coming out called A Lesser Love. She is also writing a thousand love letters to strangers by hand. All that she asks is that you send her a bit about yourself and add a struggle or question along with your physical mailing address to: angelaejkoh@gmail.com.

Luis Ortega is the Founder and Executive Director of Storytellers for Change, a national non-profit that has worked with thousands of youth, educators, and social impact leaders from across the world to harness the power of narratives to create positive social change. He has created a partnership with the Discovery Center at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to uplift the stories of local change-makers called In Community We Flourish. He would love for more people to feel energized by the activism and passion of young people.

Becky Witmer is the Managing Director of A Contemporary Theatre (or ACT Theatre for short). Although the world of seeing plays live is on hold at the moment, ACT Theatre normally produces five primary programs: Mainstage, ACT Lab, Young Playwrights Program, Core Company, and the New Work initiative to fulfill their mission to engage audiences, develop new works, and keep the art accessible. If you have an idea on how ACT Theatre can continue to fulfill its mission during a global pandemic, please reach out to Becky at Becky.Witmer@acttheatre.org.

Our guests spend time unearthing their pasts, sharing stories that inspired them, and speak to the power of generational wisdom and the web that connects us all through storytelling.

0:00 - Introduction
4:20 - guests discuss a story that is important to them
15:25 - Luis shares his personal story
22:30 - EJ shares their story
27:56 - Becky shares their story

Special thanks to Big Phony for providing music for the We Belong Here podcast.