Creative Collaboration Across Boundaries, with filmmaker Tim Whalen
Release Date: 10/22/2024
Why people don't show up (and what we can do about it) with Matt Penniman, Cecilia Sepp, Stacy Averill, and Michelle Thompson-McCune
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Building authentic community engagement, with insights from across the Storylinking community With this episode of Storylinking, we're trying something a little different. Instead of a one-on-one interview, I’ve pulled together responses from four generous members of the Storylinking community: Matt Penniman, a writer and community advocate; Cecilia Sepp, a longtime association and nonprofit leader; Stacy Averill, a leadership coach and facilitator; and Michelle Thompson-McCune, a co-creative designer who builds with communities. Each of them shares their take on why it’s hard to get...
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This episode features Cecilia Wandiga, Executive Director of the Centre for Science and Technology Innovations (CSTI) in Nairobi, Kenya. Cecilia’s work brings science and storytelling together in a way that makes complex research practical and relevant for communities facing environmental and climate challenges. In our conversation, we explore how science connects our stories, grounding them in knowledge and shared reality, while storytelling frames science in ways that make it personal, memorable, and actionable. Cecilia shares how CSTI translates climate research into practical solutions...
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Leading with Curiosity and Bridging Divides, with Mónica Guzmán
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I had the privilege of sitting down with Mónica Guzmán for this episode of Storylinking. Mónica is the Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels, the author of "I Never Thought of It That Way," and the host of the podcast "A Braver Way." She’s someone I deeply admire for her ability to lean into curiosity and use it as a tool for building trust and understanding across political and cultural divides. In our conversation, we explored how curiosity can help us navigate tough conversations, whether we’re engaging with colleagues, family members, or entire communities. Mónica...
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Theatre as a Model for Dialogue and Engagement, with Chad Swan-Badgero
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How theater can create space for meaningful dialogue, build community trust, and inspire engagement among diverse audiences In this episode of Storylinking, Chad Swan-Badgero (founder and artistic director of Peppermint Creek Theatre and program manager for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs) joins host Tom Lietz for a conversation about how theater creates space for communities to navigate tough conversations. From Peppermint Creek’s origins to its evolution as a platform for addressing current societal issues, Chad shares his insights on approaches to audience engagement,...
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Using Co-Creation to Break Silos and Build Alignment, with Susan Bartlett
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Harnessing Co-Creation for Aligned Impact in Healthcare and Beyond, with Workomics founder Susan Bartlett In this episode of Storylinking, Susan Bartlett, co-founder of Workomics, joins host Tom Lietz to explore the transformative power of co-creative practices in breaking down organizational silos and building alignment across diverse teams. Susan shares how her work bridges internal and external barriers to help organizations create solutions that resonate with all stakeholders: from internal departments like legal and compliance to the end users of healthcare systems. Key...
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Building Trust and Engagement, with Jody Horntvedt and Eriks Dunens
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Community and Career: Unpacking the 2024 Wiley Society Member Survey with Rich Green
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Facing the Fracture, with professor of counseling psychology Tania Israel, Ph.D.
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How community builders can respond to political polarization In this episode of Storylinking, counseling psychology professor and author Dr. Tania Israel shares her journey of bringing people together across deep political divides. Dr. Israel discusses growing challenges of political polarization and introduces practical, research-based strategies for fostering understanding and connection in divided communities. She explores how reducing polarizing input, recognizing cognitive biases, and using storytelling can help bridge divides and support a healthier democracy. Key takeaways...
info_outlineUniting Art and Conservation: The Mates for Life Journey with Filmmaker Tim Whalen
In this episode of Storylinking, filmmaker Tim Whalen joins host Tom Lietz to discuss his innovative project, Mates for Life, a unique collaboration between the Joffrey Ballet, choreographer Xavi Núñez, and the International Crane Foundation. Together, they’ve created a powerful film that tells the inspiring comeback story of the whooping crane, blending dance and conservation in a way that bridges the gap between performing arts and environmental advocacy.
The conversation touches on the challenges of the creative project, emotional connection both artistic expression and an important conservation cause, and the importance of stepping out of comfort zones to create something truly impactful. Tim shares valuable insights on building unexpected partnerships, fostering community through the arts, and how creative collaboration can drive meaningful change.
Check out Mates for Life:
- Mates for Life Website http://matesforlife.co (Watch the trailer and behind-the-scenes feature)
- Joffrey Ballet https://joffrey.org
- International Crane Foundation https://savingcranes.org
Check out our guest, Tim Whalen:
- @TimJWhalen on Instagram
- Big Foot Media https://www.bigfootcreates.com/ (Tim's production company)
- @big_foot_media on Instagram
Check out more from Storylinking:
- https://storylinking.com/blog/ep01 (read more about this episode)
- https://storylinking.com (the full show site)
Key moments from this episode:
00:55 Introducing Filmmaker Tim Whalen
02:09 Mates for Life: A Unique Ballet Film
03:54 The Intersection of Arts and Conservation
06:54 Challenges and Inspirations
10:03 The Role of Collaboration in Creative Projects
12:48 Behind the Scenes: Making Mates for Life
16:46 Technical Feats and Production Challenges
18:48 The Iconic Comeback of the Whooping Crane
19:07 Partnering with the International Crane Foundation
22:42 The Power of Film in Conservation
25:59 Lessons from Mates for Life
31:38 The Role of Music in Ballet and Film
35:33 Final Thoughts and Call to Action