Call for Kindness of Strangers Stories, New Podcast Episode and Lost in Translation Photos

Call for stories

We are currently accepting story pitches for the next live storytelling event. The theme is “The Kindness of Strangers”. If you would like to be considered to share your story, call the pitchline to leave your pitch: 406-203-4683. You have 3 minutes to leave your pitch. Please include the beginning, middle, and end of your story. I’ll let you know when I have received your pitch. The pitch deadline is October 29. Our Deaf friends are welcome to pitch by emailing us: [email protected]

Because we have had quite a lot of travel stories at the past couple of Tell Us Something events, we will favor non-travel stories during the selection process.

Tell Us Something Poster Artist April Werle on Storytelling

April created the poster for the summer 2021 live storytelling event in Bonner Park. The theme was “Forward to Better”.

April’s paintings are all about storytelling. She says, “It is from shared stories that we connect with our families, friends, and communities. Stories help us grow, find direction, and daydream. When we hear stories from people we relate to, suddenly we know that things are possible and that we are capable of the same achievements.“

Her newest blog post is all about stories and storytelling, just asher paintings are. Give it a read here.

Wrongful Conviction Day 

From The Missoulian, “Monday marked the 10th annual Wrongful Conviction Day. Innocence Project leaders hosted a series of events in Missoula to commemorate the anniversary, including a panel with three Montanans with active wrongful conviction cases.”

Read the full article here.

Tell Us Something storyteller alumni Katie Garding was there sharing her story. She shared her story on the Tell Us Something stage in the summer of 2022. You can listen to her story here.

New Podcast Episodes

The “Lost in Translation” live event that took place at The George & Jane Dennison Theatre was incredible. In case you missed it, you can listen to the first half of the show wherever you get your podcasts or stream it at tellussomething.org.

Part 2 drops next week.

Listen now.

Tell Us Something Board Secretary Ketty Monzon and Executive Director Marc Moss staff the Will Call table.Donal Lakatua

Tell Us Something Board Secretary Ketty Monzon and Executive Director Marc Moss staff the Will Call table Donal Lakatua

Guests arrive and have their tickets scanned.Donal Lakatua

Guests arrive and have their tickets scanned.Donal Lakatua

Volunteer Ryder Sutton welcomes a guest and encourages them to share their "Lost in Translation" story anonymously as part of audience participation.Donal Lakatua

Donal Lakatua

Tell Us Something Executive Director Marc Moss welcomes the listeners as the ASL interpreter Denise May interprets.Donal Lakatua

Donal Lakatua

Marc Moss introduces Phillipa Crawford.Donal Lakatua

ASL interpreter Denise May signs for Phillipa Crawford.Philippa Crawford leaves her busy life working at an ad agency in San Francisco to move to Arlee, MT when she falls in love with the man of her dreams. Trading city lights for love and a small-town life! ❤️ What's the biggest risk you've ever taken for love?Phillipa calls her story “Love Found Home”.Donal Lakatua

Phillipa embraces her stepson, Damon, who wrote the letter. (If you were there, you know. If not, listen to the story on the podcast!)Donal Lakatua

Richard Thornton shares a story that he calls “Confusion In The Ogaden” in which he hires a kid to capture an anteater, but the kid comes back with an unknown monster! Have you ever gotten something unexpected like this?Richard calls his story “I Get a Pet”.Donal Lakatua

Nita Maddox shares her story about the time that she organized a mass naked bike ride in Missoula and received death threats because of it. It was "quite a lot," but the FBI got involved and the threats stopped. What's the wildest thing that's ever happened to you on a bike ride?Nita calls her story "Bare as you Dare!"Donal Lakatua

The audience listens attentively. Donal Lakatua

Ryder Sutton and Lauren Ciampa read the audience participation submissions while Marc Moss looks on.Donal Lakatua

Ben Catton is a tall man in Chile who tries to connect with a Deaf grandmother, culminating in the discovery of a dead pet parakeet. Oops! What's the most awkward thing you've done while trying to connect with someone from another culture?Ben calls his story “Periquitos”.Donal Lakatua

Ren Parker loves slow travel. She prefers buses and trains. Smuggler train to Cambodia? No problem! Her new English learning friend had her back. Ren calls her story “Slow Travel”.Donal Lakatua

Donal Lakatua

Abe Kurien shares his story of woe in which his Indian father mistakenly puts "Sugar Daddy" on the back of his van, thinking it means "one who gives candy to loved ones." What's the funniest thing you've ever seen written on a vehicle?Abe calls his story “Middle East Meets the Midwest.”Donal Lakatua

Linda Grinde shares her story about a time she was Lost in translation: Invited to a disco by French speakers, and ended up breaking into her own hostel to get back! Any tips for communicating with locals when you don't speak their language?Linda calls her story “Dancer in a Strange Land or Disco Damsel in Distress”.Donal Lakatua

Curtain call! (L-R) Chris Hallberg, Nita Maddox, Richard Thornton, Ben Catton, Linda Grinde, Abe Kurien, Marc Moss, Ren Parker and Philippa Crawford.Donal Lakatua

Get your tickets!

Tickets are on sale now for the next in-person live storytelling event. The theme is “The Kindness of Strangers”. 8 storytellers share their true personal story, each in the allotted 10-minute timeframe. Tickets are available at The Top Hat box office, by phone at  1 (800) 514-3849 or online. Tell Us Something is excited to be partnering with Spark Arts to provide on-site childcare for humans with kiddos. There are a limited number of slots available for this service. 3 teaching artists will provide engaging art-based learning activities at The Wilma while you enjoy storytelling for the evening. To utilize this service, select the “Tell Us Something Rugrats | Child Activity Add-On.” when purchasing your tickets

Stewardship ticket opportunities

For each Tell Us Something event, we provide the community with a limited number of free tickets. This is made possible by our Stewardship sponsor. We don’t currently have a Stewardship sponsor. If your organization would like to be the Stewardship sponsor, please reach out to me and I can give you the details.

Meanwhile, do you know an organization that serves populations that might not, for whatever reason, otherwise be able to attend a Tell Us Something event? Email meto let me know and I will reach out to them to see if they are interested in free tickets.

Join the Tell Us Something Board

Are you interested in joining the Tell Us Something board? Drop me a line and let me know how you’d like to serve, what you love about Tell Us Something and what sort of skills you have to share.

Vote on themes for 2024

Help us select themes for the live events next year! Vote for themes for which you have a story if you can!

—->VOTE HERE<—-

Lost in Translation Playlist

Did you know that I create a playlist for each Tell Us Something event? This last one was quite fun to make and I know you’ll enjoy it. Give it a listen.

Thanks for your time. Have a story-worthy day!

Marc Moss

Tell Us Something Executive Director