Stories From The Stage

After fleeing Afghanistan, Zalaikha rebuilds her life in the U.S.; Karen makes a pilgrimage to Poland to learn about her mother's past; and Meg visits her daughter, who provides protection to Colombian farmers. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

Mark reluctantly returns home to Kentucky for an extraordinary reunion; Sandi's dreams of Broadway stardom hang in the balance as she comes within reach of a coveted role in A Chorus Line; Jean dances his way out of a death sentence in Haiti. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

Connie aims to close the gap with her heritage and language; KiM transforms a quest for perfection into a lesson in self-love and integrity; and Keith turns a Phoebe Bridgers concert into a bonding experience with his children. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

Cyndi lands a gig as one of Santa’s elves and uncovers a gruesome reality; Ekhlas waits hungrily as calamity creates an epically long Ramadan fast; and Matt gathers his courage at Thanksgiving to stand up to his girlfriend’s tough as nails dad. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

Heather Angell confronts her worst fear: flying; Tom Williams indulges in a midlife crisis splurge by purchasing a plane; and Linda Button learns the difference between curses and kindness during a bumpy flight. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

Betsy Komjathy helps her teenage son make contact with his birth mother; Dan Dahari describes being smuggled out as an infant from Mexico; and Paul Brouillette's relationship with his mom takes a twist when he adopts a baby boy. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

Jose chases his dream of playing football and learns life is about relationships; Darcy adopts four children and begins a family; and Kyle shares the love and wisdom he received on the Navajo reservation. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

Rebekka honors the keeper of the connection between her people and culture; Charlie, who has light skin and hair, works to be accepted by fellow tribe members; and Levelle finds a path to meaning, healing, and helping after prison. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

Natasha Lance Rogoff and her team fight bureaucracy to bring Sesame Street to a newly democratic Russia; Johanne Pelletier reconnects with her late father’s friend and helps him navigate the end of his life; and Dave Fromm decides to become a pro basketball player in Europe, despite a distinct lack of talent. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

Kevin rallies to oppose housing development on tribal land; Colleen's relationship with her mother provides a view of the judgement heaped on traditional healing; and Valery takes us on a hike...interrupted by Bigfoot! Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

After her divorce, Lisa, a writer, redefines herself in the great outdoors; Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Daniel struggles with linguistic dualities; and after leaving California, Shareé wonders if she can find home. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

After being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, Sheila Marie Johnson is determined to continue her mother's legacy while forging her own; Suzette Simon uses her comedic talents to highlight how Black women are disproportionately affected by cancer; Megsie Chase becomes an advocate after finding out that breast cancer will alter her dream of motherhood. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

"Music for Cats" helps Kendra live though the pandemic with a feline in heat; Suzanne’s hen Emily (Dickinson) takes a ride that ends up saving two roosters’ lives; and Tracey’s shih-tzu accidentally becomes a 12-pound hero. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories

Bill goes above and beyond to try and save the life of his son’s hamster; farming teaches Ray lessons about life and death; and Alta finds inner peace by swimming with a loon. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories

Teen storyteller Cecilia Viveiros battles a hidden learning disability that leaves her high school teachers, her parents, and Cecilia herself baffled. A year after her story, we join her as she goes to college in New York City. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Valerie Tutson teaches her students about Africa's greatest explorer; Angie Chatman learns about how far we have come and how far we have to go in a chance encounter she will never forget. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Shweta Bhatt discovers that changing one's appearance to fit in has its drawbacks; Jenny Herzog tries her hand at tap dancing to get over the pandemic blues; and Carol Carson, who struggled through high school, tries to find a college where she’ll fit in. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Nora Meiners fills in the blanks as the missing pieces person at a jigsaw puzzle company; Olympian ski jumper Nick Fairall tells how one leap changed his life forever; and on his first hunting trip, John Stewart fears disappointing his dad, an avid hunter. Three storytellers, three interpretations of GAME ON!, hosted by Wes Hazard. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Gabriel Cheong looks for the imprint of the father he barely knew; Ariel Brown makes a new family after being bullied for her queerness; and Kathleen Haley's life is changed by an encounter with a cousin from El Salvador. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Nimisha Ladva breaks her parents’ rules and dates outside her Indian culture, and Jeff Simmermon sells all his possessions and crosses the globe to meet and settle down with his Internet love. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Javed Rezayee tests his meager cooking skills against those of his father, a talented professional chef; Jo Radner's mother astonishes her family by baking a pie for dinner; Juan Pedrosa conjures a memorable meal despite a multitude of challenges. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Erin Barker navigates her first steps into puberty; Dyan deNapoli’s first encounter with a penguin takes her halfway across the globe; and Ali Abdullatif’s dad helps ease the pain of his first car accident. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Melissa Ferrick tells us about the night she opened for Bob Dylan; Suzanne Ketchum Adams drives home with a feisty ram; and Akshobh Giridharadas discovers hospitality and humanity in the wilderness. Three storytellers, three interpretations of ROAD TRIP, hosted by Wes Hazard. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Khalilah Jones goes to camp for the first time and learns more than just campfire songs; Sarah Sutton discovers the trials and tribulations of working with her spouse; Matthew Sandel looks down the barrel of a robber’s gun and understands that his life is worth more than a pint of ice cream. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Comedic storyteller Susanne Schmidt shares two of her favorite childhood adventures: an "extreme camping" trip with her family, and her Janis Joplin lookalike nanny, who invented a new Olympic competition riding pillows down the staircase. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Angie Chatman crosses racial boundaries during a turbulent flight, and Kelli Dunham finds herself hilariously in a not-so-ordinary boot camp in Florida’s swamps. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Erinn applies lessons learned from Grey’s Anatomy to help her get care; Megan becomes an advocate after finding out her dream of motherhood will be altered; and Dwayne takes what he picked up back to the football field. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Despite losing her hair to chemo, Leslie finds beauty in her Blackness; Daniel and his partner use humor to cope with caregiving; and Mel fights the odds to overcome leukemia to become a runner. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Brandon Kazen-Maddox bridges the gap between their deaf grandma and a police officer; a severe allergic reaction turn Sara Kaminski’s family vacation upside down; and Jeff Belanger takes on Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money for cancer research. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Drew Prochaska’s brother, a scuba instructor, helps him overcome his fear of water; Mary Liz Nogueras and her family foster a young boy, only to realize his brother also needs them; and when MaryAnn Emerick develops an eating disorder, her sister steps in. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Rebecca Lampert and her sons experience the many trials of military deployment; Joseph Collymore Small’s siblings rally when one of them is diagnosed with cancer; and after their father abandons the family, Anna Conathan and her sibs navigate the fallout. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Vojislav finds a way to connect with his son with a disability; Alexis finally confronts the power of addiction and denial; and Irene discovers that in the face of racism, a great teacher can make a difference. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Michelle La Poetica Richardson’s outlook transforms when she becomes the subject of a community art project; at 18, Annie Tan assumes the financial burdens of her Chinese immigrant family; and Elena Yureneva takes a chance on love - and life - when she moves to the U.S. from Moscow. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Raúl moves from El Paso to Boston and finds his artistic voice; Hannah buys a beloved community bookstore on the eve of the pandemic; and Rita makes a bold decision about her lifelong search for a mother. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Szifra Birke discovers the hidden meaning of her Jewish name; U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo celebrates her name as she sows seeds of renewal in the U.S.; and Sofia Colombo-Abdullah finds that her name carries both power and identity. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Jason discovers his voice and sees himself in a new light; Jackie embarks on a daring career change that leads to joy; and Judah changes his name and learns to trust his inner voice. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo brings her son to a protest of George Floyd’s death; and Harold Cox shows how fear of the police affects his everyday life. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Tae Chong crosses cultural barriers to find love; Diane Parker Mullens turns to a how-to book to find her ideal partner; and Kevin Gallagher fights to overcome his fear of marriage and finally tie the knot. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Linda learns the difference between curses and kindness; ToRena works to recover economically after the 2008 crash; and Marlon uses comedy to lessen the pain of war. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Micaela Blei, the grandchild of Holocaust survivors, faces choices about exploring German culture; Anita De Ruvo lives in poverty within a community of great wealth; and after being mistaken for a homeless person Biar Kon expands his view of humanity. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

After divorcing, Laura forges a new relationship; Saket finds kinship after immigrating; and Mackenzie breaks new ground by taking on a "man's job." Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Erin Barker navigates her first steps into puberty; Dyan deNapoli’s first encounter with a penguin takes her halfway across the globe; and Ali Abdullatif’s dad helps ease the pain of his first car accident. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

In response to racism, Salil Patel takes a different path; after COVID isolation, Estella Ngufor decides to reach out to her neighbors; and Katie Liesener attempts a new approach after a disastrous first day on the job. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Shweta Bhatt discovers that changing one's appearance to fit in has its drawbacks; Jenny Herzog tries her hand at tap dancing to get over the pandemic blues; and Carol Carson, who struggled through high school, tries to find a college where she’ll fit in. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Gastor Almonte goes above and beyond to satisfy his wife’s sweet cravings; Claire Cheney travels the world to hunt exotic spices and heal her broken heart; and Juan Pedrosa conjures a memorable meal...despite some challenges. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Christine donates a kidney to a stranger; Stacey dreams of one gift but gets another; and on the night of her first high school dance, Mary gets an amazing gift from her dad. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Andy Davis experiences a new way to relate to his identical twin; Carla Katz battles bureaucracy to bury her mother alongside her father; and Valerie Gagliano connects a deceased donor with someone in need of a new liver. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

David Dean Bottrell discovers his passion after stealing the school play's spotlight; Andrea Kamen’s bright menorah cuts through the darkness of anti-semitism; and Joe Charnitski tries to break a nightmare-before-Christmas bad luck streak. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Samantha Lee helps her dance students feel less pressure by making a change; Vernon Payne discovers the reason why men want to do better by women; and Haley Hamilton finds compassion for bar patrons who spoil her day. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.

Lani Peterson’s cooking mistake becomes a family secret; Melanée Addison tests her adulthood through the ultimate challenge: the Thanksgiving turkey; Heather Rodman honors her father by running a road race dressed as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer; and Matthew Dicks gathers his courage to stand up to his girlfriend’s tough as nails dad during Thanksgiving dinner. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at give.worldchannel.org/stories.