Welcome to the second Living in 3D podcast (see the previous episode here).
This will be an ongoing feature for paid subscribers. The first three of these will be available to all subscribers to give you a taste of these conversations. I have some incredible teachers, guides, all-around inspiring people who have been instrumental in my life to sit and have a conversation with me in coming months. In April, my guest will be author and yoga therapist Michelle Andrie based on the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii where I am headed on Friday for a yoga retreat Michelle is guiding. Stay tuned for more!
And now, a welcome to my dear friend Kristin Pedemonti. We met in Washington, D.C. around 2012 as part of a group of couchsurfers (the connection was my then college-age daughter) and as she passed out Free Hugs t-shirts at one of our gatherings and told us how she stood in public places giving out free hugs, I was hooked from that moment on. I had to get to know Kristin better! (And yes, she talks in our conversation about Free Hugs and why they matter). For paid subscribers, check out the video of our conversation here.
Recipient of the National Storytelling Network International Story Bridge Award, Kristin Pedemonti believes in the power of story to connect and heal. She’s presented on 5 continents in 20 countries, including tours across Europe, the US and Canada and Festivals in Colombia, Kenya, Poland and Romania. She was the first American Storyteller to perform in Iran at their International Festival in 2015.
Knowing from personal experience that our stories can be healing, Kristin is grateful to serve as a Narrative Therapy Practitioner journeying with clients toward their preferred life stories. Her work is bolstered by a Master’s in Narrative Therapy and Community work from the University of Melbourne, ‘the Harvard of Australia.’
After hearing horror stories about the treatment of peoples in underserved communities, Kristin infiltrated the World Bank in 2015 and serves as Storytelling Consultant. She teaches staff how to tell the human story within analysis and data. She is passionate about inviting local peoples and their wisdom to the table.
In 2005, Kristin sold her home and possessions to create and facilitate Literacy Outreach Belize. Upon invitation, she donated Storytelling, Story writing programs for more than 30,000 students and trained 800 teachers how to utilize their own indigenous legends in their classrooms to teach creative writing. Her book: A Bridge of Stories chronicles this seven-year decolonizing literacy project. It also includes a step-by-step lesson plan.
Other books include: Perseverance and Possibility in Kenya which highlights insights from local initiatives created by locals to address challenges in their own communities. Ghana Is… which includes wisdom and insights about Ghana from interviews Kristin conducted with 100 Ghanaians.
You can learn more about her Narrative Therapeutic work here: www.steeryourstory.com
Her past Storytelling work here: www.kristinpedemonti.com
You can find her on Instagram, Facebook and Linked In.
P.S. Note that the audio generates a transcript that is not accurate in terms of spelling/grammar but can be useful nonetheless:-)
Living in 3D podcast welcomes storyteller and narrative therapy practitioner Kristin Pedemonti