For the past semester I had the sincere pleasure to work with students from Appleton Central, a school program for at-risk teens, on writing personal narratives. I've got to tell you. I love everyone's story. I really do. But these students? They dug in deep to share heartfelt, heartbreaking, and hopeful stories of their lives. To work along side writers and humans like this was truly an honor. We recorded some of the pieces for you to hear their stories in their own voice

It only seemed fitting to share this story with you today on 4/20... Listen to the podcast of the story Sissy shared with us at our Storycatchers Live: Twist of Fate event about some pot - the cops - and a can of cashews. Listen on Soundcloud HERE Listen on iTunes HERE #storycatchersLive #storycatcherssessions

We have a lot of exciting ways for you to connect with the stories inside you in the coming month, so here's a round up of all of the events announced so far. For our Nonprofit friends, come hang out with us at the Community Foundation to discuss how to share our organizational stories April 3rd. Storycatchers founder Tara Pohlkotte is delighted to be the April through June Artist-in-Residence at the Appleton Public Library. As part of this, she will be hosting two story and

We all know them. Our very own resident, Grinch. What happens when the Grinch, who is usually ho-hum about presents gets a gift that no money can buy. Listen to Dan's story told at our Storycatchers Live: Holidazed and Confused event. Music for the Storycatchers Podcast provided by Adriel Denae. Listen to Dan's story on iTunes HERE Listen to Dan's story on Soundcloud HERE #storycatcherscommunity #storycatchersLive #storycatcherssessions

The Holidays are full of planning and expectations. Storycatchers teller Ashley tells at our 'Awkward Family Gatherings, the Holiday Edition' event about how sometimes it's when those plans and expectations get shaken up that we find ourselves bonded to our families like never before. This podcast is available via iTunes HERE or via Soundcloud HERE Music for the podcast provided by Adriel Denae #storycatcherscommunity #storycatcherssessions #storycatchersLive

We had a fantastic night of telling stories and gearing up for the Holiday season.  We couldn't wait to bring you a couple of the great stories shared on Friday.  So, here is the story of eleven year old Hannah. Getting a little "too" close to her uncle over the holidays. (You might not want to listen at work.) Listen to Hannah through Soundcloud HERE Or, via iTunes HERE #storycatcherscommunity #storycatcherssessions #storycatchersLive

We are so excited to have our Storycatchers Live: Holidazed and Confused event coming up this Friday! To get us in the spirit, here with her previous story from last years Storycatchers Live: Awkward Family Gatherings Holiday Edition is teller Christine's hilarious and harrowing tale about making it home for the holidays. Check this story out and subscribe to our podcast via iTunes click HERE Click HERE to listen via Soundcloud #storycatchersLive #storycatcherssessions #story

'Tis the season: Of pumpkin spice sure, but also skulls, ghouls and a ghost story or two. To help celebrate the season, here is a story from Storycatchers founder, Tara Pohlkotte that she shared at Storycatchers Live: Things that Go Bump in the Night. Also! Did you know that you can download the Storycatchers Podcast from iTunes? So Listen below or head over to iTunes and search for Storycatchers to keep up to date with our latest podcast episodes. Listen HERE for Tara's St

Books are one of my favorite things. They are more than a past-time, they are passage ways into worlds and even into the people I know, and the people I wish I could be. So, it comes as no surprise at what a treat it has been to tuck into our tellers' stories about the books that have shaped their lives for our Storycatchers Live event happening tomorrow: Literary Upheaval. My love grew even greater as people who could not physically make it to the event itself still reache

Storycatchers in partnership with Homeless Connections set out to capture the stories of those living, loving, and supporting those experiencing homelessness in the Fox Cities today. The sharing of these stories leads up to newVoices Fall Concert Home: Where isYour Heart? You can hear our first full story is from Clint by listening HERE This week we are introducing you to another gentleman I had the pleasure of meeting and recording at Homeless Connections, Victor. Victor's

As we announced last week, Storycatchers in partnership with Homeless Connections set out to capture the stories of those living, loving, and supporting those experiencing homelessness in the Fox Cities today. The sharing of these stories leads up to newVoices Fall Concert Home: Where isYour Heart? This first full story is from Clint. Clint met me prior to my feet even getting inside of Homeless Connections the first day I was set up to record. He met me at the door with a

What happens to our story of home when the physical structure is taken away? Listen as members of the Fox Cities area who are experiencing,

Karen takes us into her complicated relationship with dogs....including her dog leaving her for another woman. Listen to the live recording of Karen's story told at Storycatchers Main Stage event in Appleton Wisconsin this past April. You're going to want to listen to this... Listen HERE #storycatchersLive #storycatcherscommunity #storycatcherssessions

I have already accounted HERE about how when we were little, my brother Cory and I used to fill tapes and tapes of us recording ourselves. He filled his tapes full of sounds like The Clash, while I was a budding Ira Glass. We sat down together again on the eve of Mile of Music, a successful music festival in Appleton Wisconsin co-founded by Cory, which is now in its fifth year; to discuss the music and muse that inspire him. Take a listen HERE. #storycatcherscommunity #storyc

Actress Rachel Crowl shares her stories of coming out transgendered at Storycatchers Live

These items from veteran Brian Diedrich who spent 10 years in the Army National Guard, including two deployments that he carried his grandfathers WWll dog tag, a Saint Christopher pendant that his Grandmother gave him before he deployed, an American Flag that was given to him by his parents and younger brother (He carried the flag with him on every mission, both deployments, every where he went.) Brian also gave it to his sister who carried it with her during her deployment.

We have been sharing some of the stories after-the-story if you will, of some of our tellers of our Storycatchers: Voices of the Mental Health Community event in March. For Mental Health awareness month, and because it is important to us that we continue telling our changing stories we've asked our tellers if they would be willing to share some of their experience with us. Karen is no stranger to sharing her story and to building mental health support in our community. We we

One of my favorite parts of stories is that they are never done. Once we have told them, they shift and our past continues to be shaped by our future experiences.  That is why I wanted to start a "Storycatchers: Continuation" series, to capture the way our stories shift, grow or contract after we have told them. I could think of no better way to kick this series off than to check in with some of the tellers from our March Storycatchers: Voices from our Mental Health Community

What do cabin fever, a herd of goats and 3 expiring condoms have in common? Why, a love story of course! Listen as Storycatchers Jill brings us off the grid and into the heart of her very own love story. Listen to it HERE: https://soundcloud.com/storycatchers/jill-love-notes #storycatcherscommunity #storycatchersLive #storycatcherssessions

We are so excited to get to share the stories we capture in yet another way with our community - through a radio segment on 91.1 The Avenue on the new Arts and Culture Audio Magazine - Soul of the Cities. I've shared in the past how my brother Cory Chisel and I have spent much of our childhood producing and dreaming of our own radio shows - - and now? We get to bring those dreams to life. We believe in the power of sharing our stories and for amplifying the voices of our comm