Episode 2

When you were young did you have family members who liked to have you listen to their stories? Did you appreciate what they were passing on?

Do you like to share stories?

If you want to know more about the importance of storytelling, this episode is for you.

Before we begin…and to put something you’ll hear into context…think back to your high school days and that ACT test.

Do you remember what the highest possible score was? The one that put someone into the top .195% of the test takers.

It was 36. Keep that fact in mind as we proceed.

Our guest today is Octavia Sexton.

There are still a few people left among us who grew up in the oral storytelling tradition … where stories are told to entertain and to pass on life lessons and values. Octavia is one of those people.

She is doing her best to see that tradition continue.

Octavia is a Teaching Artist in Kentucky schools.

She uses stories to teach a variety of topics from writing and drama to cultural awareness. She also teaches in the prison system.

Here is an intriguing fact.

Octavia is a Master Artist for the Kentucky Folk Life Center. That’s a big deal. She will tell us what that means and how you might benefit from it.

Octavia is working on a new venture where she will reveal stories about the challenges women in Appalachia face. Challenges that you probably haven’t thought about.

It’s good to know that people are working to preserve the art of Storytelling. Especially a brilliant dedicated person like Octavia Sexton.

Her website is at www.octaviasexton.com and you can reach her with the contact form there.

If you like Action Steps at the end of a podcast, here are four to consider:

  1. Pay attention when an elder in your circle want to tell a story.
  2. Begin to collect some stories of your own.
  3. Attend a meeting of The Wandering Storytellers at Joseph-Beth Booksellers the third Monday of each month at 7:00 pm
  4. Subscribe to this podcast with your podcast app
  5. Check out Octavia’s website at www.octaviasexton.com

The next episode will feature storyteller Buck Creacy.

It will post on Saturday, March 7th.

Until then, let’s enjoy life. Bluegrass Life.