This is one of the great writing festivals, in one of the most spectacularly beautiful places on earth.  While still early in planning, you can see from their website that they have an impressive slate of writers. In addition to speaking at the conference, I'll be offering one of the master classes in the four days leading up to the conference.  More details to come, but if you're a writer and thinking to hone your craft in an inspiring setting with gifted teachers, drop me a line and I'll keep you posted.  More details, including my listing on their web site, will come shortly.  

Finding and Telling Our Healing Stories Rancho la Puerta is one of the most beautiful places in the world – and a perfect place for finding and sharing stories. Joel’s storytelling is one of many inspiring and healing offerings throughout the week at the ranch, from yoga to meditation to hiking to dance to lectures, all with fantastic, healthy food. It varies each week, so check out their web site to get a full sense of what Rancho la Puerta offers, their rates and so on.   As for storytelling, Joel will kick off the week with an evening presentation on “Stories of Wisdom, Stories of Healing.” The class portion of Joel’s teaching runs 45 minutes over the course of four days, gathered around a beautiful stone fireplace in the Oaktree Pavilion. While our stories naturally spill over into other activities, the week at Rancho la Puerta shouldn’t be seen as a storytelling intensive, but as a wonderful healing experience, in which stories play a part. The focus of those workshops will be to find and tell those stories that lie hidden in the distant corners or our memories and imaginations, treasures amidst the detritus of life. When we discover these stories, they can bring back wisdom we gained long ago, but have somehow forgotten. And when we share these stories, they can bring about a healing of the spirit, which is something we all need.  

Come by the Wu Wei Tea Temple in Fairfax, Marin County on Tuesday night, where Joel will be the featured teller.  It's  delightful venue for hearing and telling stories - and perfect for a late April fools day celebration.  As the saying goes, "There's no fool like a late fool!" I'll be telling folk stories, centering on questions, as befits this time of year, with Passover just around the corner.   The crowd is warm and welcoming, the tea and treats are a delight ("Enhance your listening pleasure with a pot of exotic tea, calming kava, robust bone broth, or scintillating chocolate!")  Admission is free, with a hat passed at the end for donations, and books and CDs available afterwards. See you there!

  What better way to usher in the choliday season that with Chanukkah stories and music?  And where better to hear such stories than at Ashkenaz? Joel will be spinning traditional Yiddish folktales from Chelm, the mythical town of fools, located in the Jewish imagination somewhere on the road from Warsaw and Chotzenplotz.  Though these stories are fun anywhere, any time, they're particularly delightful around Kchaanukkah, which starts one week later, and best of all with Klezmer music by Saul Goodman. You'll discover just how the very first schlemiel came to be, hear other Yiddish tales, and pick up some favorite new Yiddish words as well.  There will also be a first-ever Honukkah spelling bee, with prizes, and activities by PJ Our Way, publishers of a special edition of Dreidels on the Brain. This event is also co-sponsored by Silk Road House, beloved home to storytelling in Berkeley. Tickets are $15 in advance (at Ashkenaz website) $20 on the day of, with kids 12-under free.  Best for children ages five and up.     For this evening’s concert, Saul Goodman's Klezmer Band will feature Mike Perlmutter on clarinet and bass clarinet, Dave Rosenfeld on mandolin and violin, Ilana Sherer on violin, Dan Cantrell on accordion, Jonathan Simon on xylophone, percussion, and foley, and Aaron Kierbal on drums.   Unfortunately, Saul Goodman himself - who has not been seen in many a year - will be present only in spirit. Currently he's being held in...

Sponsored by Stagebridge, this three hour zoom session is a great way to discover, craft, and tell the stories of your life.  Tellers of all levels are welcome. Sign up at stagebridge.org

Come to Rancho la Puerta in Tecate, Mexico! Joel will be telling stories and leading a workshop to help participants find and tell stories from their lives.

Come to Rancho la Puerta, for a week rich in wellness, exercise, delicious food... and stories! The theme this week is "Stories of Grace and Gratitude," just the thing to prepare for the holiday season.

  A great introduction to storytelling through StageBridge, the nation's oldest 50+ performing arts training organization. This is a four session zoom class running on Thursday morning Dec 1, 8, 15 & 22. Go to Stagebridge.com for more information and to register.

  At a time when we really need something inspiring and hopeful, come by this lovely event in Los Altos, as Jewish Organizations from around the bay sponsor a day focused on sustainability and a brighter future. Joel will be spinning tales that do what stories do so well, helping us to imagine and create a better world. The event takes place at Congregation Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills, CA It starts at 11:00 with Joel's storytelling at 12:40, but come early and check out all kinds of great displays and booths, perfect for kids and families. Click here to learn more... note that while the event is free, registration is required. PRINT VERSION-Sustainability Fair Flyer