The Story Talks Back

Michael Horton: Secrets of Hollywood storytellers -- in front of the camera and behind the scenes

In this candid and wide-ranging interview, a veteran actor reveals the secrets of great Hollywood storytelling -- in front of the camera and behind. In a career spanning four decades, Michael Horton acted in dozens of TV-land’s most celebrated series, including “Murder, She Wrote,” “M*A*S*H,” “Taxi,” “Hill Street Blues,” “LA Law,” and “ER." He also gave voice to characters in numerous animated series and appeared in over 2,000 TV and radio commercials. On stage, Horton has appeared in several of Shakespeare’s plays at the famed Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and many other theatres. Most recently he has been co-host of the Digital Production Buzz podcast and is organizer and moderator for the Creative Pro User Group, which brings together thousands of behind-the-scenes Hollywood professionals to share tips and accomplishments. #hollywood #acting #actingstories #filmstories #hollywoodstories #actingsecrets #actingtips #greatactors #shakespeare #shakespeareanactors #behindthescenesmovies #behindthescenestv #classiccommercials #TVcommercials #TVstories #classicTVshows #MASH #murdershewrote #ERshow #LALaw #hillstreetblues #startrek #movieeditors #movieediting #belowtheline #IATSE #makeupartists #onsetstories #filmdirectors

Preview: Michael Horton on Hollywood‘s ”hidden” storytellers

As an actor, Michael Horton appeared in dozens of TV shows and movies across a career that spanned four decades -- from "M*A*S*H" to "Hill Street Blues" to "Star Trek: Voyager." But in recent years he has devoted himself to helping Hollywood's behind-the-scenes professionals, facilitating a recurring "meetup" in which editors, set designers, make-up artists, and others share tips and simply get to know each other. In this excerpt from our forthcoming interview with Horton, he talks about the importance of these crucial storytellers to the making of movies, TV shows -- and even commercials. #hollywood #hollywoodstories #moviestories #moviemagic #moviemaking #moviemakers #acting #editing #finalcutpro #makeupartists #setdesigners #hollywoodstrike #hillstreetblues #mash #startrekactors #startrekvoyager #murdershewrote #columbo #IATSE #AMPTP #filmeditors #filmproducers #stories #storytelling #storytellers

Laura Uplinger: Revealing stories of the womb and beyond

Is it possible that the most important months of your life -- the stories that have been shaping you ever since -- took place before you were born? Laura Uplinger is an educator and scholar focusing on our prenatal and peri-natal lives -- before and just after we were born. In this new interview, she explores how our awareness of and need for stories is part of us even before birth, and how stories all around us when we are small influence us in profound ways. Over more than 30 years, Uplinger has conducted workshops and presentations at conferences in Europe, North America and South America. She served for eleven years on the board of directors of APPPAH, the Association for Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology and Health. Currently, she is vice president of Brazil’s National Association for Prenatal Education, or ANEP. Uplinger received a degree in Applied Psychology from the Sorbonne and has been a student of the spiritual teachings of Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov, for several decades. #prenatallife #prenataleducation #perinatallife #perinatalexperience #womblife #wombpsychology #prenatalwisdom #mothersandbabies #babies #beforebirth #psychology #appliedpsychology #sorbonne #aivanhov #prenatalcare #doula #midwife #birthcenter #waterbirth #calmbirth #naturalbirth #motherandbaby #traumaticbirth #prebirthtrauma #childhoodtrauma #prenatalcounseling 

Dani Shapiro: Unearthing stories of identity, faith, self-deception, and secrets

TSTB interviews Dani Shapiro -- the author of Inheritance, which became an instant New York Times best seller in January 2019. In this touching and insightful dialogue, Shapiro talks to a friend of 40+years -- TSTB host David Stanton -- about the extraordinary ways her own story has been disrupted, reinvented, and ultimately made whole again. She tells how stories and storytelling "saved her" in difficult times, and how she naturally assumed the role of observer and recorder of her world.

Shapiro's other books include the memoirs Hourglass, Still Writing, Devotion, and Slow Motion, as well as five novels. In February of 2019, Shapiro launched an original podcast, Family Secrets, which recently surpassed a remarkable 20 million downloads. Produced by iHeartMedia, the series features stories from guests who—like Shapiro — have uncovered life-altering secrets from their families’ pasts.

Shapiro has taught at Columbia and New York universities and has led writing workshops around the world. She is also cofounder of the Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano, Italy. Shapiro lives with her family in Litchfield County, Connecticut.

#danishapiro #memoir #storyteller #storytelling #stories #spiritualstories #marriagestories #devotion #hourglass #slowmotion #falsememory #lostparents #dnasurprises #dnatests #dnatestresults #familysecrets #secretparents #secretsrevealed #biologicalparents #podcasts #podcasthost #iheartmedia #oprah #oprahwinfrey #soulsunday #sharonsalzberg #genealogy #DNAtests #DNAsurprises #ancestrydotcom #genealogysurprises #DNAprivacy #genetics #genetictesting #dnadiscoveries @geneticdiscoveries

Preview: Dani Shapiro reveals the power of stories to shape -- and undermine -- our sense of self

In her nationwide best seller Inheritance, Dani Shapiro tells how her most fundamental sense of self -- the story of her own life -- was upended. Secrets held for decades unraveled in a matter of hours, and she learned that her feeling of being an outsider in her orthodox Jewish family was rooted in fact. This extraordinary experience has given Shapiro a front-row seat on the interplay of story, identity, and self-knowledge -- yielding sometimes painful but also liberating insights that she shares in this excerpt from our forthcoming full interview. Shapiro's other memoirs include Devotion, Slow Motion, and Hourglass, and she is the host of the iHeart Media podcast Family Secrets, which recently surpassed 20 million downloads. #familysecrets #inheritance #danishapiro #lostfamilies #dna #genetics #familyhistory #memoir #dnarevelations

Special edition: A centenary celebration of pianist and educator Jane Stanton

A pianist, visual artist, and educator, Jane Stanton (1921 - 2008) was the mother of TSTB creator and host David Stanton. In this program honoring what would have been her 100th birthday (August 2, 2021), Jane is remembered by three of her former students and colleagues -- talking about her passion for empowering students (especially women), her compassion as a friend and confidante, and her infectious love of music, from Debussy to Sinatra. #pianists #keyboardists #educators #greatteachers #inspiringteachers #musiceducators #musicteachers #graphicartrists #fashionartists #beveridgewebster #carlosbuhler #defalla #albeniz #debussy #newjerseyfederationofmusicclubs #sububanmusicstudyclub #caldwelluniversity #montclairstateuniversity

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor: Revealing the brain's innate connection to stories and storytelling

When Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor -- a Harvard trained brain scientist -- suffered a massive stroke in 1996, the experience set her on a journey of discovery that would touch people of all kinds and in all parts of the world. Her 2008 TED Talk was the first to go viral (it's now been seen by over 26 million people), and her best-selling book, My Stroke of Insight, continues to inform and inspire people with its extraordinary revelations about the brain and consciousness. Her latest book, Whole Brain Living, explores the four distinct "characters" that reside in everyone's brain -- and in this moving interview, she reveals how storytelling has been essential to her success as a scientist, and how each of us is biologically hard-wired to see the world through the lens of story. #stories #storytelling #storytellers #scientists #brainscience #braininjury #stroke #strokerecovery #strokestories #strokesurvivors #mystrokeofinsight #tedtalks #brainhemorrhage #brainfunction #drawingontherightsideofthebrain #STEM #STEMstories #STEMresearch #bestsellers

Preview: Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor on the power of audiences in storytelling

In her breakthrough 2008 TED Talk -- the first viral video in that now-storied series -- Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor took her audience on a remarkable journey. With passion and a powerful engagement, she told the story of her severe brain hemorrhage -- an incredible tale recounted in her New York Times best-seller My Stroke of Insight -- and what it taught her about life, intelligence, and the brain. Throughout her story, Dr. Taylor was deeply committed to bringing her audience along at every step -- even though it forced her to be painfully vulnerable about her experience. In this excerpt from our forthcoming interview, she talks about the importance of respecting and moving audiences in storytelling -- and how their simple presence can elevate your narrative. #mystrokeofinsight #strokestories #neurology #brainscience #braininjury #bestsellers #stories #storytellers #storytelling #TIMEinfluentialpeople #jillboltetaylor #TEDtalk #TEDtalks #oliversacks

Gary Husband: Two instruments, one storytelling voice

TSTB interviews Gary Husband, a unique "dual virtuoso" at home in many musical styles and settings. With an equal mastery of both keyboard and drums, Gary Husband has collaborated with a who’s-who of celebrated musicians in modern jazz and progressive rock. He has toured and recorded with John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, and Allan Holdsworth, and has also worked with the likes of Chick Corea, Robin Trower, Sir George Martin, Al Jarreau, and Quincy Jones.

Husband is currently in preparations for recording his 12th solo album, “One, ” and is creating a new electric album with guitarist Alf Terje Hana. Husband also appears -- playing both keyboard and drums -- on John McLaughlin’s upcoming album “Liberation Time.”

 #stories #storytelling #storytellers #fusionjazz #jazzmasters #milesdavis  #allanholdsworth #johnmclaughlin #jeffbeck #cream #jackbruce #musicalinterviews #virtuosos #composers #drummers #keyboardists

 

Preview: "Dual" virtuoso Gary Husband on improvising, composing, and "power of 3's" in musical storytelling

We are thrilled to share this excerpt of our forthcoming interview with Gary Husband, the virtuoso British drummer and keyboardist who has collaborated with a who's-who of fusion jazz and progressive rock -- from Jeff Beck and Jack Bruce to John McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth. Here Husband explores differences between composing and improvising in musical storytelling -- and the "power of 3's" in songwriting. Look for our full conversation with Gary in the near future! #stories #storytelling #allanholdsworth #johnmclaughlin #jeffbeck #cream #jackbruce #musicalinterviews #virtuosos #composers #drummers #keyboardists