About
About Vanessa
Like the folktales we’ll be exploring together, I am a tapestry of traits, and characteristics. I a dreamer, an adventurer and a storyteller. I’m a teacher, a life-long learner, and a writer. There are many strands of fabric, of histories and experiences woven together to bring me here to host this podcast. In a past life, I was a traveler, and an explorer. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in communication, my husband I taught English overseas. The experience was both exhilarating and challenging. After traveling and teaching for several years, I continued my education, earning an International MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Today, I am a writer, a wife, a mom and a podcaster
I am particularly drawn to folk stories because they are a representation of what we, as humans hold dear. Folktales attempt to explain the mysteries of the world, and name the magic that stitches our world together. They have always been some of my favorite stories to read to my children, I think because they speak to our desire to better understand this shared life experience.
On a more personal note, this podcast will hopefully give me further insight into a children’s book series I am writing.
About The Show
Folktales can be strange, mystical, macabre and intriguing. Join us as we explore the stories, culture and people behind the folklore. We go beyond retelling the legends, myths and fairy tales of old. We look at the story behind the lore, behind the songs and traditions to understand more about what they mean, and their importance. These stories, many originating as oral histories, inform us of what it means to be human; what it means to be an integral part of this Earth. Stories of magic and wonder bind us. They connect us through invisible strands, like the gossamer fibers of a spiders web. Folktales have the power to demonstrate how, although we live in drastically different locals, our hearts and minds beat as one human race. We are weaving the fabrics of our past and present stories, to help us better understand ourselves and to awaken us to a more compassionate and caring world community. As we explore the meaning of existence through folklore we hope to inspire future generations to lead with love and understanding.
Why?
As a parent of little children, and a lover of books, I found myself continuously checking out folktales from the library. We’d snuggle up together, crack open the book, and delight in discovering the creativity of a different culture through its folklore. My children and I found the folktales fascinating, but they always left me wanting more. I wanted to understand its origins and meaning. What was the story trying to tell us? Who were the people in the story? Were they based off true individuals, or were they entirely fictional? What was so important about this story that it survived oral tradition through the decades until it was transcribed into book form. Each story whether it be folktale, fairytale, myth or legend is like a mystery enclosed beneath the budding petals of a flower. I cannot wait to uncover the hidden depths of these stories and cultures, together, with you.
