There are many, many people and companies talking about the power of storytelling these days, and I am so glad that the teaching of this effective tool is becoming available. Having worked with hundreds of folks old and young to share their stories, I have had the privilege to facilitate the self-discovery and story-crafting process again and again.Yet, something is critically missing in this conversation. In the celebration of storytelling, we are forgetting to recognize the counterpart, the part that is absolutely necessary to make stories matter: listening.

Listening is where the magic lies.

A couple weeks ago, RFRS storyteller Christopher Wang received a beautiful feature story in the June issue of Sunset Magazine.

Knowing that Real Food Real Stories played a small but significant role in setting Christopher up for success, I was elated and proud of all the hard work our team is committing to food system changemakers.

Christopher says, “ A year after giving a talk with Real Food Real Stories and some first wavering steps out into the light, this happens.... Thanks Pei-Ru Ko and Real Food Real Stories. If not for such an engaged and dynamic audience, I wouldn't have been encouraged to be brave even to step out even further.”

Christopher’s words affirmed that the courage to step up is every bit because of your listening.

“Throughout it, I could feel how dialed in the audience was. Feeling seen and heard, feeling vulnerable but received – it was as if all those eyes looking in on me made me see myself more clearly.”

Listening instills courage. Listening is the grail, the sword, the ring. It empowers each of our storytellers to continue making the change they want to see in the world.

We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that something deep inside us is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.

E.E. CUMMINGS

THANK YOU, RFRS Listeners.

- Pei-Ru Ko

[A call for your story] We want to know how listening to a RFRS Storyteller has impacted your life! We know through the grapevine that many of you now shop differently, visit our storytellers, and even joined the food movement in some bigger way. Please share your stories in comments on our Facebook post or join us on 6/25 for an opportunity experience our movement!

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To learn more: Watch Christopher Wang’s RFRS storytelling video here.

To listen: 6/25 RFRS Picnic x Karen Leibowitz of The Perennial seats available here.