Episode 15

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Published on:

3rd Aug 2026

World Storytelling Cafe

From Cork to New York in Marrakech: Stories at the World Storytelling Cafe

Jim Brulé hosts a special “From Cork to New York” podcast episode from the street-side World Storytelling Cafe in Marrakech, Morocco, noting that background city sounds are part of the setting and that the transcript is less precise than usual; Maria is absent. Resident storyteller Omar Belaarej joins, along with local guests Nawal, Haniya, Maya, Yusra, and Shema. Jim tells a Jewish tale, “The Reincarnated Maggid,” then Omar shares a Marrakech story about Mohammed the water seller whose sweet raisin drink and proverb lead to success and expose a scheming vizier. Jim follows with an Afghan story about a contented poor man whose faith outsmarts a king, and Shema tells a humorous personal story about sharing a taxi with a “business” chicken. They discuss storytelling’s power to connect across differences, including therapeutic benefits, and Omar promotes the Cafe and Marrakech International Storytelling Festival, including a Guinness record for over 80 hours of continuous storytelling and broader workshops and school visits.

00:00 Bonus - World Storytelling Cafe

03:21 Being a Maggid

03:53 The Reincarnated Maggid

12:04 The Guests Arrive

18:38 The Tale of the Water Seller

38:36 The King and the Shoemaker

46:12 The Chicken Taxi Story

49:13 The Power and Purpose of Storytelling

56:43 Bridging Differences: The Brothers Three

01:00:16 The World Storytelling Cafe & Festival

01:08:24 Closing Thoughts and Thanks

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About the Podcast

From Cork to New York

A cross cultural story bridge connecting the narrative traditions of Ireland and the United States - and beyond.

"From Cork to New York" acts as a cross-cultural Story Bridge, stitching together the rich narrative traditions of Ireland and the United States while welcoming guests from a vast array of cultures around the world. By gathering these diverse international voices to share their unique crafts, the show creates a rich space where global perspectives meet, mingle, and find common ground. At its heart, the podcast explores the concept of transformational storytelling, delving into how narratives - both ancient and modern - can foster community healing and personal growth across the globe. It serves as a vital digital thread connecting distant shores, using the deep-rooted ties between Cork and New York as a foundation for a truly global conversation.

About your hosts

Jim Brulé

Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, death doula, teacher, and mentor, drawing on a unique background that encompasses advanced degrees in both clinical psychology and artificial intelligence. For the past seven years, he has directed Transformational Storytelling, an online school accredited by the National Storytelling Network. This global community trains spiritual storytellers from diverse traditions to craft narratives that inspire healing and foster spiritual growth.

Co-authored with Rebecca Lemaire, his book 'Stories of the Heart' presents 18 global tales for navigating life and death. https://StoriesOfTheHeartBook.com/

Jim is the recipient of the 2025 Oracle Regional Service & Leadership Award (Northeast Region), and participated in setting the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous oral storytelling at the 2025 Marrakech International Storytelling Festival.

Jim's classes, workshops, and communities embody his dedication to multicultural wisdom, grounded in the belief that true abundance arises from interconnected generosity and gratitude. You can learn more here: https://TransformationalStorytelling.org/

Maria Gillen

Maria is the current Storyteller in Residence for the Kerry Writers Museum. She is a well known Bean An Tí (Irish Session Host) on the Irish Storytelling Circuit. She loves listening to stories and will tell a story at the drop of a hat. She loves co-creating stories with anyone ‘from the cradle to the grave’. She believes deeply in the power of stories to build communities, heal prejudice and to build resilience. She is a member of IACAT (Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapists). She is an award-winning storyteller, having won the longest-running Story Competition in Ireland - Finuge - twice and the Butter Roads Storytelling Competition.

Maria was the Irish Storyteller in Residence for Kerry Writers Museum from 2019 to 2022. She was the Artistic Director for the Listowel International Storytelling Festival 2020 to 2022. Maria is currently working as an archivist with Sheahan’s Storytelling Cottage in Finuge – a 300 year old traditional Rambling House in Finuge, Co. Kerry

She is a well-known popular storyteller on the storytelling circuit in Ireland and on the Cyberspace Platform. She is a well-known Bean An Tí (Irish Session Host) on the Irish Storytelling Circuit.

She is the preferred storyteller of Colette Travel Agency (the oldest existing travel agency based in the USA) for their premium storytelling experience in Cork. Maria delivers stories of Ireland’s Ancient East, Wild Atlantic Way, the Diaspora bond with America and the impressive history of Cork City and Cobh Harbour.