The Clever Wish

Send us a textIn this episode I share a story about a hunter who is haunted by ghosts before encountering a wolf.I reflect upon Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025 and talk about the storytelling and shadow puppetry show, "A Wolf Shall Devour the Sun'.I mention my substack page "Rekindling the Hearth" https://deeprootscommunity.substack.com/aswell as upcoming festivals in the Glens of Antrim, Bray, and the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.

Send us a textThis episode features a live telling of an Irish/Scottish folk tale, "The Clever Wish". Recorded at the Hearth Fire Sessions in Edinburgh in November 24, this episode previews the launch of the sessions again this year, starting on World Storytelling Day.This story is a favourite for all ages ,and it's riddle some quality makes it particularly satisfying to tell.Stay up to date with all my storytelling offerings, including story coaching by joining the mailing list:https://sendfox.com/dougiemackaystoryemail enquiries to:[email protected] cultural activities and retreats in the Scottish Highlands at:https://www.theshielingcollective.com/events-1Support this podcast via Kofi:https://ko-fi.com/dougiemackaystory

Send us a textLive recording from the banks of the River Tweed in the south of Scotland. The sun is shining, the frost is sparkling and the otters are swimming.This episode shares musings on creativity, creating moments of wonder amidst modernity, the polar pulls of to-do-lists and the wild, Fionn's true seeing and the poetry of the Otter.It's a bit different from previous episodes but I enjoyed it and hopefully you do too.If you'd like to stay up to date with story offerings and resources you can join my mailing  list via:https://sendfox.com/dougiemackaystoryOr follow me on instagram @dougie.mackay.storyIf you'd like to support this podcast you can make a donation, to the price of a hot drink via my Kofi page:https://ko-fi.com/dougiemackaystoryIf you've enjoyed the podcast, reviews, comments and shares are much appreciated!Thanks for listening.

Send us a textIn this episode I give updates from the Marrakech International Storytelling Festival and share two short stories from the region.The stories are of a character famed through the Arab world, the wise fool, often known as Hodja, or the Mullah Nasruddin, but in North Africa he is known as 'Djoha'.I recently told one of these stories at a school in the Atlas Mountains to the delight of many school pupils............Stay in the loop with my storytelling offerings through the year via:sandfox.com/dougiemackaystoryInstagram: @dougie.mackay.storystoryconnection.org.......Read about the Marakesh international storytelling festival here:https://worldstorytellingcafe.com/marrakech-international-storytelling-festival/or our Guiness world record success:https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2025/01/367971/marrakech-breaks-guinness-world-record-for-longest-storytelling-sessionThe Last Storytellers by Richard Hamilton:https://www.richard-hamilton.com/the-last-storytellers/Cafe Clockhttps://www.cafeclock.com/marrakech

Send us a textAs a prequel to my upcoming tour of British Columbia I speak with Tad Hargrave, best known for his Marketing for Hippies movement, but also eloquent in culture making and something of a storyteller, improv actor and street magician. You want this guy at your party!In our conversation we touch upon his own path to discover of the richness of his Celtic heritage, learning from cultural heavyweights such as Stephen Jenkinson,  discuss indigenous knowledge, heritage crafts, and trans Atlantic idea sharing. We reference at least one road trip and a selection of Scottish storytelling elders, and finish with a story about the gold in one's own home.There's also a traveller anecdote in there that makes me laugh out loud!We discuss my upcoming storytelling tour of British Columbia and Washington state and why he felt to instigate the trip.Find out about the BC tour here:storyconnection.org/bctour/Read about Tad's culture making here:https://substack.com/profile/39800440-tad-hargraveSort your business out whilst maintaining your hippie credentials here:https://marketingforhippies.com/My live dates and online events:https://linktr.ee/dougiemackayMy newsletter (where all the good stuff goes first):https://sendfox.com/dougiemackaystoryThanks for listening!

Send us a textIn this episode I discuss 'applied storytelling' as well as performance with Glasgow based storyteller Dan Serridge.We dive into story as a tool for community engagement and how it can break down barriers.Dan shares his experience of walking the border between England and Scotland, whilst musing the classic tale of Thomas the Rhymer, and his own experience of loss. How do we return changed from a trip to the underworld?This theme continues, using the greek myth of orpheus as a means to process grief, and we discuss the role of story in challenging moments.The tone lightens as we share riddles and warm up for a 'Feast of Fools' finale, and Dan tells a tale of a character who aims to gain some luck by sprinkling salt on a magpie's tale...easier said than done!......Links mentioned in the show:Dougie's mailing list: https://sendfox.com/dougiemackaystoryDan's website: https://danstoryman.co.uk/Federation for European Storytellers: https://fest-network.eu/Village Storytelling Festival: https://www.villagestorytelling.org.uk/festival/

Send us a textIn this episode I catch up with Lucy O'Hagan about her wilderness programmes in Ireland. We range from local myths of Lugh and Balor of the evil eye, to the Belfast Punk scene, snow shelters in Norway, cave dwelling in Dordogne, and the teepee outside Galway where we met.To find out more about Lucy's work:https://www.wildawake.ie/To stay tuned for more story offerings:https://sendfox.com/dougiemackaystoryLynx Vilden's Lithica project:https://www.lithica.earth/

Send us a textThis episode features a live recording of a story told at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 23. It's a version of one of the stories I first fell in love with many years ago and has sublime musical accompaniment from the talented Rachel Newton...aswell as some random audience participation and suggestion!I also comment on various features of the storytelling festival including the Basket of Stories project and finish with a poem from a prominent Palestinian poet.Mentioned in the show is the Another Story Podcast, the online Voices of Celtic Wisdom course and my mailing list, each linked below.Voices of Celtic Wisdom:https://weaving-remembrance.mykajabi.com/a/2147716521/EiCWvZ7TMailing list: https://sendfox.com/dougiemackaystoryAnother story podcast:https://www.sisf.org.uk/another-story-podcast/

Send us a textIn the episode I give a nod to my recent trip to Norway for a primitive skills gathering by telling a hunting tale from Sierra Leone. I also share a 'Revolting Rhyme' version of the Norwegian folk tale, the Three Billy Goats Gruff, inspired by irreverent British-Danish author Roald Dahl.There is some commentary on my time in Norway and the story too.If you'd like to support this podcast you can make a donation, to the price of a hot drink via my Kofi page:https://ko-fi.com/dougiemackaystoryIf you'd like to stay up to date with story offerings and resources you can join my mailing  list via:https://sendfox.com/dougiemackaystoryOr follow me on instagram @dougie.mackay.storyIf you've enjoyed the podcast, reviews, comments and shares are much appreciated!Thanks for listening.

Send us a textIn this episode I discuss rewilding with Daan Timmers, whom I met at the Lithica ancestral skills gathering in Norway.We reflect upon our experience at the Lithica Gathering highlighting the sense of community and connection and value of reconnecting with nature and each other in a world that often prioritizes individuality. We discuss the joy of learning and practicing ancient skills, as well as the intangible magic that occurs when people come together in such settings. We cover concept of rewilding, not only in terms of the natural environment but also in relation to rewilding humans and returning to a more natural state of being. We also touch upon the significance of storytelling in teaching and connecting with others, its ability to engage the heart and impart wisdom. Daan shares the story of the 'Mastership of the knife'.Follow Daan @daan_gaat_wild (insta)Support the podcast via Kofi: https://ko-fi.com/dougiemackaystorySign up to story updates and resources:https://sendfox.com/dougiemackaystory