Monster Baby #70 What’s Your Story?

Lisa Rowland and Ted DesMaisons

Should you tell your story—or step out of it?

Storytelling: it’s a topic that lies at the center of both improvisation and mindfulness practices. After recognizing that this episode has been a long time coming (2:14), Ted and Lisa dive into how foundational stories are, starting with the example of the stories we tell in relationship (7:18). Lisa describes her own brand of storytelling and offers a bread-related example of the mind as lightning-quick storyteller (15:02). She then posits that perhaps improv and mindfulness help us transcend human nature by helping us loosen the grip of our stories (21:21) before Ted asks just what we mean by “story” (27:44). Together, they describe the helpful structure of “The Story Spine” (31:05) and Ted offers another definition: that stories are explanations that make sense of the world—and that we then live so as to make them true! (38:22). The pair wonders if we need stories or personal stories and Ted wonders if he needs to keep his mementos and other stuff from the past (43:33). Lisa offers up two rules for life and Ted wonders if we’re here for a reason (57:46). Lisa explains how thinking of ourselves as characters is a story can help get us through hard times (1:01:26) and reminds us that we’ve got options to the dominant masculine form of storytelling (1:03:55). The usual Outro shares Lisa’s and Ted’s reflections on the episode itself (1:08:16).

If there’s something in the episode that brings you particular joy—or raises a question—feel free to write us at info@monsterbabypodcast.com.

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For more info or to order Ted’s Monster-Baby-inspired new book, Playful Mindfulness, visit www.playfulmindfulness.info.

San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived.

Featured image courtesy of javcon117 on flickr.com

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