Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas. The work you do is important. Mothers make the world go round! Episode 51, we're celebrating American Revolutionary Mothers and their accomplishments with historian, author, playwright, actress and storyteller Darci Tucker. She is the author of a one-woman play, Revolutionary Women, and the book ‘Embodying the Story through Character Interpretation'. We focus on two incredible women, Jane Long, nicknamed "Mother of Texas" and her contributions behind-the-scenes during the Republic of Texas's creation, and Deborah Sampson, a woman who disguised herself as a man to fight in the elite forces in the American Revolutionary War. We also discuss the challenges faced by historical women and how the role of motherhood has changed. This is an episode, you won't want to miss!

Darci's Website: https://americanlives.net/

🎭 Combining History and Storytelling

• Focus on character interpretation and historical interactions
• Traveling and working with kids for storytelling

🗣️ Character Development

• Exploration of character accents and speech
• Utilizing poetry for word rhyming and language authenticity
• Incorporating audience questions for interactive performances

📚 One Woman Plays

• Performance settings include schools and online platforms
• Importance of engaging with young audiences
• Balancing multiple character roles in storytelling

💡 Writing and Research

• Creating a guide for character interpretation
• Emphasizing the selection of compelling, lesser-known characters
• Tips on research, scripting, and performance for historical storytelling

🌟 Mother's Influence

• Impact of historical mothers on personal and professional life

Outline:

• 03:21: Darci Tucker's experience in character interpretation and storytelling.
• 04:08: Darci Tucker's journey of combining history and storytelling.
• 05:37: Challenges in creating characters without voice recordings.
• 06:37: Exploring accents and speech patterns for historical characters.
• 07:37: Research process and character development for performances.
• 09:45: Audience interaction and improvisation during performances.
• 10:48: Developing characters through writing and research.
• 28:25: Discussion on historical women's perspectives in documents.
• 29:08: Contrasting diaries of men and women in historical context.
• 37:00 All about Deborah Sampson
• 38:00 Foster system pre-revolutionary war
• 43:00 How it was discovered Deborah was a woman
• 51:00 Jane Long’s story
• 56:00 Jane delivers her baby by herself
• 1:00:00 Why Jane Long is called The Mother of Texas
• 1:03:06: Details about Darci Tucker's book on character interpretation.

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Why does the Welsh flag have a dragon on it? In episode 50 with fairy tale author Claire Fayers, we explore this and more Welsh folklore mysteries. In our discussion, Claire, author of 'Welsh Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends', gives us insights into Welsh language revival efforts and the resurgence of interest in Celtic traditions. Claire was born and brought up in South Wales and has built a successful writing career, including her award-winning children’s book The Accidental Pirates: Voyage to Magical North. We explore the darker themes of traditional fairy tales, her creative writing process, and how fairy tale retellings are adapted for modern audiences. Other questions we discuss based off her fairy tale adaptations include, should you ever trust the magical Tylwyth Teg and how did the town of Beddgelert get its name? Don't miss this fun episode!

Links: https://clairefayers.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Welsh-Fairy-Tales-Myths-Legends/dp/0702305510

Notes:

📚 Claire's Writing Career

• She built a successful writing career, including the award-winning children's book "The Accidental Pirates Voyage to Magical North."
• Claire has written eight books, including "Fairy Tales, Myths, and Legends."

🗣 Language Preservation

• Importance of language in preserving culture and identity discussed.
• Bilingual programs and changing attitudes towards speaking multiple languages mentioned.

📖 Research Methods

• Claire collects information by talking to people and research
• Stories are often passed down through generations with variations.

📚 Story Selection

• Claire carefully selects stories that are relatable for children and can connect with them.
• Some stories needed adjustments to make them more suitable for younger audiences.

🔍 Challenges of Retelling Stories

• Adapting stories to be more relatable for children was a challenge.
• Making the stories engaging and suitable for schools and storytimes.

🌟 Impact of Storytelling

• Sharing stories helps in connecting people and preserving cultural heritage.
• Stories reflect the values and experiences of different cultures.

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What musical traditions do you enjoy? In our conversation with Juan Dies the Co-Founder & Executive Director the two-time GRAMMY Nominated Sones de Mexico Ensemble in episode 49, we discuss the importance of folklore in reflecting society's values and how music can be a tool to discover and embrace one's heritage. Raised in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Juan first developed a passion for music, learning to play the guitar at age six. At age 18, he migrated to the U.S. and explored new musical styles including jazz, folk, reggae and rock. He served as Director of Community Programs for Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music before co-founding Sones de Mexico Ensemble. Juan shares insights into Mexican folklore, showcasing the importance of cultural preservation through education. We also chat about narratives like corridos which are tragic ballads steeped in history and tradition, to underscore the power of storytelling in maintaining heritage. This is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Sones de Mexico: https://sonesdemexico.com/

Timestamps:
• 02:12 Journey into Ethnomusicology
• 07:29: Discovery of interest in anthropology and comparative cultures.
• 13:19: Contrasting anthropology and folklorist approaches to studying culture.
• 14:54: Folklorists reconstructing unwritten history and focusing on oral traditions.
• 16:03: Historical geographical method in studying Europe's unwritten history.
• 23:47: Application of oral literature theories to various art forms.
• 27:42: History of ethnomusicology and exploration of diverse musical systems.
• 32:00: Research project with a multidisciplinary team.
• 45:13: Transition to Sones de Mexico Ensemble
• 1:00:18: Introduction to corridos as storytelling ballads.
• 1:03:47: Teaching individuals to write corridos
• 1:06:02: Development of recitation in English for corridos with subtitles.
• 1:10:58: Importance of cultural education for age groups 9 to 14.
• 1:12:06: Benefits of starting cultural education at a young age.

Notes:
🎼 Background and Interest in Ethnomusicology
• Juan discussed his background, comparing cultures and exploring beyond his local world.
• Introduced to ethnomusicology by a professor, leading him to attend the Society for Ethnomusicology meeting.
• **Interest in vernacular music, American pop music, Mexican music, and African music sparked his journey into ethnomusicology.
🌍 Exploration of Spanish and Mexican Music
• Juan traveled to Spain and Kenya to learn about their music languages.
• Shared insights into Spanish and Mexican music, exploring different regions and music styles.
🎤 Corridos and Storytelling
• Juan specializes in corridos, a genre he teaches others to write based on local stories.
• Described corridos as being delivered journalistically, often including humor about past events.
📚 Teaching Approach and Language
• Juan teaches music classes exclusively in Spanish to provide a unique learning experience.
• Emphasized the importance of starting music education early for better results in the future.

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