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Episode Summary
​
​Do we have the idea of "success" all wrong? Sure, defining it is unique to each person, but let's face it, we're inundated with cultural stories and measures of success. Stories that, frankly, can take an otherwise remarkable life experience and lay it to ruin. Too many of us struggle to live up to stories that aren't even our own. We end up feeling as though we've fallen short and, in so doing, miss the magic that surrounds us. In this episode of Story Mischief, Michael shares something of a manifesto, a call to reconsider the logic of "success," and invites listeners to explore a contrary yet complementary approach.
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Episode Notes

Brian Pearson's The Mystic Cave

Brian's website

​Story Mischief with Michael Trotta
​
​Mischievable -the weekly email that helps you better understand and use story to grow your life and your life's work in ways that feel authentic and achievable... make that mischievable! ​

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Episode Summary
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From a very young age, American children across the country are indoctrinated in cultural stories that are both untrue and harmful. While they hide behind kernels of truth, the stories of Columbus and The First Thanksgiving have served to create and  promote a national identity as well as a variety of political agenda's. Among these agenda's - the diminishment of crimes perpetuated against the indigenous people's of North America.  On this episode, Michael explores why we choose believe and promote stories that are untrue and cause harm to others.

Episode Notes
​
The First Thanksgiving in American Memory, Prof. Robert Tracy McKenzie

The Myths of the Thanksgiving Story and the Lasting Damage They Imbue, Claire Bugos, Smithsonian Magazine, November 2019

Why Do We Believe Liars, F. Diane Barth, NBC News online, April 18, 2019


Story Mischief with Michael Trotta
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• Mischievable -the weekly email that helps you better understand and use story to grow your life and your life's work in ways that feel authentic and achievable... make that mischievable! ​

​Listen on your favorite podcast platform:
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• Simplecast
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Episode Summary
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In the summer of 1999, everyone was talking about the Blair Witch Project. Rumors surrounded the movie's mysterious origins and some even swore the content was real, explaining the film was a collection of found tapes that documented the final days of 3 student filmmakers who in real life were listed as "missing" or "presumed dead." Fortunately, on this episode of Story Mischief, Michael C. Williams, one of those missing filmmakers back from the dead, helps to peel back the many layers of story that took the country by storm, shaped our culture, his life, and paved the way for a whole new kind of storytelling.

Episode Notes
​
The Blair Witch Project

• IMDB
• Amazon

Grafton the Movie

Fish The Shed (Fly Fishing the Croton Water Shed)


Story Mischief with Michael Trotta
​

• Mischievable -the weekly email that helps you better understand and use story to grow your life and your life's work in ways that feel authentic and achievable... make that mischievable! ​

Episode Summary
In this weeks episode, Michael speaks with end-of-life-counselor, teacher, and filmmaker, Dr. Martha Jo Atkins. Together they explore the Nez Perce tale, Coyote and the Shadow People. One in which Coyote, along with his old buddy, Death, travel to the land where his wife is waiting. Coyote goes with the hope that he might return his beloved to the land of the living so they may take up their lives once more. Perhaps odd to the logical mind, there is something captured in this story that reflects the experience of loss and the hope that often comes with it. Be sure to check out Part 1 to hear the story. ​

Episode Notes

Dr. Martha Jo Atkins

Mischievable - The free weekly email that helps you better understand and use story to grow your life and your life's work in ways that feel authentic and achievable.

​Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform:
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• Apple Podcasts
• Simplecast
• Spotify
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Episode Summary
Trickster stories have a funny way of turning what we think we know, upside-down. This provides us with an opportunity to challenge our assumptions and question our thinking. In this weeks episode, Michael lays the groundwork for a conversation with end-of-life-counselor, teacher, and filmmaker, Dr. Martha Jo Atkins (in Part 2). But first, here's your opportunity to have your own experience with this coyote story from the Nez Perce people of the Pacific Northwest. In it, Coyote travels with Death to the land of the Shadow People, offering us insights as to how death as we know it came in to being and some subtle clues about what may be going on beyond the sight of the living. 

Episode Notes


Dr. Martha Jo Atkins

Mischievable - The free weekly email that helps you better understand and use story to grow your life and your life's work in ways that feel authentic and achievable.

Episode Summary
Having great stories to engage with is important but it's all for naught if you don't know how to "be" with them. Most of us have been taught to dismantle stories. To break them apart and down into their essential parts in hopes of discovering the soul that dwells within. But it doesn't work that way. On this episode of Story Mischief, Michael explores a new (old) way of being with a story. Encouraging the old idea that the story knows what to do if we are willing to make space and let it. 

Episode Notes

Mischievable - The free weekly email that helps you better understand and use story to grow your life and your life's work in ways that feel authentic and achievable.

Episode Summary
If the ancient gods where to be named, for sure one would be called Myth and another Music. Both have had similar shaping influences on our species and on this episode, we discuss the relationship between the two. Joining Michael is musical medicine woman, Cara Trezise. A performance artist based in Vermont, Cara has a passion for live in music, theater, clowning, improvisation, dance, world cultures, social justice, being in nature and anything sparkly. 
Cara uses music as a vehicle for healing and connection which we'll get a heart-felt, ear-filled sample of.

​

Episode Notes

To learn more about:

Cara Trezise
and CaraMiaMusic.com


To learn more about :
Michael Trotta and Story Mischief

Episode Summary
There are some stories that should be required reading of high school students. Or better yet, told, as they were meant to be, and this is one of those stories. It calls out the shadow masculine that so many have suffered under while at the same time invokes the true spirit of feminine strength and wisdom bidding it to stand up and become. Joining Michael for this weeks exploration is Nature-based Mentor and ceremonial facilitator, Lynn Trotta.

Episode Notes
To learn more about:
Lynn Trotta ,
​ Exploring Sacred Nature 

To learn more about
 Sharon Blackie,
If Women Rose Rooted

To learn more about:
Michael Trotta , Story Mischief
The School of Myth & Mischief

Episode Summary
There are many stories about what happens at the end of our lives. Some suggest the questions we'll be asked or even those we will ask of ourselves as we stand in judgement of the lives we lived. The story of Zushia suggests that even if we live well, there will be one thing that we will have to account for. "One thing that not even God could have prevented us from accomplishing." Find out what that is and what is might take to making happen. Michael's guest is Erin Geesaman Rabke, Somatic Naturalist, Embodiment Mentor, and Co-host of the Embodiment Matters Podcast

Episode Notes

To learn more about:

Erin Geesaman Rabke and Embodiment Matters


To learn more about:

Michael Trotta and Story Mischief ​

Episode Summary:
​
I pity the fool! But not always. Sometimes the fool, whether playing one or inviting one into your life, can be a wonderful thing. And of course there are times when the fool is just out right dangerous. Understanding how to discern and work with the different aspects of this archetypal figure can open doors to understanding and success that you may not have found any other way. To do this, Michael breaks down the genius of actor, comedian, and professional fool Sacha Baron Cohn. ​

Episode Notes:
​
Sacha Baron Cohen

• Borat
• Bruno
• Ali G

Vikrum Gandhi

• Kumare
  
  

Simon Senik - Be the Idiot

As a quick reference, the below diagram illustrates the archetypal qualities and attributes of the Fool in balance, too little, or too much. There is further explanation of how to use this on the podcast. This approach to working with archetypes was adapted from King, Warrior, Magician, Lover, by Robert Moore and Gillette (1991).


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