Jay O'Callahan: The Power of Storytelling

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Published 2012-11-16
About this presentation

Jay O'Callahan has the rare distinction of traveling the world telling stories. Here, he introduces us to the power of storytelling -- that most human, and ancient, art form. Through the lens of a tale about NASA putting a man on the moon, O'Callahan illustrates how storytelling taps into our imagination, engages those around us, and inspires amazing achievements.

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1:57 As we get older, our minds get more literal, critical
3:16 Can you craft a told story?
4:09 Appreciations are gold
5:50 Be glad for any bit of beauty
6:21 Stories are people, place and trouble
7:33 NASA Story (told with imagination between Neil Armstrong and an Admiral)
16:45 Listeners, appreciation then criticism


About Jay O'Callahan

Jay O'Callahan has performed at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, National Theatre Complex in London, the Olympics, Lincoln Center, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The Associated Press has called Jay "a theater troupe inside one body," and the National Endowment of the Arts awarded him a fellowship for solo performance excellence.

Jay writes the plays and stories he performs. The hallmark of his talent is the passion he brings to big and small dramas of ordinary life. He recently completed "Forged in the Stars," a story commissioned by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) for their 50th anniversary.



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All Comments (10)
  • @homerdavis
    O'Callahan has been formative for me. Have never forgotten the stories I heard him tell as a kid. It's influenced my life and what I do for a living, 40 years later.
  • At 16:18 you will want to burst into applause just like I did. What a captivating story!
  • @foremount
    That was exceptional. I never heard storytelling like that before.
  • My mom use to take me to story telling conference's when i was young. Every year i looked forward to this amazing adventure. I thank you for that experience and now relay these stories to my children. Orange cheeks. Tar baby. Brare rabbit and many many more.
  • @SchisselDesign
    Most of us know the story about the lunar landing, but Mr. O'Callahan brought a new experience to a familiar story through his presentation technique.
  • @bladder1010
    That's all NASA has left these days -- stooooooooories...
  • @harley3990
    I’m listening to Herman and margeurite
  • @cuchulain55
    NO! no power it has no power all and only power lies with the REAL alone the great spirit/mystery the Grandfather. and he does not share it.