Short, true stories – told by the people who lived them – are the focus of a new podcast dropping this Thursday, Nov. 12.
“Good Faith Stories” is a new podcast series from Good Faith Media that highlights storytelling.
“I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like a good story,” said GFM Media Producer Cliff Vaughn, who is producing the podcast series. “Stories do so much. They focus our attention. They make us feel. They remind us of what it means to be human. They connect us to each other – and remind us that we are not alone.”
Each episode of “Good Faith Stories” is about 30 minutes and features four or so stories. All the stories are loosely gathered around a theme.
This first episode – themed “mission” – features stories from Vaughn, Jack Moline, Cynthia Holmes and Sam Harrell.
Moline is a rabbi and president of the Interfaith Alliance in Washington, D.C. Holmes is an attorney from St. Louis. Harrell serves with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in global missions.
“These stories point to the depth and breadth of human experience,” Vaughn said. “And in our case, because these are ‘good faith stories,’ they shed indirect light on the role of faith in our lives.”
Vaughn says “indirect light” because the project is very intentional: no sermons, no lectures, no philosophizing.
“Just tell a story,” Vaughn said, “and trust that it will be enough for the listener. It will be.”
Vaughn was inspired by The Moth, which spreads the joy of stories and storytelling through podcasts, radio and live (and now virtual) events.
“The Moth encourages its storytellers not to be preachy, and that’s good advice for people who want to tell a story,” Vaughn said. “Preaching has a place, but it’s not in this podcast series.”
The new podcast series is doubly appropriate for pandemic times.
“The pandemic has obviously restricted our travel and ability to record things in person with people,” he said. “At the same time, our need to feel connected in these days is immense. So, asking people to work with us to tell and record their own stories seemed like a good thing to do.”
Starlette Thomas, a minister and author who also writes for Good Faith Media, hosts the first episode.
“Good Faith Media is thrilled to release our newest podcast, Good Faith Stories. As we travel among people of good faith, we are encouraged and challenged by their powerful stories,” said Mitch Randall, CEO of Good Faith Media. “We can’t wait to share them with you! From creative genius and media producer Cliff Vaughn, prepare for your own faith to be galvanized by tales of radical love and bold perseverance.”
Episode one of “Good Faith Stories” releases this Friday, wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen online at GoodFaithMedia.org/good-faith-stories.
Vaughn also encourages readers and listeners to get in touch about the possibility of sharing their stories.
“We’ll release episodes as we have stories,” Vaughn said. “I’ve got more stories in the can already from a lawyer, a businessman, a CEO, a minister, an author – and each is just gripping. But I have to ask a lot to get a few.”
“A lot of people think they can’t tell a story,” Vaughn said. “I think they can. It takes a little work, but it’s worth it. When we tell our stories to each other, we build empathy. Don’t we need more of that?”
Interested in telling a story for the podcast? Producer Cliff Vaughn would love to hear from you. E-mail him at cliff@goodfaithmedia.org.
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