I’m sitting with the award-winning oral storyteller and author, Danyah Miller, in her West Sussex garden to hear about “swimming in the sea of story.” Danyah tells of vision and method – how story works best and what we might do to create story. She’s the first person to sing on the podcast, showing how young children can come to see how beautiful is the world. “Sharing stories in the seasons opens up a connection with the natural environment.” Personification is key too: speak of Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon, Brother Wind, Friend Robin, the Standing People. Story works slantwise to create inner courage and new paths. Danyah says, “I have no idea where each seed of story will go.”

Danyah also says, “I go to a place when time stops, when I’m telling a story.”

Danyah recent book is “Seven Secrets of Spontaneous Storytelling” (Hawthorn Press).

Her hero is local suffragette Madge (Ethel Margartet) Turner: “I can’t get her out of my mind.”

She recommends the book, “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911): “a challenging book, yet it’s also how nature can inspire us.”

Her action: share a story with children. Then repeat. “You can’t water the rose only once.”

Danyah’s YouTube channel is at https://www.youtube.com/@danyahmillerthestoryteller.

Danya’s website is at: https://danyahmillerstoryteller.co.uk/

My new book will be supporting this podcast, and will be published in March 2027 by Unbreaking/5m. It’s called "Bamboo and Butterfly: Transformation and Story for Climate and Nature Recovery."

In his Field at Maplestead in north Essex, author and nature restorer James Canton chats about the transformation by renaturing of small spaces in the landscape. “I evolved,” he says, “the field evolved.” From barren land to cricket pitch to abundant patch of wildflower meadow, scrub, trees and pond. We talk about how life recognises life, and how when you create the conditions, nature comes fast. He describes digging out of the pond, and how quickly insects arrived, followed by fish (eggs from the feet of ducks, maybe), and great crested newts (walking great journeys across the land from other water). Also: think of the digger churning up the land as a herd of aurochs. James is Director of Wild Writing at the University of Essex, and also talks about how students of all ages have been creating story to talk about transformations. He says, “renaturing is open to everyone.”

James’ heroines and heroes are the unsung: Chris Gibson (“mothman”), Steve Carver of the University of Leeds, and local activist Lucy Manthorpe of Kiln Farm near Long Melford.

James recommends “Lie of the Land” by Guy Shrubsole and “Ice Age Art” by Gill Cook. Also watch the online film on rewilding ideas in Siberia called “Pleistocene Park.”

James’s recent books are “Renaturing” and “The Oak Papers.”

He recommends, renature wherever you are. Even a window box. All through our talk, the rooks nearby are calling.

My new book will be supporting this podcast, and will be published in March 2027 by Unbreaking/5m. It’s called "Bamboo and Butterfly: Transformation and Story for Climate and Nature Recovery."

In our online chat in her Southampton studio, we hear from activist, author and creator Denise Baden about the power of positive story. She is Professor of Sustainable Business, and came to realise that teaching business ethics does not make students more ethical. She switched to good role models in story, finding these created a different kind of motivation. “We remember stuff embedded in story,” she says. Also, “It’s more fun!”

She tells of her A Jigsaw to Save the World project, to paint a picture of the good stuff happening. And how it felt to have her writing turned into a play. Do you interfere, or just watch?

Her heroes are Caroline Lucas and Rob Hopkins. Her most recent books are “The Philosopher and the Assassin”, and “Habitat Man.”

She recommends Rob Hopkins’ book, “How to Fall in Love with the Future.”

Her top action: turn to face the sun. Go solar.

For Denise’s books, see Habitat Press: https://habitatpress.com/

See also https://www.dabaden.com/

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/5wzjrb/professor-denise-baden and linkedin.com/in/denise-baden-3742793

A Jigsaw to Save the World: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/creative-climate-communication-7300475505529540608

https://www.greenstories.org.uk/

My new book will be supporting this podcast, and will be published in March 2027 by Unbreaking/5m. It’s called "Bamboo and Butterfly: Transformation and Story for Climate and Nature Recovery."