There are two powerful storytellers that came to mind while reviewing the resources for this module. Paul Harvey and Mike Rowe. Both with unique, unforgettable, and immediately distinguishable voices. Paul Harvey was a highly decorated television and radio news man with a popular radio show called “The Rest of the Story”. (The Rest Of The Story, n.d.). He told stories of everyday people, but in a way that left you hanging, waiting for the other shoe to drop, and then it did, and it was “the rest of the story”.

HARVEY, PAUL/ NEWS COMMENTATOR & COLUMNIST: Paul Harvey ” Campaign Roundup”: Caption reads, News commentator Paul Harvey, winner of the “Fourth Estate Award” as top radio-TV newsman for 1965, will speak to the Men’s Dinner Club at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Skirvin Tower Hotel’s Persian Room. Photographer UNKNOWN. Original Photo 04/07/1960. Published on O-12-13-65.

Mike Rowe, best known for his television series, “Dirty Jobs”, also tells stories about everyday people through his podcast, “The Way I Heard It” (“Home,” 2025). Mike Rowe is an ally to and advocate for those who work with their hands. He encourages young people to consider trades and hard work outside of the desk and computer fields. His stories, much like Paul Harvey’s, leave the listener uplifted, enlightened, and often amused.

Two other modern-day storytellers come to mind as well, Elias Weiss Friedman, better known as “The Dogist”, and Brandon Stanton, the human behind “Humans of New York.” The Dogist wanders the city finding humans and their dogs. He stops them and asks if he can photograph the dog. Folks are generally very happy to allow it. Elias asks them questions about the dog’s breed, their name, how the person acquired them, and whatever else they want to share about the dog. The pictures are always so sweet and moving as is the video of him taking the photos. (The Dogist, n.d.).

Brandon Stanton has a similar approach to capturing everyday life in a profoundly moving way. Just a picture. It really does say a thousand words, or more. (Brandon Stanton | Photographer & Author, n.d.).

Wollongong, Australia’s “Meet Our Living Books” (Wollongong Living Books | City of Wollongong, n.d.) and Anythink’s “Get to Know Your Neighbor” couch conversatons (Anythink Libraries, 2016) are two great examples of story sharing as facilitated by the public library. The library is a Third Space, somewhere free to visit, free to stay all day (when they are open), and free to check out materials (at least generally). At our library, where I work in Youth Services, we put up the old, brightly painted wooden puppet theatre along with a trough full of all kinds of puppets (animals and people including different genders and skin tones). It has been the biggest hit for our community. The kids know exactly what to do and they do it together with other kids who are strangers. Parents, siblings, grandparents, and caregivers all get into the act. The storytelling that happens is extemporaneous and genuine.

Everyone has a story. Either made up or true about their past (or still made up!) Everyone wants to be heard. Finding unique ways to encourage self-expression at all age levels is at least as important for librarians as are the collections we curate.

References

Anythink Libraries (Director). (2016, December 21). Get To Know Your Neighbor [Video recording]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzLI-aqFzDQ

Brandon Stanton | Photographer & Author. (n.d.). Brandon Stanton. Retrieved July 19, 2025, from https://www.humansofnewyork.com

Elias Weiss Friedman | Penguin Random House Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2025, from https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/authors/2299401/elias-weiss-friedman

Home. (2025, July 16). Mike Rowe. https://mikerowe.com/

The Dogist. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved July 19, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLhKvwRxjSpUV25iqBTzbUQ

The Rest Of The Story. (n.d.). [Video recording]. Retrieved July 19, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5_OIoMBjSk

Wollongong Living Books | City of Wollongong. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2025, from https://wollongong.nsw.gov.au/my-community/events-and-programs/living-books