Melungeon Voices S4 E1 – Kiran Singh Sirah

Kiran Singh Sirah is a speaker, folklorist, storyteller, peace-builder, and past president of the International Storytelling Center (ISC) and producer of the world-renowned National Storytelling Festival. Prior to his appointment at ISC, Kiran helped establish a number of award-winning arts, cultural, and human rights programs in numerous countries.

Sirah is regularly asked to provide keynote lectures, workshops, and trainings for such entities as the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. State Department, Department of Defense, Library of Congress, and the United Nations, and has worked in and in collaboration with projects in Colombia, Brazil, Palestine, Israel, South Sudan and Uganda. Kiran firmly believes storytelling not only enriches lives, but also holds the key to building a better world.

In this season's debut episode, Heather and Kiran discuss the significance of storytelling in Appalachia and Melungeon communities, as well as the importance of storytelling and the importance of sharing our own experiences and stories.