Untold Stories is a captivating live oral storytelling series that offers a platform for Northeast Florida residents to share their unique and inspiring experiences with the world. From artists and tradespeople to shopkeepers and professors, everyone has a story to tell, and Untold Stories provides a space for these narratives to be heard. Join us as we explore the vibrant tapestry of life in Northeast Florida, one story at a time.
Untold Stories is produced live on stage by the Florida Theatre, and the radio show and podcast is produced by WJCT Public Media and the Florida Theatre. Behind every episode of 'Untold Stories,' artistic director Barbara Colaciello from BAB'S LAB is the creative force, carefully curating stories, mentoring the storytellers, and masterfully hosting the events.
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At nine years old, Fenton Reese nearly drowned in a public pool, an experience that left him with a lifelong fear of water. Years later, in a cruel twist of irony, he found himself on the waves again—this time as a Marine, tasked with boarding enemy ships in the middle of the ocean. It was just one of many moments that tested his resolve. -
After decades of corporate life, Linda Altman had a plan: escape to Thailand, sit in a cave, and find peace. But life, as it often does, had other ideas. A spontaneous change in direction led her to adventure across Southeast Asia, then back to Jacksonville, where a new journey began—one filled with yoga, love, loss, and a fight for survival.
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Melanye Rodriguez never expected to find her calling in the back of an old car with a bottle of scented lotion—but life has a way of leading us exactly where we need to go. A childhood spent outdoors, a knack for working through tension—both physical and emotional—and an openness to curiosity brought her into the world of massage therapy. But when a friend asked her to be her doula, Melanye’s world expanded in ways she never imagined.
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Madalina Tanase thought surfing in Hawaii would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience—until a rogue wave took her under, reminding her that control is often an illusion. Years later, on the cusp of fulfilling her dream of motherhood, another unexpected wave crashed into her life: a breast cancer diagnosis that would change everything.
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As a six-year-old, John Chappelear found freedom skating through the marble halls of the U.S. Capitol—until a police officer caught him, again. As a young man, he built a thriving business, only to have it stripped away in a single day. And as a father, he realized that success on paper meant nothing if he didn’t know how to live from the heart.
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In this episode of Untold Stories, storyteller Augustus Wolfe Barnes reflects on the waves that have shaped his life—navigating school, experimenting with drugs, and searching for direction.
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Untold Stories, produced by the Florida Theater and WJCT Public Media, presents a captivating live performance by spoken word artist Jaiquan Tyre. In this episode, Jaiqun takes us on a journey through his childhood in Jacksonville’s Eureka Gardens, blending vivid memories with reflections on imagination, loss, and the resilience born from storytelling.
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Thony Aiuppy takes us on a deeply personal journey, starting from a chance encounter in an art gallery that sparked a 19-year love story, to his struggles in balancing family, art, and career ambitions.
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Sunil Acha shares his inspiring journey from a young boy in India to a software engineer and passionate volunteer with the American Red Cross. His story explores moments of empathy and service that shaped his life's mission to help others.
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Renay Diagle takes us back to the summer of 1993 when her sales job at the Jacksonville Business Journal led to an unforgettable encounter with a stranded billboard repairman.