Search for story-related podcasts and ask yourself: How have stories featured in my life? How might I mobilise them for my experience-based learning?
Mel Robbins in conversation with Emma Grede
Mel Robbins is a podcaster and publisher focused on self-improvement, well-being, and goal accomplishment. She often invites experts from different disciplines to have honest, constructive conversations. The episode with Emma Grede speaks about humble beginnings, resilience, and building a habit of excellence.
I chose an episode with Emma Grede, as her interest sat in fashion, similarly to me; she has been obsessed with the industry since a very young age. She has had very little support, struggled academically, and dropped out of college; however, she remained focused and eager to learn. She comes from a deprived part of East London that she always wanted to escape. Slowly but surely, through sheer work, she has built a million-dollar empire, become an entrepreneur, and co-founded American clothing brands such as “Good American” and “Skims”.
Grede’s journey fits the profile of Joseph Campbell’s concept of the hero with a thousand faces. She grows up in a harsh, ordinary world, facing hardships. Her fascination with the industry worked as a trigger and call for adventure. Despite the challenges she faced on her journey, such as academic struggles, free work, and multiple jobs she didn’t particularly enjoy, her work ethic led her to financial success and built self-esteem that allowed her to inspire others around the world.
The stories we choose to read are often a search for an answer. I have tried to shorten my parents’ biography before, as this is my blueprint and my reference for how to operate in life. Similarly, I listen to the Mel Robbins Podcast when I feel lost or confused, and I look for guidance or words of encouragement. I think the hero of a thousand faces narrative is so crucial, as the subjects always start as an ordinary figure from a difficult place, which makes them relatable. Such a choice of settings empowers you in a way, making you think you could be in their shoes and navigate storms of life with bravery.
Identify one story-related resource that honours your context/cultural/tradition. Prepare three points on this to share with the class.
“My favourite slavs in London” by Johana Kasalicka
The resource I chose is an article from I-D magazine about photojournalism created by Johana Kasalicka, a London-based Czech photographer. “My Favourite Slavs in London” is a body of work that came to life through the exploration of Eastern European identity. The project also serves as a response to Brexit and negative stereotypes regarding Eastern Europeans residing in the UK. The photojournalist consists of candid portraits of the photographer’s friends in everyday settings. The images contain hidden symbolism that may not be obvious to those outside our cultural circle, including a model posing in a Slav squat—a traditional sitting posture in Eastern European countries—close-ups of a woman eating a pickle, which is considered a delicacy, and a portrait of girls holding a basket of dyed eggs, an Easter tradition in our regions while wearing traditional clothes. The imagery feels natural and unstaged; it portrays young people killing the time together.
- A photo essay tells the story, capturing Eastern European youth in mundane, everyday life settings. The narrative is carried by the details, such as clothing or captured food. Without those components, it would be difficult to indicate where subjects are coming from.
- The article is short and punchy. It covers one or two sentences said by the photographer and explains why the work was brought to life. However, its written description is essential because without the context it would be difficult to translate or understand the story behind the imagery.
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