For many academics and practitioners, storytelling is more than a means of communication; it is a body of lived experience that reveals how we come to understand the world and how we position ourselves within it. When these stories are shared, they also shape the lived experiences of others. In this sense, storytelling becomes a powerful force for shaping our surroundings, and understanding its anatomy can inspire us to act.

At the Storytelling Academy, an interdisciplinary research group at Loughborough University and home to the UNESCO Chair in Storytelling Education for Sustainability, we seek to understand how storytelling engages with themes such as environment, education, health, and social impact. To further this exploration, we have organised a new seminar series that invites scholars in the field to share their recent findings on these and related topics.

Storytelling Seminar 1: Professor Ruth Page from the University of Birmingham, who, together with other scholars, examines the impact of mental health influencers on TikTok and their influence on audiences. She joined us to discuss her findings, reflect on the current state of social media storytelling, and explore what the future might hold for storytelling in online spaces.

You can catchup on Seminar 1 from the Storytelling Academy Youtube Channel HERE!