(Boston, MA - October 8, 2024) – Stories from the Stage, the award-winning WORLD-original series showcasing extraordinary stories told by ordinary people from all walks of life, premieres its eighth season on Monday, October 21 at 9:30pm EST. Season 8 of Stories from the Stage is hosted by storytellers and humorists Theresa Okokon and Wes Hazard, who alternate in opening each episode with the evening’s theme before three storytellers take the stage to share their stories.
“Stories from the Stage explores the many experiences that shape who we are,” said Liz Cheng, general manager for GBH and WORLD and co-executive producer of Stories from the Stage. “Featuring voices from across the country and around the world, each narrative explores the triumphs and challenges that connect us all – illuminating what we have in common, while celebrating our differences.”
This season of Stories from the Stage promises to be among the most captivating, with storytellers sharing deeply personal and powerful experiences. In What Matters Most (October 21) three storytellers inspire us: a chaotic boat ride across a treacherous bay leads National Geographic photographer Amy Toensing to the picture that opens a new chapter in her life; searching for public restrooms for his grandfather turns teenager Amith Saligrama into a community crusader; and after surviving the horrors of the Killing Fields in Cambodia, Vanna Howard learns English in the U.S. and rises above unimaginable obstacles to become an agent of change. On a Mission (October 28) features three passionate young storytellers: Sophia Garcia must find a way to rescue her college hopes; and in using an ice ax to climb up Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, Ella Hamilton learns that it’s all about the journey, not the destination. In Reckoning and Repair (November 18) Anneliese Bruner uncovers her great-grandmother’s firsthand account of surviving the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and works to ensure that her family’s story is not forgotten; Paul Watanabe reflects on his mother’s resilience following the Japanese internment during WWII; and Larry Spotted Crow Mann reconnects with his Native roots through drumming, channeling the strength of his grandfather. Each episode will take you on an emotional journey, offering stories that inspire, challenge, and resonate in the most profound ways.
“The power of storytelling lies not just in the moments shared but in the courage it takes to step onto the stage,” said Patricia Alvarado Núñez, co-executive producer of Stories from the Stage. “By sharing their personal experiences—whether joyful or painful—storytellers offer audiences the chance to reflect, heal, and grow, building bridges between hearts and minds that make the experience even more meaningful.”
Audiences can view Stories from the Stage on 195 WORLD stations on Monday 9:30 pm ET, 8:30 CT, 6:30 PT, on YouTube, worldchannel.org and the PBS App. Individual stories and exclusive digital content can also be viewed on Facebook, Instagram, and on the Stories from the Stage YouTube Channel. The series can also be experienced via podcast with Stories from the Stage: The Podcast bringing deep dives, interviews and more, with highlights selected by series co-creators and podcast co-hosts Patricia Alvarado Núñez and Liz Cheng. Stories from the Stage broadcast Sundays at 7pm on 89.7.
Stories from the Stage Live Taping Events: The new season will feature eight tapings at the GBH Studios in Brighton, Massachusetts, providing fans with a unique opportunity to watch storytellers share their remarkable stories live. The tapings will take place on select dates throughout the season, each centered around a theme. Upcoming Stories from the Stage live taping events include Life Is a Laugh (October 16), Getting Away with It (November 15), What I Did for Love (February 14), Everyday Heroes (March 12), On the Road, Again (March 13), Twists of Fate (April 3), Maternal Instinct (May 15), and Glorious Food (June 4). Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at wgbh.org/events.
About WORLD
WORLD shares the best of public media in news, documentaries and programming. WORLD’s original series examine the issues and amplify the voices of those often ignored by mainstream media. The multiplatform channel helps audiences understand conflicts, movements and cultures from around the globe. Its original work has won a Peabody Award, an Alfred I. duPont- Columbia Award, an International Documentary Association Award, a National News and Documentary Emmy Award, two Webby Awards and many others honoring diversity of content and makers. WORLD is carried by 195 member stations in markets representing 77% of US TV households. Funding for WORLD is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Wyncote Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. WORLD is produced by GBH in partnership with WNET and is distributed by American Public Television (APT). Find out more at WORLDChannel.org.
Media Contact
Vitoria Poejo
GBH External Relations
917-597-3353
Vitoria_Poejo@wgbh.org
