From Cork to New York

About From Cork to New York

"From Cork to New York" acts as a cross-cultural Story Bridge, stitching together the rich narrative traditions of Ireland and the United States while welcoming guests from a vast array of cultures around the world. By gathering these diverse international voices to share their unique crafts, the show creates a rich space where global perspectives meet, mingle, and find common ground. At its heart, the podcast explores the concept of transformational storytelling, delving into how narratives - both ancient and modern - can foster community healing and personal growth across the globe. It serves as a vital digital thread connecting distant shores, using the deep-rooted ties between Cork and New York as a foundation for a truly global conversation.

Publisher

Jim Brule

Category

arts · religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Feb 2026

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

21 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026

   The Waters of Truth

   The Waters of Truth: Hoarded Wells, Sacred Rivers, and the Magic of Spoken Words What happens when sacred water is hoarded by power, or unleashed through supreme sacrifice? From the sun-baked plains of Yorubaland to the ancient limestone springs of Cork, Máire and Jim sit by the hearth fire to explore how rivers mirror human longing, how myth preserves real history, and why our spoken words still hold the ancient magic of spells. The Stories The Legend of the River Olu (Yoruba Folklore, Nigeria) — Told by Jim, gifted to him by Nigerian storyteller Titi Ogunnaike. A story of drought, maternal sacrifice, and a transformative river whose waters bestow the power of inescapable, world-shaping truth. The Formation of the Lough of Cork (Cork Folklore, Ireland) — Told by Máire (Maria). An ancient Irish tale of an arrogant king, a hoarded healing well, a salty feast, and the princess Fíor-Uisce whose fall beneath the water reclaimed life and joy for an entire community. The River Olu - on YouTube, as told by the Priest of the River: https://youtu.be/GJSVlyIA8Oc (https://youtu.be/GJSVlyIA8Oc) The Chapters [00:00] The Intimacy of the Hearth Máire and Jim welcome listeners into a cozy, two-host conversation, reflecting on the spaciousness of sitting together around the metaphorical hearth fire to trace the threads of folklore. [01:08] The Transcriber’s Dream: Meeting Titi Ogunnaike Jim recounts how an early podcast led him to connect with Nigerian transcriber Titi Ogunnaike, whose yearning to preserve her grandmother’s vanishing Yoruba folklore launched a cross-continental storytelling journey. [03:26] The Legend of the River Olu: Sacrifice in the Drought Jim narrates the woman’s version of the River Olu myth: a desperate mother who, after days of fruitlessly searching for water to save her dying children, shatters her empty calabash against the earth in holy grief, transforming her body into a living, healing river. [08:00] The Gift of Truth & Descendants of the Stream Exploring the sacred law of River Olu: those who drink its first drop can speak only truth, and whatever they speak becomes real. Jim explains how water is still bottled and sent across the globe for newborn Children of the River. [09:00] River Goddesses and Shared Soils Máire draws vibrant parallels to Ireland’s female river spirits (such as the River Bandon / Bandia) and the diaspora tradition of carrying sacred earth across oceans to root new generations. [10:30] The Two Halves of the River: Male and Female Tellings Jim reveals what happened when Titi traveled with filmmakers to meet the King and Chief Priest at River Olu: uncovering a contrasting men’s version featuring a transformed father and a cursed calabash. [16:05] The King of Cork and the Hoarded Healing Well Máire introduces the story of the Lough of Cork (Teach Rí), where a wealthy clan leader walled up a communal healing well (Tobar Leighis) to keep the suffering townspeople from partaking in its life-giving waters. [21:26] Spiced Beef, Salty Feasts, and Princess Fíor-Uisce The King hosts a thirsty young suitor prince with salty chips and Cork spiced beef, sending his daughter Fíor-Uisce ("Pure Water") into the moonlit courtyard with an oversized crystal pitcher to draw from the fortified well. [25:33] The Flooding Lough and the Submerged Feast Overbalanced by the weight of the pitcher and the high walls, the young lovers tumble into the deep spring. The water erupts over the castle turrets, restoring water to the singing people and creating Cork’s legendary lake, where an eternal banquet still whispers beneath the surface. [27:56] Chipper Chips, Salt & Vinegar, and Cultural Memory A lighthearted, warm interlude on Canadian vs. Irish foodways, exploring salt, vinegar, chipper chips, and how simple sensory memories tie communities together. [30:05] The Architecture of Magic: Words as Spells Máire recalls her grandmother’s revelation about the root of "spelling" as casting spells. Jim bridges the thought to the ancient Hebrew concept of D'var: a word that is simultaneously a thing, bringing reality into being through utterance. [33:23] Living Without 'Yes' and 'No': The Action of the Irish Tongue Máire explores the linguistic wonder of the Irish language (Gaeilge), which historically lacked standalone words for "yes" and "no," grounding all truth in direct, embodied action rather than abstract absolutes. [34:46] Blessings on The Story Road Jim and Máire bid their warm farewells from New York and Cork, sending listeners back out onto the path until the hearth fire is stoked once again. Key Takeaways (Transformational Insights) Water Cannot Be Owned; It Can Only Be Shared Both Yoruba and Cork traditions remind us that hoarding essential life - whether literal water, communal joy, or healing - inevitably brings calamity. Life belongs to the commons; attempts to lock it behind high stone walls will only invite the flood. The Duality of Myth: Honor Both Halves of the Story The divergent male and female accounts of the River Olu teach us that folklore is not a rigid monolith, but an ecosystem. When we hold multiple versions of a myth without forcing them into sterile conformity, we honor the multi-layered truth of the community that birthed them. Language as an Incantation (D'var) To speak is to alter reality. From the Children of the River who refuse disparaging words because they manifest as truth, to the ancient root connecting spelling with spells, our spoken words build or destroy worlds. Storytellers carry the ethical weight of what their tongues bring into being. Speech Rooted in Action The Irish language’s rejection of passive "yes" and "no" reminds us to anchor our convictions in active verbs. We do not merely agree or disagree in the abstract; we choose to go or not go, to act or refrain, declaring presence through living deeds. Closing & Community Call-to-Action Every myth carries a forgotten medicine for modern disquiet. To delve deeper into the archetypes, seasonal rituals, and psychological beasts that shape our personal journeys, subscribe to our companion newsletter, the Healing Monsters Substack. Until next time, travel safely on The Story Road.

2. 

   28 Sept 2026

   The Hare, the Hive, and the Star Dancer

   What happens when stories refuse to stay penned within physical or political borders? In this luminous gathering, guest storyteller and musician Colin Urwin joins Maria and Jim to trace the migratory magic of folktales - from the wind-scoured cliffs of Antrim to the Gaeltacht of Ballyvourney and the star-strewn gardens of Armenia. Through shape-shifting grandmothers, protective swarms of bees, and a blossom that demands love rather than force, this episode explores the art of boundary-keeping and what it truly means to attain immortality. The Stories "The Hunting Party and the Hare" - A Rathlin Island folktale from the Tommy Cecil Archive, told by Colin Urwin. "St. Gobnait and the Nine White Deer" - A West Cork legend of dreams, bees, and sacred boundaries, told by Maria Gillen (Seanchaí Chorcaí). "The Anahakan Rose" - An Armenian teaching tale of tyrannical longing and cosmic stewardship, told by Jim Brulé. "The Hare's Lament" ("The Hare's Dream") - Traditional Ulster hunting ballad sung unaccompanied by Colin Urwin. Guest: Colin Urwin Colin Urwin is Seanchaí to the Chief of the Antrim McDonnells Randal, 15th Earl of Antrim at Glenarm Castle. He is also a folksinger, songwriter, storyteller, author and workshop facilitator. For over 25 years, he has been the caller and singer in the award-winning 'Haste to the Wedding' ceilidh band. He serves on the committee of the Storytellers of Ireland and the Glens of Antrim Historical Society, and is the Storyteller-in-Residence at The Courthouse, Shared Space and Creative Hub, Bushmills. Steeped for a lifetime in the language, folklore and traditions of his beloved Glens of Antrim, Colin has long been influenced by traditional Irish and Scottish music, song and story. He is inspired by the people and places, the history and legends, and the sheer, rugged romance of the northeast coast of Ireland. From these, he conjures up many of his beautiful ballads, magical rhyming monologues and delicately woven tales of wonder. Links: Website: https://colinurwin.com (https://colinurwin.com) Ceilidh Band: http://hastetothewedding.com/ (http://hastetothewedding.com/) The Chapters [00:00] Welcome to The Story Road Maria and Jim open the hearth from Cork to New York and warmly welcome Antrim storyteller, author, and musician Colin Urwin. [01:03] The Glens of Antrim & The Coast of the Gael Colin unpacks the porous, ancient relationship between Northeast Ireland and Argyll, Scotland - a threshold land shaped by Gaels, Scots, and Norse settlers. [03:45] Tales with Legs: The Migrating Fairy Midwife The trio explores how folktales travel along merchant routes and traveling communities, noting identical fairy midwife motifs appearing across Ireland, Scotland, Northumberland, and North America. [06:01] Dakar to Dublin: Polygenesis & The Price of Magic Jim introduces the Senegalese counterpart to the fairy midwife tale, contrasting Western narratives of punishment with African motifs of reward, trade routes, and spiritual boundary-keeping. [08:22] The Celtic Heart: Honoring Everyday Belfast Colin reflects on his hit Waterfront Hall stage production, The Celtic Heart, exploring working-class resilience, ancestral grief, and uplifting redemption in post-conflict Northern Ireland. [13:06] Story: The Hunting Party and the Hare Colin Urwin shares a classic Rathlin Island tale of a haughty landlord, a silver half-crown, an outsmarted pack of hounds, and a grandmother whose hearthside scratches reveal a clever secret. [25:26] Lúnasa, Hares, and Shape-Shifting Sovereignty The hosts reflect on the Irish hare’s folkloric association with women's autonomy, harvest season magic, and shared Celtic variations from Wales to Kerry. [27:26] Story: St. Gobnait and the Nine White Deer Maria Gillen recounts the journey of an Inishmaan girl led by prophetic dreams and her woven hive across Galway and Limerick to Baile Mhúirne, where healing honey and gentle strength turn back cattle raiders. [36:03] Apples, Stings, and Two Kinds of Sweetness Inspired by Gobnait’s bees, Jim connects the healing sting to Rosh Hashanah traditions - differentiating between surface sweetness and the profound sweetness won through enduring pain. [38:08] Story: The Anahakan Rose Jim Brulé shares an Armenian tale of a grasping king, doomed gardeners, and a young caretaker named Samvel whose patient lullabies and dancing awaken a dying bush and unlock cosmic eternity. [47:30] Storytelling as Communal Medicine The circle discusses how bringing ancient archetypes into shared presence fosters deep kinship, healing, and cultural cross-pollination. [48:35] Song: The Hare's Lament Colin sings a moving, unaccompanied traditional Ulster ballad voiced by the hunted hare herself, followed by reflections on rhythmic songs, rowboats, and shapeshifters. [54:36] Safe Travels on The Story Road Maria and Jim close the episode with traditional blessings until the next threshold crossing. Key Takeaways: Transformational Insights Stories Are Living Migrants, Not Static Relics Folklore does not belong to single geographic points; it moves through human trade routes, sea-crossings, and traveling communities. Whether in Cork, Antrim, Wales, or Senegal, tales naturally adapt their outward scenery while preserving their core emotional medicine. The Underdog’s Art of Shape-Shifting From the Rathlin grandmother slipping the bounds of an oppressive landlord to the hare voicing her own plea against the hounds, folklore grants the marginalized the ultimate weapon: cunning, agility, and kinship with the wild. True Sweetness Must Acknowledge the Sting Just as St. Gobnait’s honey cures wounds while her bees defend the community's boundaries, the deepest sweetness in life cannot be separated from the pain that birthed it. Healing demands both tenderness and the fierceness of protection. Immunity vs. Immortality: Love Outlasts Dominion In "The Anahakan Rose," the king seeks immortality as a trophy of possession and ends in bitter decay. Samvel achieves timelessness through relationship, devotion, and song. The garden does not belong to the ruler who claims it, but to the soul who tends it and dances with its mystery. Closing & Communities Thank you for traveling with us along the winding borderlands of memory and myth. Subscribe to the Newsletter: For essays on navigating modern shadows through ancient myth, subscribe to Jim Brulé’s Healing Monsters Substack (https://healingmonsters.substack.com). Join the Hearth: Connect with fellow tellers, listeners, and mythic travelers inside the Healing Monsters Community (https://www.facebook.com/groups/902953715936105) on Facebook.

3. 

   14 Sept 2026

   The Tree of Seasons & Greenwood Medicine

   What happens when we step out of four-walled consultation rooms and let ancient woods, rushing rivers, and mythic memory do the heavy lifting of healing? In this rich, sunlit gathering across the Atlantic, Maria, Jim, and guest Shane Ibbs explore how bushcraft, folklore, and conflict-free tales re-tune human hearts to natural reciprocity, selfless giving, and the courage to say the unsayable. Our Guest - Shane Ibbs (Therapist, Bushcraft Leader & Storyteller) Born in Suffolk, England, Shane, the oldest of six children, grew up with oral stories around the hearth. In the early 90s, Shane began to use 'applied storytelling' and trained as a Social Worker. Visiting Canada in 1997, through a connection, Shane was invitated to attend a gathering of the indigenous Metis people. Part of the day was a healing story circle. Shane was so moved by this that he retrained as a Counseling Therapist and increased his use of 'applied storytelling'. In 2012, Shane trained at the International School of Storytelling, never dreaming, after sharing a personal story in Canada, that he would end up telling stories to audiences in the Netherlands, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Ireland, and all around the UK. Visit Shane on his socials! https://www.shaneibbsstoryteller.com Instagram: @ibbsshane LinkedIn: Shane Ibbs The Stories in This Episode "The Tree of Four Seasons" – Told by Shane Ibbs (A Buddhist teaching tale on perspective, seasonal rhythm, and wholeness) "The Lemonade River and the Corn Dolly" – Told by Máire (A co-created ecological myth from the 2026 Festival at the Edge on reciprocity and returning water to the source) "The Story of Wali Dad" – Told by Jim (A Punjabi folktale on the boundless ripple effect of pure, non-transactional generosity) "The Silver Butterfly" – Referenced by Shane Ibbs (A Duncan Williamson traveller tale about reshaping currency into acceptable wonder) "The Curing Fox" – Told by Shane Ibbs (A Cree healing tale that allows listeners to speak the unspeakable and hold grief) Episode Chapters [00:00] Welcome from Harbor Winds to Upstate Sun Maria and Jim welcome listeners from Cork Harbor and Fayetteville, New York, joined by UK storyteller Shane Ibbs to celebrate rare festival weather and the shared current between their lands. [02:11] Leaving the Clinic for the Canopy Shane recounts his mid-career transition from traditional social work and psychotherapy into the woods, discovering how green spaces and bushcraft break through to at-risk youth and weary adults in ways indoor rooms never could. [07:56] The Medicine of Green Spaces & Hospital Sanctuaries The trio explores clinical and spiritual evidence behind nature therapy - from prison and hospital studies to Jim’s chaplaincy work designing rooftop hospital gardens that serve as living chapels. [10:12] Parallel Paths: Old-Growth Woods & Indigenous Kinship Jim reflects on his own journey from family therapy into spiritual storytelling, walking the nearby old-growth forest daily, and learning deep relational stewardship alongside local indigenous elders. [13:35] Shane’s Tale: The Tree of the Four Seasons Shane shares a nuanced Buddhist tale of a wise king whose four daughters visit the very same tree in spring blossoms (pearls), summer canopy (emeralds), autumn harvest (amethysts), and winter frost (diamonds) - learning that reality is larger than any single vantage point. [19:30] Attuning to the Seasons & The Dose of Medicine Shane describes guiding neurodivergent youth through all four seasons in the forest, while Maria shares ancestral folk wisdom from West Cork on edible plants, dosage, and knowing the fine line between medicine and poison. [22:15] Maria’s Tale: The Lemonade River & The Corn Dolly Maria tells a newly co-created tale of a village whose magical rose-colored water disappears, requiring the dance of a golden straw dolly and the collective return of rain to the mountain's deepest chasm. [28:45] The Rare Power of Conflict-Free Storytelling Jim and Shane reflect on the unique emotional architecture of tales devoid of villains or battle, where tension dissolves into wonder, communal rhythm, and organic narrative threading. [31:00] Jim’s Tale: The Generosity of Wali Dad Jim narrates the Punjabi classic of a simple reed cutter whose single surplus coin sparks a wild, escalating chain of anonymous royal gifts between an unsuspecting prince and princess. [46:10] Non-Transactional Giving & The Vanishing Palace A discussion on the true meaning of abundance: why Wali Dad belongs in his simple hut, the multiple endings of folklore, and how authentic gifting frees us from the trap of accumulation. [49:05] The Fairy Crib & The Silver Butterfly Shane reflects on Duncan Williamson’s traveler lore, showing how a silver coin - unfit as a gift for a fairy infant - is lovingly transformed over a fire into a delicate silver butterfly. [52:15] Meitheal, Indigenous Kinship, and Shared Bounty From Native American communal borrowing traditions to the Irish Meitheal and the shared chipped tea-cups and Donegal lace of 19th-century Cork slums, the hosts celebrate cultures where survival means holding wealth in common. [56:05] The Curing Fox: Stories That Say the Unsayable Shane shares a moving Cree story of mutual healing between a dying child and an injured fox, recounting a tender encounter with an Irish father whose silent grief was finally unlocked by the tale. [58:50] The Crossroads on The Story Road Closing reflections on how myth creates safe harbor for human vulnerability, with warm blessings until the next crossing from Cork to New York. Key Takeaways The Forest as Mirror and Medicine: Nature is not merely scenery; it is an active therapeutic container that regulates human nervous systems, dissolves defensiveness, and reflects our inner states back to us. Perspective Requires All Four Seasons: As revealed in the tale of the jewel-hung tree, judging a person, an ecosystem, or a situation by a single season gives an incomplete truth. Full understanding requires patience across time. Transaction vs. True Abundance: Real generosity is rooted in circulation rather than accumulation. When gifts are offered without expectation of return - like Wali Dad’s coin or the communal Meitheal - wealth becomes a shared river rather than a private reservoir. Reshaping the Coin into a Butterfly: When an offering is rejected or awkward, true art lies in shape-shifting its form - refining a crude transaction into an offering of beauty that honors the recipient's dignity. Myth as a Vessel for Unspoken Grief: A story gives voice to "the unsayable." By witnessing a child healed by a wild creature in myth, listeners find the safety to touch their own unhealed losses and begin the journey toward wholeness. Closing & Community Step deeper into the mythic thicket with our weekly newsletter at Healing Monsters on Substack (https://healingmonsters.substack.com).

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact From Cork to New York

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.