In his years on the planet, Michael has taught grades 1st through 4th in the Columbus Public Schools, worked full-time in a homeless shelter in Ireland, attended a peace conference in the (former) Soviet Union, received an M.S. degree in Elementary Education, worked for environmental groups in Massachusetts and Ohio, worked on an archeological dig in (the former) Czechoslovakia, visited Native American Indian reservations in over ten states, graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree, worked for a peace organization in Sweden, taught daycare, talked with insects, told tales to tens of thousands, and trained a dog to sneeze on command. (If you don't believe some of this stuff, just ask him.... he'd love to tell you THE STORIES!)


Michael has four areas of focus in his storytelling work reflecting four different parts of himself. Born in 1962 in Youngstown, Ohio, Michael is second generation Slovak-American on his mother's side and third generation Irish-American on his father's side. He has always had a strong sense of family and a keen interest in his ethnic heritage. As he says, "It was a thrill for me - several years ago - when I traveled to Europe and spent three months in Ireland and two months in the former Czechoslovakia." Drawing on folk literature, family stories, and his travels, Michael's repertoire includes a wide variety of Irish Tales, as well as Slovak & Slavic Stories. Reflecting on his childhood in Struthers, Ohio, (a suburb of Youngstown) Michael has wonderfully warm memories of the holiday season and he brings this warmth to life by sharing his treasure of Christmas Legends. His fourth focus area is Earth Mother Stories - Tales of Earth Stewardship & Stories of Human Fellowship. "I believe that we are all called to both care for our Earth and care for each other," says Michael. Drawing from folk tales, original stories, literary tales, and his own experiences, Michael offers stories "to 'spire hope in ourselves and love of Earth Mother." Remembering what an elder once told him, Michael says, "Whenever I am telling a story, my goal is to always entertain the audience and to never just entertain the audience."

For more information,
specific fees and scheduling
Contact Michael at:
P.O. Box 82454
Columbus, OH 43202
(614) 267-9426
or E-mail:
michael@
michaelthestoryteller.com