Performances
Laura combines ancient myth and symbolic story with personal narrative.
She creates an uncanny depth of engagement, bringing the ecomythic world into our everyday lives. Her voice, characterizations, presence and relationship to audiences of all ages are legendary. Her work is dedicated to excellence and compassion in the world.
These performances restore our joy and reconnect us with each other, and the world of spirit and nature. She offers full stage concerts, tailor made events, and performs for adult, as well as family and child audiences.
Storytelling in the World
Laura collaborates worldwide on projects that focus on storytelling as compassionate action, social justice, personal and community healing, gender equality, nonviolence, mindfulness, and ecological awareness. She has worked with a wide diversity of organizations including International Medical Corps, Mercy Corps, Norwegian People’s Aid, The Healng Story Alliance and The Constellation.
“Laura’s global influence in the practice of oral storytelling for peaceful means , healing, and community building is transcendent.”
~ Elinor Benjamin, President of Canadian Storytellers
“Laura Simms is a force for good in the world.”
~ Lance Brunner, director Contemplative Practices , UK
“I was in pain all the time, except when I was writing or dancing.”
- Sabrina D., displaced camp in Haiti
The Art of the Storyteller
Laura brings decades of experience to her teaching. Her courses and workshops are a revelation into the unique qualities of storytelling today. Her process provides a rare opportunity to understand how stories function as a bridge to a timeless sense of presence. Each course, whether an individual coaching session, extended mentorship or workshop are life changing, and practical.
Through our storytelling, we address the dilemmas of our times with profound humor and compassion.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned storyteller, a speaker, leader, writer, or actor, Laura will take you into the art of genuine oral storytelling.
“Irresistible… Laura Simms is a major force in the renaissance of storytelling in America.”
“Laura Simms is a great medicine woman. The stories she tells penetrate our hearts.”
“… Laura performs the essence and heart of storytelling.”
“One of the great storytellers of our time and an extraordinary teacher.”
Writing & Market & Projects
MAY
DARK MATTER: WOMEN WITNESSING INTIMACY PART II
Laura Simms’s essay is featured in the new issue of DARK MATTER: Women Witnessing, a remarkable literary magazine devoted to courageous writing, witness, and transformation. This issue, Intimacy Part II, gathers voices exploring the fragile, necessary, and often radical nature of intimacy in our time.
Please join Laura and the DARK MATTER community for the online launch, featuring readings and conversation.
Online Launch: Sunday, May 31, 2026
Time: 1:30 PM EST
Join on Zoom:Launch Link
Subscribe to the magazine:DARK MATTER: Women Witnessing
Upcoming Events
for Laura’s full schedule go
schedule page
A NEW GREAT STORY IMMERSION
THE JUNIPER TREE
Sundays, May 24 - June 21 2026 || 11 am - 1:30 pm EST.
4 sessions plus added session (date tba)
The Juniper Tree is a remarkable and demanding tale about renewal and authentic love, about transformation and our life saving interdependence with the natural world and that which is invisible that we can not live without. Dream into this story. Let’s uncover the alchemy of its exceptional promise.
What happens when we unlock a stone tower, not knowing what is within, and discover the path toward awakening and retrieving the feminine into the world? An extraordinary Russian Fairytale of Helen All The Wise
A step by step collaborative exploration; to climb inside a story that we think we know to find out what is actually taking place. Let us uncover the life enhancing and life saving alchemy of the boy, his bones, the tree and a song.
Assignments, break out rooms, half hour break and unexpected insight that leads to braiding personal story and dream).
Sliding scale $250- $500
To receive information and registration write to: storymentor2010@gmail.com
STORYTELLING IN TROUBLED TIMES WORKSHOP:
MIND MAGIC IS RESISTANCE
Saturday, 30 May 2026 || 11 am - 2 pm. EST
We will explore three levels of transformation engendered during storytelling engagement, and a mean of discerning how to bring it alive o the experience of the story is an act of regeneration of interdependence, compassion and inherent courage. How is the profound engagement of storytelling a source of liberation is our question. And making natural a path to immerse oneself in what is actually taking place in a story that is only revealed in the telling, through the voice and unbiased presence of a narrator. We will all work on a single story together.
To receive information and registration write to: storymentor2010@gmail.com. Sliding scale fee.
STORYTELLING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE: THEME: THE KINDNESS OF STORIES
Sunday, 18 May 2026 || 7 pm- 8:30 pm EST
Laura curates Storytelling and Social Justice concert: THE KINDNESS OF STORIES. includeProduced by the
Healing Story Alliance.
Free! Click here to register.
SECOND FRIDAY.
March. 13 Friday. 3 pm EST. Every first Friday. Join on my Patreon page.
A time to engage in a creative and insightful converation about storytelling
STORY ALONE TOGETHER
The Holy Grail of Braiding Stories Parts I and II
Saturday, May 3, 8:30 am EST
I have been interweaving personal story into traditional fairytale and myth for over 4 decades. We will listen to a story and explore, through a contemplative writing practice, how our lives are reflected and touched by a story or image in a story.
Each participant will create their own braided story.
Recordings of Part I and Part II are available to purchase on my Patreon page.
The Heart of Storytelling Episode #43
I hope you will listen to this podcast. It is an interview with Australian storyteller Alyssa Curtayne on the unique
aspects of engaged storytelling in these times.
Listen to The Heart of Storytelling on Spreaker.com; I am in episode 43 (March 6 2025, titled Laura Simms and storytelling magic).
Every Tuesday - 5-7pm EST
On Zoom. This has been a tremendous source of inspiration for all involved. In these times, coming together is unequaled in benefit. It is an act of resistance. Story Alone Together is a dedicated time for pursuing creative and administrative work and tasks with support. Story Alone has proved to be a dynamic and enriching space to work and share and receive feedback and friendship with your peers.
$250 for year/$70 for 10 Tuesdays
For registration and information, contact storymentor2010@gmail.com
Podcasts and Recordings
SUDDEN STORY: NEVER NOT BROKEN
Stories of Peace in Times of War
Available Sale Download
"There is a big peace and a little peace.
There is no little war,
even a matchstick can burn down a village."
-Amadou Hampate Ba (UNESCO, 1948)
Tales from the Middle East, Russia, and Ukraine.
Play & Download at BetterListen!
Ongoing Events
PATREON CHAT
Recorded and available for viewing:
Exploring the capacity to renew our lives again and again and transform what we consider damaged or wounded into revelation.
Storytellers Megan Wells,
Gavri Raje Laura Simms, & Lavanya Prasad.