Live a Better Story for a Better World
Our world is shaped by stories — deep cultural narratives of domination and revenge, mindless consumption, and "us vs. them" that too often lead to exclusion, separation, and even violence.
Living the New Story offers practical inspiration and tangible, transformative practices to help you create a better story for yourself and for the world.
Step into a better story
A story not of "us vs. them" but "some of us for all of us."
A story of true beauty and joyful, resilient living; not just mere distraction.
A story in which we gladly tend to the hurting, stand in solidarity with the oppressed, and pursue reconciliation with those who’ve harmed us.
Your monthly subscription to Living the New Story provides access to regular online events and practical resources that will teach you how to shape a life filled with connection, courage, and compassionate action for the common good.
coming up next
Sociocracy: Governance for Organizations Based on Consent, Clarity & Trust with Ted Rau
Tuesday, September 14th, 7-9 PM Central via Zoom
The systems around us shape us and our behavior. To build organizations based on empowerment, choice, growth and generation, we must acknowledge that our old, hierarchical systems are not serving us. Yet, those old structures won't just fall away - they need to be replaced intentionally with replicable, solid systems based on consent and trust that enhance our connection and self-responsibility.
In this Living the New Story workshop on Tuesday, September 14th, Ted Rau, co-founder of Sociocracy for All, presents a new form of governance known as Sociocracy, offering design principles that can be used and replicated by a wide variety of organizations.
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Ted Rau is an advocate, trainer and consultant for self-governance with sociocracy. After his PhD in linguistics, he encountered peer-oriented governance system and became curious about ways of organizing grassroots group effectively yet equitably. He is co-founder of Sociocracy For All, a nonprofit with a mission to equip people with the skills and knowledge to self-govern and self-organize.
Ted identifies as a transgender man; he has 5 children between 8 and 17. Born in Germany, he lives in an intentional community in Massachusetts. He has written many articles and two books on the topic, the sociocracy manual Many Voices One Song (2018) and a how-to-start guide for new groups, Who Decides Who Decides (2021).
NOTE: To attend this session you must subscribe to the Living the New Story community. Subscription starts at $15/month and can be canceled any time, so if you only wish to attend this one session, feel free to subscribe now and cancel immediately after the event. Or keep your subscription and enjoy our monthly online events. Details below.
WHAT’S INCLUDED in living the New Story
“I learned so much from participating in the New Story’s online. I left with a renewed sense of hope and inspiration after meeting so many others working to support a more cooperative and caring way of life for all living things.” — Bruce K.
Monthly Online Community Conversations
Engaging presentations by members of our own New Story Community sharing their expertise on how to practice the New Story in our daily lives.Monthly Online Video Discussion Group
Delve deeper into some of the best sessions from last year’s New Story Journey and explore practical next steps together.Interest or Action-Based Circles
We will assist you in forming or joining a small group with fellow subscribers who want to go deeper on a topic, take action on an issue, or just get to know one another better.Free access to our entire New Story Video Library
Dozens of recorded sessions from last year’s New Story Journey and March New Story Retreat - including activist theologian Brian McLaren, Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, Women’s March co-founder Linda Sarsour, On Being’s theologian-in-residence and poet Pádraig Ó Tuama, the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries’ Bishop Yvette Flunder, acclaimed musicians like David Wilcox, and many more.Discounted access to additional New Story events
We will be periodically offering short 4-week online courses on various topics, and in-person gatherings once those become possible again.
Instead of a predetermined, fixed curriculum, Living the New Story is a collaborative and evolving learning community. Together we will decide what needs are most urgent and which questions we are most eager to explore - with content offered out of community members' own expertise and curated by New Story organizers. (Would you like to be a presenter? Click here for more details and to submit your proposal.)
As a monthly subscription rather than a one-time payment, you can join at any time and unsubscribe whenever you need to (though we don’t think you’ll want to!) See below for enrollment options.
If we want a better world, we need better stories - a more beautiful vision for how we can live and practical resources for how to build it. That’s what you’ll find when you join Living the New Story. We hope you will!
All the Details
Two online events every month:
Community Conversations: Zoom workshops from New Story Community members and friends with practical instruction on how to live the new story in our daily lives.
Second Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm Central.The Journey Revisited: A monthly video discussion group, like a book club, except watching recordings from last year's 7-month New Story Journey course (see the full list at our online Video Store - your LTNS subscription will include free access to the entire collection). View at your own leisure, and then dig deeper together with others in a monthly Zoom discussion.
Fourth Saturday of each month at 1pm Central.
Additional Resources
Living the New Story membership includes access to our complete New Story Video Library, with over sixty thought-provoking, life-changing sessions from both the 2020 New Story March Retreat and the New Story Journey online course. (An $80 value if purchased separately!)
Our library includes presentations by Brian McLaren, Melvin Bray, Vance Blackfox, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Linda Sarsour, Micky Scottbey Jones, MN Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, Shannon Spencer, Jonathan Wilson Hartgrove, Mark van Steenwyk, Gareth Higgins and Bishop Yvette Flunder along with many others, as well as musical performances by Nikki Lerner, K Stellar Dutcher, Phoebe Hunt, Denison Witmer, Vince Anderson, and David Wilcox. Visit newstoryfestival.com/video-store for the complete list and previews of each session.
Small Group Circles
For any who desire, we will assist you in forming or joining your own online small group (aka "Circle") with fellow subscribers. Options include Porch Circles, focused primarily on sharing life together, Learning Circles for those who wish to go deeper on a particular issue or concept, and Action Circles for those who want to work with others on a particular issue or goal.
Additional Courses
We intend to offer three or four short (4-6 week) online courses over this coming year allowing participants the opportunity to gain even more robust instruction into how to live the new story. Topics will be determined based on community interest and instructor availability. Living the New Story subscribers will receive a 20% discount on enrollment fees for any short courses they choose to attend.
ENROLLMENT OPTIONS
Standard enrollment for the Living the New Story learning community is just $25/month. This is the average amount we need to cover our operating costs.
Of course, we never turn anyone away based on financial need, so, understanding that this has been a difficult year for many, we also offer a scholarship rate of $15/month for any who need it.*
On the other hand, the New Story is all about generosity, so if you are able to give more to help offset those who are struggling this year, please subscribe at our $40/month "Supporter" rate. Thank you so much!
*If even the scholarship rate is too difficult this year, we still want you with us! Email mike@newstoryfestival.com to work out other arrangements.
Note: Prices will be higher on Apple iOS platforms due to their 30% sales fees. We recommend purchasing your subscription via website or Android device instead.