WORLD has joined forces with PBS Arizona on the newest season of the WORLD-original series, Stories from the Stage, which showcases extraordinary stories told by ordinary people from all walks of life.
The national storytelling series has released its seventh season that features two episodes filmed in collaboration with PBS Arizona that each feature three Arizona storytellers who share personal stories conveying universal themes of heritage, belonging, grit, family, redemption and love to a live audience.
The first of the two, Flourishing in the Desert, premiered as the season opener on October 16 and highlights three Valley residents who find new beginnings in Arizona. After her divorce, Gilbert, Ariz. writer, adventurer and cofounder of Raising Outdoor Kids Lisa Abelar redefines herself in the great outdoors; Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Phoenix resident Daniel Gonzalez struggles with linguistic dualities; while business executive Shareé Hurts wonders if she can find a home in Phoenix after leaving Oakland, California.
The second episode filmed with PBS Arizona, All Connected, premieres on November 20 and explores how connections often play an essential role when it comes to overcoming challenges and finding contentment. The episode highlights Tempe teacher and Arizona Cardinals Spanish broadcaster Jose Romero who recounts chasing his dream of playing football and learns that life is about relationships, along with Phoenix resident Darcy Olsen, founder of the Center for the Rights of Abused Children, who adopts four children and begins a family. The episode closes with Diné (Navajo) storyteller and Army veteran Kyle Mitchell, also of Phoenix, who shares the love and wisdom he received on the Navajo reservation.
With each story, the series interweaves the theme of Connection through Identity. Audiences will find humor, poignant lessons and moments of triumph throughout the new season, including in episodes Finding Family (December 4), Bucket List (January 8), Quest (January 22), From the Heart (February 12), Extraordinary Women (March 4), Be the Change (March 18), Belonging (May 6) and Sound Check (May 13).
New episodes premiere Mondays at 9:30 p.m. EST through June 2024 on WORLD and stream across WORLD digital platforms, including YouTube and the PBS App. For those who prefer to listen, the series can be experienced via Stories from the Stage: The Podcast, which includes interviews, reflections and more from series co-creators and podcast co-hosts Patricia Alvarado Núñez and Liz Cheng. Listeners can also catch select stories on Fridays during the Stories from the Stage broadcast on The World, a globally-focused radio program from PRX and GBH.
To learn more, visit worldchannel.org.
