Building Stories On Air -- Sundays, 4-5 PM on WCOM FM 103.5 / wCOMFM.oRG
Building Stories On Air, a partnership between Giggles and Chisels, LLC and WCOM-LP, is a weekly radio program where young children to adults build stories together, across generations, using story starters, gentle prompts and whimsical characters.
By elevating stories invented across generations, Building Stories On Air aims to gently remind everyone, i.e., adults and children alike, of the beauty of imagination.
How does it work?
- Each episode is broadcast on Sunday on WCOM-LP from 4 pm to 5 pm.
- We have two types of shows: 1) shows with 1 or 2 guests, such as a child–adult pair (a young child and a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, family friend, etc, anyone interested in a special 1:1 time with the young child : ), or a couple of adults eager to reconnect with their inner, joining us to the studio to actively participate to the story, or to simply listen, and discover the beauty of radio broadcasting. 2) shows without guests, fully dedicated to our “story builders at large“, where we guide our audience in inventing stories in the comfort of their favorite location.
- Musical pauses are used throughout as needed.
- We explore a story every week (the wooden Fellows take the lead, inviting anyone to add on as they feel like it!), whether our “story builders” are in the studio, or at-large, sharing their own ideas through email or phone calls before, live or the week following the show. The wooden Fellows LOVES taking the lead and sharing their own stories : )
Check out previous episodes
Sometimes, listening is better than words!
–>Listen to our previous episodes (and check some of the wooden Fellows’ pictures as they got ready for their show : )
How can I participate?
There are different ways to join !
Listen from home
Tune in and follow along as we guide you through inventing stories in your own space. On March 8th, for instance, Pierre Qui Roule invented a story taking place at a community center nearby!
Join us in the studio to listen to the story being told
Be part of the live audience (we have room for 2-3 people every week) and soak in the magic of the wooden Fellows.
Join us in the studio to create
When you’re ready, come co-invent stories with us live (same cozy capacity: 2-3 guests).
Local businesses
We also welcome businesses in Chapel Hill / Carrboro to partner with us as underwriters, or to simply spread the word! If interested, please contact us at buildingstoriesonair(at)gmail(dot)com
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If you are interested in joining us in the studio to listen or create, send us an email at buildingstoriesonair(at)gmail(dot)com or complete the form below! We will reach out to you shortly.
In case you want to know more!
Table of Contents
Have you noticed how our society seems to move faster and faster as we grow up? Sometimes, somewhere along the way, our imagination begins to fade, almost without us noticing. Young children unleash their imagination naturally. They invent stories without judgment or hesitation. And yet, as we grow older, we tend to forget how to imagine this way ourselves. Why does it matter? Because imagination stimulates the brain, fosters creativity, and alleviates boredom.
We hope Building Stories On Air encourages all of us to slow down and let our inner child take the lead for a moment.
Who is hosting the show?
Frédérique…
Frédérique Yova, PhD, hosts the show with the help of her wooden Fellows! She is the founder of Giggles and Chisels, LLC, a small company based in Chapel Hill, NC, aiming to elevate the uniqueness of young children through stories and woodcarving, and brings 15+ years of experience in early childhood. She creates engaging prompts for each program, guiding the adult-child pairs and connecting the story’s threads.
Frédérique could not do it without the wooden Fellows, though : )
… and the wooden Fellows!
Maurice reminds us that morosity is part of life, Mme Rigolotte finds joy everywhere she goes, Petite Clothilde reminds us to dream big, and Pierre-Qui-Roule shows us the beauty of Mother Earth.
The Bouilles and the Pouilles are all around, spreading hope and love, and LOVE being used as story characters : )
You can find them out, sharing their adventures in our 4 Us All newsletter, our blog, or other media, and you will have a chance to learn more about them through our show!
Who are the in-person guests?
Are you close to Carrboro, NC? Do you have a young child in your life? Whether you are a grandparent, aunt, uncle, parent, or family friend, you could be one of our in-person guests!
Every week, we are looking for 2 or 3 pairs of one adult-one young child (between 4 and 8, but there is no cut off : ) coming to the show to either listen to the story being told, or participate in the magic of building stories together!
Why a pair? So both can have a very special 1:1 time with the other! And of course, anyone can come more than once if they have more than one special person : )
I am interested in being an in-person guest and actively participating in inventing stories, but I need to know more!
We want to be as transparent as possible so your experience is as smooth as possible!
- Think of Frédérique as the conductor of our story orchestra. She will guide the flow, inviting everyone to share, signaling when it is time to pause and listen, or take the lead for a moment. If she gently redirects or gives a child space to finish a thought, that is part of keeping the magic flowing. Trust the process (and her background in early childhood!)
- Multiple guests (adults and children) may participate together. Everyone is invited to listen respectfully, build on others’ ideas, and share the space!
- To protect all children’s privacy, no photos or videos will be taken during the recording session.
- This is live (and recorded for future broadcast). Once we are on air, content cannot be “taken back”!, but that is part of the magic!
I am a little “nervous” about actively participating. What would you suggest?
This is totally fine!
You can start by simply listening to the show at home, and then, come to the studio to listen. When you are ready for more, we will be here to guide you!
- The wooden Fellows are always eager to share a story, and will invite all of us to add on from time to time. You can add on … or pass! We will never put you on the spot, unless you feel ready!
- You can step out or request a music break if you or the child needs to regroup at any point!
- We created a YouTube video on the Art of Imagining to share our approach, if you want to have a look! And we will keep sharing videos where Frederique and the wooden Fellows model unleashing their own imagination!
I would love to build stories, just not in-person in the studio! How can I still participate?
A day or two before the show, we share our plan for the upcoming show so you can be fully involved.
Listen live, and share your thoughts with people around you, adding comments, or sending us an email! Our community goes beyond the walls of our studio. And who knows, after a few weeks, maybe you will be ready to join us in person? No pressure, though!
You can also build your own story alongside, during music breaks, using our Unleash Your Imagination guide (click here to find out more about it!). You can also check our YouTube video on the Art of Imagining.
Contact us anytime prior, during, or after the show to share your thoughts !
–> buildingstoriesonair(at)gmail(dot)com
