This deeply moving special episode honors Denise Santisteban, the festival's beloved curator of ideas and storytelling events, who passed away in April 2025. Host Tiffany Hopkins shares four of Denise's most powerful personal stories, performed live between 2017 and 2020, showcasing her remarkable gift for storytelling.

In these intimate narratives, Denise takes us on journeys both physical and emotional:

"Leo" - A heartwarming tale told from the perspective of an aging dog who finds joy in watching a runner pass by his window each morning, leading to an unexpected connection.

"Peru Trek" - Denise confronts her fears during an eight-day trek through the Peruvian mountains to Machu Picchu, discovering what it truly means to persevere when facing terrifying bridges, steep ledges, and her own panic attacks.

"The Little Brown Girl" - A powerful exploration of identity and racism, tracing Denise's experiences from a childhood incident in a schoolyard to adult encounters with prejudice, and her journey toward embracing who she is.

"What's in a Name?" - Denise reflects on a lifetime of navigating her difficult-to-pronounce surname, family heritage, and the surprising moment she learned she'd been pronouncing her own name wrong.

Through these stories, listeners experience Denise's humor, vulnerability, courage, and the deep humanity that made her such an influential voice in the storytelling community. This episode celebrates her legacy and the transformative power of sharing our truths.

Season 4 is dedicated to Denise's memory, featuring programs she was preparing before her passing.

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