A Tapestry of Wisdom: Learn from World-Renowned Storytellers and Thought Leaders

At the School for Sacred Storytelling, our faculty is a diverse tapestry of visionary thought leaders, celebrated artists, and esteemed educators from around the globe. Our teachers bring a rich blend of cultural wisdom, academic excellence, and lived experience, offering students an unparalleled opportunity to learn from some of the most inspiring voices of our time.

From Bayo Akomolafe, a posthumanist thinker and international speaker rooted in Yoruba culture, to Lewis Mehl-Madrona, a Stanford-trained physician integrating Indigenous healing into modern medicine, our educators challenge conventional boundaries and invite deep exploration. Visionaries like Liz Lerman, a MacArthur “Genius Grant” choreographer, and Laura Simms, an internationally acclaimed storyteller and coach, guide students through innovative processes that merge art, science, and narrative.

Whether it’s Asher Lyons’ transformative approach to creative expression through Medicine Theater, Jacqui Bushell’s integration of mythology and spiritual herbalism, or Johnny Moses’ profound sharing of Native American oral traditions, our faculty embodies a commitment to storytelling as a sacred, healing art. Each teacher brings their unique perspective, from academic expertise to ancestral knowledge, offering a fertile ground for personal and collective transformation.

At our school, you’ll learn from educators who are not just masters of their craft but also dedicated to using storytelling as a powerful tool for connection, cultural renewal, and social change. Discover the depth, brilliance, and inspiration that our extraordinary teachers bring to every class, enriching your journey into the world of sacred storytelling.

A Tapestry of Wisdom: Learn from World-Renowned Storytellers, Healers, and Teachers

Your Guide

When you work with Leah, you’ll be guided to engage with story as a tool for personal healing, growth, and transformation. Over the past 7 years, Leah has served more than 1,000 conscious creators like yourself, supported by over 40 guest teachers. Her programs help you unlock the potential of storytelling to liberate your consciousness and express your fullest self.

Leah weaves her professional experience in theater, filmmaking, healing, and wilderness studies to revive the ancient art of sacred storytelling in today’s world. Through her courses, retreats, and workshops, you’ll explore the deep connections between story, earth, spirit, and healing, gaining access to new levels of awareness and mastery over your own narrative.

Participants in Leah’s programs come away with a greater understanding of how to use story as an ancient healing art, transforming both themselves and their communities. Her spaces are designed for deep exploration, empowering you to tap into the unseen world and awaken your creative potential.

By joining Leah’s Sacred Storytelling experiences, you’ll transform your inner landscape, master the art of story, and gain tools to deepen your connection with yourself, others, and the world around you.

Meet the Distinguished Teachers of Our School

Heather Regal Salmon

Guardians of Presence: Crafting Sacred Spaces and Energetic Boundaries

Heather Regal Salmon, a pioneering sound healer and mystic with over 25 years of experience, co-founded the Black Swan Temple Eco Sanctuary in Maui. Rooted in Jamaican and Celtic heritage, she offers transformative retreats and ceremonies. With an Economics degree from the University of Toronto, Heather co-authored acclaimed books and created a unique recipe collection, blending her diverse background with spiritual innovation.

Franchelle Ofsoske-Wyber

The Sacred Path of the Healer

Franchelle founded the Medicine Woman Centre for Shamanic and Esoteric Studies. A clinical hypnotherapist, vibrational medicine expert, and author, she co-creates with nature and soul to facilitate holistic healing. Through her training centers, Franchelle offers a structured path for aspiring healer-shamans, teaching ancient techniques and rites of passage. She received the New Zealand Health Industry Distinguished Service Award for pioneering New Zealand native flower and plant essences in holistic healing.

Lei’ohu Ryder

The Relationship between Ceremony, Healing & Story

Lei’ohu is a spiritual leader, visionary, healer, singer/songwriter, and educator on Maui. She is an emissary of aloha and an advocate for the indigenous soul in all people.

Lei’ohu has received the Gandhi-King Peace Hero Award, the Peace Educator Award from the United Nations, the Woman of Honor award from Women’s History Month, the Educator Award from the Peace Corps, and the Malama Ka’Aina Award from

Bayo Akomolafe

Bayo Akomolafe (Ph.D.), rooted in Yoruba culture, is a father, life-partner, and celebrated international speaker. He’s a posthumanist thinker, poet, author of two books, and founder of The Emergence Network, which addresses global challenges. He lectures at Pacifica Graduate Institute and holds several fellowships, including at UC Berkeley and the Schumacher Centre. A recipient of numerous awards, Bayo is recognized globally for his contributions to thought leadership and cultural innovation.

Lewis Mehl-Madrona

Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, Stanford-trained in family medicine, psychiatry, and clinical psychology, explores the integration of Indigenous healing traditions into modern medicine. Formerly a faculty member at several medical schools, he authored the Coyote trilogy and other works on storytelling and healing. Currently, he serves as a physician at Northern Light Acadia Hospital and leads the Coyote Institute. His research focuses on resilience and transforming medicine through Indigenous wisdom and narrative practices.

Liz Lerman

Choreographing our Futures: Reclaiming Embodied Knowledge

Liz Lerman, a choreographer, performer, and writer, received a MacArthur “Genius Grant” and a United States Artists Ford Fellowship. She founded Liz Lerman Dance Exchange in 1976, leading it until 2011. Known for engaging diverse groups in her artistic process, Liz’s work spans art, science, and narrative building. She has held residencies at institutions like Harvard and Yale, and her essays, Hiking the Horizontal, explore her innovative approaches to dance.

Laura Simms

Laura is an internationally acclaimed storyteller, writer, coach, and humanitarian, blending traditional stories with personal narratives focused on compassionate action. She is the Artistic Director of the Hans Christian Andersen Storytelling Center and has received numerous accolades, including the Sesame Street SUNNY DAYS AWARD. A certified dharma art teacher and senior meditation instructor, Laura’s latest book is Our Secret Territory: The Essence of Storytelling, with a new release forthcoming.

Asher Lyons

Asher Lyons is the founder of Medicine Theater, dedicated to helping people of all ages find liberation, joy, and healing through spontaneous play, improvisation, and storytelling. With nearly 20 years of experience, Asher began as an instructor with the San Francisco Mime Troupe’s Youth Theatre Project in 2003, where he developed his vision. Medicine Theater now offers transformational creative expression for both youth and adults, fostering freedom through creativity and connection to nature.

Jacqui Bushell

Jacqui Bushell has danced with the mythic imagination for much of her life, blending her love of fairy tales with her work as a spiritual herbalist. As a writer and speaker, she inspires others to explore their own mythology at the intersection of psyche, body, culture, and landscape. Jacqui’s work weaves plant spirit alchemy, energetic healing, and embodiment practices, guiding transformational connections with self, spirit, and nature.

Nick Boraine

Nick is a South African actor, voice artist, writer, and director based in Los Angeles. He holds a BA (Hon) in Dramatic Art from the University of the Witwatersrand and is pursuing an MFA in screenwriting at Antioch University. With extensive experience in theatre, film, TV, and voice work, Nick has also served as Associate Artistic Director of the Global Arts Corps for 20 years. He lives with his wife, actress Louise Barnes, and their daughter, Scarlett.

Jyoti Ma

Jyoti Ma is an internationally renowned spiritual teacher. She has devoted her life to bringing unity to the planet by facilitating the development of alliances between individuals who are the guardians of indigenous culture and traditional medicine ways. Through this work, collaborative relationships with organizations that are focused on economic, social and environmental solutions have developed, creatively addressing the global challenges of our times.

Johnny Moses

Johnny Moses, a Tulalip Native American from Ohiat, Vancouver Island, is a master storyteller, oral historian, traditional healer, and spiritual leader. Fluent in eight Native languages, Johnny, known as Whis.stem.men.knee (Walking Medicine Robe), shares sacred Si.Si.Wiss teachings through storytelling and workshops across the U.S. and Canada. He has performed at major festivals and taught traditional Coast Salish songs and dances to children, forming the Tulalip Coast Salish Powwow Club.

Gigi Coyle

Virginia “Gigi” Coyle is a community activist, council trainer, and life passage guide. She serves on councils for the Ojai Foundation, Youth Passageways, European Council Network, and Weaving Earth. Described as a “field catalyst,” Gigi has contributed to citizen diplomacy, women’s empowerment, and financial healing. She founded Beyond Boundaries and co-founded Walking Water, dedicated to water as a life source. Gigi co-authored The Way of Council and The Box, Remembering the Gift.

Joshua Michael Schrei

Joshua Michael Schrei is a writer, teacher, and lifelong student of global cosmologies and mythologies, especially from the Indian subcontinent. With 16 years of teaching in cosmology, mythology, and somatic disciplines, Josh combines meditation, wilderness immersion, art, and public speaking to explore imaginative vision. He lectures globally and writes for various publications. Josh founded The Emerald Podcast and is currently working on a documentary project about animist goddess traditions and embodied landscapes.

Luisah Teish

Luisah Teish is a ritual theater artist, spiritual counselor, and elder in the Ifa/Orisha tradition. She has authored six books, including the classic Jambalaya: The Natural Woman’s Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals. Co-author of On Holy Ground, Luisah has contributed to numerous anthologies and magazines. She has performed internationally and her mixed-media art has been featured in various journals. Luisah also teaches through online classes, workshops, and spiritual retreats.