A Celebration of Story, Soul, and Sisterhood
In a world that often rushes past quiet voices and lived experiences, the 2025 Women’s Storytelling Festival—hosted by Better Said Than Done—served as a much-needed pause, an invitation to listen, feel, and connect. Held from March 20 to 23 at the Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax, Virginia, the festival brought together 19 women and gender-nonconforming storytellers from across the country, each carrying a universe of truth, imagination, and memory within their words.
The in-person performances may be over, but the echoes linger—and the full archive of stories remains available for streaming through April 28, 2025. For $45, viewers can access nearly 15 hours of storytelling, with sales closing on April 8. Whether experienced live or through the screen, the Festival delivers what so few events today can: a deeply human, heartfelt celebration of voice.
Entering a Living Storybook
The atmosphere inside the Sherwood Community Center was simple yet radiant. A modest elevated platform with a mic on a stand set the stage. Rows of folding chairs filled with curious minds faced a space lit by soft sunlight pouring in through uncovered windows. Surrounding artwork reminded everyone that they were about to experience something crafted, layered, and personal.
The magic began with the remarkable Jenn White, host of WAMU’s 1A, serving as Emcee for the afternoon showcase on Saturday, March 22. Her presence elevated the experience, blending grace and gravitas, and setting the tone for what became an unforgettable session.
Stories That Moved the Heart and Mind
The lineup that day featured five women who took the audience on journeys through memory, fiction, fantasy, and grief—blurring the boundaries of genre with emotional clarity.
Laura Deal enchanted with a whimsical yet grounded tale about a turtle and an old reed organ, inviting listeners into a world where memory meets magic. Aimee Snow offered a vulnerable and universally resonant reflection on a love gone awry, with sharp emotional undertones and striking honesty. Laura Packer spun a colorful and mischievous yarn involving characters like Crazy Jane and Red-Haired Annie, full of larger-than-life wonder. Andrea Kamens delivered a nostalgic and touching narrative about her aunts, creatively weaving in elements of the Little Red Riding Hood fable. Sarah Snyder moved many to tears with her brave account of caring for her mother in her final days—a raw and tender story of love, loss, and presence.
With every pause, laugh, and sigh, the connection between storyteller and listener deepened. It was less a performance and more a shared emotional reckoning, where listeners were gently drawn inward to confront their own memories, dreams, and fears.
More Than an Event—A Movement
The Festival is far more than a one-off annual gathering. Better Said Than Done continues to foster storytelling throughout the year. On March 31, a 90-minute personal storytelling workshop will provide participants with the tools to unlock their own narratives. On April 26, they’ll host a special storytelling night themed “The Great Escape” at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, offering another chance for live connection, catharsis, and creativity.
What sets the Women’s Storytelling Festival apart isn’t just its focus on women and gender-nonconforming voices—it’s the depth of vulnerability, humor, grief, and triumph that these stories embody. This is not surface-level entertainment. This is art that seeps into the soul.
Honoring Every Voice
The 2025 festival featured a powerhouse roster of storytellers, including:
Laura Deal, Swapna Deshpande, Linda Gorham, Jennifer Hillery, Tobey Ishii Anderson, Andrea Kamens, Amanda Lawrence, Carol Moore, Miriam Nadel, Ingrid Nixon, Laura Packer, Jessica Robinson, Aimee Snow, Sarah Snyder, Karin Amano, Sarah Brady, Sarah Beth Nelson, Shani Womack, and Janel Woodland.
The emcees—Bonnie Gardner, Sherry Grimes, Jeanna Lee, Jamie McElhatton, Miriam Nadel, Kristin Pedemonti, Mayor Catherine Read, Lauren Stephens, and Jenn White—ensured that each session flowed seamlessly, with energy, purpose, and respect for the storytellers’ space.
A Space for Grown-Ups to Feel Deeply
It’s worth noting that the Festival is intended for mature audiences. These are not sanitized tales. They are filled with raw edges, intricate themes, and emotional truths that demand attention and empathy. And for those willing to show up—whether online or in person—the rewards are profound.
A Personal Transformation
For many attendees, including those new to live storytelling, this event was more than just a cultural outing. It was a mirror, a window, and a door—all at once. A way to see oneself, glimpse others, and walk into new emotional landscapes. From laughter to tears to quiet reflection, the 2025 Women’s Storytelling Festival reminded everyone of the simple yet radical power of listening.
As one attendee reflected after the experience:
“I sighed. I laughed. I cried. I found myself listening intently while simultaneously musing through my own recollections.”
And that, perhaps, is the heart of it. In a world oversaturated with content, the Festival offers something rare: presence. An invitation to slow down, open up, and allow the stories of others to change the shape of your own.
