The Story Apothecary

Story Prescription: Story medicine for stories themselves. A story from Korea, about a greedy boy who demands stories from everyone he meets, stuffing them into a “story bag” and never sharing them. But the stories plan revenge! Today is when my book Bulgarian Folk Tales is born into the world! Illustrated by the incredible Rima Staines. You can order your copy here: If you are in Bulgaria, then you can find them here. If you wish to join me for the book launch, on the 4th or 7th June, you can find the details at: https://www.nanatomova.com/events To support this podcast, you can '⁠⁠buy me a coffee'. ⁠⁠You can also tell your friends, which is free but means a lot. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave me a 5* review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Music: Thank you to ⁠⁠In Feathers ⁠⁠for the beautiful music. Story Sources: The Story-Bag: A Collection of Korean Folk Tales, 1957. So-un, Kim. Translated by Setsu Higashi; https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/story-bag

Story Prescription: For anyone who finds themselves in difficulty. A reminder that every challenging journey starts with a single step. A story from Georgia about a young woman called Svetlana, who walks towards the light in attempt to save someone she loves. I have a book of Bulgarian Folk Tales out on the 4th June 2026. You can find out more about it and pre-order it here for delivery worldwide. Find out more about it here.To support this podcast, you can '⁠⁠buy me a coffee'. ⁠⁠You can also tell your friends, which is free but means a lot.Music: Thank you to ⁠⁠In Feathers ⁠⁠for the beautiful music

Story Prescription: A tale of women's wisdom, and the healing power of music. Story Caution: This story contains descriptions of imprisonment. A beautiful and humorous story rom Russia, where a wise Tsarista (a queen) plays music to save a life. To support this podcast, you can '⁠⁠buy me a coffee'. ⁠⁠You can also tell your friends, which is free but means a lot. Music: Thank you to ⁠⁠In Feathers ⁠⁠for the beautiful music, and to Megan Sahara for the harp music. Story Sources: Russian Folktales (1915); Fearless Girls, Wise Women, and Beloved Sisters: Heroines in Folktales from Around the World (2000).

<p>Story Prescription: To know love, we also must know that it may not last forever. To appreciate life, we must know that it cannot stay for eternity. This is a story about love and about death, and how the two are interlinked. Mostly it's a story about life and love, from Armenia.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thank you to<a href="https://substack.com/@infeathers" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"> InFeathers </a>for the Music.</p><p>Get your ticker to join me for <a href="https://www.nanatomova.com/event-details/a-damsel-not-in-distress-untamed-tales-for-international-womens-day" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A Damsel Not In Distress - Untamed Tales for International Women’s Day</a>. It will be a great night.</p>

<ul> <li><strong>Story Prescription: A story for jealousy. It's easy for it to be all-consuming, but sometimes it devours us.</strong></li> <li><strong>A story from Bulgaria about the ruler of the wild cats, Bashakote. It's a humorous, slightly dark and wonderful tale.</strong></li> </ul> <p><br /></p> <ul> <li><strong>Stories of </strong><a href="https://www.nanatomova.com/event-details/the-dirty-days-bulgarian-stories-of-vampires-ghosts-creatures-of-the-night" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>Vampires, Ghosts & Creatures of the Night:</strong></a><strong> Saturday 4th January on Zoom. </strong>If you're interested in hearing some wonderfully dark stories for the Bulgarian 'Dirty Days' join me and musician In Feathers. <a href="https://www.nanatomova.com/event-details/the-dirty-days-bulgarian-stories-of-vampires-ghosts-creatures-of-the-night" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">More information here.</a></li> </ul> <p><br /></p> <ul> <li>If you enjoy this podcast, you can '<a href="https://ko-fi.com/storyapothecary" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">buy me a coffee' </a>as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening. </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Music: Thank you to <a href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/infeathers/fsAW" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">In Feathers </a>for the beautiful music. </li> </ul>

<p>Story Prescription: A story that shows us that it's possible to keep the inner fire burning no matter the challenging circumstances.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Story Caution: This story contains domestic violence as a central theme. If you choose to listen, take care of yourself.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>A story from Russia about a woman who loves fairytales, and who only lets guests stay if they can tale a tale. Her husband however, does not agree.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>WILD WOMEN starts in November 2024, for more information go to <a href="https://www.nanatomova.com/wildwomen" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠https://www.nanatomova.com/wildwomen⁠⁠</a></p> <p><br /></p> <p>To support this podcast, you can '<a href="https://ko-fi.com/storyapothecary" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠buy me a coffee'. ⁠⁠</a>You can also tell your friends, which costs nothing.</p> <p>Music: Thank you to <a href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/infeathers/fsAW" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠In Feathers ⁠⁠</a>for the beautiful music. </p>

<p><strong>Story Prescription:</strong> A story about the greed and the dangers of prioritising gold over the real treasure of the land.</p> <p>A sweet story from the Ural Mountains about a young man who gets given a sieve and three feathers by his grandmother and the advice about where to find real treasure.</p> <p>To support my work financially can '<a href="https://ko-fi.com/storyapothecary">buy me a coffee' </a>as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening. </p> <p>Music: Thank you to <a href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/infeathers/fsAW">In Feathers </a>for the beautiful music. </p>

<p>Story Prescription: A story about love, and that if we open our hearts to feel the fire, we take a risk. But if we don't then we live in the shadows of the basement, where life is grey. </p> <p><br></p> <p>A story from Russia, where a snow child becomes alive. But she wants to feel the fire in her heart, even if that comes at a price.</p> <p>....</p> <p><br>To support my work financially you can '<a href="https://ko-fi.com/storyapothecary">buy me a coffee' </a> if you enjoy listening. </p> <p>Music: Thank you to <a href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/infeathers/fsAW">In Feathers </a>for the beautiful music. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Links for events which are coming up:</p> <p><a href="https://www.nanatomova.com/events">https://www.nanatomova.com/events</a></p>

<p><strong>Story Prescription:</strong> A prescription about the moon and the Northern lights. A Saami story of love and loss, of hope and light. A story for the autumn and winter, so that we may find the light in the skies. </p> <p>If you wanted to join my Wild Women course, a 6 Months Journey into the Wild Feminine through Stories, starting on the 9th November, then find out more <a href="https://www.nanatomova.com/event-details/wild-women-6-months-journey-into-the-wild-feminine-through-stories">⁠here.⁠</a> </p> <p><br></p> <p>To support my work financially you can become a regular patron on<a href="https://www.patreon.com/NanaTomova">⁠ ⁠</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/NanaTomova">⁠Patreon⁠</a>, and you will receive the gift of stories and folklore. </p> <p>You can also '<a href="https://ko-fi.com/storyapothecary">⁠buy me a coffee' ⁠</a>as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Music: Thank you to <a href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/infeathers/fsAW">⁠In Feathers ⁠</a>for the beautiful music. </p> <p><br></p>

<p>-Story Prescription: A story for naming something which you fear by its true name; a story which cautions those who make promises in haste; a story about giving up that which you treasure the most</p> <p>.</p> <p>A story from Germany, collected by the Grimm brothers about a miller's daughter who needs to spin straw into gold to save her head. She gets help from an other worldly creature, but the helps comes at a price.</p> <p>.</p> <p><br>To support my work financially you can become a regular patron on<a href="https://www.patreon.com/NanaTomova"> </a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/NanaTomova">Patreon</a>.</p> <p>.</p> <p>You can also '<a href="https://ko-fi.com/storyapothecary">buy me a coffee' </a>as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening. </p> <p>.</p> <p>Music: Thank you to <a href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/infeathers/fsAW">In Feathers </a>for the beautiful music. </p>

<p><strong>-Story Prescription: </strong>A reminder of not trading or giving up those parts of us that are integral to our being. </p> <p>A story from Hungary about a traveller whose fiddle plays the most beautiful music. But he gives it all one day for something more worthwhile.</p> <p>.</p> <p>To support my work financially you can become a a regular patron on<a href="https://www.patreon.com/NanaTomova"> </a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/NanaTomova">Patreon</a>, and you will receive the gift of stories and folklore. </p> <p>You can also '<a href="https://ko-fi.com/storyapothecary">buy me a coffee' </a>as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening. </p> <p>.</p> <p>Music: Thank you to <a href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/infeathers/fsAW">In Feathers </a>for the beautiful music. </p>

Story Prescription: A story of the Woman's Quest, a feminine journey, a story of female initiation into adulthood, and into an awakening. A Bulgarian wondertale about a girl to enters into an old woman's hut and finds gold; and her step-sister who instead of gold finds darkness - but that too is a gift, if you know to recognise it as one. Music: Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music. You can find more of his music and musings at https://www.instagram.com/in.feathers/ If you enjoy my podcast please leave a rating and a review, as this helps others to find it. If you know a friend who needs this story, feel free to share it with them. To support my work, and to hear more stories you can find me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/NanaTomova.

Story Prescription: A story about doing what feels good rather than what one should do. A story for self-indulgence, pleasure, rest, and enjoying life with no guilt. A humorous story from Germany about a clever and witty woman, a cook, who knows what she wants, and takes it with no guilt and no apology. With so many of us having lost touch with what we want or desire, through life circumstances, and if and when we take it, there is a lot of guilt. This story speaks to this part of us and offers medicine. Episode artwork: Vincent Van Gogh To support my work financially you can become a a regular patron on Patreon, and you will receive the gift of stories and folklore. . You can also 'buy me a coffee' as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening. _ Music: Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.