Facing fear: Live storytelling series launches Saturday with tales of courage

Maria Sonnenberg
·2 min read

When Chad Talley was seven years old, he encountered his first paranormal experience when the drawers of his dresser opened by themselves as Chad watched, of all things, an old "Ernest" movie.

Talley’s mother didn’t downplay the incident, but instead encouraged him to research the world of paranormal, which continues to fascinate him to this day.

He founded the Space Coast Paranormal Society, and later RadParanormal, which Talley calls a “laidback” offshoot of the Society. RadParanormal describes itself as a group eager to help “with all your paranormal needs.”

Talley, a legal compliance analyst, is joined by a team of folks eager to investigate what cannot be easily explained. The group researches locations of paranormal activity, tries to determine natural causes for the reported activity and either debunks a claim or documents it as legitimately paranormal.

Chad Talley and Robbie Ripol are launching a series of public speaking events with rotating speakers and topics. The first event, "The Human Narrative: Facing Fear," will be at Rad Ink in Melbourne on Saturday, July 15 at 8 p.m.
Chad Talley and Robbie Ripol are launching a series of public speaking events with rotating speakers and topics. The first event, "The Human Narrative: Facing Fear," will be at Rad Ink in Melbourne on Saturday, July 15 at 8 p.m.

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"The Human Narrative" hopes to continue hosting storytelling events with new themes and speakers each month.
"The Human Narrative" hopes to continue hosting storytelling events with new themes and speakers each month.

The organization is now embarking “The Human Narrative,” a series of live storytelling sessions that explore aspects of a world where logical explanations don’t apply.

The series kicks off with “Facing Fear,” with six storytellers discussing time in their lives when they had to face fear. The free event takes place at 8 p.m., July 15, at Rad Ink, 760 W. New Haven Ave., Melbourne, where an outdoor seating area will be set up, complete with food truck from Comer Fuego. Gates open at 7 p.m. to give participants plenty of time to enjoy the empanadas, pizzadillas and birria meals available from the Latin-themed food truck.

Speaker Adam Woodworth will talk about facing fear at "The Human Narrative" at Rad Ink in Melbourne on Saturday, July 15 at 8 p.m.
Speaker Adam Woodworth will talk about facing fear at "The Human Narrative" at Rad Ink in Melbourne on Saturday, July 15 at 8 p.m.

Speakers Robbie Ripol, who underwent amputation of his leg, and quadruple amputee Gary Miracle, will discuss facing the emotionally charged medical procedures and its ensuing challenges. Brett Cothern will focus on mental health issues, while Adam Woodworth will delve into how individuals can face fears and Talley himself will talk about obsessive compulsive behavior and mental health. Musician Bob Sima will provide musical accompaniment with songs about standing up to fear.

Talley hopes to continue the Human Narrative series on a regular basis, with new themes and speakers each month. Each event will feature six story tellers who will present brief personal stories about the chosen topic.

If you go

The Human Narrative: 'Facing Fear'

Where: Rad Ink Florida, 760 W. New Haven Ave., Melbourne

When: Saturday, July 15. Gates open at 7 p.m., and storytelling begins at 8.

Admission: Free

On the web: facebook.com/events/1583549155461747

Livestream: At patreon.com/TheHumanNarrative for a $5 access fee

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Six storytellers will share their tales with 'The Human Narrative'