Gaylene Gould

After twenty years of working in the creative sector and holding a series of enviable positions, from traveling round the world selecting film for international film festivals to curating performing arts venues, Gaylene Gould finally admitted that her heart lay in a different place, that something had to give. However, making the transition from a secure career to living life as an artist was a difficult one... How do you walk away from security to beat out an unconventional route? How do you switch off the voices of others to listen to your own?

She now works as a writer and a coach, supporting others to dream the undreamable. At Storythyme, she will share experiences from her journey and others' who have 'crossed over' and provide suggestions of creative experiments that might help you see life a little differently too.

Sean Carasso

We are very honoured to welcome Sean Carasso, the 30 year old entrepreneur, freedom fighter, industry innovator, and humanitarian to our Storythyme event.  Sean has spent the last four years running toward a goal most call impossible - peace in Congo.  Sean spent his mid-20s traveling the world with entrepreneur and philanthropist, John Paul Dejoria, and with every step wanted to see more. In 2008 Sean went to South Africa on a shoe drop and then headed north into the Democratic Republic of Congo. There he was told of children sent to the frontlines of war, armed with only a whistle. 

That night he wrote a small journal entry, Falling Whistles.  The journal was forwarded around the world and he woke up to thousands of emails asking: What can we do? The Falling Whistles campaign was born with a simple response - make their weapon your voice and be a whistleblower for peace.

Out of a warehouse in Downtown Los Angeles, Falling Whistles invests in eight Congolese whistleblowers rebuilding their country, and is building a global coalition for peace in our world's deadliest war. Today that coalition is over 50,000 strong.

Sean has been featured as Forbes Magazine’s “Thirty Under Thirty: Law & Policy,”as a young entrepreneur making his mark on the world. He has been an honorary guest of Summit Series for the past four years and has been selected by the White House as a Next Generation Leader. Sean has been the headline speaker at numerous high-profile events, companies, and schools including Harvard, Stanford, Brown, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rhode Island School of Design, Levis, TOMS Shoes, IDEO, the Do Lectures, GP Bullhound's European Summit, The COMMON Summit hosted by Alex Bogusky, and PROJECT trade shows. 

Susie Wheeldon

Susie Wheeldon was raised in the era of rock music, strong women and Indiana Jones spending much of her childhood on mini-adventures and being shot at by her brother with an air rifle; perfect practise for a round the world cycle ride. In the intervening years she bolstered her stamina by trekking in the Himalayas, climbing Mt Kenya, enduring the Marathon des Sables and surfing and snowboarding anywhere possible.

Her passion for the environment began after an unexpected 'tea' drinking ceremony in the Brazilian rainforest and in 2004 she set up an award winning sustainable living website. In 2009/10 she pedalled 13,500 miles to promote the potential of solar power, spending months in the inhospitable expanses of the Sahara and Taklamakan deserts.  

Susie Wheeldon lives in Peckham, works in the City and sings in a band. She is currently writing a screen play.

Funthyme Dining & Events

ALL EARS is excited to be partnering with Funthyme Dining & Events for this special evening. Funthyme is an innovative concept food company specialising in bespoke private and event catering, supper clubs and pop up restaurants.

Funthyme have created this special menu for Storythyme:

* BBQ'd Spatchcock poussin marinaded in pomegranate molasses, honey, orange and sumac served with red cabbage summer slaw, toasted bulgar wheat and preserved lemon aioli
* Veg option - Roasted tomato, bbq'd baby aubergines and green chilli's with red cabbage summer slaw, toasted bulgar wheat and preserved lemon aioli
* Pots of spiced rice pudding with drunken sultanas