Adopted at birth, Edward Di Gangi was born and raised in New York City. Although he knew for most of his life that he was adopted, it wasn’t until he approached his seventieth birthday that he began to search for the identity of his birth mother. His journey and the many surprising discoveries he made as he searched are recounted in his memoir, The Gift Best Given.
Edward and his wife now live in Hillsborough, North Carolina. He is a popular book club presenter and podcast guest. The Gift Best Given is his first full-length book.
I’m so passionate about stories that I created the Story-Power podcast, Patreon Community, and Apple subscription so I’d have an excuse to talk story with other story lovers. If you’re passionate about stories too, and want to talk about what you’ve learned from your favorites, come join me at patreon.com/StoryPower.
PodMatch
If you are a podcaster, or have a message or fantastic product you want to share with the world, I encourage you to check out PodMatch. I call them a dating service for podcasters. Use the affiliate link and tell them, Lucinda sent you. Then contact me so we can set up a Story-Power chat.
“He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.” ~ Proverbs 12:29
I don’t usually quote The Bible, but man are we humans troubling our own house right now, on so many levels! I’m getting whiplash from the newest events every day. Everything seems like it’s in chaos. And yet, you have to take everything out of the closet before you can reorganize it. I think that’s what’s going on right now. Humanity is doing some cosmic closet cleaning.
I connected with The Bible quote because it was part of the the movie, Inherit the Wind (1960) that I watched not too long ago. It’s about the Scopes vs Tennessee Trial which took place in 1925. I’ve seen this movie several times and I’ve always thought of it as a dramatization of an historical event. But within the first few moments of watching this time, I was dismayed by the similarities between this movie and all the “history denying” going on in various States and school districts around the country. I guess we haven’t yet learned this lesson from history.
The story is based on the real events when the Tennessee Legislature passed a law forbidding science teachers from including lessons about the Theory of Evolution in their curriculum. The ACLU immediately wanted to challenge that law, hopefully going all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. So, they looked for a teacher willing to challenge the law. In real life, John Thomas Scopes volunteered. The trial became what was called “The trial of the century” and dubbed The Scopes Monkey Trial by the press.
I thought it was interesting that the stage play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, premiered a few years after the main investigations of The House Un-American Activities Committee and may have been in response to those events.
The compelling thing about what happened in real life is that it attracted two powerhouse lawyers, Clarence Darrow, (Henry Drummond played by Spencer Tracy) and William Jennings Bryan, (Matthew Harrison Brady played by Fredric March). These two nationally known figures are what made following the trial so popular. Radio was in it’s infancy then, and this trial was a ratings hit. But there were print stories galore as well, for those who didn’t own a radio, outlining every aspect of the day’s proceedings.
On the surface the issue was whether Evolution should be taught in schools, but as Henry Drummond points out the real issue was whether or not the students should be taught different theories of the origin of the planet and everything that lives upon it, so they can make up their own minds about what they believe. Instead, Drummond pointed out that the law was really about whether or not the students would be allowed to use their minds to “think”, to consider the many possible creation stories in addition to the one taught in The Bible.
Much of the trial dialogue in the play/movie comes strait from trial transcripts. In fact, in real life, Clarence Darrow did something never done before and called William Jennings Bryan to the stand as an expert in The Bible. He did this because all of his scientific witnesses were denied him. Little by little Drummond, (Darrow) was able to get Brady, (Bryan) to admit that there are inconsistencies in the “historical” thread of the Biblical creation story, which weakened the prosecutions case.
This segment of the story is so compelling and relevant to today. At one point Drummond, goes on a rant: “I say that you cannot administer a wicked law impartially. You can only destroy, you can only punish. And I warn you, that a wicked law, like cholera, destroys every one it touches. Its upholders as well as its defiers.”
Judge: “Colonel Drummond …”
Drummond: “Can’t you understand? That if you take a law like evolution and you make it a crime to teach it in the public schools, tomorrow you can make it a crime to teach it in the private schools? And tomorrow you may make it a crime to read about it. And soon you may ban books and newspapers. And then you may turn Catholic against Protestant, and Protestant against Protestant, and try to foist your own religion upon the mind of man. If you can do one, you can do the other. Because fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding. And soon, your Honor, with banners flying and with drums beating we’ll be marching backward, BACKWARD, through the glorious ages of that Sixteenth Century when bigots burned the man who dared bring enlightenment and intelligence to the human mind!”
I say, that’s the precipice upon which we find ourselves again with groups wanting to walk us backward. I’m not sure it’s working this time, though. Thankfully there are a growing number of “woke” people in the world, people who are aware of systematic injustice and prejudice on all levels and who are doing something to stop it.
It’s almost a century since the Scopes Monkey Trial. Maybe this time we’ll cross the finish line and never go back to intolerance and fear of the truth. We’ll champion sincere investigation. I hope we’ll understand that no one person can know what is best for everyone because we each have free will and live in our own realities. None of us see the world in the same way. I love that I can learn new things from people who see the world differently than I do.
If you’re interested, my sister, Celeste and I recorded a Bonus Story-Power episode about Inherit the Wind for Apple subscriptions. It’s free to listen to through, or maybe until October 25. There are so many great things about that movie that we can learn to apply to today’s situations.
Thanks for reading, liking, and commenting. I appreciate it very much. I’m not sure if I’ll write a post next week. I’m still preparing and uploading past episodes of Story-Power to YouTube. We’ll see what the events of the next week bring up for me to comment on.
I’m so passionate about stories that I created the Story-Power podcast, Patreon Community, and Apple subscription so I’d have an excuse to talk story with other story lovers. If you’re passionate about stories too, and want to talk about what you’ve learned from your favorites, come join me at patreon.com/StoryPower.
PodMatch
If you are a podcaster, or have a message or fantastic product you want to share with the world, I encourage you to check out PodMatch. I call them a dating service for podcasters. Use the affiliate link and tell them, Lucinda sent you. Then contact me so we can set up a Story-Power chat
“Humans are not ideally set up to understand logic; they are ideally set up to understand stories.” ~ Roger C. Schank, Cognitive Scientist
Lisa Jensen is a ghostwriter and novelist living in the Northwest with her husband and a furry family that includes a pack of Chihuahuas and a pair of cats.The job description for most of the work she’s done throughout her adult life included writing, editing, and proofreading. It started in radio, where she wrote scripts and ad copy daily, and continued when she started freelancing for lifestyle magazines. It was during that time, when her assignments began centering on showcasing the unique stories of everyday people, that Lisa discovered how much she enjoyed hearing people’s stories and telling them. She loved working with those individuals to tell their stories in an engaging, entertaining way that honored them, and that’s when she shifted her full focus to ghostwriting.
Additionally, after decades of toying with the idea of writing fiction, Lisa wrote and self-published a novel, Cedar Ridge, under the pen name Maris Parker in 2021. The following year, she narrated and published the audiobook version and has started writing the follow-up book with the intention of making it a series.
Lisa’s first novel, Cedar Ridge pen name, Maris Parker
Foundation series, Isaac Asimov, Foundation TV series on Apple TV, David S. Goyer, Creator and one of the screen writers
Outlander, series Diana Gabaldon, Outlander TV series, Ronald D. Moore, Creator and one of the screen writers
Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell, Cloud AtlasMovie, Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, Tom Tykwer screen writers
Three Pines, TV series on Amazon Prime, based on Louise Penny’s Inspector Ganache series. Created for TV and written by Emilia di Girolamo among others
Bridgerton, Julia Quinn, Created for TV and written by Chris Van Dusen among others. Produced by Shonda Rhimes among others available on Netflix
The Marvel Cinematic Universe and the D.C. Universe, movies and characters based on Marvel and D.C. graphic novels
The Harry Potterseries of books, J. K. Rowling, movies, various directors and screen writers
The Hunger Games series of books, Suzanne Collins, movies, various directors and screen writers
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith, Movie, Burr Steers, Director, Burr Steers, Seth Grahame-Smith, screenplay based on Jane Austen’s book
Sense and Sensibility, Director, Ang Lee, screenplay, Emma Thompson, based on Jane Austen’s book
Alfred Hitchcock, iconic director of suspense movies like Suspicion, Notorious, The Man Who Knew to Much, North by Northwest, and many others
The Space Between Time sequel, Lucinda Sage-Midgorden
The Man Who Invented Christmas, Director, Bharat Nalluri, screenplay, Susan Coyne, Les Standiford, based on the life of Charles Dickens
Story-Power on Patreon
I’m so passionate about stories that I created the Story-Power podcast, Patreon Community, and Apple subscription so I’d have an excuse to talk story with other story lovers. If you’re passionate about stories too, and want to talk about what you’ve learned from your favorites, come join me at patreon.com/StoryPower.
PodMatch
If you are a podcaster, or have a message or fantastic product you want to share with the world, I encourage you to check out PodMatch. I call them a dating service for podcasters. Use the affiliate link and tell them, Lucinda sent you. Then contact me so we can set up a Story-Power chat.
“Instead of condemning people, let’s try to understand them. Let’s try to figure out why they do what they do. That’s a lot more profitable and intriguing than criticism; and it breeds sympathy, tolerance and kindness. “To know all is to forgive all.”
“Anyone who tries to make the distinction between education and entertainment doesn’t know the first thing about either.” ~ Marshall McLuhan
“Entertainment is there to improve people’s quality of life. After your basic needs, there’s entertainment.” ~ Satoru Iwata
“After nourishment, shelter, and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” ~ Philip Pullman
Finally, the writer’s strike in Hollywood is over after nearly five months. Most of you know that my background is firmly rooted in theatre so the entertainment industry is of great interest to me. I’ve heard many a director, actor, and even show runners say, “It all begins with a good script.” So I didn’t understand why the AMPTP, the producer’s union, let the strike drag on so long. It’s like they didn’t understand that the whole entertainment industry would collapse, like the flag pole in Captain America: First Avenger when Steve Rogers pulled the linchpin out so he could get the flag for a ride back to base with Agent Carter. It’s like they couldn’t see that writers are the linchpin to the entire entertainment industry. Without a script, there is nothing to produce. Without writers, everyone in the industry is out of work. That would be a huge blow to economy of the entire country.
I don’t know all the ins and outs of the negotiations, but I do know that some of the WGA’s demands had to do with residual payments from streaming services, which they (and the actors) were not getting now. Residual payments are paid to the actors, writers, and maybe even directors and other crew when an episode of their show airs in reruns. But that model has changed now that cable and satellite services are dying.
The strike also had something to do with the threat of producers using AI to replace writers, as well as how many writers could be hired for a particular show. These types of negotiations make my head spin. I did read one news article, though, that made me pause. If the article was right, producers were making millions of dollars for every show they created and/or produced, while the writers, and the rest of the industry’s many workers were barely scraping by. If that’s true it isn’t fair. Spreading some of that money around so that everyone makes a living wage, would in my opinion, strengthen the entire industry.
Presumably the SAG-AFTRA strike will soon end as well. Every once in a while industries change and new business models must be created. This isn’t the first time the entertainment industry has had to make adjustments to the way they produce movies and TV. It won’t be the last.
Remember, I’m an outsider looking at what’s been going on from a distance. I don’t know much about how many unions there are in the industry. But I do recognize the business model where the people at the top make the most money, even though they wouldn’t have that wealth without the hard work of the people they manage. I’m always happy when I see more equitable business models cropping up around the world. We all work hard, we all deserve to be paid well for the work we do.
That’s my thought for the day. I may be back next week or not. I’m still creating the Story-Power YouTube videos, so we’ll see if I have anything pressing I want to write about next week.
I’m so passionate about stories that I created the Story-Power podcast, Patreon Community, and Apple subscription so I’d have an excuse to talk story with other story lovers. If you’re passionate about stories too, and want to talk about what you’ve learned from your favorites, come join me at patreon.com/StoryPower.
PodMatch
If you are a podcaster, or have a message or fantastic product you want to share with the world, I encourage you to check out PodMatch. I call them a dating service for podcasters. Use the affiliate link and tell them, Lucinda sent you. Then contact me so we can set up a Story-Power chat.
I wrote this book, A Little Less Fear, and created my podcast, A Little Less FEAR PODCAST, with one thing in mind: helping people.
I know that everything I have gone through in my very first 40 years of life are for a purpose. I believe we all are born with a purpose, but not all become aware of it. I am blessed with being able to become aware and ready to fulfill my life’s purpose. I have lived many lifetimes already in this one, short waking life, and therefore I feel it is my duty, as a human being with some life experience, to address, vocalize, and show my compassion by relating to the world’s sufferings. It is my honored duty to share with the world, life’s lessons.
If there is one thing this book will do for you, it’s show you love. Unconditional love — for humanity, which starts with YOU.
“Human beings are not ideally set up to understand logic; they are ideally set up to understand stories.” Roger C. Schank, Cognitive Scientist
PodMatch
This episode is brought to you by PodMatch, the dating service for podcasters. They introduced me to Lino, and I’m so glad they did. I hope you’ve enjoyed our conversation and remember that if you have a podcast or something to share with the world, check out PodMatch at my affiliate link at PodMatch and tell them Lucinda sent you.
Patreon and Apple Subscription
I’m so passionate about stories that I created the Story-Power podcast, Patreon Community, and Apple subscription so I’d have an excuse to talk story with other story lovers. If you’re passionate about stories too, and want to talk about what you’ve learned from your favorites, come join me at patreon.com/StoryPower.
