Tales of Laughter and Healing, Wisdom and Wonder with Joel ben Izzy

Week of April 11, 2026

Tales of Laughter and Healing, Wisdom and Wonder
As spring arrives at the Ranch, there’s no better way to open the heart and soul than by gathering before a crackling fire for a magical evening of stories – and that’s how we’ll be starting our week, around the beautiful fireplace in Oaktree.

Master storyteller and Ranch favorite Joel ben Izzy will welcome guests with tales he’s collected in his over four decades of travels from around, woven together with stories from his own life, and some Ranch lore as well. While there’s no telling just what tales he’ll be spinning, you can be sure they’ll leave you laughing, give you plenty to ponder, and that you’ll feel better when you walk out than when you came in – a great way to kick off your week at the Ranch.

“Going to the Well” – a Four-Part Storytelling Workshop

Each of us has already lived a life overflowing with stories – tales of people we’ve known, places we’ve been, music that’s moved us, animals we have loved, and so much more. It’s the good stuff, and each of us has filled a well inside filled with it. The challenge in our busy lives is to find the time and place to return to that well. Well, this week is the time and Rancho La Puerta is the place. Through fun, low-key exercises, Joel will help us dip into that well to bring up stories we did not know we knew, while teaching techniques to tell them.

Note that while we will be telling stories, this class is not about “performing.” Rather, the focus is on discovering and sharing your stories in a way that is natural and comfortable.

The four classes each build on one another to make a complete course, so please plan to attend all four if you can. That said, if you’ll need to miss some, or even if you can only come to one or two, you are welcome.

We’ll explore a different theme each day:
– Tales of People We’ve Known
– Tales of Places We’ve Been
– Tales of Moments of Awe
– Tales to for the Journey Back Home

Over the past four decades, Joel ben Izzy has traveled the world, gathering and telling stories in some 36 countries on five continents. His tales are filled with laughter, bringing to life themes of finding light within the darkness. His award-winning memoir The Beggar King and The Secret of Happiness (Algonquin, 2003) has now been translated into 18 languages. Joel, who is one of the nation’s leading story coaches, lives in Berkeley, California. “It’s hard to convey the infectious quality of a good storyteller, but whatever it is, Joel ben Izzy’s got it.” – The Washington Post. STORYPAGE.COM