Michael Williams

I am a storyteller at heart. In 2005, I exchanged classroom teaching for the life of an itinerant storyteller. I have worked in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Canada. I've worked with a variety of individuals and community and corporate organizations. Along the way, I obtained a Ph.D. in English Literature (University of Edinburgh) and an Advanced Diploma in Local History (University of Oxford).

I have worked in the mental health and education fields for nearly 50 years. I've been a counsellor to adolescents in care and their families as well as taking on the responsibility of pastoral counselling at both secondary and post-secondary levels. I co-facilitated (with David Keith) the award-winning Juniper Peace Education Programme in Schools in Scotland and helped senior classroom teachers reflect critically on their professional practice and tell that story for Chartered Teacher status. I'm a professional StoryCoach as well as an award-winning author and host of two podcasts: "Death-Defying Discussions" (with Diane DeVivo) and "The Teller and the Tale" (available on Blues and Roots Radio).

I'm currently the 2024 Writer/Storyteller-in-Residence at the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead Museum in Canada where I offer memoir-writing and storytelling workshops, including 1-1 consultations (adelaidehoodless.ca).

I am an accredited Before I Go Method® End-of-Life Planning Facilitator and educator and currently serve as the Senior Facilitator and Head Trainer for Before I Go Solutions® (beforeigosolutions.com) where I offer coaching and training in end-of-life planning services to clients in Canada, the U.K., the United States and further afield. My favourite part of this work is helping people create and share their legacy or life stories.

I'm also a proud father to three sons and a grateful grandfather to four (with two more on the way).

You can learn more about my work at michaelwilliamsstoryteller.com and beforeigosolutions.com