I was born with the umbilical cord around my neck, and I’ve made up for it ever since!
From acting and being a student rep throughout my education to teaching, performing poetry and leading discussions, I’ve always been at ease in front of an audience, speaking up for people and causes.
It’s in my genes. Both my grandfathers served on their local councils. One even conducted a marching band.
One shared trauma. One shared secret. And what it costs.
I spent a month rewriting this keynote before I could stand up in front of a hundred strangers. I can only ask you to open up because I did it first.
Keynotes, panels, hosting and spoken word. In person or online.
“I asked Carole to host four episodes of our podcast because she has a remarkable ability to bring people, cultures and ideas together through meaningful conversation. Each time she interviewed her guests something unique and memorable happened…”
When she hosted a panel of poets, we got immersed in a wide range of emotions and discovered the ancient art of singing poetry, which had everyone glued to their seats. When she curated a panel of musicians, singers and songwriters from every continent, we learned about musical traditions from Mali to Thailand via the US and the Ukraine. The podcast finished on a bang with an improvised jam session and the audience started to dance.
Carole’s strength lies not only in how she engages with people, but in how she creates an atmosphere where different voices, experiences and cultures genuinely shine and connect. She is thoughtful, curious and exceptionally well prepared, yet always leaves room for the unexpected. She listens deeply, asks questions that go beyond the surface and brings out stories and perspectives that might otherwise remain untold.
Carole doesn’t simply host a conversation. She engineers experiences that engage intellectually, connect with people emotionally and leave them with something meaningful to reflect upon.
“Carole’s poetry is a masterclass in precision and sensory depth. Her work is layered, sharp, and laced with an unforgettable French wit. Experiencing her performance is a genuine thrill, but collaborating with her level of excellence is an absolute privilege.”
“The best way I can describe Carole’s poetry and performance is electric! Her immersive story telling approach takes us into her world and we always arrive somewhere profound and unexpected. Not only is there depth, but also humour, which is one of the things I love most about Carole’s work. Her performances are always unforgettable.”
“The excitement that comes when I know you are coming up to the mic — it is this joyous feeling. Because whatever you bring, whether it is of joy or of pain, it makes pain feel like joy. You take on unfortunate situations and make a story out of it that does not dismiss the truth…”
The excitement that comes when I know you are coming up to the mic — it is this joyous feeling. Because whatever you bring, whether it is of joy or of pain, it makes pain feel like joy.
You take on unfortunate situations and make a story out of it that does not dismiss the truth behind that story. If anything it brings it into a depth, but lightens it into a perspective that lets me feel even more connected to you, and okay with me and all the things I have been through.
It almost feels like there is no performance. It is a poetic monologue of truth. Your poetry instils a grounding reality to accept the pains and lows of life, while reminding me to lighten my heart and expand beyond the feeling of being defeated — remembering, at the end of it, that joy is always there.
Man, I am a poet, you know. But deadgum it, woman. I love listening to your poetry. It lightens my heart every time. It brings me deep into the depths of my heart where my gut can feel the pain and relate to it, and enlightens my heart and mind to where I remember the joy of life no matter what. You bring a humorous elegance to reality in ways I have never experienced it.
Email me three things: the date, the audience, and what you want them to leave with.
Merci.
Fees depend on the event, the travel and the preparation involved. Tell me about yours and I will come back with a figure.
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