For folks who don’t know who Jay is:

Jay O’Callahan is a notable American storyteller – some might say he’s the best in the nation, though that is subjective and I doubt anyone has heard every great storyteller. He is truly wonderful, and the stories he writes and tells weave scientific fact in so expertly you hardly notice that you’re getting a cool lecture at the same time as you hear a fun story. Kids and adults hang on his every word, and he’s published several children’s books in addition to numerous CD productions. NASA hired him to write a story celebrating their 50th anniversary and it has so far pleased many audiences; he turned the story into a love letter, even the parts about unmanned spaceflight which can be more difficult to make an emotional connection with.

The worlds of science (especially astronomy) and storytelling are more linked than is sometimes noticed, stories are how knowledge was first passed around, and to hear a master storyteller create a retelling of a story you’ve heard before is amazing: you hardly notice time passing being wrapped in those words.

Jay has inspired the planetarium show I’m currently writing for Pacific Science Center – it will contain three “fact-tales” of the Mars Rovers.

I know that’s a lot, but I couldn’t stop writing praises of Jay. Sometime when you have a minute (hah!), stop by his website or google for a video of him. Then you’ll see what I mean. http://www.ocallahan.com/