About This Episode
In this conversation with master storyteller Thaler Pekar, we explore how stories connect us to places, how buildings hold collective memories, and why asking "tell me about a time" might be the most powerful way to understand our communities.
Meet Thaler Pekar
Thaler Pekar is the founder of Thaler Pekar & Partners, a consultancy celebrating its 20th anniversary helping organizations build cultures of excellent communication. Her work spans executive coaching, institutional story collections, oral histories, and high-end content creation. As both a Hoboken resident of nearly four decades and a former Jersey City professional who worked in McGinley Square for 10 years, Thaler brings a unique perspective on how stories shape our connections to place.
Connect with Thaler Pekar:
Website: thalerpekar.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thaler-pekar-partners/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThalerPekar
Key Insights
Stories are containers for information that hold facts, values, and emotions simultaneously, allowing us to express things we couldn't say in other ways
Values like "integrity" or "community" are subjective - stories demonstrate what these values look like in action
People are drawn to solutions, not problems - showing stories of solutions in action is more effective than focusing on what's wrong
The "Narrative Garden®" approach examines which stories are being told, which are missing, and which need more room to grow
Stories at the borders and edges of organizations or communities often contain the most innovation and untapped potential
Universal across cultures: everyone has stories to tell, and everyone wants to be genuinely heard
Historic preservation isn't just about individual buildings, but about preserving streetscapes, neighborhood character, and the aesthetics of community
Buildings uniquely "bring the past into the present so we can hold both at the same time"
Visual Documentation
Related Resources
Hoboken Historical Museum's exhibit on "The Meadows of Hoboken" - documenting the transformation of Hoboken's west side
"The Good You Do" - Thaler Pekar's essay on sharing stories about how your work aligns with your values
Rev. Robert Castle's work at St. John's Episcopal Church - a hub for social justice in Jersey City
Explore Further
In next week's Substack article, I'll be sharing my own story map of Jersey City, featuring paintings of the locations that have shaped my personal connection to this community. I'll explore how finding these meaningful places helps us build deeper relationships with the cities we call home.
Coming Up Next
Join us for the next episode when I'll be speaking with Colin Egan of the Friends of the Loew's Theater about saving and revitalizing one of Jersey City's most magnificent historic buildings.
Connect with Nat
Website: natkalbach.com
Substack: Nat's Sidewalk Stories Substack
Instagram: @natkalbach
Email: podcast@natkalbach.com
Music: Our theme music is "How You Amaze Me," composed by Jim Kalbach and performed by Jim Kalbach, Bryan Beninghove, Charlie Siegler, and Pat Van Dyke.
Support the Show: Subscribe to the podcast and sign up for Nat's Substack to receive additional stories and visuals that complement each conversation.
Share Your Story: What sidewalk stories have you discovered in your neighborhood? Share them with Nat through email or social media.
Nat's Sidewalk Stories explores the intersection of place, community, and storytelling through conversations with practitioners, community leaders, and local changemakers. New episodes release on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month through August, with a break in September before Season 2 begins in October.
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