TEDxMiddlebury - Phil Kaye - Why We Tell Stories

Phil Kaye is a touring poet, published author, and co-director of Project V.O.I.C.E. He has appeared on NPR, performed at Lincoln Center, and most recently coached and performed on the 2011 Providence National Poetry Team, ranked third in the nation. His first book, A Light Bulb Symphony, was published in 2011, and his work can be found regularly in CHAOS Magazine.

[@thedealbreaker]

Anyone who gets up on a stage with nothing more than their thoughts and their voice deserves huge respect. Respect to you, Phil Kaye.

[@lynnjoseph8658]

his description of dealing with a stutter is the best I have ever heard. Thank you Phil Kaye.

[@stephaniemaris4878]

Repetition is my favorite spoken word by Phil. It's amazing

[@Ma-fp4px]

mine too

[@bobross6862]

Go to the ranch

[@starryeyedsurmise]

"i have heard that even in space you can hear the scratch of an i-i-i-i-i-i-- I love you" these words have been stuck in my head for weeks. thank you

[@xdefyxgravityx1313x]

When he was like "Sarah Kay, no relation" i laughed because I remembered "An Origin Story" (i think that's what it's called). :P

[@kimberlynguyen124]

"...Sarah Kay, no relation." Me: EXCEPT THAT YOU TWO ARE THE MOST DYNAMIC PLATONIC DUO TO EVER EXIST, YOU JAPA-JEWS.

[@hklee9023]

WHAT an attractive man. Inside and out.

[@maddypatty222]

I wonder if this poem means less and less to him as he says it each time...

[@_antarjyoti]

i wondered, too

[@MisterSecurity702]

It sometimes can, I would imagine, which is some of why we performance poets edit our pieces. When we feel the sting fading away, we edit it to remind ourselves of the history of that poem.

[@GhaliaZk]

wow this comment

[@osiriscuevas19]

Maybe he doesn't feel that way anymore but maybe someone out there does. When the poem is out there it becomes not only himself story, but everyone's...

[@daviswatkins1439]

I read somewhere that "a poem is never finished, but abandoned" (or something like that). I wonder if his poems just keep evolving with time.

[@CipunMishra]

Fear of joy is the darkest of captivities.

[@alexRme]

Gosh, the incorporation of Romeo & Juliet made my heart do little jumps. Thank you.

[@Tara-yj5js]

I am consistently amazed by Phil Kaye. I first encountered his spoken poetry last year, and, since then, I have become enveloped by his stories and words. The ability with which he narrates the human experience is exhiliarating yet humbling. It is a true joy that he has stood by this affirmation of writing and continues to produce eloquent, meaningful and familiar works today.

[@sesispace5972]

Phil Kaye and Sarah Kay are my favorites! 👏👌❤️🇲🇨

[@lysechrist1947]

To tell a good story is to live a good story. How profound! What a remarkable young man with such remarkable abilities, talents, stories and poetry.

[@friendethanF]

I love the overall tone of "anti-gravity" throughout the speech, beginning with the spoken word, continuing into the deep "vulnerability" of unknown, and ending with that jagged jaw.

[@makuletreg15]

what makes him a good story teller is that he seems so natural in delivering his story!!! amazing

[@adhlisa]

"Let go the idea of perfection." Thanks, Phil

[@TinaOverbury]

Ahh YES. Thank you for bringing the answer to story to the world. How simple. How warm and wonderful. Live your best story.

[@PamsGoingOnRightNow]

This is just amazingly emotional. I am from Colombia, and I am loving this world of spoken words, I am sad to see in my country I cannot seem to find that such world has been created yet. I would love find it, and start learning from it, but I guess I´ll have to try and start one, it´s incredible how these kind of people such as Phil and Sarah make you see the world at least for a little while as a combination of human feelings that may be described with only words.

[@sjonesxoxo]

I could listen to him talk to me alllll day. such interesting subjects and words and just.. wow. I love it. thank you phil. x

[@zeekelly258]

In the midst of all the comments complaining about sound and discussing similarities I would like to congratulate you for how well you created yourself

[@Chicken-or-watermelon]

Thanks a million Mr Phil Kaye, Your speeches and optimistic-ism are admirable.

[@amcgee0668]

13:20 ... Fear of JOY- Is the darkest of captivities🌈The beauty of truth ... Transforms pain🌺

[@rebeccalhunter]

I am alive. I am somebody. My story is my map. I don't think I've ever heard storytelling described in a more perfect way.

[@ginacabs]

This is a really interesting talk/performance. I particularly like the part where he tries to make sense of why we tell stories - because of the vulnerability of our lives and to create a structure (or city map as he calls it) of our life experiences. The poems at the beginning and end are pretty powerful too.

[@TheWritingGirl]

I have to be sure to share this with an Ex of ine. He was a story teller. So was his father. I always knew when he did it was his way to show his voluneribility and connect with those in a way that was familuar and comfortible.

[@MartinHatchuel]

Wow. One of my favourite TED talks on story telling. Immediately.

[@JessN254]

This is so insipring and such a great tale. I wish you and him all the happiness in the world

[@gummiebaerrs]

Thank you, Phil Kaye, it was your poetry that inspired me to get down to business and write the autobio that I was required to write tonight. Haha

[@yDoubtDueler]

This is an amazing TED talk, thank you Phil Kaye.. you are an inspiration...

[@Acissej2509]

You sir, are so wonderful. I have been glued to your videos along with Sarah Kay (no relation to you I know). I just love hearing you speak. I would gladly pay to hear you talk about your life. :3

[@webcopywritingABC]

The best way to tell a good story is to live a good story. Love it.

[@purplelover234]

Thank you Phil. You never fail to inspire me. You've helped me pick myself up from the same situation with my parents, for that I'm grateful.

[@chiragsolucky7514]

Hey Philip! You are love brother! Thank you for this amazing session! ❤

[@AlessApostol]

Mr. Phil Kaye, i would gladly pay any day, to hear you poetically impart to us your poems and problems :)

[@nefertiti18z]

Man, I’m in love with this man...

[@pitchyyen7474]

the very fuel of why we do things is the desire for happiness... to feel good, to feel the way we want to feel... to feel alive

[@umm--__--]

We tell stories for the same reason we speak: to communicate and to be understood, not only with and by others but with and by ourselves. . . . I think. . .

[@cindyhalpern3187]

Complicated legacy worth passing on!

[@YY-pr5sz]

You are amazing. Thank you.

[@truislanddreamer]

Phil, you're my hero. I'm letting go now...

[@Bexans]

Phil Kaye, beautiful man.

[@mazznix18]

amazing, inspirational, beautiful stories.

[@CassidyMackie]

Phil Kaye, your children are going to hear some phenomenal bedtime stories.

[@paradoxinmotion]

Truly wonderful talk thank you

[@88child]

His poem is just perfect.

[@omaximov77]

Wow! The poem at the end (I missed what it's called) I had not heard before and its soo powerful!

[@naomikeays1458]

This is just too good

[@SerapioSergiovich]

Film with great elements.

[@diazangga7769]

Me crying so many times while watching this :(

[@haneyz4284]

his poems hit me hard 😭

[@TheBellelouroo]

please don't ever stop creating.

[@chickenjojo]

wow...this is great.... ...but that ending poem is humbling. fantastic stuff!!

[@SuperVendetta9]

Final poem: AWESOME!!! WHO gets it like that!!??!!!

[@Koribaby1]

Beautiful.

[@-Floydimus]

Fabulous!

[@Xnostalgic94]

Here in Norway if there are avaliable seats somewhere else, but someone decides to sit down next to someone else, instead of alone, then you'll probably be frowned upon. And if you add talking to it, the person you're talking to is just going to think you're crazy or dont have friends or soemthing like that. I like to talk to strangers, but there are too many people that put up walls :/ You're lucky you even dared to try, and that the result was good :D

[@pratyushakoratala8781]

You are amazing

[@acoree1998]

His Jack Sparrow impression though XD oh my gosh that was great!!

[@chickwithanipod]

With his black jumper he looks like two hands and a floating head. Great poem though, can't believe I didn't learn about Phil and Sarah before they came to Aus!

[@aesthetic3521]

The cutest smile in the universe

[@jessicajnsm]

Both Phil and Sarah ended Ted Talks with poems related to Japan. Cute.

[@viciousbutlovable]

My mother and Phil's mother are really close friends, so I can say from experience that in person there's not really similarities.

[@CreativePenguinGirl]

Amazing poet

[@snowball3285]

Embrace Vulnerability

[@ScrewthenaM3]

you are my inspiration

[@1996sarahb]

why do i love him so much???????? ahhhh..... an artist i guess

[@jacksoncisme]

Amazing

[@kurichka]

excellent!

[@Thechaosstory]

what an inspiring man and attractive man.im straight though.

[@stephanielynnc.1154]

So inspiring!! Best of luck to the two of you :)

[@winnieahabwe2753]

I think they would make s great couple 🥺like all the chemistry 🔥🤍

[@Helama2]

I love you man.

[@honiezoul]

Honesty,is a supercool word.

[@simreksidhu6100]

N.A. Madjoe huh?

[@omaximov77]

Thanks :)

[@-Floydimus]

Ironically, repetition creates or helps gain confidence.

[@TanzKommandantin]

Is this at Middlebury University or just Vermont in general?

[@PoptartsandGumdrops]

This posting was 6 months ago, have you guys been together 9 months now? I would love to hear if your story has continued. :)

[@nuramber]

the feels T. T

[@KayEeEss]

Their voices are interestingly similar, but I think that they only look similar in the dark and from a distance.

[@marshacreary2442]

Deep

[@giitanjalichiya2116]

Why are you so beautiful, Phil?

[@svgs14]

starstruck !

[@outlandmoro20]

A poet.

[@zafartrainer2006]

really appreciate--------------zafar from Pakistan

[@iSugarHeart]

wait so those poems weren't his life stories?! :OOO im kidding but really i agree with you it was legendary : 3 never heard anyone speak like that before

[@LaylaOhDamn]

Phil Kaye

[@isabellamorales8104]

I'm sure you could start one. Just get some people involved, and then you'll see your dream come true.

[@drummerrrpb]

Are you guys still together? We are all wondering!

[@thaliacastellan8511]

watch: An Origin Story

[@LadyLegendary]

Middlebury College in Vermont

[@whelbert865]

lucky you

[@BrianDornTFP]

From My Poems To Yours

[@ChuckleKing]

It really just depends on how she presented herself and said it :p

[@hayLEX0213]

sooo.. it's been a year now? :>

[@starlx8283]

so its been 7 years now

[@melissasawyer1323]

are you still together?

[@singinwithceline]

At some point, I hope he & Sarah get together.

[@klarizzasanchez]

"Sarah Kay, no relation."

[@simreksidhu6100]

you may ship him and sarah but you realize that he is almost twice her age...

[@badgalrichie]

They're both the same age lol. They were in college together lmao get your facts right :P

[@simreksidhu6100]

Rachel Prabhu but maybe u should search it up on google. Also, just because they were in college together doesn't mean they're the same age. He could've been in his 4-8th year when she was in her first. Common sense lol. Use logic sometimes. I've heard it comes in handy. It works just as well as medicine in cases of severe need for VITAComm.Sense.😜Joking!🙄🤗😇

[@itsmedavinski8977]

They're both 30...just saying...

[@MsRegineAnneE]

it's called Teeth

[@krazgrlw8n4acure]

I can kind of see it. Phil's a little bit lankier though, I think.

[@mbsimmer]

I'm mesmerized by his jaw line, just sayin.