Musings of a Storyteller | Diane Burley | Substack

Finding Joy in Chaos — One Monkey at a Time

What a baby macaque, a figure skater, and a 19th-century labor activist taught me about the radical act of joy.

Mar 6 • Diane Burley

Most Popular

Our Kids Don't Want Them

Jul 25, 2025 • Diane Burley

Jane Ryerson: Revolutionary War Wife and Flame Keeper

Sep 19, 2025 • Diane Burley

I Wrote 52 Essays in 52 Weeks. Here's What Happened.

Jan 2 • Diane Burley

Grounding Lore Into Truthful Narratives

Jul 4, 2025 • Diane Burley

Life Deconstructed

Lobster for Two

A Valentine’s cliché, a leukemia relapse, and one unforgettable conversation.

Feb 13 • Diane Burley

Nothing Ventured, No Ground Lost

A head cold, a forced pause, the quiet relief of not being useful – a day that asked nothing of me.

Jan 23 • Diane Burley

My Breakup With United Airlines (And What My Ancestors Taught Me About Status)

Losing status felt dramatic until recalling my ancestors would have loved a middle seat on Allegiant. This is a humorous reflection on loyalty…

Jan 9 • Diane Burley

The Truth About Remote Work? It Depends on Your Life Stage

I’ve worked remotely as a broke twenty-something, as a mom of four-legged and two-legged creatures, and as a middle-aged Zoomer. It hits differently at…

Nov 21, 2025 • Diane Burley

My Life Defined in Trees

From Celtic oaks to suburban birches, what the woods teach about roots, resilience, and remembrance.

Nov 14, 2025 • Diane Burley

Voices From the Past

The Family Tree Doesn’t End. The Index Does.

A dive into RootsTech, celebrity cousins, archival gaps, and the surprising fragility of family graphs. What happens when one branch explodes — and the…

Feb 27 • Diane Burley

How Education Took Root in Northern New York

Irish Catholics, Normal Schools, and the Quiet Power of Access

Feb 20 • Diane Burley

After the 'Orphan Train' Pulls Away

Tracing the life of an adopted girl named Alice through the records she left behind.

Jan 30 • Diane Burley

Musings of a Storyteller

Musings of a Storyteller

Life is messy; history is messier. I braid ancestral stories, current events, and hard-won personal experience into essays that find the light — often ironic, a little quirky, and always with heart. Join me.

45:56

Projectkin's Ride Along with Diane Burley

A recording from Diane Burley and Barbara at Projectkin's live video

Mar 1 • Diane Burley and Barbara at Projectkin

The Family Tree Doesn’t End. The Index Does.

A dive into RootsTech, celebrity cousins, archival gaps, and the surprising fragility of family graphs. What happens when one branch explodes — and the…

Feb 27 • Diane Burley

How Education Took Root in Northern New York

Irish Catholics, Normal Schools, and the Quiet Power of Access

Feb 20 • Diane Burley

Lobster for Two

A Valentine’s cliché, a leukemia relapse, and one unforgettable conversation.

Feb 13 • Diane Burley

A Modern Migration Story: Running on Empty

A 1000 mile EV road trip, a snow storm, and the false comfort of being prepared.

Feb 6 • Diane Burley

After the 'Orphan Train' Pulls Away

Tracing the life of an adopted girl named Alice through the records she left behind.

Jan 30 • Diane Burley

Nothing Ventured, No Ground Lost

A head cold, a forced pause, the quiet relief of not being useful – a day that asked nothing of me.

Jan 23 • Diane Burley

The Grandfather I Never Asked About

I never asked about my grandfather. Years later, writing led me to his story – and to the reason for my silence.

Jan 16 • Diane Burley

Join me for more fun content!

Storyteller Tips

Stick the Landing

Borrow a style point from gymnastics. If you don't stick the landing when you write - your story is liable to wobble and not hold up.

Aug 7, 2024 • Diane Burley

Social Media Strategy - Simplified

Unfortunately you can't bank on a social post going viral. I've outlined the basic steps you need to take to garner a select and targeted audience.

Jun 28, 2024 • Diane Burley

How to Align Your Content to Your Audience

You can’t create content and hope people come. You need to create content that educates, lures, and converts. Here's what to consider.

Jun 19, 2024 • Diane Burley

Nobody Wants Bedtime Bullets

Having our world told to us as stories starts when we are wee. It doesn't change for adults. But how do we as storytellers find new narratives?

Jun 13, 2024 • Diane Burley

Who Is Your Audience?

Do you really know your audience? Here are tips on how to get a pulse on their moods and needs to make truly compelling content.

Jun 5, 2024 • Diane Burley

The Power of Primary Research

Building a brand today is tough. You need to have messaging that breaks through the noise. And with GenAI spewing content - there is a lot of noise.

Apr 19, 2024 • Diane Burley

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28:40

Projectkin Live: Stories250 with Diane Burley

A recording from Diane Burley and Barbara at Projectkin's live video

Jan 12 • Diane Burley and Barbara at Projectkin

My Breakup With United Airlines (And What My Ancestors Taught Me About Status)

Losing status felt dramatic until recalling my ancestors would have loved a middle seat on Allegiant. This is a humorous reflection on loyalty…

Jan 9 • Diane Burley

I Wrote 52 Essays in 52 Weeks. Here's What Happened.

A year of detours, ancestors, memory, and the voice I didn’t expect to find. All with your help.

Jan 2 • Diane Burley

The Best New Year’s Eve I Never Planned

I used to chase the perfect New Year’s Eve. Then the one I never planned changed everything.

Dec 26, 2025 • Diane Burley

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