The Mead Hall Awaits
About Acts of Peace in Times of War
In times like these, what we need is not more information — but deeper stories. Mead Hall Mondays is a free, live storytelling and workshop series led by Ben Emery, facilitator and restorative justice advisor with two decades on the front lines of conflict. Every second Monday, Ben takes the stage as bard — sharing true stories of ordinary people who changed the course of history through imagination, courage, and non-cooperation. How citizens toppled a regime by baking forbidden bread. How a favela sidestepped the state to build its own justice system. How communal grief dissolved a colonizing force overnight. Then we shift gears - moving from listening to participant. Stories first. Then application. Then… that's up to you. Each session: ~1 hour. No handouts, no homework, no certification. Just one guy, true stories, and a room full of people willing to wonder differently.
The Story
This is for you if...
- You feel the weight of the world right now and want more than outrage or despair as a response
- You're hungry for stories that shift something deeper than your opinion
- You're drawn to gathering with others but tired of surface-level connection
- You're curious about peacemaking or nonviolent resistance — even if you've never explored it
- You're ready to stop asking "which side am I on?" and start asking "how do I want to live?"
- You're looking for something that moves you — not just informs you
What to Expect
- Hear riveting true stories of ordinary people who changed history through courage and imagination
- Move from listener to active participant in carefully designed workshop exercises
- Practice the same social technologies used by real peacemakers and dissidents — in your body, in real time
- Engage in small and large group conversations that bring these stories into the context of your own life
- Build momentum alongside others who keep showing up — and notice the conversations deepen over time
Program Structure
This series meets live every second Monday for approximately one hour. Each session follows a two-act structure: Ben opens with a true, arc-driven story (~20 minutes), then the room shifts into facilitated workshop mode (~30 minutes) with small and large group exercises. The first several sessions follow a loose narrative arc that builds on itself, then the series evolves organically from there. Every session stands on its own — join anytime. All sessions are recorded and available for replay.
Program Components
Key Outcomes
Hear stories that rewire how you see what's possible — in your town, your workplace, your own kitchen table
Gain practical experience with the social technologies that make real change possible in divided times
Have a new answer to the question: how will I proceed on a normal day?
Frequently Asked Questions
Meet the Creator
