Inspiring Stories Kernow
About this Event
Join us in Penzance for an unforgettable evening of connection, community and powerful personal story sharing!
🎤 Scroll down for September's line up!!
WHAT TO EXPECT
You’ll hear 3 people share personal stories to spark inspiration, possibility & spread joy. From making bold changes or simple shifts that transform life to discovering a new purpose or passion. The magic is in the pivotal moments they will share with you.
What you experience from each story, is unique to you. This evening is about authenticy, connection and stories that make us human. It isn’t about polished speeches or perfect performances. This is what creates space for something special to unfold. Zoe personally invites and curates the line up each month bringing together a unique mix of voices and experience.
SNAPSHOT
✨Listen to 3 people that live in Cornwall
✨Each share a 15 minute, real life, personal story
✨Opportunity to ask questions
✨Come with friends or solo & meet others
✨New line up each month
🎟️ Book your ticket now and be part of something special …. Inspiring Stories Kernow.
TIMINGS
Doors open: 7.00pm grab a drink at the bar before
Intro & Stories 7.30pm Ballroom
Interval: Drinks, chat & mingle
Stories continue …
Event Ends: 9.30PM Bar stays open so feel free to linger
Whether you’re looking for inspiration, connection or simply a heart-warming night out, it’s the place to be on the first Thursday of every month!
We can’t wait to WELCOME YOU (BACK 😉)
Tickets are non refundable and non-transferable. EventBrite fees are included in the ticket price and as such paid by me the organiser out of the advertised ticket price. If you don't attend for any reason, your ticket price, less fees will be donated to the charity of the month.
Zoe Swan.
Host & Curator, Inspiring Stories LIVE
Chris Yacoubian is a distinguished Director of Photography & Lighting. He lives in Mousehole, South West Cornwall.
His Story Title is: "The Gift I Never Wanted but …"
In 2013 at the height of Chris’s career as a busy Director of Photography in television working all over the world with some of the most well-known faces on the planet, he was diagnosed with a very aggressive and seemingly unsurvivable neck cancer… in surviving he realised he had been given an incredible gift, to not only change his life but also try and make a change to the lives of others around him.
A bit about Chris
Chris trained as a Sculptor and artist but fell into a career in Television by accident. He has spent 30 years as a Director of Photography and Lighting Director. He now runs The Cornish Camera Co. an equipment rental facility for film, TV, photography and all sorts of media. He also refurbished and created the Newlyn Riverside Studios. Here Chris has 5 x Artist Studios and a Podcast Studio in a beautiful old Sunday School on the river. Chris has 3 beautiful girls, a gorgeous dog called Fennel and says he is luckily married to the most unimaginably beautiful woman on earth; Camilla.
How to find Chris
www.thecornishcamera.co
@thecornishcamera
@_newlynriversidestudios@chrisyacoubiandop
Loretta Caughlin is the joint owner of The Front Room In Penzance and the founder of the first ever Penzance Comedy Festival.
Her story title is: Penzance Needs a Commedy Festival. OK I’ll do it!
I love stand-up comedy! I’ve been going to see comedy gigs for over 40 years mainly in small venue like the back rooms of pubs but also the Edinburgh Fringe and other festivals. In 2025 I went to Exeter Comedy Festival and thought that Penzance would be an ideal town for one of our own. So I made one
A bit about Loretta
I’m nearly 60 and have owned The Front Room café bar in Market Jew Street for over 7 years. Before that I spent my career as a Senior Manager in the NHS but originally trained as a nurse. I have 2 masters degrees and I am a show off! I have a 31 year old daughter who live in Yorkshire and is a Mental Health nurse. I live with my partner Chris and we own The Front Room together. We through online dating.!
How to find Loretta & Penzance Comedy Festival
Instagram @penzancecomedyfestival
Instagram @thefrontroompz
The Front Room Bar & Kitchen PZ on Facebook
Mark Long is the founder of Beyond Limits, he lives in Praa Sands, Cornwall.
His story title is: My Disability Became My Superpower
Mark’s story is about adversity, mindset and learning to see life differently. He was registered blind at the age of 40 and lives with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Rather than allowing sight loss to define what he could and couldn’t do, he made a conscious decision to change his perspective and see sight loss not as a disability, but as a superpower. This has shaped his resilience, mindset and the person he is today. He will share how changing the way we look at our circumstances can change what we believe is possible.
Mark’s message is simple: challenges in life will always be there, but how we choose to face them is what truly defines us. With the right mindset, determination and belief in ourselves, we can often achieve far more than we ever thought possible.
A bit about Mark
Mark Long is the founder of Beyond Limits with Mark. Mark was an ambassador for Guide Dogs and RNIB. He completed the Pounds for Pen Y Fan Dance 24km challenge and was the first registered blind person to complete the SAS section of the test raising funds for guide dogs. He’s been on podcasts alongside Jack Dee, Seann Walsh and Joe Wicks to share his journey & approach to adversity.
He has a passion for helping people enhance their body, mind and soul through positive change, mindset development and personal growth. Using a combination of life coaching, personal training, mentoring, counselling and alcohol-free coaching. He works with people from all backgrounds to help them overcome adversity, build resilience, create positive habits and embrace new starts in life. This isn’t the end. It’s the start of a new journey.
Instagram: @beyondlimits.lifecoachis he lives in Praa Sands, Cornwall.
Your Host Zoe Swan @Zoe.Swan Instagram
Zoe Swan lives in Newlyn with her husband Brian and beagles Maltie & Rasmus. She loves Cornwall & is inspired daily by the many and varied stories she hears people share about their lives in the county.
She has 25 years plus of curating events and was previously the co-host of Inspiring Talks Brighton. Zoe is a former, multiple award-winning senior lecturer in law, qualified barrister, kundalini yoga teacher, health coach and holder of closing ceremonies.
Zoe’s believes everyone has a story that can inspire others & that’s why she’s created Inspiring Stories Live. To bring together community through the sharing of personal stories.
Where is it happening?
GBP 6.00 to GBP 10.00
