theCommons: Fostering Community Through Storytelling in Brainerd

Picture a Thursday evening at Jack Pine Brewery in Brainerd. The frontier room fills with neighbors—some clutching craft beers, others nursing soft drinks. A musician strums the opening chords of an original song. Then, someone whose name was just drawn from a hat steps onto a small stage, clears their throat, and begins: "So there I was, in the Boundary Waters, watching my wallet float away..."

This is theCommons, a monthly storytelling event that's quietly building something middle Minnesota desperately needs—a space where real people share real stories, face-to-face, without the filter of screens or the pressure of perfection. In an era of digital fatigue and rural isolation, Randy Capelle and Terese Dirks have created what might be the most old-fashioned thing imaginable: a genuine gathering place.

And it's working.

Why Stories Matter Now More Than Ever

The concept is simple, inspired by NPR's "The Moth Radio Hour." Anyone can put their name in a hat. If drawn, they get seven minutes to tell a true story from their own life. No scripts. No acting. Just authentic human experience shared aloud.

"It's real people telling real stories about their real life," Dirks explains.  Capelle, a physical therapist who's spent 25 years helping patients in the Brainerd Lakes area says, "Everybody has stories, and not everybody loves to share them in big forums, but I think we all like to share them at least amongst those closest to us."

What started as an experiment has evolved into something more significant. Since launching, theCommons has hosted five events, each drawing 25-35 people—about a third returning attendees, two-thirds newcomers. The randomness is intentional. No monitor decides whose story deserves to be heard. Everyone's voice matters equally.

"It removes our bias," Dirks notes, a former stay-at-home mom of 25 years. "I'm not going to put my friend on every time. There's no gatekeeper."

The format also includes live music between stories, often from local artists sharing original compositions and the backstories behind their songs. It's storytelling layered on storytelling, creating an evening that balances humor, heartbreak, and reflection.

Building Trust in a Small Room

The setting matters. Jack Pine Brewery's frontier room seats about 50 people maximum, with nobody more than 15feet from the stage. That intimacy breeds vulnerability. High-top tables in the back offer casual observers a comfortable entry point, while rows of chairs up front invite deeper engagement.

"It's a physically small-ish room," Capelle says.  Dirks adds, "There's an intimacy that exists, and as intimacy increases, vulnerability increases."

Patrick Sundberg, Jack Pine's owner and a fellow "Moth Radio Hour" fan, donates the space, sound system, and setup. A volunteer photographer documents each event. Musicians donate their time. Everything runs on community goodwill and shared investment in the mission.

The result? An atmosphere where people naturally silence their phones without being asked. Where first-time attendees arrive planning to just listen, then surprise themselves by putting their name in the hat. Where a vacationing couple from Emily stopped in for a beer, heard stories being shared, and ended up telling one themselves.

"I think a lot of them are surprised at their own courage," Capelle reflects. "They came there to observe for the first time—’maybe in the future I'll tell a story’. A lot of them end up telling a story that very first night because they end up feeling comfortable enough to share."

Stories That Stick

Some moments leave permanent marks. Dirks recalls her eldest child standing up at that very first event, sharing a story about a chaotic Boundary Waters trip filled with lost wallets, injuries, and mishaps—but ending with the realization of how deeply their parents loved them.

"My mom heart just sort of burst," she says quietly.

Capelle remembers a former California lifeguard describing a harrowing ocean rescue during a storm. He pulled a struggling surfer from massive waves, certain they'd both be dashed against a breakwater. Instead, they washed up on a sandy shore. "He felt like he wasn’t the only one guarding life that day," Capelle recounts.

The most powerful story? A woman sharing how she rebuilt her life after a difficult period, describing the process of "putting the pieces back together" and emerging independent and whole. Her friends encouraged her to share. Perhaps, telling the story became part of her healing.

"I felt her story," Capelle says. "There's always portions where I don't know the full depth of what their intentions were, but I can receive the story in a way that's meaningful to me even if I don't fully know all the ways it was meaningful to the storyteller."

The Anti-Performance Art

theCommons operates under clear guidelines designed to maintain safety and inclusivity. Don't be divisive. Don't use the stage as a soapbox for political rants. Stories should be mostly true (though they can grow and shift over time, like any good tale). They must come from personal experience.

Monthly themes provide creative prompts—but following them is optional. "Extra applause if you do," Dirks laughs, "but it's not a rule."

"It's not a performance per se, but it is a form of art that everybody has the capability of participating in without necessarily having to be trained," Capelle explains. "Anybody can come and participate without going to storytelling school."

This accessibility matters in rural Minnesota, where opportunities for cultural participation often require driving to the Twin Cities. theCommons brings live storytelling—a fundamentally human art form—to middle Minnesota on terms that feel welcoming rather than intimidating.

The Challenge of Growing Grassroots

Success brings its own complications. Neither Capelle nor Dirks considers themself a  marketing specialist , and theCommons runs on zero budget. Getting word out beyond social media posts proves difficult, even as attendees consistently express amazement that more people aren't there.

"Everything about it has been a group of people coming together and volunteering," Capelle explains. "With that, without some sort of marketing budget, it is somewhat difficult to get the word out that this exists."

The hosts face philosophical questions too. Should theCommons remain intimate and grassroots, or expand into larger spaces? Should it eventually become a nonprofit with a board? Could it grow enough to financially support the local artists who contribute their talents?

"How long are we in this for? What's success?" both Dirks and Capelle wonder. "What is going to exist beyond our efforts?"

For now, the answer seems to be: keep showing up, keep drawing names from the hat, keep creating space for neighbors to see themselves in each other's stories.

Share Your Story

What theCommons Reveals About Us

In middle Minnesota, where geographic distance and digital distraction can make genuine connection difficult, theCommons offers something almost revolutionary in its simplicity—permission to be yourself, to share honestly, and to listen deeply.

"This is about people connecting with people," Dirks says. "It kind of gets back to old-school. Imagine a college campus commons area where everything flows through. Take it back generationally—you've got a common green where everyone brings their animals to feed, a common well, a common hub where people meet together."

And find common ground.

This team of two hopes that ten years from now, people will still describe theCommons as "a place for everyone, that it's a good time, that they feel safe there, that it's entertaining." But they're open to surprises: "Maybe there's some questions we haven't even thought of yet about how this grows or what more it could be."

For now, theCommons continues one Thursday each month at Jack Pine Brewery. Admission is free. Your story—whatever it is—is welcome.

The next Commons event takes place January 22nd at Jack Pine Brewery, featuring original music by Luke Friedrich, seating begins at 6:30 To learn more or share your story idea, visit theCommons Storytelling on social media or drop by Jack Pine any Thursday evening during the event. Who knows? You might just surprise yourself.

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