Spirit Sister Stories

As we see the light in ourselves, we ignite the light in our sisters.

Spirit Sister Stories is an inspiring storytelling & interview platform founded by Toni Short that provides a safe space for womxn to share their journey of transformation and growth. The womxn’s stories are rooted in the concept of metamorphosis. Reflecting Toni’s own life where she used creativity to move away from a dark period, change her path and rewrite her story. Toni believes as we see the light in ourselves, we ignite the light in our sisters and creating this space for womxn to share was her gift to all the womxn that had supported her to recovery.

How did the idea of Spirit Sister Stories come to you?

Late 2019, I went to Columbia for a writing retreat with one of my wonderful female collaborators.  We were working on new movie scripts, which at the time were called Spirit Sister Stories.  They were a series of extended or expanded versions of my personal story (three years of narcissistic abuse across 2015-2018).  Read more about My Story here, 

One evening, at our computers, writing, talking, strategizing, brainstorming, I took a minute to look up at the moon and just like that something struck me.  Looking over at my friend I  said, “Enough.  Enough writing movies about him, and what he did. Let's write about other women's stories and really share their perspectives and experiences.  What they did to change their life, to come back from the darkness, to transform their world.”  And that was it. That night became the moment that everything shifted and over time Spirit Sister Stories morphed into what it is today.  I knew, from that moment on, I had a responsibility to share women's stories with the world.

After that, how did you begin telling women's stories?

In 2018, I heard a voice that told me to create a camp for myself.  A safe space to explore creative pursuits and alternative healing methods as a way to bring myself back after an emotional breakdown that followed my three years of narcissistic abuse.

In the summer of 2020 I heard that voice again and it told me to re-create that camp for womxn. 

You can read more about The Camp. Summer 2020 here.  

As we were planning out the virtual sessions, I had this idea (inspired by the experience in Columbia shared in the above question) to host interviews with The Sisters. (the womxn who were hosting the sessions) throughout the three weeks of programming.  This way The Campers. (aka the attendees) could not only get to know their teachers better but it also gave me the perfect opportunity to kick off this idea of telling womxn’s stories.  I had access to a bunch of incredible women that were leading the sessions, each with their own inspiring and relevant stories, and The Camp. was for women so those participating would naturally receive the benefits of hearing about their transformations too.  

I knew I wanted the format of the interviews to be less of a recount of what happened to them and more of what the women did to turn their life around.  Especially if there was an element of engaging with creativity or artistic expression in the healing or reclamation process which mirrored my own evolution or recovery.     

The feedback from The Camp. confirmed my original thoughts.  The power that came from the women sharing how they turned towards the light to make changes for themselves was compelling and inspirational and practical.  From there Spirit Sister Stories the podcast or audio storytelling interview series was born.  And since then we launched the WE RISE. TOUR with IRL events for womxn to celebrate their triumphs and creations in community.

Why was it important for you to start the series with a story from your own mother

Beyond the obvious, starting the interviews series with my mother and I sharing our truth was a great idea.  It was also an accident.  I knew that during The Camp. I wanted my mum to participate in something throughout the three week schedule but didn't know exactly when.  Since my mother lives in Perth, Australia, some 12 hours ahead,  attending The Opening Ceremony in the wee hours of our NY day  was a really  tricky time of the day for my mum to join.  So I asked her to do an interview or talk with me as part of The Camp. opening day, something that took place in the evening when the time difference was better.   My mother and I are a few years deep in a beautiful reconciliation process that is very sweet and rewarding.  Learning to communicate has been a process but a very joyful one.  We are now comfortable to speak freely with each other.  All very healing and after smoking the proverbial/metaphorical peace pipe in Hawaii a few years back. A really “tough” Christmas vacation in  2019 was when we both said yes to putting our differences behind us.  

We are very similar creatures and have felt many bumps in the road due to the likeness of how we think and operate.  My mothers methodical decision making is one of my great gifts and my mother is learning a life of flow. Something that I have embraced in recent years.  Spending the early years with my mother, I learned a lot of practical skills and valuable tools from her growing up and our interview gave us a chance to get a different perspective on those inner workings of our worlds.  Getting them out in the open is how we healed.  

Read the story of our reconciliation here and I am thrilled to say “Screaming For My Mother” is soon to be a feature film and novel. 

After we wrapped The Camp. it was clear the interview with my mum was always meant to open the first series of Spirit Sister Stories.  It made sense. This moment, in front of loved ones, captured forever on camera, we had the chance to rewrite our own stories, break old beliefs and share more about how we found middle ground in our relationship so we could see each other differently.  I also knew my mother had never really had the chance to share her story so it felt like giving her that stage or spotlight was important.

Tell us about some of the women in the first interview series - out now!

I believe oral history is one of the lost arts and witnessing storytelling is how our culture evolves. And I have been fortunate to know a lot of incredible women.  Strong and kind humans that have helped me, seen me and always shown up for me.  Some of them happen to be “big boss” women doing “big boss” things and I knew I needed to capture their voices at this time so we could all look back and see how far we have come and more importantly the impact of our work.

Chelsea Leyland is a legend in her own right and a friend I have worked with since 2013 from back in BBC America days.  Now building a new empire in the content creation, education and advocacy worlds when it comes to the deeply intricate world of cannabis and epilepsy.  We had a short time together but we got into how her cannabis related treatments in the US differ from what she can coordinate and offer her sister in the UK.  Chelsea tells her story, how she combines all of her past worlds and uses her platform to make change.  See more on her documentary Sisters Interrupted here.

One of my biggest supporters, Alix Kram, was next up in the order of the opening series of interviews.  We met through a CEO we both shared in past roles at BBC America/Nickelodeon in New York.  Bonding over trips and break ups and the truth and revelations of the wild woman newly freed from the corporate world.  We continued our friendship out of the office immediately and are still intertwined in each other's lives to this day.  Alix is beyond smart and has a lot to say about how things could be done differently in her industry at the intersection of entertainment, consumer products and IRL experiences for talent/brands. Our interview was about the shifting role of new mothers as Alix was moving into a new stage of her life.  I’m always grateful for the honesty that Alix shares about how to (or not to) balance it all.  A topic that deeply interests me.

Ljuba Castot, has been instrumental in my expansion as an artist as well as a true “sister”. In the fall of 2018, we both discovered we were in relations with the same man, at the same time.  In that shared experience we both became victims and survivors of coercive control, narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, spiritual abuse, love bombing and financial manipulation.  No question, two broken spirits were healed by one powerful sisterhood.  Our interview, some years later, offered a space for us both to unpack memories and details of the abuse we both endured.  

I will never forget Ljuba’s integrity when our dual involvement came to light - it's a deep bond, always led by truth and deep love.  Ljuba has continued to be a guiding light, the healing she offered from speaking up and her own story as a dancer and choreographer continues to inspire all of us to go after the life we love. 

How has Spirit Sister Stories evolved in bringing more stories to more people IRL?

I always saw Spirit Sister Stories as this mixed medium roving global exhibition with live performances. I believed that the concept would have quantum healing opportunities for the women and those who witness them.

The original vision had film, sculpture, paintings, talks and panels.  A performance stage where womxn tell their stories about how they got themselves out of the darkness, confession booths for those who aren’t able to share in public… all of which perhaps, their stories, get translated live into artistic interpretations through other mediums and artists, or become oral history in the making. I see spaces for womxn to share their wares, a marketplace of some sort.  Maybe even a festival.

I knew that artistically mixing the power of womxn sharing their evolution, creativity or wisdom with live healing would bring the Spirit Sister Stories motto to life “as we see the light in ourselves, we ignite the light in our sisters.  Bringing womxn from all countries and walks of life together in one space with the intention to heal, transcends the barriers of language and cultures.  Through sharing the deep diversity of how each womxn shifted her life, transformational growth is created.  That gift of wisdom, to witness it being shared through art, is a classic recipe for quantum healing.   

Fast forward to 2024 and my visions came to life.  

On International Women’s Day we hosted our first in person event at NeueHouse New York launching the Spirit Sisters Movement and the WE RISE. TOUR.   

I opened the evening with a guided meditation and curated soundscape by DJ Ljuba. We featured a "Sisters Spotlight" segment, interviewing three women about their inspiring journeys in advocacy, health, and healing. The evening concluded with an open-mic session for poetic creations and a powerful musical performance, alongside a market and exhibition showcasing local artisans.

See the website & program here and re-cap video below.

Later that year, my vision of integrating equine wisdom came to life when we hosted, MEET YOURSELF, a day of experiential Art + Play moments facilitating growth learning, healing and sisterhood at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian.   

See the website & program here and re-cap video below.

In 2025, we have re-launched Spirit Sister Stories: Summer Camp and are focused programming from and for womxn.  Offering space for womxn to foster connection with each other and nurture and empower their inner child.

Visit Spirit Sister Stories