Gareth Higgins was born in Belfast in 1975, grew up during the northern Ireland Troubles, and now lives in the US. He writes and speaks about the power of storytelling to shape our lives and world, peace and making justice, and how to take life seriously without believing your own propaganda. He has been involved in peace-building and violence reduction in northern Ireland and helping address the legacy of conflict, received a Ph.D. in Sociology from Queen’s University Belfast, and helped teach the world’s first graduate course in Reconciliation Studies at Trinity College Dublin. He also helped found the Wild Goose, New Story and Movies & Meaning festivals. He is the author or co-author of seven books, including How Movies Helped Save My Soul, Cinematic States, The Seventh Story: Us, Them, and the End of Violence, and How Not to be Afraid. Gareth leads retreats in North America and Ireland; and he founded The Porch Magazine.