Storytelling, Mental Health & Purpose: Thomas E. Huntington of SoupBowl Network
By Lana Reid | May 18, 2022
As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Thomas E. Huntington, founder of SoupBowl Network, to discuss how storytelling, lived experience, and intentional dialogue can support mental health, identity, and purpose. Thomas shares how creative expression and narrative healing create safe spaces for individuals and communities to process trauma, explore truth, and engage in meaningful conversation. Through storytelling rooted in authenticity, he explains how voices can be reclaimed and used as tools for connection, healing, and collective understanding.
In this episode of The Male Perspective, Thomas E. Huntington explores the powerful role storytelling plays in emotional wellness and community healing.
Thomas explains how SoupBowl Network was created as a platform for creative expression and authentic conversation, centering stories that are often overlooked or silenced. He describes storytelling not as performance, but as a process — one that allows individuals to unpack lived experiences, confront trauma, and reclaim narrative ownership.
Throughout the conversation, Lana Reid and Thomas discuss how intentional storytelling can foster emotional awareness and support mental health across diverse communities. Thomas emphasizes that when people are given space to tell their stories without judgment, it creates pathways for empathy, understanding, and resilience.
The discussion also highlights the importance of purpose-driven storytelling. Thomas shares how narrative work can help individuals identify meaning, strengthen identity, and connect personal experiences to broader cultural conversations. By centering truth and vulnerability, storytelling becomes a catalyst for healing rather than avoidance.
This episode invites listeners to consider storytelling as a form of wellness advocacy — one that encourages reflection, emotional honesty, and community care.
About the Guest
Thomas E. Huntington is the founder of SoupBowl Network, a creative storytelling platform focused on authentic expression, narrative healing, and community dialogue. His work centers storytelling as a tool for emotional wellness, cultural reflection, and purpose-driven connection.
For more information on Thomas E. Hurrington:
https://www.soupbowlnetworkllc.com/
https://instagram.com/soupbowl_network_llc
https://facebook.com/soupbowlnetworkllc
https://www.youtube.com/c/ReaperTheStoryteller/
https://www.tiktok.com/@reaperthestoryteller
About the Series
This episode is part of the Black Men Matter Series, highlighting Black men whose creativity, vulnerability, and leadership expand conversations around mental health, storytelling, and cultural expression.
About the Host & Organization
The Male Perspective is hosted by Lana Reid, founder of Conversations in Color, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) grassroots organization dedicated to providing uplifting and community-building spaces of dialogue for Black voices.
Conversations in Color’s Current Initiatives
THE MALE PERSPECTIVE
The purpose of The Male Perspective is to dispel stereotypes and increase awareness of the experiences of Black men through open discussions, thought-provoking interviews, and the sharing of personal experiences that highlight the diversity and depth of the Black male experience.
SISTAS REBUILDING SISTERHOOD
Sistas Rebuilding Sisterhood is an intergenerational community of Black women who come together for relaxed, non-judgmental gatherings to exchange ideas, share experiences, and collaborate in a collective effort to improve the quality of sisterhood interactions in everyday life.
TAPESTRY OF BLACK VOICES AWARDS
The Tapestry of Black Voices Awards honors local communities and showcases the creativity, brilliance, and lived experiences of Black voices across the United States.