Tune in to some of Chicago's finest storytelling. Listen below or subscribe with iTunes or your favorite reader.
|
Listen by CP Chang
When you meet the one you love, you want to share everything with that person. But when CP's new girlfriend Jess wants to share in their spirituality, the question looms large for them: can two people from different spiritual backgrounds really share a religious experience? |
|
|
|
A Ginger Poet Adonis by Dav Yendler
The story of a young man's first total friendship—beginning, middle, and untimely end. Few can say they've met folks like Jimmy Gauntt, and fewer still will ever be able to do so. |
|
|
|
Skeezix by Aimee Perkins
Broke and uprooted, Aimee moves to a small town in northern Wisconsin to work for her family's restaurant and take in the local color. Everything seems to be a cliche until a town meeting calls into question the identity of one of the locals. Through gossip and overheard conversations, Aimee listens to the town redefine what it means to know someone and learns what it means to belong. |
|
|
|
The Perfect Ex by Jess Young and CP Chang
Jess and CP are getting married! But when CP wants to invite an ex-girlfriend to the wedding, it forces the two of them to confront some deep-seated fears: the fear that their current relationship is just a reflection of past relationships that didn't work out, and worse yet, the fear that maybe their partner's ex was their perfect match. This duet of storytellers explores what it means to marry a person AND that person's past. |
|
|
|
Through The Cracks by Whitney Dibo
A young woman struggles with the blurry line between educator and parent during her first year of teaching. Whitney meets Jorge, a shy Puerto Rican student from Chicago's west side who desperately wants to go to college, but nearly gives up after a string of setbacks lands him without any real options. Before long, Whitney finds herself on a mission to get Jorge into school- an uphill battle that begs the tricky question: where does teaching end, and parenting begin? |
|
|
|
Ripples In Glass by Ric Walker
Have you ever destroyed a miracle? A miraculous item belonging to your Dad, who has an anger management problem? A humerous and thoughtful look at a family's dynamics and history. |
|
|
|
The Philadelphia Experiment by Andy Bayiates
On a romantic, late-night, drunken impulse, Andy and his friends drive 300 miles to the rainy streets of Philadelphia, so that he can convince a woman he's never kissed that they should be lovers instead of friends. What he doesn't confess to her is that he already knows that she's his future wife. |
|
|
|
Home For Christmas, 1998 by Amy Carle
It often happens that when you think things can’t get worse, somehow, they do. How a small air filled donut added levity, and then some, to the saddest Christmas ever. |
|
|
|
The Kids and The King by Khanisha Foster
In honor of Martin Luther King Junior's Birthday, we'd like to share a story about one teaching artist's attempt to teach the Civil Rights Movement to a classroom of 4th graders. |
|
|
|
Moving Back In by Beth Dugan
You can go home again...but do you want to? An adult moves back home and regresses back to her teenage self. |
|
|
|
Things that make you go hmmm... by Megan Stielstra
Recorded live at our New Year's Eve party on December 31, 2008, this podcast is unlike any other we've shared before—2nd Story company member Megan Stielstra leads a call-and-response with a 12-piece band that spins a 2008 year-in-review into a musical revue, and lands in a countdown and audience sing-a-long. Featuring the live musical stylings of Seeking Wonderland and Jenn Rhoads, this is story and music woven together in the signature 2nd Story style. |
|
|
|
Postcards From A Bombay Sundown by Andrew Reilly
A writer and a photographer cross paths on the far side of the world, only to discover that running away from home was the easy part. A love story in pictures and words. |
|
|
|
Sea World by Matt Miller
In the summer of 1998, Matt worked as a trainer in the “Wild Wings Bird Show!“ at Sea World Cleveland.
|
|
|
|
Two Blue Pegs by J. Adams Oaks
In honor of National Coming Out Day, here’s a story that examines the questions of
“How do you personally define ‘marriage’ and how has that definition changed as you grow older?”
For a open gay single man that’s a challenge, especially when trying to explain it to a 3 year old!
|
|
|
|
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! by Sarah Zematis
After the birth of her 1st child, Sarah’s hormones push her to the brink...and back to the altar.
|
|
|
|
Little Acorns by Darwyn Jones
Church camp isn’t all about campfires, skits, and sing-a-longs in this tale of two brothers shipped off to Lake Wappapello,
Missouri. One boy learns a lot more than memorized Bible verses.
|
|
|
|
The Mixtape by Molly Each
A Beatles compilation—created for the audience—becomes a vehicle for Molly to catalog her tumultuous, ever-changing, roller-coaster relationship with her father.
|
|
|
|
No Strings Attached by Kareem K
A drunk and lonely college night calls for an internet hookup. All goes unexpectedly well, until...
|
|
|
|
Shitting on Your Dreams by Julie Ganey
After a long, cold winter filled with dreams of growing her own food, spring arrives with an unexpected, and unsanitary, conflict between neighbors.
|
|
|
|
Down for the Count by Julia Borcherts and Max Glaessner
Max can’t stop geeking out over professional wrestling and Julia is more than a little confused about this. But when tragedy
strikes, she learns some lessons from the WWE about courage and passion and letting go...and the healing power inherent in all kinds of
storytelling.
|
|
|
|
Colombian Runaway by Jasmin Cardenas
Panic in Chicago! Escape to Colombia! Mexican Jungle? Not an international thriller,
just the story of a panicked “Niña Buena” who needs some time to breathe before deciding on marriage.
|
|
|
|
Crazy for You by Lott Hill
Finding love and finding oneself can happen in the least likely places. When he falls in love with the girl who
plays Jesus in the high school musical, Lott has to make a decision that will change both of their lives.
|
|
|
|
Irrational Doubt by Megan Stielstra
An unwarranted run-in with her hippie roomate’s psychic leaves Megan
worried about her reproductive future.
|
|
|
|
A Whole Different Tune by Byron Flitsch
After much hesitance (and a slew of bad dates in the past), Byron is convinced to go on a blind date with a guy his
friend insists is his “dream man”. Byron soon realizes, though, that his date sings to a whole different tune... a showtune.
|
|
|
|
Porn Star by Sam Weller
A classic boy meets girl story with one caveat: the girl is a notorious 1980s porn queen.
|
|
|
|
The Ugly Duckling by Diane Patterson
If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable in your own skin you’ll understand this story of one girl’s journey
through babysitting, The Ugly Duckling, and Milano cookies as she struggles to discover who she is because of,
or perhaps despite, the color of her skin.
|
|
|
|
(Not-So) Still Life by David Blatt
In attempt to reclaim his fire after a soul-sucking relationship, David does what any normal person would do:
looks for all the ways he can get paid to get naked.
|
|
|
|
The Marine Corps Shuffle by Jon Gugala
After a final embarrassment, Jon, a U.S. Marine, decides to take dance lessons to impress women.
He and his roommate take them together, and as they practice, Jon begins to think that maybe a friendship is what he wanted instead.
|
|
|
|
Double Diamond Slope by Sharon Greene
Dumped on the eve of a pre-paid ski vacation, Sharon goes looking for the comfort of strangers in one of the most conservative towns in America. Not Safe For Work.
|
|
|
|
Gold Miner Dad by April Newman
When her dad goes rogue and becomes a gold miner, teen April is dragged on a prospecting trip out west. He’s looking for treasure in New Mexico; she’s looking for him.
|
|
|
|
Where Those Men Have Gone Before by Ian Bacchus
Star Trek was all about exploring strange new worlds and new civilizations. This fan does exactly that when he starts hanging out with his future gay best friend-in-law.
|
|
|
|
Growing Pains by Kim Morris
Heartbreak at the school dance. And before you think the grown-up version is the same, it isn’t.
|
|
|
|
Paint it Black by Nick Ward
It’s New Year’s Eve, and finding a good place to get real drunk is just the beginning...
|
|
|
|
Through the Glass by JC Aevaliotis
When he was 18, JC Aevaliotis walked away from religion. Then he got a job at a tiny AM radio station that sold air time to local preachers.
|
|
|
|
Drama School by Julie Ganey
In her first excruciating weeks at an acting conservatory, Julie Ganey considers becoming someone else, both onstage and off.
|
|
|
|
Breaking Up With Kenny by Ryan Blitstein
A young man shares a New York apartment with a childhood friend who’s grown up to become a self-involved womanizer. But he can’t bring himself to move out.
|
|
|
|
Brutus and Portia by Khanisha Foster
First love - break-up sex - and Shakespeare.
|
|
|
|
Jacob’s Question by David Peak
Lusty. Perverts. Horny. Words that sound out of place in a public school classroom - especially when spoken by the world’s best social studies teacher. In this story even the simplest things - pop songs on the radio, innocent questions from friends - can unlock dangerous secrets.
|
|
|
|
Go Ahead by Sara Kerastas
Sara K had a temporary job as a relay operator once. She facilitated phone calls for the hearing impaired. This is the story of one particular call - a personal call. It was three-and-a-half-hours long. And let’s just say she got a little too in to it.
|
|
|
|
How You Do Anything by Larry Kerns
When an overzealous father tries to teach his teenage sons how to chop down a tree with an axe the way Thoreau did, the situation turns life-threatening and the battle between man and nature takes an unexpected turn.
|
|
|
|
Rose by Kimberlee Soo
A chance encounter between strangers in a ladies-room creates a connection that transcends time.
|
|
|
|
Broadway Baby by Rosie Forrest
Not your typical father/daughter story. With her dad at the piano, Rosie relives her childhood as a Broadway star. From Annie to Cabaret, this dynamic duo takes their show on the road - and learns the real world isn't as kind as the living room.
|
|
|
|
Bust Up by Kim Morris
A fist fight, a gang fight, a car crash. And that’s just a small part of the relationship. “Bust Up’ tells what it takes to finally decide to walk away.
|
|
|
|
The Dresden by Nick Ward
Three friends, one busted stereo, and a house full of dickheads. Somebody’s got a secret to share about a destructive final evening of college.
|
|
|
|
Mark Fox by Matt Miller
I like to believe that people are born good, that humanity distinguishes itself from the rest of the animal world by our capacity for love and generosity and goodness. That there is no such thing as a “bad seed.’ But when you know a man like Mark Fox, you are forced to re-consider some things you think you know about the world.
|
|
|
|
Granny's Leathers by Deb Lewis
A novice leatherdyke holds all things SM sacred and Granny - an old hand in the SM scene - might as well be the Lone Ranger. A decade later, this novice makes a confession, and it has to do with Granny’s leathers...
|
|
|
|
Brothers by Doug Whippo
One winter evening, a lonely heartbroken young man receives a surprise visit from his wayword older brother who teaches him that the loss of innocence can lead to unexpected epiphanies.
|
|
|
|
Plan B by Molly Each
Through thick and thin, highs and lows, awesome adventures and hideous relationships, Molly Each has always been able to count on her best friend. In addition to solid friendship and hilarious hijinks, the fact that he's a guy means she can count on him to be there in the end if all other relationships have failed. But what happens to their friendship when her Plan B guy joins the married world?
|
|
|
|
My First... by J. Adams Oaks
Join Jeffrey, the young budding writer, for one unusual music-filled summer night full of many surprising firsts, beginning with a Parisian-style artist salon populated with drunk poets, dancing painters and... oh, yeah, fighting jugglers too.
|
|
|
|
The Girls by Bobby Biedrzycki
The nights are silent, but a bit uncomfortable in Bobby Biedrzycki's eerie Christmas tale The Girls. The story chronicles the experiences of a young boy, and his attempt to make sense of the world around him, as local girls begin to go missing from his small Minnesota town during what is supposed to be an otherwise happy holiday season.
|
|
|
|
Birthday Suit by Margot Bordelon
Working overtime on her 26th birthday, Margot receives a surprise visitor: an aging woman dressed in a dingy, pink gorilla suit, who just won’t stop singing.
|
|
|
|
Push, Kick, Coast by Ric Walker
Ric Walker remembers friendships and Roller Disco in the dog days of summer in 1980. This story represents the marker between the carefree life of childhood and adult responsibility. Recorded live at Webster’s Wine Bar on November 11, 2007.
|
|
