Episode 31: I'm Wearing Tunics Now by Wendi Aarons Today we have a guest essay. I'm Wearing Tunics Now by Wendi Aarons, which was originally published by McSweeney's Internet Tendency. Wendi Aarons is a freelance humor writer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker Daily Shouts, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, US Weekly Fashion Police, Wall Street…

Episode 30: Revised Pinterest FAQs by Dana Norris Today we have a guest essay, Revised Pinterest FAQs by Dana Norris This piece of satire was originally published by The Rumpus’s Funny Women Column. Dana Norris is the author of The Storytelling Code: 10 Simple Rules to Shape and Tell a Brilliant Story, and the founder of Story Club, a monthly story…

Episode 29: A Prayer to St. Anthony by Rosamund Lannin Today we have a guest essay, A Prayer to St. Anthony by Rosamund Lannin Rosamund Lannin reads and writes in Chicago, where she's pleasantly surprised to have lived for over 20 years. During that time, she has published short stories and personal essays in Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, Tor.…

Episode 28: This Was Not the Plan by Molly O'Laughlin Kemper This week we have a guest essay. "This Was Not the Plan," an essay about birth and grief in the early pandemic, first appeared in MUTHA Magazine in June 2022. Molly O'Laughlin Kemper is a writer, translator, editor, and reader based in New York City. A 2022 resident of St. Nell's Humor Wr…

Episode 27: Dear Gen XXX by Emily Flake This week we have a guest essay from Emily Flake's sex and relationship advice column for AARP The Arrow aimed at Gen X men called Dear Gen XXX, but I promise her reponses are real gems. A regular contributor to The New Yorker, Emily Flake is the author of several books, including Mama Tried, a book of essays…

Episode 26: Clowns in Her Corner Motherhood made me champion ladies getting theirs, with clowns if necessary. Story notes by Sara Mannheimer Excerpts of the song Swing to the 60s Again by Marius Joppich were played in this podcast. We have merch on Bonfire. Thank you for listening, tell your friends, another story next week!…

Episode 25: Baby Jesus How do men change when they become fathers? Baby Jesus was originally published by Full Grown People. Edited by Jennifer Niesslein of Full Grown People. Excerpts of the song Flaming 50s by Higgins were played in this podcast. Thank you for listening, tell your friends, another story next week!…

Episode 24: The Feral Instincts of Motherhood What happens when two friends are different types of mothers? This essay was originally published by Mutha - an alternative parenting magazine started by MIchelle Tea. Story notes by Sara Mannheimer, editing by Meg Lemke. Excerpts of the song Adventurous 60s by Simon Armitage appeared in this episode. W…

Episode 23: Inhabited I was invaded from within. Excerpts of the song 60s Rock by Abydos Musique were played in this podcast. Order our merch on Bonfire by Dec 4 for xmas delivery. Thank you for listening, please subscribe and tell your friends. Another story next week!By Jenny Hatchadorian

Episode 19: Midwestern Witch My greatest childhood fear followed me into adulthood. “Leaning against off-white wall plaster, I caught glimpses of the only woman in my family who looked like me, until my sister shouted from the living room, ‘It’s doing something weird!’” Story notes by Rosamund Lannin. Excerpts of the song Liberty Girl by Heifervesc…

This week we have a guest essay, a chapter from Will Heinrich’s novel The Pearls. The book follows Henry Corn, a soda jerk and occasional pickpocket in 1920s New York City, as he bounces between two love interests: Dot Cohen, a no-nonsense Coney Island barmaid, and Marion Hammer, the daughter of fabulously wealthy banker Felix Hammer. In this chapt…

Episode 21: The Naked Truth by Johanna Gohmann Some thoughts on nudes, and not having any. Johanna Gohmann is a humor writer, essayist, and children’s book author. She has written for numerous outlets, including The New Yorker, McSweeneys, The Cut, Jezebel, and Bust. Her essays appear in several anthologies, most notably A Moveable Feast - Life-Cha…

Episode 20: My Father the Teenager I’d heard of old people becoming babies but not of them becoming teenagers en route. "His living room was like a teenager’s bedroom – hectic and chaotic – if that teenager loved Ronald Reagan and glossy golf magazines. As my gaze scanned the room, I noticed the confused stylistic touches of a young person: my gran…

A young woman is so removed from society that she becomes haunted by her past. "I wasn’t going to quit the Sac Bar. I’d quit too many jobs to land in a not much better or flat-out worse replacement. I’d just be a different person – I wouldn’t make jokes or talk about movies, books, or comedy. I’d pour brown liquid to the red line on the shot glass …

Episode 17: The Tooth and Nail of Dreams What happens when your childhood dream grows up? “O-kay, I said and I hung up. I had just agreed to bring the perverse mischief of my low-budget ramshackle of a movie into the home of my father’s childhood dream." Story notes by Sarah Smith, Rosamund Lannin, and Aaron Murtagh. This story was originally read …

Episode 16: A La Fin du Monde, with Cows I decided I'd rather be alone than with someone who yelled at me for no reason. That is, I'd rather be alone with the cows at the end of the world. “Another pamphlet portrayed a simple red and white passenger ferry. It did not show people on its cover, but it featured Patagonia’s otherworldly fjords. I shrug…

Episode 15: Family Planning What to do when Dad comes to town? "My husband Aaron had met my father and he’d heard the stories, but he couldn’t reconcile the two. Like a good husband, he pretended to believe me, but he nursed doubt. In a way, I understood. Without witnessing my father’s episodes, they were difficult to explain.” Story notes by Sara …

This week we have a guest essay, a satirical letter titled Re: Cloud Engineer by Lynn Maleh. In our troubled times, a hopeful young woman applies to the job of cloud engineer. Called "up-and-coming" by the LA Times, Lynn Maleh is a Syrian-American writer and standup comedian whose last name means salty, which she is. She's written for Act Your Age …

This week we have a guest essay, Spanish Lessons by Trish DiFranco. This is a story about puppy love and the pile of poo you find when you try to chase it. Trish DiFranco is a writer and marketer in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. You can read more of her work at trish.substack.com Excerpts of the song Passion Tango by The Piano Lady Lena Orsa were pl…

Once a late bloomer, always a late bloomer. Excerpts of the song Blues for Bess by Simon Armitage were played in this podcast. Story notes by Chelsey Heil.By Jenny Hatchadorian

My college boyfriend’s mother gave me a glimpse into who I might become. Excerpts of the song Teddy's Blues by Regis V. Gronoff were played in this podcast. Story notes by Sara Mannheimer and Aaron Murtagh.By Jenny Hatchadorian

A most Midwestern sexual education. Excerpts of the song Funk on Full by Avalon Audio were played in this podcast.By Jenny Hatchadorian

A bad boy and a good boy meet at the public pool. Excerpts of the song St. James Infirmary by Matt Confusion were played in this podcast under a license purchased on Jamendo. A special thanks to Michael DeJohn for audio and design help throughout the podcast.By Jenny Hatchadorian

In the single most romantic gesture of my life, I flew to China for a guy. Excerpts of the song Again Raining Dogs by Zero 1 were played in this podcast under a license purchased on Jamendo. Story notes by Sara Mannheimer.By Jenny Hatchadorian

Who owns up to what in the spaces we occupy? Excerpts of the song Malbak After Sex by Ogg Vorbis were played in this podcast under a license purchased on Jamendo. Story notes by Sara Mannheimer.By Jenny Hatchadorian