The Truth

To help her sick mother, Abigail needs to ask for help from her brother, a conspiracy-peddling radio host.

Written by Louis Kornfeld

Performed by Monica Wyche, PJ Sosko, Jamie Newell, Max Brand, Louis Kornfeld, Alexis Lambright, Brian Morabito, Evan Barden, Liz Leimkuhler, and T.J. Mannix.

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The kids at Newlin High have invented their own complex and growing language. Can a visiting linguist study and preserve it before the principal wipes it out for good?

Written by Hunter Nelson

Performed by Will Hines, Connor Ratliff, Alise Morales, John Trowbridge, Hunter Nelson, Amy Warren, Randy McKay. Woody Fu, Kelly Letourneau, Mary McDonnell, and Nikki Thomas.

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Emmy’s a chef; her twin brother Ross is an aspiring vegetable influencer. All they want is total culinary dominance—but a swiftly growing pond is ruining phase 1 of their five-year plan.

Written by MJ Halberstadt

Performed by: Michael Delisle, Katie Hartman, Jimmy O’Connell, Mickey Rodgers, Abby Royle, Leonardo McCloskey Feller, and Momo McCloskey Feller.

It’s March of 2020 and Haviland is desperately trying to make herself useful, but her parents just want her to stay safe. Against their wishes, she visits Ruth, a neighbor struggling with dementia.

Written by India Kotis

Performed by: Amara Leonard, Maggie Pistner, Rachel Botchan, Kelly Letourneau, Mark Gessner, Julia Kelly and Brian Morabito.

We asked listeners for the best Truth story of all time. You answered. As part of Radiotopia’s Making Trouble week, we’re bringing you the winner of the BEST TRUTH STORY EVER (so far), as voted on by listeners.

And after the story, we’ll hear an interview with the story’s writer!

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*as voted by listeners.

The Truth is 10 years old today! And to celebrate, we’re talking to a few of our listeners about their favorite episodes. If you’re new to the show, this is a good place to start!

The recommended episodes are:
Tape Delay
Possible Side Effects
Rideshare
Fish Girl
You’re Not Alone

Help us choose the BEST TRUTH STORY OF ALL TIME!
Go to radiotopia.fm/truth10 to vote.

Voting is open now but you don't have long,
The final round of the bracket will close on February 17th.

We will announce the winner on our next episode of The Truth.
Go to radiotopia.fm/truth10 to vote.

It’s not easy being a perfect dad. Especially when your son has some notes about the performance.

Written by Louis Kornfeld.

Performed by Tim Platt, Michael Cullen, Alex Dickson, Tanyika Carey, Dennis Pacheco and Tom Ligon.

Hayley meets a nice man. Could the universe be giving her a break? Nope, it’s still against her.

Written by Mary McDonnell.

Performed by Mary McDonnell, Tom Stephens, Louis Kornfeld, Margaret Burrus, Ryan Leach and Davy Gardner.

It’s 1978, and the world’s most famous magician wants to show you the true wonders of the universe.

Written by Jonathan Mitchell.

This story was inspired by the life and work of magician Doug Henning, and uses material that borrows heavily from his act. If you would like to learn more about Henning and his work, we have put a list of links on our website to books and videos used to research this story.

Our story was performed by Billy Griffin, Jr., Amy Warren, Stephanie Rey, Michael Cumpsty, Adrián Burke, T.J. Mannix, Reza Nasooti, Louis Kornfeld, Michael Cullen, Rachel Botchan, Stefan Schuette, Mary McDonnell, Chris Kipiniak, Bill Rohlfing, and Eli James.

It's the first day of eighth grade, and God's got a crush on Noa.

For this episode of The Truth, we’re introducing you to a fantastic new podcast from Hillary Frank and Lemonada Media. If you like what you hear, you can find the rest of the episodes by searching for “Here Lies Me” in your podcast app.

From their website:
“Here Lies Me from Lemonada Media is the first scripted podcast to convey the adolescent experience with realism. Author and award-winning podcaster Hillary Frank (The Longest Shortest Time) penned this fictional drama with dark humor, perfectly capturing the genuine, natural, and cringy teenage experience. It’s an immersive and sound-rich YA podcast for teen and adult fans of PEN15, Big Mouth, and Stranger Things.”

Performed by a talented and hilarious cast including Michael Chernus (Orange is the New Black), June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie), W. Kamau Bell (United Shades of America), Rob Huebel (The Descendants), Stephanie Wittels Wachs (Last Day), teen actors, and introducing Ollie Grishaber as Noa.

Here Lies Me contains themes of harassment, classism, sexism, racism, trauma, consent, and finding your voice.

Here Lies Me

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A celebrity look-alike is trying to break away from his famous face and be taken seriously on his own. But it isn’t easy when the world only sees another Clooney.

Written by Louis Kornfeld.

Performed by Peter McNerney, Margo Seibert, Will Jacobs, Michael Cullen, Ashley Siflinger, Jon Bander, Chris Kipiniak, Joseph Medeiros, Thomas Whittington, Sophie Yalkezian, and Louis Kornfeld.

In our fifth story from the post-apocalyptic world of the Hum, Huck is held captive in the compound while Inez must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice for a chance at seeing her son.

This story is the fifth in the Hum series. If you haven’t heard them already, here are the first four:

Episode 1: After the Hum

Episode 2: Into the Hum

Episode 3: Shadow of the Hum

Episode 4: Echo of the Hum

“End of the Hum” was written by Mary McDonnell.

It was performed by Danielle Delgado, James Dwyer, Russell G. Jones, Marisa Brau, Louis Kornfeld, Jessica Morgan and Mary McDonnell.

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A year after their father’s death, three siblings find a tree growing directly out of their father’s grave, bearing fruit and an unbelievable family secret.

Written by Grant Cohen.

Performed by Anthony Franqui, Sharina Martin, Corin Wells, Craig Scott, Jennifer Fouche, Neil Tyrone Pritchard, and Franklin Ojeda Smith.

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A fed up fairy godmother decides to grant justice instead of wishes.

Written by Mary McDonnell.

Performed by Blanche Ames, Lida Darmian, Thomas Whittington, Reilly Wilson, Brandon Zelman, Joel Bernstein, Mary McDonnell, Louis Kornfeld, Nichole Hill, and Amy Warren.

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Matilda is selling artificial limbs at a call center, phoning random people in search of a sale. She wasn’t expecting one of the people to be her ex.

Written by India Kotis.

Performed by Stephanie Rey, Autumn Gomez-Tagle, Ekaterini Argerson, and Sebastian Connelli

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A down-on-his-luck teacher meets an alien. And suddenly the world wants to know what he has to say.

Written by Louis Kornfeld.

Performed by Dennis Pacheco, Joe Mullens, Liz Leimkuhler, Mark Gessner, Ekaterini Argerson, Nolan Constantino, Connor Ratliff, Rachel Botchan, Glo Tavarez, Stefan Schuette, and Nichole Hill.

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An eight year old finds a stronger bond with the narrator of her favorite nature documentary than with any of the adults in her life.

Written by Louis Kornfeld.

Performed by Hannna Ardolino, Brian Morabito, Dominic Cuskern, Katie Harman, Jenny Lee Mitchell, and Nichole Hill

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In the fourth episode in “The Hum” series, Milly and Kaitlin finally find a community of people where they can live. It’s a welcoming community. But there are limits.

This story is part 4 in an ongoing series. If you haven’t heard them already, please first listen to After the Hum, Into the Hum, and Shadow of the Hum.

Written by Chris Kipiniak.

Performed by Jessica Morgan, Marisa Brau, Chris Kipiniak, Danielle Delgado, Russell Jones, James Dwyer, Louis Kornfeld, Mary McDonnell, and Nichole Hill.

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A woman thinks the universe is plotting against her. And she’s right. It is.

Written by Mary McDonnell.

Performed by Mary McDonnell, Louis Kornfeld, Margaret Burrus, Casey Wortmann, Tom Stephens, Ryan Leach, Alexis Pereira, Amy Warren, and Nichole Hill.

Radiotopia is a network of creators who are able to follow their curiosity and tell the stories they care about the most. Show your support for my fellow Radiotopia shows during our Spring Fundraiser. Donate today at https://on.prx.org/3wl9pWn.

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On this special episode, we share some of our favorite outtakes, go behind the scenes of The Truth, hear from writers Mary McDonnell and Louis Kornfeld, meet associate producer Nichole Hill, and answer listener questions.

Radiotopia is a network of creators who are able to follow their curiosity and tell the stories they care about the most. Show your support for my fellow Radiotopia shows during our Spring Fundraiser. Donate today at https://on.prx.org/3wl9pWn.

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Liz can work a crowd. But can she read the room?

Written by Chris Kipiniak.

Performed by Sue Galloway, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, Brian Miskell, Alex Song-Xia, Michael Cullen, Neil Tyrone Pritchard, Patrick Noth, Erica Schroeder, Jake Hart, and Chris Kipiniak

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CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes descriptions of sexual acts, and an anti-semitic attack.

Two grieving friends hope for a miracle. Neither of them is prepared for what they get.

Written by Louis Kornfeld.

Performed by Monica Wyche, David Deblinger, Dmitry Shein, Sue Galloway, Jeff Wucher, Sebastian Connelli, and Mary McDonnell.

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The latest TikTok challenge seemed fun - until the people started disappearing.

Written by Mary McDonnell.

Performed by Jacob Cornell, Glo Tavarez, Jenny Gorelick, Kyle Gordon, Lida Damian, Rachel Weinstsky, Pedro Alocer, Tom Whittington, Mary McDonnell, and Nichole Hill.

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A widower loses his horse and searches for something new to love.

Written by Roney.

Performed by Austin Pendleton, Josh Perilo, Tallie Medel, Dmitry Shein, Rachel Botchan, Kyle Gordon, Tommy Marshall, Thomas Whittington, Frankie Johnson, Sarah Reynolds, Nichole Hill, and Roney.

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A sudden telepathic connection pushes an unhappy woman into the arms of her brother-in-law.

Written by Mary McDonnell.

Performed by Kimberly Chatterjee, Adrián Burke, Brandon Zelman, Ryan Karels, Amy Warren, and Mary McDonnell.

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CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes very strong language, and descriptions of sexual acts. It is for adults only, and not intended for children.

An ambitious Roman senator is ready to sacrifice anything for his career, when the emperor Caligula declares himself a living god.

Written by Louis Kornfeld.

Performed by Richie Moriarty, Joseph Medeiros, Michael Cumpsty, Danielle Delgado, Margo Seibert, Jake Hart, and Louis Kornfeld.

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Back in 2015, twin brother and sister Josh and Joan Burns formed CrossBread, the hugely successful Christian Rap duo from Boronia in Melbourne's outer suburbs. This is their story.

For this episode, we’re featuring another podcast, CrossBread from ABC Radio. You can hear the whole series on their website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

And after the story, we’ll talk with writer Declan Fay about the making of the series.

CrossBread from ABC Radio

The hardest thing about living in a post-apocalypse is the loneliness. But what you do to cope could make things worse.

This story is the third in the “Hum” series. If you haven’t heard them already, please go listen to After the Hum and Into the Hum first.

Written by Chris Kipiniak.

Performed by James Dwyer, Michael Cullen, Chris Kipiniak, Jessica Morgan, Marisa Brau, Suzanne Toren, and Russell G. Jones.

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An unexpected chance to be on a reality show lands Cat in a bizarre love triangle. As the story takes on a life of its own, her TV dreams devolve into a real-life nightmare.

Written by Megan Stein. Performed by Rebecca Robles, Louis Kornfeld, Megan Stein, Michael Cruz Kayne, Chris Cafero, and Daniel Hubbard.

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When a group of misfit college students learn that their new roleplaying game affects the real world, opportunities abound. But there are consequences.

Written by Timothy Cooper.

Performed by Mark Gessner, Tallie Medel, Woody Fu, Ariel Gitlin, and Ed Herbstman.

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It’s been five years since her stroke, and Ann is still struggling to make new memories. But an ancient technique might be the key she needs to put her life back together.

Written by Louis Kornfeld.

Performed by Ann Carr, Dennis Pacheco, Amy Warren, Jake Smith, Liz Noth, Megan Stein, Timothy Cooper and Louis Kornfeld.

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Two best friends are part of a Christmas Eve Bitcoin heist, but things don’t go according to plan.

Written by Anthony Del Col.

Performed by Alex Dickson, Alex Song-Xia, Matt Jones, John Doman, and Sophie Yalkezian.

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Appearances is “an audio mind trip about an Iranian-American woman, the family she carries around in her head, and the family that she wants to have.” It’s a wonderful new 10-part series from producer Sharon Mashihi, Mermaid Palace, and Radiotopia.

For this episode, we’re playing the series Prologue. If you like what you hear, please go check out the whole series! You can find it here:

https://mermaidpalace.org/appearances

Or by searching for “Appearances” in your favorite podcast app.

A college student studying abroad learns about a romantic legend in Spain, but gets carried away trying to make it come true.

Written by David Deblinger.

Performed by David Deblinger, Eli Gelb, Maria Fontanals, Luis Carlos de La Lombana, Mercedes Clavel and Israel Ruiz.

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A suburban mom discovers a sinister conspiracy at her local hair salon.

Written by Mary McDonnell.

Performed by Alex Dickson, Francesca Ferrara, Richie Moriarty, Amy Warren, Julia Kelly, Tara Copeland, Maggie Burke, Ariel Gitlin, Sophie Yalkezian and Mary McDonnell.

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A mountain climbing couple gets caught in an avalanche. Will they survive? Will their relationship? Oh, and also—they’re not alone.

Written by Davy Gardner.

Performed by Margaret Burrus, Federico Rodriguez, Sue Galloway, Davy Gardner, Sophie Yalkezian and Sadie Mitchell.

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When a sitcom star is contacted by his long-lost relatives, he discovers that gaining a new family is a lot more than he bargained for.

Written by David Ebert.

Performed by David Ebert, Julia Kelly, David Koechner, Mark Gessner, Leslie Meisel, Amy Warren, Tom Stephens and Amanda Hunt.

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When the sky itself becomes deadly, survival depends on how much you can trust strangers.

Written by Louis Kornfeld.

Performed by Michael Cullen, Arthur French, Benja Kay Thomas, and James Dwyer, with Louis Kornfeld and Mary McDonnell.

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In a post-apocalyptic world, a young woman faces her fears of the outside world in order to save her sister.

Written by Mary McDonnell.

Performed by Marisa Brau, Jessica Morgan, James Dwyer, Gregory Jones, and Rachel Botchan.

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When two actors on different coasts show up to a mysterious voiceover audition, a sadistic director keeps making things weirder.

Written by Laura Grey.

Performed by Liz Leimkuhler, Casey Jost, Chris Kipiniak and Bill Rohlfing.

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A virtual reality company can send you anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. So when a celebrity uses it for escape and ends up finding love, he goes to great lengths to hang onto his new life.

Written by Bob Raymonda.

Performed by Chris Cafero, Tessa Hersh, Richie Moriarty, Mark Gessner, Nikki Thomas, Asher Herbstman, Amy Warren, Mary McDonnell, Davy Gardner, and Bob Raymonda.

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A woman gets trapped in an inter-dimensional game show. To leave, she must win the game by figuring out: what is wrong with her?

Written by Mary McDonnell.

Performed by Julia Kelly, Jeremy Bent, Bridgette Rizkalla, Billy Bob Thompson, Amy Warren, Richie Moriarty, Margaret Burrus, Bob Raymonda, Cara Ehlenfeldt, Mary McDonnell, and Jaime Lamchick.

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When an artificial intelligence grad student becomes a finalist for a big robotics award, her empathic AI robot starts calling her a fraud, and she must figure out how to overcome its nasty, counterproductive feedback.

Written by Kristy Lopez-Bernal.

Performed by Erica Hernandez, Yoni Lotan, Erin Harland, Amy Warren, Josh Perilo, Ed Herbstman, Bob Raymonda, Margaret Burrus, Katie Hartman, and Nathan Min.

Content warning: This episode contains depictions of anxiety and panic attacks.

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The Truth was live at On Air Fest in March 2020, with a performance of “The Hilly Earth Society” followed by a Q&A with writer Louis Kornfeld, actor Michael Cullen, and producer Jonathan Mitchell.

Written by Louis Kornfeld.

Performed live by Michael Cullen.

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A new app allows you to earn real money just by participating in social events. But what the events are—and who shows up—makes it difficult to know what’s real, and what’s just another gig in the gig economy.

Written by Sarah Shachat.

Performed by Louis Kornfeld, Rick Andrews, Leila Ben-Abdallah, Woody Fu, Mary McDonnell, Zach Valenti, T.J. Mannix, and Promises improv troupe.

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A woman paid to ruin weddings decides instead to help a groom salvage his… and finds love along the way.

Written by Mary McDonnell.

Performed by Bianca Casusol, David Ebert, Thomas Whittington, Lila Newman, Juan Nicolón, Erin Bartley, Alli Brown, Mary McDonnell, Blanche Ames, Davy Gardner, Johnna Scrabis, Brandon Zelman, Elijah Crocker, Daniel Lempert, Jake Cornell, Casey McCormick, Amir Khan, Allison Kilkenny, Danielle Grace, and Promises improv troupe.

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When Kyra gets Beth an “enhanced emotional support” dog to help her get over her recent funk, the gift goes over a little too well.

Written by Timothy Michael Cooper

Performed by Tanyika Carey, Ellen Winter, and Fred Newman.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes strong language and adult situations.

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A son tries to make contact with his dad deteriorating in the throes of dementia. He makes new connections and discoveries, and as he says goodbye to his father, he is granted a long-awaited wish.

Written and performed by David Deblinger.

With Maggie Burke, Tomoko Miyagi, Neil Tyrone Pritchard, Louis Kornfeld, and David Aaron Baker.

Music by Fred Johnson.

This episode is based on a stage production originally created at Labyrinth Theater Company, directed and developed by Ben Snyder.

This episode is part of a network-wide project to welcome Over the Road, Radiotopia’s newest show, into the family.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes strong language.

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After three friends make a mysterious yet simple choice, they must make sense of the inconceivable results.

Written by Davy Gardner

Performed by Erin Harland, Dennis Pacheco, Chris Cafero, Louis Kornfeld, and Nikki Thomas.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes strong language.

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Eddie Doyle is being targeted by bots that are getting smarter all the time.

Written by Louis Kornfeld

Performed by Tom Ligon, Amy Warren, Louis Kornfeld, Tanyika Carey, Rebecca Robles, Rich Armstead, Jon Cook, Dmitry Shein, Timothy Cooper, Davy Gardner, Jamie Rivera, Sarah Shachat, and Nikki Thomas.

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It’s difficult to convey who you are in a two-dimensional dating profile. So a brand new dating service brings you into the third dimension, allowing you to create a museum all about yourself.

Written by Davy Gardner

Performed by Ann Carr and Nicholas Richardson. With Johnna Scrabis, and Adelaide Kipiniak.

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Atlantic Flight 702 has disappeared mid-flight between London and New York. Kaitlin Le, a college student whose twin brother vanished with the flight, has tasked herself with uncovering what really happened to the plane’s 256 passengers.

For this special episode, we present the first episode of Passenger List, a mystery thriller from PRX’s Radiotopia.

Listen to the full series at https://passengerlist.org

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If you want to get from point A to point B, teleportation sounds like a good idea. But if you ever get the opportunity, just take a cab. Learn what happened to teleportation’s First Man.

Written by Louis Kornfeld

Performed by Peter McNerney, Hannah Chase, Nick Kanellis, Mary McDonnell, Leonard Lyzner, Dennis Pacheco, Chris Kipiniak, Davy Gardner, Adelaide Kipiniak, and Evan Barden.

Make your mark. Go to radiotopia.fm to donate today.

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Get to know our associate producer Cara Ehlenfeldt, and hear outtakes from the past year of The Truth.

Make your mark. Go to radiotopia.fm to donate today.

Eve, Jay, and Michael used to be close friends until life moved them in different directions. They are brought together by the death of an old friend Lilia, who reaches out from beyond the grave to meddle in their relationship.

Written by Tim Platt

Performed by Rebecca Robles, Elana Fishbein, Margaret Burrus, Tim Platt, Susan Jacks, and Peter Mills-Weiss

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Rory, an influencer with over 2 million followers, discovers she has the incredible ability to rewrite history through social media. But what does having 2 million followers really mean if you have nothing to say?

Written by Sam Reece

Performed by Erica Hernandez, Ariel Gitlin, Chris Cafero, Jeremy Bent, Thomas Whittington, and Davy Gardner

This episode contains strong language.

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Down in the dusty crypt of The Truth, we uncover the remains of two haunting stories. In the first, a mother's most precious possession is discovered. In the second, a blood ritual conjures up angels...

“Don’t Touch a Thing” was written by Louis Kornfeld, and performed by Amy Warren, Armando Diaz, Jackie Hoffman, Louis Kornfeld, and Noel Dineen

“Silvia’s Blood” was adapted and produced by Jonathan Mitchell, based on the short story “Upon the Dull Earth” by Philip K. Dick. It was performed by Andy Moskowitz, Rebecca Robles, Diana McCorry, Ben Jones, and Al King.

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The mysterious founder and CEO of a tech company is about to tell the world the secret of his latest product… and his past.

Written by Luke Burns

Performed by Richie Moriarty, Josh Perilo, Jon Cook, Daniel Hubbard, Frankie Johnson, Louis Kornfeld, Mary McDonnell, Jesse VandenBergh, Anthony Franqui, Dennis Pacheco, Mac Rogers, Amy Warren, Thomas Whittington, Elana Fishbein, Chris Thompson, and Bodywork Improv Ensemble

This episode contains strong language and violence.

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Tony's always had a hard time reading the room. But then a mysterious man tells him about a podcast that plays back everything people say about you when you're not there.

Written by Mac Rogers

Performed by Doug Moe, Dennis Pacheco, Louis Kornfeld, Alana Bowers, Marisa Brau, Amy Warren, Ed Herbstman, Blanche Ames, Becca Schall, Elana Fishbein, and Emily Marinoff

The Truth

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After helping a woman on a subway platform, a busker discovers that her ukulele has a strange power.

Written by Rachel Wenitsky

Performed by Rachel Wenitsky, Tallie Medel, Jeremy Bent, Bianca Casusol, Michael Delisle, Naomi Lorrain, Kyle Gordon, Jimmy O’Connell, Woody Fu, Kerry Kastin, Louis Kornfeld, Brian Morabito, Tim Platt, Andrew Roberts, Mac Rogers, Cara Ehlenfeldt, and Emily Marinoff.

This episode includes explicit language and deals with sexual harassment.

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A woman walks, baby strapped to her chest, through the streets of Fitzroy and Carlton. As she walks, she notices the way the skyline edges upward, nudged by the cranes of developers. And she notices the history of this place, ever-present, despite those cranes.

For this special episode, we present the first two episodes of The Fitzroy Diaries, and eight-episode series produced by the Australian Broadcast Corporation.

Fitzroy Diaries was created and written by Lorin Clarke, edited by Sophie Townsend, and sound designed by Mark Don.

The Fitzroy Diaries

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Joanna thought she was prepared for her new baby. But the baby has plans of her own.

Written by Marina Tempelsman

Performed by Ann Carr, Erica Schroeder, David Ebert, Katie Hartman, Louis Kornfeld, Leslie Meisel, Erica Hernandez, Ariel Gitlin, Boris Khaykin, and Tallie Medel.

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Our story was inspired by a real contingency speech written in 1969 by William Safire for Richard Nixon titled “In Event of Moon Disaster." It was the most listened-to piece on PRX in 2010, and the winner of the 2010 Mark Time Gold Award for Best Science Fiction Audio.

Your next stops on the Destination Moon podcrawl:
The Flight Deck Podcast
GeekWire
Sound Effect
Stuff You Missed in History Class

A psychology student must clear her name using the power of persuasion.

Written by Mary McDonnell.

Performed by Kimberly Chatterjee, Jeff Wucher, Anthony Franqui, Margaret Burrus, Leonard Lyzner, and Nevada Caldwell.

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For today’s episode, we’re featuring an episode from another podcast: The Shadows.

Kaitlin Prest, creator and host of the Prix-Italia winner The Heart, presents the first audio fiction from CBC Podcasts. The Shadows is a story about the anatomy of a relationship: a crush, a choice, a resentment and an end.

The Shadows from CBC Podcasts

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Questions are answered and blood is spilled backstage at the 15th Annual Octane Awards.

Performed by Chris Cafero, Eli James, Damon Ketron, Claire Burns, Chris Kipiniak, Jeremy Bent, Johan Matton, Connor Ratliff, Amy Warren, Ariel Gitlin, Erin Bartley, Jessica Morgan, Jack Frederick, Thomas Whittington, Joanna Bradley, Liz Leimkuhler, Will Martinez, Elana Fishbein, and Stefan Schuette.

Written by Hunter Nelson, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Our associate producers are Davy Gardner and Emily Marinoff.

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The walls close in on Evan, and new revelations shed light on the short, sad career of Wesley Stern.

Performed by Chris Cafero, Eli James, Joanna Bradley, Margaret Burrus, Keith Rubin, Michael Cullen, Lila Newman, Rich Armstead, Liz Leimkuhler, Hunter Nelson, Will Martinez, Elana Fishbein, Louis Kornfeld, Ariel Gitlin, Erin Bartley, Jessica Morgan, and Stefan Schuette.

Written by Hunter Nelson, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Our associate producers are Davy Gardner and Emily Marinoff.

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Clues, conspiracy, and cutting-edge Swedish fitness technology await Evan at the Straffmotor Showroom.

Performed by Chris Cafero, Marina Gasparyan, Johan Matton, Liz Leimkuhler, Hunter Nelson, Dennis Pacheco, Linnea Larsdotter, Ellinor DiLorenzo, Conrad Ardelius, and Stefan Schuette.

Written by Hunter Nelson, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Our associate producer is Davy Gardner.

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Evan’s great body and surprisingly decent brain team up to investigate rumors and strange goings-on on the set of “Immortal Cop.”

Performed by Chris Cafero, Joanna Bradley, Marina Gasparyan, Alli Brown, T.J. Mannix, Will Martinez, Boris Khaykin, Elana Fishbein, Davy Gardner, Hunter Nelson, and Liz Leimkuhler.

Written by Hunter Nelson, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Our associate producer is Davy Gardner.

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Evan is the most sought after personal trainer in Hollywood. His brain has always been good at bodies. But can it solve a murder?

Performed by Chris Cafero, Eli James, Joanna Bradley, Stefan Schuette, Jeremey Bent, Connor Ratliff, Margaret Burrus, Keith Rubin, Jack Frederick, Davy Gardner, Liz Leimkuhler, and Becca Schall.

Written by Hunter Nelson, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Our associate producer is Davy Gardner.

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When a lawyer (Jo Firestone) attends her 20th high school reunion, a former classmate mistakes her for another person, and nostalgically recounts a shocking and revealing story.

Written by Davy Gardner.

Performed by Jo Firestone, Caroline Cotter, Margaret Burrus, Casey Jost, Tristan Griffin, Mary McDonnell, Dylan Palladino, and Rick Andrews.

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Kate finally talks to that cute guy at the bowling alley, and he even asks her out on a date. It’s just like a movie romance until something unexpected happens…

Written by Becca Schall.

Performed by Ariel Gitlin, Amy Lynne Berger, Billy Bob Thompson, Jimmy O’Connell, Susan Jacks, Meredith Burns, Davy Gardner, Taylor Curtis, Mary McDonnell, and Stefan Schuette.

Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
Our associate producer is Davy Gardner.

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After her husband goes missing while on a tour of Ellsworth Caverns, a woman seeks to uncover the secret of the caves.

Written by Luke Burns.

Performed by Ann Carr, Rebecca Robles, Max Brand, Ed Herbstman, Danielle Delgado, Louis Kornfeld, Jonathan Nail, Thomas Whittington, Daniel Hubbard, and Rick Andrews.

The Truth

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A modern day hero awakes from a Curse,
And looks for adventure. Oh! And there’s verse!

Written by Mary McDonnell. Performed by Marisa Brau, Alison Cimmet, Liz Leimkuhler, Rachel Botchan, Alana Raquel Bowers, Will Storie, Stefan Schuette, and Davy Gardner. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

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It's bad enough that Alice and Mort find themselves in their late 50s with no jobs, and ruinous medical debt. But they're also buckling under a feeling of utter insignificance, that the world ignores them. Then their best friends offer them an unexpected solution to their problems.

Written by Mac Rogers.
Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

http://thetruthpodcast.com

In this special episode, Jonathan Mitchell and Davy Gardner answer listener questions, and talk about how the show is made.

"Commitment" was written by Davy Gardner. Performed by Margaret Burrus, Jack Frederick, and Mac Rogers. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

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After a humiliating defeat, an MMA fighter is eager for a rematch. But will the haunting memories of her loss get in the way?

Written by Georgie Aldaco and Davy Gadner
Performed by Ariana Rodriguez, Taylor Ortega, Chris Thompson, Will Martinez, Nanie Mendez, Thomas Whittington, Ken McGraw, Amadeo Fusca, Erica Hernandez, Pedro Alcocer, Glo Taverez, snd Keith Randolph Smith.

http://thetruthpodcast.com

After murdering an annoying customer in a moment of rage, Meg must finish her bakery shift and destroy the corpse while being haunted by the dead customer’s ghost.

Written by Mary McDonnell, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
Our associate producer is Davy Gardner.

Performed by Erin Bartley, Lily Du, Margaret Burrus, Patrick Noth, and Joanna Hausman.

http://thetruthpodcast.com

A reality tv producer travels to a small Texas town to find a man who can perform miracles. But there’s no such thing as miracles... right?

Written by Louis Kornfeld, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
Our associate producer is Davy Gardner.

http://thetruthpodcast.com

“Notes from the Network”

As a storm rages outside, a visit from the head of the network complicates Erica's big story and Bruce's attempt at a comeback.

A four-part limited series from The Truth.
Starring Peter Grosz and Erica Hernandez.
Written by Marina & Nicco.

Follow us on Instagram @TheTruthFiction and on Twitter @TheTruthFiction

“Young Man, You're Doing Fine”

Erica interviews Bruce. Is she getting to the truth of his story? Or just helping a serial abuser get back on television?

A four-part limited series from The Truth.
Starring Peter Grosz and Erica Hernandez.
Written by Marina & Nicco.

Follow us on Instagram @TheTruthFiction and on Twitter @TheTruthFiction

“Breaking In”

Meet Erica. She’s an aspiring journalist who enjoys squatting in vacant Montauk homes during the off season. And on the second floor of one house she finds... a locked door. What could be in there?

A four-part limited series from The Truth. Starring Peter Grosz and Erica Hernandez.

Follow us on Instagram @TheTruthFiction and on Twitter @TheTruthFiction

“Banished to the Hamptons”

After being accused of sexual harassment live on air, television host Bruce Alvarez retreats to the Hamptons until the whole thing can blow over... if it ever will.

A four-part limited series from The Truth.
Starring Peter Grosz and Erica Hernandez.
Written by Marina & Nicco.

Follow us on Instagram @TheTruthFiction and on Twitter @TheTruthFiction

Meet Louis, a can of generic cola. For this special bonus episode of The Truth, we’re introducing you not only to an inanimate object, but a brand new Radiotopia show that features interviews with said objects. It fun and informative and fresh and smart, and we hope you love it as much as we do.

Explore Wonderworld, U.S.A., where the fun and the mental are fundamental!

Featuring stories by Chris Kipiniak, Becca Schall, Louis Kornfeld, Lila Newman, and Davy Gardner.

A girl finds an unlikely friend in a porcupine puffer fish.

Written by Becca Schall, produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Performed by Bee Herbstman, Alison Cimmet, Scott Richardson, and Ed Herbstman.

In 1993, a young boy named Jesse Eisenberg wrote a fan letter to an NBA star that would change the course of history. Written and performed by Eisenberg, this story was produced by Jonathan Mitchell and originally released on Slate Magazine’s Upon Further Review podcast, hosted by Mike Pesca. Stick around ‘til the end for a special interview with Jesse Eisenberg.

Two stories: What if there were an app for blind people that could describe to them what they can’t see? Not just directions like a GPS, but descriptions of objects that paint a picture. It doesn’t exist quite like that yet, but we wrote a story that imagines it does. After that, we’ll hear a second story about a personal GPS that gets very personal.

Visible: Performed by Russell G. Jones, Rachel Hamilton, Ann Carr, and Kerry Kastin. Written by Louis Kornfeld with help from Diana McCorry, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Drive Straight Ahead: Written by Jeremy Goldstein and Mira Burt-Wintonick. Produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Mira Burt-Wintonick, and Cristal Duhaime. Originally produced for CBC’s Wiretap.

When you inherit a parrot with a past, you never know what you might hear.

Written by Lila Newman and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Performed by Lila Newman, Erica Hernandez, Joel Bernstein, Margaret Burrus, Kyle Gordon, Davy Gardner, Jeff Wucher, Jack Frederick, and Fred Newman.

How far is too far in the fight for Truth, Justice, and the American Way? This episode asks some serious questions by taking the form of a Saturday morning cartoon.

Written by Casper Kelly, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Performed by Jake Hart, Marc Thompson, Erica Schroeder, Billy Bob Thompson, and Graham Rowat.

A couple tries to make a break, without the future getting in their way.

Performed by Chris Henry Coffey and Jenny Mudge
Written by Chris Kipiniak
Produced by Jonathan Mitchell

This episode was sponsored in part by: Burrow (Use the promo code THETRUTH to get $50 off your order); and HelloFresh (Use the promo code TRUTH30 to get $30 off your order).

Some people are just too interesting to be left alone.

Written by Louis Kornfeld and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Performed by Michael Cullen.

This episode was sponsored in part by:
Burrow (Use the promo code THETRUTH to get $50 off your order); and
HelloFresh (Use the promo code TRUTH30 to get $30 off your order).

Ordering a rideshare seems like a safe choice. But really, it's just getting into a stranger's car.

Performed by Dana Kaplan-Angle, Amir Darvish, and Boris Khaykin.

Written by Lila Newman, directed and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

The end of the world didn't scare them. They were nuclear launch officers, that's their job. What scared them was the ghost.

Written by Eric Molinsky (of the Imaginary Worlds podcast) and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Featuring Woody Fu, Danielle Delgado, and Billy Griffin, Jr.

This episode was sponsored in part by Burrow (Use the promo code THETRUTH to get $50 off your order)

A couple moves into a Co-op apartment that becomes more than they bargained for.

Performed by Hannah Chase, Dennis Pacheco, Amy Warren, Susan Owen, Betty Hudson, Joel Bernstein, Michael Cullen, and Sam Tsoutsouvas.

Written by Becca Schall, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

An investigation into the origins of the Polybius legend leads to Bobby, who claims the game was responsible for his abduction as a teenager. In the thirty-five years since, Bobby has remained steadfast with his story, going so far as to organize a for-profit walking tour while obsessively searching for the one person he believes could corroborate his allegations. Local players from the Portland arcade scene cast doubt on Bobby’s story, as do journalists who refute the game as ever having existed.

The Polybius Conpiracy is a production of Showcase from PRX’s Radiotopia.
Hear the full series at http://radiotopia.fm/showcase

Sponsored by:

Harrys.com/TRUTH
hellofresh.com (Promo Code: TRUTH30)

A disenchanted mall Santa gets a surprise gift from SantaCon.

Written by Louis Kornfeld, produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Performed by Tom Ligon, Chris Dwane, Anna Neu, Bianca Casusol, Jimmy O’Connell, Kevin Cobbs, Louis Kornfeld, Kerry Kastin, and Becca Schall.

Everything would be fine if everyone would just listen.

Written by Chris Kipiniak, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Performed by Abby Royle, Kyle Gordon, Ashlie Atkinson, and Jennete Cronk. With Jaymes Jorsling, Kerry Kastin, Chris Kipiniak, Becca Schall, Lila Newman, Louis Kornfeld, and Matt Shafeek.

It’s a show of mystery, fun, and bad memories! Written by Davy Gardner, produced by Jonathan Mitchell and Kerry Kastin.

What if a device could tell you exactly how satisfied you’d be with any decision? What if you could carry the future around in your pocket? What if you never had to say “what if” again?

Performed by Tallie Medel and Tim Platt, with Kelsey Bailey. Written by Becca Schall, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Maybe a hug really can be magic. Maybe.

Performed by Austin Pendleton, April Matthis, and Jenny Lee Mitchell.

Written by Louis Kornfeld and produced by Jonathan Mitchell

A cryogenically-frozen man is revived in the future, to a world that is not quite what he expected.

Written by Eric Molinsky, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Performed by Scott Adsit, Amy Warren, and Ed Herbstman, with Anna Neu, Billy Griffin, Alexis Lambright, Louis Kornfeld, Elana Fishbein, Joanna Hausmann, and Kerry Kastin.

Intestilax is a miracle cure for stomach pains. But be careful: it may have side effects.

Written by Casper Kelly, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Performed by Adam Wade, Hannah Chase, Mariette Strauss, Elana Fishbein, Dennis Pacheco, Anne Antonucci, Jeremy Bent, Noel Dinneen and Seth Lind.

Imagine a near future where media influencers are sent to an internment camp. This episode was made in collaboration with Benjamen Walker, and part 2 is available now on his podcast Theory of Everything. Featuring Michael Delisle, Ann Carr, T.J. Mannix, Michael Cullen, Chris McKinney, Will Quinn, Becca Schall, Louis Kornfeld, Chris Kipiniak, and Kerry Kastin. Written by Benjamen Walker, with help from Louis Kornfeld. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Part two can be heard on Theory of Everything. This is our contribution to Radiotopia's Doing Time series, to mark the arrival of the new Radiotopia podcast Earhustle.

The voice of a cartoon boy takes a shot at live action. Starring Erica Schroeder as Betsy and Happy Louie. With Brian Dykstra, Marc Thompson, Justin Morgan, Rosie Whalen, Susan J. Jacks, Chris Kipiniak, Lorena Russi, Eric Molinsky, Kerry Kastin, Asher Herbstman, and Rob Webber. Written by Eric Molinsky (of the Imaginary Worlds podcast) and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

On the island of Thassos grows a very rare variety of the Lotus flower, Nymphaea Anamnesis. If you drink its extract, whatever you say or do for ten minutes after drinking it, you won’t remember. It's kind of like Snapchat but "in life". On this episode we’ll meet a group of friends who partake in the Lotus extract. Written by Jaymes Jorsling, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Spring is in the air and so are the bees. To celebrate, we made this collection of comedy sketches! Learn how Quantum Mechanics can help solve that familiar dilemma: scone or muffin? Meet the most conscientious mom on the playground. And hear the only game show that explores the futility of trying to make the world a better place in the face of today's biggest news: What Can You Do! Featuring sketches by Alexis Pereira, Jessica Taylor, Becca Schall, and Jordan Randolph. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

What will they find? Performed by Rebecca Robles and Louis Kornfeld. Story by Louis Kornfeld, produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Recorded on location in New York City.

A subway ride becomes divinely dangerous. With Joanna Hausmann as Alice and T.J. Mannix as God. Written by Sarah Siskind with Louis Kornfeld, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. 

A submarine crew goes deeper than they thought possible. Written by Louis Kornfeld and Chris Kipiniak. Performed by Gregory Jones, Chris McKinney, Russell G. Jones, Billy Griffin Jr., Reynaldo Piniella, and Michael Cullen. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Shopping can make you work up a thirst. Performed by Lauren Adams and Peter Grosz, written by Casper Kelly, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

A man mysteriously transports himself into the body of a prison inmate. Performed by Khalil Kain and Craig muMs Grant, with Keith Randolph Smith, Shamika Cotton, Chris McKinney, Louis Kornfeld, and Jaymes Jorsling. Written by Jaymes Jorsling, produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

An elf named Spark has just been promoted to the "Naughty or Nice" division of Santa's workshop. But when he finds out how Santa determines if you've been bad or good, he makes it his mission to change the system. Written by Jonathan Mitchell and Seth Lind, originally produced for NPR's All Things Considered in 2014.

A (fictional) Director's Commentary from the (fictional) short film that inspired the (fictional) big budget feature romantic comedy "Then I Saw Her Face". Performed by Birgit Huppuch, with Maurice Jones and Libby Woodbridge. Written by Chris Kipiniak and Louis Kornfeld, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

A mixtape made especially for you, with five short comedy sketches produced by The Truth. Featuring performances by Scott Adsit, Tami Sagher, Ed Herbstman, Laura Grey, April Matthis, Peter McNerney, Lane Kewerdis, Al King, Becca Schall, Willy Appelman, Louis Kornfeld, Tom Ligon, and Blanche Ames. With sketches by Sarah Siskind, Colin Nissan, Becca Schall, Willie Appelman and David Zax. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Dan's college roommate won't stop talking. Even when he's asleep. Performed by Brian Miskell and Mark Gessner, with Lusia Strus and Hannah Chase. Written by Chris Kipiniak, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

A new short film has been made based on our story "That's Democracy", and to celebrate we produced this documentary about how the original story was made. Including interviews with Louis Kornfeld, Peter McNerney, and filmmakers Jon Bowden & Cliff Traiman. Plus archival tape from our story meetings, and outtakes from the recording session.

A mysterious man appears in the barn of an elderly Irish couple. This story was commissioned by RTE's Drama on One, and recorded in Kilfinane, County Limerick, Ireland. Performed by Sarah Reynolds, Joe Mullins, Maeve McGrath, Diarmuid McIntyre, and Louis Kornfeld. Written by Louis Kornfeld, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell, with the assistance of Diarmuid McIntyre and Grey Heron Media. Special thanks to Kevin Brew of RTE, and Noreen Quish.

Three men are stranded in a lifeboat. Adapted from a short story by Diane Cook, our adaptation is by Diana McCorry. Performed by David Pasquesi, Ed Herbstman, and Mark Gessner. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell. "Man V. Nature" is from the collection of the same name, copyright 2014 by Diane Cook, used by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.

Two stories: A blind man gets a Seeing Eye App, and a personal GPS gets really personal. With performances by Russell G. Jones, Ann Carr, Rachel Hamilton, and Kerry Kastin, and writing by Louis Kornfeld & Diana McCorry, and Jonathan Goldstein, Mira Burt-Wintonick & Cristal Duhaime.

Everyone thought you were missing, maybe even dead. And now you’re back.

Performed by Ed Herbstman, Ben Jones, Christian Paluck, Chet Siegel, Louis Kornfeld, Amy Warren, and Asher Herbstman. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Also on this episode, a segment about the making of the Radiotopia logo from the Song Exploder podcast.

Where's your costume? Dressing up is the best part of these things! Performed by Matt Antonucci and Angela DeManti, with Kerry Kastin, Alejandro Kolleeny, and Louis Kornfeld. Written by Louis Kornfeld and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Greetings, souls of the damned! This story is about a young woman who always looked up to her older sister, until they found themselves in Hell. Performed by Bianca Casusol, Kate Emswiler, Louis Kornfeld, Jake Hart, Blanche Ames, Jimmy O’Connell, and Kerry Kastin. With special musical guest Christian Colabelli. Written by Alejandro Kolleeny, with Louis Kornfeld and Jonathan Mitchell. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

No one knows what it is, or why we can't see it. All we know is that without it, the universe would fall apart. Performed by Kevin Corrigan, Chet Siegel, Ed Herbstman, Dennis Pacheco, Alexis Lambright, Rob Webber, and Anna Sale. Written by Diana McCorry, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Inspired by listener Christopher Tunnell.

Are you hearing voices? You're not alone. Performed by Christian Paluck, Carly Monardo, Tom Stephens, Louis Kornfeld, Jon Keller, Kerry Kastin, Nick Mykins, Aina Rapoza, and Ashley Wilson. With special musical guest Elizabeth Ziman (of Elizabeth and the Catapult). Written by Louis Kornfeld, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. (Originally released May 9, 2013)

You're having a stroke. Performed by Ann Carr, Louis Kornfeld, and Amy Warren. Written by Louis Kornfeld, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

It's the Age of Leisure, and keeping it that way is a full time job. Performed by Peter McNerney, Dave Hill, Louis Kornfeld, India Kotis, Rebecca Robles, Alex Marino, Phoebe Tyers, T.J. Mannix, and Rupert Degas. Written and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Commissioned by NPR's Planet Money.

The recording doesn't lie. Performed by Ed Herbstman and Tami Sagher, with Libby George and Christian Paluck. It was produced by Jonathan Mitchell, and written by Jonathan Mitchell, Ed Herbstman, and Melanie Hoopes. This story originally aired on This American Life.

A girl is lost and can't find her mom. Why won't anyone help her? Performed by Bee Herbstman, Melanie Hoopes, Ed Herbstman, Evan Sudarsky Abadi, Gregory C. Jones, and Blanche Ames. Written by Diana McCorry, Produced by  Jonathan Mitchell. http://thetruthpodcast.com

Hoping the dream date never ends... until it doesn’t. Performed by Adam Wade, Chrissie Gruebel, and Dan Fairall. Written by Alejandro Kolleeny, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. http://www.thetruthpodcast.com

A hoarder's daughter digs through the past. Performed by Amy Warren, Armando Diaz, Jackie Hoffman, Louis Kornfeld, and Noel Dinneen. Written by Louis Kornfeld, produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

An accidental love story. Performed by Chet Siegel and Peter McNerney, with Willy Appelman, Louis Kornfeld, Lauren Ashley Smith, Sebastian Conelli, Quinton Loder, Jon Bander, and Kim Ferguson. Written by Chet Siegel, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Who knows... maybe it's true. Written by Diane McCorry. Performed by Phoebe Tyers and Dennis Pacheco, with Nick Mykins, T.J. Mannix, and Chris Dwane. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

An elf gets a new job in the Naughty or Nice division of Santa's workshop. This story was commissioned by NPR's All Things Considered. It was written by Jonathan Mitchell and Seth Lind, and directed & produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Edgar Allen Poe's death has always been shrouded in mystery. In this episode, we imagine what may have happened. It was inspired by listener Matthew Mercier, who spent time as the caretaker of Poe's last home. Performed by Christian Paluck, Ed Herbstman, Chet Siegel, and Louis Kornfeld. Produced & directed by Jonathan Mitchell.

Based on Philip K. Dick's short story "Upon the Dull Earth," originally published in 1954. Performed by Andy Moskowitz, Rebecca Robles, Diana McCorry, Ben Jones, and Al King. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell.

A psychic love story. Performed by Alex Marino, Christina Dabney, Blanche Ames, and T.J. Mannix. Written by Louis Kornfeld, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

A teacher gives his students lesson about democracy that they'll never forget. Performed by Peter McNerney, Russ Armstrong, Alexis Lambright, Fiona Bradford, Teddy Shivers, Oscar Montoya, and Ben Jones. Written by Louis Kornfeld, produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

45 years ago this week, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon. To commemorate, we're sharing our pilot episode which asks the question: What if they crashed? This story is based on a real speech written for Richard Nixon in 1969 called "In Event of Moon Disaster." Performed by Matt Evans and Ed Herbstman, with John Ottavino as Richard Nixon. Our story was written and produced by Jonathan Mitchell, and edited by Hillary Frank.

A game of Dungeons and Dragons is thrown into chaos. Peformed by Elana Fishbein, Jon Bander, Justin Moran, and Matt Shafeek. Written by Alejandro Kolleeny, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

The Voyager spacecraft has landed: meet the aliens who found it. Performed by Chet Siegel and Peter McNerney. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Keep your knees in, chest up, stay low, elbows soft... let's go, let's GO! Performed by Chet Siegel, Emily Tarver, and Ed Herbstman. Written by Chet Siegel, produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

The sounds we make don't just fade away; they're embedded in the wood around us. Performed by Ed Herbstman, Kevin Cragg, Annemarie Cullen, Dennis Pacheco, and Rebecca Robles, with Melanie Hoopes, Bea Herbstman, Alex Marino, and Kerry Kastin. Music performed by Isabel Kim, Matt Evans, and Shawn Lovato. Written and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

If you've ever been alone on Valentine's Day, this story is for you. It's performed by Eliza Skinner, Birch Harms, and Curtis Gwinn, who improvised all of the dialogue. It was originally produced in 2009 for Weekend Amercia, Hillary Frank was the editor, and it was produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Keep listening past the credits to hear a special treat.

Live the death you've always wanted. Performed by Andy Moskowitz, Jackie Hoffman, Ben Jones, Damon Ketron, Phoebe Tyers, Shacottha Fields, Blanche Ames, and Rebecca Robles. Written by David Wilcox. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell.

Adam and Allie would do anything to have a baby. Performed by Tami Sagher, Ed Herbstman, Louis Kornfeld, and Kerry Kastin. Written by Ira Gamerman. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell. 

A trip to the museum takes a surreal turn. Performed by Isabel Frohnhofer, Tom Ligon, Elana Fishbein, Imran Chowdhury, Laura Parker, Philipp Goedicke, Dennis Pacheco, Blanche Ames, Ron Palais, Willy Appelman, Andrew Yurman-Glaser, and Phoebe Tyers. Written by Elana Fishbein, produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

A collection of horror stories that take place in the world of electoral politics. This one-hour special was produced in 2012 for broadcast on public radio, and made possible by the generous support of the Public Radio Exchange (prx.org) and SoundCloud.com, with editorial support provided by American Public Media. 

A father comes to the rescue when three teenagers take things too far. Performed by Christian Paluck, Dmitry Shein, Willy Appelman, and Elana Fishbein. Written by Louis Kornfeld, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Two shock jocks make a big morning mess. Performed by Jon Bander, Alessandro King, Bianca Casusol, Brian Frange, and Elana Fishbein. Written by Ira Gamerman. Produced & directed by Jonathan Mitchell.

Are you hearing voices? You're not alone. Performed by Christian Paluck, Carly Monardo, Tom Stephens, Louis Kornfeld, Jon Keller, Kerry Kastin, Nick Mykins, Aina Rapoza, and Ashley Wilson. With special musical guest Elizabeth Ziman. Written by Louis Kornfeld and developed collaboratively by The Truth, with dialogue improvised by the actors. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell.

A freak accident on a train platform leads to... romance? Performed by Chet Siegel and Peter McNerney, with Willy Appleman, Louis Kornfeld, Lauren Ashley Smith, Sebastien Conelli, Quinton Loder, Jon Bander, and Kim Ferguson. Written by Chet Siegel and developed collaboratively by The Truth, with dialogue improvised by the actors. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

A prodigal daughter returns. Performed by Ed Herbstman, Ben Jones, Christian Paluck, Chet Siegel, Louis Kornfeld, Amy Warren, and Asher Herbstman. The story was developed collaboratively by The Truth, with dialogue improvised by the actors. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

You're cordially invited to spend New Year's Eve with Walt Avery. To attend, simply play this podcast. Performed by Ben Jones and Tom Ligon, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. 

A couple goes in search of childhood memories. Performed by Ed Herbstman, Lauren Ashley Smith, and Louis Kornfeld. Story by Jonathan Mitchell with dialogue improvised by the actors. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell.

This is a re-edited version of a previously released story. A taxi driver is working on his anniversary, and gets more than he expected when he picks up a couple in Lower Manhattan. Featuring: Christian Paluck as The Driver, Chet Siegel as Mary, Louis Kornfeld as Frank, and Amy Warren as Morgan. With Ed Herbstman, Melanie Hoopes, Charlotte Rabbe, and Jamie Rivera. Written collaboratively by The Truth, with dialogue improvised by the actors. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell.

Two urban explorers enter an abandoned subway. What happens next is our secret. This is the complete version of a story that was previously only available in two parts.

What happens when a corporation becomes a person? In this satire by Tony Award-winning playwright Greg Kotis, we follow a company called Geneva Mutual that becomes a sentient being. Performed by Louis Kornfeld, Rachel Hamilton, Tom Ligon, Chet Siegel, Amy Warren, Ed Herbstman, Christian Paluck, and Rupert Degas. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

This story was inspired by a submission from listener Mathew Mercier, for our Halloween/Election crowd-sourcing experiment. It's based on his experience as caretaker of the Edgar Allan Poe estate, and imagines what Poe's last living hours may have been like. Performed by Christian Paluck, Ed Herbstman, Chet Siegel, and Louis Kornfeld. Produced & directed by Jonathan Mitchell.

A canvasser gets the donation she needs, but it will cost her... Performed by Chet Siegel and Tom Ligon, with Matt J. Weir, Quentin Loder, and Melanie Hoopes. From an outline by Chet Siegel. Produced & Directed by Jonathan Mitchell, with sound design help from Brendan Baker.

Produced at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio Beyond Radio conference, featuring performances by Amie McKenna, Michele Durman, Michael Whalley, and Martin Dingle Wall. Produced by Ed Herbstman and Jonathan Mitchell.

A teacher gives his students lesson about democracy that they'll never forget. Performed by Peter McNerney as Mr. Mohr, Russ Armstrong as Eric, and Alexis Lambright as Margaret, with  Fiona Bradford, Teddy Shivers, Oscar Montoya, and Ben Jones as the principal. From an outline by Louis Kornfeld. Produced & directed by Jonathan Mitchell.

Mike Coleman is an independent candidate running for Congress, and he's finally getting some attention... from a serial killer. Performed by Ed Herbstman, Chet Siegel, Rick Andrews, Nick Kanellis, Louis Kornfeld, Amy Warren, and Bryn Magnus. Written by Ed Herbstman, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

This is a short story written and produced by Hillary Frank, made by combining fictional narration with real interview tape. It was edited by Julie Snyder, and orginally aired on This American Life.

Written by Kurt Andersen, this story was originally heard on PRI's Studio 360. Narrated by Ed Herbstman, with John Ottavino as Nicholas, and Melanie Hoopes as Nancy. The story editor was David Krasnow. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell. The unabridged version was published in Stories: All New Tales, an anthology edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio.

A pair of urban explorers goes underground, in the first part of a continuing story. Starring Emily Tarver, Alex Marino, Louis Kornfeld, Ed Herbstman, Christian Paluck, and Amy Warren. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Two different approaches to making stories that combine improvisation with the recording studio. Total Transparency is a brand new piece, it was completely improvised and recorded in one take, and then edited. It was made up on the spot by Chet Siegel, Ed Herbstman, and Louis Kornfeld. Eye Contact was made using lots of different people telling the same story, that was edited into a fractured monologue. It originally aired in 2006 on Weekend America. 

The recording doesn't lie. Performed by Ed Herbstman & Tami Sagher, with Libby Geroge & Christian Paluck. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell, written by Jonathan Mitchell, Ed Herbstman, & Melanie Hoopes. Originally produced for This American Life. Production advisors: Peter Clowney & Kerrie Hillman. Special thanks: Ira Glass, Lisa Pollack, Jonathan Menjivar, and Chris Bannon. Recorded at WNYC, KCRW, Magnet Theater, and on location in New York City. 

Spin class gets personal. Performed by Chet Siegel, Emily Tarver, and Ed Herbstman. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell, written by Chet Siegel & The Truth.

Terry Bisson's classic short story "They're Made Out of Meat" originally appeared in Omni Magazine in 1991, and our audio version was produced for WNYC's Studio 360 in November 2011. We've re-mixed the story especially for this podcast, and it's followed by an interview with Bisson himself. The story was performed by Russ Armstrong & Miriam Tolan, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

A taxi driver is working on his anniversary, and gets more than he expected when he picks up a couple in Lower Manhattan. Featuring: Christian Paluck as The Driver, Chet Siegel as Mary, Louis Kornfeld as Frank, and Amy Warren as Morgan. With Ed Herbstman, Melanie Hoopes, Charlotte Rabbe, and Jamie Rivera. Written by The Truth, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Can coconut cake + random phone calls = love? Find out, when these two Valentine's Day traditions collide. 

Produced by Jonathan Mitchell

Edited by Hillary Frank

Performed by Eliza Skinner, Birch Harms, and Curtis Gwinn

Additional voices: Pat Etchill, Jennifer Geller, Hillary Frank, and Jonathan Mitchell

Music by Jonathan Mitchell

Episode #1: Moon Graffiti. In our pilot episode, we imagine what may have happened if the Apollo 11 mission ended in tragedy. Featuring performances by Matt Evans, Ed Herbsman, and John Ottavino. Inspired by a real contingency speech written in 1969 by William Safire for Richard Nixon titled “In Event of Moon Disaster."