Leah Benson is originally from the town of Conover in the northwoods of Wisconsin and now lives in Portland, Oregon, where she owns Gladys Bikes, an award-winning bike shop for women, and co-hosts the Snack Parade podcast.
by Leah Benson
A woman finds what she hopes is a love letter.
Kathi Kinear Hill grew up in Portland, OR, having been adopted as a baby into a white family in the early 60’s. Her dad was a professor at Lewis and Clark College, and her mom taught at Martin Luther King, Jr. School, where Kathi is an instructional assistant to a class of Kindergarteners. Kathi and her husband Dennis have two children and recently became grandparents.
In 60s Portland, Kathi is forbidden from entering a club pool because she is black
Caitlin Myer is a writer who used to live in San Francisco – she recently she got rid of all of her belongings, let go of her apartment and is now living the life of a nomad.
by Caitlin Myer
Caitlin gets caught sneaking out of the house to hang out with her boyfriend.
Ryan Knighton is the author of the internationally acclaimed memoir Cockeyed and C'mon Papa: Dispatches from a Dad in the Dark.
A blind man goes on an adventure to test his senses.
In her early years, Melissa Lucashenko worked as a barmaid, a delivery driver, and a karate instructor. She's written five novels, and she recently helped establish a Brisbane-based organization, called "Sisters Inside" which advocates for the rights of women in the criminal justice system.
A writer and her daughter move from Aboriginal land to an impoverished community.
A writer lands in Moscow on the eve of a revolution.
Magda Szubanski is the star of the television comedy Kath and Kim, has appeared in films such as Babe and Happy Feet, and is, as she says, "the fourth most popular person in Australia".
A famous Australian actor is horrified by a paparazzi shot of her on the beach in her "bathers."
Annalise Raziq is a Chicago-based performer, writer, activist, and grateful mother. Her creative endeavors have ranged from leading theatre workshops with incarcerated women, singing Americana music with her band Annalise and the Backsliders, and playing the back end of a dragon. Her most recent work includes production of her solo show with music I Know A Place about her relationship with her stepdad Bill, and currently developing a piece about her Palestinian father.
A child goes to great lengths to hide brussels sprouts from her stepfather.
Richard Matthew is a social scientist who works in the Congo and other war torn areas. Richard was introduced to us by The World Science Festival.
A social scientist commutes to war torn countries for work. This story was produced in collaboration with the World Science Festival.
Jenny Allen's essays have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times and The Huffington Post, as well as in anthologies including The 50 Funniest American Writers. She performs her solo show, I Got Sick Then I Got Better at venues around the country. To learn more about Jenny’s writing and performances, visit her website, JennyAllenWrites.com.
by Jenny Allen
A mother decides to monitor her teenager’s internet use.
Matthew Mercier is a writer and storyteller living in the wilds of upstate New York. He's written, performed and published stories all over the place, both true and big fat whoppers, including a highly fictionalized account of his time with Poe.