Lancaster Story Slam podcast

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam monthly podcast featuring three excellent stories from our March 22 online story slam. My name is Tony Crocamo, co-producer, with JJ Sheffer, of Lancaster Story Slam. We've got some exciting news—our April 26 story slam will be live and in-person at Zoetropolis Cinema, 112 North Water Street, Lancaster, PA. That's right, live storytelling in front of a live audience for the first time in two years. We are excited to experience the excitement of live storytelling and hope you will join us. Our April theme, appropriately, is Cautious Optimism. Tickets are available at Lancaster Story Slam dot com. And while you're online, why not book a reservation at the Zoetropolis Stillhouse Restaurant adjacent to the theater. Lancaster Story Slam is held every 4th Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Our friends at York Story Slam gather every 3rdTuesday of the month, their April 19 theme is: Courage. Lancaster Story Slam is made possible by the generous sponsorship of LancLiving a real estate and property management firm serving communities throughout Lancaster County and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. LancLiving proudly supports great story telling through Lancaster Story Slam. For first time listeners, here's a quick description of LSS--each month our storytellers present a 5-minute true story related to the theme of the evening. They don't use props, notes, or music—just the storyteller at the mic for a five-minute true story. Each month's winner gets a coveted LSS pint glass and earns a spot in our Nov. 29 grand slam. Our theme for March was Second Thoughts. We heard stories of regret stories of relief, stories that were thoughtful and humorous.  First up is our March Story Slam Winner Randall Arthur who earned a LSS pint glass and a spot in our Nov. 29 Grand Slam with his story of failing to connect with women in bars until that one night in Michigan that seemed to be the exception. Next, we have Rebecca Thatcher-Murcia who suggests that artistic misjudgment might be hereditary. Rebecca relates how her mom dismissed a major cultural icon of the 60's and 70's and how Rebecca, also had a blind spot for recognizing the talent of a popular musical star of our day. Our Next storyteller, Dave Smith describes the lengths, or heights, he would go to be a good father, and/or to not be outdone by his own son. So glad you could join us for these three samples from our March 2022 Lancaster Story Slam. Next month we'll post stories from our April 26 Story Slam at Zoetroplois Theater, our first live event in two years. The theme is cautious optimism.  To join us live, visit LancasterStorySlam.com And please remember when you, friends, family, or co-workers are ready to buy or sell real estate in the Lancaster area, contact your LancLiving agent, Alex King at alex@lancliving.com

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam monthly podcast featuring three excellent stories from our February 22 online story slam. My name is Tony Crocamo, co-producer, with JJ Sheffer, of Lancaster Story Slam. Since you enjoy storytelling, why not join Lancaster Story Slam live each 4th Tuesday of the month. Our theme for March 22 is: ‘Second Thoughts. We will again be online in March. We are working on resuming in-person story slams very soon. For the latest information on that and our current themes, visit LancasterStorySlam.com. And don't forget our friends at York Story Slam every 3rd Tuesday of the month, their March 15th theme is: Close Call. We are pleased to announce that LancLiving is a LSS sponsor for 2022, their fourth consecutive year! LancLiving is a real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. LancLiving proudly supports great story telling through Lancaster Story Slam. Each month our storytellers present a true story related to the theme of the month. They don't use props, notes, or music—just the storyteller at the mic for a five-minute story. Each month's winner earns a spot in our Nov. 29 Lancaster Story Slam grand slam. Our theme for February was Worst-case scenario. We heard stories that were humorous, frightening, sobering, and tragic. First up is Beth Profitt.   Beth, a first time storyteller, won our Feb. Slam with her story of preparation and heartbreak. As a child Beth's favorite novel began with a disaster and celebrated being prepared for any eventuality. Beth shares how she adopted being prepared very seriously all her life. And how she discovered no amount of preparation steel's you for life's Worst-Case Scenario   Randy Schulz It's often said that Love is blind, and it's true that some have found love on a blind date. Fearing a Worst-Case Scenario, Randy Schultz tells us why he delayed, for more than a year, going on a blind date with Gail. He couldn't know Gail would become the love of his life or that only his half of the date could be considered blind.   Melissa Anne Snavely in her Worst-case Scenario story self-professed goody-two shoes Melissa Snavely raises the philosophical question of whether one can do the right thing for the wrong reason. Her story involves a hockey game, penalty boxes, public transportation, a random act of vandalism and its consequences.   So glad you could join us for these three samples from our February 2022 Lancaster Story Slam. Next month we'll post stories from March 22 Lancaster Story Slam; the Theme is: ‘Second Thoughts. To join us live, visit LancasterStorySlam.com And please remember when you, friends, family, or co-workers are ready to buy or sell real estate in the Lancaster area, contact your LancLiving agent, Alex King at alex@lancliving.com

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! The theme for the 2021 Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam was ‘Picture Perfect.'  All of our monthly winners from the regular season returned to compete for the title of Best Storyteller in Lancaster. We heard stories about taking pictures, learning about a photo editor's vision for photos, and discovering some pictures from the past. In the end Jamie Beth Cohen was named our 2021 Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam winner with her story about one of her father's pictures. Congratulations to Jamie Beth!  The next story on this podcast comes from Mark Lentz and the picture perfect life his mom painted for him.   Our final storyteller from our 2021 Grand Slam is Steve McLean.  Steve earned bragging rights as our 2020 Best Storyteller in Lancaster and shared this story about a trip to Maine.  And that's it for our Grand Slam podcast. Stay tuned to our website for details about our 2022 season. There are a few changes on the horizon. Thank you for your continued support of live storytelling and thanks for listening.

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! In October the theme for Lancaster Story Slam was ‘Close Encounters.' We heard stories about close encounters while camping, while traveling and while naked. In the end we had three winners on the night!  Congratulations to Hunter Olstein, Beth Horenkamp and Eileen Joyce who all earned spots in our Grand Slam in December!  First up, let's hear a story from Hunter Olstein who told us about a close encounter he had while traveling.   Now let's hear Beth Horenkamp and her close encounters story.  Our final storyteller from October is Eileen Joyce who shared a funny story about a close encounter she had while traveling.  This was our last regular story slam of 2021. As you know we bring back all the monthly winners from January to October to compete for the title of Best Storyteller in Lancaster at our annual Grand Slam!  This year's Grand Slam theme is Picture Perfect. Stay tuned to our website for details about our December 7th Grand Slam.   Thanks for listening. 

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! In September we celebrated two themes for Lancaster Story Slam.  On this podcast you'll hear stories on the themes “Everything I Learned” and “Summer Camp," and we're going to treat you to four stories on this podcast. We had two winners this month!  Congratulations to both Jack Horenkamp and Mark Lentz. First up, let's hear a story from Jack who told us about an eventful summer camp trip he took with some friends.   Next up let's hear Mark's “Everything I Learned” story.  Both Mark and Jack won a prized pint glass and earned spots in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place on December 7. Congratulations! Our third story is from Alex King. Alex told us about a summer camp he visited with his son.  Our final storyteller from the September story slam is Tony Crocamo who shared some things he's learned after 50 years of marriage. And that's it for our September podcast. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live event! That's right our October Lancaster Story Slam will be IN PERSON at Zoetropolis on October 26th.  Sign up for our monthly newsletter, read our blog and follow us on social media for more details!  Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our theme for June's Lancaster Story Slam was “Without a Doubt!” The winner for June's Story Slam was Jamie Beth Cohen with her story of the difference a year can make. Jamie Beth's story won her the prized pint glass and earned her a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Jamie Beth! Next up is Mark Lentz with his story about realizing that rehab was without a doubt where he needed to be. Our final storyteller is David Iglesias. David Iglesias told the story of his travels throughout Europe. Our gratitude to LancLiving Realty for their sponsorship of our 2021 season! If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live Zoom events! Our July Story Slam is themed “Summer Camp” and will be held at 7 pm on July 27th. Visit our website for more details. Thanks for listening. 

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our theme for May's Lancaster Story Slam was “Home Run!” Our winner this month was Steve McLean with his story of his college music professor, Dr. Shirley Munger, and the lessons she taught him. Steve's story won him the prized pint glass and earned her a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Steve! Next up is Lauren Henry with her story about spending time with her father and their tradition of birthday baseball.  Our final storyteller is Randall Arthur. Randall told the story of a little league coach who failed to make sure he was understood, but certainly left an impression. Big thanks to LancLiving Realty, our 2021 sponsor! And that's it for our May “Home Run” podcast. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live Zoom events! Our June Story Slam is themed “Without a Doubt” and will be held at 7 pm on June 22nd.  Visit our website to learn more and register!  Thanks for listening! 

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our theme for April’s Lancaster Story Slam was “Lights Out!" Our winner for April was Swapna Deshpande with her story about the simple childhood pleasure of ice cubes. Next up is Mark Lentz with his story about the time his face had an impromptu meeting with a tree. Our final storyteller is Jonathan Lopes.  Jonathan told the story of his trip to Florida to see Wrestle Mania live for the first time. Our gratitude to LancLiving Realty for their generous sponsorship of our 2021 season. LancLiving is proud to support great storytelling through the Lancaster Story Slam for the third year in a row.  LancLiving, it's where you belong. And that’s it for our April “Lights Out” podcast. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live Zoom events! Our May Story Slam is themed “Home Run” and will be held at 7 pm on May 25th. Visit our website to register! Thanks for listening. 

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our theme for March’s Lancaster Story Slam was “Next Time.” Our winner for March was Steph Holmes with her story about her relationship with an elderly dementia patient.  Next up is Mark Lentz with his story about going fishing with his college wrestling coach. Our final story is from Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck.  Malinda shared her story of upping her running game during the pandemic. Our gratitude to LancLiving Realty.  LancLiving is proud to support great storytelling through the Lancaster Story Slam for the third year in a row. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live Zoom events! Our April Story Slam is themed “Lights Out” and will be held at 7 pm on April 27th.  Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our theme for February’s Story Slam was “Oil & Water.” Our winner was David Smith with his story about his college roommate, Chris, and his nighttime escapades.  David’s story won him the prized pint glass and earned him a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, David! Next up is Lauren Henry with her story of the changes that occurred for her in 1974.  Our final storyteller is Steve McLean. Steve shared a story about his venture into the tourism industry in Philadelphia.  Our gratitude to LancLiving Realty, our 2021 sponsor. LancLiving is proud to support great storytelling through the Lancaster Story Slam for the third year in a row.  If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live Zoom events! Our March Story Slam is themed “Next Time” and will be held at 7 pm on March 23rd.  Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  We kicked off our 7th season of Lancaster Story Slam with the theme “Overdue.”  Our winner for January’s Lancaster Story Slam was Doc Yoder with his story about his long-overdue acknowledgment of a beloved teacher. Doc’s story won him the prized pint glass and earned him a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Doc! Next up is Sitawa Wafula with her story of an overdue release of thoughts and the realization that everyone has their own journey to take. Our final storyteller is Sarah Steinhauer. Sarah shared her experience of being a teacher and why she decided to retire. Our February Story Slam is themed “Oil & Water” and will be held at 7pm on February 23rd.  Visit our website for registration details. Our thanks to LancLiving Realty, for making our 2021 season possible. Thanks for listening. 

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! November was the culminating event of our 6th season, the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam! Our theme for this year’s Grand Slam was “Silver Linings.” We heard ten stories from our previous months’ winners. Our winner for the 2020 Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam was Steve McLean. Steve shared how he has come to realize that silver linings are all about perspective.  Steve’s story earned him a trophy and the distinction of being Lancaster’s Best Storyteller of 2020!  Next up is Mark Lentz with his story about his dog, Bentley. Our final storyteller is Jamie Beth Cohen with her story of participating in a “pie-off.” Our gratitude to LancLiving Realty, our 2020 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client. LancLiving ... It's where you belong. And that’s it for the 2020 Story Slam Grand Slam episode of our podcast. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live virtual events! Watch the Lancaster Story Slam website for announcements of our 2021 Story Slam Season. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our October Story Slam theme was “Unmasked.” We heard seven stories from our wonderful storytellers. Our winner by audience vote for October’s Lancaster Story Slam was Doc Yoder with his story about performing as “Yodey the Clown.”  Doc’s story won him the prized pint glass and earned him the final spot in the 2020 Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place on November 24th. Congratulations, Doc! Next up is PK Hill with her story of being “unmasked” by a student who recognized her calming touch. Our final storyteller is Gina Melasecca who shared a story about a classified ad gone wrong. Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2020 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great storytelling through the Lancaster Story Slam for the second year in a row.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live virtual events! Our November Grand Slam story slam is themed “Silver Linings” and will be held at 7 pm on November 24th. Watch the Lancaster Story Slam Facebook page for event registration. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  Our September  Story Slam theme was “All Grown Up.” We heard seven stories from our wonderful storytellers! Our winner by audience vote was Mark Lentz with his tale about finally passing his organic chemistry classes.  Mark’s story won him the prized pint glass and earned him a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Mark! Next up is Alex King with his story of getting his butt kicked trying to herd reindeer in Russia. Our final storyteller is Tony Crocamo who shared a story about revisiting the music of his teenage years. And that’s it for our September “All Grown Up” podcast. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live virtual events! Our October Story Slam is themed “Unmasked” and will be held at 7 pm on October 27th. Watch the Lancaster Story Slam Facebook page for event registration. Our gratitude to LancLiving Realty, our 2020 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great storytelling through the Lancaster Story Slam for the second year in a row.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Thanks for listening. 

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  Our Story Slam theme in August was “Firsts.” We heard eight stories from our wonderful storytellers. Our winner by audience vote for was Randy Shultz with his tale of trouble with a sheepish grin. Randy’s story won him the prized pint glass and earned him a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Randy! Next up is Paul Armstrong with his story about the first time he realized that his way of seeing things wasn’t the only way to see things. Our final storyteller is Luanne Sims who in addition to being our emcee for the evening, shared about her first experience telling a story at a story slam. Our gratitude to LancLiving Realty, our 2020 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great storytelling through the Lancaster Story Slam for the second year in a row.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live virtual events! Our September Story Slam is themed “All Grown Up” and will be held at 7 pm on September 22nd. You can learn more details here.  Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  Our July Story Slam theme was “Gifts.” Our winner by audience vote for July was Jamie Beth Cohen with her story about knowing her father’s wishes at the end of his life.  Jamie Beth’s story won her the prized pint glass and earned her a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November.  Congratulations, Jamie Beth! Next up is Tony Crocamo. Tony shared his story about a perfect gift that turned out to be somewhat disappointing. Our final storyteller is Karen Foerstel who shared her story about the empathy and generosity her mother had for those in need. Our gratitude to LancLiving Realty, our 2020 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great storytelling through the Lancaster Story Slam for the second year in a row.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live virtual events! Our August Story Slam is themed “Firsts” and will be held at 7 pm on August 25th. Register here! Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! On our June 23rd Story Slam the theme was “Identity Crisis.” We heard seven stories from our wonderful storytellers. Our winner by audience vote for June’s Lancaster Story Slam was Paul Armstrong who shared his story of misjudging weeds and people.  Paul’s story won him the prized pint glass and earned him a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Paul! Next up is PK Hill who shares her story demonstrating that we are not the identity others assign to us. Our final storyteller on this month's podcast is Rebecca Thatcher Murcia who shared her story of coming to terms with her own biases. Our gratitude to our season sponsor LancLiving Realty. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great storytelling through the Lancaster Story Slam for the second year in a row!  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live virtual events! Our July Story Slam is themed “Gifts” and will be held at 7pm on July 28th. Register here! Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our May Story Slam theme was “Not What I Intended.” We were thrilled to have eight amazing storytellers join us for our third virtual story slam!  Our winner by audience vote for May’s Lancaster Story Slam was Tom Bottiger who shared his story of working for a television station and through a series of unfortunate events ended up accidentally violating broadcast standards.  Tom’s story won him the prized pint glass and earned him a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Tom! Next up is Randy Shultz with his touching tribute to his friend, Ron. Our final storyteller is Swapna Deshpande. Swapna shared her story of visiting her parents in India. Our June Story Slam is themed “Identity Crisis” and will be held at 7pm on June 23rd. Watch the Lancaster Story Slam Facebook page for event registration. Our thanks to LancLiving Realty, whose generous support is making this season possible.  Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  Our April Story Slam theme was “Ink.” We were thrilled to have eight amazing storytellers join us for our second virtual story slam!  Our winner by audience vote for April’s Lancaster Story Slam was Beth Horenkamp with her story about writing letters to her grandfather. Beth’s story won her the prized pint glass and earned her a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Beth! Next up is Gina Melasecca with her story about her special connection to New Orleans. Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2020 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great storytelling through the Lancaster Story Slam for the second year in a row. LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final storyteller is JJ Sheffer. JJ shared her story about getting a special tattoo commemorating her friendship with an ex-boyfriend. And that’s it for our April “Ink”  podcast. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live virtual events! Our May Story Slam is themed “Not What I Intended” and will be held at 7pm on May 26th. Watch our Facebook page for event registration. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  In March, our Story Slam theme was “Luck.” We were thrilled to have so many new audience members able to join us for the first time because we hosted Lancaster Story Slam as a virtual event!  Our winner by audience vote for March’s Lancaster Story Slam was Tony Crocamo with his story about preparing for his first communion.  Tony’s story won him the prized pint glass and earned him a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Tony! Next up is Melissa Snavely with her story about her trip to the hospital to give birth to her son. Our final storyteller is Steve Kernaghan. Steve shared his story about being a first-year teacher and breaking up a girl fight. Thank you to LancLiving Realty, our 2020 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client. And that’s it for our March “Luck” podcast. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our monthly events! Our April Story Slam is themed “Ink” and will be held at 7pm on April 28th. Registration is free. Please visit LancasterStorySlam.com for more details. Thanks for listening. 

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! In February, our  Story Slam theme was “#adulting.” We had many talented storytellers and some wonderful first-time storytellers come out for the evening to share their stories with us.  Our winner for February’s Lancaster Story Slam was Steve McLean with a story about the time he decided to let loose and live a little rather than being the responsible adult. Steve’s story won him the prized pint glass and earned him a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Steve! Next up is Sam Yolen with his story of becoming a rabbi and the first funeral he was asked to preside over. Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2020 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great storytelling through the Lancaster Story Slam for the second year in a row!  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final storyteller is Alison Kibler. Allison shared her story of learning to drive at age 16 on the I-495 beltway.  If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events! Our March Story Slam is themed “Luck” and will be held at 7pm on March 24th. Come out and join us at Zoetropolis. We sold out of seated tickets in February so it’s always a good idea to purchase tickets online in advance.  Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! We kicked off our 6th season of Lancaster Story Slam with the theme “Blank Canvas.” With the turning over of the new year and resolutions made, “Blank Canvas” seemed like a truly fitting theme for January. Our talented storytellers and some amazing first-time storytellers came out for the evening to share their stories with us. Our winner for January’s Story Slam was Swapna Deshpande with her story about the year she became a doctor and a mother at the same time. Her canvas quickly became filled with sleepless nights and feelings of guilt, but in the end, she discovered the truth - you can be a good mom and a doctor, too.   Next up is Sitawa Wafula with her story of going from a well-respected mental health advocate in Kenya to a student in Lancaster, PA. Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2020 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great storytelling through the Lancaster Story Slam for the second year in a row.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final storyteller is Steve McLean. Steve shared his story of how we may find ourselves with a new blank canvas, but continue to be sentimental about the canvas other’s have helped us to paint.   And that’s it for our January “Blank Canvas” podcast. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events! Our February Story Slam is themed “#adulting” and will be held at 7pm on February 25th. Come out and join us at Zoetropolis. We sold out of tickets in January so it’s always a good idea to purchase tickets online in advance.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and watch videos of all our stories on YouTube. We hope to see you on stage soon! Thanks for listening.

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  Our Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam theme for 2019 was “Changes.” Our talented storytellers shared some comical and profound tales about changes they’ve seen in their own lives or in the lives of others. Our winner for this year’s Grand Slam was Rita Clarke with a story of a profound and satisfying change she was able to make in another person.  Rita’s story won her the title of Best Storyteller in Lancaster along with several gift certificates to local establishments. Rita’s name will be etched on our Championship Trophy along with all past Grand Slam winners. Congratulations, Rita! Next up is Jeff Howe with his story about a friend named Sally and her bowling ball.  Our next storyteller is Swapna Deshpande. Swapna shared a story about an act of kindness by a complete stranger that changed her perspective and made her start to feel like she belongs here in the United States.  Our gratitude to LancLiving Realty who sponsored our 2019 season!  LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client. LancLiving is proud to support great story telling through the Lancaster Story Slam.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final story for this year’s Grand Slam podcast is from Pat Carmody. Listen as Pat revels in his freedom to change, or not.  And that’s it for our podcast for November’s Grand Slam. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events, so stay tuned for our 2020 Story Slam dates and themes announcement. The 2020 season will be held at Zoetropolis again. Hope to see you there! Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our Lancaster Story Slam theme for October was Scars. The stories were a mix of good laughs and vulnerable moments. We heard stories about both physical and emotional childhood traumas and stories of bizarre and sometimes comical injuries. Our winner this month was Jeff Howe who shared a story of his childhood friend nicknamed “Fat Frankie” and how some scars have the possibility of being healed. Congratulations Jeff!  Jeff won our prized pint glass and a spot in our Grand Slam.  We’ll have more details about Grand Slam later in the podcast. Next up is Randy Bucksner who told us a story about shares about the scars having  an abusive alcoholic father can leave. Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2019 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client. LancLiving is proud to support great story telling through the Lancaster Story Slam.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final story for this month’s podcast is from David Smith. David shares the story of how his love of pretzels earned him a five inch scar on his right foot.  David Smith will be emcee for our Grand Slam, which will be held on Tuesday, November 26th at 7pm at The Ware Center.  The theme for our Grand Slam will be Changes and our monthly winners from January through October will return to compete for the title of ‘Best Storyteller in Lancaster 2019.’ Tickets are on sale now but are going fast.  Check out the Lancaster Story Slam website and click on Tickets for more details.  Please follow us on Facebook, Twitter , Instagram and YouTube for more details leading up to Grand Slam.  Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our Lancaster Story Slam theme for September was "Teach Your Children.” Our talented storytellers shared some amazing lessons that they’d been taught and some lessons that they’d managed to impart to others.  Our winner this month was Rita Clarke with a story about the time her mother stood up for her when a teacher accused her of cheating. Rita’s story won her the prized pint glass and a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place on November 26th at The Ware Center. Congratulations, Rita! Next up is Caitlin Downs with her story about teaching a group of young men about primary research and cat calling. Since we had so many wonderful first time storytellers this month, we decided to include four in this month’s podcast. Our next story is from George Hahalis. Listen as George shares his story about a special trip he and his daughter took to New York City together. Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2019 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great story telling through the Lancaster Story Slam.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong.  Our final story for this month’s podcast is from Valerie Smith. Listen in as Valerie explains why she should be doing hard time in the slammer.  And that’s it for our podcast for September’s Story Slam. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events! Our October Story Slam is themed “Scars” and will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, October 22nd. Come out and join us at Zoetropolis. The house has been packed this season, so it’s a good idea to purchase tickets online in advance. Tickets are available at our website. Hope to see you onstage soon!  Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  Our Lancaster Story Slam theme for August was “Warning Signs.” Our talented storytellers made us pause and reflect on warning signs we’ve experienced. Our winner this month was Meghan Turk with her experience of seeing and ignoring the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship and what it finally took for her to seek help.  Meghan’s story won her the prized pint glass and a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Megan! Next up is Marcus Grimm with his tale of potential criminal activity and a large Koi named “The Meg.”  Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2019 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client. LancLiving is proud to support great story telling through the Lancaster Story Slam. LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final story for this month’s podcast is from Jeff Stoltzfus. Listen in as Jeff shares his story of one seriously sticky warning sign. And that’s it for our podcast for August’s Story Slam. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events! Our September Story Slam is themed “Teach Your Children” and will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, September 24th. Come out and join us at Zoetropolis. The house has been packed this season, so it’s a good idea to purchase tickets online in advance. Don’t forget, if you want to come early for dinner or drinks, the restaurant will be open. Hope to see you there!  Thanks for listening. 

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our Lancaster Story Slam theme for July was “Curiosity.” Our talented storytellers made us laugh and related to the situations and places their curiosity had gotten them into.  Our winner this month was Terri Shadle with her story of "loon-acy" - where on a quiet and peaceful lake in the adirondacks, Terri discovered it’s a bad idea to piss a loon off.  Terri’s story won her the prized pint glass and a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Terri! Next up is Mandy Mastros with her thought provoking story of her curiosity and obsession with nature versus nurture. Listen as she questions what shapes us into who we eventually become.  Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2019 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great story telling through the Lancaster Story Slam.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final story for this month’s podcast is from Eric Athey. Listen in as Eric shares a tale of the Martic Forge Hotel and the odd site he came across at 3 AM. And that’s it for our podcast for July’s Story Slam. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events! Our August Story Slam is themed “Warning Signs” and will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, August 27th. Come out and join us at Zoetropolis. The house has been packed this season, so it’s a good idea to purchase tickets online in advance. Tickets are available at our website. Don’t forget, if you want to come early for dinner or drinks, the restaurant will be open. We hope to see you on stage soon! Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our theme for June was “Wake Up Call.” Our wide awake and talented storytellers once again were able to dazzle us with stories ranging from funny to profound. Our winner this month was Pat Carmody with his alarm-clock-set-to-radio story of how a song by Warren Zevon made getting the kids up in the morning a bit more bearable.  Pat’s story won him the prized pint glass and a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Pat! Next up is Lissa Olson with a comical story of the wake up call her body gave her following a waterslide adventure.  Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2019 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great story telling through the Lancaster Story Slam.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final story for this month’s podcast is from a first-timer to our stage. Listen in as Sarah Svetec shares the story of her new found love of camping - minus the sleeping. And that’s it for our podcast for June’s Story Slam. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events! Our July Story Slam is themed “Curiosity” and will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, July 23rd. Come out and join us at Zoetropolis. The house has been packed this season, so it’s a good idea to purchase tickets online in advance. Tickets are available at our website. Don’t forget, if you want to come early for dinner or drinks, the restaurant will be open. Hope to see you there! Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast, sponsored by LancLiving Realty!  Our Lancaster Story Slam theme for May was “Fast Forward” and our talented storytellers definitely went full speed ahead to some surprising endings! Our winner this month was Gina Melasecca with her story about growing up in Louisiana, a time she wished she could fast forward through; however, looking back she now sees that this formative period in her life led her to become the person she is today. Gina’s story won her the prized pint glass and spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Gina! Next up is Meghan Turk with a comical story from her medical residency in the south. Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2019 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great story telling through the Lancaster Story Slam.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final story for this month’s podcast is from one of our regular storytellers, Randy Schulz. In honor of the upcoming Father’s Day, Randy recounted a valuable lesson his father once taught him which he has now proudly passed on to his own children. And that’s it for our podcast for May’s Story Slam. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events! Our June Story Slam is themed “Wake Up Call” and will be held at 7pm on June 25th . Come out and join us at Zoetropolis. The house has been packed this season, so it’s a good idea to purchase tickets online in advance. Tickets are available at our website.  Thanks for listening.

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! In April our Lancaster Story Slam theme was “WTF?” and boy did we hear some incredible stories from our talented storytellers! Our winner this month was Karen Foerstel with her story about growing up in the 70s and a wild dinner party her parents hosted with Dr. John Money. Karen’s story won her the prized pint glass and spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Karen! Next up is Hong Van Tran Speros with an outrageous tale of rushing to help an elderly woman involved in a car accident and the truly WTF surprise she found waiting for her. Our next story comes from Danielle Del Isola with her story of how a midlife crisis and several astonishing WTF moments have led her to look at life with a new sense of perspective. Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2019 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great story telling through the Lancaster Story Slam.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final story for this month’s podcast is from comedian, Joey Tepedino. Joey’s WTF story comes from his days as a pizza delivery guy and one peculiar customer. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events! Our May Story Slam is themed “Fast Foward” and will be held at 7pm on May 28th . Come out and join us at Zoetropolis. The house has been packed this season, so it’s a good idea to purchase tickets online in advance. Tickets are available at our website. Don’t forget, if you want to come early for dinner, the restaurant will be open! Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! In March our theme was “Courage” and boy were we blown away by what our storytellers had to share with us! Our winner this month was Tony Crocamo with his story about enlisting in the army during the height of the Vietnam War. As always, Tony’s great at throwing unexpected twists into his stories. Tony’s story not only won him the prized pint glass and spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November, but he also was the first storyteller this season to earn perfect scores from the judges! Congratulations, Tony! Next up is Mandy Mastros, who told us the stories of Daryl, Larry, and Lucy. Mandy’s story demonstrates that sometimes the most courageous act is being willing to share your vulnerability with others. Next up is Georgine Wood. Georgine’s story was one that took courage to tell. For Georgine it was a personal victory - the kind you might not expect given that she’s telling this story in front of a live audience. Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2019 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great story telling through the Lancaster Story Slam.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final story this month is from Gina Melasecca who told her story of overcoming a life-long phobia... of the “c-word.” And that’s it for our podcast this month. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events! Our April Story Slam is themed “WTF” and will be held at 7pm on April 23rd. Come out and join us at Zoetropolis. The house has been packed this season, so it’s a good idea to purchase tickets online in advance. Tickets are available at our website. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! In February our theme was “Pet Peeve.” Our winner this month was Beth Horenkamp with a story that illustrated her pet peeve with her husband’s overly cautious nature.  Beth’s story won her the prized pint glass and earned her a spot in the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam which will take place in November. Congratulations, Beth! Next up is Linda Peacock, who told us about her pet peeve with keys and purses.   Now a word from LancLiving Realty, our 2019 sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great story telling through the Lancaster Story Slam. LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final story is from Eric Athey who recounted his brush with fame in a guitar lesson with “The Boss” himself.  That’s it for our podcast this month. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events! Our March Story Slam is themed “Courage” and will be held at 7pm on March 26th.. Come out and join us at Zoetropolis. We sold out the past two months so it would be a good idea to purchase tickets online in advance. Tickets are available at our website. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  In January we opened our 5th season of Lancaster Story Slam with the theme “Fine Line.” As the final story teller of the evening and a first time storyteller, Swapna Deshpande, won with her story of losing her passport while traveling. She kept the audience wondering whether or not karma would come to her rescue.  Next up is Ilhan Kucukaydin, another first time story teller, whose tale of evolving tradition and  adjusting to a new culture had our audience roaring with laughter.  LancLiving Realty is our 2019 podcast sponsor. LancLiving Realty is a local real estate and property management firm based in downtown Lancaster, serving communities throughout Lancaster County, and focused on providing clients with ethical and knowledgeable service. Whether you are buying or selling, LancLiving agents focus on getting the best deal for you, the client.  LancLiving is proud to support great story telling through the Lancaster Story Slam.  LancLiving ... It's where you belong. Our final story is from Randy Shultz whose tale is a hilarious confession about crossing the line between being a good Samaritan and a chicken thief.  If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events! Our February Story Slam is themed “Pet Peeve” and will be held at 7pm on February 26th. Come out and join us at Zoetropolis. We sold out this month so it would be a good idea to purchase tickets online in advance. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  In November, we hosted our 2018 Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam and our theme was “Bad Idea!”  As you know, our Grand Slam features our monthly winners from throughout the season who return to compete for the title of Best Storyteller in Lancaster.   This year, Chris McDougall won the grand slam about how investigating a sound in the alley turned out to be a bad idea. If you enjoy our podcast, you will probably also enjoy our live events!  A few changes are on the horizon for our fair Story Slam for 2019, so listen up.  Our typical venue, Tellus360 will be undergoing some renovations in the room where we host story slam, so we’ve found an alternate venue in Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse for our first few months of 2019.  Please join us at Zoetropolis located at 112 N. Water St, Lancaster. There they currently have a full bar and food, and will be opening a restaurant! As you know, Story Slam is held the 4th Tuesday of each month and in 2019 we will move the event to a 7pm start time!  So, 4th Tuesday of the month, 7pm at Zoetropolis. Now, back to our Grand Slam feature stories! Michael Evans returned to our stage after initially winning our January “New Beginnings” Slam.  Here is Michael’s story about how building the community within a church is a real challenge. Our next story comes from Marcus Grimm. Marcus told us about his first internship, writing ad copy at a local radio station. Remember the theme was Bad Idea. Remember that we’ll launch our 5th season starting on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 7pm at Zoetropolis.  Tickets for our events are available on our website, and while you’re there, you can sign up for our monthly newsletter. This year You can also follow us on Twitter, on Facebook, and watch videos of all the stories from our events on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our theme for October was SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET. Cynthia Angst won our October Story Slam with her tale of literally finding a skeleton in her kitchen cupboards.  Cynthia earned our final slot in the 2018 Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam, which will take place on Tuesday, November 27th at Tellus360. Tickets for this event go on sale now!  Our next story comes from Sue Cavaliere. Sue tells about learning some of her family’s dark secrets and determines to bring them into the light.  Our final story is from Beth Horenkamp. Her take on the theme was quite different.    If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our theme for September was Homecoming. Mandy Mastros won our Story Slam with her story of growing up in Lancaster under rough circumstances, only to return to the city with a renewed spirit. Our next story comes from Terri Shadle. Terri tells about her attempt to overcome shyness while traveling. Our final story is from a first time storyteller. Meghan O’Reilly told us about the challenges that faced her and her siblings when their mother became ill.  We have one more story slam before the grand slam. Join us on Tuesday, October 23rd for Skeletons in the Closet! We start telling stories at 8pm at Tellus360. Come on out. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  Our theme for July was “BEACH BUM!” The night was filled with stories of beaches wide and far. Cliff Lewis won our Beach Bum Story Slam with his story of being shipped to his grandparents house in Florida. Cliff won the title of Best Storyteller in Lancaster back in 2015, and he’ll be returning to the  Grand Slam stage on November 27th. Save the date! Our next story is from first time storyteller Wendy Baker Davis. Even though it was her first time at the mic, Wendy wasn’t afraid to bare all on stage. Here’s Wendy! Our final story is from frequent storyteller David Smith. Dave drove out to the Story Slam from his home near Philly after a long day of work, and we’re glad he did. Here is Dave’s story about a vacation from hell. Our next Story Slam will be held on September 25th and the theme is HOMECOMING! Join us at Tellus360 - we start telling stories at 8pm but most people come early for dinner and drinks. This could be the month you tell your story! Grab your tickets at our website. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our theme for July was “Fast Lane!” The night was filled with stories of quick exits, high school pranks, and cross country trips.  We’re swerving into the Fast Lane now with our winning story featuring Chris McDougall. Chris is best known for his best-selling trail running book Born To Run, but this story is about his days as a rower in high school.  Next up, we were thrilled to see Cliff Lewis return to the mic. Cliff won the title of best storyteller in Lancaster back in 2015, and he returned with this amazing story about an all-American holiday.  Our final story is from Eileen Joyce, a very funny storyteller from York. This was an audience favorite.  Our next Story Slam will be held on August 28th and the theme is BEACH BUM! Join us at Tellus360 - we start telling stories at 8pm but most people come early for dinner and drinks. This could be the month you tell your story! Grab your tickets at LancasterStorySlam.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month.  

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  Our theme for June was Father Knows Best! We heard many fond remembrances of fathers and a few stories of dads telling stories about what they have learned from their kids.  Remember - there’s nothing better than watching these stories being told live, so we hope you’ll come out to Tellus 360 on the fourth Tuesday sometime this year. You can see all our dates and themes at our website. Let’s start with the winning story from David Smith, about the moment he learned about true fatherhood. David has earned a spot in the 2018 Grand Slam, which will take place in November. Congratulations! Next up is Robin Williams Harnish, who tells about the life lessons she learned from her father. Our final storyteller is a first-timer - Sarah Steinhauer. This was an audience favorite - funny, insightful, and endearing.  Our July Story Slam is themed Fast Lane and will be held on JULY 24TH. We want to hear stories about living in the fast lane - whether that means driving too fast, or living fast and hard, or that time you were given too many promotions too quickly. We know you have a story! You can learn about all our dates and themes, as well as watch videos and order your tickets at LancasterStorySlam.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month. Thanks for listening.

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Hi I’m Carla Wilson! Our theme for May was Do Over, and first time storyteller Kevin Reinmiller took home the prized pint glass. His story is a bit out there, but he had had the audience laughing and cringing - it was quite a site to watch. Here’s Kevin: Next up is another first time storyteller - Marcy Rahner. We could hear a pin drop when she was telling this amazing Christmas story. Here’s Marcy. Last up, our friend Marcus Grimm tells a story about his first job. Here’s Marcus!   Our June Story Slam is themed FATHER KNOWS BEST and will be held on JUNE 26TH. You can learn about all our dates and themes, as well as watch videos and order your tickets at LancasterStorySlam. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month.  

Our theme for April was Best. Day. Ever. With a theme like that, you might be surprised to hear the beginning of the winning story. Bret Daniels left us all breathless with his personal story of finding forgiveness.  (A warning that the subject matter is sensitive, so this story may not be appropriate for little ears).   We want to thank Bret for sharing his story of courage. Everyone in the audience was really moved by his story. Thanks again Bret.   Now for something completely different. Beth Horenkamp has been telling stories in Lancaster for the past two years. Here she tells us about how a small family moment resonates on a larger scale. A reminder - the theme was Best. Day Ever.   Our final story is from Randy Schulz, and this is his third time telling a story on our stage. Here’s Randy.   Our May Story Slam is themed DO OVER and will be held on May 22nd. You can learn about all our dates and themes, as well as watch videos and order your tickets at our website. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month. Thanks for listening!  

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  Our theme for March was Forgiven, and for some  reason, many of our stories centered around our love of dogs. We’ll hear a dog story later, but first…..Tony Crocamo won our "Forgiven" Story Slam with his tale of throwing snowballs at cars as a kid. Tony won the prized pint glass and has earned a slot in the 2018 Grand Slam, which takes place in November Marcus Grimm has already earned a slot in our Grand Slam, but here he is telling a story about his family’s relationships with dogs over the years.  Our final storyteller is Matthew Kabik. Matt told us the story of a day about his day of atonement.  Matt is the editor in chief of Third Point Press, an online journal featuring prose, poetry and images that’s published right here in Lancaster, PA.  Our April Story Slam is themed Best Day Ever and will be held on April 24th. We also have a workshop in April. Our 2018 dates and themes are all posted on our website. Check out all the details at our website. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Even though our February Story Slam was two weeks after Valentine’s Day, we decided to try the theme of “First Crush” and wow! Did we get crushed! We heard some hilarious and some heartbreaking stories about first loves - all the stories were excellent - the judging was really close - and we ended up with a tie! Christian Carrion and Marcus Grimm both walked away with prized pint glasses and both were invited back to our November Grand Slam! Christian Carrion was a first time storyteller. It’s so exciting when a first-timer gets up on stage and crushes it! Congratulations Chris! If you think you want to tell a story on stage, but want some guidance, check out our Storytelling Workshop! In this one night session we’ll cover basic story structure, creative language, and more. It’s a great way to build your confidence before taking to the mic. We only do this workshop once a year, and this year the date is April 18th.  Our co-winner for the First Crush Story Slam was Marcus Grimm. Marcus discussed his first television crush and how she kept resurfacing in his life.   Our final storyteller is our dear friend Kevin Beerman. Friends of Kevin know this remarkable and heartwarming story, so it was great to hear him tell this onstage. Here’s Kevin.   We loved this story. Although Kevin is a first-time storyteller, his wife Donna Talarico has told stories often at Lancaster Story Slam. Together, they organize Hippocamp - a Creative Nonfiction Writers Conference, which has brought in some of today’s greatest authors. Hippocamp 2018 will take place the weekend of August 24th. Google hippocamp 2018 to learn more! If you have been a podcast listener, but haven’t made it to one of our live events, you should make plans to come out to Tellus360 in 2018! Our 2018 dates and themes are all posted on our website.  If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  We kicked off our fourth season of Lancaster Story Slam with the theme of New Beginnings! Our schedule of 2018 Story Slams is available on the website - you can check out upcoming live events, workshops, and watch videos of past stories at our website. First-time storyteller Michael Evans won the January “New Beginnings” Story Slam with this heartfelt story. You just heard Michael’s story, but he wasn’t the only one to get personal. Brian Gish took the theme of New Beginnings and talked about an intense time of his life. We’re going to lighten it up a little with our final story. Tony Crocamo was the winner of our 2017 Grand Slam and he returned in January with this funny story about the trials and tribulations of moving to Lancaster.   If you have been a podcast listener, but haven’t made it to one of our live events, you should make plans to come out to Tellus360 in 2018! Our 2018 dates and themes are all posted on our website. Check out all the details at LancasterStorySlam.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month.  Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  We wrapped up our third season of Lancaster Story Slam on November 28th with our 2017 Grand Slam! Thanks to everyone who came out - it was a packed house! Our theme for the night was “Promises!” For those who don’t know, the Grand Slam features the winning storytellers from throughout the season, and our winner was Tony Crocamo! Tony won the title “Best Storyteller in Lancaster” and took home the trophy with his remembrance of going to a school dance. Next up, Linda Silberman. In the past year, Linda has told a few stories about her relationship with her mother, and this story really encapsulates that bond. Our final story is about a memorable travel day. Beth Horenkamp recalls attending an amazing event while traveling through Europe. If you have been a podcast listener, but haven’t made it to one of our live events, you should make plans to come out to Tellus360 in 2018! Our 2018 dates and themes should be posted by mid-December. Check out all the details at LancasterStorySlam.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  Our October Story Slam was themed “Nightmares,” and we heard tales about having nightmares, living through nightmares, and giving nightmares! Cynthia Angst won the night and earned a slot in the 2017 GRAND SLAM with her nightmare come to life.   This next story was an audience favorite. Randy Schulz talks about a memorable experience with his son that could have turned into a nightmare. We have one more story for you. This was truly a living nightmare, but Jill Milton can laugh about it now. Let’s hear her story.  If you have been a podcast listener, but haven’t made it to one of our live events, the 2017 GRAND SLAM is the event for you! The GRAND SLAM will take place on November 28th at 8pm at Tellus 360 in downtown Lancaster. Tickets for the GRAND SLAM have sold out in years past, and they are on sale now - until they are sold out. We hope to see you there. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month.  Please remember to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you can watch videos of all the storytellers.  Thanks for listening.

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast!  Our September Story Slam was themed “Old School,” and we heard tales about being in school, as well as stories about doing things “old school!” Let’s hear the winning story by Brian William Gish!  Our next story was an audience favorite! Mike Lombardo tells about trying to score points with his wife - and how it was an upward battle. Our next storyteller is also a first timer, Kirk Hummel. Kirk wowed us with his imagery in this story - it’s funny and a little disturbing!   Here are few dates to jot down in your calendar. Our next Story Slam is our last regular story slam of the season! Come on out on October 24th and the theme is Nightmares! Tell us your favorite story about having nightmares while sleeping or living a nightmare in your life - maybe it was a terrible job or a rough relationship. Our events are held at Tellus360 and we start telling stories at 8pm. Also - you don’t want to miss the 2017 GRAND SLAM, which will take place on November 28th. Tickets for the GRAND SLAM have sold out in years past, so make a note to order your tickets on Wednesday, October 25th so you get your seat! If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month.  You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and watch videos of all our storytellers on YouTube! Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our August Story Slam was themed “Hot Mess” and the night ended in a tie! Two stories about being caught in dangerous heat won the night.  Let’s start with the co-winning story from Jim Pollak.  If you love storytelling because you are a writer, check out HippoCamp 2017! HippoCamp is a three day conference for creative non-fiction writers, and this year features keynote speakers Tobias Wolff and Dinty W. Moore. The conference includes special breakout sessions on writing, publishing and even storytelling. It’s all happening right in downtown Lancaster this September 8-10, 2017. The co-winner of the night was no stranger to our stage. Aaron Lewis won a Lancaster Story Slam last year and has emceed both here and in York.    Both Aaron and Jim Pollak will be competing in our 2017 Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam this November. Our final story has a different type of Hot Mess. Jim Hamrick told this story of a very awkward moment shopping with his family. Our next Story Slam will be Tuesday, September 26th and the theme is Old School. Tell us your favorite story of being a student in school, teaching at school, or how you tackled an issue “old school.” Our events are held at Tellus360 and we start telling stories at 8pm. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month. Thanks for listening!    

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast.  Our July Story Slam was themed, “That One Time,” and we had so many people sign up to tell stories!  Our July winner was Linda Silberman. Linda won with her story of “coming to” and finding herself in a very precarious situation. Here is Linda! Linda had an excellent July. In addition to winning Lancaster Story Slam, she also won Harrisburg Story Slam, which debuted earlier in the month. Congratulations Linda! Our next story was the first story told at our “That One Time” Story Slam, and it kind of set the tone for the night. Mitch Jureckson had us all cracking up with his story of a college prank that got a bit out of hand. Here’s Mitch!   Our final storyteller is Liz Yocom. Liz has told a few stories about her dating life, and this is one of her funniest. Here’s Liz. Our next Story Slam is themed “Hot Mess,” and will be held on Tuesday, August 22nd at Tellus360 in downtown Lancaster, PA. You can order your tickets and watch videos of stories at our website. And don’t forget to check out other local Story Slams - York Story Slam, West Chester Story Slam, and Harrisburg Story Slam! Well, that’s our podcast for this month! If you are a fan of the Lancaster Story Slam podcast - please let your friends know, or write a review on iTunes.

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our June Story Slam was themed “Awkward Pause!” We had so much fun listening to stories about those awkward moments in people’s lives. It was fascinating to hear people’s takes on this theme and we’ve chosen three of our favorite stories from the night. First up, Tony Crocamo won the Story Slam with his awkward love story. If you love storytelling because you are a writer, check out HippoCamp 2017! HippoCamp is a three day conference for creative non-fiction writers, and this year features keynote speakers Tobias Wolff and Dinty W. Moore. The conference includes special breakout sessions on writing, publishing and even storytelling. It’s all happening right in downtown Lancaster this September eighth through tenth.  Our next story is from first-time storyteller Marc Anthony. Marc cracked us up by telling this story of how his celebrity crush led to some very awkward moments. Sometimes awkward moments can bubble up into rage. That’s what happened to Meg Martin in this Awkward Moments story. A word of warning - Meg’s story contains foul language so turn the dial down if kids are listening.  Meg’s story was a crowd favorite and her mannerisms on stage made the story even better. You can watch Meg’s story and all our stories on the Lancaster Story Slam YouTube page. Our next Story Slam will be Tuesday, July 25th and the theme is “That One Time!” This is really an open theme - tell us that epic story you always share with family and friends! Our events are held at Tellus360 and we start telling stories at 8pm. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month. Thanks for listening!  

Welcome to the Lancaster Story Slam podcast! Our May Story Slam was themed Don’t Tell Mom! Our winner on the night was first-time storyteller Brian Layng, who shared his story about how much his mother worries about him. Our next storyteller was also a first-timer - Jim Pollak! Jim explained how his relationship with his mother has changed over the years. Our final storyteller has told several stories about her relationship with her mother, so we were excited to hear what story she would tell us on this night! Here's Linda Silberman. Our next Story Slam will be Tuesday, June 27th and the theme is ... Awkward Pause! We want to hear stories about those embarrassing moments where the room fell quiet, or where you expressed some other type of extreme awkwardness. You can read more about the theme at LancasterStorySlam.com. Our events are held at Tellus360 and we start telling stories at 8pm. If you enjoyed the podcast, we’d love it if you would leave a rating and review on iTunes, or let your friends know they can listen to Lancaster folks telling true tales each month. Thanks for listening!