STORIES TELLING STORIES

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STORIES TELLING STORIES is a pop-culture podcast that finds unfinished stories in existing media (mainly movies and TV) and fills in the details to make them complete.

STORIES TELLING STORIES


    • Oct 31, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 22m AVG DURATION
    • 105 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from STORIES TELLING STORIES

    "GUTS" the most SHOCKING story ever told, by Chuck Palahniuk | STS SHOCKtober Episode 5

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 23:10


    Title:SHOCKtober Finale: Guts by Chuck Palahniuk | Dramatic ReadingDescription:Welcome to the chilling finale of SHOCKtober! Brace yourself as we delve into Guts by Chuck Palahniuk, a visceral short story that pushes the boundaries of horror and tension. This dramatic reading captures the raw emotion and shock of Palahniuk's dark and unforgettable tale, guaranteed to leave you breathless. Known for its intense narrative, Guts has shocked audiences worldwide and remains one of the most unforgettable pieces in horror literature.Join us for a gripping finale that will make your skin crawl. Perfect for fans of horror fiction, dark storytelling, and unforgettable short stories, this reading of Guts will keep you on edge. Make sure to subscribe to STORIES TELLING STORIES for more terrifying content, and don't forget to check out all of our SHOCKtober episodes, featuring dramatic readings of horror's most haunting tales.Keywords:Chuck Palahniuk, Guts short story, dramatic reading, SHOCKtober series, horror literature, visceral horror, thriller stories, dark storytelling, classic horror, horror short stories, STORIES TELLING STORIES, disturbing stories, intense horror, gripping narration, SHOCKtober 2024, horror series finale, horror fiction.

    "Nona" by Stephen King | SHOCKtober 2024 Episode 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 80:18


    Stephen King's "Nona" | Dramatic Reading | SHOCKtober 2024 Episode 4 | STORIES TELLING STORIESWelcome to episode 4 of SHOCKtober 2024 on STORIES TELLING STORIES! This Halloween, dive into the haunting world of Stephen King's short story Nona, a twisted tale of obsession, love, and terror. In this dramatic reading, we follow a drifter whose chance meeting with a mysterious woman, Nona, drags him down a dark path filled with violence and madness. Will he discover the truth behind her power, or be destroyed by her influence?This immersive storytelling experience brings King's dark vision to life with soundscapes, dramatic pacing, and atmospheric effects to heighten the tension. Whether you're a die-hard Stephen King fan or simply love horror fiction, prepare to be captivated by Nona's chilling descent into the unknown.

    "I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream" Harlan Ellison's Nightmare | SHOCKtober 2024 Episode 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2024 40:05


    "And of Clay Are We Created" by Isabel Allende | SHOCKtober 2024 Episode 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 26:48


    In 1985, a volcano erupted in Columbia. The heat from the volcano melted sheets of ice, resulting in mudslides. More than 23,000 people were killed. The media focused much attention on a 13-year-old girl trapped in the mud. The girl is called Azucena, and her rescuer is named Rolf Carle.  "AND OF CLAY ARE WE CREATED" by Isabel Allende Translated by Margaret Sayer Peden Narration Performed by Eric R. Hill

    "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson | SHOCKtober 2024 Episode 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 21:10


    Every October the studios at STS Media take a turn towards the macabre and grotesque with our annual SPOOKtober series.  For 2024, we're taking it a step further… pulling back the curtain on five of the most shocking, controversial, and horrifying pieces of literature ever put to paper - each story more shocking than the last.  Do you have what it takes to make it to the end? Narration by Eric R. Hill

    "That Feeling You Can Only Say What It Is In French" by Stephen King | STS Media Episode 100

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 39:16


    “That Feeling You Can Only Say What It Is In French” By Stephen King Audioplay Adapted by Eric R. Hill “That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French” is a horror short story by Stephen King. It was published in The New Yorker magazine on June 22, 1998 and was later included in King's short story collection Everything's Eventual... The story is about a married woman who is on a trip to Florida with her husband to celebrate their 25th anniversary, but no matter how many times she feels deja vu in the car, she keeps waking up in the plane and experiencing the same events over and over again… Stephen King suggests that Hell is not "other people" but rather repetition, enduring the same pain over and over again without end. *** STARRING CAROL SHELTON Diane Jennings BILL SHELTON, PILOT, NARRATOR Eric R. Hill *** ABOUT THE CAST DIANE JENNINGS is an Irish Girl who often travels to the USA and offers a unique perspective comparing how everyday things are in Europe vs America & Canada. The channel appeals to those interested in a bit of craic & connecting with their Irish heritage in a fun upbeat way. Diane posts 2-3 times EVERY week. Usually on Mondays,Wednesdays & Fridays & is always available to interact during the First Hour of upload, so turn those notifications on. For bonus content check out Diane's Patreon where you will also get early release music reactions https://www.patreon.com/dianejennings You can also become a member to view these personal videos and unlock custom emojis and badges https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCep4XCEgpz2TZJkbk-rf5Pw/join Diane Jennings Patreon patreon.com/DianeJennings Diane Jennings Channel Membership youtube.com/channel/UCep4XCEgpz2TZJkbk-rf5Pw/join Diane Jennings Tik Tok tiktok.com/@dianodrama Diane Jennings Instagram instagram.com/dianodrama Diane Jennings Merch diane-jennings-shop.fourthwall.com/en-eur ERIC R HILL is an actor, director, playwright, composer, and lyricist from Vermont, USA. He holds degrees in Musical Theater Playwriting, and in Acting & Directing. He is also the Technical Director and Playwright-in-Residence for FSMAC-QuarryWorks Theater, a non-profit arts organization in Central Vermont. Eric is the founder and Creative Director of SEEING REDD Productions and STS Media, and the frontman of the alt-rock band “MUD SEASON.” When he is not busy creating, he is either driving to or from work or trying to find a fleeting moment to sleep. You can catch him on Twitch Tuesdays/Fridays at twitch.tv/ericthereddvt *** You can support STORIES TELLING STORIES on Patreon or by joining YouTube Memberships for as little as $1 a month. You can unlock episodes at least 24hrs in advance as well as gain access to BTS content, musings from the production desk, and more. SOCIALS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoriesTellingStories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiestellingstories/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/StoriesTellingStories

    "ZOMBIES" by Chuck Palahniuk | STS Media

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2024 21:27


    "Zombies" (Nov 2013 of Playboy) - High schoolers begin electrocuting themselves by applying a cardiac defibrillator's electrodes to their temples and turning it on, which results in permanent brain damage. Dubbing it "The Great Leap Backwards" more and more people begin electrocuting themselves in order to willfully return to a state of childlike ignorance. At the airport, the narrator, Trevor, applies the electrodes to his head and is about to turn it on, but his Uncle stops him.NARRATION by Eric R. HillPRODUCTION by STS Media | Seeing ReDD Productions

    "All That You Love Will Be Carried Away" by Stephen King | STS Media

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 37:18


    Alfie Zimmer, a traveling salesman peddling gourmet frozen foods, pulls into a Motel 6 in Nebraska for the night and contemplates ending it all... "All That You Love Will Be Carried Away" is a short story by Stephen King. It was originally published in the January 29, 2001 issue of The New Yorker magazine. In 2002, it was included in King's collection Everything's Eventual.  Narration by Eric R. Hill SOCIALS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoriesTellingStories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiestellingstories/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/StoriesTellingStories

    "Ambition: A Story by The Duke of Vandals" by Chuck Palahniuk | STS Presents

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 17:42


    HAUNTED is a novel made up of twenty-three horrifying, hilarious, and stomach-churning stories. They're told by people who have answered an ad for a writer's retreat and unwittingly joined a "Survivor" -like scenario where the host withholds heat, power, and food. As the storytellers grow more desperate, their tales become more extreme, and they ruthlessly plot to make themselves the hero of the reality show that will surely be made from their plight. This is one of the most disturbing and outrageous books you'll ever read, one that could only come from the mind of Chuck Palahniuk.Narration by Eric R. Hill

    "Luckey Quarter" by Stephen King | Happy New Year 2024 by STS Media

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2024 31:11


    A "Luckey Quarter" for 2024.  Our best wishes for a wonderful and prosperous New Year, kicked off by a short story by Stephen King that we hope shares a little luck with our listenersSTORY:  "Luckey Quarter"AUTHOR:  Stephen KingREADER:  Eric R. Hill

    "What Christmas Is As We Grow Older" by Charles Dickens | A BLAND HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2023 16:12


    DJ BLAND returns to wish us all well this holiday season and bring us an olde timey story from the OG king of the christmas story... Charles Dickens. "What Christmas Is as We Grow Older" was first published way back in 1851. SOCIALS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoriesTellingStories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiestellingstories/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/StoriesTellingStories

    STS-603: "A Journey Through A Memoir Blue"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2023 16:52


    Journey and A Memoir Blue are candidates for video games as an art form for their unique approach to the silent narrative.  Much like our earlier installment highlighting GRIS, a visual story can be just as compelling as one reliant on narration and text.  A Memoir Blue shows us an interactive poem, written without words, that taps into the wonder of childhood and the challenges of being a parent.  And Journey is the same parable of the hero's journey we've been retelling since the dawn of time - drenched in desert imagery and biblical allusions that implore us to continue moving forward when all hope is lost and we feel our most alone.Narrated by Eric R. Hill

    SPOOKTOBER 2023 "Everything's Eventual: Part 2" by Stephen King

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 70:06


    This is the second half of “Everything's Eventual” and the season finale of our “Hell to the King” series for STS SPOOKTOBER 2023.  Narration byEric R. HillSTS SPOOKTOBER  2023 was produced in collaboration with Stories Telling Stories and STS Media Group… writing you a personal letter at Mitlhouse Studios in Milton, Vermont… Casting around the globe to your frontal lobe wherever podcasts are found… SPOOKTOBER is also streaming on YouTube @ StoriesTellingStories.  Make sure to give us a review wherever you stream our show, we really appreciate it!  You can show your support for free by following us on Facebook and Instagram, help us get to 500 subscribers by subscribing on our YouTube Channel, and if you so choose, going a step further and supporting us on Patreon for $1 a month or more!And until next year... Stay spooky!

    SPOOKTOBER 2023 "Everything's Eventual: Part 1" by Stephen King

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 58:48


    This is the first half of “Everything's Eventual” episode 4 of our 5 part “Hell to the King” series for STS SPOOKTOBER 2023.  Be sure to tune in episode 5 to hear the second half of the story! STS SPOOKTOBER is produced in collaboration with Stories Telling Stories and STS Media Group… writing you a personal letter at Mitlhouse Studios in Milton, Vermont… Casting around the globe to your frontal lobe wherever podcasts are found… SPOOKTOBER is also streaming on YouTube @ StoriesTellingStories.  Make sure to give us a review wherever you stream our show, we really appreciate it!  You can show your support for free by following us on Facebook and Instagram, help us get to 500 subscribers by subscribing on our YouTube Channel, and if you so choose, going a step further and supporting us on Patreon for $1 a month or more!And until next time... Stay spooky!

    SPOOKTOBER 2023 "The Boogeyman" by Stephen King

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2023 37:48


    SPOOKTOBER 2023 “Hell to the King” is our tribute to one of the most prolific, iconic, and important contemporary authors of horror, and a true living legend… Stephen King. We will be highlighting 5 lesser-known short stories this year so make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. Performed by Eric R. Hill***SOCIALS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoriesTellingStories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiestellingstories/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/StoriesTellingStories

    SPOOKTOBER 2023 "Graveyard Shift" by Stephen King

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2023 46:04


    Episode 2 of SPOOKTOBER 2023 is "Graveyard Shift"“Hell to the King” is our SPOOKTOBER tribute to one of the most prolific, iconic, and important contemporary authors of horror, and a true living legend… Stephen King.  We will be highlighting 5 lesser-known short stories this month, so make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. STS SPOOKTOBER was produced in collaboration with Stories Telling Stories and STS Media Group… eating you alive at Mitlhouse Studios in Milton, Vermont… Casting around the globe to your frontal lobe wherever podcasts are found… SPOOKTOBER is also streaming on YouTube @ StoriesTellingStories.  Make sure to give us a review wherever you stream our show, we really appreciate it!  You can show your support for free by following us on Facebook and Instagram, subscribing on our YouTube Channel, and if you so choose, going a step further and supporting us on Patreon for $1 a month or more!

    SPOOKTOBER 2023 "The Man Who Loved Flowers" by Stephen King

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 16:22


    Welcome to SPOOKTOBER 2023… “Hell to the King” - our tribute to one of the most prolific, iconic, and important contemporary authors of horror in America today, and a true living legend… Stephen King.  Episode 1 is "The Man Who Loved Flowers."Narration by Eric R. Hill

    STS-602 "Letters to Katie" from GONE HOME

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2023 22:07


    The New York Times called “Gone Home” the greatest video game love story ever told.  It's beautiful in its desolation… It's haunting in its endless hallways, and the seemingly simple story doesn't exaggerate and it doesn't pander.  It wholly represents itself in a time and place that as time goes on fewer and fewer of us will be able or willing to remember.  The awkward teenage years.  When love hurts and life is a bitch and the whole world has abandoned you.  The verisimilitude of solitude. Analysis written and read by Eric R. Hill"Letters to Katie" read by Cassandra Cibra

    STS-601: "GRIS: A Story Without Words"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2023 14:33


    SEASON SIX PREMIERE "GRIS: A Story Without Words."  "GRIS" stands as a remarkable piece of interactive art that showcases the power of visual storytelling through emotional depth and crossing multiple artistic and philosophical ideals to create a one of a kind experience for those curious enough to explore a world without words.  The first in our season-long series arguing the merits of video games as an independent art form.Written and Readby Eric R. Hill

    "A Strange Tale" by Allen Morse | LIAV ep.31

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2022 9:04


    Even the tallest of tales are rooted in some sort of truth... Originally told by Allen Morse from the small town of Calais, Vermont, "A Strange Tale" speaks of a first-hand account of a handful of residents freezing their elderly and infirm in order to save resources enough to survive the brutal winters - only to turn around in the spring and return their frozen kin to perfect health in time to plant the spring corn.My family and the Morses have history going back to the founding of the village of Calais, and I've heard talk of this as an old secret of the mountains before I ever discovered the published account.  Did the founding families of Calais possess the secrets of human hiberation, or is this just another of Allen Morse's tall tales?  You be the judge...LOCKED IN A VACANCY ep31

    SPOOKTOBER 2022 ep5: "The Vampyre" by John William Polidori

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2022 50:01


    ... There was no colour upon her cheek, not even upon her lip; yet there was a stillness about her face that seemed almost as attaching as the life that once dwelt there:—upon her neck and breast was blood, and upon her throat were the marks of teeth having opened the vein:—to this the men pointed, crying, simultaneously struck with horror, "A Vampyre! a Vampyre!" "The Vampyre" by John William PolidoriFirst published in 1819Recited by Eric R. Hill

    SPOOKTOBER 2022 ep4: "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2022 36:22


    Episode 4, Young Goodman Brown, comes to us from 1835 and continues our trek backwards in time to find some of the earliest forms of short story horror in the modern age. Nathaniel Hawthorn weaves a tale rich in religious imagery, doublethink, and madness set within the time of the Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts. It is a fantastic example of the Puritanical mindset and how even amongst likeminded folk they were often riled in philosophical struggles against good and evil. Hawthorne hypothesizes - based on his own personal guilt that his father was a judge during the Witch Trials - that evil is inherent in all people and that the truly pious are those few and far between with the courage to stand against their community and hold firm to their beliefs. And with the Young Goodman Brown, the Devil is everywhere and is much more familiar than you or I give him credit for.

    SPOOKTOBER 2022 ep3: "A Story of a Weir-Wolf" by Catharine Crowe

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2022 47:02


    "A Story of a Weir-Wolf" which was first published in 1845 is arguably the first published werewolf story written by a woman; author Catharine Crowe.  But this is by no means your typical werewolf story... as the suspense and fear come not from the visceral and supernatural power of a creature that exists between animal and man, but from the callousness, cruelty, and jealousy of our own emotions and the power that this negativity can have to galvanize the masses and turn a level-headed community into a witch hunt... all because of the jealous lie of a single individual. Read by Eric R. Hill

    SPOOKTOBER 2022 ep2: "The Yellow Wall-Paper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2022 39:52


    "The Yellow Wall-Paper" is a short story by American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman, first published in January 1892 in The New England Magazine.  It is regarded as an important early work of American feminist literature for its illustration of the attitudes towards mental and physical health of women in the 19th century.Read by Eric R. Hill

    SPOOKTOBER 2022 ep1: "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2022 27:50


    IT'S SPOOKTOBER SEASON AGAIN!  This year we examine five masters of horror from the very early days... For episode 1, we examine a story that has been spoofed, retold, and explored across every conceivable medium and still remains as chilling today as it was upon its release over one hundred years ago... this is... THE MONKEY'S PAW by W.W. JacobsAs read by Eric R. Hill

    A WRITER WRITES ep2: "Eulogy for an American Father"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 22:42


    Written and read by Eric R. HillAll photo and video footage from my personal or family collection

    "In the Spring" by Guy de Maupassant | LIAV ep.30

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2022 16:29


    LOCKED IN A VACANCY ep.30:  "In the Spring" by Guy de MaupassantAnother surprisingly fresh and relevant story from the godfather of the short story, Guy de Maupassant.  The sign of a true work is how relatable it remains after its auther is gone.  And considering it's been over a century, I think it's safe to say that Guy's work may outlive us all.  Voice Acting by Eric R. HillLOCKED IN A VACANCY is produced in collaboration with Stories Telling Stories and STS Media Group… Socially Isolating itself at Mitlhouse Studios in Milton, Vermont… Casting around the globe to your frontal lobe wherever podcasts are found… LOCKED IN A VACANCY is also streaming on YouTube @ StoriesTellingStories.  Make sure to give us a review wherever you stream our show, we really appreciate it!  Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram, give us a subscribe on YouTube, and consider supporting us on Patreon for exclusive rewards starting at $1 a month or more!And until next time... Stay sane, stay safe, and stay Whimsical!

    SAX in the 90's Part One: "SAX Education"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 10:52


    Welcome to the 90's.  No one is having Sax anymore… Grunge rock is the radio darling, and the horn sections that dominated popular music for decades is no more… Or is it…?Join us for a new series narrated by the legendary Sir Charles Brattleboro as we examine what caused the decline of  the saxophone in popular music... from the definition of "sex" to the butt of the horn section.

    STS-502: "No Irish Need Apply" | Paddy's Day 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2022 11:00


    Written and Read by Eric R Hill SOCIALS Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/StoriesTellingStories/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/storiestellingstories/ Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/StoriesTellingStories

    LIAV ep29 "The War of the Mind" from "The War That Will End War" by H.G. Wells

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2022 17:28


    The final chapter of H.G. Wells 1914 novel "The War That Will End Wars" entitled "The War of the Mind." We at STS stand with the people in Ukraine and condemn the invasion by Russian President Putin, and would like to use this episode to remind people of the stark comparisons that can already be made between this conflict and WWI - "the war to end all wars."  Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it... Read by Eric R Hill

    Stories Telling VALENTINES Stories 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2022 15:14


    FEATURINGEric R Hill & Rickshaw Tom SOCIALS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoriesTellingStories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiestellingstories/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/StoriesTellingStories

    STS-501: "40 Yards of Naugahyde, a Girl, and a Dream" (Throw Mama from the Train)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 25:41


    EPISODE STS-501 “Forty Yards of Naugahyde, a Girl, and a Dream”By Phil PerlmanFrom Throw Momma from the Train Written and Performed by Eric R. Hill This has been the premiere episode of Season 5 of STORIES TELLING STORIES, we're glad you're here.  The STS network delivers high quality pop culture content from around the globe to your frontal lobe - directly into your brain-head.  The STS network of shows is available on the STORIES TELLING STORIES YouTube channel and in traditional audio format on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever podcasts are found.  STS is 100% independent with no ads or corporate sponsors cluttering up the content thanks to the generosity of our supporters.  And you can help keep it that way with a donation on PayPal or by joining the STORIES TELLING STORIES Patreon for $1 or more. If you like what you hear, please leave a review and share this episode with your family and friends so we can continue to grow the series through Season 5 and beyond.And until next time… stay whimsical.

    STS-404: "Stop the Planet of the Apes, I Want to Get Off!" (The Simpsons)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2022 10:22


    I'm Troy McClure. You might remember me from such Musical Comedies as “The Giving Tree Strikes Back” and “Tru-Man Group - Capote Explodey!” I'm coming to you from “beyond the grave” to ask you, the fine members of the academy, to consider me for “Best Actor in a Musical” for my career-defining role as “The Human” in “Stop the Planet of the Apes, I Want to Get Off!” Please enjoy the following highlight reel, and I hope I pass the audition! SOCIALS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoriesTellingStories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiestellingstories/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/StoriesTellingStoriesAdditional Content Written by Eric R HillVoice Talent:  Eric R Hill, Thomas M Hunt

    STS-402: "Rosalina's Storybook" from Super Mario Galaxy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2021 22:10


    Within the bright and colorful universe of SUPER MARIO GALAXY exists quite possibly the saddest story Nintendo has ever told... the story of a young Rosalina and Luma and their adventure across the cosmos trying to find Luma's Mama. But what they discover along the way is even more heartbreaking than you can possibly imagine... PLEASE CLICK THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON TO SUPPORT THE SERIES AND HELP KEEP STORIES TELLING STORIES ALIVE!!  Consider supporting us on Patreon for $1 a month or more, and consider following us on social media at the links below!  SOCIALS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoriesTellingStories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiestellingstories/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/StoriesTellingStories

    SPOOKTOBER 2021 ep5: "The October Game" by Ray Bradbury

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 26:02


    Here we stand at the precipice of another SPOOKTOBER season… Samhain is upon us and All Saints Day looms large with the first of November.  But Samhain… the basis for American Halloween… where did it come from?  A long time ago, before there were computers, TV's, cars, or electricity . . . a time when people went from one place to another by walking, or by riding a horse. A time when families gathered near the fire to stay warm as the weather turned cold. A time when children would listen to stories... stories that answered their curious questions. Long before people were called Christians or Pagans, a fair-skinned, dark haired clan called Celts lived on a beautiful green island. On this island, at the end of each summer harvest they would have a celebration called the Festival of Samhain. Samhain marks the end of the year, when skies darken early and the weather turns cold. They knew that some among them would not survive the winter. They would gather and build a giant bonfire; share the harvest with neighbors and talk with friends. They would wear costumes and try to tell each other's fortunes. They danced and sang, playing all sorts of games. At the end of the celebration, they carried embers from the bonfire in a turnip to light their fireplaces at home, to help protect them during the winter.Until… The Romans conquered the Celtic lands. The Romans combined two of their own festivals with the Celtic celebration of Samhain. One was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans honored the dead. The other honored Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The apple is the symbol of Pomona… bobbing for apples, anyone?Many years later, Christianity spread to Celtic lands. The Pope replaced the Celtic festival with a religious holiday. November 1 became All-hallowmas, or All Saints' Day. The night before, which was the night of Samhain, became All-hallows Eve, and eventually Halloween. The celebration remained similar to Samhain. They still had bonfires, costumes, parties and parades.When Europeans came to America, they brought their Halloween traditions with them. As all the traditions of the different ethnic groups meshed, an American amalgamation appeared. Dressing up in costumes, going from house to house, and asking for food or money are customs from Ireland and England. Telling fortunes the night before Halloween by opening cabbages - and occasionally leaving them on the doorsteps came from a Scottish tradition that adopted a negative connotation as an excuse for petty crime and vandalism, dubbed “Cabbage Night” in Vermont and New Hampshire… but far less severe as the Devil's Night arsons that would rage across Detroit in the mid 20th century...These customs became America's “trick-or-treat” tradition. When the Irish came to America, they found pumpkins to be more plentiful than the turnips they used for Jack-O-Lanterns. So a hollowed-out pumpkin became the American Jack-O-Lantern.  Traditions continue to morph as time passes.  In another few generations, what constitutes American Halloween may not be recognizable to those of us alive today… just as our current traditions are mere tributes to the celebrations of the past…  But not all October traditions are Games to be toyed with… This is… THE OCTOBER GAME by Ray Bradbury, closing out SPOOKTOBER 2021 on Stories Telling Stories...

    SPOOKTOBER 2021 ep4: "The Quiet Sky" by Ryan Brennaman

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2021 16:48


    People look to the stars and wonder if we are indeed alone in this universe… And the bold dare to dream as they stare out over that endless starry sea... What's beyond that sea I wonder?  Children leave their homes in search of this quest.  As they search, they are always asking questions.  What's out there? What's waiting for me?  Leaving their innocence behind, they set out on this journey and experience many life changing adventures. Countless difficulties lie in wait. Moments of despair... The lure of the razor's edge...  There's always hope, joy, meeting new friends.  They face challenges, but in the process they come to find themselves.  This is a journey.  When they have conquered a new land, yet another sea is reflected in their eyes.  What's beyond that sea?  When children become adults, they begin their own quest. Life is an endless journey. But a journey that does, ultimately, end...STORY BY RYAN BRENNAMANNARRATION BY ERIC R. HILL

    SPOOKTOBER 2021 ep3: "The Man in the Black Suit" by Stephen King

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 62:00


    One of the most recognized tales in American folklore has Mississippi roots. The story has many names, including “The Delta Legend,” “The Deal with the Devil,” and “The Deal at the Crossroads,” among others. Yet each tells a similar story that centers on a midnight meeting between a frustrated guitarist and Satan himselfScholars disagree over the origins of the Crossroads myth. Some maintain that the story originated in Africa, with Satan representing an African trickster deity such as the Dahomean Legba or Yoruba Eshu. This interpretation places the tale in a broader cultural context and elevates the musician to spiritual status. Other folklorists argue that the tale possesses many Western elements and reflects slavery's impact on African American life. Regardless of its precise origins, the myth has become most associated with early twentieth-century bluesman Robert Johnson.But take the bluesman and the Mississippi Delta out of the story, and you're left with a familiar and repeating myth that has echoed throughout modern human history… drawing its closest western parallel to the German myth about Faust… who is a highly successful man yet is dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroads, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. The Faust legend has been the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical works that have recycled and reinterpreted the basic story through the ages. "Faust" and the adjective "Faustian" imply sacrificing spiritual values for power, knowledge, or material gain.  But if you take another step back, you can see that all these Faustian myths share similar structure with the Theophilus legend, recorded in the 13th century, in which a saintly figure makes a bargain with the keeper of the infernal world, but is rescued from paying his debt to society through the mercy of the Blessed Virgin… which itself can be traced back to Saint Theophilus the Penitent or Theophilus of Adana, who was a cleric in the sixth century Church and is said to have made a deal with the Devil to gain an ecclesiastical position.   His story is significant as it is one of the oldest popular stories of a pact with the devil and was an inspiration for the Thelphilus legend, which inspired Faust legend… which in turn may have inspired the crossroads myth of the Mississippi Delta and cemented the legacy of one Robert Johnson.Except… this explanation of western religion says nothing about the similarities existing for centuries within the previously mentioned myths stemming from African folklore... Could it be that 6th Century historians simply appropriated this piece of African cultural heritage?  It wouldn't be the first time… or perhaps we're digging too deep and the answer is something simpler… something more… sinister… the Devil is in the details… and perhaps we've been witness to the same story, the same Satan, playing the same con on unwitting men throughout all of recorded history… This is… The Man in the Black Suit… by Stephen King...INTRODUCTION AND NARRATION BY: Eric R Hill

    THE TRANQUILITY NETWORK presents "Spooktober 2021 episode 2"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 9:17


    Hello friends… this is THE TRANQUILITY NETWORK… a product of Confectionary Industries Association… I am your neurological spirit guide on this trip through your DIGESTIVE SYSTEM... you didn't think this was a FOOD RELATED HUMOR did you?  That's funny…STS SPOOKTOBER is brought to you by THE TRANQUILITY NETWORK, which is produced in collaboration with Stories Telling Stories and STS Media Group… Killing you softly at Mitlhouse Studios in Milton, Vermont… Casting around the globe to your frontal lobe wherever podcasts are found… SPOOKTOBER is also streaming on YouTube @ StoriesTellingStories.  Make sure to give us a review wherever you stream our show, we really appreciate it!  Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram, give us a subscribe on YouTube, and consider supporting us on Patreon for exclusive rewards starting at $1 a month or more!

    SPOOKTOBER 2021 ep1: "Prey" by Richard Matheson

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 33:25


    There's something about the sublimely simple and otherwise benign that can become especially terrifying when things go “bump” in the night… evil personified inside an ordinary object… like the haunted doll… a tawdry trope of tales that no longer thrill?  Or perhaps a fear we would rather not address as those dull eyes watch us from across the room… unblinking… unchanging… waiting for the right moment to come alive and start the hunt…  This is “PREY” by Richard Matheson… on STS SPOOKTOBER.Narration and Dramatic Reading by ERIC R. HILL

    LOCKED IN A VACANCY ep 28 | Dear Esther Lv III "The Caves" & Lv IV "The Beacon"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2021 23:16


    The epic conclusion of our 3-part series covering the narrative of the groundbreaking walking simulator game DEAR ESTHER, which ties together the surprisingly short third level "THE CAVES" with the heart-wrenching ending of the fourth and final level, "THE BEACON."Voice Acting by Eric R. Hill

    LOCKED IN A VACANCY ep 27 | Dear Esther ch 2: "The Buoy"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2021 20:27


    I will carry a torch for you... Level 2 of the 3-part series covering the story of pioneering "walking simulator" DEAR ESTHER by The Chinese Room... diving deep into the depths of human sadness, loss, grief, and mourning on our path towards transcendence... Support the series on Patreon (below) and help make more episodes like this possible SOCIALS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoriesTellingStories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiestellingstories/Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/StoriesTellingStories

    LOCKED IN A VACANCY ep 26 | Dear Esther ch 1: "The Lighthouse"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2021 16:37


    The first chapter of the groundbreaking walking simulator by THE CHINESE ROOM, "Dear Esther" tells a haunting tale of solitude, isolation, and a descent into madness on a lonely Scottish island...

    The Tranquility Network ep2 "Where Did You Learn to Fly?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2021 8:08


    We at CONSOLIDATED INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION are against our listeners asking questions.  Questions are not necessary, because there is nothing you need to know that we won't tell you.  You are safe.  You are happy.  But we have to ask... where did you learn to fly?THE TRANQUILITY NETWORK and STORIES TELLING STORIES are wholly-owned subsidiaries of C.I.A - - Consolidated Industries Association… to better bring our vision of a better world, the only world, our world, directly to our listeners… *****SOCIALS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoriesTellingStories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiestellingstories/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/StoriesTellingStories

    The Tranquility Network ep1 "Don't Forget to Breathe..."

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 9:53


    We at Consolidated Industries would just like to remind you that this is all you are… everything contained within this one reality… We are not to speak of what may lie beyond, because there is nothing… no worries… no troubles… just a singular dimension, keeping us safe… you are safe here… we love you… Don’t forget to breathe…

    LOCKED IN A VACANCY ep25: "One Year of Lockdown" an unscripted look back

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2021 10:50


    STS as a whole is a scripted, narrative podcast. I rarely stray off the rails for any given piece of content, preferring instead to draft a script and make it sound as natural as I can. This segment here, for context, is scripted. I am reading it to you now. But only as a formality. Between here and the ending spiel, this is going to be totally unscripted. I’m going to shoot from the hip. Speak from the heart. Let the consciousness stream. And it’s probably going to suck… for me… who has to do a heck of a lot more editing to make up for it…

    LOCKED IN A VACANCY ep24: "Billy Duffy & The Devil" Paddy's Day 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2021 11:28


    It's Paddy's Day 2021 so on the day where everyone is a little bit Irish, we share a more modern take on the classic Irish folktale, to celebrate the launch of Season 2 of LOCKED IN A VACANCY. This is "Billy Duffy & The Devil" by P.H. EMERSON.

    A WRITER WRITES | ep1: C. Lee Baker - An Introduction & Memoriam

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2021 33:29


    This is not how this new series was supposed to begin. But I couldn’t think of any other way to present it. A WRITER WRITES is the result of conversations I had with my biggest fan and most ardent supporter around the time of her 58th birthday. She was my proofreader and my sounding board, helping me to process and streamline thoughts that often came out as an avalanche of ideas. She was a writer in her own right, penning poems, novels, short stories, songs, and scripts that made it to the eyes of very few outside a select circle of family and friends. But most importantly, aside from being a muse and a constant source of encouragement, she was also my mother, and we lost her to cancer on January 23, 2021...

    STS-401: "Hot Fire" by Professor Donner (Throw Momma from the Train)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2021 8:29


    As is tradition, STS kicks off its latest season (Season 4) with an episode pulled from Danny DeVito's black comedy "Throw Momma From The Train." This is "Hot Fire" by Professor Larry Donner.

    STS-307: A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote | Holiday in Hospice 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 37:04


    My mother has been moved to hospice care to spend her remaining days. I've been spending as much time with her as I can. I decided to read her stories and share it over livestream. This is "A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote.

    STS 25K SPECIAL with Diane Jennings

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2020 33:39


    This week on LOCKED IN A VACANCY we’re celebrating a milestone… having hit 25k downloads for the STORIES TELLING STORIES podcast! It may seem like an unusual metric to celebrate, as most social media looks for nice, round numbers to mark as milestones… but 25 is my lucky number and we’re going to make it count. In celebration of the occasion, I’ve got a special guest joining us this episode…

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