Podcast

Episodes of the No, YOU Tell It! Podcast

Episode 44 – Mayday (Part 1)

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In the first half of our “Mayday” show, recorded live at The Astoria Bookshop on May 10th, Allison Escoto is forced to listen to an unexpected SOS of the heart. Here is M. Skye Holly reading, “Vessel in Distress.”

Top left: M. Skye Holly. Right: Allison Escoto. Group left to right: Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons, M. Skye Holly, Angel Cobb, Ryan Holmes, Allison Escoto, and Mike Dressel

Switching it up, M. Skye Holly goes back to school to receive her MFA in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University and learns the difference between the family you’re given and the family you make. Allison Escoto reads, “Higher Degrees of Grief.”

  • Stories directed by Erika Iverson
  • Evening hosted by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons
  • Podcast narrated by Mike Dressel

Part 2 is coming soon! SUBSCRIBE and SHARE our Podcast today!

May 15, 2018 1 comment Podcast Tags: , ,

Episode 43 – Wild Card (Part 2)

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A young man’s obsessive quest to complete a set of Batman trading cards embroils his extended family in a hunt across the borough of Queens.

First up, from our Wild Card show, Raquel Penzo presents Roger Nassar’s story “The Elusive Card #66”

Left to right: Raquel Penzo, Wild Card artwork by Sarah Gentile, Roger Nasser

Switching it up, author Raquel Penzo’s mother once warned her that the second child is usually “spirited” because it has the potential to be a middle child. With the birth of her second daughter, it seems mom really does know best…

Here’s Roger Nasser reading “My Almost Jan Brady.”

These stories were performed live at Jimmy’s No. 43 on Wed, September 17th, 2014.  Curious what our storytellers have been up to since they traded their true-life tales?

This Saturday, Dec 2nd, is special holiday episode (#26) of It’s Getting Tired Mildred, the serial soap opera for the stage created by Roger Nasser and performing monthly at Under St. Marks, NYC.

Raquel I. Penzo is a writer, editor, and literary event curator. Visit La Pluma y La Tinta, which started with three women workshopping stories in a Brooklyn, New York living room, and morphed into an organization focused on inspiring, elevating, and shining a spotlight on diverse writers and poets. Discover readings, workshops, panel discussions, get inspiration & more. Plus, they post tons of great job postings follow on Twitter @laplumaytinta & Facebook fb.me/laplumaylatinta

 

November 30, 2017 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , , , ,

Episode 42 – My First

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Give a listen to this alternate No, YOU Guess It?! version of our show featuring switched-up stories from students, faculty, and alums of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s MFA in Creative Writing program. Plus, our own Kelly Jean talks about her inspiration behind creating No, YOU Tell It!

These six stories, inspired by the theme “My First,” were written by Aminah Abutayeb, Hayden Bergman, Walter Cummins, Anthony Gramuglia, Amanda Ramirez,  and Gracelyn Weaver. But not in that order! Part of the fun is guessing who wrote what??

“Into the Rapids” artwork by Letisia Cruz. Click here to see more pictures and artwork from FDU’s “My First” show on our Facebook page. And please LIKE us while you’re there!

The stories – My First Plaster & J Sandwich, Sight, Travelers & Malibu, Into the Rapids, The First Time, and My First Failed Driving Exam – were recorded live on August 6th, 2017 as part of FDU’s summer writing residency.

 

September 18, 2017 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , , ,

Episode 41 – Outdated

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After switching up stories at Jimmy’s No. 43 for the past five years, we were saddened to hear that influential East Village beer and cider bar has quietly closed its doors. Read the full story here.

In celebration of Jimmy’s No. 43, here is one of nights that has really stuck with us – even though it was only our 6th show!

Crowded into the back room, you could feel the audience leaning forward to catch every word. Nicholas Maistros writes of unexpected revelations during a visit with his mother in “Collecting” read for us here by Jeff Wills.

pictured left to right Jeff Wills and Nicholas Maistros

In a meditation on meaning and memory, performance and parenthood, Jeff Wills shared a moving history of his career as a physical comedian and his current use of deep knee bends.  Switching it up, here’s Nicholas Maistros reading “Lost Track.”

You can still help Jimmy’s No. 43 by purchasing gift certificates, which can be used toward Jimmy’s events if he ends up not re-opening at all. Click here to buy.

These stories were performed live at Jimmy’s No. 43 in April, 2013 as part of our “Outdated” show.

Podcast narrated by Erika Iverson.

 

August 28, 2017 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , , , ,

Episode 40 – On the Spot Story Swap!

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When we asked No, YOU Tell It! alums to bring in stories for an impromptu switch-em-up as part of our four-year-anniversary celebration, Mike Dressel and Alexandra Gray – who also happen to be birthday twins – came through in a big way.

Photo credit: Ryan Holmes

Mike Dressel is an integral part of the No, YOU Tell It! creative team. After participating in our second live show, we simply never let him leave. He is the literary voice of reason at each of our story workshop sessions and often directs pieces for our live shows.

You can hear Alex’s work featured in our very first podcast episode, Urban Dwellers, and she’s also participated in numerous alumni workshops and events over the past five years.

Give a listen as these two trade their true-life tales on the spot!!

 

These stories were performed live at Jimmy’s No. 43 on May 11th, 2016. Podcast narrated by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons.

August 8, 2017 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , , ,

Episode 39 – No Regrets

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We’re thrilled that No, YOU Tell It! is once again part of the low-residency MFA in Creative Writing program at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Our own Kelly Jean is in Madison, NJ right now working with the MFA students, alums, and faculty for a special No, YOU Tell It! “My First” show on Sunday, August 6th.

But why wait?? Give a listen to last year’s show, aptly themed “No Regrets,” as this trio of fantastic MFA alums – Letisia Cruz, Heather Lang, and Taz Ruffilo – traded their true-life tales at the summer residency’s closing bagel breakfast, which falls the morning AFTER the program’s annual graduation dinner and dance party….

pictured left to right Taz Ruffilo, Letisia Cruz, and Heather Lang

Click here for more information about the Creative Writing MFA program at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Missing No, YOU Tell It! in NYC? Never fear! Save the date for our next show at Jimmy’s No. 43 in the East Village, September 20th @ 7pm.

July 30, 2017 Post Comment Podcast

Episode 38 – Blowback (Part 2)

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A simple neighborly gesture plus an ill-advised night of drinking leads to stalking, harassment, and an ever-escalating sense of danger. Kicking off the second half of our “Blowback” show, here is Courtney Frances Fallon’s story “Wine Wednesday” read for us by Gabriel Berezin.

After another failed coupling spawned in the dumpster fire commonly known as Tinder, Gabriel  Berezin recalls his first sexual experience in all its fumbling teenage glory.

Switching it up, here is “Sexaholism” written by Gabe and read by Courtney Frances Fallon.

Stories performed live as part of our “Blowback” show on Wednesday, May 17th, 2017. Click here to learn more about our “Blowback” storytellers. Podcast narrated by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons.

May 30, 2017 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , , , ,

Episode 37 – Blowback (Part 1)

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A superfan desperately wants to connect with the Wonderful Wizard of YouTube, Todrick Hall, in Ariel Mahler’s story “Under the Rainbow, Over the Sea” read for us here by Molly Touger.

Left: Molly Touger reads “Under the Rainbow, Over the Sea.” Upper Right: Erika Iverson rehearses with Molly Touger. Bottom right: Ariel Mahler reads “And in Local News…”

Switching it up, when Molly Touger spends the summer as an intern at a local newspaper, she has to figure out which words to use and when to use them. Here’s Molly’s story “And In Local News…” read by Ariel Mahler.

Stories performed live as part of our “Blowback” show on Wednesday, May 17th, 2017. Click here to learn more about our “Blowback” storytellers. Podcast narrated by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons.

May 23, 2017 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , , ,

Episode 36 – Migration (Part 2)

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After years of staying on the fringes, Erika Iverson finds community and comfort through the intricate act of folding paper cranes in Union Square. Kicking off the second half of our “Migration” show, Ken Crossland reads, “September 18, 2001 or How I Became a New Yorker.”

They say breaking up is hard to do. But breaking up and then living together for another six months is even harder. Switching it up, Erika Iverson presents “The Six Month Brooklyn/Queens Reclamation Project” written by Ken Crossland.

These stories were performed live at Jimmy’s No. 43 on Wed, March 22nd, 2017. Click here learn more about our “Migration” storytellers.

Podcast narrated by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons.

April 13, 2017 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , , ,

Episode 35 – Migration (Part 1)

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After a devastating loss, an heiress comes to terms with the one thing that money can’t buy. First up from our “Migration” show, Leslie Malaika Lewis asks the big questions in “A Broader View” read for us by Elisa DeCarlo.

pictured left to right Elisa DeCarlo and Leslie Malaika Lewis

What are the things we truly need in life? The things that we aren’t willing to leave behind? For Elisa DeCarlo, it is “A Basket Full of Cats.” Switching it up, here’s Elisa’s true-life tale performed by Leslie Malaika Lewis.

These stories were performed live at Jimmy’s No. 43 on Wed, March 22nd, 2017. Click here learn more about our “Migration” storytellers.

Podcast narrated by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons.

 

April 12, 2017 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , ,
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