You Have to Feel It

Season 2, Episode 4

How does death change the way we live? Death is more than the period at the end of our life stories; it punctuates our lives constantly, in ways we can't possibly anticipate.

In this episode, three interviews with business owners: a jeweler, bookstore owner, and mobile slaughter unit proprietor. 

Lawrence Miller is a silversmith in Alexandria, VA. We met when I brought my grandmother's ring to his shop to be cleaned. You can visit his shop here. 

Samantha Haskell owns Blue Hill Books, in Blue Hill, ME. You can read more about Samantha and see pictures of the shop here, and find out about her innovative Community Supported Books program in this article in the New Yorker. Follow Blue Hill Books on Facebook and Instagram @bluehillbooks.

Rob Cushman runs a mobile slaughter unit in the Blue Hill peninsula. To check out pictures of his work, follow him on Instagram @robertcushman.

You Go On

Season 2, Episode 3

When I was very young, I used to make my mom tell me stories about little children who got injured and sick.  I wanted to hear exactly what it would be like if my own fears came to pass, and somehow, hearing about them made them more manageable. 

I no longer worry so much about getting shots and appendicitis, but these fears are replaced by new ones: loneliness, and loss of independence. And I'm still listening for the stories that bring me face to face with those fears. 

In this episode, three remarkable women:

Angela is an occupational therapist from Pittsburgh, PA, who has lived in DC for the past four years. She is also a fantastic improviser. To see Angela perform live improv, check out her team Stovëtron.

Jan is a retired teacher who traveled to D.C. on a solo tourist excursion and stayed at my Airbnb.

Anne Thomas is a storyteller and performer in DC, whom I met through Story District. Check out these videos of Anne's past storytelling performances. 

It's Not About You

Season 2, Episode 2

Do you ever get tired of being you? Listening to the same thoughts and niggling anxieties bouncing around in your head? This episode is about the rare moments when we lose ourselves, however briefly, through others.

Joseph, originally from Cameroon, is a drummer and drum teacher in Washington, D.C. I met him while taking a West African Dance class at the Dance Institute of Washington. For photos and video of Joseph, visit his website. 

Alvaro is a mathematician and professor from Madrid, Spain. He spent a few days in D.C. for a mathematics conference. If you're wondering which of the nine enneagram types YOU are, find out here. 

Survive Like Others

Season 2, Episode 1

We're back with the first episode of Season 2! This season's theme: FEAR. 

In episode one, we find out what can happen when you do the thing you've always been told not to do: ride the bike trail alone at night. And what happens if there really ARE shadowy figures lurking in the bushes?

You can find a picture of THE FISH in the gallery. 

Episode 6: The Retirement Plan is Not Good

In the final episode of season one, we pull a few interviews from the archive that feel particularly timely. This episode -- featuring conversations with an ex-DC police officer at Safeway, a Trader Joe's security guard on the job, and a water salesman outside the White House -- deals with guns and God, and brings us close to the line between life and death.

Episode 5: Get in Where you Fit In

Every now and then someone will say something that stops you in your tracks and makes you think: "Wow. That's how people think of me?" This episode is about identity, and the relationship between how we think of ourselves and how the world sees us, which don't always match up. 

Episode 4: Beauty School is a Little Outdated

Yes, how we look matters. Our bodies are the tiny slivers of us that greet the physical world, but it's easy to forget how closely the external and internal are linked. This episode is about appearances: how our bodies bear the marks of otherwise invisible experiences, and how we choose to present ourselves. 

Episode 3: Each Hole is Different

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" I heard this question often as a kid, and my response was always the same: "Something that hasn't been invented yet." This episode is about the ways that our jobs fit into our lives...or don't. We hear from a homeless street musician, an ex non-profit worker, and a man who spends his days in hidden rooms under the streets. 

Off-week special: Jokes from Austin, TX!

What's invisible and smells like worms? How do you catch a unique rabbit? What is that steering wheel doing in your pirate pants? 

Episode 2: Put a Ring on It

How do you know when you meet the person you'll marry? Our lives bump up against one another's in ways that, even when they seem "meant to be," aren't always straightforward.

Episode 1: Check Your Mirrors

What do a bicycle messenger, a night delivery man, and my grandmother have in common? They spend a lot of time alone.