The Truth

What happens when a corporation becomes a person? In this satire by Tony Award-winning playwright Greg Kotis, we follow a company called Geneva Mutual that becomes a sentient being. Performed by Louis Kornfeld, Rachel Hamilton, Tom Ligon, Chet Siegel, Amy Warren, Ed Herbstman, Christian Paluck, and Rupert Degas. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

This story was inspired by a submission from listener Mathew Mercier, for our Halloween/Election crowd-sourcing experiment. It's based on his experience as caretaker of the Edgar Allan Poe estate, and imagines what Poe's last living hours may have been like. Performed by Christian Paluck, Ed Herbstman, Chet Siegel, and Louis Kornfeld. Produced & directed by Jonathan Mitchell.

Do You Have a Minute for Equality?

A canvasser gets the donation she needs, but it will cost her... Performed by Chet Siegel and Tom Ligon, with Matt J. Weir, Quentin Loder, and Melanie Hoopes. From an outline by Chet Siegel. Produced & Directed by Jonathan Mitchell, with sound design help from Brendan Baker.

Produced at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio Beyond Radio conference, featuring performances by Amie McKenna, Michele Durman, Michael Whalley, and Martin Dingle Wall. Produced by Ed Herbstman and Jonathan Mitchell.

A teacher gives his students lesson about democracy that they'll never forget. Performed by Peter McNerney as Mr. Mohr, Russ Armstrong as Eric, and Alexis Lambright as Margaret, with  Fiona Bradford, Teddy Shivers, Oscar Montoya, and Ben Jones as the principal. From an outline by Louis Kornfeld. Produced & directed by Jonathan Mitchell.

Machine Men

Mike Coleman is an independent candidate running for Congress, and he's finally getting some attention... from a serial killer. Performed by Ed Herbstman, Chet Siegel, Rick Andrews, Nick Kanellis, Louis Kornfeld, Amy Warren, and Bryn Magnus. Written by Ed Herbstman, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

This is a short story written and produced by Hillary Frank, made by combining fictional narration with real interview tape. It was edited by Julie Snyder, and orginally aired on This American Life.

In Good Hands (part 2)

Written by Kurt Andersen, this story was originally heard on PRI's Studio 360. Narrated by Ed Herbstman, with John Ottavino as Nicholas, and Melanie Hoopes as Nancy. The story editor was David Krasnow. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell. The unabridged version was published in Stories: All New Tales, an anthology edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio.

A pair of urban explorers goes underground, in the first part of a continuing story. Starring Emily Tarver, Alex Marino, Louis Kornfeld, Ed Herbstman, Christian Paluck, and Amy Warren. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Two different approaches to making stories that combine improvisation with the recording studio. Total Transparency is a brand new piece, it was completely improvised and recorded in one take, and then edited. It was made up on the spot by Chet Siegel, Ed Herbstman, and Louis Kornfeld. Eye Contact was made using lots of different people telling the same story, that was edited into a fractured monologue. It originally aired in 2006 on Weekend America. 

High school sophomore Samantha O'Connell has just won a math award, and Gary Vosot is on the story. Performed by India Kotis, Matt Evans, Melanie Hoopes, Carmen Berkeley, Matt J. Weir, Bryn Magnus, Christian Paluck, Ed Herbstman, and Amy Warren. With Tim Dadabo was the announcer, and Louis Kornfeld, Chet Siegel, Leanne Linsky, Jon Bander, and Kelly Moylan as the party guests. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell, with help from Kerrie Hillman and Peter Clowney. The story was written collaboratively by The Truth, and it was inspired by the Gary Vosot character, created by Matt Evans. 

The recording doesn't lie. Performed by Ed Herbstman & Tami Sagher, with Libby Geroge & Christian Paluck. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell, written by Jonathan Mitchell, Ed Herbstman, & Melanie Hoopes. Originally produced for This American Life. Production advisors: Peter Clowney & Kerrie Hillman. Special thanks: Ira Glass, Lisa Pollack, Jonathan Menjivar, and Chris Bannon. Recorded at WNYC, KCRW, Magnet Theater, and on location in New York City.