Showing titles in Audio Performances & Dramatizations

[Contains explicit content] Heart racing, knees wobbly, and feeling light-headed - are you head over heels in love, or is that fear creeping down your spine? In this set of spooky stories, two narrators discover that sometimes getting your adrenaline pumping can arouse other things as well. This episode features "When Things Go Bump in the Night" by Robert Ben Garant for RISK! and "Jack Skellington and Friends" by Baltazar Barnabas for Bawdy Storytelling.

[Contains explicit content] Having a comfort zone to retreat to is important. But just like a city gets rezoned in order to accommodate development, we have to rezone what we're comfortable with in order to grow. Especially when it comes to sex. On this episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, two storytellers decide to try to make their comfort zones a little larger. This episode features "Can I Pick This Up," which David Crabb told at RISK!, and "Afterparty," which Caitlin Gill told at Don't Tell My Mother.

[Contains explicit content] "Don't hesitate! Take the plunge! Put yourself out there!" Well, what's out there? You may find an open minded sexual unicorn capable of pleasuring you beyond humankind's feeble imagination, or limp home bruised and black-eyed with little more than your dignity and a story; maybe not even that much. On this episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, two storytellers put themselves pretty far out there, to vastly different results.

[Contains explicit content] Secret identities don't just cause problems for superheroes - they make trouble for normal people too. In this episode of Hot Mic, two storytellers - one of them is Dan Savage himself - describe what it's like to hide, and then reveal, sexual or gender orientation. This episode features the stories "Trans on Ice" by Elana Lancaster for The Story Collider, and "Watch and Learn" by your host Dan Savage for Bawdy Storytelling.

[Contains explicit content] W. Kamau Bell is no stranger to getting approached by strangers since he's a TV personality (Totally Biased, United Shades of America), prolific stand-up comic, and father of two undeniably adorable daughters. The reasons he gets approached, however, don't always relate to who he actually is or what he's actually doing with a cute baby in his arms.

[Contains explicit content] Kurt and Lauren take it all off at a clothing-optional resort and talk to a man whose wife became his husband.

[Contains explicit content] A live audience at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal was privileged with a very special live version of Eugene Mirman's comedic storytelling (and story explaining) show, Hold On, but we're not going to let them hoard that wonderful experience. Here's a live story told by the hilarious Aparna Nancherla about dating woes in the era of social media, plus all the probing questions and asides from your inquisitive host Eugene.

[Contains explicit content] You might think it's in the job description for political comedians like John Fugelsang to take powerful politicians down a peg or two, but during the 2012 election, John learned it's not always the best idea to ask the tough questions. Host Eugene Mirman finds out how the struggling new father made his mark on the Romney-Obama presidential race and what it did to his career, as the two dig into John's story on this politically-charged episode of Hold On with Eugene Mirman.

[Contains explicit content] David Cross (Mr. Show, Arrested Development) is a pillar of the comedy world, but even a man who is known for acerbic, often political standup and metatextual, intricate sketch writing can still have a soft spot for a good old-fashioned prank. Eugene Mirman brought David onstage at the NYC Podfest to revisit the impromptu execution of that practical joke and ask him questions about how it all played out. Live from New York it's Hold On with Eugene Mirman!

[Contains explicit content] Fantasy can be so powerful that you don't realize reality is headed in a totally different direction. In this special episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, comedian and actress Rachel Bloom chats with Dan about her CW musical comedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, where her character Rebecca Bunch takes fantasy a bit far (you'll also hear some snippets of songs from the show).

[Contains explicit content] Singer and songwriter Rachel Lark joins Dan to talk (and sing) about heartbreak, love lost, hope found. Featured stories include "Searching for the Rainbow" by Michael Zhuang for Story District, and "Janine Gets Her Groove Back" by Janine Brito for RISK!

[Contains explicit content] Kurt and Lauren learn how to resolve domestic disputes from a hostage negotiator and comedian Kyle Kinane drops by for a session of "fight therapy."

[Contains explicit content] If you tell a performer like Mary Lynn Rajskub to "hold that thought" while they're telling a funny story, you might get kicked out of the show you're attending. Not so if you're Eugene Mirman holding up Mary Lynn's hilarious live story. He didn't get kicked out of the Just for Laughs Montreal recording of Hold On with Eugene Mirman — in fact, he was allowed to ask as many questions as he wanted about Mary Lynn's unintentional brush with the oldest profession.

Dana Gould (Stan Against Evil, The Simpsons) is a comedian of note, sometimes credited as the progenitor of alternative comedy, but anyone who has heard his act or his podcast, knows that he's big into horror and sci-fi movies.

[Contains explicit content] Coming out is a huge step - so much so that we honor it with National Coming Out Day. But what about all the small steps afterwards? In this episode, two gay people try to navigate their romantic lives after coming out, and learn that finding love isn't quite as easy as just walking into a gay bar. This episode features "Sunset at Noon" from Holly Lorka for the Soundtrack Series, and "How to Be" from R. Eric Thomas for RISK!

Kelly Oxford (author of Everything is Perfect When You're a Liar and When You Find Out the World Is Against You) is a Canadian expat who now lives and works in LA, but the first time she visited the City of Angels was on a very specific quest.

Horatio Sanz is an important figure in the Chicago comedy scene. The Chicago neighborhood that teenage Horatio would frequent with his friends also happened to be home to a few unsavory characters, one of whom may have improvised a little vigilante justice and a lot of arson.

[Contains explicit content] Kurt and Lauren share the biggest personal crisis they have faced as a couple and then take a trip to Ohio to face a more physical challenge.

[Contains explicit content] Jean Grae is a rapper, actress, and comedian who is probably the only living person that can boast that she's guested on tracks with Immortal Technique, Talib Kweli, Wale, and Lil B, and has shared the stage with John Hodgman. Her eclectic career has taken her to many strange places, which means she has some stellar stories like the one about a crazy ride home that she shares in this live episode of Hold On at NYC PodFest.

[Contains explicit content] Janeane Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer, Ratatouille) joined Eugene Mirman onstage in San Francisco for a live edition of Hold On, and now you get to hear her story and the questions it raised! Janeane recounts how rambling became a hobby and how her impromptu excursions have helped her reflect on what she wants in life.