Inside Stories

Communist revolutionaries take over a radio station during a live call-in advice show. A comic audio play written and produced by Paul VanDeCarr.

Here is the solution to one of the great political mysteries of the past 50 years, and an explosive confession by the late President Richard M. Nixon. Thanks to advances in technology, audio experts have at last reconstructed the contents of the so-called "18.5-minute gap," a period of silence on tapes made by President Nixon. Other parts of the tapes had incriminating evidence connecting Nixon to the Watergate break-in, but the contents of the gap have remained unknown -- until now. Featuring Anthony Newfield and Paul VanDeCarr.

The Hill Cumorah Pageant is performed over several nights every July in Palmyra, New York, at the very site where Mormons believe that Joseph Smith found the tablets upon which were written the Book of Mormon. With a cast of over 650 people, elaborate special effects, and a 10-level stage, the pageant dramatizes stories from the Book for Mormon. I spoke with several cast and crew before a performance in 2015. More info and pictures at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com. 

Harvey Fierstein's 2014 play "Casa Valentina" told the story of one weekend in 1962 at an upstate New York resort for cross-dressers, and was based on a real place, long since closed. I visited a NYC-based center for cross-dressers to ask members how much they think things have changed for them between 1962 and today.

Una entrevista con Laura Bolaños Cadena, mejor conocida como "Abril," la argumentista principal de "Historia Semanal de Amor y Pasión" y otras historietas duranta su larga carrera. www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

A story on the recent Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire," featuring black and Latino actors in the lead roles. Originally produced for WNYC Radio's arts program, Studio 360. More info at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

A conversation with Jonathan Mitchell, a longtime public radio producer and now the producer of "The Truth," a podcast of short-form audio drama. More info at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

A visit to the writing group of WORTH, or Women on the Rise Telling HerStory, a NYC-based organization for women who are or have been in prison. More info www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

A conversation with Will Cantler, a casting director with Telsey and Co., and an artistic director at MCC Theater in NYC, about filling out a play, film, or TV show with the actors who make it real. Info at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

Last of three parts, selected readings from the transcript of oral history interviews with Eddie Dowling about the original Broadway production of "The Glass Menagerie." Interview copyrighted by the Columbia Center for Oral History. Info at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

Part 2 of 3, selected readings from the transcript of oral history interviews with Eddie Dowling about the original Broadway production of "The Glass Menagerie." Interview copyrighted by the Columbia Center for Oral History. Info at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

Selected readings from the transcript of oral history interviews with Eddie Dowling about the original Broadway production of "The Glass Menagerie." Interview copyrighted by the Columbia Center for Oral History. Info at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

A radio segment produced by Paul VanDeCarr for the arts and culture program "Studio 360," about the Broadway revival of Larry Kramer's 1985 play "The Normal Heart." Studio 360 is a co-production of Public Radio International, and WNYC Radio. Thanks to the show for permission to use the segment as a podcast episode. More information at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.  

Taylor Krauss, the director of "Voices of Rwanda," talks about how and why his organization records video testimonies of survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. More info at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

Patrick Reinsborough, co-founder of smartMeme and co-author of "Re:Imagining Change," talks about using "narratrive strategies" in social change campaigns. More info at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

As Junebug Productions celebrates its 30th anniversary, artistic director John O'Neal talks about the role of theater in social justice struggles. More at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

In a departure from the regular podcast, this episode is a story by Paul VanDeCarr, called "The Long-Suffering Tree," taking off from Shel Silverstein's famous children's book of a, um, similar title. More info at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

Jon Funabiki talks about how the Renaissance Journalism Center is working to reinvigorate the practice of journalism to support communities not typically well served by big media. Info at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

Perri Chinalai of StoryCorps talks about the organization's Memory Loss Initiative. Includes clips of stories recorded by StoryCorps. More information at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.

Anne Basting, a professor of theater and the author of "Forget Memory: Creating Better Lives for People With Dementia," talks about the nature of memory, and how storytelling can help people with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Info at www.InsideStoriesOnline.com.