Liddle Did I Know: The Memoir Series

As David enters high school, he quietly begins to unlearn the prejudices absorbed in childhood. Exposure to classmates from diverse backgrounds and reflection on past mistakes foster a gradual shift toward empathy and understanding. The episode highlights the slow process of challenging inherited fears, seeking out new stories, and learning to recognize and reject casual racism. David’s journey il...

David recalls his earliest experiences at Vacation Bible School (VBS) in Guilderland Church, where gentle lessons and playtime shaped his spiritual memory. A pivotal moment occurs when David, in innocent ignorance, uses a racial slur against a Black peer, resulting in the loss of a friendship and a lifelong moral bruise. The episode explores the impact of inherited prejudice, the pain of exclusion...

This episode centers on a rite-of-passage canoe trip down Vermont’s Battenkill River. David describes the anticipation, camaraderie, and real danger faced when a mentor nearly capsizes in swift water. The journey is filled with scenic beauty, teamwork, and the thrill of overcoming obstacles. The Battenkill adventure becomes a metaphor for the unpredictable currents of adolescence, blending excitem...

David’s adolescence begins with a blend of outdoor adventure and creative discovery. He recounts summers spent at Northern Frontier Camp, learning canoeing and teamwork under the guidance of mentors like Jim Burns. Vacation Bible School and hands-on experiences—like baking and tennis—build confidence and practical skills. Meanwhile, his involvement in the Cohoes Music Hall deepens, offering a firs...

In this pivotal episode, David transitions from childhood into adolescence, describing his teenage years as a turbulent river—unpredictable, fast-moving, and full of challenges. He reflects on formative experiences such as canoe trips, summer camps, and his deepening involvement in theater at the Cohoes Music Hall, all of which provide lessons in balance, brotherhood, and belonging. The narrative...

In this episode, David reflects on the formative experiences of his early childhood, recognizing how moments of joy, trauma, and family dynamics have shaped his identity. He discusses the importance of revisiting and reframing these memories as part of his healing journey, emphasizing the emotional truths that persist beyond literal recollection. As David prepares to move into the next chapter of...

This episode explores David’s early teenage years, marked by late-night gatherings at Friendly’s Restaurant after Christian Service Brigade meetings, where he found both nourishment and a sense of belonging. The episode delves into the quirky, mind-bending conversations with mentors and peers about science, thought experiments, and mysterious WRPI “Gateway tapes” that fueled curiosity and a sense...

In this episode, David recounts how the Cohoes Music Hall became his sanctuary during a turbulent adolescence. At just twelve years old, he found acceptance and purpose among the cast and crew, escaping the chaos of his home life and juvenile troubles. Through ushering, mentorship from Ruth Vore, and his first stage role, David discovers the transformative power of theater. The stage offers him di...

In this episode, David recounts a pivotal moment from his adolescence marked by risky behavior, peer pressure, and the consequences of youthful rebellion. The story unfolds with David and his friends orchestrating prank calls that escalate into bomb threats targeting local schools. Fueled by alcohol and a desire to fit in, David volunteers his voice for the calls, unaware of the gravity of their a...

This episode follows David as he enters seventh grade, marking a shift from the relative safety of childhood to the more complex and challenging world of adolescence. The social landscape changes: David and his siblings drift into separate circles, and he finds himself drawn to new groups and risky behaviors. He joins the Audio-Visual Club and wrestling team, gaining small freedoms, but also becom...

This episode delves into the escalating tensions and emotional storms within David’s home as he transitions from sixth to seventh grade. The threats and conflicts shift from external bullies to those closest to him—his brother Jimmy, neighborhood kids, and especially his mother, whose anger often finds its target in David. He describes coping strategies such as retreating to the gorge behind his h...

This episode explores the complex and often turbulent relationship between David and his older brother Jimmy during the transition to a new neighborhood. Jimmy’s behavior oscillates between bullying and protectiveness, creating a confusing emotional landscape for David. The chapter recounts incidents of physical and emotional conflict—ranging from humiliation and roughhousing to moments when Jimmy...

David’s final years near West End Park are a whirlwind of formative experiences and hard lessons. The chapter captures the turbulence of late childhood: crushes, first cigarettes, and early acts of rebellion like shoplifting, all set against the backdrop of a changing family. School mishaps, such as a classroom accident and a teacher’s tough-love approach, blend with moments of vulnerability and e...

Cohoes, summer 1973, music, classic rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Steve Miller Band, Allman Brothers, Grand Funk Railroad, Deep Purple, Elton John, adolescence, family transition, siblings, emotional refuge, West End Park, childhood, belonging, hope, change.

The summer of 1973 marks a turning point in David’s childhood, as music becomes both a refuge and a source of connection. In Cohoes, the soundtrack of classic rock—Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Steve Miller Band, and more—fills the air in West End Park and at home, providing emotional scaffolding during a time of family transition and sibling departures. As older siblings...

Episode Notes: David reflects on the stark class divide between his working-class hometown of Cohoes and the affluent suburbs where his church peers live. Cohoes is depicted as gritty, communal, and resilient, while the suburbs are polished, comfortable, and privileged. Through experiences at Loudonville Community Church and Stockade, David learns to “translate” between these worlds, developing th...

In this episode, David Liddle recounts how the Christian Service Brigade’s Stockade program became a sanctuary during his turbulent childhood. Amidst family upheaval and shifting church environments, Stockade offered David a rare sense of belonging and acceptance. Here, he found structure, learned practical skills, and experienced camaraderie without the judgment or bullying that marked his school...

In this episode, David recounts how the Christian Service Brigade’s Stockade program became a sanctuary during his turbulent childhood. Amidst family tension, shifting church environments, and struggles with belonging, Stockade offered structure, skills, and acceptance. David describes how the weekly meetings provided a refuge where he could simply be a kid, free from judgment and bullying. He ref...

David Liddle recounts a pivotal shift in his family’s spiritual life, from long drives to Guilderland Baptist Church to founding the First Baptist Church of Cohoes in their living room. As his mother’s religious fervor deepens, David and his siblings are drawn into a world where faith becomes both a family project and a source of tension. Through the arrival of Reverend Alstead and the move to Lou...

David Liddle recounts the mischievous adventures and everyday troublemaking of his childhood in West End Park, Cohoes. Under the watchful eyes of family and neighbors, David and his friends navigate petty thefts, pranks, and the constant surveillance of a tightly-knit community. This episode explores the tension between youthful rebellion and the ever-present judgment of relatives, highlighting ho...

David Liddle explores the complexities of growing up as a sensitive boy in a world that often demanded toughness. Through childhood “rumbles,” lessons from older brothers, and the influence of music and friendship, David reflects on the tension between gentleness and the expectations of masculinity. This episode offers insight into how early experiences with aggression, loyalty, and self-understan...

David Liddle shares heartfelt memories of his protective bond with his sister Debbie during childhood. Through moments of crisis, guilt, and family blame, David explores the deep sense of responsibility and love he carried for Debbie, and how these experiences shaped his emotional landscape. This episode reflects on the challenges of sibling relationships, the burden of early guilt, and the enduri...

David Liddle reflects on his early childhood surrounded by the nurturing presence of sisters, his grandmother, and a caring babysitter. He shares how growing up in a world shaped by feminine energy influenced his sense of safety, belonging, and emotional connection. Through tender memories of play, first love, and the challenges of fitting in, David explores how these formative experiences shaped...

David Liddle revisits vivid early childhood memories, from the magic of his second birthday party and the scent of patchouli to a confusing church visit and his first baptism. Through sensory details and family anecdotes, David reflects on how these moments—both sweet and unsettling—shaped his emotional landscape and sense of belonging. [David Lidd...Manuscript]

David Liddle reflects on the fragmented and emotionally complex memories of his early childhood, exploring how innocence, curiosity, and misunderstood moments led to feelings of shame and self-doubt. Through stories of family tension, forbidden interactions, and haunting recollections, David shares how these experiences shaped his sense of worth and identity. This episode is a candid look at the p...