The Odyssey Storytelling Podcast

Odyssey Storytelling closed out 2016 with the Fraught show, which included a very beautiful, very personal story from Cara Smith, who talked about her struggle with ADHD and the difference between security and happiness. From Cara's Odyssey bio: Cara Smith is a Communication major at the University of Arizona.  A serial transfer student, Cara has been to 8 different colleges in the course of 5 yea...

Back in July 2015, Odyssey Storytelling celebrated Independence Day with the Independence show, and that show certainly wouldn't have been complete without Shannon Snapp's tale of becoming an independent woman. Or, in her words, at least coming close. From Shannon's Odyssey bio: Shannon Snapp is an independent woman not necessarily by choice. Forced out of codependency and into full-on self-suffic...

The first half of 2017's Awkward show has sadly been lost to the gremlins of audio production, but two stories from the second half of the show have been featured on this podcast already, so it's time for the third (and final) Awkward story! It was told by writer and first-time performer Melissa Sheely, who shared the time her awkwardness sabotaged what should have been just a fun trip to the movi...

The heat of passion. A red hot love affair. The tingle on your tongue left there by spicy food. Maybe even the thrill of potential danger on the flanks of a napping volcano. Sometimes a little heat can be just what we need to kick life into high gear. But be careful…get too close to the flame and you might get burned. Come hear our storytellers' tales of encounters—exciting, terrifying, planned an...

In August 2016, Kindall Gray taught the Odyssey audience a new word: limerence, the state of being romantically obsessed or infatuated with another person. She also shared her personal experience with the idea, a story that includes a long-ago ex-boyfriend, some hastily-purchased flowers, and the Guitar Center on Broadway and Swan. Happy Valentine's Day weekend! From Kindall's Odyssey bio: Kindall...

At long last, the Odyssey Storytelling Podcast is able to present tales from the June 2015 "Taboo" show, including this first one from longtime Odyssey stalwart Ethel Lee-Miller, in which she breaks one of the oldest taboos in history. From Ethel's Odyssey bio: Transplanted from New York in 2009, Ethel has embraced just about everything about living in the desert – taking a full water bottle every...

At Odyssey's "Left" show in March 2017, Angela Orlando explained why left her husband (not exactly the reason you might expect) and what she ultimately learned from experience (not exactly the lesson you might expect). From Angela's Odyssey bio: Angela Orlando is a professor, scholar, writer, hiker, lover, and fighter form Northern Arizona. Desert girl through and through, with a whole lot of urba...

Inexplicable experiences, answered prayers, angels, and glitter.  These are few of our magical things. When we experience something that moves us to tears and brings us to our knees and reminds us that there really is something bigger than us in the universe we know it's truly a magical moment. Some of us are magical ourselves. Our magical storytellers are certainly a perfect example! This week's...

It's been a while since we went through our storytellers' dirty laundry, so let's go back to 2016 and check in with Matthew Mutz, who found out first-hand that a little casual drug dealing isn't necessarily everything it's cracked up to be. From Matthew's Odyssey bio: Matthew Trace Mutz, born and raised in Missouri, swore he would never live in  Kansas, but has been there since 1978.  He's an Aqua...

In the Odyssey Storytelling Podcast's first episode of 2019 -- the year that marks Odyssey's 15th anniversary -- we celebrate our origins with Sarah Whelan. In October of 2016, Sarah told a story about her relationship with Tucson, Odyssey's home city, and how she ultimately fell in love with it. She took the stage during the "Natural" show, which was the show this podcast used for its first indiv...

Open mouth, insert foot. Worst dreams come true. Mishaps, mistakes, misunderstandings, and misadventures. Come join us as our storytellers share true stories of occasions in which they were absolutely MORTIFIED! This week's storytellers include: Steven Braun Jeff Whitehead Troy E. Larkin Dr. Scott Bolhack Dr. Mark McMahon Bobby Low This episode was performed and recorded at Sea of Glass Center for...

Just time in for the holidays, Odyssey Storytelling presents a tale of love, hate, and Christmas miracles! In 2015 (in May, but don't let that bother you) Tracey Kurtzman explained to her enraptured audience how and why she was forced to save the life of her greatest nemesis. Twice. Including one resurrection. Happy solstice, heathens! From Tracey's Odyssey bio: Tracey Kurtzman is a securely imper...

Firefighter Ardell Deliz is a fascinating and compelling storyteller, and upon taking the Odyssey stage in February 2017, she spoke about her work, her perspective, and the courage of a teenage girl who wouldn't let fear stop her from fulfilling a promise. From Ardell's Odyssey bio: Originally from Puerto Rico, Ardell Deliz has made Phoenix her home since 2001.  She is a Captain with the Phoenix F...

Defiant altruism, heartbreaking illness, fateful trips to Taco Bell -- Sean Coleman's story from the April 2016 "Contradictions" show has it all. From his Odyssey bio: Sean Coleman was born with IHSS, a congenital heart disease that claimed the life of his brother. He spent most of his life in a sort of bubble, and after going through more in 20 years than most people go through in their lives, it...

Dealbreaker: noun. a factor or issue that, if unresolved, would cause one party to withdraw from a deal. What's that one thing that you cannot/will not overlook or tolerate? What grosses you out in other people's eating/drinking/dancing/traveling/clothing habits? What used to be a dealbreaker and now is a mere shoulder shrug? Was there a dealbreaker that totally shifted your life? This week's stor...

Odyssey kicked off 2017 with the "Labor" show, and while many interpretations of the theme were represented, Joe Silins' was perhaps the purest, a funny, dryly inspirational story about how he came to work entirely for himself. From Joe's Odyssey bio: Equal parts starry-eyed idealist and crusty construction worker, Joe Silins is originally from Phoenix but has been in Tucson nearly long enough to...

Last week, you heard Odyssey's most recent show, Big Brother, curated by Molly McCloy. This week, you'll hear a story from Nemesis, the oldest Odyssey show so far to be featured on this podcast, which was also curated by Molly McCloy. And the story, as it happens, is told by...Molly McCloy! It's about one of the most basic kinds of nemesis: the bullying teacher. Except this teacher had no idea wha...

Doublethink and alternative facts. Ubiquitous cameras, secret recordings, and data breaches. Make one wrong move, and the whole world might be watching. Come join us for stories of surveillance, voyeurism, and brotherly guidance. This week's storytellers include: Abby Louise Jensen Gina Rooney Leigh D.C. Spencer Sharon Schneiderman Mel Blumenthal This episode was performed and recorded at Sea of G...

The "Body" show on December 3rd, 2015, was a truly special event, featuring an amazing selection of stories. But none, perhaps, as quietly beautiful as Jurni Roco's story of dancing, learning, growth, and transformation. From Jurni's Odyssey bio: Jurni Roco is passionate about enabling and inspiring growth. She expresses her passion through teaching workshops and individual lessons on Personal Lea...

There were a lot of strange stories told at The Screening Room in on March 3rd, 2016, but none of them are more inherently familiar than a story of being in a strange place with a culture you don't fully understand, particularly when you're Caitlin Reinhard and you have some things to learn about red flags and boundaries. From Caitlin's Odyssey bio: Caitlin Reinhard was born in the West Bank at th...

Terry Ahearn may have taken the Odyssey stage by storm -- or, rather, quake -- in February 2016, but his story takes place in 1989, when he came a few stuffed toys and a mother away from being the victim of the Bay Bridge collapse. From Terry's Odyssey bio: Rhodes Scholar, Congressional Medal of Freedom recipient, Grand Chess Master, radio announcer and third place finisher in the New York City Ma...

Tattooed. Scarred. Marked – physically, mentally, socially, emotionally. Labeled by others, or by yourself, as something you are, or something you're not. Wearing a sign on your skin or bearing one on your soul. There are many ways to be branded, as our storytellers can attest. This week's storytellers include: Jennifer Bliss-Morris Cerridwen Johnson Astrid James Perry Mark Anthony Aimee Meltzer-F...

More than three years ago, Odyssey Storytelling hosted Michelle Pitot, who told the assembled audience a funny but personal story about the time she took a break from her preferred sexuality and discovered that love isn't quite as straightforward as it seems, despite the many influences of friends, family, and society as a whole. From Michelle's Odyssey bio: A Midwesterner by birth, Michelle Pitot...

There aren't many true heroes left in this dog-eat-pizza world of ours, but Nick Holt, Defender of Stoners In Confusing Apartment Complexes, is one of them. In December 2016, Nick told the tale of one of his greatest adventures in delivery driving, and it was an epic truly worthy of the Bard himself, complete with comedy, tragedy, altruism, betrayal, and a pitfall that may have actually been a bea...

Warning signs ignored. Hunches disregarded. Persistent doubts that refuse to go away. With the benefit of hindsight, our storytellers share true stories of red flags they should have heeded…or at least noticed. This week's storytellers include: Ana Gaskin Claire Swinford Jeremy (Diamond J) Manuel "Manny" Mejias Nancy Stanley Mel Blumenthal This episode was performed and recorded at Sea of Glass in...