The Truth

What if a device could tell you exactly how satisfied you’d be with any decision? What if you could carry the future around in your pocket? What if you never had to say “what if” again? Performed by Tallie Medel and Tim Platt, with Kelsey Bailey. Written by Becca Schall, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Maybe a hug really can be magic. Maybe. Performed by Austin Pendleton, April Matthis, and Jenny Lee Mitchell. Written by Louis Kornfeld and produced by Jonathan Mitchell

A cryogenically-frozen man is revived in the future, to a world that is not quite what he expected. Written by Eric Molinsky, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Performed by Scott Adsit, Amy Warren, and Ed Herbstman, with Anna Neu, Billy Griffin, Alexis Lambright, Louis Kornfeld, Elana Fishbein, Joanna Hausmann, and Kerry Kastin.

Intestilax is a miracle cure for stomach pains. But be careful: it may have side effects. Written by Casper Kelly, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Performed by Adam Wade, Hannah Chase, Mariette Strauss, Elana Fishbein, Dennis Pacheco, Anne Antonucci, Jeremy Bent, Noel Dinneen and Seth Lind.

Imagine a near future where media influencers are sent to an internment camp. This episode was made in collaboration with Benjamen Walker, and part 2 is available now on his podcast Theory of Everything . Featuring Michael Delisle, Ann Carr, T.J. Mannix, Michael Cullen, Chris McKinney, Will Quinn, Becca Schall, Louis Kornfeld, Chris Kipiniak, and Kerry Kastin. Written by Benjamen Walker, with help...

The voice of a cartoon boy takes a shot at live action. Starring Erica Schroeder as Betsy and Happy Louie. With Brian Dykstra, Marc Thompson, Justin Morgan, Rosie Whalen, Susan J. Jacks, Chris Kipiniak, Lorena Russi, Eric Molinsky, Kerry Kastin, Asher Herbstman, and Rob Webber. Written by Eric Molinsky (of the Imaginary Worlds podcast) and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

On the island of Thassos grows a very rare variety of the Lotus flower, Nymphaea Anamnesis. If you drink its extract, whatever you say or do for ten minutes after drinking it, you won’t remember. It's kind of like Snapchat but "in life". On this episode we’ll meet a group of friends who partake in the Lotus extract. Written by Jaymes Jorsling, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Spring is in the air and so are the bees. To celebrate, we made this collection of comedy sketches! Learn how Quantum Mechanics can help solve that familiar dilemma: scone or muffin? Meet the most conscientious mom on the playground. And hear the only game show that explores the futility of trying to make the world a better place in the face of today's biggest news: What Can You Do! Featuring sket...

What will they find? Performed by Rebecca Robles and Louis Kornfeld. Story by Louis Kornfeld, produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Recorded on location in New York City.

A subway ride becomes divinely dangerous. With Joanna Hausmann as Alice and T.J. Mannix as God. Written by Sarah Siskind with Louis Kornfeld, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. 

A submarine crew goes deeper than they thought possible. Written by Louis Kornfeld and Chris Kipiniak. Performed by Gregory Jones, Chris McKinney, Russell G. Jones, Billy Griffin Jr., Reynaldo Piniella, and Michael Cullen. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Shopping can make you work up a thirst. Performed by Lauren Adams and Peter Grosz, written by Casper Kelly, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

A man mysteriously transports himself into the body of a prison inmate. Performed by Khalil Kain and Craig muMs Grant, with Keith Randolph Smith, Shamika Cotton, Chris McKinney, Louis Kornfeld, and Jaymes Jorsling. Written by Jaymes Jorsling, produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

An elf named Spark has just been promoted to the "Naughty or Nice" division of Santa's workshop. But when he finds out how Santa determines if you've been bad or good, he makes it his mission to change the system. Written by Jonathan Mitchell and Seth Lind, originally produced for NPR's All Things Considered in 2014.

A (fictional) Director's Commentary from the (fictional) short film that inspired the (fictional) big budget feature romantic comedy "Then I Saw Her Face". Performed by Birgit Huppuch, with Maurice Jones and Libby Woodbridge. Written by Chris Kipiniak and Louis Kornfeld, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

A mixtape made especially for you, with five short comedy sketches produced by The Truth. Featuring performances by Scott Adsit, Tami Sagher, Ed Herbstman, Laura Grey, April Matthis, Peter McNerney, Lane Kewerdis, Al King, Becca Schall, Willy Appelman, Louis Kornfeld, Tom Ligon, and Blanche Ames. With sketches by Sarah Siskind, Colin Nissan, Becca Schall, Willie Appelman and David Zax. Produced by...

Dan's college roommate won't stop talking. Even when he's asleep. Performed by Brian Miskell and Mark Gessner, with Lusia Strus and Hannah Chase. Written by Chris Kipiniak, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

A new short film has been made based on our story "That's Democracy", and to celebrate we produced this documentary about how the original story was made. Including interviews with Louis Kornfeld, Peter McNerney, and filmmakers Jon Bowden & Cliff Traiman. Plus archival tape from our story meetings, and outtakes from the recording session.

A mysterious man appears in the barn of an elderly Irish couple. This story was commissioned by RTE's Drama on One, and recorded in Kilfinane, County Limerick, Ireland. Performed by Sarah Reynolds, Joe Mullins, Maeve McGrath, Diarmuid McIntyre, and Louis Kornfeld. Written by Louis Kornfeld, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell, with the assistance of Diarmuid McIntyre and Grey Heron Media. Special th...

Three men are stranded in a lifeboat. Adapted from a short story by Diane Cook, our adaptation is by Diana McCorry. Performed by David Pasquesi, Ed Herbstman, and Mark Gessner. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell. "Man V. Nature" is from the collection of the same name, copyright 2014 by Diane Cook, used by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.

Two stories: A blind man gets a Seeing Eye App, and a personal GPS gets really personal. With performances by Russell G. Jones, Ann Carr, Rachel Hamilton, and Kerry Kastin, and writing by Louis Kornfeld & Diana McCorry, and Jonathan Goldstein, Mira Burt-Wintonick & Cristal Duhaime.

Everyone thought you were missing, maybe even dead. And now you’re back. Performed by Ed Herbstman, Ben Jones, Christian Paluck, Chet Siegel, Louis Kornfeld, Amy Warren, and Asher Herbstman. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Also on this episode, a segment about the making of the Radiotopia logo from the Song Exploder podcast.

Where's your costume? Dressing up is the best part of these things! Performed by Matt Antonucci and Angela DeManti, with Kerry Kastin, Alejandro Kolleeny, and Louis Kornfeld. Written by Louis Kornfeld and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.

Greetings, souls of the damned! This story is about a young woman who always looked up to her older sister, until they found themselves in Hell. Performed by Bianca Casusol, Kate Emswiler, Louis Kornfeld, Jake Hart, Blanche Ames, Jimmy O’Connell, and Kerry Kastin. With special musical guest Christian Colabelli. Written by Alejandro Kolleeny, with Louis Kornfeld and Jonathan Mitchell. Produced by J...

No one knows what it is, or why we can't see it. All we know is that without it, the universe would fall apart. Performed by Kevin Corrigan, Chet Siegel, Ed Herbstman, Dennis Pacheco, Alexis Lambright, Rob Webber, and Anna Sale. Written by Diana McCorry, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Inspired by listener Christopher Tunnell.