West Side Stories Petaluma

During COVID, she got a Labrador puppy, whose only ‘hunt’ was finding an orange ball. One hot day, her six-month-old pup suffered heat stroke, leaving him weak and lethargic. They rushed to the ER, patiently waiting in worry—only for him to suddenly perk up, excited to see new people.

In college, Patti and her roommate Sue had a playful rivalry, each prank requiring patience—like Patti waiting silently in Sue’s closet for two hours before scaring her, or Sue lying under Patti’s bed, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to reach out and grab her arm. Both proved that the best pranks come to those who wait.

Jeff remembers Papa, who practically raised him and his brothers—his whistling was a sign of patience. His dad, too, showed patience by postponing his dream of a Corvette. Now, Jeff is learning from the men who came before him how to practice patience with his girls.

While volunteering at a museum event, Ken patiently stepped up to protect a fellow volunteer who was threatened, offering to walk him to his car. The next day, his colleagues were surprised, doubting that patience and protection could go hand in hand.

At 19, she became a single mom. Seeking direction, she went to a cabin with her dad, who urged her to focus on her daughter. Restless, she moved to a commune in San Francisco, then left to pick apples in Oregon, leaving her daughter with friends. After hitching back, they hit the road again—this time to Washington. A wrong turn on an icy road sent their car tumbling down a mountain. Stuck, she pra...

Back home in Philadelphia from college, his mom questioned his Kawasaki 50. “To replace my last bike,” he shrugged. When asked to pick up his sister, she refused—but her best friend hopped on instead. A few days later, his dad struck a deal: teach him to ride, and he’d get the family’s beautiful car for the weekend. Lesson complete, he and his friends took off to New Jersey. By the time they retur...

In fall 2021, his parents passed within months of each other. Devout Catholics, they weren’t afraid—his mom went while cutting flowers she wasn’t supposed to, his dad slipped in slippers his sister Gibby gave him. After their passing, he took a long ride to the Geysers, trying to process his grief. When he crashed, he waited for help—only to be rescued by a father and son, the elder struggling wit...

At 19, he dropped out of college, left Chicago’s suburbs, and headed west with Mike, eventually landing in Happy Camp, California. A neighbor invited them to poker night, and despite sensing a setup, they went. Their host, Joseph, spoke of companionship and Jesus, while his wife, Ruth, sang softly as they played. Strangely, he and Mike won plenty of pennies. Long after leaving, he kept thinking ab...

At 16, she worked three jobs nonstop, but by senior year, she knew she had to leave. With her last $1,000, she bought a ticket to Australia—no plan, just a one-way flight. The moment the plane took off, she sobbed, realizing she had no idea what came next. In Sydney, still lost, she picked two strangers and followed them through buses and trains until they reached a youth hostel. From there, she f...

Growing up on a dirt road with his brothers and a psycho dog named Wolf, life was unpredictable. One winter, Russ knocked over a snowman, his girlfriend screamed, and Wolf snapped. The damage was so bad they called the cops—but after 15 failed shots, it was Hal who fired the 16th. Despite their strife, he walked into his room and cried for hours.

When his daughter started dating, Bill warned, “All men are assholes.” Flashback 36 years—he met Caryn at work, their first spontaneous date leading to Ocean Beach. After years of trips and dinners, he felt stuck. Then, while losing at Boggle, he had a realization. He looked up and said, “One of these days, I’ll beat you… I guess we’ll have to get married.” Thankfully, she didn’t make him hit the...

In 2021, Gabriella left New Jersey for Colorado with her parents in tow. Her mom’s fear of public bathrooms led to a deluxe portable toilet—used just two feet from the family after 16 grueling hours on the road. Stunned awake, Gabriella's father sighed, “Well, I’m never gonna fall asleep after that… might as well finish the trip.” And so, they did.

They say all exits look the same, but the real story is in the entrance. From Colorado to Oregon, from Ecuador to the peaks of the Andes, from Bali’s bamboo forests to the rolling hills of Ireland—he set out on countless roads with barely two pennies to his name, navigating the unknown with sheer curiosity. His father’s words, “My way or the highway,” and his mother’s reminder, “Remember who you a...

A lesson in patience and preparation. He set out to find hay at a reasonable price for his new horses and finally landed at John's Hay Field. In his excitement, he stacked the hay four piles high—without tying it down. With no rope in sight, he hit the road anyway, only to learn the hard way that sometimes, you just have to slow down and take your time

The time he was 2 days late and a jackass.

The time she was late to be born.

Getting old and getting something icky. Like his dog Max who just wanted to live his last days fully, life is not just about how much time, but how you live it.

The time he was a week late back to college for a presentation becuase he decided to hitchhike to DC

The time he met Linda Blair in the mens bathroom before a Horror Show Festival.

The time she was given a secret that her friend Mike's dad was not his dad...when is it too late to tell?

Patty tells us about the time her dad helped a traveler late at night in her small town and he took a block of cheese as payment in respect.

Her Hometown in Michigan defined her growing up was a Rectangle; Mr Angelo would offer them ice cream, or Mrs Tucker who let them pick fruit on her land. The time they went Annie's house to get their ball back and got to know her better and learned she wasn't a witch.

His Hometown of Philly in the 50's; Girls played double dutch and the boys played stick ball and that "old factory smell" and the time that Mrs Willis and stayed with him after he skinned his knee

In this episode of 'Story Behind the Story', host Dave Pokorney discusses the art of storytelling with his guests John Ton and Josh Reimann. John recounts his youth in Wyoming, detailing his experiences as a young man in an old, inexpensive hotel during the 1970s energy crisis. His tale encompasses themes of maturity, empathy, and understanding. Josh shares a heartfelt story about his father, who...

This episode features two storytellers, Mary and Jan, who share nostalgic tales from their childhood and young adult years. Mary recounts her quest to collect Disneyland map game pieces from soda bottles for a chance to visit the theme park. Jan remembers attending a James Brown concert in 1968 and feeling a sense of belonging as the music dissolved racial divides. Their stories transport us back...