BACKFENCE Unhinged

ENCORE with Brian S. Ellis We’re gonna start weaving back in some of our most popular episodes now that the show is picking up steam! Here’s Brian!  What happens when a young love-stricken Bostonian conspires to land a spot on a poetry tour with his new love interest? Does his attempt to pull off a grand gesture that nods to his past as a petty thief win her over? You won't want to miss this sweet...

Episode 29: Chelsea Cain You’re about to hear a story about taking a Life Coach’s advice… maybe just a little too far and ending up on a medical odyssey — from author Chelsea Cain.  Lady Chelsea Cain is a New York Times best selling author, several times over, an Eisner nominated comic book writer, screenwriter and actual Royalty.  BACKFENCE Unhinged is a unique and delightful twist on the storyte...

Episode 27: Joe Guppy You’re about to hear a story about the ups, downs, free lunches, and unexpected turns of events that one deals with when chasing dreams in the city of dreams aka, Los Angeles— from writer Joe Guppy.  Joe Guppy is an Emmy award-winning comedy writer, retired therapist, script doctor, improviser, best-selling memoirist, and writing/creativity coach. His career in theater and te...

EPISODE 26: JOEY SLAMON Life with a toddler who is a runner is wild! Joey tells the hilarious story of Catch Me if You Can with her son breaking loose in a big winding museum.  Joey Slamon has written on shows like Arrested Development, Those Who Can't and wrote and produced I'm Sorry with Andrea Savage. She's written several features, sold several pilots and is also currently getting her Masters...

EPISODE 25: Brianna Wheeler Buckle in tight and let your legs dangle, you’re about to hear a true story from author Brianna Wheeler. She’ll drop you in the middle of a sweaty August night filled with the funny, tender, gross storm of being human. Brianna is an author, illustrator, arts and culture journalist and live storyteller in Portland, Oregon. Her debut book, Altogether Different: A memoir a...

EPISODE 24: Dayvid Figler You’re about to hear a wild, at times funny, at times gory true crime story. All about a small and short man defending an extra big and tall man — from writer and criminal defense lawyer Dayvid Figler.  Dayvid takes into the underground tunnels of Vegas where a community of thousands has taken up residence. And his defendant is known as the scary overlord. If you are quea...

EPISODE 23: Mark Robbins  Come  follow a young Mark Robbins who ends up on a wilderness survival trip that promises to return him to the straight and narrow. During his “alone survival” time his sleep is disrupted by an unwelcome visitor.  Mark is an English teacher and librarian at Lewis & Clark High School in Spokane, WA and story coach of the long-running Pivot storytelling series. Finally,...

EPISODE 22: Jason Rouse Jocose and smart as all hell, Jason Rouse takes you on a nail biting floating home journey. Twists and turns featuring the sudden onset of super-human strength whilst balancing on chains over water, connecting with his father, and what the hell is that floating in the water?  Jason is a writer, actor, husband, and dad to a wee feisty chihuahua named Goldie.  BACKFENCE Unhin...

EPISODE 21: Nicole Hardy Lean back, kick your legs up and laugh at actor and writer Nicole Hardy’ s bad choices that lead to very unintended hilarity wherein she narrowly escapes deadly consequences. That’s right, she discloses a triptych of true stories from the diary of a self-inflicted accidental poisoner. Nicole is a Seattle-based writer and teaching artist who’s working on a memoir about the...

EPISODE 20: AARON DRAPLIN Designer Aaron Draplin takes us on a GEN X tour of the skate punk and snowboarding world of his youth. Where zines ruled the day and skateboarders were total outsiders. Are there mentions of Dinosaur Jr.? Yes. Is there a caper involving fast food and the retrieval of skateboards from a boss's office? Yes. Is there a lot of fun, wisdom dropped, and the sweet follies of gru...

EPISODE 19: Derrick Brown Boy howdy do we have a good one for you to sink your teeth into! A cinematic and funny story from the inimitable Derrick Brown . He takes us on a motorcycle ride that wanders through love, cowboys, judging a book by its cover and being changed by finding out he’s resplendently  wrong.  Derrick lives in Los Angeles and is an award-winning poet, storyteller, comic and presi...

EPISODE 17: Mikey Shethar Chef, food inventor, and neophyte surfer Mikey Shethar slowly consumes his in-laws sugar cookies while doing a deep dive into his own psyche. How does his family by marriage not consume all the food that’s out? Why does one need Saran wrap because what are ‘leftovers’? Who are holiday cookies for? Mikey is about to find out and so are you in this hilarious holiday romp. ...

EPISODE 18: Darshanpreet Gill High school science teacher and baker Darshanpreet Gill regales us with the most disastrously hilarious story of traveling to see her family in Northern California for the winter holidays. Think Home Alone crossed with Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. What starts out as a very very well planned adventure quickly turns into an anything that could go wrong can and does...

EPISODE 16: Meg Ferrill Storyteller, comedian, and writer Meg Ferrill is gonna light you up, make you laugh and feel some feels, backed by her considerable chops on The Moth, Mortified, and Amateur night at The Apollo. As a rural dwelling 19 year-old fueled by a freshly discovered love for the ladies, Meg muscles her way through a considerable fear of flying to get herself to the mecca that is the...

EPISODE 15: LAUREN WEEDMAN This week's story comes from solo performer, actor (Hacks, Abbott Elementary, Sirens) and writer Lauren Weedman . She joined us from her apartment in Santa Monica, CA. For BACKFENCE Unhinged she tells the hilarious at times tender  story of admitting to and dealing with jealousy at a celebrity New Year’s Eve party.  BACKFENCE Unhinged is a unique and delightful twist on...

EPISODE 15: Beth Lisick This week's story comes from writer and actor Beth Lisick . She joined us from her home booth in the Hudson Valley. Originally from the Bay Area, she flies back several times a year to co-host and co-produce the longtime incredible storytelling series, Porchlight.  For BACKFENCE Unhinged she tells the wild, challenging, and at times hilarious story of her first time as deme...

EPISODE 13: Arthur Bradford In his early 20’s and in search of  solace to write, documentary filmmaker Arthur Bradford moves into a rural cabin in the woods. Where he befriends squirrels and, whilst pretending to be a porcupine, plays an ill-fated outhouse prank on a visiting friend. Well, that took a turn!  Right? You’ll have to listen to find out more.  Watch this super funny High School caper B...

EPISODE 12: Eden Dawn It’s Fall you all! This month we’re featuring stories that hit on good times that take various turns of (light-hearted) horror!  While abroad in England and against her intuition, documentarian, writer, and Guinness Book of World Record holder, Eden Dawn , is cajoled into traveling to a haunted farmland… where nothing is as it seems. Like any good horror story she gets separa...

EPISODE 11: Ash Allen It’s Fall you all. This month we’re featuring stories that hit on good times that take various turns of fright!  How the heck did comedian, storyteller, and Southern gem Ash Allen’s romance-filled semester in Paris turn into a summer planning her own funeral… at just 21 years old? Find out how the matriarchy of her family teams up  and works to solve her mysterious illness. S...

EPISODE 10: Monica Choy It’s Fall you all. This month we’re featuring stories that hit on good times that take various turns of (light-hearted) horror!  Artist and gardener Monica Choy tells hosts Andrew and Frayn the true story of how a High School summer internship at a medical lab got out of hand. Heads up for the squeamish! Mention of human skin being grown is made. This episode is especially...

EPISODE 09: Bri-Skye McKizzie It’s Fall you all. This month we’re featuring stories that hit on good times that take various turns of (light-hearted) horror!  What happens when you call off a wedding then fly to Paris once venue deposit comes back and fattens your bank account? For our guest it means she turns on dating apps mid-flight.  Find out how that date turns out on today's episode with act...

EPISODE O8: Andrew Dickson It’s a host-only episode! Co-host Andrew Dickson takes us on a ride with his story of the highs and blows of fulfilling a long anticipated dream… an all expenses paid trip to Europe to perform his solo show ‘AC Dickson Ebay Powerseller.’ Only to have the whole dream put in peril from the shocking taunts and threats from English hooligans –  threats that arrived in the fo...

EPISODE O7: Grant Gosch Writer, coach, and consultant Grant Gosch takes us on the strange and wild crash course that leads him to finding true love. But wait! It takes a left turn from there  into writing a romance novel and love letters… not just the romantic kind, letters for friends (which can and does get weird), strangers, and even beloved pets.  BACKFENCE Unhinged is a unique and delightful...

EPISODE 06: Matt Sheehy  Writer and frontman for Lost lander Matt Sheehy and creator of the genius BACKFENCE Unhinged music tells a story of being a teenager longing for the promises of a big city while feeling a little stuck in the vastness of Alaska. He hops on an opportunity to get his first big taste of city life all the way in Australia! Find out how his new adventure goes and how employing a...

EPISODE 05: Frayn Masters Co-host Frayn Masters is the guest! Listen in as writer, producer, and performer Frayn relays a charming yarn to co-host Andrew about her literal brush with destiny. Does poor execution of a Glamour magazine hair tutorial cause Frayn to miss the wedding of her first high school friend to tie the knot? Or, is her fate to show up looking like a blue-horned unicorn or not go...