Valley Voices: Recent Episodes
Vanessa Cerillo
Outrageous, funny and heartwarming true stories told in five minutes by your friends and neighbors from around the valley. The audience picks the winner, and the winning stories are featured on the Valley Voices Podcast. Valley Voices is presented by New England Public Media and the Academy of Music.
This time on the Valley Voices Story Slam podcast: We had 10 winners of season 9’s Story Slams up on stage at the Academy of Music in Northampton. And now we present to you - the Best of Season 9! There were great stories all year long, but Angela Combest, Julia Mitchell and Dave Fromm were the audience’s favorite that night. Enjoy!
For our final Summer Short story of the 2024 season, we bring you Susan Bartfay and her story “Bad boys are my weakness”. Some people just have to recount things that happened in their life to bring a really incredible story to the stage. Susan told this one at our “Pot Luck” story slam that we held at our NEPM studios in Springfield. We’re making plans for season 10 of Valley Voices Story Slams at venues throughout western Mass. this fall - hope to see you there!
Rachel Leventhal Weiner is up next in NEPM’s Summer Short podcast series. She takes out an old personal memory set to the back drop of a quite public memory that we all share. Enjoy “Girl Meets Boy” from our “Missed Connections” story slam last fall.
This week in NEPM’s Valley Voices Summer Shorts podcast series, we reach back to our Whodunit? story slam last fall to hear from Judy Gutlerner and the life perspective she got from a household mixup.
Kenneth Mulder is up next in NEPM’s Summer Shorts podcast series with his quirky story “Lost in Translation”. Kenneth brings us his secret of talking to the animals, and listening to them too. Extra bonus points for the sound effects!These stories come from our Valley Voices story slams throughout the year — even if you didn’t make it to the slam, we didn’t want you to miss them!
Andrew Shelffo was part of a night of stories on the theme “Pot Luck” that NEPM hosted at our Springfield studios last spring. His story “A family reunion” spanned many years and almost as many emotions.NEPM’s Summer Shorts podcasts are taken from our Valley Voices story slams throughout the year — even if you didn’t make it to the slam, we didn’t want you to miss them!
Lila West takes us to Europe this week for our Valley Voices Summer Shorts podcast. Told at our Road Trip story slam last fall, “Putting the international into harvester” is a story about a family trip, but it’s also about learning to accept some things that she thought she never would. NEPM’s Summer Shorts podcasts are taken from our Valley Voices story slams throughout the year — even if you didn’t make it to the slam, we didn’t want you to miss them!
The next story in NEPM’s Valley Voices Summer Shorts series comes from Lauren Ostberg. She brought “The Perpetrator” to our Whodunit? story slam in September to prove to all of us what an amazing detective she is. NEPM’s Summer Shorts podcasts are taken from our Valley Voices story slams throughout the year — even if you didn’t make it to the slam, we didn’t want you to miss them!
Driving the vice presidential motorcade — is that a thing? For this week’s Summer Shorts story, Jordan Hall takes us along for a wild ride as a civilian, recruited to drive Vice President Joe Biden to the airport on a moment’s notice. He told this unique tale for our Missed Connections story slam at The Drake in Amherst in January.
Storyteller Matty Adams is up next in NEPM’s Summer Shorts series — he told “What Went Down at the Lighthouse'' at the Marigold Theater in Easthampton last fall. He definitely fit the theme of “Whodunit?” but not in the way everyone else did. This content might not be suitable for everyone — consider listening to this one without the kids!
This week on NEPM’s Summer Shorts podcast series, it’s Michael Hoberman. But his story “Out of My Element” might actually be more about his hitchhiking companions, and the pursuit of Fun, with a capital F.
Nina Brand is the next storyteller in NEPM’s Valley Voices Summer Shorts podcast series. She has a wonderful recollection of visits with her grandmother that passed on some important family knowledge.
It’s time for NEPM’s Summer Shorts podcast series - one true story, uploaded every Friday this summer. As we look back on season 9 of NEPM’s Valley Voices Story Slams, Paul Katz grabbed us with his story “Chasing Jimmy.” Happy Summer!
This month, we’re sharing the first episode of NEPM’s new podcast, The Secrets We Keep. Produced and hosted by NEPM reporter Karen Brown, the five part series explores how secrets both reflect our world and affect those caught inside them. Find the full series on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. For photos, transcripts and more, visit nepm.org/secrets.
A little bit of everything this time around for Valley Voices Story Slam podcast. That's why we called it Pot Luck! Angela Grout, Josh Simpson and Angela Combest were the winners of NEPM's fourth story slam of our ninth season. Enjoy!
This time on NEPM’s Valley Voices Podcast, we bring you great stories on the theme Missed Connections, all told at The Drake in Amherst. Sarah Zurieck Brown is still thinking about what might have been at the zoo, Ruthy Woodring holds out hope as she picks up trash, and Josh Simpson winds up with his wife because she called the wrong number.
We’re hitting the highway for this Valley Voices podcast. We have the winners of NEPM’s Story Slam held at Hawks & Reed in Greenfield. Amy Dryansky ran away from home, Amy Heflin ran through the Texas night, and Dennis Warren ran a hitchhiker into Oregon in the ‘70s.
NEPM presents our 9th season of Valley Voices Story Slams - now in podcast form! Here are the winners of this season's first slam, held at the Marigold Theater in Easthampton. David Bulley, Dave Fromm and Julia Mitchell tell us about a mystery they each encountered in their own life.
Jacob Nelson from CISA drops by to "take over" NEPM's Valley Voices podcast - he brought some great stories from Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture's "Field Notes" storytelling event to share with us.
Andrew Shelffo looks back on his life as a runner and notices how his attitude affects his pace.
Sarah Wisby takes a good look back at what the color black represented in her punk adolescence.
Liz Varney is a social worker who takes some time to look back on what a particular case meant in her career.
A sweet first kiss turns sour as Lauren Crigler gets a lesson on the different ways boys and girls get treated in middle school.
On this week’s Summer Shorts story from NEPM, Matthew Dicks gets some electrical encouragement to think through his new living situation.
Laura Porter tells us about a miracle that came out of a great adventure on this week’s Valley Voices Summer Shorts podcast.
This time on NEPM’s Summer Shorts Podcast, Earl Miller leads us on a journey from “just a job” to “a career with heart”
In this week's Summer Shorts podcast from NEPM, Nina Brand dusts an old trophy and finds herself more interested in the people who helped her win it.
Another personal reflection comes your way this week - Mireille Bejjini is our Summer Shorts storyteller, with her thoughts about moving to Western Massachusetts and getting comfortable.
NEPM's Summer Shorts stories are often touching or funny or suspenseful. But Matty Adams delivers the only story you're ever going to hear about Barbarella and birds!
NEPM's Summer Shorts has another great story for you - this time from Wren Bellevance-Grace who first brought it to us in our "Sorry, Not Sorry" Story Slam at the Drake in Amherst. Enjoy "The Wanted Daughter"
Valley Voices Summer Shorts series brings you some of the best from the past season of NEPM's Story Slams - this time, it's a classic ghost story from Dave Fromm.
Next up in NEPM's Summer Shorts storytelling series is from Angela Combest about "taking the plunge".
Again this summer, NEPM has a story for you every week! Summer Shorts favorites from season 8 of our Valley Voices Story Slams. We'll start with David Bulley and his memories of coyotes. Happy Summer!
Season 8 of NEPM's Valley Voices was full of great stories and every storyteller brought their A game to the Academy of Music in Northampton for our final Story Slam of the season. And in this episode of the podcast, we present the three that came out on top - from Jennifer Baker, Tone Nunes and Paul McNeil. Congrats to our winners!
NEPM's Valley Voices podcast brings you three stories on a theme - this time, all of our storytellers told us about a time they had to say "Nope!"
NEPM's Valley Voices story slams always feature some stellar stories, and this one was no exception!
Our podcast features the outrageous, funny and heartwarming true stories told by your friends and neighbors at Valley Voices Story Slam events throughout western Massachusetts.Valley Voices Story Slam is presented by New England Public Media and the Academy of Music Theatre.
In a great evening of storytelling at the Divine Theater in Holyoke, we heard tales of people skating out into uncertain and sometimes dangerous situations, and how they managed to glide away!
This time on the Valley Voices podcast, stories from the digital dating scene - some scandalous and some stirring. It’s “Love Me Tinder” - three stories told on our Valley Voices stage!
This is the podcast version of New England Public Media’s Valley Voices Radio - three stories told live on-stage without notes during our Valley Voices Story Slams.
New England Public Media delivers another episode of Valley Voices Radio to our podcast feed. This time, we have 3 stories of people getting "Busted"!
New England Public Media has another 3 for you from a great night of storytelling we called "Family Drama"!
New England Public Media is sharing episodes of our Valley Voices Radio program on your podcast feed. This time, we're hitting the Open Road!
On this episode of NEPM's Valley Voices podcast, it’s stories about the “First Time” - whether it’s a first kiss, a first baby, or even just the first day on the job, folks from around here came to our Valley Voices story slam to tell us all about it.
New England Public Media brings you another episode of Valley Voices Radio, this time with three stories from a night we called "Now Or Never." We heard some outrageous accounts of folks that at one time found themselves at an inflection point, and now are looking back at their choices.
New England Public Media is bringing episodes of Valley Voices Radio into your podcast feed this fall, and we're starting with "Sweet and Salty", a collection of three stories that mix some salt in with their sweetness!
New England Public Media is bringing episodes of Valley Voices Radio into your podcast feed this fall, and we're starting with "Sweet and Salty", a collection of three stories that mix some salt in with their sweetness!
In the last episode of our Summer Shorts series, David Bulley tells us about a wild ride in Stacyville Maine. We hope it inspires you to keep sharing your stories with us. Season eight of Valley Voices Story Slam premieres in December!
A story from Lauren Ostberg is up next in NEPM's Summer Shorts podcast - Lauren takes us back to her beatnik days when she used to ask a LOT of big questions
Up next in NEPM's Summer Shorts podcast, Brynn Nowell revisits a story about her dad. It wasn't easy to tell, but she knows that it resonates with a lot of listeners so she's glad she could share it.
Kelly Norris brings us this week's Summer Short. This was the first story Kelly ever told on our Valley Voices stage, and she says she was inspired by the theme of that night's story slam " Now or Never" That got her thinking about all of the things that we do when we hit middle age, before we run out of time.
This week on NEPM's Summer Shorts, it's Chris Hall with a story he admits is a little embarrassing, but good for reminding him that even after all these years, he still has room to learn and grow.
Our snack of a story for this week comes from Peggy Gruen who brings us right back to childhood and her first time without a babysitter.
Sara Sweet Rabidoux-Kelsey is up next in NEPM's Summer Shorts series, with your typical "Girl Meets Boy and Gains Home Appliance" story.
NEPM's Summer Shorts podcast series continues with Eve Brown Waite and her great memories of an old neighborhood.
Stand-up comic Nick Carelock came to the Valley Voices stage to transition to spoken word, and found help to get through tough times.
Mike Dindoffer is up next in our Summer Shorts series inviting his anxiety angel and anxiety devil to relate his experience as a contestant on the game show "Jeopardy".
Our Summer Shorts series continues with tales of bravery from Nicky Hamer in her story "Mom saves France".
Another thoughtful summer story in our Summer Shorts series, this time from John Sharp.
Valley Voices is making a splash with Summer Shorts - a quick hit of local storytelling every week!
Another great collection of stories, this time from the winners of Season 7's story slam on the theme "Let Me Explain" - Sue Schmidt, David Bulley and Kim Deshields
In this episode, we've got the winners of Season 7's story slam on the theme "Now or Never" - Bonnie House, Tulip Choudury and Valerie Reiss.
We have the best of Valley Voices Story Slams season 6 for you, featuring season winners Steve Bernstein, Kerrita Mayfield, David Bulley, Tim Gillis and Andrew Shelfo.
Stories in this episode were shared in the final story slam of our sixth season, live on the Academy of Music stage. Deirdre Cuffee-Gray, Steve Bernstein and Paul Phifer share stories on the theme Around The Block.
In our first digital story slam of the season, our storytellers were live on stage at the Academy of Music, and our audience was at home on the couch, but, we Nailed It! In this episode you’ll hear stories from Kerrita Mayfield, Tim Gillis and Donna Jenson.
In this episode we go to the Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield to bring you stories from our second slam of the season. Riffing off the episode theme “sweet and salty,” Christine Stevens tells tales on her middle school students. Then, Sera Rivers shares her thoughts about finding a guy who accepts her real self. Finally, David Bulley brings us more middle schoolers — and more misbehavior.
On this episode, you'll hear three of the storytellers from the first show of our sixth Valley Voices season, featuring stories on the theme "Love Me Tinder". We gathered at New City Brewery in Easthampton to hear Sara Rabidoux-Kelsey relate a tale of an internet date that surprised her. Then Andrew Shelffo shared that getting back into the dating scene after 20 years felt a lot like walking a tight rope, and Angela Combest finished off the evening with a story about a date that ended in the emergency room.
On this episode, you’ll hear the winners from our fifth show of the fifth Valley Voices season. This show had the theme of Open Road and was held at Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center in downtown Greenfield, Mass. Karen Fisk starts off with a story about one of her hardest moments as a mom. Our next storyteller, Jenny Powers, tells an epic adventure about a trip to the Big Apple. We end this episode with Phil Simon who truly blazed a trail across California with his band mates back in the nineties.
Hear the winners from the Valley Voices Story Slam with the theme “Busted” held at New City Brewery in Easthampton, Mass. Storyteller Kate Mesmer shares why she never got the chance to become a full-fledged Girl Scout. Next, Summer Kaeppel tells her story about the days she was a teenage wedding crasher. We round out this episode with Doug Creighton who explains how his move south of the border was held up.
The winners of our "TMI" story slam are featured on the latest Valley Voices podcast. Anna Bowen shares her story about tjust how far she'll go for her mother. Matthew Dicks takes us through an awkard moment on a plastic couch. And we hear from Kevin Gallagher who shares his story about an apprehensive visit to the proctologist.
The winners of our "In The Mood" story slam are featured on the latest Valley Voices podcast. Eddie Brennan shares his story about the night he lost his virginity and fathered a child. Valerie Reiss opens up about her condition, vulvar vestibulitis. And we hear from Lauren Ostberg who at sixteen years old was in the mood for a little something different.
We kick off season 5 of the Valley Voices podcast with the winners of our first slam of the year: Andrea Cohen-Kiener, Hilary Price and David Bulley with their stories. From Big Al’s Bar in Minneapolis, to a car chase in northern Maine, to the banks of the Connecticut River, our storytellers share the stuff of family lore in our “Family Ties” episode.
The winners of "If I Knew Then" share their stories, and go a little deeper on the latest Valley Voices podcast. Tim Mazur shares love story -- one that could be mistaken as a script for a romantic comedy. Aria Bracci tells the intimate story of how she found her voice, both literally and figuratively. And we hear from Tim Gillis who understands the stress and sacrifice that comes with being a father now, but that wasn't always the case. Be sure to join us at the Best of Valley Voices at the Academy of Music Theatre on October 13 -- Click here for tickets!
Welcome back to the Valley Voices podcast! This time, we’re talking to our winners from our third installment of our story slams surrounding the theme of “Landline.” Dan Glanville teaches us a lesson about the important of human interaction through the tales of his unusual family members. Aimee Loiselle shares a story about the ancient idea of complete aloneness. Tulip Chadhury tells the emotional story of a wrong number turned almost love story. They’ll be competing at the Best of Valley Voices competition coming up on October 13 at the Academy of Music.
We’re back with another Valley Voices podcast! This time we’re talking to our winners from the second story slam of season 4, about their “Silver Lining” stories. Katie Drumm shares her family's unusual road trip to track down her sister. Andrew Shelffo tells the tale of the Valentine’s Day that switched his views on humanity. And Teal Van Dyck gives us a humorous and touching recount on their interactions with children as a trans-person.
Season four of our Valley Voices Story Slam Series kicked off in March with the theme “Neighbors.” That means we’re back with a brand new Valley Voices podcast! We’ll be talking with three storytellers who made quite an impression the the live audience that night. Eve Brown-Waite tells us about her neighbors across the globe. Kevin Gallagher gives a humorous recount of a night that didn’t go as expected. And Shirlee Williams shares the tale of the night her mother almost committed murder. You’ll hear their stories as they told them that night, plus they sit down with us to share what they couldn’t fit into their five minute story.
A selection from recent Valley Voices Story Slam featuring "Stories of Exasperation". Michael Kingsbury and Jim Brissette share their tales.
We’re back with more stories from your friends and neighbors on the Valley Voices Podcast.
This month we're listening back to our top two storytellers from the "Refresh" Story Slam, held at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke. David Bulley was our runner-up for audience favorite, and tells us how well good old fashioned machismo replaces showers at hunting camp. Our winner from the evening, Susanne Schmidt, shares with us one of the more unusual trips to the grocery store she's had with her father. Music here by Broken Social Scene and Bill Monroe.
We’re coming to you this month with our most recent slam, held at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke. The night’s theme was “One Shot.” Starting things off is our runner up favorite for the evening, Terry Wolfisch Cole, who took her “one shot” when things were feeling a bit desperate in Utah. Finally Kerrita Mayfield, our winner from the evening, introduces us to her student "Sunshine." For a chance to have your story featured on the next podcast, share your first line with us for our next event. The best ten lines will be invited to compete on stage at “Refresh,” at Gateway City Arts on March 16th. Music here by Broken Social Scene and Pullman.