Two Minute Stories: Recent Episodes
Justin Hastings
A story about the end of the world.
Inspiration:
Life in quarantine seems to repeat the same day, over and over. How would that repetitiveness feel... permanently? I was interested to explore a married couple and how they'd survive – both mentally and physically – in a world where every day must be the same.
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Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also listen on Spotify and follow Two Minute Stories on Twitter.
A story about future journalists.
Inspiration
We rely on journalists to deliver the truth... but what if we also relied on them for justice? In this story, I explore the idea of journalists playing the role of judge, jury, and... well, you know the other one.
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Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also listen on Spotify and follow Two Minute Stories on Twitter.
A story about cancel culture.
Inspiration
How do we feel about litigating past actions with today's social norms? In this story, I explore an extreme version involving two married couples and how one wrong thought or sentence can change everything. Is it fair?
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Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also listen on Spotify and follow Two Minute Stories on Twitter.
A story without a home.
Inspiration
What's the opposite of having a home? In this story, I explore the idea of folks living in shipping containers, consistently waking up to a new world across the oceans. No property tax, no problem.
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Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also listen on Spotify and follow Two Minute Stories on Twitter.
A story about delivering the past.
Inspiration
What happens to our digital libraries when power is no more? I'm a paying customer for an online backup service and I was curious to know – what does a company like that look like when we're no longer connected to the grid?
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Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also listen on Spotify and follow Two Minute Stories on Twitter.
A story about life at home.
Inspiration
In our current climate, it's expected that some folks might find quarantine life to equate to paranoia. This story explores life under house arrest and how the unknown is our greatest fear.
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Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also listen on Spotify and follow Two Minute Stories on Twitter.
Guest storyteller! JB Lion joins the show for a fourth time to discuss “The Seventh Spark,” his new fantasy book series. JB talks about who inspires him and also gives listeners another glimpse of his work through an excerpt from the story.
Learn more about JB and “The Seventh Spark” at jblion.com.
Listen to more stories on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and follow Two Minute Stories on Twitter.
Guest storyteller! JB Lion joins the show for a third time to discuss “The Seventh Spark,” his new fantasy book series. JB talks about the challenges and obstacles he faces as a black fantasy author and also peels back the curtain on his work through another excerpt from the story. He'll join future episodes to talk more about his project.
Learn more about JB and “The Seventh Spark” at jblion.com.
Listen to more stories on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and follow Two Minute Stories on Twitter.
Guest storyteller! JB Lion joins the show for a second time to discuss “The Seventh Spark,” his new fantasy book series. JB discusses his creative process for the project and also gifts us with another excerpt from the story. He'll join future episodes to talk more about his project.
Learn more about JB and “The Seventh Spark” at jblion.com.
Listen to more stories on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and follow Two Minute Stories on Twitter.
Guest storyteller! JB Lion joins the show to discuss “The Seventh Spark,” his new fantasy book series. JB shares how he got started on the idea and also reads an excerpt from the story. He'll join future episodes to talk more about his project.
Learn more about JB and “The Seventh Spark” at jblion.com.
Listen to more stories on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and follow Two Minute Stories on Twitter.
A story about one-way communication.
Inspiration
Great communication is required for any strong relationship. I wanted to explore how one couple uses one half of communication – listening – to entertain themselves. I liked the idea of a couple using gossip to cover up their own communication issues.
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Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also listen on Spotify and follow Two Minute Stories on Twitter.
A story about the reputation of the dead.
Inspiration”We owe everything to Dad! Especially whatever is in that safe.”
In this story, I explore what happens to siblings when their father passes away. With specific last wishes, how do the siblings handle the requests of someone no longer with them? I'm intrigued by the inherent risk taken on by survivors when it comes to their views on the deceased.
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A story about good intentions gone bad.
InspirationWould it be like meeting his grandfather in real life?
The idea of one generation leaving something to a future generation is one of love and appreciation... but what happens in between isn't reliable. I explored the idea of a grandfather's good intentions going bad with an unknowing family member on the wrong end of a gift.
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A story about sibling support.
InspirationLike a drum beat. Like a steady rain. Like breathing. “It’s okay.”
After watching Pixar's "Onward," a story about two brothers, I reflected on the relationship with my own brother – a great one! I wanted to juxtapose the feelings that occur towards the end of life and how our support systems can help make the transition a calm one.
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A story about a friend's changing life.
Inspiration"Talk to me about what you mean by ‘losing’ this friend.”
Typically we welcome the news of a pregnancy with joy, excitement, and support. Our main character feels quite the opposite. This story explores how parenthood effects friendship and how one new life changes those beyond the parents.
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Blake joins basic training.
This is episode 6 of 6 of "Absolutely Nothing," a Two Minute Stories anthology series. The story follows six former servicewomen navigating a world where war is outlawed.
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Caitlin pilots a jet.
This is episode 5 of 6 of "Absolutely Nothing," a Two Minute Stories anthology series. The story follows six former servicewomen navigating a world where war is outlawed.
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Georgia works in tech.
This is episode 4 of 6 of "Absolutely Nothing," a Two Minute Stories anthology series. The story follows six former servicewomen navigating a world where war is outlawed.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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Sarah makes clothes.
This is episode 3 of 6 of "Absolutely Nothing," a Two Minute Stories anthology series. The story follows six former servicewomen navigating a world where war is outlawed.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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Adele shows houses.
This is episode 2 of 6 of "Absolutely Nothing," a Two Minute Stories anthology series. The story follows six former servicewomen navigating a world where war is outlawed.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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Charlene plays video games.
This is episode 1 of 6 of "Absolutely Nothing," a Two Minute Stories anthology series. The story follows six former servicewomen navigating a world where war is outlawed.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about hiding behind your words.
InspirationThe voices both snickered behind the glass.
Much of the negativity across our digital world comes from those leaving their opinions while hiding behind a keyboard of anonymity. This inspired me to look at this issue in a much different environment – one where spirits hide not behind a keyboard, but a mirror. How do their interactions with humans differ when the mirror no longer exists?
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A story about the voice inside your head.
InspirationBut there was another voice inside me. Not one that was programmed solely from an algorithm... no, this voice was me.
As we rely more and more on data, analysis, and algorithms to make decisions, when will have to stick up for our immeasurable desires? I've always been fascinated by subjects that have an art-versus-science debate. Here, I explore that debate in a world where most of life's decisions are made for you. Is that what you hear?
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A story about responsibility.
Inspiration"You know I don’t want to be a father. I want nothing to do with going home at 6:30.”
This story looks at a world in which very few males are capable of reproducing. How do the circumstances of the world affect current parents, aspiring parents, and those wholly uninterested in being parents?
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Why can't you let me go?
This is chapter 11 of 11 of "The Only Child," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story follows a family of three negotiating the day-to-day life of parenting, childhood, and the unknown.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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Can't I just be me?
This is chapter 10 of 11 of "The Only Child," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story follows a family of three negotiating the day-to-day life of parenting, childhood, and the unknown.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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Why is everyone against me?
This is chapter 9 of 11 of "The Only Child," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story follows a family of three negotiating the day-to-day life of parenting, childhood, and the unknown.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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How do I figure this out?
This is chapter 8 of 11 of "The Only Child," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story follows a family of three negotiating the day-to-day life of parenting, childhood, and the unknown.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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Is it time for a vacation?
This is chapter 7 of 11 of "The Only Child," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story follows a family of three negotiating the day-to-day life of parenting, childhood, and the unknown.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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Can I just go back to sleep?
This is chapter 6 of 11 of "The Only Child," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story follows a family of three negotiating the day-to-day life of parenting, childhood, and the unknown.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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What treasure awaits us?
This is chapter 5 of 11 of "The Only Child," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story follows a family of three negotiating the day-to-day life of parenting, childhood, and the unknown.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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What happens behind closed doors?
This is chapter 4 of 11 of "The Only Child," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story follows a family of three negotiating the day-to-day life of parenting, childhood, and the unknown.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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Why can't I do what everyone else does?
This is chapter 3 of 11 of "The Only Child," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story follows a family of three negotiating the day-to-day life of parenting, childhood, and the unknown.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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Will this ever get easier?
This is chapter 2 of 11 of "The Only Child," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story follows a family of three negotiating the day-to-day life of parenting, childhood, and the unknown.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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What's wrong with Hadley?
This is chapter 1 of 11 of "The Only Child," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story follows a family of three negotiating the day-to-day life of parenting, childhood, and the unknown.
Learn moreEnjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about the fictitious annual Quail Valley Spelling Bee which boasts a unique set of rules. Listen to all 12 parts of the miniseries in this episode.
Inspiration I've been under the weather for the past week so I'm resharing the entirety of "The Masters," a collection of 12 two-minute stories connected by the setting of the Quail Valley Spelling Bee.
I originally shared this work in August 2017, largely inspired by Tom Rachman's "The Imperfectionists," a novel where each chapter explores a different employee at an international newspaper. I found Tom's structure compelling and applied it to the unique spelling bee setting.
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A story about a limited police force... plus, a celebration of 100 episodes including my five favorites and a special announcement.
Inspiration The kid was right — the body had been here far longer than she anticipated. Something was amiss.
WE MADE IT TO 100 EPISODES!
It's been a wild ride since we launched in October 2016. It's taken me longer to get to 100 stories than I would have liked, but it's worth celebrating regardless. Here are my favorite episodes from the first 100:
- Post-presidency
- In Case of Emergency
- The Algorithm
- Build-A-Kid Workshop
- Too Far Into the Trees
Also, you can now listen to the entire Two Minute Stories library on Spotify! We hope to find some new ears on the platform. Welcome to anyone listening on Spotify.
As for today's story, I was interested in exploring a world where the funding for investigative resources was so small that crime scenes would often go unaddressed for weeks on end. There's something here that could be worth a future extension of this story... and perhaps another miniseries.
Thanks to everyone for listening since we launched. We hope you'll join us for the next 100 episodes.
Learn more Now you can listen on Spotify!
Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about spirits.
Inspiration Roger attempted to step forward but his body wouldn’t allow him. “One more sip,” his body ordered.
This story came from the idea that the main character might misinterpret the word "spirits," which could mean a few things. I was intrigued by someone both under the influence of alcohol and looking to be influenced by another source... in this case, a psychic. How does someone deal with their own vices while seeking advice about strange occurrences in their home?
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A story about not blending in with family.
Inspiration I’m alone in my house with a family of six.
This opening line to the story came to me and I immediately captured it with Evernote. I like the idea of the main character feeling like an outsider, even within her family – their different careers and interests serve as different languages and neither group is bilingual.
As a creator, I sometimes feel it's difficult to share with people "the creative itch" that I often feel. When I get to scratch it and share work with the outside world, I feel satisfied and empowered to create more.
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A story about living at sea.
Inspiration The sun shone bright across the community, a collection of homes traveling together across the ocean.
What happens when our planet is covered by water? This story examines a world where houses still exist, but they do so on the sea rather than on land. I was interested to explore how a community of homes survives amongst seemingly impossible conditions... and if could life ever feel normal.
Learn more Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about war and the flag.
Inspiration Not even the Army’s Regeneration Program could stop Father Time.
The American flag has withstood the test of time for nearly 250 years. This story jumps us forward in time towards the quadricentennial of America's birth. There, I explore what it means to be an American soldier – how the flag still carries weight, especially when folks in the armed services constantly regenerate and return to battle. I was intrigued by an amazing technology that saves lives but that comes with plenty of side effects.
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A story about extreme nutrition.
Inspiration “We have to eat — exclusively eat — the most natural of elements.”
In my short time on this earth, I've watched the collective intelligence around nutrition change rapidly. Vegetarians always seemed strange to me as a kid as I was unfamiliar with their nutritional behaviors. Fast forward to today and I don't find vegans any different than omnivores – it's simply a choice folks make about what to consume.
In this story, I looked at a possible future for nutrition where the amount of varying foods we eat rapidly decreases. What would our world look like if we were guided to eat only a handful of items?
Learn more Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also subscribe to Two Minute Stories on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about temporary death.
Inspiration “15 years?!? But I’ve already been under for forty!”
In a world where death is temporary, how does a cemetery operate? With this premise, we explore how an employee at a graveyard interacts with the buried. I was intrigued by the idea of death as a temporary state, where folks still expire but only for a short amount of time. Perhaps there is more to explore here around awakening the dead for specific reasons like population control or adding to the workforce. I may come back to this idea in a future, long-form story.
Learn more Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also subscribe to Two Minute Stories on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about motivation.
Inspiration For some folks, money is the answer – they'll do absolutely anything to get more of it. For others, it's notoreity or fame or power. Motivation comes from many places, even amongst colleagues, friends, and family. I'm fascinated by these differences.
This story looks at two coworkers who work for the same cause but do it for different reasons. One of the most telling differentiators is time spent on work, much like Elle and Jared, the characters in this story. Do they remind you of someone in your life?
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A story about living underground.
Inspiration Earth continues to get warmer and with it comes a devolving atmosphere. At some point in the future, humans will have to solve the problem of unsafe air. This story examines what happens when they are forced to live underground. How would emotions be tested with so many folks living in a finite space?
I chose to write this story as mini vignettes – short paragraphs chronicling the underground world over several years. The idea might work as a longer miniseries. Previously, I created a 12-part miniseries called "The Masters." The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules. Interested? Start with episode 1 here.
Learn more Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also subscribe to Two Minute Stories on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about the fear of flying.
Inspiration I do not like flying. This wasn't always the case, but as I've gotten older, my fear has only increased. This story looks at a character with a similar fear and a fellow passenger who tries to help.
Learn more Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also subscribe to Two Minute Stories on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about a vicious legacy.
Inspiration There are evil deeds, evil acts, and evil strategies... but how does evil live on? In this story, I explored the idea of an act so evil, it would deeply effect future generations.
Learn more Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also subscribe to Two Minute Stories on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about connected bodies.
Inspiration I was intrigued by Queen's lyric from "You're My Best Friend" – you know the one: "ooooo, you make me live!" It's not only a great song but a helpful launching pad for this story. What if another person truly made you live... or rather, kept you alive? This seems to be the scenario for the story's main characters.
How does one function when one needs another?
Learn more Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also subscribe to Two Minute Stories on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about the power of help.
Inspiration The power of meditation continues to grow throughout the world thanks to folks committed to spreading the word, an increase of digital meditative apps, and a growing focus on mental health. I, too, have found meditation to be helpful to reduce stress, practice mindfulness, and be present in the moment. Sometimes, it even helps my golf game! (Which could certainly use all the help it can get).
In this story, I imagined a scenario where mindfulness and breathing might help in the most dire – and unexpected – situations. Who knows how far the power of meditation can take us?
Learn more Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also subscribe to Two Minute Stories on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about how other folks live.
Inspiration Similar to the previous story, I was interested in how folks from different lifestyles come together in the workplace. Here, one girl is the voyeur to another's life, finding herself interested in what seems to be something out of a TV show. I'm constantly intrigued by the differences in day-to-day living can be for folks in the same geography and of similar age. Everyone's story is unique!
Learn more Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also subscribe to Two Minute Stories on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about life stages.
Inspiration I'm fascinated by the life changes that happen between the ages of 20 and 40. I often witness this at my day job, where I interact with folks across the spectrum of work life – just starting out all the way until pre-retirement. I find it interesting that in the relatively short amount of time between your early 20s and late 30s, your perspective, values, and lifestyle change drastically. This story, a conversation between co-workers, highlights those differences. Learn more Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also subscribe to Two Minute Stories on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about political alignment.
Inspiration There have been far too many examples in recent news about Americans choosing not to align themselves with other people or businesses based strictly on political party. Back a certain candidate or sitting representative? Well, that means everything about them must be wrong. This story takes that concept to the extreme, where a character chooses political alignment over the most valuable resource.
Learn more Enjoyed this story? I would really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also subscribe to Two Minute Stories on Apple Podcasts.
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A story about religion and death.
Inspiration A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I took a crack at compiling an animated story. I cobbled together some mediocre illustrations in Adobe Illustrator and "animated" them by panning across images in iMovie. A friend provided theme music and I did the narration – I was so self-conscious that I lowered the register of the voiceover. Needless to say, it wasn't great.
The story followed a contract killer named Gunner, who lived in a world where he had to kill in order to stay alive. He was simultaneously a deeply religious man and I found that duality interesting.
I rehashed the idea for this Two Minute Story, taking inspiration from the original idea and restudying the character of Gunner.
No one can win the Quail Valley Spelling Bee on their own. This is episode 12 of 12 of "The Masters," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules.
The Quail Valley Spelling Bee is reduced to two. This is episode 11 of 12 of "The Masters," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules.
Nothing gets by Mayor Betsy Nyland. This is episode 10 of 12 of "The Masters," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules.
Gina Reynolds can control her students, but what about her daydreams? This is episode 9 of 12 of "The Masters," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules.
Jenny Lu finds something unexpected. This is episode 8 of 12 of "The Masters," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules.
Deepak Donnelly chose preparation over everything else for his first spelling bee appearance. This is episode 7 of 12 of "The Masters," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules.
Kenneth Hush knows there are things more important than winning. This is episode 6 of 12 of "The Masters," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules.
Danica Fried is the only Danica Fried... and no one can stop Danica Fried. This is episode 5 of 12 of "The Masters," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules.
Dorothy Lee celebrates her seventieth appearance at the Quail Valley Spelling Bee as only she can. This is episode 4 of 12 of "The Masters," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules.
George Bland is the 8-time defending champion of the Quail Valley Spelling Bee... and don't you forget it. This is episode 3 of 12 of "The Masters," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules.
Benjamin Subbs makes his first appearance at the Quail Valley Spelling Bee since he won it 1989. This is episode 2 of 12 of "The Masters," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules.
It's the annual Quail Valley Spelling Bee and Mayor Nyland welcomes the audience to the competition. This is episode 1 of 12 of "The Masters," a Two Minute Stories miniseries. The story takes place at a town's annual spelling bee that boasts a unique set of rules.