The Monti Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Monti
"Hey, c'mere. I need to tell you something." Don't you just love it when someone tells you a private story or secret? Of course you do. We all do. And that is what this podcast is all about—telling stories that represent important and personal moments from the lives of the storyteller. Drawn from our live sold out shows produced in North Carolina, these stories are funny, poignant, deeply personal, vulnerable, thoughtful, and expertly crafted. Listen and you will understand why people are scalping tickets outside our shows on a regular basis. For more information about our live shows, visit us at http://www.themonti.org and follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/TheMonti1.
Episode #204: Daniel Wallace tells the story of what happens when our heroes fall from grace, and how time mends what once appeared so broken. Performed live at The Carolina Theatre of Durham on September 22, 2018.
Episode #203: Creating molds of the life you think you should be living can be dangerous, especially when that mold contradicts who you really are. Jordan Ford tells a funny and poignant story about breaking free. Recorded live at our On the Edge show on September 13, 2019 at The Carolina Theatre of Durham.
Episode #202: After failing a critical graduate school exam, a young woman slips into a Depression that becomes difficult to overcome. Recorded live at our Man Behind the Curtain show on June 16, 2018 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #201: After clicking a 'Find Your Perfect Man' button on her computer, a recent divorcee finds an unlikely soul mate. Recorded live at our Heroes & Villains show on September 22, 2018 at The Carolina Theatre of Durham.
Episode #200: An episode ten years in the making, as it marks the first and only appearance of Monti, our organization's namesake. Listen to the story, then listen to our exclusive BONUS CONTENT that tells the story of a friendship and why it took Monti ten years to come to The Monti. Recorded live at our 10th Anniversary show on April 19, 2018 at The Carolina Theatre of Durham
Episode #199: As a young girl, she dreamed of being June Cleaver. Now, her fantasy life is being threatened by reality. Recorded live at our Coming of Age show on April 19, 2018 at The Carolina Theatre of Durham.
Episode #198: While trying to parent her children with honesty and authenticity, a mother of three stumbles across her own belief system. An often funny and heartbreaking story of love and faith. Recorded live at our 10th Anniversary show on April 18, 2018 at The Carolina Theatre of Durham.
Episode #197: A uniquely constructed story that traces the relationship between grandfather and granddaughter through series of letters. Recorded live at our Frameshift show on September 8, 2017 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #196: As a father prepares to give The Talk to his son, he reflects back on his messy and angst-ridden adolescence. Recorded live at our Coming of Age show on April 19, 2018 at The Carolina Theatre of Durham.
Episode #195: A story about a girl and her dog—and her dad too. Recorded live at our FAMILY show on June 17, 2017 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #194: Growing up, Betsy just wanted to distinguish herself and make friends, but her unique and eccentric dad made it difficult. Recorded live at our Into the Wild show on October 13, 2017 at The Forest Theatre at UNC.
Episode #193: Lacking the ability to embrace platonic male intimacy, a young man takes action in a unique and revealing way. Recorded live at our Man Behind the Curtain show on June 16, 2018 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #192: A young, socially awkward mathematician tries to make a difference by teaching math in an all women's Maximum Security prison. Recorded live at our Man Behind the Curtain show on June 16, 2018 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #191: The CEO of Rise Biscuits and Donuts tells a story about the critical moment that allowed him to succeed in life. Recorded live at our Second Chances show on February 3, 2018 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #190: GrandSLAM winners from the past two years. Recorded live on April 29, 2017 and April 28, 2018 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #189: A woman spends the better part of her life trying to fit into the popular templates laid out in front of her. That is, until she can't fight her identity anymore. Recorded live at our Second Chances show on February 3, 2018
Episode #188: Overwhelmed after a family move to Colorado, a young middle schooler takes a stand against a bully. Recorded live at our CONFRONTATIONS show on February 4, 2017.
Episode #187: A hilarious and moving story about finding Divine forces in the most unexpected places. Recorded live at our Medicine and Religion show on November 3, 2017 at The Carolina Theatre of Durham.
Episode #186: He never understood his parents; his parents certainly never got him. But then, one day, they needed each other and everything changed. Recorded live at our Frameshift show on September 8, 2017. Winner of the 2017 Hippo Award for Best Comedic story.
Episode #185. A classic story from the Vault, an overwhelmed young father reflects on just how he got to where he is. Recorded live at Alivia's Durham Bistro on October 27, 2019.
Episode #184: Baseball, music, and family unite in a single, spiritual moment of bliss for one man. Recorded live at our God show on December 14, 2017 at Motorco Music Hall in Durham, NC.
Episode #183: A chance encounter at a Whole Foods triggers a young woman to confront her body issues. Recorded live at our Confrontations show on Feruary 4, 2017 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #182: A woman defies her family and Fundamentalist upbringing by pursuing her true love. Recorded live at our CONFRONTATIONS show on February 4, 2017 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC.
Episode #181: On the day of the University of North Carolina's Final Four basketball game against the Oregon Ducks, we feature a story about the die-hard love of some teams and the fierce hatred of others. Recorded live on February 4, 2017 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC.
Episode #180: A woman uses the lessons learned from her grandmother to find comfort in her own skin. Recorded live on September 17, 2016 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #179: A young woman embraces the outdoors in NYC until she comes face to face with her greatest fear. Recorded live at our Into the Wild show on October 15, 2016 at The Forest Theater in Chapel Hill.
Episode #178: After suffering an injury, a devout Christian woman questions everything she has ever known. Recorded live on September 17, 2016 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC.
Episode #177: In a attempt to look impressive, a man takes to the sport of ultra-distance running. Recorded live at our Into the Wild show on October 15, 2016.
Episode #176: Against the backdrop of beautiful Montana, a couple tries to maintain an active and adventurous lifestyle as they build their family. Things don't always go so smoothly for them. Recorded live at our Into the Wild show on October 16, 2016.
Episode #175: In this first ever Election Special, we feature a story about the dangers of election rigging. Recorded live at our Rebellion show on September 17, 2016 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #174: An emotional story about family and loss and the little clues that help keep hope alive. Recorded live at our End of the Road show on June 4, 2016 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #173: A woman navigates healthy co-parenting with her ex-husband and realizes it's harder than either of them expected. Recorded live at our End of the Road show on June 4, 2016 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC.
Two very different theme interpretations from our recent CHICKEN StorySLAM. Recorded live on July 19, 2016 at Motorco Music Hall.
Episode #171: After years of pushing people away in favor of social status, a man is confronted with some hard truths about himself. Recorded live at our End of the Road show on June 4, 2016.
Episode #170: An awkward young boy from the mountains of NC dreams of earning the prestigious Morehead Scholarship from UNC. Hilarity ensues. Recorded live at our Season Finale on June 6, 2016 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC.
Episode #169: A Duke University student explores her heritage through a transition through Alaska to North Carolina. Recorded live at The Rickhouse in Durham on April 20, 2016.
Episode #168: Two stories from our Humility StorySLAM. Recorded live on March 16, 2016 at Motorco Music Hall in Durham, NC.
Episode #167: A year after her husband's death, a woman enters the world of online dating. Recorded live at our Games People Play show on January 30, 2016 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #166: A young black man fears for his life when he is pulled over by a white police officer. Recorded live at our Danger show on September 12, 2015 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #165: A twenty one year old woman is certain that she just met the man she will marry; the only problem is she can't remember what he looks like. Recorded live at The ArtsCenter on January 30, 2016.
Episode #164: A man endures over four decades of his life while keeping a debilitating secret from every single person he knows. Recorded live on January 19, 2016 at our Fish Out of Water show at Raleigh Little Theatre.
Episode #163: As the US political and social climate grow tense, a drama all its own plays out on a tiny baseball field in Wildwood, NJ as two little league teams compete for the championship. Recorded live at our Games People Play show on January 30, 2016 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #162: Two outstanding stories from our Resolutions StorySLAM on January 13, 2016.
Episode #161: A woman describes growing up with an controlling, paranoid, and mysterious father. Recorded live at our Fish Out of Water show at Raleigh Little Theatre on January 19, 2016.
Episode #160: A new mother struggles to find balance in her parenting amidst so many other opinions. Recorded live at our DANGER! show on September 12, 2015 in Carrboro, NC.
Episode #159: Do miracles really occur in our world? Mandy Hitchcock takes a long, hard look at two stories to answer this question. This is the final story told at our God show on November 11, 2015 at Motorco Music Hall.
Episode #158: Ray Christian tells the story about his childhood church in Virginia where the congregants claim to have direct access to God. The fourth of five stories from our God show, recorded on November 11, 2015 at Motorco Music Hall.
Episode #157: After learning of her terminal illness, Vivian Connell sets out to take her ESL class to the Holocaust Museum. Recorded live at Motorco Music Hall on March 25, 2015.
Episode #156: A UNC professor faces anti-Muslim discrimination in post-911 Chapel Hill. The second of five stories told at our God show on November 11, 2015 in Durham, NC.
Episode #155: The first of five stories from our recent God show. After growing up in a family of delinquent Jews, a newlywed seeks to figure out what it means to be Jewish. Then she moved to Kentucky. Recorded live on November 11, 2015 at Motorco Music Hall in Durham, NC.
Episode #154: In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, a story of siblings and coming of age. Recorded live at our Rivals show on June 6, 2015 in Carrboro, NC.
Episode #153: Two outstanding stories from our annual FEAR! StorySLAM on October 1, 2015 at Motorco Music Hall.
Episode #152: A woman tries her hand at ghost hunting and gets much more than she ever bargained for. Recorded live at our Danger show on September 12, 2015.
Episode #151: A young fiction writer reflects on friendship and stories after traveling the world meeting up with and missing a good friend. Recorded live at The Cookery on April 30, 2015.
Episode #150: After a near death experience, a young college student is confronted with questions of identity and guilt. Recorded live at our Danger show at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro on September 12, 2015.
Episode #149: A story about a dangerous situation and its after-effects. Recorded live at our Danger show on September 12, 2015 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #148: Two outstanding stories from our Hooked GrandSLAM on April 10, 2015 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #147: A Harvard Ph.D. student from Turkey is detained by Customs in Cancun, Mexico. Recorded live at Motorco Music Hall on March 25, 2015.
Episode #146: A young New Yorker tries to find his American Dream but is limited by his lack of ambition. Recorded live at The Cookery on April 30, 2015 in Durham, NC.
Episode #145: In one of her final public appearances, Elizabeth Edwards tells a story about her parents and their unlikely pairing. Recorded live at The Artscenter on May 7, 2010.
Episode #144: A protective sister feels powerless and afraid when her younger brother contracts a mysterious illness. This story was told as a part of What's Your Story?, a collaboration between The Monti and the Language Arts and Media Program at Duke University.
Episode #143: A sergeant in the Paratroopers finds himself in a potential Court Martial situation while assigned to Fort Bragg. Recorded live at The Forest Theatre on May 23, 2015.
Episode #142: A competitive woman with many personal rivals is compelled to face her greatest foe. Recorded live at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro on June 6, 2015 in Carrboro, NC.
Episode #141: A young Public Defender in New Orleans gets locked in battle with a prosecutor over a long standing archaic law. Recorded live at our RIVALS show on June 6, 2015 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #140: After missing Woodstock, a young hippie siezes the opportunity to go even bigger at the 2nd Annual Atlanta Pop Festival. Recorded live at The Crown at The Carolina Theatre on July 24, 2014.
Episode #139: A young boy obsessed with questions of magic and the occult gets more than he bargained for when on a family trip to Haiti. Recorded live at our Into the Wild show on May 23, 2015 at The Forest Theatre in Chapel Hill, NC.
Episode #138: Tiffany Christian looks back on the influence her grandmother had on her life. Recorded live at our Best Day Ever show at Motorco Music Hall on March 25, 2015.
Episode #137: Two outstanding and hilarious stories from our HOOKED GrandSLAM on April 10, 2015 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Episode #136: Ray Christian tells a story about how hunger turned a boyhood friend into someone unrecognizable. Recorded live on March 12, 2015 at The Crown at The Carolina Theatre in Greensboro, NC.
Episode #135: Daniel Greyber tells an energetic and poignant story about the swim meet that changed the course of his life.
Episode #134: After suddenly getting married, a young newlywed must face up to her family. Recorded at our Secrets & Lies show at Motorco Music Hall on December 11, 2014.
Episode #133: A man comes to terms with a secret and an addiction that he has been hiding from his family. Recorded live at Motorco Music Hall in Durham, NC on December 11, 2014.
Episode #132: A story about a divorcee who becomes overwhelmed navigating the dating landscape. Recorded live at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro on January 30, 2015.
Episode #131: Two outstanding stories from our StorySLAM series: one from 2011 archives and the other from just last month.
Episode #130: Andrew Aghapour tells a hilarious story of growing up with anxiety and a chance encounter at a bonfire that changed everything. Recorded live at The ArtsCenter on January 30, 2015.
Episode #129: A woman tells a story about her preference in men and the first love who started it all. Recorded live at The Crown at The Carolina Theatre on December 4, 2014.
Episode #128: A young woman recounts the tale of an unlikely second chance for her feuding and long-since divorced grandparents. Recorded live at Motorco Music Hall on December 11, 2014.
Episode #127: A quirky and immersive story from Rebekah Vaisey about the secret she has been carrying for most of her life. Recorded live at Motorco Music Hall on December 11, 2014.
Episode #126: On the eve of his favorite band's reunion, Carter Kersh reflects on a decades long friendship with a couple raising a child with special needs. Recorded live at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro on January 31, 2014.
Episode #125: A new mother dodges a minefield of issues as she and her husband regard the bris of her newborn son. Recorded live at Motorco Music Hall on October 8, 2014.
Episode #124: At his grandfather's funeral, a young man discovers a family secret that changes his outlook on the entire family foundation. Recorded live at Motorco Music Hall on December 11, 2014.
Episode #123: A father proudly watches on as his daughter competes as a top high school hurdler, the same event in which he competed while in high school. Recorded live at Motorco Music Hall on October 8, 2014.
Episode #122: Newly engaged, a young woman must speed up her planning planning to ensure that her father will be able to attend. Recorded live at Motorco Music Hall on October 8, 2014.
Episode #121: Desperate to reach her students, a twenty-two year old Teach for America fellow assigned to Centennial High School in Compton finds an unlikely hero. Recorded live at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro on September 6, 2014.
Episode #120: Nestled securely inside a comfortable, suburban life, Dave Gilliam's mother tells him a story that shakes up everything. Recorded live at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro on June 7, 2014.
Episode #119: A hospice nurse gets attached to a terminally ill patient and struggles once she learns about his dark past. Recorded live at The ArtsCenter on September 6, 2014.
Episode #118: After adopting a child from Romania, a woman starts to suspect that there is something very wrong with her son. Recorded live at Motorco Music Hall on October 8, 2014.
Episode #117: Two sisters conspire to get their mom high as she lay dying of Pancreatic Cancer. Recorded live at Raleigh Little Theatre on August 24, 2014.
Episode #116: A young writer finds his life spiraling out of control while taking a proofreading class in New York City. Recorded live at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro on September 6, 2014.
Episode #115: A chili recipe leads opportunities for a young man that he could have never imagined. Recorded live at Raleigh Little Theatre on August 24, 2014.
Episode #114: After a lifetime of being confused for gay, a young journalist seeks answers on a Mississippi lesbian compound. Recorded live at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro on September 6, 2014.
Episode #113: A young man is drawn to the Appalachian Trail from a very young age and ends up chasing an enduring and impossible record. Recorded live at The Forest Theatre in Chapel Hill, NC on May 17, 2014.
Episode #112: A young Jewish man comes to terms with his bitter and negative relatives. Recorded live at Raleigh Little Theatre on August 24, 2014.
Episode #111: A fresh college graduate travels to Australia and learns to lose control. Recorded live at The Crown at The Carolina Theatre on July 24, 2014.
Episode #110. A mid-thirties man starts to show wear and tear after the birth of his second child. Recorded live at The Crown at The Carolina Theatre in Greensboro, NC.
Episode #107: Two outstanding stories from our Pissed StorySLAM in Durham, NC. Recorded live at Motorco Music Hall on June 26, 204.
A mishap at a post office sets off a string of events that may have severe consequences to one man's love life.
Episode #86: A father struggles to keep his composure as he teaches his young son how to ride a bike.
Episode #64: A young man reconciles his feelings about his 'slacker' brother on a hiking trip up a mountain.
Episode #62: A quirky story about a quirky young girl and her quirky siblings and parents.
Episode #61: Page tells a story of her aunt, her mother's sister, who is the single force that unites the entire family together.
Episode #59: She knew how to fly before she knew how to drive, but when her plane goes down in the Atlantic, it's a desperate swim for survival.
Episode #57: In a race to get a relevant news story, a young Illinois reporter meets the man who would be President.
Episode #55: A soon-to-be father wrestles with an identity crisis as he looks towards his transitioning life.
Episode #53: Dangling from a roof is not the place he thought he would be on that day. Friends are the best!
Episode #52: Pregnant with her first child, a woman gives birth in the most unexpected place.
Episode #51: The Emmy-Award winning Artist behind Pee Wee's Playhouse tells a story about the moment he realized he was an artist.
Episode #50: Exonerated after spending 17 years in prison, a man tries to navigate life on the outside.
Episode #49: Two young men get more than they bargained for while partying on a train in Georgia.
Episode #48: Anna Fields tells a harrowing story of a relationship as it reaches a very dangerous conclusion.
Episode #47: A young boy competes in the Cub Scouts' ritual, The Pinewood Derby, after his parents' separation.
Episode #45: Carter Kersh tells a story of growing up with a quirky and eccentric mother in North Carolina.
Episode #42: A classic 2008 story from The Monti vault. Justin Catanoso tells a story of family, reconciliation, and miracles.
Episode #41: Two stories from our recent NATURE StorySLAM. First, a blind man talks of the challenges of dating; then, a young girl learns lessons of nature living through a devastating earthquake.
Episode #40: A young teacher forms a special bond as she tries to help a young student during her first year of teaching.
Episode #39: Two stories from The Monti GrandSLAM in April 2012. Theme-Call of the Wild
Episode #38: A young insurance negotiator comes to terms with his manipulative tactics.
Episode #37: Two classic stories from our StorySLAM series from Dave VanHook and Robert Bland.
Episode #36: A young girl spends the summer in the Ukraine and discovers things about the world and herself.
Episode #34: A woman returns to her small town in Idaho expecting to be rejected for her lifestyle.
Episode #33: On a seemingly carefree road trip with three friends, things get wildly out of control.
Episode #32: A neurotic father sets out to make the perfect costume for his nine-year old daughter.
Episode #29: A young girl learns life lessons while at a European boarding school. 2009 Hippo Award winner for Best Comedy.
Episode #28: A young filmmaker sees inspiration and finds community in a neighborhood deli.
Episode #27: A woman struggles with her daughter's decision to wear a traditional headscarf.
Episode #25: What starts out as a simple case of the hiccups becomes a threat to one man's entire life.
Episode #21: A young man learns something about himself as he wanders lost in the woods.
Episode #11: A woman tells a series of stories about growing up in a large family in St. Louis, MO.
Episode #6: Justin Catanoso tells a story of triumph and failure in the face of his heroes.
Episode #5: This episode features two stories from The Monti StorySLAM's most successful storyteller to date, Robert Bland.