PODCAST · society
Strangers
by Lea Thau
The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work in its entirety, all of it ad-free. You can join as a free or paid member, so come be part of my community! Or follow my new work in my new public feed, STORIES by Lea Thau, wherever you get your podcasts. Strangers is storytelling for the 21st century from Peabody award-winning director and producer, Lea Thau. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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Frank Damico, Part 1: The Non Deer Hunter
He's had more lives than an alley cat and he's lived to tell the tales. He also happens to be my ex-husband, and he's taught me more about storytelling than anyone I know. Meet Frank Damico. This is Part 1 about his extraordinary life. It's also the first episode in our new series, The Way Back....
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Introducing The Way Back
Our new series The Way Back starts tomorrow. Here's a little teaser. Series art by Pernille Clifforth. Love, Lea & Team The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work in its entirety, all of it ad-free. You…
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STORIES Presents: The Longest Shortest Time - Xyla vs. The FAA
Xyla Foxlin started flying as a teenager. By her twenties, she was piloting her own plane and building another from scratch. But when a private health crisis went public, she wound up in a battle with the FAA that could ground her for good. Today we're bringing you this fantastic story from the...
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STORIES presents: Proxy with Yowei Shaw – Caitlin Lost the Voice In Her Head
We're featuring a story from another podcast we love today: Proxy with Yowei Shaw. She investigates the strange, funny, and sometimes maddening emotional mysteries that shape our lives. I was really moved by this episode, called Caitlin Lost the Voice In Her Head, and I wanted to share it with…
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10 Years Later – Pabba's 32nd Year (i.e Pabba's 42nd Year)
Pabba is now in his 42nd year, and his story has a resolution! Tune in to hear how his conundrum got resolved. It's a good story:) And check out Pabba’s original story if you haven’t heard that yet. . If you want to see photos that go with this episode, you can visit our free posts on Substack…
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Summer of Strangers: Pabba's 32nd Year
Imagine your parents controlled your online dating profile. That’s what happened to Pabba and this is his story. We first ran this story 10 years ago and next week we’ll have a brand new story with him. I can already reveal that a LOT has happened in the meantime. This two-parter with Pabba is...
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Summer of Strangers: Midnight in Mexico – Then & Now
A family tragedy sends the Corchados from Mexico to California, searching for greener pastures. Upon arrival, that’s hardly what they find, but some years later, a deal involving a 1978 Camaro sets the oldest son on a path to unlikely success. Today we revisit the story of renowned journalist and...
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13 Years Later – Franky Carrillo #3: Still Franky
This is a brand new installment in the Franky Carrillo saga that I’m very excited to share with you. Franky is the same great storyteller he's always been, and he goes deeper than ever here. If you haven’t heard the first two episodes with Franky, which we shared last week and the week before, I...
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Summer of Strangers: Franky Carrillo #2: Life Now – 2017
I hope you heard Franky’s story from last week, because it’s heartbreaking, and uplifting, and enraging, and inspiring, and it’s the foundation for today’s episode, which is Part 2 of his story. If you haven’t heard it yet, I'd go listen to last week’s episode first. This episode is nine years…
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Summer of Strangers – Franky Carrillo #1 Life
Franky Carrillo was 16 when he received a double life sentence for a crime he had nothing to do with. This is his story. It's one of the most beloved Strangers stories of all time, and it will be the first of three episodes about Franky Carrillo's life, including a brand new one. If you want to…
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14 Years Later: And Justice for All?
Last week we posted Sharon Houston's hilarious and beloved old Strangers story And Justice for All? and this week we're following up with Sharon to see what she's up to now....which turned out to be a lot of different things. If you’d like to see photos that go with today’s episode, you can find...
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Summer of Strangers: And Justice for All?
Welcome back to our Summer of Strangers. Today's story is an old Strangers episode with Sharon Houston, and next week we'll do a follow-up with her. If you want to see photos that go with today’s episode, you can find them in these posts on Patreon or Substack, where you can also join our free...
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10 Years Later – The Son, The Goddess & Leopoldo
Thank you for all the love we’ve received about Joshua Safran’s story from last week. This episode is a follow-up with Joshua about his life now. It's quite different from the original episode, because it's more of a conversation and less of a story, and because a lot has changed in 10 years – in...
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Summer of Strangers: The Son, The Goddess & Leopoldo
Joshua Safran was born in a coven of lesbian witches in a Haight-Ashbury commune. After the fall of Saigon, young Joshua Safran hit the open road with his mother, and things only got stranger from there. This story is a rerun from 2016. Next week, we’ll run a follow-up with Joshua. A word of...
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Summer of Strangers: Unconditional
This is a story of mothers, love, regret, and redemption, and of secrets from many years past that cast long shadows into our lives. It’s about how Deborah Jiang-Stein came to be pulled over by two highway patrolmen at 19 years-old, with a trunkload of dope, a .38 revolver, and a 10” switch…
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Something Old, Something New, Something Light, Something True
In this episode, we wrap up The Hopeful Locals and preview our SUMMER of STRANGERS with a Strangers story that has been offline since 2014. The SUMMER of STRANGERS officially kicks off July 15. Comment on Patreon, Substack,Facebook or Instagram as to which Strangers stories you most want us to...
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The Hopeful Locals: John
Today you’re going to meet John Doyle, and I’m going to let him tell most of the story, because I like the way he tells it. John has had an interesting life, and he tells his story in the same warm, frank, meandering way that he seems to approach most things. He lives and works in the town of…
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The Hopeful Locals #6: Cowboy Country
As L.A. burns behind me, I drive deeper into cowboy country through Wyoming to Montana, trying to untangle the many contradictions of the country I call home. This is Episode 6 of The Hopeful Locals, and it is in loving memory of Crawford White Eagle. This series is made with suppport from our...
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The Hopeful Locals: Visionaries of The Wind River, Part 2
The hope holds strong in this final episode about the people on the Wind River Reservation. It is brought to you by our supporters on Patreon and Substack. Huge thanks to the visionaries of this episode: Jackie White, Kelly Pingree, and Erika Warren-Yarber. Please visit The Wind River Sage Fund,...
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The Hopeful Locals: Visionaries of the Wind River, Part 1
Today you're going to meet some members of the Wind River community and hear their stories. This episode is a continuation of last week's episode with Erika Warren-Yarber. If you missed that, you might be glad to hear it first, but you can also jump in right here. This is Episode 7 of The Hopeful...
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The Hopeful Locals: Erika
Our storyteller today is Erika Warren-Yarber. She’s the COO of the Wind River Development Fund and the Wind River Sage Fund. Please consider supporting their work. And please consider supporting my work by becoming a paying subscriber on Patreon or Substack. Thanks to the Just Transition Fund for...
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The Hopeful Locals #2: On the Road Again
This is Episode 2 of my series, The Hopeful Locals. It’s a direct continuation of Episode 1, so if you haven’t heard that, I’d go start there. Huge thanks to my husband, Paul Dreux Smith, for making the music and mixing this episode, to my Associate Producer, Vix Jensen, for her help with the...
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The Hopeful Locals #1: A Portrait of the Artist as a Middle-Aged Woman
This is the prologue to my new series, The Hopeful Locals, and I hope you’ll enjoy it. The story continues on Friday. Huge thanks to Dengue Fever, Paul’s band, for letting me use the recording from their live show at The Chapel. They have two very special shows coming up on May 15 and 16 at Gold...
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Introducing 'STORIES by Lea Thau'
Hi friends, I’m back! New episodes start dropping Tuesday! Also, heads-up: I’ll be changing the name of this podcast from Strangers to STORIES by Lea Thau on Monday. That hurts a little, I know – for me too – but I promise it’s not the end of Strangers. The plan is for STORIES by Lea Thau to be…
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Wilmot of Helena
Wilmot Collins is an interesting man with an interesting story. This is it. I hope you enjoy it. Find more Strangers content, new and old, at www.patreon.com/strangerspodcast - it's only $1 per month to join - or stay subscribed here for more free episodes, which will drop from time to time....
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Do You Like My Little Lie?
It’s the time of year when skeletons come out of the closet. We honor the dead, as we get ready for holidays among the living, where secrets will be spilled, and secrets will be created that will haunt us for years to come. You might describe today’s story as a classic “noir,” if it wasn’t …...
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Two Men and a Baby, The Final Episode
For nearly three years, we’ve been following Patrick and Steve and their attempt to adopt their foster daughter, and no other story we’ve done has generated as many emails from you, wondering how it all worked out. Today you will finally know. You can find out more about Patrick Hinds and his...
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Me For Mayor?
Have you ever had the fantasy that a chance encounter with a stranger could tell you who to be? Karin Gutman was working as an assistant when a senior advisor to a US Senator came out of the blue with an offer to change her life… This story first aired on Strangers in April, 2012. The entire back...
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The Son, The Goddess, and Leopoldo
Born in a coven of lesbian witches in a Haight-Ashbury commune after the fall of Saigon, young Joshua Safran soon hit the open road with his single mother, Claudia, and things only got stranger from there. A word of warning: this story contains some disturbing moments. Learn more about your ad...
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Elizabeth and Mary, Part 1
Would you give a kidney to a stranger? Inspired by a previous episode of Strangers, Elizabeth decided to do just that. This is Part 1 of the story that ensued. The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work…
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My Father’s Bones
One day when Susan was five, her father came home and nailed her bunk bed shut. That was the beginning of a long strange journey. The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work in its entirety, all of it...
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Jenni, Remembered
In the Strangers community, we’ve lost one of our own: Jenni Rowell, 33, has passed away. In this episode, with the help of her family and friends, we rejoice in her life and everything she gave us, and we mourn what we have lost. We also reveal some happy news that she got to enjoy … Continue...
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Like a Pizza: Two Men and a Baby – the Follow-Up
In 2014 Patrick and Steve received a surprise delivery…and it was a newborn, whaa! A story ensued, which became the episode Two Men and a Baby. Now, a year later we check in to see how things are going. The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and...
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Unconditional
This is a story of mothers, love, regrets and redemption, and of secrets from many years passed that cast long shadows in our lives. It’s about how Deborah Jiang-Stein came to be pulled over by two highway patrolmen at 19 years-old, with a trunk load of dope, a .38 revolver and a 10” switch...
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Adrian’s Race
Adrian is 25 and losing his eyesight. He’s in a race against time. He’s also in a battle between humility and pride. When is it stubborn, perhaps even foolhardy, not to make concessions to one’s disability? When is it the only way out? And where do you find wisdom to know the difference? Get the…
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Jenni, Now
We revisit Jenni Rowell from the episode “Life, Interrupted” to see where things stand, and learn some sh*t about life. The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work in its entirety, all of it ad-free. You…
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A Father’s Story – Then and Now
To mark the three-year anniversary of Strangers we share with you the very first story ever featured on the show, about Stephen Rochelle and his son Matthew, and we return to Stephen to see how they’re doing now, three years later. In July 2011, Matthew Rochelle stood trial for murder. This is…
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Falling Slowly
Strangers, at its core, is about the beauty and the struggle of human connection and what happens in those moments when we get closer to someone else, or, say, further removed from ourselves. Often that change is subtle and slow, but sometimes it is sudden and monumental. Here is Lyena Strelkoff.…
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Big Jim & Smokey Joe
A waitress, a former bomber pilot and a retired railroad engineer embark on the adventure of a lifetime. A version of this story was previously featured on Season 1 of Strangers. Get the full story here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices The entire back catalogue of...
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Love Hurts
While doing a story about online dating, Lea gets her heart broken (yet again). Get the full story here. The original Love Hurts series had four epsiodes, which were dowloaded millions of times and was the most popular series Lea has ever created. Only the first two of those episodes are…
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Two Men and a Baby
Two young men receive a surprise delivery. And it’s a newborn. Whaaa! Get the full story here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work in...
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Jenni Rowell: Life, Interrupted
Imagine waking up every morning and seeing a stranger in the mirror… Get the full story here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work in…
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Terry’s Treasure
Producer Lea Thau embarks on a strange online dating adventure. The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work in its entirety, all of it ad-free. You can join as a free or paid member, so come be part of my...
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Matjames and Tyler: Flee, Flood, Float
A story about the places we go and the people we find. (Sorry we don’t want to give it away, just listen, please.) The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work in its entirety, all of it ad-free. You can…
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Henry and Jane
A 40-year-old stroke victim demonstrates that a sense of humor can be the last thing to go. The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work in its entirety, all of it ad-free. You can join as a free or paid...
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Gay Talese: Committed Voyeur
Legendary non-fiction writer, Gay Talese, discusses his marriage, his work, and the scandals that have made waves in both. The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work in its entirety, all of it ad-free.…
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Franky Carrillo: Life
A man spends 20 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, but comes out ahead… Get the full story here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work in its entirety, all of it ad-free. You can join as a free or paid member, so come be part of my community! Or follow my new work in my new public feed, STORIES by Lea Thau, wherever you get your podcasts.
Strangers is storytelling for the 21st century from Peabody award-winning director and producer, Lea Thau.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HOSTED BY
Lea Thau
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Strangers have?
Strangers currently has 47 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Strangers about?
The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my new work in its entirety, all of it ad-free. You can join as a free or paid member, so come be part of my community! Or follow my new work in my new public feed, STORIES by...
How often does Strangers release new episodes?
Strangers has 47 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Strangers?
You can listen to Strangers on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Strangers?
Strangers is created and hosted by Lea Thau.
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