Carolyn Parham faced a life-changing challenge when she received an unexpected check in the mail.  Producer David Schultz shares Ms. Parham’s story with us.  David is a a broadcast journalist based in Washington, DC. He reports for public radio station WAMU, the NPR affiliate in Washington.

This is the first story we’re podcasting from the “Our City, Our Stories” project.  Funded by the Humanities Council of Washington, DC, SpeakeasyDC has been collecting stories on tape from across the city. We are excited to share the first of four audio documentaries.

We are also pleased that Metro Connection on WAMU is airing “Our City, Our Stories” as a series this Winter.

To find out more about SpeakeasyDC's events, classes, and professional services or to make a tax-deductible donation that will support this podcast visit www.SpeakeasyDC.org.

Matt Sherman tells his true story of how he made it through a treachorous motorcycle ride in Thailand. This story was told live on SpeakeasyDC's open mic stage on the theme "Mix Tape: Stories about a single song that made an impact". Matt is a graduate of SpeakeasyDC's Storytelling Boot Camp and a loyal volunteer.

This story was produced as part of SpeakeasyDC's StoryDocs series. To find out more about SpeakeasyDC's events, classes, and professional services or to make a tax-deductible donation that will support this podcast visit www.SpeakeasyDC.org.

Master storyteller, Jon Spelman, tells a true story about his experiences with death. This was performed live as part of SpeakeasyDC's monthly open mic storytelling series and is part of a larger solo piece that he performs called "On the Bedpost Overnight". On this night, all the stories were based on the theme "Game Over: Stories about death, dying, and the afterlife". All stories told on our stage are true and told without notes..

Chris Bolton is a self taught audio producer and musician who lives in portland Oregon.  He recently launched the Storylife Podcast and has been co-producer of the CD Baby DIY Musician Podcast, which was featured as one of the best new podcasts in iTunes 2007.

This story was produced as part of SpeakeasyDC's StoryDocs series. To find out more about SpeakeasyDC's events, classes, and professional services or to make a tax-deductible donation that will support this podcast visit www.SpeakeasyDC.org.

Jennifer Howe shares her cautionary tale about going back to the same man twice. This story was told live on SpeakeasyDC's open mic stage on the theme "Good Intentions: Stories about resolutions, promises, and interventions".  All SpeakeasyDC stories are true and told without notes (i.e. it's storytelling, not a reading).

Andrew Korfhage tells his true story about surviving two near-death experiences in the same day. This story was told live on SpeakeasyDC's open mic stage on the theme "Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My: Stories about Fear".  Andrew is a graduate of SpeakeasyDC's education programs. This story was developed during a four-week Storytelling 101 class.

Catherine Sheehy tells her story about facing her fears. This story was told live on SpeakeasyDC's open mic stage on the theme "Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My: Stories about Fear."  All SpeakeasyDC stories are true and told without notes (i.e. it's storytelling, not a reading).

Katie Arrants is a radio producer, yoga teacher, and case manager for young adults in foster care in Seattle, Washington. Katie enjoys radio’s potential as a medium for intimate story-telling and eventually hopes to help youth use radio as a form of autobiography and self-expression.  Her story about Felix and his family was produced at the Duke Center for Documentary Studies and is part of SpeakeasyDC's StoryDocs series.

This story fits perfectly into the theme for our next open mic on August 11, 2009 - "Little Rascals: Stories about raising, coping with, and learning from children."