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Fiction
The Truth
THE TRUTH makes movies for your ears. They're short stories that are sometimes dark, sometimes funny, and always intriguing. Every story is different, but they all take you to unexpected places using only sound. If you're new, some good starting places are: Silvia's Blood, That's Democracy, Moon Graffiti, Tape Delay, or whatever's most recent. Listening with headphones is encouraged! We're a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Total 177 episodes
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The One about the Dead Dog

The One about the Dead Dog

Who knows... maybe it's true. Written by Diane McCorry. Performed by Phoebe Tyers and Dennis Pacheco, with Nick Mykins, T.J. Mannix, and Chris Dwane. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
13:0115/01/2015
The Death of Poe

The Death of Poe

Edgar Allen Poe's death has always been shrouded in mystery. In this episode, we imagine what may have happened. It was inspired by listener Matthew Mercier, who spent time as the caretaker of Poe's last home. Performed by Christian Paluck, Ed Herbstman, Chet Siegel, and Louis Kornfeld. Produced & directed by Jonathan Mitchell.
13:0629/10/2014
Silvia's Blood

Silvia's Blood

Based on Philip K. Dick's short story "Upon the Dull Earth," originally published in 1954. Performed by Andy Moskowitz, Rebecca Robles, Diana McCorry, Ben Jones, and Al King. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell.
16:2916/10/2014
Cold Read

Cold Read

A psychic love story. Performed by Alex Marino, Christina Dabney, Blanche Ames, and T.J. Mannix. Written by Louis Kornfeld, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
17:2917/09/2014
That's Democracy

That's Democracy

A teacher gives his students lesson about democracy that they'll never forget. Performed by Peter McNerney, Russ Armstrong, Alexis Lambright, Fiona Bradford, Teddy Shivers, Oscar Montoya, and Ben Jones. Written by Louis Kornfeld, produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
12:1620/08/2014
Chaotic Neutral

Chaotic Neutral

A game of Dungeons and Dragons is thrown into chaos. Peformed by Elana Fishbein, Jon Bander, Justin Moran, and Matt Shafeek. Written by Alejandro Kolleeny, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
14:2518/06/2014
Voyager Found

Voyager Found

The Voyager spacecraft has landed: meet the aliens who found it. Performed by Chet Siegel and Peter McNerney. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
13:0414/05/2014
Everybody SCREAM!!!

Everybody SCREAM!!!

Keep your knees in, chest up, stay low, elbows soft... let's go, let's GO! Performed by Chet Siegel, Emily Tarver, and Ed Herbstman. Written by Chet Siegel, produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
13:4828/04/2014
The Extractor

The Extractor

The sounds we make don't just fade away; they're embedded in the wood around us. Performed by Ed Herbstman, Kevin Cragg, Annemarie Cullen, Dennis Pacheco, and Rebecca Robles, with Melanie Hoopes, Bea Herbstman, Alex Marino, and Kerry Kastin. Music performed by Isabel Kim, Matt Evans, and Shawn Lovato. Written and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
17:3310/03/2014
Eat Cake

Eat Cake

If you've ever been alone on Valentine's Day, this story is for you. It's performed by Eliza Skinner, Birch Harms, and Curtis Gwinn, who improvised all of the dialogue. It was originally produced in 2009 for Weekend Amercia, Hillary Frank was the editor, and it was produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Keep listening past the credits to hear a special treat.
13:1913/02/2014
It's Your Funeral

It's Your Funeral

Live the death you've always wanted. Performed by Andy Moskowitz, Jackie Hoffman, Ben Jones, Damon Ketron, Phoebe Tyers, Shacottha Fields, Blanche Ames, and Rebecca Robles. Written by David Wilcox. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell.
27:2024/01/2014
Biological Clock

Biological Clock

Adam and Allie would do anything to have a baby. Performed by Tami Sagher, Ed Herbstman, Louis Kornfeld, and Kerry Kastin. Written by Ira Gamerman. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell. 
14:3721/12/2013
Naomi's World

Naomi's World

A trip to the museum takes a surreal turn. Performed by Isabel Frohnhofer, Tom Ligon, Elana Fishbein, Imran Chowdhury, Laura Parker, Philipp Goedicke, Dennis Pacheco, Blanche Ames, Ron Palais, Willy Appelman, Andrew Yurman-Glaser, and Phoebe Tyers. Written by Elana Fishbein, produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
09:4610/12/2013
The Devil You Know

The Devil You Know

A collection of horror stories that take place in the world of electoral politics. This one-hour special was produced in 2012 for broadcast on public radio, and made possible by the generous support of the Public Radio Exchange (prx.org) and SoundCloud.com, with editorial support provided by American Public Media. 
53:1924/10/2013
Sweets for the Cheat

Sweets for the Cheat

Two shock jocks make a big morning mess. Performed by Jon Bander, Alessandro King, Bianca Casusol, Brian Frange, and Elana Fishbein. Written by Ira Gamerman. Produced & directed by Jonathan Mitchell.
11:4429/08/2013
Happy New Year

Happy New Year

You're cordially invited to spend New Year's Eve with Walt Avery. To attend, simply play this podcast. Performed by Ben Jones and Tom Ligon, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. 
12:0610/01/2013
Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake

A couple goes in search of childhood memories. Performed by Ed Herbstman, Lauren Ashley Smith, and Louis Kornfeld. Story by Jonathan Mitchell with dialogue improvised by the actors. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell.
14:5614/12/2012
Interruptible

Interruptible

This is a re-edited version of a previously released story. A taxi driver is working on his anniversary, and gets more than he expected when he picks up a couple in Lower Manhattan. Featuring: Christian Paluck as The Driver, Chet Siegel as Mary, Louis Kornfeld as Frank, and Amy Warren as Morgan. With Ed Herbstman, Melanie Hoopes, Charlotte Rabbe, and Jamie Rivera. Written collaboratively by The Truth, with dialogue improvised by the actors. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell.
17:2729/11/2012
In Good Hands

In Good Hands

Two urban explorers enter an abandoned subway. What happens next is our secret. This is the complete version of a story that was previously only available in two parts.
23:2915/11/2012
The Modern Prometheus

The Modern Prometheus

What happens when a corporation becomes a person? In this satire by Tony Award-winning playwright Greg Kotis, we follow a company called Geneva Mutual that becomes a sentient being. Performed by Louis Kornfeld, Rachel Hamilton, Tom Ligon, Chet Siegel, Amy Warren, Ed Herbstman, Christian Paluck, and Rupert Degas. Produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
16:0102/11/2012
Do You Have a Minute for Equality?

Do You Have a Minute for Equality?

A canvasser gets the donation she needs, but it will cost her... Performed by Chet Siegel and Tom Ligon, with Matt J. Weir, Quentin Loder, and Melanie Hoopes. From an outline by Chet Siegel. Produced & Directed by Jonathan Mitchell, with sound design help from Brendan Baker.
14:3904/10/2012
Domestic Violins

Domestic Violins

Produced at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio Beyond Radio conference, featuring performances by Amie McKenna, Michele Durman, Michael Whalley, and Martin Dingle Wall. Produced by Ed Herbstman and Jonathan Mitchell.
11:5820/09/2012
Third Party

Third Party

Mike Coleman is an independent candidate running for Congress, and he's finally getting some attention... from a serial killer. Performed by Ed Herbstman, Chet Siegel, Rick Andrews, Nick Kanellis, Louis Kornfeld, Amy Warren, and Bryn Magnus. Written by Ed Herbstman, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
22:2309/08/2012
Lucy and the Bike Girl

Lucy and the Bike Girl

This is a short story written and produced by Hillary Frank, made by combining fictional narration with real interview tape. It was edited by Julie Snyder, and orginally aired on This American Life.
12:0926/07/2012
Human Intelligence

Human Intelligence

Written by Kurt Andersen, this story was originally heard on PRI's Studio 360. Narrated by Ed Herbstman, with John Ottavino as Nicholas, and Melanie Hoopes as Nancy. The story editor was David Krasnow. Produced and directed by Jonathan Mitchell. The unabridged version was published in Stories: All New Tales, an anthology edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio.
22:2120/06/2012
Total Transparency & Eye Contact

Total Transparency & Eye Contact

Two different approaches to making stories that combine improvisation with the recording studio. Total Transparency is a brand new piece, it was completely improvised and recorded in one take, and then edited. It was made up on the spot by Chet Siegel, Ed Herbstman, and Louis Kornfeld. Eye Contact was made using lots of different people telling the same story, that was edited into a fractured monologue. It originally aired in 2006 on Weekend America. 
13:1124/05/2012
They're Made Out of Meat

They're Made Out of Meat

Terry Bisson's classic short story "They're Made Out of Meat" originally appeared in Omni Magazine in 1991, and our audio version was produced for WNYC's Studio 360 in November 2011. We've re-mixed the story especially for this podcast, and it's followed by an interview with Bisson himself. The story was performed by Russ Armstrong & Miriam Tolan, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.
17:2020/03/2012