Strangers Archives

To hear this episode (and 80+ other archival episodes, plus brand new episodes of our 2019/20 season) join us on Patreon for just $1 per month.

When you start to think your own child might have a propensity for violence, what do you do?

Scott and baby Lex

Ashley’s husband, Corey, is accused of the worst thing imaginable. What follows sends the family on an ever darkening journey, swinging between answers, hypotheses, emotions, and, ultimately, the truth.

This story is not appropriate for children.

To hear this episode (and 80+ other archival episodes, plus brand new episodes of our 2019/20 season) join us on Patreon for just $1 per month.

Lea recounts the personal journey that led her to become an American citizen this summer. It starts in Sweden in 1945…

This episode was produced by Lea Thau and Paul Dreux Smith. 

Lea Thau being sworn in as an American citizen

To hear this episode (and 80+ other archival episodes, plus brand new episodes of our 2019/20 season) join us on Patreon for just $1 per month.

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…

Karin Gutman is the founder of Spirit of Story, a writing and story consulting business devoted to guiding people in discovering and writing their personal, life-based stories. Karin also recently started a Women’s Story Circle which is a monthly writing salon at a private home in Hancock Park.

This story first aired on Strangers in April, 2012.

Karin Gutman

To hear this episode (and 80+ other archival episodes, plus brand new episodes of our 2019/20 season) join us on Patreon for just $1 per month.

A wanna-be artist finds himself in a dual-life dilemma. Can you be the next Bukowski and the king of high-end skin care — at the same time? When push comes to aftershave, which do you choose? Brian Finkelstein tells this story, which originally aired on the first season of Strangers.

Brian Finkelstein (@bsfinkestein) is an Emmy nominated writer who has performed eight solo shows in a variety of venues, from the HBO/US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen to the Summer Nights Festival in Perth, Australia and New Zealand. Brian’s told stories on public radio shows including Good Food, The Business, UnFictional, Marketplace and many more. Currently Brian is working on his first book of personal essays and developing a pilot with Universal International and Working Title Films.

Brian Finkelstein