15 JAN 2024 · In this episode of 'Story Behind the Story', host Dave Pokorney discusses the art of storytelling with his guests John Ton and Josh Reimann. John recounts his youth in Wyoming, detailing his experiences as a young man in an old, inexpensive hotel during the 1970s energy crisis. His tale encompasses themes of maturity, empathy, and understanding. Josh shares a heartfelt story about his father, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). Despite the diagnosis, his father, a choral teacher and church director, undertook the quest to sing the national anthem at every Major League Baseball Stadium in a single season, setting a world record. Their conversation covers the processes of coming up with stories, the significance of creating meaningful memories, and the power of personal experiences in storytelling. 00:15 Introduction and Welcome 00:36 The Story Behind West Side Stories 01:07 Introducing the First Guest: John 01:59 John's Story: The Wyoming Hotel 06:01 Post-Story Discussion and Reflection 11:57 John's Journey to Wyoming 17:22 John's Storytelling Process 22:05 John's Life After Wyoming 23:46 Revisiting a Previous Interview 24:11 Josh Reimann's Story Begins 24:49 The Impact of ALS on Josh's Family 26:17 A Unique ALS Awareness Campaign 26:52 The Unforgettable Baseball Stadium Tour 27:39 The Significance of the Family's Cell Phone 28:21 Setting a World Record 28:46 The Final Days of Josh's Father 30:05 A Mysterious Phone Call 31:23 Reflecting on the Story 31:35 The Aftermath and Memories of the Baseball Tour 41:58 The Art of Storytelling 52:24 Wrapping Up the Interview

1 OCT 2023 · This episode features two storytellers, Mary and Jan, who share nostalgic tales from their childhood and young adult years. Mary recounts her quest to collect Disneyland map game pieces from soda bottles for a chance to visit the theme park. Jan remembers attending a James Brown concert in 1968 and feeling a sense of belonging as the music dissolved racial divides. Their stories transport us back to special moments lost in time.Chapters: - Introduction - Mary's Disneyland Map Game Story - Mary's Storytelling Process - Jan's James Brown Concert Story - Jan's Comedy and Storytelling Background - Conclusion Show Notes: - This episode was recorded at a live show for West Side Stories in Petaluma, CA. - Mary talks about collecting Disneyland map game pieces from soda bottles when she was 9 or 10 in hopes of winning a trip to Disneyland. The game pieces blew away before she could collect them all. - Jan shares about attending a James Brown concert in Boston in 1968 when he was 18 years old. He recalls the electricity of seeing the legendary performer at his peak and feeling a sense of belonging despite being in the racial minority at the show. - We learn about Mary and Jan's storytelling processes. Mary thinks through her stories while swimming and records drafts to time them. Jan writes and refines his stories sometimes creating visual storyboards. - Jan provides background on his journey into stand-up comedy and storytelling, starting on the streets of Boston with his brother in the late 1970s, before heading to San Francisco as the comedy club scene exploded there. - There are reflections on what made the original moments described so magical, as well as the challenge of keeping stories fresh and immediate during repeat tellings over the years. —- Dave Pokorny Presents… West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the second Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm. TICKETS here:https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/Westside Stories:https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/ Our Partners: - Once Upon a Slush -https://www.onceuponaslush.com/ - Polly Klaas Community Theater -https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/ - Sonoma Portworks -https://portworks.com/ - Getphily Podcast Production -https://www.getphily.com/ - Lend an Ear Media -https://lendanearmedia.com/

26 SEP 2023 · Jack Miller recalls facing a pivotal life decision as a college senior in 1967 - join the alluring hippie culture or pursue medicine. His memorable interview at UCSF leads to deep self-reflection. Chapters: 1. The Allure of the Hippie Movement (00:00 - 01:15) 2. A Flower Child's Invitation (01:15 - 02:38) 3. Staring Down the Future (02:38 - 04:12) 4. Making a Fateful Choice (04:12 - 05:18) 5. The Interview's Hidden Lesson (05:18 - 06:12) Show Notes: - The excitement and commune-style living of the hippie culture in the 1960s - Jack's affinity for the hippies he encounters in San Francisco - His moment of self-doubt outside the imposing medical center - Choosing the rigorous path of medicine over a carefree hippie life - A poignant reminder from the interviewer about being true to yourself —- Dave Pokorny Presents… West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the first Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm. TICKETS here:https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/Westside Stories:https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/ Our Partners: - Once Upon a Slush -https://www.onceuponaslush.com/ - Polly Klaas Community Theater -https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/ - Sonoma Portworks -https://portworks.com/ - Getphily Podcast Production -https://www.getphily.com/ - 'Lend an Ear Media -https://lendanearmedia.com/

26 SEP 2023 · Ray Engan recalls a memorable night as a college senior trying to sneak into an upscale bar, ending with a chance encounter, an audacious lie, and an inspiring lesson about chasing dreams.Chapters: - Sneaking Into the Safari Bar (00:00 - 01:29) - A Fortuitous Catch (01:29 - 02:34) - Pulling Off the Ruse (02:34 - 04:43) - The Owner's Perspective (04:43 - 05:53) - An Unforgettable Lesson (05:53 - 06:49) Show Notes: - Ray's creative tactics to get into the exclusive Safari bar as a broke college student - His serendipitous catch of the campus "it girl" Kelly Kaneski - Pretending to be the owner of the bar and letting Kelly run up a tab - The real owner seeing through the ruse but admiring Ray's boldness - An inspiring message to never apologize for chasing your dreams Dave Pokorny Presents… West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the first Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm. TICKETS here:https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/ Westside Stories: https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/ Our Partners: - Once Upon a Slush -https://www.onceuponaslush.com/ - Polly Klaas Community Theater -https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/ - Sonoma Portworks -https://portworks.com/ - Getphily Podcast Production -https://www.getphily.com/ - 'Lend an Ear Media -https://lendanearmedia.com/

25 SEP 2023 · Dr. Kirk Pappas recounts a tense encounter with a divisive stranger while on a cab tour in Belfast, leading to an ominous warning from his Irish guide about the parallels between the Troubles and the rising tensions in America.Chapters: - A Chance Encounter in Belfast (00:00 - 00:49) - Political Provocations in the Cab (00:49 - 02:29) - Visiting the Peace Wall (02:29 - 03:25) - An Ominous Warning (03:25 - 05:06) - Reflecting on Sean's Message (05:06 - 05:30) Show Notes: - The "black cab tours" in Belfast where former IRA members provide firsthand accounts of the Troubles - The political and religious divisions between Republicans and Loyalists in Northern Ireland - The Peace Walls separating Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods in Belfast - Parallels drawn between the Troubles and rising political tensions in America - A thoughtful message about avoiding conflict and promoting understanding Dave Pokorny Presents… West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the first Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm. TICKETS here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/Westside Stories: https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/ Our Partners: Once Upon a Slush - https://www.onceuponaslush.com/ Polly Klaas Community Theater - https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/ Sonoma Portworks - https://portworks.com/ Getphily Podcast Production - https://www.getphily.com/ Lend an Ear Media - https://lendanearmedia.com/

20 SEP 2023 · Bobby shares a humorous story from his youth about navigating connections to organized crime while growing up in an Italian American family in New York City.Show Notes: - Bobby moved from Hell's Kitchen in NYC to Santa Barbara, CA 27 years ago - He went to an all-boys high school in NYC where many kids had mob connections - In senior year, a mobster's son asked Bobby to help him cheat on a history exam - This led to Bobby's father being offered a union job with the mob, which he turned down - Bobby later became a film assistant director and ran into the mobster's son again Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 1:23 - Moving from NYC to California 3:12 - High school mob connections 5:34 - Cheating on a history exam 7:51 - Offered a job with the mob 10:12 - Father's decision to decline mob job 12:45 - Encounter with mob 10 years later 14:32 - Conclusion Dave Pokorny Presents… West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the first Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm. TICKETS here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/ Westside Stories: https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/ Our Partners: Once Upon a Slush - https://www.onceuponaslush.com/ Polly Klaas Community Theater - https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/ Sonoma Portworks - https://portworks.com/ Getphily Podcast Production - https://www.getphily.com/ Lend an Ear Media - https://lendanearmedia.com/

18 SEP 2023 · Bonnie shares how a childhood injury led to her studying esoteric philosophies and having an awakening around her soul's sacred contracts. She reflects on how adversity shaped her spiritual journey. Show Notes: - Bonnie's traumatic injury and coma as a child - Her abusive upbringing and family dysfunction - Discovering "sacred contracts" - agreements with the universe around learning - Realizing her injury was likely part of a sacred contract - Now feels gratitude for the growth adversity provided - Cautionary tale that the "shortest line" back to Earth through reincarnation isn't always best Key takeaways: Childhood trauma sparked Bonnie's spiritual evolution and shaped her beliefs around the soul's sacred journey. Dave Pokorny Presents… West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the first Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm. TICKETS here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/ Westside Stories: https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/ Our Partners: Once Upon a Slush - https://www.onceuponaslush.com/ Polly Klaas Community Theater - https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/ Sonoma Portworks - https://portworks.com/ Getphily Podcast Production - https://www.getphily.com/ Lend an Ear Media - https://lendanearmedia.com/

23 JUL 2023 · In this episode, we chat with Bil Lepp, an award-winning storyteller and author, about the art of storytelling. Bill shares his experiences of crafting and telling stories, how he keeps his audience engaged, and what he does when a story is not going well. We also discuss the differences between storytelling and stand-up comedy, the importance of trust between the storyteller and the audience, and how to write a good lie. Chapters: - Introduction - Bill's background and experience in storytelling - Crafting and telling stories - Keeping the audience engaged - When a story is not going well - Differences between storytelling and stand-up comedy - The importance of trust - How to write a good lie - Conclusion Interesting things mentioned: - Bill's book "That Ain't the Whole Plan: Bill and Skeeter Stories" - Bill's picture books "The King of Little Things" and "The Princess and the Pickup Truck" - Bill's TV show "Man vs. History" - How Bill got involved in "Man vs. History" - Bill's experience of dropping a replica barrel over Niagara Falls - Bill's upcoming storytelling festival appearances Dave Pokorny Presents… West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the first Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm. TICKETS here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/ Westside Stories: https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/ Our Partners: Once Upon a Slush - https://www.onceuponaslush.com/ Polly Klaas Community Theater - https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/ Sonoma Portworks - https://portworks.com/ Getphily Podcast Production - https://www.getphily.com/ Lend an Ear Media - https://lendanearmedia.com/

30 JUN 2023 · In this episode, Patty shares her harrowing experience on a whale-watching tour that turned into a nightmare. She tells the story of how the rough seas and choppy waves made everyone on the boat sick, and how the captain's pursuit of the whales only made things worse. She also shares how the experience affected her for years to come. Next Bill tells the story of his first kiss, which ended in disaster. He reflects on the lessons he learned and the impact the experience had on him. Dave Pokorny Presents… West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the first Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm. TICKETS here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/ Westside Stories: https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/ Our Partners: Once Upon a Slush - https://www.onceuponaslush.com/ Polly Klaas Community Theater - https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/ Sonoma Portworks - https://portworks.com/ Getphily Podcast Production - https://www.getphily.com/ Lend an Ear Media - https://lendanearmedia.com/

28 JUN 2023 · In this episode, Ken Gallegos tells the story of how his common sense saved him from a potentially deadly situation. He shares his experience of dating a Reagan Republican and meeting her gun-toting father. Gallegos recounts the night he narrowly avoided getting shot and how he used common sense to get himself out of a dangerous situation. Chapters: - Introduction - Meeting Julianne - Julianne's Father - The Night of the Incident - Common Sense Saves the Day - Conclusion Interesting things mentioned: - Ken's experience dating a Reagan Republican in the 1980s - Meeting Julianne's gun-toting father - The night Ken was nearly shot - The importance of common sense in dangerous situations