Audacious with Chion Wolf
201 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago -Audacious with Chion Wolf will highlight the uncommon experiences of everyday people – asking the hardest, most uncomfortable questions. With curiosity and compassion, Connecticut Public producer and host Chion Wolf digs deeper, encouraging listeners to ask hard questions in their own lives.
Find out more at https://www.ctpublic.org/audacious
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Episodes
When actors teach: Embodying the lives of an enslaved woman and a medical patient
July 12, 2024 15:55 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBThere are many ways to teach, but few are as impactful as embodying a character as an actor. How does taking on such roles shape a person's life? In this episode, we delve into the experiences of two unique educators. Discover what it was like for Azie Dungey, a Black actress, to portray an enslaved woman at George and Martha Washington's estate in Mount Vernon. How did this deeply emotional role influence her understanding of history and her own identity? Then, explore the world of Cory...
Audacious Paloozas: Lovers of pogo sticks, origami, lighters, and John Philip Sousa share their passions
July 05, 2024 16:17 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBYou know the Chicago-based music festival, Lollapalooza? Well, this episode of Audacious features NO ONE from Lollapalooza! But it does feature people who love something so much that they made a palooza out of it! Hear about the communal beauty and allure of pogo sticks, origami, lighters, and John Philip Sousa marches. GUESTS: Nick McClintock: Creative director and co-founder of Pogopalooza Kuang-Hao Huang: Pianist, former driving force behind Make Music Chicago, and creator of So...
Intersex advocacy and the fight for bodily autonomy with Pidgeon Pagonis
June 28, 2024 14:52 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBGrowing up, Pidgeon Pagonis was told a lot about their medical history: They were born with cancerous ovaries, so the doctors removed them to save their life. Except that wasn't true. In reality, they were born intersex. And those were not cancerous ovaries, they were undescended testes. And that was just the beginning of many truths coming out. Hear their story of discovery, and how they played a massive role in getting the hospital where they were born to reverse their policies on how ...
For the love of farts! From animal biology to musical mastery
June 21, 2024 13:20 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBEnjoy our ode to farts! Meet researchers who made a New York Times bestselling book series about the various ways that animals fart; A man who is internationally known for being a hand farter, (also called a “manualist“); And another person who was born without an anus and went on to make a living off of his ability to fart extensively on-command! Which he will absolutely do for us in this episode. GUESTS: Dani Rabaiotti and Nick Caruso: Researchers who created a spreadsheet listing w...
Behind the mic: Gayle King, Ziwe, and Mehdi Hasan on the art of the interview
June 14, 2024 14:42 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBBack in the day — with your Walter Cronkites and David Brinkleys — it felt kind of inappropriate for an interviewer to bring their full selves to the conversation. It was all about the guest, after all, so why bother bringing their own distinctive flairs? But now, people tune in as much for the interviewer as the one being interviewed. And because of that, the experience feels much more authentic! So today, you'll get to know three masters of the craft who each have their own distinct, b...
Jayson Greene reflects on grief and parenthood nine years after his daughter's death
June 07, 2024 14:37 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBJayson Greene’s daughter, Greta, died in 2015 when she was two years old. She was sitting on a bench with her grandma on the Upper West Side of Manhattan when a brick fell from a building and struck her in the head. Now, nine years later, how would Jayson describe Greta’s presence in his life? Hear his reflections on life after unimaginable tragedy, and how much he appreciates the people that showed up for him and his family. Related episode: Views from the end: David Meyers GUESTS: ...
Hearing every color, feeling every earthquake: Life as a cyborg
May 31, 2024 15:48 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBIn the movies, cyborgs often don't have a soul or a conscience. But in real life, some people become cyborgs in order to enhance the human experience and to be more connected with nature. Like Neil Harbisson. He was born colorblind, but now, thanks to an antenna implanted into the base of his skull, he can hear colors! And choreographer, Moon Ribas, had implants embedded in her feet that vibrated every time there was an earthquake of at least 1.0 on the Richter scale. They are co-fou...
Conversations with two dragons
May 24, 2024 14:33 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBPeople modify their bodies all the time. A piercing here, a tattoo there… But what if you took it to the extreme, and reshaped yourself into something mythical? Meet two people who use body modifications to turn themselves into dragons. Related episodes: Change Of Art: Stories About Tattoo Coverups Retired CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez on magic, technology and the art of deception (Almost) Everybody Hurts: An Exploration of Pain Going Flat, or Building New Breasts: Two Women’...
The reality of 'Forever Parenting' when your child needs lifetime care
May 17, 2024 12:56 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBWhen people imagine becoming parents, they don’t often envision their child being born with a condition that requires lifetime care. Hear reflections and wisdom from “forever parents” whose children have autism with anxiety and OCD; a disorder that caused 100 seizures a day; and Down Syndrome. GUESTS: Carrie Cariello: Mother of five children, including 18 year-old Jack, who has Autism, OCD, and anxiety. She’s the author of two books, and writes regularly for the Huffington Post Adria...
Pawn queens: Tales and treasures from women pawn shop owners
May 10, 2024 14:07 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBWhen you imagine a pawn shop, what do you think of? Maybe a gruff dude behind the counter, giving you as little money - and as much attitude - as possible. After all, it's a male-dominated industry, and t.v. shows like Pawn Stars reinforce the stereotype. But in this episode of Audacious, join Chion as she gets to know the kindness, compassion and sense of humor of Sandy Meier. She runs Pawn Queen on the Berlin Turnpike in Wethersfield. Then, meet Lauren Kaminsky, a third-generation pawn...
Stunt performers David Holmes and Jonathan Goodwin on life after paralysis
May 03, 2024 14:47 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBMost of the time, the stunts you see in television and movies go perfectly. But when something goes wrong, the athletes who have spent their lives perfecting their craft can get permanently injured. David Holmes was Daniel Radcliffe's main stunt double in the Harry Potter movies. In 2009, an accident on-set paralyzed him. Jonathan Goodwin was a regular stunt performer on t.v. shows, but in 2021, he became paralyzed after being crushed between two cars while in a straight jacket. Hear h...
What it's like at the bottom of the world with Dr. “Deepsea Dawn” Wright
April 26, 2024 15:26 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBOn July 12, 2022, Dawn Wright (aka "Deepsea Dawn") became the first and only Black person to dive to the lowest known point on the Earth's seabed, "Challenger Deep". Hear about her journey down into the Mariana Trench, why she went, and what she found at the bottom that shocked her. You also may enjoy these episodes: Below the surface: The stories behind underwater world records Extreme allergies and rare conditions can teach us a lot about human tolerance What's in that note? Stor...
Beyond the BeyHive and Swifties: The heartbeat of music superfans
April 19, 2024 18:04 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBBeyoncé and Taylor Swift are considered to be two of the most important performers of this or any generation. A Swiftie and a leader of the BeyHive talk about the lengths they go to to experience - and share the love - of their favorite performer. Suggested companion episode: 'I Will Always Love You': Jada Star’s musical bond with her aunt Dolly Parton GUESTS: Molly Swindall: has been a Taylor Swift superfan, concertgoer, and merch collector since 2006 Maverick Flood: a Beyoncé sup...
Wings, pouches, and snouts: The world of uncommon emotional support animals
April 12, 2024 15:13 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBWhen you imagine an emotional support animal, what comes to mind? A dog? Well how about a pigeon? A sugar glider? Or an emotional support pig? Meet people who’ve paired up with these animals to make their lives - and mental health conditions - better. This episode originally aired on May 26, 2023. GUESTS: Cynthia Zhou: Miu was her emotional support pigeon from 2016 to 2021. She is an advocate for Palomacy Pigeon and Dove Adoptions based out of San Francisco Arianna Preuss: Zaboo ...
The art of the prank with the directors of 'Jury Duty' and 'Bad Trip'
April 05, 2024 14:08 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBPranking on television has been around for over 70 years. Starting with Candid Camera in the late 40s all the way through to Punk'd in the early 2000s. Pranking has evolved to not only entertain, but to show off the goodness in people! The directors of the movie Bad Trip, and the tv series, Jury Duty, talk about how they pull off physical stunts that leave a positive emotional impact. Previous episode mentioned in the show: What's jury duty like? The verdict, well, it's case by case ...
Actors Mary Elizabeth Kelly and Dean Edwards on the art of impressions
March 29, 2024 16:29 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBHave you ever tried doing an impression of a famous person... And failed miserably? That's because impressions are really hard to pull off! On this episode, you'll meet two of the best in the business: Mary Elizabeth Kelly, who is known for her mouth acting impressions, and Dean Edwards from Saturday Night Live. Shows referenced: What is foreign accent syndrome? After a stroke, one man’s southern drawl turned British The meteoric rise of comedian Zarna Garg Why the world needs comed...
Audacious Live! Show & Tell in Stamford
March 22, 2024 14:09 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBRemember the joy of “Show and Tell” at school? Now why should only the kids have all the fun? Listeners to Audacious (and staff members of Connecticut Public!) gathered at Third Place by Half Full Brewery on March 13th for an opportunity to share their story! For a full transcript of this show, click here. GUESTS: Elaine Braithwaite: Electric violinist and City Librarian of Bridgeport Faisal Saleh: Founder of Palestine Museum US in Woodbridge, CT Paul Bluestein: Husband of Lynda ...
Forgiveness: How we define it and how it defines us
March 15, 2024 19:41 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBHow do you define forgiveness? Turns out, the definition tends to be as different as every person. And that definition changes depending on where you are in the process, too! On this episode of Audacious, Chion talks about it with a best friend, a pastor, a philosopher, and a man who lost his face after getting hit by a drunk driver. You’ll also hear ponderings on forgiveness from some of our Audacious listeners! And since this is a rebroadcast of an episode from two years ago, Chion...
Retired CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez on magic, technology and the art of deception
March 08, 2024 15:08 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBIf you've ever wondered where the CIA finds inspiration to disguise their agents, you'd think maybe… Hollywood with their special effects? Turns out, it was the magic community that helped them develop technology that may have saved lives and uncovered secrets! Hear stories from retired CIA Chief of Disguise, Jonna Mendez, including how she used this technology to surprise the former head of the CIA, President George HW Bush. For a full transcript of this show, click here. GUEST: J...
"Negativity be gone!": Artists igniting joy on social media
March 01, 2024 13:04 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBWe hear a lot about the harm of social media. But what about the good? Meet two artists who started off on social media by showing their artwork… But once they revealed the hope and kindness and positivity in their hearts? The views, shares and likes piled up in ways they never expected. Hear how they both are grappling with the newfound pressure of inspiring hundreds of thousands of fans, and find out what Chion's favorite clips from their channels reveal about her. Listen to the firs...
Actors with facial differences discuss what it means to be seen
February 23, 2024 16:10 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBWhat's it like when, due to a condition you had early on in life, your face looks so very different from everybody else's? And what's it like to use that face as an actor? In this second installment featuring conversations with people who have facial differences, we meet two performers who appeared together in the 2018 movie, Happy Face. For more information about facial differences, visit About Face. To read a full transcript of this show, click here. GUESTS: Dawn Shaw: Author, ...
Shocking protests: A look at the impact of bold action
February 16, 2024 18:38 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBIn 2022, Just Stop Oil protestors threw tomato soup on a Van Gogh painting in London. The world collectively gasped, but some UK lawmakers responded by supporting fewer investments in new oil projects. On this episode, meet one of those soup-throwers, and hear from two other people who have been part of creative protests: a spokesperson from an anti-circumcision group that wears all white with giant, red splotches on the groin area; and a woman who organized a college campus protest featur...
I downloaded my soulmate: Stories of love and AI
February 09, 2024 14:24 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBIn the 2013 movie, "Her", Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with a computer operating system, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Skip forward over 10 years, and people are now creating their own AI chatbot partners via apps like NOMI and Replika. Today, a sexologist gives this new kind of relationship some context, and meet two people whose lives were changed by these meaningful partnerships. Plus, Chion tries it out for herself. Hear actual transcripts (only lightly edited for radio) of what...
From tyrants to torchbearers: Confessions of reformed bullies
February 02, 2024 12:35 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBIf you've ever been bullied, you know how all-encompassing the terror of it is. But what if you could get inside the bully's head? And find out why they do it? On this episode of Audacious, meet two people who were once bullies talking about how they turned their lives around and how they think bullies can learn to make different decisions. For more information, visit StopBullying.gov. GUESTS: Robbie Romu: Vancouver writer who published the essay, I Was A School Bully. Here's Why I T...
A coffee-fueled celebration of passion, purpose, and pursuing an impossible goal
January 26, 2024 16:00 - 49 minutes - 45 MBCoffee. It's more than just a pick-me-up. It's a canvas for creativity, a compulsion for competition, and a fuel for adventures beyond the boundaries of the average mug. Today, we are serving you a triple shot of people whose lives were transformed by the power of the bean. Meet a U.S. Barista champion whose social media channel brings a wholesome buzz; a woman who advocates against gun violence by painting in public places with coffee; then, hold onto your venti cup as you hear the stor...
Views from the end: Lynda Bluestein, medical aid in dying, and the importance of humor every day
January 19, 2024 13:40 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBWe first met Lynda Shannon Bluestein when she was in palliative care back in May of 2022. She was fighting for medical aid in dying (MAID) to be legalized in Connecticut. Frustrated, she sued Vermont to allow non-residents of the state to use its MAID laws. In the meantime, she worked to install "wind phones'' in Connecticut, eventually starting a nonprofit called Lynda's Phones. An idea originating in Japan, old rotary phones are installed in public spaces which people can use to imagin...
Hot Shots: Photography, music, and pizza from inside a volcano
January 12, 2024 15:52 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBBeyond the smoke and ash, lies a symphony unheard. Prepare to meet a composer who interprets the music of volcanic data, a photographer who unmasks the terrifying beauty of volcanoes, and a chef who braves the inferno to cook the world's most intense pizza pie. For a full transcript of this episode, click here. GUESTS: Brad White: Teacher and photographer from Auckland, New Zealand, who has photographed 16 volcanoes around the world Leif Karlstrom: Volcanologist, musician, and associ...
'I Will Always Love You': Jada Star’s musical bond with her aunt Dolly Parton
January 05, 2024 13:33 - 1 hour - 60.4 MBGrowing up as Dolly Parton's niece has its benefits, including a genetic predisposition to write poetry and put it to music. Jada Star is the niece of Dolly Parton, and she joins us to talk about life in her light —and the music that means the most to her. For a transcription of this episode, click here. GUEST: Jada Star: Singer-songwriter whose debut album is called Tell Me I'm Your Angel. She also starred in the ABC reality series Claim To Fame. You will also hear the voice of Hea...
All in a year: 3 guests, 3 goals, 365 days
December 29, 2023 14:41 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBA lot can happen in a year, you know? And if you’re anything like these folks, you’ve read over 365 books, you’ve become fluent in English by watching American t.v. shows, and you’ve gotten over a hundred rejections. GUESTS: Kelsey Weekman: Culture reporter for Buzzfeed who read 390 books in a year Mathias Barra: French writer who became fluent in English in a year by watching 3 hours of American and British television every day Emily Winter: Comedy writer who strived to get 100 reje...
Social media, the algorithm, and the state of our hearts
December 22, 2023 14:23 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBOur social media news feeds curate us as much as we curate our newsfeeds. So what if, instead of subscribing to the same old fear-mongering, belittling, judgmental soundbites… We subscribe to accounts that peddle in love? Today, meet three people who use social media to lift all tides. GUESTS: Joel Cross: Grammy-nominated musician, poet, meditator, and traveler who asks his half-a-million followers to pause and ask, "How's your heart?", on the handle, @asoulcalledjoel Scott Tatum: A...
Cart Talk: Conversations with Trader Joe's and Costco Aficionados
December 15, 2023 14:53 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBWe all know someone who loves Costco, or someone who loves Trader Joe’s. But what compels someone to devote their time and travel to visiting as many stores as possible, to wrap so much of their identity around these massive shopping chains? Meet three people whose lives brighten the moment they put their hands on a Trader Joe’s or Costco grocery cart. For a transcription of this episode, click here. GUESTS: David and Susan Schwartz: Authors of The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from...
Audacious kids: Stories of courage, conservation, and compassion
December 08, 2023 18:12 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBAudacious kids run the world. Or at least, they ought to, because they have a lot to teach us! Meet a young woman whose unique voice made her stand out to bullies - until she flipped the script and turned it into her superpower. A young man talks about why he's cleaned up over a quarter million pounds of trash in our waterways, and finally, an 8 year-old friend of animals talks about why he held a memorial service for an egret. GUESTS: Samirah Horton, aka DJ Annie Red: 14-year-old DJ, ...
The human behind the brand: Meet Progressive's Flo and the "Can you hear me now?" guy
December 01, 2023 17:05 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBEverybody knows the "Can you hear me now?" guy. And everyone knows Flo from Progressive. But what are the stories behind Paul Marcarelli and Stephanie Courtney, the actors who play these characters? What's it like being internationally known as the face of a brand? What's awesome about a gig like this, and what are some of the challenges that come with it? GUESTS: Paul Marcarelli: Actor known as The "Can you hear me now?" guy seen in Verizon commercials since 2001. He is now the face o...
Beyond the mask: Conversations with psychopaths
November 21, 2023 18:53 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBWhen you think of the word, "Psychopath", what do you picture? A serial killer? A dictator? A cut-throat CEO? Your ex? Sure, a few of those folks may be psychopaths. But many people with this mental health condition would argue that the usual stereotypes are way off. They are incapable of feeling empathy or developing any attachments, but that doesn't mean they are compelled to cause harm. Today, two people who are psychopaths talk about how they've learned to adapt to a world full of ...
Words over weapons: When anti-war poems go viral
November 17, 2023 15:00 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBWhen you think about the history of things that have gone viral, poetry is not usually what comes to mind. But as the latest surges in violence rage across the world, it turns out that poetry is something folks unite around. Meet three people whose poems about war have gone viral, and find out how it both fed their purpose and GUESTS: Lena Khalaf Tuffaha: Palestinian American poet, essayist, and translator who has authored three books of poetry. She won the 2018 Washington State Book A...
At your service! What it's like being a butler
November 10, 2023 18:17 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBLook at the people in the background of any rich person's dinner party - real or fictional - and you'll see them: The butlers. How did they get there? How did they learn? And what do they get out of it - beyond the money, of course? To answer those questions the founder and CEO of The International Butler Academy joins us alongside his executive head butler. And hear from a palace manager in the Middle East, talking about why she has been drawn to this kind of work for over 35 years. ...
The declassified life of former CIA agent Valerie Plame
November 03, 2023 13:04 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBUntil 2003, very few people knew her name, and that was exactly as she liked it. She was an undercover CIA operative working to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction - specifically, nuclear weapons. But then, when members of the Bush administration leaked her identity to a journalist, all hell broke loose. Hear about why she became an undercover agent, what exactly happened when her identity was exposed in 2003, and what life has been like since. She is hosting the...
Haunted artifacts & serial killer art: When one person's treasure is another one's nightmare
October 27, 2023 16:25 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBSome people collect stamps. Coins. Trading cards. And as you've heard on our show before, some people collect barf bags. Tiny chairs. Bricks. And some people's collections are a bit… darker. Today, come with me as I tour the John Zaffis Museum of the Paranormal in Stratford, CT, containing hundreds of objects that are suspected of being haunted. And find out what William Harder has learned about humanity by amassing one of the world's largest collections of art solely created by convic...
GOOD GOURD! A show about pumpkins!
October 20, 2023 14:50 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBOh my gourd do we want you to meet a man who set a world record for riding his giant pumpkin down the Missouri river! And hold your breath as you hear from two women who won an underwater pumpkin carving contest! And since it’s officially decorative gourd season, meet the author of that McSweeney's essay whose enthusiastic profanity somehow brings us all together every single autumn. GUESTS: Duane Hansen: Set a world record for traveling the longest distance in a pumpkin boat in Augu...
BONUS: Extended conversation with Mehdi Hasan
October 13, 2023 18:21 - 26 minutes - 23.8 MBMehdi Hasan is the host of The Mehdi Hasan Show on MSNBC and Peacock. His latest book is called Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking. Listen to our extended conversations with interviewers Ziwe and Gayle King. Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BONUS: Extended conversation with Ziwe
October 13, 2023 18:03 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBZiwe is a comedian, writer, actor, executive producer and star of ZIWE on Showtime. She is also known for her web series, Baited. Her book is called Black Friend: Essays. Listen to our extended conversations with interviewers Mehdi Hasan and Gayle King. Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BONUS: Extended conversation with Gayle King
October 13, 2023 18:01 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBGayle King is the co-host of CBS This Morning, and editor-at-large of O, the Oprah Magazine. Curator of the book, Note to Self: Inspiring Words From Inspiring People. Listen to our extended conversations with interviewers Mehdi Hasan and Ziwe. Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What smells remind you of childhood? Hear eighteen answers
October 06, 2023 15:21 - 50 minutes - 45.8 MBThe poet, Atticus, wrote, “Have you ever smelled a smell and it instantly brings you back to a happy moment from your childhood? I always loved that. I hope that's what death is. Just sitting on a cloud, smelling old smells.” That’s the inspiration for today’s episode, featuring 18 people talking about the smells that bring them back to childhood. In addition to the guests below, you’ll hear the voices of Dave Borsvold from Mentor, Ohio, Higuchi Naoki from Osaka, Japan, Levi Lomaski from...
Extreme ironing, cheese rolling, and shin kicking: The world of weird sports
September 29, 2023 15:04 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBTired of the same old sports? Well, listen to our show about weird sports! Including extreme ironing, where people press their clothes at the top of volcanoes, in caves, even while hanging upside down in trees! And there's cheese rolling, where people chase a cheese wheel which is barrelling down a steep hill. And then there's the oh, so British sport of shin kicking! This is a centuries-old wrestling sport where opponents grab each other by the shoulders and kick the shin out of eac...
Welcome to the Punderdome! We're entering NYC's punniest pun competition
September 22, 2023 17:31 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBPuns: some hate ‘em, some like 'em, and some are so passionate about being punny, so committed to quips, so delighted by double entendre, that they compete in events like the Punderdome. The Punderdome is a monthly wordplay competition in New York where newbies go round after round, coming up with puns on a surprise theme, alongside some of the best punsters in the world. Join Chion and Deputy director of storytelling for Connecticut Public, Meg Dalton, as they travel to Brooklyn to comp...
How the daughter of a serial killer became a mental health advocate
September 08, 2023 14:10 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBWhen Jenn Carson was nine years old, her mother sat her down and told her that her father had been arrested for hurting people.The world would later find out that Michael Bear Carson and his second wife, Suzan Carson, were serial killers.Hear how Jenn went from a traumatized little girl to a mental health advocate and crisis counselor, advocating against her father’s parole. GUEST: Dr. Jenn Carson: She shares her experience as the suicidal child of a serial killer father, who grew up to ...
Why'd You Do It: I snuck my incarcerated boyfriend out of prison in a dog crate
September 01, 2023 15:29 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBIn 2006, dog trainer Toby Dorr, , made international headlines when she snuck John Manard, who was incarcerated for life, out of prison in a dog crate. They were on the run for 12 days, until it all came to a crashing halt. In this second installment of our "Why'd You Do It?" series, find out what went into all the choices Toby made, before, during, and long after the great escape. Listen to the first installment of our "Why'd You Do It?" series GUESTS: Toby Dorr: In 2006, she was ...
The misunderstood pain of persistent genital arousal disorder
August 25, 2023 20:15 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBMany of us would think that feelings of arousal would always be welcome! And maybe we would even want more of it. But for our guests on this episode, persistent genital arousal disorder has made life very difficult. One woman copes with more than 100 orgasms a day, another searches for peace as her body is stimulated by emotions of all kinds, and another has undergone surgeries and treatments to find relief. We also hear from one of the world experts on this rare condition on what we k...
The meteoric rise of comedian Zarna Garg
August 18, 2023 15:58 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MBIf you told comedian Zarna Garg five years ago that she would have her own Amazon comedy special, she might look at you funny. So to speak. She immigrated to the United States at 16 years old to leave a difficult family situation. Then, she became a lawyer and a stay-at-home mom. But in her mid-40s, she began exploring the comedy world, which has been rewarding her greatly ever since. On this episode of Audacious, hear the lightness behind her dark humor, and how being an Indian woman ...
“Tell the world what’s happening”: Uyghur refugees on escaping genocide in China
August 11, 2023 15:47 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MB"Never again." That was the vow the international community took after the Holocaust, pledging to never repeat the kind of actions that led to the death of over 6 million Jewish people. Unfortunately, the horrors of genocide have been seen again - in Armenia, in Rwanda, and now, in China. On this episode of Audacious, meet a woman who was assaulted and forcibly sterilized while in a concentration camp. And a celebrated writer talks about his new memoir, Waiting to Be Arrested at Night:...