Episodes

I'm Obsessed with Tony Robbins, Tim Ferriss, Steve Almond, and my Spin Instructor
Aug. 24, 2016

I'm Obsessed with Tony Robbins, Tim Ferriss, Steve Almond, and my Spin Instructor

This episode is about obsessions. Andrea Askowitz, the teacher of the class speaks to Allison Langer, co-producer and student in the class. They discuss what she learned from the Tim Ferriss podcast when he interviewed Tony Robbins. Allison heard Robbins say, “Rejection breeds obsession.” And, ”T…
Who is Jahn Dope? From H.S. Football Star to Homeless Man to the Great Philip Sylverin
Aug. 3, 2016

Who is Jahn Dope? From H.S. Football Star to Homeless Man to the Great Philip Sylverin

This episode is about self destruction. Jahn Dope, one of the students in our class, reads his story, Dark Matter. Jahn’s story begins after he overdoses on LSD after a crazy night of drinking and drugs, then backtracks to childhood. After Jahn’s story ends, the class was left with questions. So,…
Circuit Boys, Gym Rats, Papi Chulos, Fashion Queens, Bears...Which One Are You?
July 19, 2016

Circuit Boys, Gym Rats, Papi Chulos, Fashion Queens, Bears...Which One Are You?

This episode explores perspective, how sometimes it takes years to figure out that something you did or thought was totally fucked up. Bo tells his story about getting blocked from a 1-900 gay hotline. But the story is really about how it took him years to become comfortable enough with himself t…
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone...Where the Magic Happens.
June 30, 2016

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone...Where the Magic Happens.

This episode explores the different zones we live in: comfort zone, stretch zone and panic zone. Allison talks about her experience at dinner with new friends and how she complained the entire night. She realizes she ventured too far into her stretch zone and panicked. Misha Mehrel tells his story …
Dear Listener
June 14, 2016

Dear Listener

This episode explores the epistolary form, which is just a snobby way to say stories written in the form of a letter. Andrea Askowitz starts with a letter written to her from her best friend in high school. Robin and Andrea wrote hundreds of letters back and forth to each other throughout their fri…
Taboo: Fat, Fuck, Masturbation
May 29, 2016

Taboo: Fat, Fuck, Masturbation

In this episode, we discuss what is taboo. Is it a word, a topic? Is it the same for everyone? We learn why we need to talk about things considered taboo, and when to actually write taboo words instead of referring to them. You’ll hear from Inessa Freylekhman who’s mom tells her what not to say o…
Rejection Sucks. Why Do We Put Ourselves Out There?
May 17, 2016

Rejection Sucks. Why Do We Put Ourselves Out There?

In this episode, student and co-producer Allison Langer puts herself out there in writing and in love. The first story she tells was submitted to Modern Love, a column in the New York Times. Allison’s story got rejected, which is the subject of the second story she tells. Also in the second story, …
Emotional Hangover. Those Times When You Feel You Told too Much.
May 1, 2016

Emotional Hangover. Those Times When You Feel You Told too Much.

Have you ever told a story or shared a secret and regretted it? Like you wake up the next morning and you’re like ew, why’d I say that? And then you want to vomit? Today we’re talking about telling stories that give us emotional hangovers. Those times when you feel you told too much. In this episod…
Words Matter: Student Missy Shares Words with her Hero Elizabeth Gilbert
April 25, 2016

Words Matter: Student Missy Shares Words with her Hero Elizabeth Gilbert

The words we say to each other and ourselves shape our lives. One of Andrea’s favorite writing tenets is: Make every word count. In today’s episode we learn that every word counts in life also. This is the first episode of our second semester and we have some new students. You’ll hear Missy Hernand…
How to Write a Story Meant to be Told Out Loud
Feb. 25, 2016

How to Write a Story Meant to be Told Out Loud

Today, we’re talking about writing stories meant to be told out loud. Jahn Dope tells his story, Tackled, about the time he was raped. Andrea Askowitz tells her story Thank You For Listening, about the time she went 24 hours without talking about herself. Both stories were told on stage at Lip Serv…
Will You Love Me Forever or Just on Valentine's Day?
Feb. 11, 2016

Will You Love Me Forever or Just on Valentine's Day?

Today, we are stepping out of order because it’s February and we’re in the U.S. and we can’t avoid thinking about love. So, we’re bringing you a Valentine’s Day episode. This episode is a little different. Slightly less teachy, thought not without this lesson: A good way to approach a story is to a…
Who Cares About Your Story? What Are the Stakes?
Feb. 1, 2016

Who Cares About Your Story? What Are the Stakes?

We’re talking about stakes. And we don’t mean those slabs of meat you eat if you’re not a vegetarian, but what makes a listener or a reader care about a story. And we’re talking about what we have to lose as storytellers when we tell our stories. One thing we know about memoir writing is that the…
You Don't Have to be a Clown to Write Funny
Jan. 15, 2016

You Don't Have to be a Clown to Write Funny

This episode is about writing humor. Andrea tells a joke only she thinks is funny, then calls our humor expert, Jay Wexler, who confirms just how funny her joke is. Jay is an attorney and the author of five books. Later in the show, Jay shares his ten suggestions for writing humor. Andrea adds fou…
True Story: Nobody Likes New Year's Eve.
Dec. 30, 2015

True Story: Nobody Likes New Year's Eve.

We’re interrupting our first semester to give you a taste of who’s to come in our second semester. You’ll meet Frenchy, who took Andrea’s writing class years ago and is now back. Does she get a kiss on New Year’s Eve? You’ll also meet Tobi Ash and hear why she’s been avoiding New Year’s celebration…
Story Structure Is Sexy
Dec. 14, 2015

Story Structure Is Sexy

How should a story be structured? Start from the very beginning by using the concept of story spine. Story spine, a technique articulated by the playwright Ken Adams, is the backbone of every traditional story. In this episode, Allison uses the story spine to write about her return to dating after …
Wendi Tells the Story of her Ex-husband’s Murder. Writing Is an Exercise in Trust.
Dec. 3, 2015

Wendi Tells the Story of her Ex-husband’s Murder. Writing Is an Exercise in Trust.

Today we give you Wendi Adelson the way she revealed herself in the first semester. Andrea talks about hot topic, cold prose, a writing technique where the narrator pares down the writing in a difficult moment. The story is told without sentiment. It’s just reported. Two weeks into the semester, We…
The Lies We Tell
Nov. 11, 2015

The Lies We Tell

Danny and Bo reveal the lies they've told, especially to themselves. And then the fallout. Danny falls in love with two women but neither knows about the other. Everyone is happy, until he hears a knock at the door. Bo admits to his many sexual encounters with women, sometimes in the same day; all …
Field Trip to the Fertility Clinic. Freezing Eggs at 6 a.m.
Oct. 13, 2015

Field Trip to the Fertility Clinic. Freezing Eggs at 6 a.m.

Andrea follows Inessa to the fertility clinic early one morning as she goes through the process of harvesting her eggs, an undertaking not entirely of her doing. We heard in the second episode that Mama put down $10,000 toward the procedure. Inessa paid the remaining $2,000. Turns out Inessa is not…
What Is the Story You Tell about Your Relationship with Your Mother?
Oct. 11, 2015

What Is the Story You Tell about Your Relationship with Your Mother?

Hear what Inessa, Danny, Bo, Jahn, Allison and Andrea confess about their relationships with their moms and how those relationships have shaped their lives. We all tell stories, including to ourselves. The truth is, you never know how the people you love will respond to what you write about them. Y…
How Are You? Really?
Oct. 10, 2015

How Are You? Really?

In our first class of the semester, we got the writing prompt, "How are you? Really?" Danny and Inessa are two students in the class who share exactly how they are. Danny's story involves underwear. Inessa's involves stabbing hormones into her belly to create eggs that may become her future childre…
The Pilot: The Hardest Thing To Write About
Oct. 9, 2015

The Pilot: The Hardest Thing To Write About

Allison Langer and Andrea Askowitz created a podcast of their writing class. On this episode you'll hear what qualifies Andrea to be the teacher. And why Allison insisted the world needs this podcast. We believe that once you write about the thing you don't want to write about, that thing has less …