Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People
Chris Gethard
1 phone call. 1 hour. No names. No holds barred. Thats the premise behind Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People, hosted by comedian Chris Gethard (the Chris Gethard Show, Broad City, This American Life, and one of Time Outs 10 best comedians of 2015). Every week, Chris opens the phone line to one anonymous caller, and he cant hang up first, no matter what. From shocking confessions and family secrets to philosophical discussions and shameless self-promotion, anything can and will happen! Theme song by Shellshag.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 20, 2022 • 1h 2min
Boujee Dirtbag
What's Kim Kardashian like? A 25-year-old shares wild stories about living and working in a boujee Colorado ski town teaching wealthy people (including Kim and Kanye) how to ski. She opens up about being the daughter of diplomats wondering if she'll move to Europe to be closer to her parents. She describes moving between worlds hanging out with billionaires by day and "dirtbag hippies" by night. She also explains why her father feels safer in Europe than he does in the U.S. as a black person.
8 snips
Dec 13, 2022 • 1h 6min
Saving Feet, Saving Souls (Live from Durham)
If you heard a blood curdling scream, what would you do? A man tells the story of what he did for a stranger who severed his foot mowing the lawn. He also describes his annual camping trip where he invites 100+ people and doesn’t tell them where they’re going. Later on, he shares with Geth what his cat Santa taught him about love.
Dec 6, 2022 • 1h 6min
Fell In Love With My Therapist
What started as therapy turned into obsession and betrayal. A mother of 4 explains how her therapist manipulated her into thinking she was in love with him. She describes to Geth how he blurred the lines of their relationship with 8 hour sessions and drunken, late night voicemails. She also shares what happened after she reported him to the police and what investigators found when they showed up to his office.
Nov 29, 2022 • 1h 5min
Great Grandma Was A Serial Killer (Live From Chicago)
Rat poison, pill overdose, and tripping over a shotgun. A young woman describes the suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of her great grandma’s many husbands. She also opens up about overcoming a tumultuous childhood and what it’s like having 16 siblings. Later on, she reveals to Geth how she found love at IHOP and the dumbest way to get a concussion at a theme park.
4 snips
Nov 22, 2022 • 1h 9min
Brain Surgery Changed My Boyfriend
They were planning their life together, but a traumatic brain injury changed everything. A woman shares what happened when her boyfriend woke up from brain surgery with a different personality and no memory of their relationship. She opens up about moving to a big city, becoming a DJ, and how in a way, they both became different people. Later on, she and Geth discuss getting sober, sexual compatibility post brain surgery, biking to Mexico, and the beauty of life now.
Nov 15, 2022 • 1h 5min
Gay Zombies (Live From Edinburgh)
A zombie fan explains to Geth why ‘Night of the Living Dead’ meant so much to him growing up as a closeted Mormon. He also shares his own dreams of writing a zombie movie and breaks down his favorite films in the genre. Later on, he opens up about processing religious trauma and how leaving the faith has changed his relationship with his family.
Nov 8, 2022 • 1h 10min
Let’s Talk About Grief
A 33-year-old reflects on losing her first love in Afghanistan at 18 and dating his best friend after the tragedy. She opens up to Geth about the mental and physical abuse she endured in the second relationship and the fallout it caused with friends and family. She also shares the surprising way she found closure after her boyfriend’s passing with a psychic medium.
Nov 1, 2022 • 1h 5min
The Putty Man (Live from Madison)
Just in time for Halloween, a 47-year-old horror fan shares the premise of the spooky novel she's writing. She and Geth get nostalgic over trick-or-treat traditions and she explains how scary movies help her cope with anxiety. Later on, they attempt to make contact with the ghost (aka "The Putty Man") that haunts Madison's Majestic Theater in front of the live audience.
Oct 25, 2022 • 1h 4min
Library Boy (Live from Cudahy)
Anonymous notes in the library and a will they/won’t they story spanning years. A woman shares the epic tale of her own “You’ve Got Mail” situation and what she learned from the experience. She explains how hiding letters in books turned into 8 months of back and forth with a mystery guy otherwise known as “library boy.” Geth and the live audience ask all your burning questions including, “what happened?!” Later on, she reveals the fate of her mystery man and why she’s happy now.
Oct 18, 2022 • 1h 5min
From Slinging Bibles to Slinging Knives
What's easier to sell: God or knives? A father of 2 speaks to Geth about going from pastor life to selling knives out of a van. He explains why some ministers end up leaving and moving into sales. He also opens up about adultery in the church, getting into therapy, trying weed, and how his marriage improved after switching careers.
