

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

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.

5 snips
Oct 11, 2022 • 1h 5min
Could You Beat a Raccoon In a Fight? (Live from Edinburgh)
Chris speaks with a young woman about her psychic abilities, putting them to the test in front of the live audience. She explains her fascination with astrology TikTok and analyzes Geth's birth chart despite his skepticism. He presents some thought provoking questions about raccoons, favorite berries, and the existence of ghosts. Later on, she opens up about doing EMDR therapy and how it's benefitted her.

Oct 4, 2022 • 1h 6min
Succeeding At Failure (Live from Edinburgh)
Chris speaks with a young woman who purposefully set herself up for a year of failure to develop a thicker skin. She shares her experiences trying stand-up comedy, MCing a parade, and getting rejected by a dating show. She also wrote a letter to Jason Sudeikis asking if he’d go bowling with her. Did he ever receive her request? Geth texts Jason to find out. She also opens up about getting divorced and how a year of rejection helped her deal with anxiety and depression.

Sep 27, 2022 • 1h 7min
Ranger Danger
Elephants are overrated. At least that's what this former zookeeper thinks. A park interpreter opens up to Geth about her experience working at the zoo including the struggle to earn a decent wage. She describes her love of working with hippos and the dangers of "scary smart monkeys." She discusses her frustration with people in her state being allowed to own exotic animals and her issues with "Tiger King." She also shares her thoughts about keeping animals in captivity and details about her current position helping people connect to nature.

Sep 20, 2022 • 1h 6min
Pole Dancing & A Talking Bird (Live from Portland)
Chris GethardA hairstylist from Canada explains how she went from powerlifting to pole dancing recreationally. She introduces the live audience in Portland to one of her three birds. Will he squawk his signature line, "did you poopie?" You'll have to wait and see! She also shares with Geth the story of being proposed to by her high school sweetheart in a hotel bathroom. Later on, they debate if she has a Canadian accent and discuss their scariest bird moments.