Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People

A Buddhist, formerly involved with Satanism and the Jehovah's Witnesses, shares their journey of leaving the faith, exploring sex, drugs, and serial killers. They discuss the damaging effects of growing up in the Jehovah's Witnesses and the contrast between their fascination with Satanic imagery. The speaker also delves into their transition from Jehovah's Witnesses to Satanism, involvement in subcultures and the porn industry, and observations on QAnon.

F*** Jerry Lewis, an artist with complicated feelings about failure and success, discusses his decision to retire as an artist now that he's about to have a kid. They also touch on moving through the world as an amputee with cerebral palsy and the challenges of being overlooked in the arts industry. The speaker reflects on finding solace in hardcore music and expresses gratitude for the supportive community it provides, but also acknowledges potential dangers. They discuss their dislike for Jerry Lewis, debate best wrestlers, and touch on the Trump administration's policies on disabled people.

Caller discusses the emotional journey of giving her dad a kidney, resilience in the face of loss, exploring spiritual connections with animals, the decision to donate, seeking help before reaching rock bottom, convenient and affordable therapy options, delicious ready-to-eat meals, sitting with pain and creating safe spaces, competing with younger individuals, recovery from kidney surgery, Europe trip and mental health advocacy, and encouraging organ donation.

A PhD student with a connective tissue disorder owning a Mardi Gras float is just the beginning of the interesting topics covered in this podcast. They discuss first tattoos, quirky parents, defining partying, rare diseases, writing separate alien books, Unitarian Universalism, and body incidents at apple orchards.

A pregnant woman living on a mysterious island talks about moving on a whim, connecting with animals instead of children, and the emotional burden of veterinary euthanasia.

Sharing something special from our friend Dan Heath, NYT bestselling author and host of the new podcast What It’s Like To Be... The show explores the world of work by interviewing interesting people with interesting jobs. You’ll be a fly on the wall as Dan talks to couples therapist Laura Heck: How can she spot a bad client before they walk in the door? What’s her favorite activity to try with struggling couples? You’ll hear what it’s like to walk in her shoes… You can hear more episodes of What It’s Like to Be… at https://link.chtbl.com/beautifulanon and get insights on Instagram at @whatitsliketobepodcast.  

A visual artist discusses their first experience taking Adderall for ADHD, the challenges of making art, and the importance of embracing discomfort in art. They also reflect on navigating criticism, compromising for financial stability, and the power of creating art without seeking external validation. The speakers explore the concept of feeling uncomfortable with someone's art and discuss the significance of language. They also reflect on growing up in the digital age and announce a new question series.

A former belly dancer discusses the social justice issues of her profession and her transition into a new phase of life. The podcast also explores the cultural appropriation and racism in belly dance, the impact of George Floyd on the community, and the speaker's shift in priorities from performance to family.

A punk rock musician shares how his life changed when his mom got sick, discussing his job as a dog walker, struggles with low pay, and experiences with wealthy households. They also explore building meaningful relationships in their 30s, finding joy in performing, pursuing musical dreams, and the punk rock ethos. The speaker reflects on their mother's strength, family dynamics, and a remarkable funeral. They express gratitude and provide exciting announcements in the farewell.

A caller shares the joys and challenges of having a second child, reflects on regrets about college choices and working class jobs, discusses disappearing friends and betrayal, navigates vision loss, recounts a funny yet gross incident with a dog at the beach, and expresses excitement for Halloween.