The Truth

Meet Louis, a can of generic cola. For this special bonus episode of The Truth, we’re introducing you not only to an inanimate object, but a brand new Radiotopia show that features interviews with said objects. It fun and informative and fresh and smart, and we hope you love it as much as we do.

Explore Wonderworld, U.S.A., where the fun and the mental are fundamental! Featuring stories by Chris Kipiniak, Becca Schall, Louis Kornfeld, Lila Newman, and Davy Gardner.

A girl finds an unlikely friend in a porcupine puffer fish. Written by Becca Schall, produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Performed by Bee Herbstman, Alison Cimmet, Scott Richardson, and Ed Herbstman.

In 1993, a young boy named Jesse Eisenberg wrote a fan letter to an NBA star that would change the course of history. Written and performed by Eisenberg, this story was produced by Jonathan Mitchell and originally released on Slate Magazine’s Upon Further Review podcast, hosted by Mike Pesca. Stick around ‘til the end for a special interview with Jesse Eisenberg.

Two stories: What if there were an app for blind people that could describe to them what they can’t see? Not just directions like a GPS, but descriptions of objects that paint a picture. It doesn’t exist quite like that yet, but we wrote a story that imagines it does. After that, we’ll hear a second story about a personal GPS that gets very personal. Visible: Performed by Russell G. Jones, Rachel Hamilton, Ann Carr, and Kerry Kastin. Written by Louis Kornfeld with help from Diana McCorry, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Drive Straight Ahead: Written by Jeremy Goldstein and Mira Burt-Wintonick. Produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Mira Burt-Wintonick, and Cristal Duhaime. Originally produced for CBC’s Wiretap.

When you inherit a parrot with a past, you never know what you might hear. Written by Lila Newman and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Performed by Lila Newman, Erica Hernandez, Joel Bernstein, Margaret Burrus, Kyle Gordon, Davy Gardner, Jeff Wucher, Jack Frederick, and Fred Newman.

How far is too far in the fight for Truth, Justice, and the American Way? This episode asks some serious questions by taking the form of a Saturday morning cartoon. Written by Casper Kelly, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Performed by Jake Hart, Marc Thompson, Erica Schroeder, Billy Bob Thompson, and Graham Rowat.

A couple tries to make a break, without the future getting in their way. Performed by Chris Henry Coffey and Jenny Mudge Written by Chris Kipiniak Produced by Jonathan Mitchell This episode was sponsored in part by: Burrow (Use the promo code THETRUTH to get $50 off your order); and HelloFresh (Use the promo code TRUTH30 to get $30 off your order).

Some people are just too interesting to be left alone. Written by Louis Kornfeld and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Performed by Michael Cullen. This episode was sponsored in part by: Burrow (Use the promo code THETRUTH to get $50 off your order); and HelloFresh (Use the promo code TRUTH30 to get $30 off your order).

Ordering a rideshare seems like a safe choice. But really, it's just getting into a stranger's car. Performed by Dana Kaplan-Angle, Amir Darvish, and Boris Khaykin. Written by Lila Newman, directed and produced by Jonathan Mitchell.