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Artwork for STORIES by Lea Thau

STORIES by Lea Thau

Lea Thau
Franky Carrillo
Wind River Reservation
Frank Damico
Flagstaff, United States
CBGB
Los Angeles
Patreon
Navajo Nation
Strangers
Riverton, Wyoming, United States
Crow Agency
Deborah Peagler
Shadi.com
Immigration
Xyla Foxlin
The Way Back
STORIES By Lea Thau
Innocence Project
FAA
Foster Care

Storytelling for the 21st century from Peabody Award-winning producer Lea Thau (former head of The Moth and Strangers). The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find the new work in its entirety, and where everything is ad-free. You can join as a free or paid member on both platforms, so come be a part of the community, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes92Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Personal JournalsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for STORIES by Lea Thau

Latest Episodes

From ripping off record stores all over town to partying with Bill Murray and Basquiat, Frank’s wild ride through the scenes of New York City in the late 1970s and 80s continues in this third and final story of the Frank Damico trilogy. If you haven’... more

In the infamous year 1977 – the year New York City went bankrupt and the serial killer Son of Sam reigned – Frank moved to the city with his friends, started a band, and got a job at CBGB, rubbing elbows with Blondie, Talking Heads, the Ramones. But ... more

He's had more lives than an alley cat and he's lived to tell the tales. He also happens to be my ex-husband, and he's taught me more about storytelling than anyone I know.

Meet Frank Damico. This is Part 1 about his extraordinary life.

It's also ... more

Our new series The Way Back starts tomorrow. Here's a little teaser. Series art by Pernille Clifforth.

Love,

Lea & Team

The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find my... more

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Recent Guests

Frank Damico
Writer, performer, storyteller and visual artist who co-created The Moth's community outreach program
The Moth
Episode: Frank Damico, Part 2: Downtown Boy
Frank D'Amico
Bartender whose stories form a trilogy about his life
Episode: Introducing The Way Back
Xyla Foxlin
Engineer, pilot, YouTuber, entrepreneur
Independent; builds airplanes and pilots flights
Episode: STORIES Presents: The Longest Shortest Time - Xyla vs. The FAA
Caitlin Myer
Poet, memoirist, essayist who lost her inner narrator
Independent writer
Episode: STORIES presents: Proxy with Yowei Shaw – Caitlin Lost the Voice In Her Head
Greta Morgan
Songwriter, musician and author of The Lost Voice
Musician/Author
Episode: STORIES presents: Proxy with Yowei Shaw – Caitlin Lost the Voice In Her Head
Britt Snyder
Pabba's wife, Britt, sharing her perspective on the relationship and family dynamics
Individual
Episode: 10 Years Later – Pabba's 32nd Year (i.e Pabba's 42nd Year)
Alfredo Corchado
Mexico City Bureau Chief for the Dallas Morning News (at time of past story); journalist and author
Puente News Collaborative; Dallas Morning News
Episode: Summer of Strangers: Midnight in Mexico – Then & Now
Franky Carrillo
Criminal justice advocate, former exoneree, public servant
Various organizations (Innocence Project, Death Penalty Focus, Anti-Recidivism Coalition)
Episode: 13 Years Later – Franky Carrillo #3: Still Franky
Sharon Houston
Sharon Houston, featured in a prior Stranger's Story
Episode: 14 Years Later: And Justice for All?

Host

Lea Thau
Peabody Award-winning producer and former head of The Moth

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 8.7k ratings
  • Recycled Content

    This used to be my favorite podcast. Now after a hiatus, the reboot is mostly repairing previous episodes, and then an update.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MollyTrotterGomez
    United Statesa month ago
  • Another OG

    We all change and grow. I loved the original Strangers. The new iteration and the many self-absorbed chapters in between do not have the same magic.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    KHASL
    United States2 months ago
  • Disappointed

    I just listened to both of the episodes with Joshua Safran. The first one was amazing. Hearing his incredible story was healing. I was extremely disappointed in your follow-up conversation. You seemed to be only interested in his political opinions and quickly put him in a different category than you are in. You were preaching there are two sides to every story and you didn’t give him that grace. Instead of trying to understand, your guard seemed completely up and you were completely lacking emp... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Margirlw
    United States2 months ago
  • Original listener!

    So I started listening to your podcasts about 14 years ago when you were recording STRANGERS. You were my original experience to podcast listening. Back then I enjoyed your raw honesty and stories about your life. Ya, you and Paul…etc

    Since then I have enjoyed listening to many different podcasts from reality, true crime and stories to help me sleep.

    I lost touch with you until one day I happen to find you again and thought I’d give you another try since I enjoyed listening to you so much in the... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Original Listner
    United States4 months ago
  • Lea is a gifted storyteller

    I’m so happy she is back to podcasting after a long hiatus. My husband and I used to LOVE strangers and this series seems it will be similar.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    saral22
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Longtime followers are pleased to hear new work and value the personal, candid perspective and carefully shaped stories.
Listeners praise Lea Thau's distinctive voice, interviewing and storytelling, and describe the narratives as absorbing, humane and emotionally resonant.
Some listeners feel the newer work lacks the impact of earlier Strangers stories, and object to recycled material or extended personal commentary.
A few reviews criticize political framing in follow-up conversations, while others value the open, human-centered approach.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Frank Damico, Part 1: The Non Deer Hunter
Q: What's your earliest memory, Frank?
Frank describes a recurring image of a dark figure leaning over his crib, which he later connected to being placed in a Catholic home for babies.
STORIES Presents: The Longest Shortest Time - Xyla vs. The FAA
Q: What happened with your IUD and how did that relate to your medical clearance to fly?
Her IUD caused mood changes that led to a major depression; the process of seeking treatment conflicted with her medical records and FAA requirements, and she ultimately chose to balance treatment with aviation safety while advocating for policy reform.
Summer of Strangers: Midnight in Mexico – Then & Now
Q: And what about your mom do you think?
Alfredo's reflection centers on family resilience, nostalgia, and the tension between love for Mexico and the opportunities in the United States, highlighting how his mother's sacrifices framed his path toward education and journalism.
14 Years Later: And Justice for All?
Q: And what was your goal with documenting this stuff?
Sharon hoped that making the reality visible would spur some action or accountability from government, but she ultimately concluded that meaningful change would not come from official intervention alone and emphasized personal resilience and documenting the truth.
Something Old, Something New, Something Light, Something True
Q: Do you think her parents were right to let her run around so much? Do you think they were irresponsible?
(Summary) Lea frames the question and reflects on the delicate balance between safety and freedom, acknowledging that the open exposure to prisoners and danger was both formative and complex for Holly, shaping attitudes toward trust, boundaries, and resilience.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About STORIES by Lea Thau

What is STORIES by Lea Thau about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Long-form personal storytelling led by producer and interviewer Lea Thau, whose intimate narration and reflective conversations connect individual lives to wider questions of family, identity, belonging, injustice and change. Stories often unfold across multiple installments, with follow-up conversations revisiting people years later to show how relationships, work and personal convictions have evolved. The format combines carefully framed interviews, first-person recollections and occasional guest-produced or partner-series work, including stories about artists, journalists, advocates and people navigating difficult personal histories. Its distinctive appeal is the close attention to emotional detail and the way a single life story can ope... more

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Which podcasts are similar to STORIES by Lea Thau?

These podcasts share a similar audience with STORIES by Lea Thau:

1. Heavyweight
2. This is Love
3. Criminal
4. This American Life
5. Death, Sex & Money

How many episodes of STORIES by Lea Thau are there?

STORIES by Lea Thau launched 15 years ago and published 92 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on STORIES by Lea Thau?

Recent guests on STORIES by Lea Thau include:

1. Frank Damico
2. Frank D'Amico
3. Xyla Foxlin
4. Caitlin Myer
5. Greta Morgan
6. Britt Snyder
7. Alfredo Corchado
8. Franky Carrillo

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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