
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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 92 | Founded | 15 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Personal JournalsSociety & Culture | |||

Imagine your parents controlled your online dating profile. That’s what happened to Pabba and this is his story.
We first ran this story 10 years ago and next week we’ll have a brand new story with him. I can already reveal that a LOT has happened ... more
A family tragedy sends the Corchados from Mexico to California, searching for greener pastures. Upon arrival, that’s hardly what they find, but some years later, a deal involving a 1978 Camaro sets the oldest son on a path to unlikely success.
Today... more
This is a brand new installment in the Franky Carrillo saga that I’m very excited to share with you. Franky is the same great storyteller he's always been, and he goes deeper than ever here.
If you haven’t heard the first two episodes with Franky, ... more
I hope you heard Franky’s story from last week, because it’s heartbreaking, and uplifting, and enraging, and inspiring, and it’s the foundation for today’s episode, which is Part 2 of his story. If you haven’t heard it yet, I'd go listen to last week... more
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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
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
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.
Whatever story Lea wants to tell I want to listen! I deeply appreciate her perspective vulnerability and her curiosity. It's always genuine and human centered. Her stories make me feel less alone in this big wide world.
Thank you for coming back! I’d forgotten just how much I LOVED your stories & commentary about the stories. Thank you again!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
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Apple Podcasts | #228 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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The show centers on intimate storytelling that blends memoir, social issues, and personal resilience. Across recent episodes the conversations span immigration, the justice system, intergenerational trauma, and the enduring impact of community-led advocacy. Notable threads include how personal histories intersect with broader systemic challenges, the healing power of sharing difficult experiences, and a commitment to social justice, indigenous rights, and humane reform. It's likely to appeal to listeners who value character-driven narratives that illuminate real-world implications and invite meaningful perspectives from guests with lived expertise and activist work.
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These podcasts share a similar audience with STORIES by Lea Thau:
1. This is Love
2. Criminal
3. The Moth
4. Snap Judgment
5. Love and Radio
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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Recent guests on STORIES by Lea Thau include:
1. Alfredo Corchado
2. Franky Carrillo
3. Sharon Houston
4. Joshua Safran
5. Deborah Jiang-Stein
6. Holly Rothschild
7. John Doyle
8. Jackie White
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