West Chester Story Slam

Welcome to the West Chester Story Slam podcast, sponsored by Levante Brewing Company, West Chester’s new Brewpub! Our 2016 season kicked off with a packed house at Side Bar on a blustery January night. The theme for our Story Slam was Silver Lining. It was a solid start to the year, and we heard some remarkable stories.  Rich Eagles won our story slam with this tribute to a very colorful character. Here’s Rich’s story. Sometimes, telling a story at a Story Slam has unintended repercussions in one’s daily life. A year ago, one of our favorite storytellers, Diane Yannick, bravely told a story, and that moment led to a brand new story. Here’s Diane. Our final storyteller at the Silver Linings Story Slam was a first-timer. We weren’t sure where Bernie was leading us with this workplace story, but it turned out to be an audience favorite. Here’s Bernie Tronel.

Welcome to the West Chester Story Slam podcast, sponsored by Levante Brewing Company, West Chester’s new Brewpub! Our 2016 season kicked off with a packed house at Side Bar on a blustery January night. The theme for our Story Slam was Silver Lining. It was a solid start to the year, and we heard some remarkable stories.  Rich Eagles won our story slam with this tribute to a very colorful character. Here’s Rich’s story. Sometimes, telling a story at a Story Slam has unintended repercussions in one’s daily life. A year ago, one of our favorite storytellers, Diane Yannick, bravely told a story, and that moment led to a brand new story. Here’s Diane. Our final storyteller at the Silver Linings Story Slam was a first-timer. We weren’t sure where Bernie was leading us with this workplace story, but it turned out to be an audience favorite. Here’s Bernie Tronel.

I’m Jim Breslin, and welcome to the West Chester Story Slam podcast! This is our year-end podcast, the podcast where I get to choose three of my favorite stories.  The first story was a winner back in January. We had gotten to know Diane Yannick the previous year through her funny stories, but with this story, she let us in on a secret, and we were floored. I admit, I was tearing up by the end of this story. The theme of the January Story Slam was Lost. Thanks to Diane for having the courage to stand at the mic and tell this story.  Our next story is from Steve Clark. Steve told this story at our Hunger Story Slam, which was in August. Steve is a frequent storyteller and a grade school teacher.  We occasionally hear stories about life and death issues, and these stories are very impactful. When Pat Jolly took to the mic, we weren’t quite sure where she was going with her story, but the lesson she imparted was powerful. The theme of the may story slam was wake up call.  Our 2016 Story Slam season will start on Tuesday, January 12th at Side Bar. You can check out all our dates and themes for 2016 on our website, wcstoryslam.com.  Thanks for listening. And thanks for another amazing season. We’ll see you in 2016. 

I’m Jim Breslin, and welcome to the West Chester Story Slam podcast! This is our year-end podcast, the podcast where I get to choose three of my favorite stories.  The first story was a winner back in January. We had gotten to know Diane Yannick the previous year through her funny stories, but with this story, she let us in on a secret, and we were floored. I admit, I was tearing up by the end of this story. The theme of the January Story Slam was Lost. Thanks to Diane for having the courage to stand at the mic and tell this story.  Our next story is from Steve Clark. Steve told this story at our Hunger Story Slam, which was in August. Steve is a frequent storyteller and a grade school teacher.  We occasionally hear stories about life and death issues, and these stories are very impactful. When Pat Jolly took to the mic, we weren’t quite sure where she was going with her story, but the lesson she imparted was powerful. The theme of the may story slam was wake up call.  Our 2016 Story Slam season will start on Tuesday, January 12th at Side Bar. You can check out all our dates and themes for 2016 on our website, wcstoryslam.com.  Thanks for listening. And thanks for another amazing season. We’ll see you in 2016. 

This is the big one - we recently held our 6th Annual Grand Slam at the Chester County Historical Society and it was a sold out show. Our theme for the Grand Slam was “No Regrets” and we heard some fabulous stories.  Congratulations goes out to Cynthia Angst! She won the title of Best Storyteller in West Chester with her story of mulling over one of life’s most important decisions. Our next Grand Slam storyteller is Luanne Sims. I loved the absurdity of this story. Our final story comes from Pat Wendel. Pat once decided to help her friend strike an item off her bucket list, and that turned into this memorable experience. 

This is the big one - we recently held our 6th Annual Grand Slam at the Chester County Historical Society and it was a sold out show. Our theme for the Grand Slam was “No Regrets” and we heard some fabulous stories.  Congratulations goes out to Cynthia Angst! She won the title of Best Storyteller in West Chester with her story of mulling over one of life’s most important decisions. Our next Grand Slam storyteller is Luanne Sims. I loved the absurdity of this story. Our final story comes from Pat Wendel. Pat once decided to help her friend strike an item off her bucket list, and that turned into this memorable experience. 

This is the West Chester Story Slam podcast. Our October Story Slam was themed “Blood and Guts!” We had a really fun time with some amazing stories. The sold out crowd went a bit nuts when they learned we had a reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer in the audience.  By the end of the night, we had a tie! Both Cindy Heffron and Luanne Sims won slots in our 2015 GRAND SLAM! Tickets for that event, which is November 10th, are moving fast so order yours soon if you want to attend. Let’s start out our podcast with Cindy Heffron’s winning story. Remember - the theme was blood and guts!  Our next story is from Luanne Sims, who was the 2013 Grand Slam co-winner. Here’s Luanne’s story. Our final story is from Patrick Carmody. 

This is the West Chester Story Slam podcast. Our October Story Slam was themed “Blood and Guts!” We had a really fun time with some amazing stories. The sold out crowd went a bit nuts when they learned we had a reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer in the audience.  By the end of the night, we had a tie! Both Cindy Heffron and Luanne Sims won slots in our 2015 GRAND SLAM! Tickets for that event, which is November 10th, are moving fast so order yours soon if you want to attend. Let’s start out our podcast with Cindy Heffron’s winning story. Remember - the theme was blood and guts!  Our next story is from Luanne Sims, who was the 2013 Grand Slam co-winner. Here’s Luanne’s story. Our final story is from Patrick Carmody. 

This is the West Chester Story Slam podcast. Today we have three stories from our Story Slam which was themed Saved. All these stories were recorded at Side Bar in downtown West Chester in September 2015.  Marty Hoban told a story of how he finally gave in to his daughter’s wish for a dog. What happened next was quite unexpected.  Next up - frequent story slammer Cathy Sikorski told this story of how safety first doesn’t always pay off. Let’s listen as she gets in behind the wheel….  Finally, we have Ben Levine. Ben had already earned a slot in the Grand Slam. He kicked off our Saved Story Slam about escaping a high school party. 

This is the West Chester Story Slam podcast. Today we have three stories from our Story Slam which was themed Saved. All these stories were recorded at Side Bar in downtown West Chester in September 2015.  Marty Hoban told a story of how he finally gave in to his daughter’s wish for a dog. What happened next was quite unexpected.  Next up - frequent story slammer Cathy Sikorski told this story of how safety first doesn’t always pay off. Let’s listen as she gets in behind the wheel….  Finally, we have Ben Levine. Ben had already earned a slot in the Grand Slam. He kicked off our Saved Story Slam about escaping a high school party. 

We’ve been having a ton of fun this summer at our Story Slams. Our theme for the August Story Slam was Hunger, and we heard some fascinating stories - not just about hunger, but also stories about food contests and food that didn’t agree with people.  First up - popular storyteller Steve Clark won the story slam with his tale of coaching a girl’s basketball team. Watching this story told live, I was really struck by the connection Steve and the audience had during the telling of the story - you could hear the giggles during the pauses = and I could literally see how those laughs stirred Steve to move on.  Our next storyteller is Cynthia Angst. Cynthia tells this story of trying an extreme diet and how it affected her. Our final story is from a first time storyteller. Kris LaFave decided to throw her name in the hat at the last minute and she captured the audience with this hilarious tale. 

We’ve been having a ton of fun this summer at our Story Slams. Our theme for the August Story Slam was Hunger, and we heard some fascinating stories - not just about hunger, but also stories about food contests and food that didn’t agree with people.  First up - popular storyteller Steve Clark won the story slam with his tale of coaching a girl’s basketball team. Watching this story told live, I was really struck by the connection Steve and the audience had during the telling of the story - you could hear the giggles during the pauses = and I could literally see how those laughs stirred Steve to move on.  Our next storyteller is Cynthia Angst. Cynthia tells this story of trying an extreme diet and how it affected her. Our final story is from a first time storyteller. Kris LaFave decided to throw her name in the hat at the last minute and she captured the audience with this hilarious tale. 

Here are three stories from our July 2015 Story Slam, which was themed Freedom. Benjamin Levine told this story of his first kiss. Cathy Sikorski tells about her attempt to feel free in a evening gown she purchased for a big night out. Our final storyteller is the writer Chris McDougall, author of the bestselling book "Born To Run," who told a story about his first gig as a foreign journalist. Word of warning.

Here are three stories from our July 2015 Story Slam, which was themed Freedom. Benjamin Levine told this story of his first kiss. Cathy Sikorski tells about her attempt to feel free in a evening gown she purchased for a big night out. Our final storyteller is the writer Chris McDougall, author of the bestselling book "Born To Run," who told a story about his first gig as a foreign journalist. Word of warning.

Terry Heyman discusses two of her stories told at West Chester Story Slam, as well as how she crafts stories. She also tells a of a few storytellers she admires. Terry is a wife, mother, former lawyer, former entrepreneur and former university instructor. Currently writer, frequent story slammer, occasional comedienne, and a lifetime member of Weight Watchers. And she’s phenomenal at making a mountain out of a molehill. She was featured in the 2013 Wilmington production “Listen To Your Mother” and recently performed at the 2014 Women in Comedy Festival in Boston. You can follow her blog at Greetings from Insanity.