(Sort of) The Story

Janey and Max
  • 5.0 (118)
  • COMEDY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Two best friends tell each other stories they heard and read that week (and also, you are here!)

  1. JAN 22

    172. I’m a Human, I’m Just Sad (relatable queen)

    Send us a text Hello everyone! This week we're catching ya'll up on some life stuff and saying goodbye to an old friend. Then Max is going to tell us a horror story about an eye-catching beauty in the woods, and Janey is going to teach us all the proper comeback to someone telling you you're "too much".  We hope you enjoy! Janey’s Sources - The Little Girl with a Big Voice LOCATION: South Africa“Tales of the Night Sky: Stories of Stars from Around the World”, retold by Corinna Keefe, illustrated by Gaby Verdooren  “African Ethnoastronomy” (Some stories behind South African constellation folklore)  “If You’ve Ever Been Told that You’re ‘Too Much’, Read This”, an article by Annie Wright   Max’s Sources - The Rose Beauty LOCATION: Turkey“Turkish Folktales” edited by Jake Jackson  Full free text of “The Rose Beauty”  Support the show Check out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate account! Starting your own podcast with your very cool best friend? Try hosting on Buzzsprout (and get a $20 Amazon gift card!) Want more?? Visit our website! Join our Patreon! Shop the merch at TeePublic! If you liked these stories, let us know on our various socials! Instagram Tiktok Goodreads And email us at sortofthestory@gmail.com

    1h 13m

  2. JAN 8

    171. One Jelly Meat Suit (a perma-stank situation) with Liz Gotauco!

    Send us a text HELLO! Today we have an amazing guest, the Cosbrarian herself-- LIZ GOTAUCO! Liz is the creator behind the series "F*cked Up Fairytales with Liz", and the author of the hilarious book inspired by the series! This week Max and Janey tell stories from her book, and she tells us a story about vengeful fairies and the danger of telling bad jokes (yes, we take this personally.)  We hope you enjoy! BUY THE BOOK: "F*cked Up Fairy Tales" by Liz Gotauco  Janey’s Sources - The Flayed Old Woman LOCATION: Italy“The Tale of Tales” full book (by Giambattista Basille), free source Max’s Sources - The Buzzard Husband LOCATION: Guatemala“The Mythology of Mexico and South America” by John Bierhorst "9 Fascinating Vulture Facts" from 4vultures.org Vulture Facts from Wildlife Center MORE VULTURE FACTS from Desert Museum  Liz's Sources - Sweet Pea and Sweet William LOCATION: England"Sweet Pea and Sweet William" FULL STORY"Tales From Beyond the Rainbow" by Pete Jordi Wood (@realbasicwitch) Jeana Jorgenson (folklorist) @jeanadances on instagram"Fairy Tales from Folk Lore" from Wilber Hershel Williams "Skin deep" translated by Nancy Canepa"Latin American Folktales" edited by John Bierhorst (Liz's source for "The Buzzard Husband") Support the show Check out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate account! Starting your own podcast with your very cool best friend? Try hosting on Buzzsprout (and get a $20 Amazon gift card!) Want more?? Visit our website! Join our Patreon! Shop the merch at TeePublic! If you liked these stories, let us know on our various socials! Instagram Tiktok Goodreads And email us at sortofthestory@gmail.com

    2h 30m

  3. 12/25/2025

    170. I Don't Care That He's Invisible (put that man in a tower!)

    Send us a text Hello and welcome to our LAST episode of 2025! On this episode, Max is going to tell us a story about a girl who can see the important things (like what kind of belt you're wearing), and Janey is going to tell us why Rapunzel should have been a man.  We hope you've had a wonderful year, and that 2026 only goes up!  Janey’s Sources - The Three Fates LOCATION: Egypt“Fairy Tales of the Orient” by Pearl S. Buck  Max’s Sources - The Invisible One LOCATION: Micmac Territory (~New England and southeastern Canada)“Algonquin Legends” by Charles G. Leland - full free text online Support the show Check out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate account! Starting your own podcast with your very cool best friend? Try hosting on Buzzsprout (and get a $20 Amazon gift card!) Want more?? Visit our website! Join our Patreon! Shop the merch at TeePublic! If you liked these stories, let us know on our various socials! Instagram Tiktok Goodreads And email us at sortofthestory@gmail.com

    1h 22m

  4. 12/11/2025

    169. Historical Sexting (Don't Wash)

    Send us a text Hello, you dirty birds! On this very special "69" episode, we're doing a deep dive into historical love letters from two very specific historical men. First, Napoleon Bonaparte is going to teach us the meaning of "anxious attachment style", and then Max is going to read us James Joyce's love letters that are not for the faint of fart (ehem...heart...)  A million kisses! J and M Janey's Sources - Historical Love Letters LOCATION: France and Ireland“Napoleon’s Letters to Josephine” on Project Gutenberg (thanks, Steve!)  “Napoleon Bonaparte” from History.com  “The truth about Napoleon and Josephine’s marriage, divorce, and lasting legacy” by Nylah Iqbal Muhammad for Vox  “Joséphine's letters to trusted Napoleon general to go on sale in Paris” by Maev Kennedy (2014) for The Guardian  “James Joyce’s Love Letters” by Maria Popova for The Marginalian  “James Joyce’s Love Letters to His “Dirty Little Fuckbird” by Nadja Spiegelman for The Paris Review  BONUS: "Love and Limerence" by Dorothy Tennov  Support the show Check out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate account! Starting your own podcast with your very cool best friend? Try hosting on Buzzsprout (and get a $20 Amazon gift card!) Want more?? Visit our website! Join our Patreon! Shop the merch at TeePublic! If you liked these stories, let us know on our various socials! Instagram Tiktok Goodreads And email us at sortofthestory@gmail.com

    1h 34m

  5. 11/27/2025

    168. New England Bean Time (Sai! Sai! Sai!)

    Send us a text Hello and welcome back! This week Max is going to tell us about how wicked smart people from New Hampshire are, and Janey is going to tell us a very cathartic story that comes with the disclaimer "I swear I like my job". Sorry about our terrible accents! Enjoy! Janey's Sources - Mmadipetsane LOCATION: Lesotho, South Africa“Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales”  Full story (page 3)    Max's Sources - Three Times and Out LOCATION: New Hampshire“New England Bean-Pot: American Folk Stories to Read and to Tell” by Moritz A Jagendorf, illu by BA Botkin https://montvernonhistoricalsocietynewsletter.wordpress.com/2023/07/21/chasing-the-devils-tale/ Support the show Check out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate account! Starting your own podcast with your very cool best friend? Try hosting on Buzzsprout (and get a $20 Amazon gift card!) Want more?? Visit our website! Join our Patreon! Shop the merch at TeePublic! If you liked these stories, let us know on our various socials! Instagram Tiktok Goodreads And email us at sortofthestory@gmail.com

    1h 24m

  6. 11/13/2025

    167. Knife Brothers (welcome to Chekhov's Hole)

    Send us a text This week, Janey is going to bring us the final story in The Arabian Nights, about a man who just hates this baby... and Max is going to tell us that classic story of a nameless child finding God wandering around in the woods. Wonder what'll happen!  For those of you who are in the half of the world that's moving into winter, we hope you stay warm and cozy! Janey's Sources - The Story of Codadad and His Brothers LOCATION: (possibly Turkey) “The Arabian Nights” illustrated by Earl Goodenow  Full free story Max's Sources - Little Fourteen LOCATION: France“Folktales of France” edited by Genevieve Massignon  Support the show Check out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate account! Starting your own podcast with your very cool best friend? Try hosting on Buzzsprout (and get a $20 Amazon gift card!) Want more?? Visit our website! Join our Patreon! Shop the merch at TeePublic! If you liked these stories, let us know on our various socials! Instagram Tiktok Goodreads And email us at sortofthestory@gmail.com

    1h 32m

  7. 10/30/2025

    166. Old and wrinkly (a poisonous no-no)

    Send us a text Hello and happy Halloween (eve)! Today Janey is going to scare you with a tale about the oldest, wrinkliest woman in the world, and Max is going to tell us why romance books are going to get us all killed. Enjoy! Janey's Sources - Treasure LOCATION: Chatsworth, Georgia, USA“Spooky Georgia: Tales of Hauntings, Strange Happenings, and Other Local Lore”, retold by S.E. Schlosser, illustrated by Paul G. Hoffman.   Support the show Check out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate account! Starting your own podcast with your very cool best friend? Try hosting on Buzzsprout (and get a $20 Amazon gift card!) Want more?? Visit our website! Join our Patreon! Shop the merch at TeePublic! If you liked these stories, let us know on our various socials! Instagram Tiktok Goodreads And email us at sortofthestory@gmail.com

    1h 16m

  8. 10/16/2025

    165. Examine Your Handwriting (and learn to play the oboe)

    Send us a text Hello and welcome to another episode! This week, Janey is going to teach us a valuable lesson about the importance of writing complex characters, and Max is going to re-tell a cozy little comic! May your October be spooky and bright! Janey's Sources - “W.S.” by L.P. Hartley LOCATION: England“Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories”  L.P. Hartley’s wiki   Max's Sources - A Small Wild Magic LOCATION: None / Australia“Monstrous Affections: An Anthology of Beastly Tales” edited by Kelly Link and Gavin J. GrantKathleen Jennings (plus their Instagram)  Support the show Check out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate account! Starting your own podcast with your very cool best friend? Try hosting on Buzzsprout (and get a $20 Amazon gift card!) Want more?? Visit our website! Join our Patreon! Shop the merch at TeePublic! If you liked these stories, let us know on our various socials! Instagram Tiktok Goodreads And email us at sortofthestory@gmail.com

    1h 28m
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5
out of 5
118 Ratings

About

Two best friends tell each other stories they heard and read that week (and also, you are here!)

Information

  • Creator
    Janey and Max
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    206
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 (Sort of) The Story
  • Show Website
    (Sort of) The Story

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