West Side Stories Petaluma Norcal Pods

In this episode of 'Story Behind the Story', host Dave Pokorney discusses the art of storytelling with his guests John Ton and Josh Reimann. John recounts his youth in Wyoming, detailing his experiences as a young man in an old, inexpensive hotel during the 1970s energy crisis. His tale encompasses themes of maturity, empathy, and understanding. Josh shares a heartfelt story about his father, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). Despite the diagnosis, his father, a choral teacher and church director, undertook the quest to sing the national anthem at every Major League Baseball Stadium in a single season, setting a world record. Their conversation covers the processes of coming up with stories, the significance of creating meaningful memories, and the power of personal experiences in storytelling.

00:15 Introduction and Welcome
00:36 The Story Behind West Side Stories
01:07 Introducing the First Guest: John
01:59 John's Story: The Wyoming Hotel
06:01 Post-Story Discussion and Reflection
11:57 John's Journey to Wyoming
17:22 John's Storytelling Process
22:05 John's Life After Wyoming
23:46 Revisiting a Previous Interview
24:11 Josh Reimann's Story Begins
24:49 The Impact of ALS on Josh's Family
26:17 A Unique ALS Awareness Campaign
26:52 The Unforgettable Baseball Stadium Tour
27:39 The Significance of the Family's Cell Phone
28:21 Setting a World Record
28:46 The Final Days of Josh's Father
30:05 A Mysterious Phone Call
31:23 Reflecting on the Story
31:35 The Aftermath and Memories of the Baseball Tour
41:58 The Art of Storytelling
52:24 Wrapping Up the Interview

This episode features two storytellers, Mary and Jan, who share nostalgic tales from their childhood and young adult years. Mary recounts her quest to collect Disneyland map game pieces from soda bottles for a chance to visit the theme park. Jan remembers attending a James Brown concert in 1968 and feeling a sense of belonging as the music dissolved racial divides. Their stories transport us back to special moments lost in time.Chapters:
IntroductionMary's Disneyland Map Game StoryMary's Storytelling ProcessJan's James Brown Concert StoryJan's Comedy and Storytelling BackgroundConclusionShow Notes:
This episode was recorded at a live show for West Side Stories in Petaluma, CA.Mary talks about collecting Disneyland map game pieces from soda bottles when she was 9 or 10 in hopes of winning a trip to Disneyland. The game pieces blew away before she could collect them all.Jan shares about attending a James Brown concert in Boston in 1968 when he was 18 years old. He recalls the electricity of seeing the legendary performer at his peak and feeling a sense of belonging despite being in the racial minority at the show.We learn about Mary and Jan's storytelling processes. Mary thinks through her stories while swimming and records drafts to time them. Jan writes and refines his stories sometimes creating visual storyboards.Jan provides background on his journey into stand-up comedy and storytelling, starting on the streets of Boston with his brother in the late 1970s, before heading to San Francisco as the comedy club scene exploded there.There are reflections on what made the original moments described so magical, as well as the challenge of keeping stories fresh and immediate during repeat tellings over the years.—-

Dave Pokorny Presents… West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the second Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm.

TICKETS here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/Westside Stories: https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories

https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/

Our Partners:Once Upon a Slush - https://www.onceuponaslush.com/Polly Klaas Community Theater - https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/Sonoma Portworks - https://portworks.com/Getphily Podcast Production - https://www.getphily.comLend an Ear Media - https://lendanearmedia.com/

Jack Miller recalls facing a pivotal life decision as a college senior in 1967 - join the alluring hippie culture or pursue medicine. His memorable interview at UCSF leads to deep self-reflection.

Chapters:

1. The Allure of the Hippie Movement (00:00 - 01:15)

2. A Flower Child's Invitation (01:15 - 02:38)
3. Staring Down the Future (02:38 - 04:12)
4. Making a Fateful Choice (04:12 - 05:18)
5. The Interview's Hidden Lesson (05:18 - 06:12)


Show Notes:
- The excitement and commune-style living of the hippie culture in the 1960s
- Jack's affinity for the hippies he encounters in San Francisco
- His moment of self-doubt outside the imposing medical center
- Choosing the rigorous path of medicine over a carefree hippie life
- A poignant reminder from the interviewer about being true to yourself

—-
Dave Pokorny Presents… West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the first Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm.

TICKETS here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/Westside Stories: https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/

Our Partners:
Once Upon a Slush - https://www.onceuponaslush.com/Polly Klaas Community Theater - https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/Sonoma Portworks - https://portworks.com/Getphily Podcast Production - https://www.getphily.com/'Lend an Ear Media - https://lendanearmedia.com/

Ray Engan recalls a memorable night as a college senior trying to sneak into an upscale bar, ending with a chance encounter, an audacious lie, and an inspiring lesson about chasing dreams.Chapters:
Sneaking Into the Safari Bar (00:00 - 01:29)A Fortuitous Catch (01:29 - 02:34)Pulling Off the Ruse (02:34 - 04:43)The Owner's Perspective (04:43 - 05:53)An Unforgettable Lesson (05:53 - 06:49)Show Notes:
Ray's creative tactics to get into the exclusive Safari bar as a broke college studentHis serendipitous catch of the campus "it girl" Kelly KaneskiPretending to be the owner of the bar and letting Kelly run up a tabThe real owner seeing through the ruse but admiring Ray's boldnessAn inspiring message to never apologize for chasing your dreams
Dave Pokorny Presents… West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the first Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm.

TICKETS here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/
Westside Stories: https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/

Our Partners:
Once Upon a Slush - https://www.onceuponaslush.com/Polly Klaas Community Theater - https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/Sonoma Portworks - https://portworks.com/Getphily Podcast Production - https://www.getphily.com/'Lend an Ear Media - https://lendanearmedia.com/

Dr. Kirk Pappas recounts a tense encounter with a divisive stranger while on a cab tour in Belfast, leading to an ominous warning from his Irish guide about the parallels between the Troubles and the rising tensions in America.Chapters:
A Chance Encounter in Belfast (00:00 - 00:49)Political Provocations in the Cab (00:49 - 02:29)Visiting the Peace Wall (02:29 - 03:25)An Ominous Warning (03:25 - 05:06)Reflecting on Sean's Message (05:06 - 05:30)Show Notes:
The "black cab tours" in Belfast where former IRA members provide firsthand accounts of the TroublesThe political and religious divisions between Republicans and Loyalists in Northern IrelandThe Peace Walls separating Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods in BelfastParallels drawn between the Troubles and rising political tensions in AmericaA thoughtful message about avoiding conflict and promoting understandingDave Pokorny Presents…

West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the first Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm.

TICKETS here:
https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/Westside Stories:
https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories
https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/

Our Partners:
Once Upon a Slush - https://www.onceuponaslush.com/
Polly Klaas Community Theater - https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/
Sonoma Portworks - https://portworks.com/
Getphily Podcast Production - https://www.getphily.com/
Lend an Ear Media - https://lendanearmedia.com/

Bobby shares a humorous story from his youth about navigating connections to organized crime while growing up in an Italian American family in New York City.Show Notes:
Bobby moved from Hell's Kitchen in NYC to Santa Barbara, CA 27 years agoHe went to an all-boys high school in NYC where many kids had mob connectionsIn senior year, a mobster's son asked Bobby to help him cheat on a history examThis led to Bobby's father being offered a union job with the mob, which he turned downBobby later became a film assistant director and ran into the mobster's son againChapters:
0:00 - Introduction
1:23 - Moving from NYC to California
3:12 - High school mob connections
5:34 - Cheating on a history exam
7:51 - Offered a job with the mob
10:12 - Father's decision to decline mob job
12:45 - Encounter with mob 10 years later
14:32 - Conclusion


Dave Pokorny Presents…

West Side Stories Petaluma’s StorySlam on the first Weds of each month at 417 Western Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 at 7pm.

TICKETS here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36153/
Westside Stories:

https://www.davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories
https://www.facebook.com/dave.pokorny3/

Our Partners:
Once Upon a Slush - https://www.onceuponaslush.com/
Polly Klaas Community Theater - https://www.pollyklaastheater.org/
Sonoma Portworks - https://portworks.com/
Getphily Podcast Production - https://www.getphily.com/
Lend an Ear Media - https://lendanearmedia.com/