Tell The Bartender - A Storytelling Podcast

Tell The Bartender is a storytelling podcast hosted by Katharine Heller

Episode 116: Opening The Emotional Box One Panel At A Time (AKA The "Waterloo Sunrise") 04/18/2022

Episode 116: Opening The Emotional Box One Panel At A Time (AKA The "Waterloo Sunrise") In this Episode: After taking mushrooms before a comedy show and ending up barefoot in "Tetanus City™" while on the phone with his soon to be ex, Calvin knew something was happening to him emotionally. And that's only the beginning. Calvin shares what helped him during this time, all while making The Bartender laugh/cry. Plus, a Survivor season 1 spoiler. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/22825010

Episode 115: Cabbage Patch Dreams/Nightmares 01/24/2022

Episode 115: Cabbage Patch Dreams/Nightmares In this very special episode, The Bartender and her sister Caroline deconstruct one of the greatest albums from their childhood, (and really, in the entire world,) . They go through song by song and celebrate at the end by performing the crucial duet from Side 2. Difficult harmonies are attempted. Past sibling rivalry is discussed, and healing begins. Then Michael John Improta carries the theme of childhood trauma and joy by talking about things he feared as a kid. Namely, his prank-playing stepfather. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/21868673

Episode 114: Smoking Hot Love, And The Love Of Smoking 12/11/2021

Episode 114: Smoking Hot Love, And The Love Of Smoking In this Episode: Rod and Karen met in elementary school, have been together since they were 16 and married in 2002. They talk about their teenage courtship, and Rod has a story about something serious that happened at his high school. (CN: Discussion of sexual assault). Then The Bartender talks with Ash, whose relatives go back generations in the cigar business. She talks about her family, and then gives a masterclass in all things cigars. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/21451823

Episode 113: The Friends We Made Along The Way 08/15/2021

Episode 113: The Friends We Made Along The Way Forest Ray was an Army medic in Iraq at the beginning of the war. He talks with The Bartender about the people he met there, cultural similarities and differences, how he felt about leaving, and his thoughts about what's happening currently in Afghanistan with the US troop withdrawal. They also briefly unpack their feelings about Jeff Bezos's penis rocket. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/20146991

Episode 112: Ocean's 3 05/31/2021

Episode 112: Ocean's 3 Have you ever exacted revenge on a bad person, but maybe didn't know how to do it right? Our anonymous guest walks us through a vengeance story that probably should have been handled by experienced tire-slashers, but it was handled nonetheless. PLUS a beautiful song and tribute to DMX from Katharine's elementary school friend Keefe Crawford with The FreeStylists . CN/TW There is a part of the episode where we discuss sexual assault. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/19292600

Episode 111: Being Your Own Advocate - Health Adventures Edition! 03/24/2021

Episode 111: Being Your Own Advocate - Health Adventures Edition! In this Episode: Molly Knefel shares a never before told story involving very serious health problems she encountered while receiving IVF treatment. Then Hilary Asare tells The Bartender about her horrible experience with a certain diet company who shall not be named (kidding, it's totally named). Plus, pandemic adventures! (CN for discussion of IVF and and assisted reproductive technology, and talk of weight and diet programs) /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/18453134

Episode 110: A Close Shave 03/01/2021

Episode 110: A Close Shave In this Episode: Shaving, amirite? Guests Katie Hartman and Rob Neill each tell stories about some very sensitive hair removal experiences. The Bartender hard relates. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/18128453

Episode 109: It's 5:00 Everywhere, with The Bitchy Waiter and Kyra Sims 02/15/2021

Episode 109: It's 5:00 Everywhere, with The Bitchy Waiter and Kyra Sims In this Episode: The Bitchy Waiter makes a triumphant return to talk about being a server during COVID, customers and vaccines (oh my), and Kyra Sims joins The Bartender to tell a story about several first times... in one night. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/17948021

Episode 108: (Not) Home For The Holidays 12/21/2020

Episode 108: (Not) Home For The Holidays In this Episode: When Susie's daughter started having violent outbursts after their second child was born, the family was told it was just sibling rivalry. It was not. She shares the story of her family's journey over the past decade to find help for her daughter. Then this year, COVID-19 made things even trickier. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/17270114

Episode 86/69: Catfish in the Cradle 07/19/2019

Episode 86/69: Catfish in the Cradle In this Episode: Chemda and Keith, co-hosts of the podcast, were guests on this show years ago. A lot has changed. Chemda "spills the tea" about her recent divorce and why the relationship of 9 years ended, then Keith talks about a story UNFOLDING AS WE SPEAK about his dad, who recently emailed his ex wife. With her permission, Keith is now responding via email as his ex and is learning, well, a lot about his father. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/10583531

Episode 106: It's Harder To Give Up 12/31/2018

Episode 106: It's Harder To Give Up In this Episode: Jason, a musician and writer from Ontario, Canada, got sick and ended up in the hospital. He came out of a coma to find he had lost the use of his body. Jason talks about his path, being in a wheelchair, and how humor is always ok. Then Laura shares her story about taking risks, ignoring naysayers, and compares notes with The Bartender about being a fellow empath. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/8093168

Episode 105: Pizza and Photos and Vampires (oh my) 10/25/2018

Episode 105: Pizza and Photos and Vampires (oh my) In this Episode: Callie and her boyfriend were offered to take free professional couples photos, but they broke up the day before the shoot. So when life gave her lemons, she made pizza. Then T joins The Bartender to talk about acting, their temporary stint as a Jehovah's Witness, and... vampires. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/7317953

Episode 104: For The Record (Store) 07/26/2018

Episode 104: For The Record (Store) In this Episode: When he was in his early 20's, David soon realized that being a writer in LA was a lot harder than he thought. But everything changed one day when he walked into a vintage record store. CN: this conversation has talk of depression and suicidal ideation About The Guest: David Nadelberg is a writer, producer, host, and all around a lovely person. He is the creator of a storytelling show where people share embarrassing letters, notes and poems things they wrote as kids. His six episode docuseries, , is now available on Netflix. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/6854127

Episode 103: "We Would Have Preferred Phish, Not Actual Fish" And Other Roadblocks While Fighting The Drug War 05/24/2018

Episode 103: "We Would Have Preferred Phish, Not Actual Fish" And Other Roadblocks While Fighting The Drug War In this Episode: Derek Rosenfeld and Tommy McDonald from the join The Bartender to talk about various obstacles they've experienced working to end the war on drugs. Derek recounts one bizarre tactic to deter a peaceful protest that involved dead fish, (not to be confused with his favorite band Phish), and Tommy recalls celebrating one of the proudest accomplishment of his career during one of the worst nights of his life. PLUS Katharine shares audio of a beautiful speech her sister gave while accepting an award on behalf of her law firm's pro-bono work for ! UNFORTUNATELY the audio also caught a sexist remark from a nearby attendant/colleague about her sister's personal appearance as she took the stage to share an emotional story about their abusive father. So Katharine ends the episode with her feelings about that. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/6629725

Episode 102: Rob, and the Concept of Star Stature 04/23/2018

Episode 102: Rob, and the Concept of Star Stature In this Episode: Ever wonder what it’s like to understudy four roles in a national tour of a Tony award winning Broadway show? Performer Rob Neill joins The Bartender to talk about his touring adventures with Peter and the Starcatcher, why art is more than just a career, what Tom Hanks is like in the event of an emergency, and then accidentally reveals that he babysat for someone very special (to Katharine). /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/6510575

Episode 101: Revoking Your Ancestral Contract 03/22/2018

Episode 101: Revoking Your Ancestral Contract In this Episode: Nessa Norich, awesome person and fellow , joins The Bartender to talk about ancestral trauma, how to move forward when there's a familial elephant in the room, and smashing the f@#k out of patriarchy. Then she sings a beautiful song she wrote. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/6395838

Episode 100: Dollar Store Baby Booties, with Flatbush Misdemeanors 02/19/2018

Episode 100: Dollar Store Baby Booties, with Flatbush Misdemeanors In this Episode: What do you get for the man who had everything? Kevin Iso and Dan Perlman from the hit web series Flatbush Misdemeanors join The Bartender to talk about creating content, working with kids, and the time they bought comedian Kevin Hart a gift that maybe wasn't the best idea at the time. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/6273500

Episode 99: A New Perspective (brought to you by Visual Snow) 01/23/2018

Episode 99: A New Perspective (brought to you by Visual Snow) In this Episode: Vanessa Potter woke up one morning and found herself blind and unable to walk. Hear her talk about recovery, facing fear, and hearing colors. YES, HEARING COLORS. Then Melissa Divaris Thompson shares a story about giving birth to her first child, and the lack of “industry of support” around pregnancy and parenthood. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/6180573

Episode 98: Dasha, From Russia 12/01/2017

Episode 98: Dasha, From Russia In this Episode: Dasha, who was born and raised in Russia, recently moved to America after years of living in South Korea. She talks to The Bartender about navigating different cultures, the impact of YouTube on Russian politics, and why she thought Putin was an ok guy until a few months ago. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/6000085

Episode 97: The Healthcare Prison Industrial Complex 08/21/2017

Episode 97: The Healthcare Prison Industrial Complex In this Episode: Maggie's brother, who has Asperger's Syndrome, ended up in solitary confinement while in jail after an incident at his group home. She opens up about the complicated and flawed legal system in America, and how it often fails people with special needs. Then The Bartender shares some thoughts about Charlottesville, allyship, and the importance of listening and learning. PLUS a listener shout-out, and a sneak peak into next month's episode. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/5661402

Episode 96: You're Beautiful 07/07/2017

Episode 96: You're Beautiful In this Episode: When Lynne went out on an audition for print work, she didn't expect the callback to happen so soon, except it was possibly neither an audition nor a callback. Then Betsy shares her experience working with an actor who did more than cross a few lines (and dance classes). /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/5517462

Episode 95: The Sacred Masculine and The Divine Feminism (or a Second Title for Shelton) 05/22/2017

Episode 95: The Sacred Masculine and The Divine Feminism (or a Second Title for Shelton) Writer/Performer/Awesome Person Shelton Pritchard Lindsay talks about the power of performance, and its role in facilitating conversations, reaching across political party lines and uniting the entire world. Sometimes. Then, Katharine plays a very special audio clip from a very special person (her boyfriend)'s recent graduation speech about being an artist in a capitalist society. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/5379781

Episode 94: Your Birth Day 04/10/2017

Episode 94: Your Birth Day In this Episode: When Annie was training as a birth doula, she had very strong emotional reactions to some births, which made her look into her own. She talks with The Bartender about how the way we come into this world matters. Oh, and she also tells a story about the time she, for her job, mediated a fight between roommates over a thermostat. And huge thanks to ! Listen to them! Like the show? The Bartender! Or give it ! /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/5253040

Episode 93: Sometimes A Bridesmaid, And Traveling Worldwide 02/14/2017

Episode 93: Sometimes A Bridesmaid, And Traveling Worldwide In this Episode: The Bartender talks to Jen Glantz who is a "Bridesmaid for Hire", and has SO MANY QUESTIONS. Then Nancy Halpern shares some of her adventures from when she spent 5 days in Burma, alone, in her 20s. We then bring it back to American politics, the current Muslim "It's-not-a-ban-but-it-is-a-ban" Ban, and the impact of people traveling outside of their comfort zones. Like the show? The Bartender! Or give it ! /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/5082626

Episode 92: Two and a Half Old Bitches 01/11/2017

Episode 92: Two and a Half Old Bitches In this Episode: The Bartender sits down with Idelisse Malavé and Joanne Sandler, the creators and co-hosts of the hit podcast, . The two talk about the evolution of their bitchery, the liberation that comes with running out of f$%ks, and how they accidentally became models for pee proof underwear. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/4980913

Episode 91: The Future of Regular Degular Comedy 11/29/2016

Episode 91: The Future of Regular Degular Comedy In this Episode: The Bartender shares some of her thoughts post election. Then, comedian Jes Tom talks about finding humor in times of despair, the best way to handle misgendering someone, and the time their grandmother got revenge against a school bully at the tender age of 8 after getting out of a Japanese internment camp. Like the show? The Bartender! Or give it ! /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/4870580

Episode 90: Second (or Third, Fourth, Fifth) Chances 11/05/2016

Episode 90: Second (or Third, Fourth, Fifth) Chances In this Episode: Melani, a single mother at age 41, found love in a hopeless place (an airport hotel in Pittsburgh). After 5 wonderful years with this man, she talks about moving forward after he passed away. Then we hear from Will whose father abandoned his family on Christmas Day when he was 16. He's trying to repair the relationship, and writing a show about it in the process. It involves a nuclear power plant and Brazil, not necessarily in that order. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/4806352

Episode 89: I... Did Not Know That 10/24/2016

Episode 89: I... Did Not Know That In this Episode: Jen and Alli spend a lot of time on the internet procuring content for their show, but what happens when they meet the face behind the avatar? They talk about lessons learned from strangers on Craigslist, explain what a "Splenda Daddy" is, and expound on Mpregs, Semenology, and women in comedy. You know, the usual. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/4767997

Episode 88: He's All That 09/16/2016

Episode 88: He's All That In this Episode: Jake wasn’t very popular in high school so he was thrilled when “Emily” wanted to be his girlfriend. When she revealed why she started dating him, Jake thought it couldn’t get any worse. He found out that oh yes, it could. /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/4673334

Episode 87: Service Dogs > Brogressives 09/02/2016

Episode 87: Service Dogs > Brogressives In this Episode: (TW: Rape, Abuse) When Julie was sexually assaulted by the head of a prominent animal rights organization, she learned the limitations of her own rights in the "progressive" community. And then we hear from Tod, who saved a three legged dog and named it named Piggy. But who really saved who? /episode/index/show/tellthebartender/id/4638757

Tell The Bartender - A Storytelling Podcast

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