Unpacked
Peculiar stories from real life. Hosted by Christopher Beale & Josh Taylor
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The San Francisco Bay Bridge Troll
09/07/2022
The San Francisco Bay Bridge Troll
The Loma Prieta Earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area on October 17, 1989. The quake and the community galvanization that followed birthed a mystical protector forged from iron. His family still lives on the San Francisco Bay Bridge, but where? This is the tale of the Bay Bridge Troll. This story was for the KQED podcast Bay Curious.
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Our overnight romance with dating apps
02/23/2022
Our overnight romance with dating apps
Swipe through the modern phenomenon of app-based romance. Featuring VidaSelect CEO Scott Valdez, and a true story about a San Francisco Grindr-hookup that sparked a relationship. Hosted & Produced by and Josh Taylor
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The bizarre tradition of New Year’s resolutions
01/03/2022
The bizarre tradition of New Year’s resolutions
Why do we make New Year’s Resolutions? You’ll discover that this tradition has evolved over time. In this episode, and dive into the history of New Year’s resolutions, Auld Lang Syne, Methodist watch night services and popping champagne! Plus, our guest (Author of ) shares a personal story of a family tragedy that changed the way he lives, and the way he makes resolutions.- To support our work, join us .
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Other People's Kids
12/09/2021
Other People's Kids
An Unpacked bonus featuring an announcement about the future of the podcast, and Christopher is at California's Great America with about how the pandemic changed one person's approach to the job they love. - Thanks to California's Great America, Alaina Duffield, KALW, Lisa Morehouse, Abukar Adan, and Josh Taylor. -
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Presenting: Stereotypes - Straight Talk from Queer Voices
08/03/2021
Presenting: Stereotypes - Straight Talk from Queer Voices
Unpacked will return! In the meantime check out episode one of Christopher Beale's new podcast Stereotypes - Straight Talk from Queer Voices. Listen and ! - Everyone’s coming out is different. Some folks can’t come out, and for many — when we finally do — we discover that there are more questions on the other side. Meet Rae, a gender non-binary person who has learned to treat coming out as a process the length of a lifetime. Plus, Chris shares how he got caught in the act and forced out of the closet in high school. - You can contact Christopher Beale on , and connect with the show at .
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San Francisco’s LGBTQIA Community Marches To Stop Asian Hate
03/25/2021
San Francisco’s LGBTQIA Community Marches To Stop Asian Hate
Last weekend - San Francisco’s LGBTQIA community gathered to mourn with the Asian community, to speak and - in San Francisco’s long tradition of activism...to march. "Enough is Enough!" - Michael Nguyen (GAPA) - To see photos from the event, and read the written version in Outword Magazine, . To read the print version in 3 minutes on Medium, . To support my work with a monthly gift, and pick up cool bonuses from this and our sister podcast , ! RESOURCES
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Returning to work after COVID-19
02/22/2021
Returning to work after COVID-19
If there is one piece of good news about the COVID-19 Pandemic its that more people recover from COVID-19 than die from it. In the state of California, so far, 40,000 people have died from COVID-19. But that’s out of more than 3 million diagnosed cases. Those people who recover, and quarantine...eventually return to work. That got me thinking - what kind of reception are they receiving in the workplace? The DeLeons have both experienced COVID-19 and both returned to work. That is where the similarities end. Special thanks to Angel & Ray DeLeon from Palmdale, CA for their story. Check out Angel's crafts . - - - More information on my work at . To support me with a monthly gift, check out the .
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The Complicated World of Coffee
01/11/2021
The Complicated World of Coffee
How does coffee go from the field - to your cup? Is coffee addictive, and how can YOU positively impact the people who grow it? What's the difference between 'local' coffee and Starbucks? On this episode, on how to navigate the complicated world of coffee. - - - For more information on Christopher's work head to , for more podcast content from No Midnight Media head to . - - -
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Glass Fire: Napa 'Refugees' Wait For Answers
10/06/2020
Glass Fire: Napa 'Refugees' Wait For Answers
The Glass Fire - which as of writing this has burned more than 60,000 acres near California’s wine country - is displacing entire communities. Whole families forced out of their homes with no idea when they’ll be able to return - or if they’ll have a home to return to. This is the story of one such family waiting for answers. - LINKS
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Big Fish Stories
09/09/2020
Big Fish Stories
From Lake Berryessa in California to Big Fish Lake in Minnesota - two big fish stories, 3 acts, 30 minutes. Act 1 - The First Attempt An educational but completely empty-handed fishing trip to Lake Berryessa. "I think I'd like to lose a finger." - Tom Act 2 - Grandpa Hal Mark recounts the final fishing trip he shared with his beloved grandfather. "80 Fish!" - Mark Act 3 - Best Day Ever A bolt of electricity! Tom and I finally catch a kokanee! "My legs are a little wobbly." - Chris - Connect with Christopher on Twitter at , and support his work with a monthly gift. - It's like that popular NPR quiz show...except, for theme park fans! Check out - every other week.
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Oakland Takes Back The Narrative
06/01/2020
Oakland Takes Back The Narrative
After two nights of demonstrations against police brutality that ended in riots and looting - Oakland protesters took to the streets Sunday to take back the narrative, Black Lives Matter. Special thanks to and their volunteers, to my neighbor for of the looting, and to the demonstrators on Sunday for allowing me access and making me feel welcome. SOURCES:
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Activity Found | a COVID-19 story
05/11/2020
Activity Found | a COVID-19 story
The story of a San Francisco man recovering from a confirmed case of COVID-19. "My heart starts beating so fast Wednesday night. Really, Really, Really fast. I get this numbness all over my body. My legs are falling numb. I have a hard time getting up. And I'm like, Oh my God. This is it. I’m gonna die." - Armando Zambrana To get tested for COVID-19, . To support my work on Patreon, . SOURCES:
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Zone Defense & Drive-By Kisses
05/01/2020
Zone Defense & Drive-By Kisses
The Zayner family’s house is one of those spaces where people are always coming and going on the weekends. Come as you are...B.Y.O.B and smoke ‘em if you got ‘em. With a pool in the backyard for epic summer’s out under the sun, this place is my little slice of paradise outside the city. It’s ground-zero for family hangs. COVID-19 has moved this large family indoors for school and work - how are Bridget and Zach handling the pandemic-induced stress? How about the kids? To support our work on Patreon for as little as $1 a month, . The song at the end of the episode is "We're Gonna Be Okay" by Cody Francis. Available on .
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Short Story: A Violent Shove
04/25/2020
Short Story: A Violent Shove
This morning was so unusual I had to share it with you. I witnessed a crime here in Oakland and it shook me. "I just witnessed my first crime in Oakland, like right in front of me, I saw it. I tried to help." - Christopher J. Beale Have you ever witnessed a crime? Share it with me at (213) 935-0513. If you have helpful information about the crime featured in this story, call Oakland Police at (510) 777-3333. - Support my work for as little as $1 a month on .
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Adam & Mr. Green | Teaching during Coronavirus
03/26/2020
Adam & Mr. Green | Teaching during Coronavirus
Meet Adam Green, an Oakland High School teacher who, thanks to coronavirus, has a unique problem. How do you teach music to 140 students...from home? SOURCES: Special thanks to the Oakland Public Library and Skyline High School. - Support the work of Unpacked, and on Patreon for as little as $1 a month, and receive cool benefits as well as early access to our shows! . - Unpacked is recorded, written, researched and sound designed by Christopher Beale for No Midnight Media in Oakland, California.
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Leap, and the net will appear.
03/19/2020
Leap, and the net will appear.
Coronavirus is changing everything here in California. Our jobs. Our commutes. Our religious and social practices. Social isolation will probably be the phrase that defines 2020, and we’re only 3 months in. As people begin to practice social distancing and adjust to this new normal...I am feeling a pull to do something. I know I need to help, I want to help. But how can I best do that? As I’ve been meditating on this over the last few weeks, it finally came to me. In one form or another I have pursued some kind of journalism for years now, and Unpacked now stands in a unique position to be a vehicle for that kind of work. But, in order to do that, I need to catch you up on what is going on in my world. Over the last year I have reached a sort of a crossroads in my life. A lot has changed, and a lot more change is coming. For almost 20 years now I have pursued my childhood dream of being a radio personality. Beginning in Orlando when I was a wee lad, I’ve been on the radio in Miami, Key West, New Haven, Boston, Colorado Springs, Gainesville (FL), Cleveland, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco and Sacramento. Admittedly - I’ve had a lot of success. But in that time, I have essentially moved where the job was. Every place I have lived, I have arrived completely alone with no reason to be there other than a radio job. At most of these stops along the way, I have departed with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. But - I haven’t, up until recently, had the opportunity to pick a place to live, simply because I want to be there. My boyfriend and I picked the San Francisco Bay Area and this past November, we moved to Oakland. We love it here. The dogs are happy we love the little church lawn across the street. I’ve continued to commute to Sacramento on weekdays since mid-November but I must admit, it is exhausting, and it gets more challenging each day. For about 12 hours a day I am almost constantly in motion, and that would wear on just about anyone. When I first got into radio, in 2000, my job was to do a single live radio show each day, and maybe some light production work. Now, in an average week I host 45 hours of radio content on two radio stations, conceptualize, write, shoot and produce 5-10 minutes of original video content with varying locations, write a couple of blogs, record between 5 and 20 commercials and I may have a public appearance in a Sacramento suburb over the weekend. It’s a busy lifestyle. Combine that with 4 hours of commuting each day and I arrive home most nights completely mentally fried. That’s why Unpacked has been so quiet these last few months. It’s unsustainable. I have reached that point where it’s time to make a few changes. Stepping Down First, I am stepping down from my role at Mix 96 and Now 100.5 at the end of June 2020. It’s been 5 years, and I am grateful to every single person who listened to anything I put on the radio in Sacramento and allowed me to thrive in this beautiful city. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities afforded me by the team at Bonneville Sacramento, and CBS Radio before that. Through a merger, 4 cities and 2 companies I have been continuously employed for close to 11 years now, and in radio that is beyond rare. I am humbled, and will never forget the love and growth I experienced in Sacramento. Thankfully, I am not living that far away. My last day on the air at Mix 96 and Now 100.5 will be Friday, June 26, 2020. More on that as it gets closer. I do not, as of writing this, have another full-time job lined up. I am open to discussing just about anything interesting including home voicetracking, production, reporting and editing. I would ultimately prefer to stay in the bay area. My email address is .-- So, what now? For the next stage of my life and career, I want to do a wider variety of work. Learn some new skills, and challenge myself. If you’ve been listening to our family of podcasts over the last 3 years, you have seen the infancy of this experimentation. I have found a love for telling stories, through audio and video. My real passion being radio, audio journalism and radio stories are natural next steps. Listen to my docu-series if you want to hear my best (up to now) example, it’s here in this feed. That passion and experimentation have opened some new doors for me here in the bay area. More on that in the coming weeks. Yes, you’ll hear me on the radio in the San Francisco bay area soon. Christopher Early in my career, at Y100 in Miami more specifically, I was asked to take on a stage name. More specifically, a two-syllable name. Something about a study of the perception of listeners...whatever. I was a kid, I did what I was told. I picked Kory. with a K. Shortly thereafter my career began to take me to new and exciting places, and the name stuck. I kept the stage name, for almost 20 years. I mean, Kory is verified on Facebook and Twitter! But! Kory, is not really a public radio name. Thankfully for me...Christopher Beale, is. That’s my real name, and It’s truly an honor for me to bring my real last name to the front. My grandfather, Ray Beale, was a radio personality himself in the 50s and 60s. The name, has emotional weight for me. It’s still weird to say Christopher Beale into a microphone but I am adjusting. Moving forward, I will be using my real name on Unpacked, and for my journalism work. You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @RealChrisJBeale. I’ll still have the name Kory for any commercial radio work I do of course, and it will for the time being, be the name I will use to host Theme Park Pulse on Fridays. - The Net To recap. I am living will be leaving my full-time position in Sacramento at the end of June, and though doors are opening for me, I do not currently have a reliable source of full-time income lined up. I don’t know what is going to happen next, but I do know I have a great support system around me here in the bay area. This next step is...a little scary, and I know it will not be without it’s challenges. But I am ready for the ride. Opportunity is out there, and I intend to find it. Jason Mraz has this great song called ‘Make It Mine,’ it’s been a sort of a mantra for me these last few months and I love this simple line. “Leap, and the net will appear.” -- Now that you know where I stand. I am proud to announce that Unpacked is returning. With coronavirus changing everything, people need to connect more than ever, and if one story can help make this dark time of social isolation a little brighter...then that’s what I intend to do. I am already recording interviews for an all-new season where I want to explore how this pandemic is affecting the day-to-day lives of every day people. Unpacked is back...in 1 week!
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Open to Outrage & Joy
12/30/2019
Open to Outrage & Joy
Would you move across the state for something you really wanted, and really believed in? What if if came with a 3 hour commute...each way? Plus - a brief history of migration and gentrification, from a reluctant gentrifier in Oakland. I hope you enjoy this bonus episode of Unpacked, and I'll talk to you in 2020! - Kory SOURCES/MENTIONS: & If you would like to support the work of Unpacked, and hear our episodes before they are released, join our for as little as $1 a month! Oh, and would you please share this episode, rate & review Unpacked on !? Thanks in advance! | | Facebook (/) - This bonus episode is written, recorded, and sound designed by Christopher "Kory" Beale. ©No Midnight Media, All rights reserved. Music licensed by Epidemic Sound. -
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The boy ghosts of Oxford
10/28/2019
The boy ghosts of Oxford
On this episode of Unpacked, the true story of a trip to London, and Oxford. When Amanda finds herself spending the night in a centuries old house, she alone has an encounter with the spirit world that was way too close for comfort. Happy Halloween from Unpacked! - This episode is based on the real-life experience of Unpacked listener Amanda Garcia. Otherwise written, as well as edited, sound designed and recorded by Christopher "Kory" Beale. ©No Midnight Media, All rights reserved. Music licensed by Epidemic Sound. - If you would like to support the work of Unpacked, and hear our episodes before they are released, join our for as little as $1 a month! Oh, and would you please share this episode, rate & review Unpacked on !? Thanks in advance! | | Facebook (/)
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The Q&A w/ Bret Iwan & Kory | Bret, Mickey & Walt
10/07/2019
The Q&A w/ Bret Iwan & Kory | Bret, Mickey & Walt
Bret Iwan and Kory answer your questions as we bring Unpacked presents: Bret, Mickey & Walt to a close! - To see photos of Bret's house, follow his design business on Instagram, . You can follow Bret at , and follow Kory at ! Follow Jack at ! - This episode was written and hosted by Jack Milliken, recorded by Christopher "Kory" Beale. Bonus content for Unpacked presents: Bret. Mickey & Walt adapted, written, recorded and sound designed by Jack Milliken. ©No Midnight Media, All rights reserved. Music licensed by Epidemic Sound. - If you would like to support the work of Unpacked, and hear episode three early, join our for as little as $1 a month! Oh, and would you please share this episode, rate & review Unpacked on !? Thanks in advance! | | Facebook (/)
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Living Breathing Dragons | Bret, Mickey & Walt Pt. 3
09/30/2019
Living Breathing Dragons | Bret, Mickey & Walt Pt. 3
Bret Iwan spends a decade establishing himself as the voice of Mickey Mouse! But, finds himself in a creative rut, when an old hobby from his childhood sparks creativity and dreams of the future! We follow Bret & Cory into Disneyland for the premiere of Fantasmic 2.0 and visit Bret's home on the finale of Bret, Mickey & Walt. To see photos of Bret's house, follow his design business on Instagram, . You can follow Bret at , and follow Kory at ! This episode was written, recorded (except where noted) and sound designed by Christopher "Kory" Beale. Bonus content for Unpacked presents: Bret. Mickey & Walt adapted from audio recorded with Bret Iwan by Kory. Bonuses adapted, written, recorded and sound designed by Jack Milliken. ©No Midnight Media, All rights reserved. Music licensed by Epidemic Sound. - GOT A QUESTION FOR BRET OR KORY? Submit a question for Bret or Kory and we may answer it on our upcoming Q&A episode! Call (213) 935-0513 and leave a message before September 30, 2019 for consideration! You can also email anytime at - If you would like to support the work of Unpacked, and hear episode three early, join our for as little as $1 a month! Oh, and would you please share this episode, rate & review Unpacked on !? Thanks in advance! | | Facebook (/)
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Buffy the Buffalo | Bret, Mickey & Walt
09/23/2019
Buffy the Buffalo | Bret, Mickey & Walt
Kory recorded hours of audio with Bret Iwan for this series, and not all of it made it into the final production. Jack produced this fun story about a buffalo named Buffy! This bonus adapted, written, recorded and sound designed by Jack Milliken. Editing by Kory. ©No Midnight Media, All rights reserved. - GOT A QUESTION FOR BRET OR KORY? Submit a question for Bret or Kory and we may answer it on our upcoming Q&A episode! Call (213) 935-0513 and leave a message before September 30, 2019 for consideration! You can also email anytime at - If you would like to support the work of Unpacked, and hear episode three early, join our for as little as $1 a month! Oh, and would you please share this episode, rate & review Unpacked on !? Thanks in advance! | | Facebook (/)
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What's Got Bret Up Before The Sun? | Bret, Mickey & Walt
09/16/2019
What's Got Bret Up Before The Sun? | Bret, Mickey & Walt
We are back with the finale of on September 30th. This week we're presenting a look at a Patreon bonus that teases a really cool thing we discover about Bret on Episode 3! To support our work for as little as $1 a month on Patreon, and pick up cool bonus material and perks ! ©No Midnight Media, All rights reserved. - GOT A QUESTION FOR BRET OR KORY? Submit a question for Bret or Kory and we may answer it on our upcoming Q&A episode! Call (213) 935-0513 and leave a message before September 30, 2019 for consideration! You can also email anytime at - If you would like to support the work of Unpacked, and hear episode three early, join our for as little as $1 a month! Oh, and would you please share this episode, rate & review Unpacked on !? Thanks in advance! | | Facebook (/)
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Fillin' In For The Boss | Bret, Mickey & Walt Pt. 2
09/09/2019
Fillin' In For The Boss | Bret, Mickey & Walt Pt. 2
When a death rocks Disney Character Voices, Bret Iwan goes from potential understudy, to Mickey Mouse, almost overnight. Why does Mickey sound different sometime?! Bret remembers Russi Taylor and finally opens up about Mickey #5. BONUS: The beginning of this episode features a clip of a 2004 interview with Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor. That video can be found . If you are interested in Mickey #3, that is a solid place to start. - Kory This episode was written, recorded and sound designed by Christopher "Kory" Beale. Bonus content for Unpacked presents: Bret. Mickey & Walt adapted from audio recorded with Bret Iwan by Kory. Bonuses adapted, written, recorded and sound designed by Jack Milliken. ©No Midnight Media, All rights reserved. - GOT A QUESTION FOR BRET OR KORY? Submit a question for Bret or Kory and we may answer it on our upcoming Q&A episode! Call (213) 935-0513 and leave a message before September 30, 2019 for consideration! You can also email anytime at - If you would like to support the work of Unpacked, and hear episode three early, join our for as little as $1 a month! Oh, and would you please share this episode, rate & review Unpacked on !? Thanks in advance! | | Facebook (/)
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Fantasmic Fantasies | Bret, Mickey & Walt Pt. 1
08/26/2019
Fantasmic Fantasies | Bret, Mickey & Walt Pt. 1
A young Bret Iwan (Mickey Mouse) plays Fantasmic in the backyard with his kid brother and discovers a unique talent. “Hey, that kind of sounds like him.” - Bret Iwan Always a creative, Bret would grow up to be a successful artist until a random email would change his entire future, and that of the most iconic cartoon character of all time. Special thanks to Fiona Iwan for the amazing photo of Bret in the cover art, and to Kaleb Banghart for reading excerpts from ! - Support the work of Unpacked, and hear episode two early by joining our for as little as $1 a month, and please share, rate & review on !
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First Look: Bret, Mickey & Walt
08/19/2019
First Look: Bret, Mickey & Walt
In one week, we'll begin to share Bret Iwan's fascinating story. In this bonus, Kory shares one of his favorite sections of episode one! If you would like to listen to episode one right now, head to and join us for as little as $1 a month! Unpacked presents: Bret, Mickey & Walt premieres August 26th.
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Panel w/ Bret Iwan at StocktonCon 2019
08/05/2019
Panel w/ Bret Iwan at StocktonCon 2019
Last week , Bret Iwan (the voice of Mickey Mouse) joined us to reflect on the life of Russi Taylor, the longtime voice of Minnie Mouse. Over the weekend, Kory hosted a panel with Bret at and they officially announced this new "Mickey-series" to the world! Bret, Mickey & Walt premieres Monday, August 26 on !
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Coming Soon: Bret, Mickey & Walt
08/02/2019
Coming Soon: Bret, Mickey & Walt
Beginning August 26, Kory takes us inside the home, mind, and Bret Iwan...the current official voice of Mickey Mouse! How does a suburban, 90s kid with big dreams grow up to be the voice of the most iconic cartoon character of all time? We'll find out when Unpacked presents: Bret, Mickey & Walt!
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Fraud, Fortune & Fate
07/01/2019
Fraud, Fortune & Fate
A scandal that almost took down the game show industry, a look behind the scenes at the resulting changes, and the heartwarming story of a little girl's unshakeable will to have her own shiny red bike on this episode of Unpacked! Special thanks to Louis Goldberg, producer on the TLC show "," and to Sarah and Laura Mills for sharing their story in "The Shiny Red Bike." LINKS: - Sign up for our mailing list to keep in touch: For all of the other things (support, merch, bios, past episodes) head to Voicemail: (213) 935-0513 | | Unpacked is a production of .
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Torched!
05/20/2019
Torched!
This week on Unpacked….three people experience the deadly and destructive force of fire...in three completely different ways. - Special thanks to Jay Sherer from podcast for his voiceover work, Zac Stuart-Pontier ( & ) for the story advice, and to our subjects Alesia Dobson, Gary Meloni and John Morris for their generosity and willingness to experiment! - Sign up for our mailing list to keep in touch: For all of the other things (support, merch, bios, past episodes) head to Voicemail: (213) 935-0513 | | Unpacked is a production of .
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PREVIEW: "Torched"
05/13/2019
PREVIEW: "Torched"
Hear the first 4 minutes of next week's all-new Unpacked! We return on May 20th with three exciting stories! Sign up for our mailing list to keep in touch: Check out our new Walt & Friends t-shirt here: For all of the other things (support, merch, bios, past episodes) head to Voicemail: (213) 935-0513 | | Unpacked is a production of .
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