When Tony Sam was a kid, he grew up in the "armpit of Chicago" near O’Hare Airport—a place where the neighborhood tracks were so dangerous kids would get cut in half by moving trains. Known as the "white kid" in a rough area, he spent his days building forts out of boxes only to watch them get torn down by older bullies. Between his Catholic school expulsion after being framed in a library cassette tape scandal and "tearing off" his friend's arm for a school project, it’s a wonder he survived. Now, he's living the dream, driving a Jeep Wrangler held together by a prayer and a chopstick.

Follow Tony on insta: @toekneesam

More episodes at gladpod.com

Watch the video version of this episode: LINK COMING SOON

Topics & Keywords for Search: childhood stories, Chicago upbringing, Franklin Park, O'Hare Airport, Mannheim Road, The Jungle neighborhood, Bridge to Terabithia, funny memories, storytelling podcast, train track stories, bullying retaliation, ice snowball fight, high school transformation, locker shoving, family stories, comedy interview, Tony Sam, 90s nostalgia.

In this behind the scenes - Pam and Alex talk about Alex's latest video "One Last Video About My Dad". Listen here to hear fun facts and stories about the process of making the episode. Plus questions from board members like you!

For the board members - Pam will be in the discord now.

In this episode of Glad You’re Here, we are diving into some hilarious childhood stories and 90s nostalgia with comedian Jess Alaniz.

When Jess Alaniz was a kid, she was a championship cheerleader who snuck out of her two-story house, a middle schooler who got detention for a "chili powder" mishap in Catholic mass, and a "mean girl" who used to bark at classmates. Somehow she survived the chaos of growing up in Texas, only to spend her 21st birthday in lockup as the self-proclaimed "jail mom" after taking an accidental nap at a red light.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Funny childhood memories: From SNL skits in the living room to middle school talent shows.

• First job stories: The "Code Brown" trauma of working at a San Antonio water park.

• Family dynamics: Growing up as the youngest in a big family and the "saffron connection."

• Coming of age: Lessons learned from being a "bad kid" and the power of a RAV4 check-engine light.

Follow Jess Alaniz: @anewshow

More episodes at gladpod.com

Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B46tWKFQe_U

Topics & Keywords for Search: childhood stories, 90s nostalgia, growing up, funny memories, storytelling podcast, Texas childhood, Catholic school stories, middle school drama, family stories, comedy interview, Jess Alaniz, first job memories.

When Liz Zagone was a kid, her dad designed the famous nun masks from Ben Affleck’s “The Town”, she spent weekends drinking vodka out of Dasani bottles, and she lost her favorite pet to the most dangerous backyard in the neighborhood (her own). Somehow she survived, but not without having to buy “court pants”.

More episodes at gladpod.com

Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtn7cen2qic

When Damon Monday was a kid, he got a black eye on picture day, his mom's van was stolen the day after Christmas ( with all presents inside), and he was a member of an unsanctioned garage fight club. Somehow he survived, but not with becoming a trained synchronized swimmer. More episodes at gladpod.com

Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAQgw7nn6uM

In this episode of Glad You’re Here, we are heading to the shores of Block Island for some wild coming-of-age tales and 90s New England nostalgia with comedian Ben Smith.

When Ben Smith was a kid, he was the "good student" with a driver’s permit who took the fall for his brother’s $300 car crashes, a resident of an island so small it only has one intersection, and the son of a Harvard-educated journalist who doubled as a local nudist. From navigating a town filled with "inbred deer" to throwing legendary "Smithfest" ragers while his dad was away at nudist colonies, Ben’s upbringing was a hilarious and heartfelt mix of chaos and community. Somehow he survived the pressure of being the island’s class clown, eventually turning a tragic family eulogy into his very first stand-up set.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Island Life & Beater Cars: Growing up in a town of 80 people where joyrides end in deer bounties and totaled Toyotas.

• Eccentric Family Dynamics: The legacy of Ben’s father, Robert L. Smith—a privacy expert who marched with MLK and wrote the encyclopedia definition of "privacy."

• Comedy in the Darkest Times: Finding the "high" of performance during his brother’s funeral and the absurdity of grief.

• Smithfest & High School Legacies: Throwing the "Project X" of Rhode Island and the glory of high school slapboxing matches.

• Coming of Age: The vulnerability of leaving the island at 15 and the "tradition" of the morning-after-Halloween candy pancakes.
  
  More episodes at gladpod.com
  
  Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdULOP3OlIQ
  
  Topics & Keywords for Search: childhood stories, 90s nostalgia, growing up in Rhode Island, funny memories, storytelling podcast, Block Island stories, small town childhood, sibling stories, coming of age, comedy interview, Ben Smith, family dynamics, 90s memories, childhood trouble.

It's here the annual headlines podcast. Pam finds the most ridiculous real headlines and some fake ones, and challenges Alex to figure out which are legit.

Please note: we lost some headlines due to technical difficulties. We thought when we recorded this that we didn't lose anything (you'll hear about it halfway through) but we did actually lose a few headline questions! Sorry!

For the board members - Pam will be in the discord now.

When Jason Horton was a kid, SWAT raided his high school, he had a gun pulled on him over his girlfriend, and he made money selling stuff he stole from work on eBay. Somehow, he survived long enough to make it to the first Lollapalooza. More episodes at gladpod.com

Watch the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/Y8uDyEtfbS4

When Bethany Michaels was a kid, she loved Orlando Bloom, her neighbor was saved from a lawn mower explosion, and her sister defused a bomb their dad built in the basement. (He’s in jail now) Somehow Bethany survived, sadly, her Orlando Bloom posters did not. More episodes at gladpod.com

Watch the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/U9rEZZuY6Z0

When Ivan Salas was a kid he was suspended for impersonating the principal, his music teacher bummed cigarettes off him, and his pizza was stolen at knife point. Somehow Ivan survived it all, only to be sent to the ER for a freak sledding accident. More episodes at gladpod.com

Watch the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/Hbf4HTp0SnY