Social clubs abound in late 1950s Greenville, SC. If you’re lucky enough to be the son of a prominent attorney like Granville, you can join one as early as 7th grade. In a twisted notion of what creates male bonding, these rituals of belonging can be as bizarre as they are brutal. But when Granville and his best friend Gower face unexpected danger after a dance, one night becomes a test of courage, loyalty, and friendship.

Welcome to My Anecdotal Life, a collection of true stories from the life of Granville Wyche Burgess—writer, actor, director, teacher, producer, and storyteller. Told in Granville’s own words, these are some of the people, places, mishaps, adventures, and unexpected turns that have shaped his life.

And where better to begin than at the beginning, with a name?

What’s in a name? Well, if it happens to be Granville Wyche Burgess, plenty, including some interesting ancestry and a few colorful nicknames as you'll hear in his introduction.

Later in the episode, you'll hear how an innocent game of bowling spirals into a teenage moral dilemma involving friendship, familial duty, and a brush with the law. Travel the South Carolina highways as a trembling young Granville must choose between loyalty to a friend, obedience to the law, and the expectations of his Baptist lawyer father.

Meet Granville Wyche Burgess and get a first taste of My Anecdotal Life, a new narrative podcast filled with family stories, personal history, misadventures, close calls, and a few lessons picked up along the way.

In this sneak peek, Granville introduces himself, explains how he came by his rather unusual name, and offers a taste of his first story, “My Life in Crime,” featuring an ill-advised teenage detour into criminality.

The stories begin September 15.