Shawn Anthony's Story Shop, Gas Bar and Take-Out

This is the Shop's first Christmas episode. I wanted share Christmas memories, from our "Newfoundland Christmas" that was annually hosted in Scarborough.

I decided to tell a story I call "Spot at the table". It's about how my parents would always find room for one more person at our table, regardless the holiday, regardless the reason they would be otherwise alone.

Without a doubt, cooking a meal for 14 people is complicated, but feeding just one or two more was never that big of a deal. In fact, it seemed quite simple actually.

In this episode, I did a story exchange with an old friend, Scott Simms. Scott was the MP for my home town of Fogo Island for 17 years. He just moved back to Newfoundland and is for the first time in 17 years, not returning after the holiday for Parliament. Between the stories, I get a chance to ask how Scott is doing, what his plans look like, what's next?

Acknowledging the upcoming Canadian election, I wanted to have a non-partisan politically inspired episode ... and what better way to do that than tell stories about people saying dumb things – combined with stories of working in the political arena as well.

In this episode, I got to speak with Terry Fallis about such awkward situations and about his time working in politics. Terry offers a unique glimpse into the experience that goes well beyond the guided tours of Parliament Hill. Terry is a Canadian literature icon, former political staffer, and PR guru.

I will also be sharing one of my favourate stories simply titled: “Fatty”. This story was recorded at an Ottawa Untold online event on June 27th, 2021. Having listened to it after I recorded it, I regret not calling it "Bud The Spud", but this is a politics episode, right?

Special Father's day episode.

To meet timelines, this was edited not through PopUpPodcasts.

Time after time: I am interveiwing a very special guest.

This story is a true story from Shawn's book: Apse The Gate. He always thought of it as a road trip story, or a cool car story, but at it's core, it's a love story.

So Sit back and enjoy.

Why listen to this podcast? Why listen to any storytelling podcast?

In this introductory episode, Shawn speaks about what was missing in his public readings, how no one wanted to hear him read anything. They just wanted to hear him yarn about life in Scarborough for this outport family, and about visits back to Fogo Island for this kid who was trying to cough the city out of his lungs to make room for the salt water air. They wanted to hear it told the same way Shawn tells stories while he's polishing the brass rail of a bar with his elbow, or while he's sitting at a kitchen table and sharing a pot of tea.

It is the power of story, and how maybe, just maybe: it can save the world.