Some of the best storytellers around have gathered to tell stories. Not for a huge audience -- but for each other. Snap presents, “Backstage III.” An episode made of love and laughter featuring Glynn Washington, Shannon Cason, Dino Archie, Joyce Lee, Don Reed, and Dr. Ray Christian!

This episode contains explicit language and discusses firearms. Sensitive listeners please be advised.

Thank you to all the amazing storytellers! Dino Archie is tearing up the comedy world with a brand new special on YouTube, Toxic But Safe. Joyce Lee's got a book coming out. Don Reed is touring his one man performance, The Never Too Late Show. Dr. Ray Christian is combining forces with The Moth for the return his podcast, What's Ray Saying. You can hear more of Shannon Cason’s brutally honest storytelling on his podcast, Homemade Stories.

Produced by Mark Ristich. The original Backstage episodes were produced by Nikka Singh.

Season 14 - Episode 26

As kids many of us dreamt of building and playing in a tree house. For Donald Vaughn, also known as “fish”, that became his everyday reality… but it was far from a dream. Cold, hungry and all alone, Vaughn was kicked out of his house at 11 years old, and built a makeshift treehouse in order to survive. Anthony Ivy, an Uncuffed producer at Solano State prison, asked Vaughn to share his nightmare of being unloved, unkept and isolated.

Thank you, Donald Vaughn, for sharing your story! This piece comes from our friends at Uncuffed.

You can listen to KALW’s Uncuffed, for more stories produced inside California state prisons, wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow @WeAreUncuffed on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. To learn more, sign up for Uncuffed news, and support the program at www.weareuncuffed.org

Produced by Anthony Ivy

Sound design by Eric "Maserati-E" Abercrombie

Edited by Andrew Stelzer and Sonia Paul

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Uncuffed’s work in prisons is supported by the California Arts Council, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and donations from listeners. The producers fact-check content to the best of their ability. Content is approved by an information officer.

Season 14 - Episode 25

When the music is within you, how far would you go to dance again? A young ballerina is diagnosed with scoliosis just as her passion for ballet begins. And Glynn's summer love turns serious when his church elders have a word with his father about the separation of the races.

Bodies in Motion

When the music is within you, how far would you go to dance again? A young ballerina is diagnosed with scoliosis just as her passion for ballet begins.

A huge thank you to, Sophie Kohn, for sharing her story with Snap!

Sophie is a writer and producer with CBC comedy. Follow her on Twitter. This piece was based on her essay “Body in Motion” which was originally published at Hazlitt.net

Special thanks to David Exumé for his help with this story.

Produced by Bo Walsh, original score by Dirk Schwarzhoff, artwork by Teo Ducot

Niagara Falls

At sixteen, Glynn's summer love turns serious when his church elders come to have a word with his father about the separation of the races.

Produced by Stephanie Foo, told by Glynn Washington at Snap LIVE

Season 14 - Episode 24

Today on Snap, we join a notorious anarchist organization in the midst of chaos and travel to the Syrian desert to meet a monk.

STORIES

Chaotic Good

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 23 - Snap Classic

When Tameer gets hit in the head as a kid, he inherits an entire new lifetime of memories.

Season 14 - Episode 22

Amaryllis was fast on track to become an established journalist when her mentor was kidnapped and killed by a terrorist group. She decided she had to give up the transparency of journalism if she wanted to truly help curb terror, and instead joined the shadow world of the CIA. But the shadow world had its own cost.

A big thanks to Amaryllis Fox for sharing her story with us. You can buy her book on Knopf, Amazon, or anywhere books are sold.

Produced by Nikka Singh, original score by Leon Morimoto, artwork by Teo Ducot

Snap Classic – Season 10, Episode 31

This week on Snap Judgment… it's the tough jobs, the rough jobs, the roll up your sleeves and get it done jobs. When the oddest man in town is arrested for murder, only one lawyer steps up to represent him. Plus misadventures under the Not-So-Big Top.

STORIES

The Writing Is On The Wall

When the scariest man in town is arrested for murder, only one lawyer volunteers to represent him...

Produced by Joe Rosenberg, sound design by Renzo Gorrio

Corrections: In a previous version, McCracken Poston is referred to as both a state senator and state representative.  He was a state representative, not a state senator.  Also, Virginia Ridley is described as having last been seen in public in 1980, 17 years before the events described in this story.  In fact it was in 1970, 27 years before.

The Indiana Bust-Out

How does a well-mannered math kid become a first-class hustler? Through the ancient carnie tradition of "The Indiana Bust-Out."

Check out Pete’s book -- Eyeing the Flash: The Making of a Carnival Con Artist

Produced by Davey Kim, sound design by Leon Morimoto and Davey Kim

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 20

Two sisters, Magi and Memo, track down an American man accused of sexual abuse at a children's home in Kenya. It’s a story spanning two continents… following those who give everything to make things right.

This story, while not graphic, does involve child abuse, including sexual abuse, and the death of a child. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.

Thank you so much to everyone in this story. To Magi and Memo, for sharing your lives with us over the past two years. Magi has started a GoFundMe to raise money for the survivors of the Dow Children's Home.

To Janice and especially to Joy — Kongoi for your courage and your strength. Kongoi as well to Geoffrey Ng’tich, Beatrice Korir, and Joshua Abudoh.

Translation by Caroline Chebet

Recording engineers: Josh Wilcox, Ryan Geesaman, and Coconut

Original score by Renzo Gorrio

Produced and reported by Halima Gikandi and John Fecile

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 19

The first time someone says I love you could be the same moment you never see them again… Liz and John are lost in the chaos and struggling to find their way to safety when a country music concert in Vegas becomes the site of a senseless tragedy.

This story references an incidence of mass gun violence. Know that while this story does contain trauma it is not only a story of trauma… it’s a story of love, community, caring, and hope.

A tremendous thank you to Liz Heaton for sharing her story with us.

This story was produced by Dave Nadelberg, creator of the global stage show and podcast Mortified, now celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Additional production support from Joey Fischground and Zahra Noorbakhsh

The original score for this story was by Dirk Schwarzhoff

Special thanks to Neil Katcher and Jessica Lawrence

Season 14 - Episode 18

Jay J. Armes was a real life superhero... until real life intruded. And after living in darkness for decades, a man’s life changes forever when someone suddenly switches the lights on.

STORIES

Jay J. Armes, Private Eye

Jay J. Armes was a real life superhero... until real life intruded.

Produced by Vanessa Rancano, sound design by Leon Morimoto

Switched On

Imagine spending the first four decades of your life in darkness. Then imagine that someone suddenly switches the lights on.

John Elder Robison is a writer, speaker and advocate for people with autism. Be sure to check out his Neurodiversity work at the College of William and Mary as well as his car restoration work at Robison Services.

Produced and scored by Davey Kim

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 17