This week on the podcast, three complicated, contradictory, and confusing tales from young people confronted with the racial divide — and trying to find their way across it. David Schwarz recalls negotiating the hellish halls of high school as a minority; comedienne Meshelle moves a few miles west in Baltimore and discovers a very different world; and David Ross tests his teacher.

This week’s episode of The Stoop podcast, “The Story Behind The Story,” offers a peek behind the printed page, to the sausage-making of reporting, research and writing. Dan Fesperman offers a spy-worthy yarn from Guantanamo; Lauren Francis Sharma tells the tale that leads to her debut novel; and journalist Wil Hylton gets a lesson in changing his mind.

In honor of the New Year, The Stoop offers an encore version of its first podcast ever, a collection of stories about First Times. Ab Logan reminisces about his first kiss. Physician Ethel Weld remembers learning an important lesson about patients and death; and Baltimore City Health Commissioner shares the story of finding her voice.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com

In honor of Hanukkah, we offer three tales of "Jews Loving Christmas." Arthur Magida spins a snow-globe tale of olde New York; Ana Goldseker yearns for a Christmas tree; and Linda Perlstein offers a behind-the-scenes look at life as an Elf.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com

This week on the podcast, we offer "A Little Christmas Chaos" -- because if the holidays go exactly as planned, there are no good stories! Therese Lynch starts us off with a tale about her crazy family, the curse that befell them one Christmas, and the miracle of Wedgie the parakeet. Prescott Gaylord follows with a heartwarming story about a boy and a videocamera (and the war between them). And former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon recalls a "warm and mushy" Christmas Eve.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com.

What's better than one disaffected young man pretending to be Santa to make the world -- or at least, the mall -- a more wonderful place? Two. This week on the podcast, A Tale of Two Santas, one from Jim Ventosa and one from Sean Hannigan.

You'll never look at the guy in the red suit the same again. Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com.

This week on the podcast, "A Southern Family Yarn" from writer Dudley Clendinin, in which past, present, and future merge in a dreamy holiday tale. This story was told in 2009; Clendinin died in 2012 from Lou Gehrig's disease.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com

This week on the podcast, we laugh at -- er....with -- three Silly Boys with three very different silly tales. Heath Harrison, best Water Boy ever, tastes forbidden honey. Raj Konar plays with fire. And Dave Reichley gives Donald Duck a golden shower.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com.

In honor of Thanksgiving, this week The Stoop goes "Off the Menu," with three stories of unexpected dining adventures. Amy Cohen plays host to family members whose sandwiches weren't so ... fresh. Cynthia Shea shows up to cater ... without some key ingredients. And Manil Suri cooks a fancy feast for his family ... and survives to tell the tale. Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com.

Do we choose our theme song ... or does it choose us? This week on the podcast, Rahne Alexander reveals her secrets about Purple Rain. Steve Haddad and his mother bond over You Can't Always Get What You Want. And Charisse Nichols channels Michael McDonald.

Learn more about the Stoop at StoopStorytelling.com.