The Write Down

In this, THE MOTHER of all episodes, which is cohosted by my wonderful friend Kelli Heil, host of Moms Who Create Podcast, you will hear 3 stories written by me but inspired by real-life moms. "It's Not Mustard" will leave supermarket cashiers everywhere cringing. "Brew & a Spew" will remind you not to make assumptions and to be on guard for hazardous unlatching. "Bad Word Birthday" will have you starting a swear jar for yourself. Because I got HUNDREDS of submissions for this episode (more than I ever have before) I have compiled my favorites into hilarious special segments where Kelli and I read and giggle over each one. If you aren't already convinced that kids are disgusting, "Big Yuck" will do the trick. "Boobie Stuff" is full of submissions that are all about mommery and mammaries and you better watch your mouth around your kids or you might have a submission for the next round of "Shhhh, Don't Say That." With that being said, this episode does feature a few swear words and adult themed topics, so it isn't one you will want to listen to around your kids. Kelli and I end the episode with one last special segment "Favorite Fictional Fathers" because what do moms love more than dads? ❤

I spill (some) of the beans about my work-in-progress novel in this short bonus episode. As an added bonus, and in my typical fashion, I used background music to create a "movie trailer" for my book (just close your eyes and pretend, okay?)

This episode is about all things foolish and I admit more personal messups than I probably should. In Old, Black Cars is an autobiographical story about all of the silly (and sometimes dangerous) things I did with my friends after getting my license. MSN Mess is a story that was inspired by a submission from a listener and encapsulates the golden age of MSN Instant Messenger. This episode also features two special segments: Embarrassment Bonding and My Most Foolish Moment.

In this episode I wrote short stories inspired by popular songs from the late 90s and early 2000s. After each story I reveal the song that inspired the story. Then, I announce the winner of the Playlist Contest who guessed all 4 songs correctly. At the end of the episode you will hear a story from my very first Guest Writer, Jody Sperling. Jody has his own podcast called Cr8 Collabor8 and is a very talented writer. I was recently a guest on Cr8 Collabor8. You can find Jody's podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GUuf1Ru8hkZIEAQLd9DA1?si=F6QQBD-bRyW1tz-Kq4YiJQ&utm_source=copy-link

Love is in the air 💕 We are taking it back to the roots of M. Black Writes Podcast in this Part 2 of the very first episode ever aired. This episode is full of my own personal and listener-submitted "bloopers" from our young, romantic lives.  

Table of Contents 

Special Segment: Things People Love 

Story 1: Naive Notes & Nicknames

Story 2: Vomit of the Opera 

Story 3 Kerfuffle in the Kissing Korner

Story 4: College Cringe

I had the opportunity recently to be a guest on Moms Who Create Podcast with Kelli Heil. Go check out my episode! It is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also find Kelli on Instagram @momswhocreatepodcast

This episode truly is a smorgasbord of holiday goodness and whatever the heck I want to wrap up this season with a haphazardly placed bow. I will be reading Christmastime entries from my childhood journals (my Christmas gift to you), telling you my opinions on how to entertain yourself over Christmas break, nominated some Season Honorable Mention submissions, and delivering 4 holiday-themed stories written by me. Two of these stories are sequels to the tied-for-first-place winners of the Season Story Showdown which I hosted on Instagram. The stories Skidmarks & The Broken Bowl from Episode 1 and Farmers Save the World from Episode 2 are continued in this season finale. Enjoy!

For this episode I created "deleted scenes" and alternate endings through fan fiction stories inspired by 4 popular movies (The Princess Bride, The Notebook, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Twilight). I also discuss each movie with my own personal "Scene Superlatives" It's like a verbal yearbook page for your favorite DVDs. I hope you vote this episode "Most likely to make you want to have a movie marathon" 📀

My little boy helped me randomly draw ideas submitted by listeners for Halloween monsters, settings, and emotions to create all 7 (yes, SEVEN) SPOOKY SURPRISE STORIES. This episode has 6 silly, monstrous stories and 1 that might have you shutting your blinds and drawing your curtains.

Brains are weird. People are weirder.

"Dancing Chuck" an almost 99 year old WWII Veteran from Wisconsin whose dance moves have gone viral joins me in this special, patriotic episode for a conversation about the Stars & Stripes Honor Flight organization, his love for his wife Beverly, and why his generation really was the greatest. He then becomes the main character in the first story of this episode. You will also learn about the original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII and a prisoner of war in Nazi Germany who lived to tell the tale. 

Table of Contents

Interview with "Dancing Chuck" 

Story #1: Franzke Learns to Fly 

Story #2: The 29 

Story #3: Stalag