STORIES by Lea Thau

STORIES by Lea Thau

Lea Thau

Episodes 23
Avg. Duration 32m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.7 (5,948)
Since Apr 2013
Latest Episode Jun 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Consistency
75%
Hosting
feeds.acast.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Storytelling for the 21st century from Peabody Award-winning producer Lea Thau (former head of The Moth and Strangers). The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea Thau on Patreon and Substack, where you can also find the new work in its entirety, and where everything is ad-free. You can join as a free or paid member on both platforms, so come be a part of the community, or just listen along right here and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.



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Recent Episodes

The Hopeful Locals #7: John

Jun 03, 2026 46m

This is Episode 7 of the Hopeful Locals, but this installment can also stand alone. Today you’re going to meet John Doyle, and I’m going to let him tell most of the story, because I like the way he…

The Hopeful Locals #6: Cowboy Country

May 27, 2026 25m

As L.A. burns behind me, I drive deeper into cowboy country through Wyoming to Montana, trying to untangle the many contradictions of the country I call home.This is Episode 6 of The Hopeful Locals,…

The Hopeful Locals #5: Visionaries of The Wind River, Part 2

May 20, 2026 39m

The hope holds strong in this second episode about people working for change on the Wind River Reservation.It is brought to you by Tink Media, Podcast The Newsletter, and our supporters on Patreon…

The Hopeful Locals #4: Visionaries of the Wind River, Part 1

May 12, 2026 48m

This is Episode 4 of The Hopeful Locals (Episode 7 if you’re a paying subscriber and get bonus episodes!). You’re getting this episode ad-free because the people in it deserve not to be interrupted…

The Hopeful Locals #3: Erika

May 04, 2026 39m

This is Episode 3 of The Hopeful Locals for free subscribers (Episode 6 for paying subscribers). Our storyteller today is Erika Warren-Yarber. She’s the COO of the Wind River Development Fund and the…

The Hopeful Locals #2: On the Road Again

Apr 24, 2026 22m

This is Episode 2 of my series, The Hopeful Locals. It’s a direct continuation of Episode 1, so if you haven’t heard that, I’d go start there.Huge thanks to my husband, Paul Dreux Smith, for making…

The Hopeful Locals #1: A Portrait of the Artist as a Middle-Aged Woman

Apr 22, 2026 27m

This is the prologue to my new series, The Hopeful Locals, and I hope you’ll enjoy it. The story continues on Friday. Huge thanks to Dengue Fever, Paul’s band, for letting me use the recording from…

Introducing 'STORIES by Lea Thau'

Apr 17, 2026 3m

Hi friends, I’m back! New episodes start dropping Tuesday! Also, heads-up: I’ll be changing the name of this podcast from Strangers to STORIES by Lea Thau on Monday. That hurts a little, I know – for…

Wilmot of Helena

Jul 24, 2020 26m

Wilmot Collins is an interesting man with an interesting story. This is it. I hope you enjoy it. Find more Strangers content, new and old, at www.patreon.com/strangerspodcast - it's only $1 per month…

Do You Like My Little Lie?

Oct 12, 2017 33m

It’s the time of year when skeletons come out of the closet. We honor the dead, as we get ready for holidays among the living, where secrets will be spilled, and secrets will be created that will…

Me For Mayor?

Oct 03, 2016 20m

Have you ever had the fantasy that a chance encounter with a stranger could tell you who to be? Karin Gutman was working as an assistant when a senior advisor to a US Senator came out of the blue…

The Son, The Goddess, and Leopoldo

May 30, 2016 46m

Born in a coven of lesbian witches in a Haight-Ashbury commune after the fall of Saigon, young Joshua Safran soon hit the open road with his single mother, Claudia, and things only got stranger from…

Elizabeth and Mary, Part 1

Jan 29, 2016 44m

Would you give a kidney to a stranger? Inspired by a previous episode of Strangers, Elizabeth decided to do just that. This is Part 1 of the story that ensued.The entire back catalogue of Strangers…

My Father’s Bones

Oct 09, 2015 30m

One day when Susan was five, her father came home and nailed her bunk bed shut. That was the beginning of a long strange journey.The entire back catalogue of Strangers can be found at STORIES by Lea…

Unconditional

May 15, 2015 33m

This is a story of mothers, love, regrets and redemption, and of secrets from many years passed that cast long shadows in our lives. It’s about how Deborah Jiang-Stein came to be pulled over by two…

Adrian’s Race

Apr 17, 2015 38m

Adrian is 25 and losing his eyesight. He’s in a race against time. He’s also in a battle between humility and pride. When is it stubborn, perhaps even foolhardy, not to make concessions to one’s…

A Father’s Story – Then and Now

Jan 17, 2015 25m

To mark the three-year anniversary of Strangers we share with you the very first story ever featured on the show, about Stephen Rochelle and his son Matthew, and we return to Stephen to see how…

Falling Slowly

Oct 24, 2014 24m

Strangers, at its core, is about the beauty and the struggle of human connection and what happens in those moments when we get closer to someone else, or, say, further removed from ourselves. Often…

Big Jim & Smokey Joe

Oct 14, 2014 12m

A waitress, a former bomber pilot and a retired railroad engineer embark on the adventure of a lifetime. A version of this story was previously featured on Season 1 of Strangers. Get the full story…

Two Men and a Baby

Jun 15, 2014 24m

Two young men receive a surprise delivery.  And it’s a newborn. Whaaa! Get the full story here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesThe entire back catalogue of Strangers…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does STORIES by Lea Thau have?

STORIES by Lea Thau has published 23 episodes since April 2013.

Is STORIES by Lea Thau still active?

STORIES by Lea Thau is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 32m.

How do I contact STORIES by Lea Thau for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for STORIES by Lea Thau, including email and social media links.

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