Here in the United States, National Public Radio broadcasts several great series that feature stories and storytelling, and as such are an excellent resource for writers. Each day this week, I’ll look at a different series that is aired on NPR. Today: The Story (produced at North Carolina Public Radio — WUNC and distributed by American Public Media).

From the series’ website, here is how they describe “The Story”:

One of our listeners sent us an e-mail that captured our goal for the stories we tell: “Thanks for finding the ordinary us and putting our stories out there.”

Our goal is to find people whose lives are intersecting with significant issues in the news and give them the opportunity to tell their story.

At a time when “celebrity rules” and the only “ordinary” people we see are faces in the crowd, The Story reminds listeners that their stories and their lives matter. We believe that by creating a space for first person stories we are choosing not to accept a pollster’s version of our thoughts and attitudes.

We’ve learned that hearing directly from people about their experiences can transform our understanding of what’s happening in the world. 

The host of the series is Dick Gordon:

Dick Gordon, former host of The Connection, is well-known in the profession as an experienced, seasoned journalist with an extensive background in both international and domestic reporting. He was a war correspondent and back-up host for the CBC’s This Morning, the national current affairs radio program. An award winning journalist, he has also served as a parliamentary reporter, Moscow correspondent and South Asia correspondent for both radio and television.

He has a remarkable way of drawing people out and honing in on aspects of his interviewees’ lives that is both telling and compelling.

From a writer’s perspective, it’s valuable to listen to “The Story” for many reasons.  Sometimes the stories on the show conjure up possible plot ideas such as this one:

Gangster Prankster

Tim and Adam were work buddies who liked to joke around with each other often. Tim decided to play what he thought was a harmless practical joke by calling Adam and pretending to be a mobster who was after Adam. Tim was sure that Adam would know it was him. Little did he know that Adam thought he was serious and that his own life was in danger. Tim and Adam talk to Dick Gordon about what happened to them when a practical joke went horribly wrong.

Or this one:

Which Side Are You On?

Maria Gunnoe’s family has lived on the same West Virginia land since they settled there after escaping the Trail of Tears. The area has long been coal mining country. Maria’s grandfather and two brothers mined for coal. But the methods of mining for coal have begun to change to something called “mountain top removal”. Maria recently won a major environmental prize in honor of her opposition to this kind of mining. Maria talks to Dick Gordon about fighting for her land, and how she draws strength from the memory of her Cherokee grandfather.

But most often what strikes me about the stories on the series are the characters.  Like this one:

The Living Brush

Madelyn Greco and Scott Fray were recently in Las Vegas for the first ever North American body painting competition. They came in third in the “brush and sponge” category. The couple met when Scott painted Madelyn’s entire body, unclothed, at a festival. Soon after they became a couple. Now the pair is off to Austria for the world championship of body painting. Dick talks with Madelyn and Scott about their passion for the art form.

Or this one:

Uncle John’s Band

Today is an anniversary for Deadheads around the world. It was 15 years ago today that Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia died of a heart attack. Dick talks to someone who had a “brush with fame” when he took a ride in a small car with the music legend. In 1973, Jeff Schiff was the biggest Deadhead in his high school. Jeff’s encounter with Garcia himself is a story Jeff didn’t tell until years later … mainly because he figured no one would ever believe him. 

“The Show” keeps adding NPR stations (if you’re in L.A., you can hear it on KPCC), but per the marvels of podcasts, you have access to hundreds of past shows by going here.

Any fans of “The Story” out there?