Episode 72 - The Story Behind the Vince Berman Trio: A Memorial for Richard and Shawn

Episode 72: (11/24/2020)

• Episode 72 includes an interview with David Schwartz a composer and professor of sound recording and understanding music at Gulf Coast State College in Florida. Dave tells the story of the Vince Berman Trio and the tragic story of the band's last two years. 

• Index for songs played in this episode (in order) from the album R & D by the Vince Berman Trio: 

  • "Copy Paste" (Track 1) - 36:10

  • "Should Have" (Track 7) - 48:39

  • "Busy Going Dizzy" (Track 10) - 59:09

  • "Vague" (Track 3) - 1:26:59 played during the episode outro. 

• If you’d like to follow along with the songs mentioned in the show and hear them as we discuss them, hop over to Dave’s website and visit the “Vince Berman Trio” page where they can all be played in the audio player: www.dtschwartz.com 

• Thanks for listening everyone! 

Episode 71 - "A Tough Tussle" by Ambrose Bierce

Episode 71: (11/11/2020)

• "A Tough Tussle" written by Ambrose Bierce.

• Thank you to all veterans for your service to your country. 

• Recommended Books this episode:

  • "The Guns of August" - by Barbara Tuchman 

  • "The Black Count" - by Tom Reiss

  • "Hero of the Empire" - by Candice Millard

  • "Rubicon" - by Tom Holland

• "A Tough Tussle" starts at 7:40

• Thanks for listening! 

Episode 70 - Meandering Thoughts on Election Day with Chris Rampolla

Episode 70: (11/4/2020)

• Hello Listeners! Today's episode takes a bit of a different track. I sit down with Chris Rampolla and we discuss the state of the world and wander through our own thoughts on various topics from society, COVID life, politics, and the rise of fascism.

• If you listen for the stories and don't like my random discussions - feel free to skip this episode and stay tuned for some more of the usual story times later this month. 

• Check out Chris’ blog page HERE

• Books discussed on today’s show:

  • The Death of Democracy - by Benjamin Carter Hett

  • On Tyranny - Timothy Snyder

  • Our Malady - Timothy Snyder

  • The Road to Unfreedom - Timothy Snyder

  • They Thought They Were Free: The Germans 1933-1945 - Milton Mayer

  • Right-Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort - Chip Berlet and Matthew Lyons

  • Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland - Christopher Browning

• Thanks for listening! 

Episode 69 - 2020 Halloween Special "The Whisperer in Darkness" Part 3

Episode 69: (10/29/2020)

• Welcome, Listeners to the 2020 BSSH Halloween Special - Part III!

• This is part 3 of a 3-part series. If you missed the beginning of the story, please go back and check out episode 67! 

• When we left off in the last episode, Henry Akeley had grown more desperate and afraid of his situation, urging our narrator to give up his investigations. He persists in this belief until suddenly a letter arrives showing he has had a complete change of heart on the matter. In this letter he invites the narrator out to his house in the lonely Vermont wilderness to discuss the matter further. 

• A special thank you to Owen Swerkstrom (Hidden Oaks Podcast & Chunky Milk Productions) for his audio work on this episode!

• For a free read-along copy of the story on Project Gutenberg, click HERE

• Thank you for listening! I hope you enjoy! 

Episode 68 - 2020 Halloween Special "The Whisperer in Darkness" Part 2

Episode 68: (10/27/2020)

• Welcome, Listeners to the 2020 BSSH Halloween Special - Part II!

• This is part 2 of a 3-part series. If you missed the beginning of the story, please go back and check out episode 67! 

• When we left off in the last episode, our narrator had just begun corresponding with an intellectual recluse in the wild Vermont hills about strange sightings and evidence of otherworldly beings there. Creatures whose formerly benign aloofness, had now grown to more sinister-feeling. attention directed upon the men themselves. 

• A special thank you to Owen Swerkstrom (Hidden Oaks Podcast & Chunky Milk Productions) for his audio work on this episode!

• For a free read-along copy of the story on Project Gutenberg, click HERE

• Thank you for listening! I hope you enjoy! 

Episode 67 - 2020 Halloween Special "The Whisperer in Darkness" Part 1

Episode 67: (10/25/2020)

• Welcome, Listeners to the 2020 BSSH Halloween Special - Part I!

• This episode kicks off our 2020 Halloween feature presentation! We're sticking with Lovecraft this month, though this story is from later in Howard's career than the previous episode's tale.

• This story took Lovecraft longer to write than many of his other works. He toiled over it from February 24th to September 26th, 1930. The ideas behind it go back to at least 1927 when Lovecraft first visited Vermont. He loved the beauty of the state and its untouched wilderness so much that he felt compelled to write an essay entitled "Vermont - A First Impression". Whole passages of this work are incorporated into today's story.

• The setting of the country farmhouse is based on the abodes of two of his friends Vrest Orton and Arthur Goodenough. Lovecraft even included the discovery of Pluto into the story - something that was announced to the world one month after he began writing the story. It first appeared in Weird Tales Magazine in August 1931. 

• A special thank you to Owen Swerkstrom (Hidden Oaks Podcast & Chunky Milk Productions) for his audio work on this episode!

• For a free read-along copy of the story on Project Gutenberg, click HERE

• Thank you for listening. Enjoy! 

Episode 66 - "The Alchemist" by H.P. Lovecraft

Episode 66: (10/16/2020)

• “The Alchemist” by H.P. Lovecraft

• Lovecraft wrote this story when he was 18-years-old a in 1908. It’s an interesting little tale, different from a lot of his other works. I hope you enjoy!

• Stay tuned for Halloween Feature Presentations later this month!

• Thanks for listening everyone!

Episode 65 - "A Terrible Night" by Fitz-James O'Brien

Episode 65: (10/6/2020)

• “A Terrible Night” by Fitz-James O’Brien.

• Stay tuned for a special bonus after the credits.

• Thanks for listening everyone!

• Happy Belated International Podcast Day!

Episode 64 - "The Scarlet Plague" Part 6 - By Jack London

Episode 64: (08/29/2020)

• Part 6 of a 6-part series

  1. “The Scarlet Plague” by Jack London

     • Originally published in 1912 this story bears an eerie resemblance to recent times.

     • It is written 60 years in our future in a post-apocalyptic world and discusses a plague that nearly wiped out human civilization in 2013.

     • To follow along with the text, click HERE

     • Go back to episode 56 to hear part 1 of this story

  2. Thanks for listening everyone. Stay tuned for more stories coming soon!

  3. Thanks again to all my friends out east for showing me around and spending time with me.

  4. Stay home, listen to cool independent podcasts like this one, and Hidden Oaks and have a good night!

Joel, Jessie and Bob in the Rothrock State Forest, PA.

Bob at Ken’s secret climbing spot. I won’t tell you where it is. ;)

Episode 63 - Interview with Paula Overby

• Episode 63: (08/06/2020)

  • Interview with author and candidate for US senate in the state of MN - Paula Overby

    • For more information about Paula Overby or her campaign visit her website: HERE

    • Follow Paula on Twitter: HERE

    • Check out her Youtube channel: HERE

    • Find a copy of her book “The Transgender Myth: Through the Gender Looking Glass” by asking for it at your local bookstore, or on amazon HERE

  • Thanks for listening everyone

Episode 62 - Bob's interview on "The Grits with Collygreens" Podcast

Episode 62: (08/02/2020)

• Taking another short break from "The Scarlet Plague” by Jack London

• Today’s show features your host being interviewed on the show “The Grits with Collygreens”

  • “The Grits…” is available anywhere you listen to podcasts

    • Spreaker page: HERE

    • BookFace page: HERE

    • Twitter: @Collygreens1

• Thanks for listening everyone. Stay tuned for part six of “The Scarlet Plague” coming soon!

• Stay home, listen to cool independent podcasts like this one, and Hidden Oaks and have a good night!

Episode 61 - "The Scarlet Plague" Part 5 - by Jack London

Episode 61: (08/02/2020)

• Part 5 of a 6-part series

  1. “The Scarlet Plague” by Jack London

     • Originally published in 1912 this story bears an eerie resemblance to recent times.

     • It is written 60 years in our future in a post-apocalyptic world and discusses a plague that nearly wiped out human civilization in 2013.

     • To follow along with the text, click HERE

     • Go back to episode 56 to hear part 1 of this story

  2. Thanks for listening everyone. Stay tuned for part six coming soon!

  3. Stay home, listen to cool independent podcasts like this one, and Hidden Oaks and have a good night!

Episode 60 - "The Scarlet Plague" Part 4 - by Jack London

Episode 60: (08/02/2020)

• Part 4 of a 6-part series

  1. “The Scarlet Plague” by Jack London

     • Originally published in 1912 this story bears an eerie resemblance to recent times.

     • It is written 60 years in our future in a post-apocalyptic world and discusses a plague that nearly wiped out human civilization in 2013.

     • To follow along with the text, click HERE

     • Go back to episode 56 to hear part 1 of this story

  2. Thanks for listening everyone. Stay tuned for part five coming soon!

  3. Stay home, listen to cool independent podcasts like this one, and Hidden Oaks and have a good night!

Episode 59 - Special Dedication to Jeremie Ryckewaert

• Episode 59: (06/14/2020)

  • This episode is a special episode that we are inserting into the middle of our currently running series to honor a dear family member of mine who passed away. Jeremie Ryckewaert. He was an uncle and a good friend to me, and he will be greatly missed. His kindness to all, down-to-earth demeanor and his love for animals was unsurpassed by many. Love you Uncle Jer.

  • “At the Gate” by Myla Jo Closser will be the story told on this episode and dedicated to Jeremie and family.

  • To follow along with the text click HERE

  • To learn more about the life of Jeremie Ryckewaert, see his narrative obituary HERE

Jeremie and Bailey

Jeremie and Bailey

(Left to right, top to bottom: Julie, Jeremie, Luna and Bailey)

Episode 58 - "The Scarlet Plague" Part 3 - by Jack London

• Episode 58: (06/14/2020)

  • Part 3 of a 6-part series

    1. “The Scarlet Plague” by Jack London

       • Originally published in 1912 this story bears an eerie resemblance to recent times.

       • It is written 60 years in our future in a post-apocalyptic world and discusses a plague that nearly wiped out human civilization in 2013.

       • To follow along with the text, click HERE

       • Go back to episode 56 to hear part 1 of this story

    2. Thanks for listening everyone. Stay tuned for part four coming soon!

    3. Stay home, listen to cool independent podcasts like this one, and Hidden Oaks and have a good night!

  • For more information about the “Together Behind Four Walls” project mentioned in the introduction:

    • Facebook Page: HERE

    • Kickstarter page: HERE

    • Marie Curie Nurses info: HERE

    • Francis H. Powell website: HERE

Episode 57 - "The Scarlet Plague" Part 2 - by Jack London

• Episode 57: (06/14/2020)

  • Part 2 of a 6-part series

    1. “The Scarlet Plague” by Jack London

       • Originally published in 1912 this story bears an eerie resemblance to recent times.

       • It is written 60 years in our future in a post-apocalyptic world and discusses a plague that nearly wiped out human civilization in 2013.

       • To follow along with the text, click HERE

       • Go back to episode 56 to hear part 1 of this story

    2. Thanks for listening everyone. Stay tuned for part three coming soon!

    3. Stay home, listen to cool independent podcasts like this one, and Hidden Oaks and have a good night!

Episode 55 - "Hidden Oaks" Special Preview Part III

• Episode 55: (04/29/2020)

  • “Hidden Oaks” podcast special preview part III

  • Round table discussion with the creative minds behind the project.

  • Hidden Oaks podcast is set to debut May 6th, 2020 (next Wednesday), check out the Hidden Oaks website HERE

  • For more about Patrick W. Marsh, click HERE

  • For more from Owen Swerkstrom, click HERE

  • For more about David Schwartz, click HERE and HERE.

  • Thanks for listening everyone, and don’t forget to follow up with Hidden Oaks next week on Wednesday, May 6th!

Episode 54 - "Hidden Oaks" Sneak Preview Part II

• Episode 53: (04/15/2020)

  • Special sneak preview of the new upcoming podcast Hidden Oaks written by Patrick W. Marsh, Owen Swerkstrom and Robert Daun, with original music by David Schwartz, and read by…me!

  • For more information about Patrick W. Marsh, check him out HERE

  • For more information about David Schwartz, check him and his music out HERE

  • For more information on how to find Owen Swerkstrom in person - listen to the credits of the show, I tell you how there.

  • For more information about me, contact me at bobsshortstoryhour@gmail.com

  • Stay tuned next week for another sneak peak into Hidden Oaks with a sit-down discussion with the creative minds behind the project - coming out Wednesday, April 29th!

Episode 53 - Special Hidden Oaks Sneak Preview!

• Episode 53: (04/15/2020)

  • Special sneak preview of the new upcoming podcast Hidden Oaks written by Patrick W. Marsh, Owen Swerkstrom and Robert Daun, with original music by David Schwartz, and read by…me!

  • For more information about Patrick W. Marsh, check him out HERE

  • For more information about David Schwartz, check him and his music out HERE

  • For more information on how to call Owen Swerkstrom directly - listen to the credits of the show, I tell you how there.

  • For more information about me, contact me at bobsshortstoryhour@gmail.com

  • Stay tuned next week for another sneak peak into Hidden Oaks coming out Wednesday, April 22nd!