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Long Story Short

Long Story Short

By Beth LaMontagne Hall

Stories about heartache, awkward moments and discovering who we are, taken from recordings of live performances at the storytelling series Long Story Short at 3S Artspace.

For over five years, Beth LaMontagne Hall has hosted the series featuring stories from professional writers, performers, and people who have no public speaking experience at all. The stories may be unpolished, but they are always honest. Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking (usually a little of both) Long Story Short aims to bring stories from average people to the stage in hopes of making the world a little closer.
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Currently playing episode

Disaster - Episode 2

Long Story ShortNov 02, 2020

00:00
31:40
Healing Within Us with Imani Quinn - Episode 24
Feb 21, 202220:33
Finding Love - Episode 23

Finding Love - Episode 23

Just in time for Valentine's Day, an episode all about finding love and falling in love. Both of these stories discuss unlikely paths to finding love, with lots of laughs along the way.

The first story is from Rachel Forrest, a writer and food critic with a killer sense of humor, especially when it comes to her own life. Here she tells a touching story of loving someone and letting them go, and if they really do return. This story is from the March 2016 show Past Lives.

The second story is from Erin Laplante, who isn’t one to hold back when it comes to observation about her life and the people she’s dated, or tried to date, or that tried to date her. In this story, told at the June 2018 show, Changes, you’ll get a cathartic release and a good laugh from Erin’s dating adventures.

Feb 07, 202233:21
Should Have Known Better - Episode 22
Jan 24, 202223:45
Star Signs with Ellen Bowles - Episode 21

Star Signs with Ellen Bowles - Episode 21

As we enter a new year, it is a perfect time to look inward, look to the year ahead, and consider our purpose in the world. It's also a perfect time to share this interview with Ellen Bowles, an artist, astrology and Tarot reader, and ancestral healer from Los Angeles, CA.

In this interview with former Long Story Short intern Julia Christian, Ellen discusses the difference between pop culture astrology and true astrology work, how understanding the energy of the universe can give us insight into ourselves, and the importance of representation in astrology and spiritualism.

Ellen Bowles, an artist, astrology and Tarot reader, and ancestral healer from Los Angeles, CA. Ellen’s life’s work stemmed from her creativity in illustration, creative direction, and fashion. Her spiritual practice is still deeply intertwined within her art, as her subject matter is inspired by goddesses and divine deities. Ellen's practice contains the use of modalities such as candle magic, ancestral healing, Tarot readings, moon magic, astrology, and much more, which she offers through individual readings and birth chart analysis sessions and monthly workshops she hosts on spiritual topics.

Ellen is the former co-host of The Woke Mystixpodcast, a space dedicated to spirituality, astrology, and magic from the perspective of two non-conforming women of color. She is also a writer and co-author of ASTROLOGY SOS: An Astrological Survival Guide to Life, published by Hardie Grant UK.

If you like our show, please subscribe, rate and review! You can also find us @longstoryshort3s on Instagram.

To learn more about Long Story Short and sign up for email alerts about upcoming live shows, go to https://longstoryshortpod.com/

Jan 10, 202225:41
Being Young - Episode 20

Being Young - Episode 20

Youth is wasted on the young, or so they say. This episode explores the way we see the world and the choices we make when we are young. 

The first story is from Dylan Haigh, the art director for Pete & Gerry's Organic Eggs, from the September 2019 show "Breaking All the Rules." We first hear Dylan talk about his many arrests as a teen the final arrest which made him reevaluate the path his life was taking.

The episode also features Erin Laplante, of Portland, Maine, who takes us on a hilarious tour of her younger years. Like so many teen girls, she pines for cute boys, yet just can't seem to nail the cool moves. This story was performed at the 2016 show "Past Lives."


Dec 13, 202131:13
Photo Story with Michael Cinquino - Ep. 19

Photo Story with Michael Cinquino - Ep. 19

We explore storytelling, photography and acting in this episode with Michael Cinquino, a photographer and trained actor who splits time between New York and Portsmouth, NH. Michael discusses how photographers help their subjects show their true selves, how he’s learning the craft of filmmaking, and how performing can reveal the true meaning of a piece.

You can check out Michael’s short film, “12 Frames” at https://www.sohocreativestudio.com/12frames

In this interview episode, Beth and Michael also talk about how storytelling is closely connected to the process of recovery and overcoming substance misuse. He shares his story of getting sober and how storytelling was instrumental in his personal recovery.

Upcoming Live Show in Portsmouth

If you like our show, please subscribe, rate and review! You can also find us @longstoryshort3s on Instagram. You can also get tickets to our next live show on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at 3S Artspace now! The show, Family Heirloom, features four storytellers talking about all things family and the objects we use to remember the ones we love. Tickets available here: https://www.3sarts.org/performances/performance/Long-Story-Short:-Family-Heirloom?performanceid=5329

Nov 22, 202147:17
Seasons Change - Episode 18
Nov 08, 202125:44
What Would You Do? - Episode 17
Oct 25, 202136:19
Dark Tales: Spooky Stories for Halloween - Episode 16

Dark Tales: Spooky Stories for Halloween - Episode 16

Who's ready for Halloween? This show features spooky tales told at Portsmouth Halloween Parade fundraisers held at 3S Artspace. If you haven’t been to Portsmouth, NH at Halloween time, it's worth the trip. The city goes all out with a community-run Halloween parade that nothing short of an impressive show of creativity and creepiness. Anyone can join the parade, which is probably wide it draws hundreds of participants, musicians and floats, and about 10 fold the number of spectators.

The first story on this episode is from Kristen Ringman, a fantastic horror and fantasy writer, who shares a story from her book I Stole You, Stories from the Fae, which was a Lambda Literary Finalist in LGBTQ Science fiction, fantasy and horror. This story is a mesmerizing tale about a woodland supernatural creature longing for human connection and the consequences that come from trying to seek it.

The next story we have is a story from Long Story Short advisory board member Mark Michael Adams with this "true" story about exploring an abandoned prison at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. This prison is a looming castle over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine, made famous for being one of the most fearsome military brigs in all of the armed services. Known as the Alcatraz of the East, legend has it that if anyone escaped, the Marine guarding that prisoner would have to serve the remainder of his sentence. The prison closed in 1974 and has since been empty--with plenty of local conjecture as to what secrets might be inside. Here, Mark talks about a night he and his friends dared enter the secure facility and the supernatural occurrences they witnessed there.

The Portsmouth Halloween Parade is a community-funded event that relies on donations. Please consider making a donation at https://www.portsmouthhalloweenparade.org/ or attending one of their spooky fundraisers:

Fri Oct 1 – Rock Show @ Press Room, 8pm

Thu Oct 21 – SCARY-oke @ Daniel Street Tavern (aka D Street), 9pm

Fri Oct 22 – Movie Night @ Liar’s Bench, 8pm

Sat Oct 23 – Pumpkin SMASH @ Portsmouth Farmer’s Market*, 8am – 1pm

Sun Oct 24 – Halloween Costume Paddle Contest @ Pierce Island, 11am – 12pm

Wed Oct 27 – Flatbread Community Night @ Flatbread Portsmouth, 3pm – 9pm

Thu Oct 28 – Undead Beat Night @ Book and Bar, 7pm

For the most up-to-date information, check their Facebook page.

For more information about Long Story Short and the live shows, go to https://longstoryshortpod.com.

Oct 11, 202131:17
Swipe Right - Episode 15
Sep 27, 202133:31
Close to You - Episode 14
Sep 13, 202140:00
We've Got Some Big News - What's Ahead for Long Story Short
Sep 01, 202103:14
What Could Go Wrong - Ep 13
Jun 16, 202130:06
Another Minisode! - June 2021
Jun 03, 202106:31
At Your Service - Ep. 12
May 18, 202138:06
Stories With Puppets: Interview With Pat Spalding - Ep. 11
May 03, 202150:00
Great Performances - Ep. 10
Apr 21, 202134:30
It's a Minisode! - April 2021

It's a Minisode! - April 2021

Want to know about storytelling events are happening in April? Beth's got a brief Northern New England round up in this inaugural minisode. The focus is our neck of the woods, Northern New England, but in the months ahead we plan to highlight more virtual events and in-person shows outside our region too.

If you have an event you'd like mentioned in May, go to https://www.longstoryshortpod.com/ contact page to send Beth the info.


Apr 09, 202105:58
What Makes a Story? w/ Stephanie Lazenby - Ep. 9
Apr 05, 202141:23
Fathers and Daughters - Episode 8
Mar 22, 202140:51
The Business of Storytelling - Episode 7
Mar 08, 202131:23
Uh-Oh with Paul Doncaster - Episode 6
Feb 25, 202121:15
Better Left Unsaid - Episode 5
Feb 08, 202136:14
Holidaze - Episode 4

Holidaze - Episode 4

It's that time of year! We bring you two holiday stories--one winter one summer--to get you in the spirit. We have stories from Amy Jane Larkin and Austin Sorrette about what happens when friends and family gather together, and Beth talks about what she misses most about getting together for the live shows.

As part of the season, please consider giving to those in need, whether it's to feed the body or the spirit.

3S Artspace: https://www.3sarts.org/support

Footprints Food Pantry: https://www.footprintsfoodpantry.org/

Cross Roads House: https://www.crossroadshouse.org/


Dec 10, 202032:34
Pink Pumpkin - Episode 3

Pink Pumpkin - Episode 3

One of the unique things about the Long Story Short live show is the Pink Pumpkin. During each show a volunteer from the audience is selected to come up on stage and tell a story based on that night's theme to open the second half. Not even the host knows what's going to happen! This episode features two stories told by Pink Pumpkin volunteers. One about a series of events launched from a wrong numbers and another about the memories we create as kids around the adults in our lives.

Nov 19, 202022:17
Disaster - Episode 2

Disaster - Episode 2

Some disasters are personal and some are more global. On the eve of the 2020 election, this episode explores two kinds of disasters through two styles of storytelling. Featuring Brian Gruhn and Cathy Wolff telling stories recorded live at the 3S Artspace theater in Portsmouth, NH.

Nov 02, 202031:40
The Way We Were - Episode 1

The Way We Were - Episode 1

It's been a long time coming. The long-running live storytelling series, Long Story Short, is now a podcast featuring true stories about love, disaster, and the most embarrassing moments of our lives. The first episode features Gail Knowles, who talks about falling off her motorcycle and falling in love, and Justin Kelcourse, who found himself in a dangerous situation in Paris with his girlfriend, a wheel a cheese, and a lot of regret he had not learned French in high school.

Oct 14, 202038:46