Tom Reads Your Story

In episode 183, from Esquire Magazine: Tom reads John Lennon's sour letter to Paul McCartney signaling the end of the Beatles breakup.

In episode 182, Tom reads us some interesting facts surrounding his favorite sit-com ever, Seinfeld.

Episode 181; Tom wishes his listeners a very Happy New Year, and looks forward to the year ahead.

Episode 180: This years Christmas special is short and sweet, with music from Bing Crosby, David Bowie, Stacey Kent, and Mel Torme, also a very special Christmas memory from writer and frequent contributor to TRYS, Buck Matthews.

Episode 179: Tom reminisces about the great Broadway musical The Will Rogers Follies, his role in it, and about the day the great American humorist and writer Will Rogers went flying in Alaska with his friend, the renowned aviator Wylie Post.

Episode 178: Tom's first interview on TRYS is with the '80s "Powerpop" group The GO, who talks about their beginnings, and the recent re-release of their EP.

In episode 177, Tom honors the late actor Matthew Perry, and talks a little about that "other" NBC comedy/drama he starred in, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Episode 176: Tom talks of the war happening in Israel, and reads from memes on both sides of the issue.

Episode 175: Tom has a short announcement regarding his current "Hiatus"...

Episode 174: Tom continues his read of the Get Pocket.com story Chaos at the Top of the World, by Joshua Hammer.

In episode 173 Tom reads from the beginning of Chaos at the Top of the World by Joshua Hammer (GetPocket.com), the real life story of a deadly expedition on Mt. Everest in 2019.

Episode 172: Tom reads from the Introduction of Why Sinatra Matters, by the late great NY Author, Newspaper man, and Novelist, Pete Hamill.

In episode 171, Tom reads from Science Writer/Paleontologist Kiley Black's great book The Last Days of the Dinosaurs, about the asteroid that ended their reign.

Episode 170: Tom honor's and celebrates the life and career of the legendary singer, Tony Bennett.

In episode 169 Tom reads Amanda Rantanen's short story Blood Brothers, about Stuart and his "fear of punishment".

Episode 168: Tom reads of our limited ability to visit our own solar system, but also reminds us of our continuing ability to detect radio signals from far-away galaxies.

In episode 167 Tom tells us all about the The Girl From Ipanema: the place, the song, the backstory, the songwriters, and the singers.

Episode 166: Tom notes his favorite Beatle songs...and this first part is from the beginning of their great catalogue. (NOTE: You must have Spotify Premium to hear the entire song, otherwise only a 30 second snippet will be heard.)

In episode 165 Tom tells the story of the iconic, ground breaking television writer, producer, and Host of the Twilight Zone; Rod Serling.

Episode 164: After a long trip down the Youtube rabbit hole, Tom talks about how A CHORUS LINE has not lost it's panache, energy, and plain old emotional wallop.

In episode 163, Tom reads about a side of Frank Sinatra few people heard little about from the usual sources until after his death in 1998: his commitment to charitable giving throughout his long career.

In episode 162, Tom honors the undisputed Queen of Rock 'n Roll, Tina Turner, and tells of his unforgettable experience of seeing her LIVE. Also, a recent Washington Post article recalling her humble beginnings, and her nightmarish abusive relationship with then husband Ike Turner.

Episode 161: WELCOME TO SEASON 4! Tom plays some of his finer recordings, made for either fun or for a client, that helps us understand what inspired him to create his own Spoken Word podcast.

In episode 160, Tom reads a Facebook post from a regular contributor, Steven Fehr. After viewing All's Quiet on the Western Front, it inspired this story containing recent information about his great uncle James, who made the ultimate sacrifice on a World War 1 battlefield.

Episode 159: Tom "goes off" on Gordon Lightfoot, dreams, and getting over a hay-fever type cold.

Episode 158: in honor of his recent passing, Tom-thru words and music-honors the great singer, actor, and social activist, Harry Belafonte.

Episode 157: Tom replays one of his favorites, a tribute to a true New York original, journalist Pete Hamill. This is from August 2020.

Episode 156: Tom reads another romantic short story from the website Reedsy.com. It's called The Plight of Chickens, written by the one and only Lola LaForge.

In episode 155 Tom ads to his collection of Carl Sagan recordings by reading another quote by the late Astronomer. This new third one is called Humility.

Episode 154: Tom tests out the new Audio improvements for the podcast with readings from two Canadian artists, singer/songwriter Jann Arden and Author/Dog Trainer Lorna Olitch.

Episode 153: Tom reads from an article in Texas Monthly that delves deeper into Jack Ruby, one of the darkest figures in the tragic world of the Kennedy assassination.

In episode 152 Tom mentions the recent Oscar telecast only to be reminded of Hattie McDaniel's long and painful road through poverty and the Hollywood racism of the time, that eventually led to an Oscar for playing Mammy in Gone With the Wind.

Episode 151: Thanks to Cousteau.org, Tom reminds us of the great work of the Oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau and the world-wide journeys with his mighty ship, the Calypso.

In episode 150, Tom recalls his interest in space with related written pieces he recorded in previous years, and also with some space related poetry he recently found online.

Episode 149:  Through words and music provided by Wikipedia, Aaron Neville, and the great Randy Newman song Louisiana 1927, Tom learns of the Great Flood in the south and all of the social and political changes that happened because of it.

In episode 148 Tom reads of the devastation and first hand experiences of survivors and first responders of the recent Syria/Turkey earthquake.  Though help has been seemingly slow to come, there are signs of help coming from several countries and organizations.

Episode 147: Tom reads the Jack Kimball short story, A Table for Two at a Cafe.  A slice-of-life look at a couple in a restaurant at the moment of a break up.  Tom adds piano music and crowd ambiance to give the story that "overheard in a restaurant" feeling.

In episode 146 Tom very surprisingly, at least to himself, lets us in on the real meanings of the lyrics of one of the Beatles greatest songs, thanks to an article from Alex Markham of the Riff-Medium.com.

(NOTE: This episode contains Adult references and language.  Listener discretion is advised.)

Episode 145: An Instant Replay from Feb. 2022, An Homage to the Stooges...

"In episode 111, thanks to a FB post recalling the 47th anniversary of Moe Howard's death, Tom celebrates thru spoken word and song, America's silliest yet most beloved comedy trio, The Three Stooges."

Episode 144: Tom reads a humorous short story that reminds us of the many awkward conversations and bizarre observations one is so often thrust into while shopping at a big box store.

In episode 143 Tom reads an article from Pocket.com about the thwarted plot by right wing extremists to create an insurrection at FDR's inauguration ceremony on March 4, 1933.

Episode 142: Tom chats with us for a  few minutes about possible changes for Tom Reads Your Story in 2023.

In episode 141 Tom holds the third annual Christmas party with staff and friends.  Included are recorded songs from those he has had connection with in past years.  He dedicates this episode to all performing artists, struggling or not...MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US AT TOM READS YOUR STORY...WE'LL RETURN ON JANUARY 4TH, SO JOIN US!

Episode 140: Tom's a dog lover, so today we'll be hearing some letters that dogs took the time to write us, from various internet posts.  (NOTE: THE THIRD ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY IS NEXT WEEK!!)

In episode 139 Tom poses a few questions about that incredible music we so reverently and lovingly refer to as Jazz.

Episode 138: This Thanksgiving Tom honors Chef, Restaurateur, and Philanthropist José Andrés.  His organization, World Central Kitchen, has delivered his food creations to those facing starvation, war, disasters, and other challenges across the world.

In episode 137 Tom remembers and reads the speech made by President John F. Kennedy at Rice University on Sept. 12, 1962, challenging America to send a man to the Moon within 10 years.

Episode 136: Tom brings up New York's noticeably increasing rat problem and what's being done about it, with an article from AM New York.

Episode 135: Tom replays an episode from 2021.  A handful of young boys is investigating an old house with a strange feline resident.  A short story by Steve Vernon known as Cat Call.

Episode 134: Why do science and religion clash about life after death?  To shed some light on the subject, Tom reads an article by Kristen French in Nautil.us which asks the age old questions about the NDE (the Near Death experience).