In honor of Hanukkah, we offer three tales of "Jews Loving Christmas." Arthur Magida spins a snow-globe tale of olde New York; Ana Goldseker yearns for a Christmas tree; and Linda Perlstein offers a behind-the-scenes look at life as an Elf.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com

This week on the podcast, we offer "A Little Christmas Chaos" -- because if the holidays go exactly as planned, there are no good stories! Therese Lynch starts us off with a tale about her crazy family, the curse that befell them one Christmas, and the miracle of Wedgie the parakeet. Prescott Gaylord follows with a heartwarming story about a boy and a videocamera (and the war between them). And former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon recalls a "warm and mushy" Christmas Eve.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com.

What's better than one disaffected young man pretending to be Santa to make the world -- or at least, the mall -- a more wonderful place? Two. This week on the podcast, A Tale of Two Santas, one from Jim Ventosa and one from Sean Hannigan.

You'll never look at the guy in the red suit the same again. Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com.

This week on the podcast, "A Southern Family Yarn" from writer Dudley Clendinin, in which past, present, and future merge in a dreamy holiday tale. This story was told in 2009; Clendinin died in 2012 from Lou Gehrig's disease.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com

This week on the podcast, we laugh at -- er....with -- three Silly Boys with three very different silly tales. Heath Harrison, best Water Boy ever, tastes forbidden honey. Raj Konar plays with fire. And Dave Reichley gives Donald Duck a golden shower.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com.

In honor of Thanksgiving, this week The Stoop goes "Off the Menu," with three stories of unexpected dining adventures. Amy Cohen plays host to family members whose sandwiches weren't so ... fresh. Cynthia Shea shows up to cater ... without some key ingredients. And Manil Suri cooks a fancy feast for his family ... and survives to tell the tale. Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com.

Do we choose our theme song ... or does it choose us? This week on the podcast, Rahne Alexander reveals her secrets about Purple Rain. Steve Haddad and his mother bond over You Can't Always Get What You Want. And Charisse Nichols channels Michael McDonald.

Learn more about the Stoop at StoopStorytelling.com.

This week on the podcast, three very different tales of Ladies in Love. Adriana Lecuona finds love with a fellow "loser." Allison Brown Jackson woos with a secret weapon: scrapbooking. And Sheri Venema tells a true tale of reluctant cougar-dom.

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at www.stoopstorytelling.com.

In honor of Halloween, three true tales that will scare the pants off ya! Kevin Farmer shares a story about a knife with staying power. Sujata Massey gets haunted through and through. And Peter R has a pirate tale that will make you go aaargh!

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com.

Jessica Myles Henkin and Laura Wexler share stories of people trying their best to take care of others. 

Caroline Tufts has a ritual she does every night before she goes to her job as a forensic nurse. Jim Karantonis is a psychiatric technician; it's the Vietnam War, and his charges decide to have a game of baseball. Cheryl Conners is a nurse, and recalls a patient whose story can't quite be explained by modern medicine.

The song at the end of this episode is "More Fool Me" by Genesis.

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com.  

There, and back again if you're lucky 

Laura Wexler and Jessica Myles Henkin share stories of vacationers going rogue. 

Michael Auerbach gets himself a free ride. Chris Yeiser has a bit too much fun on his trip to the Netherlands to procure banned goods. Ramsey Mihavetz explores her wild side with a friend and an unsuspecting asparagus farmer. 

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com.

Jessica Myles Henkin and Laura Wexler share stories from the Stoop about people whose bodies are giving them a lot of trouble. 

Hilary Hansen has as many problems with her teeth as she has teeth. Phil Meeder and his wife need to procure a kidney. Rosemary Raun loses her voice, and it takes a doctor who's not great at his job for her to get it back. 

The song at the end of the episode is "Sick Love" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com.

Jessica Myles Henkin and Laura Wexler share stories from two pinup-loving raconteurs. 

Mark Thistle becomes the neighborhood porn librarian. Stacy Barich's parents are at times unnervingly shameless about sex. 

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com. 

It's a family affair...

Laura Wexler and Jessica Myles-Henkin share their favorite tales from the Stoop about families with skeletons in the closet - and what happens when they come out.

Steve Luxenburg's mother can no longer keep the enormous secret she's kept for decades. It turns out that Jen Mendelsohn has a bigger family than she thought she did.  

The song at the end of this episode is "Time Has Told Me" by Nick Drake. 

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com. 

Laura Wexler and Jessica Myles-Henkin are back for a fifth season of tales from the Stoop Storytelling Series in Baltimore, Maryland. This week, storytellers face off - or come to terms with - their foes.  

Shelley Blake-Plock has a blanket-wearing, Billy Joel-loving bully who makes his life hell. Laurel Clark's enemy is way too close for comfort. 

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at www.stoopstorytelling.com.

Laura Wexler and Jessica Myles-Henkin share stories from the Stoop about home - making it, losing it and leaving it. 

Nancy Murray finds home and family after she loses the only home she ever really had. Joe Challmes' apartment becomes a home for lost boys. Adote Akwei can't go back to his native Togo, but he's come to love his new home in the U.S. (in spite of the absurdity of American football). 

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com.

Jessica Myles Henkin and Laura Wexler share stories from the Stoop Storytelling Series in Baltimore about people trying to figure it all out through faith (or lost faith). 

SB Morgaine undergoes an exorcism that makes her more gay. Baynard Woods goes on a mission for truth and along the way finds a smart stripper girlfriend and a group of elderly Zen monks. 

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com.  

Jessica Henkin and Laura Wexler share stories about adoptive parents and their kids live from the Stoop Storytelling Series in Baltimore. 

Jim Mancini and his wife go across the globe to meet their daughter for the first time. Kevin Darrow Brown becomes a father to children who can't always stay with him. Kelly Rudis goes in search of her birth story and can't get enough - she becomes a midwife. 

Music at the end of this episode came from Dubb Nubb. 

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com

Laura Wexler and Jessican Henkin share stories about artists taking their work about as far as it can go. 

Abe Burickson wonders if it's possible to create a work of art for just one person and kidnaps his friend in the process. Chrissy Ferrara starts a love affair with Starbucks. Kim Yates takes her childhood obsession with monster paraphernalia to a new level after her father's death. 

Music at the end of this episode came from Sir Deja Doog. You can find his work at sirdejadoog.bandcamp.com. 

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com.

Jessica Henkin and Laura Wexler share stories from the Stoop about lapsed Catholics and their sins from the past. 

Mide Akinsade plays a trick on his friend that backfires. Mary Cosimano sneaks into her school gym for illicit trampolining. Barbara DeCesare's dad is forced to face approaching old age when he gets an accidental taste of muffins with a special ingredient. 

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com.

I'll never bee.... 

Laura Wexler and Jessica Henkin share some fauna stories from Baltimore, MD's Stoop Storytelling series.

Kristi Birch becomes her cat's psychiatrist. Chick Ochlech invents a new way of fishing. Mike McClure plays matchmaker for elephants.

Learn more about the Stoop at stoopstorytelling.com.

Cringes abound when Laura Wexler and Jessica Henkin dip into the Stoop Storytelling series archives for some of the most beautifully awkward stories of the series. 

Eric Leikus takes a class on minority relations. Matt Hayat teaches some fighting words. Joe Wall sleepwalks at summer camp.

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com.

Maybe some of those who travel are lost. 

Laura Wexler and Jessica Henkin share their stories of foreign travels from Baltimore's Stoop Storytelling Series.

Homayra Ziad visits Jerusalem's Western Wall as a feminist Muslim, Charlie Wiener hunts down some Jewish soul food in Malaysia, and Kinobe survives a bumpy plane ride. 

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com.

As the thrill of June fades into the oppressive humidity of July, Laura Wexler and Jessica Henkin share stories about being stuck in the city for the summer from the Stoop Storytelling Series in Baltimore, MD. 

Susan Kim waits poolside for adult swim to be over. Michael Ziccardi's porch party falls apart. Larry Doyle weighs investing in A/C for his new home. 

Learn more about the Stoop at stoopstorytelling.com.

Click and Clack were nowhere to be found, so Jessica Henkin and Laura Wexler share their favorite Stoop stories about car difficulty, but without any quick fixes. 

Bridget Caviola feels stuck in a rut. Andrea Seabrook has some car troubles crossing the border. Marc Maurer tells of the blind leading the sighted in designing a car that everyone can drive.

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com