Big & Salty

When Chris and Bobby learn they’ll have to leave their cottage in the Byrdcliffe Art Colony in Woodstock, they decide to pack up and drive cross country to help Chris’’ mom, Lyn, move out of her home of 53 years. It’s a challenging transition. Like many people, Lyn isn’t ready to leave. If they could catch her elusive, possibly imaginary cat, Chris and Bobby are pretty sure they could make the move happen. Produced by Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org Graphics by Cathy James and Anni Poppen Music by Fred Cassidy

I was performing in a drag show at a small cabaret theater in the Mt. Washington neighborhood of Los Angeles. After every show I would go across the street to the Casbah, a seedy bar. One night, a mysterious woman seated at the bar accuses me of something I didn’t do, our strange and powerful encounter rattled me. Produced by Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org Graphics by Cathy James and Anni Poppen Music by Fred Cassidy

Winter in the Swiss Alps. I was nineteen years old and I rode the ski lift to the top. While attempting to snow plow, I realized several things: I didn’t know how to ski,, I was not dressed for the occasion and, oh, look, a European ski team was racing downhill headed directly toward me. Produced by Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org Engineer extraordinaire Ricardo Gutiierrez Graphics by Cathy James and Anni Poppen Music by Fred Cassidy

Late one night, Chris wandered into Dick’s in the East Village, a chill neighborhood gay bar. An encounter with a stranger leads to an intimate and explosive outcome. Produced by Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org Graphics by Cathy James and Anni Poppen Music by Fred Cassidy

I was about to turn 35 and I wanted to do something to commemorate the terror of adulthood. I decided to go to Magic Mountain Amusement Park to experience some scary rides. Four of my friends joined me and after spending the day on rollercoasters, one of them said, “it’s time for The Devil Dive,” where you’re hoisted in the air and then dropped. Would I do it? And if so, would my friends and I survive… Recorded before a live audience at the Morton Memorial Library in Rhinecliff, NY Produced by Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org & Chris Wells Graphics by Cathy James and Anni Poppen Music by Fred Cassidy

I’m a working actor, living in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. I’ve driven my car into the ground so now I’ve got an old Toyota Corolla from Rent a Wreck. When a friend invites me to a bridal shower with a Bond Girl theme, I decide to create my own character and to dress up. Heading out to Santa Monica Canyon, I’m in full, glorious drag, but will the old Corolla make it? Produced by Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org and Chris Wells Graphics by Cathy James and Anni Poppen Music by Fred Cassidy

Welcome to Big & Salty, a podcast of stories by me, Chris Wells, told before a live audience. Many of the stories I’ll be sharing were written for The Secret City, a secular church of art I founded in New York City in 2007. The first season will be 12 episodes with a new episode every two weeks. Graphic: Cathy James and Anni Poppen School just got out for the summer. I'm a gay teenager growing up in the Mojave desert when two friends invite me to try out for the musical over at the Palmdale Cultural Center. What song will I sing? Will I be asked to dance? And what's up with all the strange characters attracted to community theater? Recorded before a live audience at Morton Memorial Library in Rhinecliff, New York Produced by Chris Wells and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org Graphics by Cathy James and Anni Poppen Music by Fred Cassidy