The Story Behind the Story Season 3 Episodes

Episode 1

A Little Dab'll Do Ya

Wed, May 24, 2023

As a child Eugene mastered magic. As a teenager Eugene mastered four languages, music and art. Each time Eugene succeeded his mother asked him "What's next Eugene?" This story has two stories and Eugene's mother has her own "What's next?" story that drives her to keep asking Eugene "What's next?" after each new accomplishment. Including when Eugene presented her with a $10,000,000 check from the success of his makeup sales, or when he became a best-selling author, or a reality TV star, or a successful real estate investor, or a social and political lightning rod, or when he became a musician who acquired more gold records than anyone in history, or a sex-symbol who married a Playboy bunny, or have his tongue insured for $1,000,000. Even now this little Jewish boy worth $300,000,000 is wondering "What's next?".

Episode 2

On Thin Branches

Wed, May 31, 2023

This story is about Tommy the tuba player. Not just any tuba player, but considered the best tuba player of the time. Tommy was a nice man. He won the lifetime PTA award and was the teacher every parent wanted their teenage to get. He played those eight notes for Bart Simpson and the four notes known as the Price Is Right Loser's theme. But, in 1975 he became the "bad guy" where he was expected to play "out on the thin branches" to scare us with only two notes with his tuba, repeated over and over. Tommy succeeded.

Episode 3

They Knew It When They Saw It

Wed, Jun 7, 2023

Madeline had her anxious client in the car a little after 3 pm. His audition was at four, but his meeting was at six and he was not happy. Madeline tried and tried to calm Jerry down telling him that the part was just for him. After the stage, silver screen and countless commercials where he kept hearing the same thing, he didn't want to hear it all over again from his manager. At the audition there were nine other actors ahead of Jerry and he really wanted to be going to the church where his meeting was held. When it was Jerry's turn there were two producers sitting in the seats and they introduced themselves. After some small conversation Jerry was asked if he really wanted to be here and Jerry said he had a meeting that he needed to get to. One of the producers, Bob, knew exactly what was going on in Jerry's mind because many years ago he too had taken the same pledge that Jerry had taken. Madeline was not pleased with how quickly he was done, but she got Jerry to the church with a couple minutes to spare. That night Jerry couldn't stop talking about how much fun he had at his Cub Scout meeting. But, just then the phone rang and the part was offered to Jerry because the producer wanted a boy who would rather be a Boy Scout than an actor in his upcoming television show to be titled ... eh, check out this episode to see what show.

Episode 4

The 100 Billion Dollar Bar

Wed, Jul 19, 2023

We meet Percy, a Raytheon supervisor in an engineering laboratory, trying to decide what type of snack to purchase on his way to work. Eventually deciding he wrapped the morsel in a paper napkin and put it in his pocket. Later that afternoon he reached into his pocket for his tasty pick-me-up only to find melted chocolatey goo. Percy was determined to resolve this issue and set off inventing an enormous 750 pound piece of equipment, which cost $52,000 and made popcorn. But, within a year Percy had the weight and size, but more importantly, the cost way down. And his invention would sell 30,000,000 units a year and generate over $100,000,000,000 in sales. We owe Percy a vote of gratitude for changing the way we cook. Or maybe just reheat.

Episode 5

He Was Not Inclined to Judge

Wed, Jun 21, 2023

Bill comes into the picture when he wants to talk to Harry about marrying his 20 year old daughter after he graduates from Stanford. The only problem is Harry puts Bill to a challenge that requires him to swallow a mouthful of Rocky Mountain oysters (or bull testicles). Hmmm, yummy ... or not. After Bill watched Harry removing the bull's testicles with an emasculator and Harry's daughter helping in the process he was beginning to think this was cruel and unusual punishment even though Harry explained the reasoning behind it. But, earlier in the day Bill saw the branding and de-horning processes, which didn't help clear his opinion. None of these processes could prepare Bill when he saw his future wife tugging on the bull's scrotum so that daddy could do his part with the emasculator. Thinking that the day couldn't get any weirder, Bill found out that he was wrong when he saw Harry pull an ice pick from his tool belt and harpoon a couple of testicles in the bucket that Harry's daughter was chucking them in to. Bill was not one to judge, but when Harry removed the roasted testicles from the open fire and pulled one off the pick with his teeth, Bill didn't know what to do. Other suitors had vomited, or turned and ran away, or one to Harry's delight fainted. Bill bit the bullet, or in this case, the testicle and began chewing, and chewing, and chewing. When Bill finally finished his yummy snack he received an enthusiastic "Well Done" from Harry's daughter. Harry showed his approval of Bill by extending a welcoming handshake and an invitation to come back to the Lazy B anytime. Bill had never passed, much less taken, a test like that, but it led to him proposing to Harry's daughter later that summer. This began a long journey where the couple would grow old together, make history together and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, Bill waited too long to propose and along came John who passed Harry's test, proposed and married Harry's daughter. Moving on to 1981 where Bill and Harry's daughter have their own families and Bill is pulled aside by another cowboy wanted to know if Bill's old girlfriend would be intimidated working in a room full of men. After Bill thought about his day on the Lazy B he replied that she was fair, decisive and no way intimidated by the presence of testosterone. With that knowledge the cowboy, President Ronald Reagan, nominated the first woman to the Supreme Court, a room full of old bulls, one of whom was Harry's daughter's old boyfriend, Bill. They grew old together in America's highest court.

Episode 6

An Unmistakable Sound

Wed, Jul 5, 2023

The year is 1966 and this story has several characters that brought us a yummy product. We start off with Bob who is at the end of the process. He is an advertising executive trying to come up with a name for the product that he has been slurping up. The product was part of an arrangement made by Uncle Johnny who ran an ice shop in the days before everyone had refrigerators. Uncle Johnny stayed open from 7 AM to 7 PM, which allowed the working people to stop by before or after work. But, those same people wanted Uncle Johnny to carry more than just ice in his shop. Uncle Johnny wanted to oblige his customers, but remembered hearing about Omar a couple hundred miles north and the problem he uncountered in trying to please his customers. Now Omar over time resolved his problem, packaged it in a neat container and brought it down to Uncle Johnny. When the two got together Uncle Johnny said he would take one of Omar's new machines and Uncle Johnny's people licensed the rights to Omar's new fandangled machine, but they didn't license the name of the machine or the product it made. And that brings us back to legendary ad man Bob who after slurping up Omar's new product that came out of Uncle Johnny's new machines came up with a legendary name for Uncle Johnny to put on his machines in each of his 7/11 stores.

Episode 7

The One Percenters

Wed, Jun 28, 2023

This is a story about John, the accomplished farmer, and Frank, an international businessman. One thing about these two men, they are both very rich. But, let us not forget about Richard who is one of the wealthiest lawyers in America. One evening these three men sat down with a few dozen other men to discuss the future of our country and the new tax code. Around this time the men drafted a manifesto that stated they would not pay taxes to an administration they thought was corrupt. Each man in the room signed the manifesto and then sent it off to the largest media companies in the country and went home to wait to see what happens. It didn't take long for the government came down hard on many of these one percenters by incarcerating them and/or their family members, taking their property and burning down their homes. Several members or their family members died either in captivity due to the very poor conditions and lack of food, or not long after. Those that survived never really recovered. But, these men, these one percenters didn't have to sign the manifesto. The were all wealthy. They could pay the additional tax. Yet it was the principle of taxation without representation that they objected to and that is why they signed our country's most important document.

Episode 8

Her Biggest Fan

Wed, Jan 11, 2023

Mike and Matt talk about the effects on Nichelle Nichols after a talk with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and her continued performance on Star Trek.

Episode 9

The Paint Salesman

Wed, Jun 14, 2023

Episode 10

An Orphan Hero

Wed, Jul 26, 2023

This is the story of a very special and very calm female who succeeded in passing numerous tests to determine her calm personality. After all of the tests were completed she became the first female to leave the Earth's atmosphere. She orbited the Earth four times and unfortunately her corpse orbited it another 2566 times. Yet she became a Soviet national hero and gave man a lot of data to prepare man for space travel. Laika grew up an orphan on the streets of Moscow and died alone in space.

Episode 11

Broadswords in a Pit

Sat, Aug 5, 2023

James, the Illinois State Auditor is furious at a newspaper editorial by a person named Rebecca. James finds out that Rebecca is actually a man and challenges the editorial author to a duel. But, he is reminded that the one challenged chooses the weapons and broadswords was selected. At the duel site the two men agree to talk about their differences, and both men live to fight another day. James who rose to the rank of major general in the Union army and his dueling opponent who promoted him to the high position because he was the President of the United States; and both deeply involved in the Civil War.

Episode 12

The Lady Calls the Shots

Wed, Aug 16, 2023

Here's a Wild West story about Frank and Phoebe. Both were really good with a gun. Frank Butler had his own show where he would shoot spinning plates, bottles and clay pigeons. Whereas Phoebe would shoot rabbit, squirrel and quail, also known as food for her family. But, Phoebe only shot them when they were moving. While performing a show in Cincinnati, Frank offered $100 to anyone in a friendly competition. The town pooled their money to match Frank's and sent five foot tall Phoebe in to square off against him. Round after round passed equally until the last one that Phoebe won. All Frank could do was to marry this sixteen year old and the two went on the road together. At one of the shows was the legendary Bill Cody in the audience who shortly after had Frank and Phoebe starring in his Wild West Show. Time passed and after 50 years of happy marriage Phoebe passed away. Frank became so distraught that he stopped eating and passed away 18 days later so that he could be with his beloved Phoebe.

Episode 13

On My Honor

Wed, Aug 9, 2023

Mike relates the story of Wilson, who plays professional baseball and has prospects to be in the major leagues, and David, who must keep his amateur sports status to be eligible for a college scholarship and stays at home on the farm. Matt and Mike discuss the ethical implications of the story in biblical terms.