Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People

This week’s caller joined Gethard at 10:30 on a Friday night to talk about wrestling and her love of a New Jersey ska band, but the conversation quickly turned into something else entirely. We hear about her tugboat captain husband (who happens to have Geth’s secret dream job), her own work representing our most vulnerable population, and the utterly baffling hobby that’s taken over her home. Somehow, this one-hour cal...

In another installment of our unofficial “The Young People Are Alright” series, a 19-year-old entrepreneur calls in to talk about hustle culture, mental health, and the lessons he’s learning from his first relationship. He’s thoughtful, ambitious, and asking big questions about what it means to grow up in a world where the American Dream feels increasingly out of reach and the future is anything but certain.

This week’s caller is a mom of two young boys doing her best to face life head-on. Her oldest son is autistic and recently diagnosed with depression. She talks with Gethard about parenting a neurodivergent child, advocating in a world that doesn’t always get it, and staying grounded through it all with warmth, humor, and zero B.S.

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This week’s caller is a pediatric nurse with a newborn at home, and she’s learning in real time how her job is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to new mom anxiety. She and Geth talk about sleepless nights, the emotional toll of pediatric care, and why it’s hard to turn off worst-case-scenario thinking when you’ve seen it all firsthand. Plus, a short but sweet cameo from her husband. 

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This week’s caller is a medieval recreationist who sews their own centuries-old clothing and has an overactive bladder. And that’s just scratching the surface. And that’s just scratching the surface. From homemade centuries-old clothing to body stuff to one wild reveal with two minutes left, this episode is a non-stop ride through one person’s delightfully specific world.

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Good morning! For reasons no one can quite explain, Beautiful/Anonymous has a long and proud tradition of attracting band directors, and this week’s caller keeps the streak alive. She and Gethard talk about everything from what makes trombonists so goofy to figuring out which woodwinds are the biggest divas. Oh, and also: the time she found out her long-term partner was sneaking around on a foot fetish website.

It’s 9 pm on a Friday, and the vibes are loose. This week’s caller is a former teacher turned novelist-in-progress who’s found fulfillment in writing, volunteering, and caring for the true love of her life: an elderly, disabled bearded dragon named Charlie. Sure, she and Gethard also talk about volunteer paleontology, dating with autism, and how Geth ties into her broken ankle, but at the end of the day, this is a call...

A new master’s degree, a recent family death, and...13 secret second cousins? This week’s caller is processing a wild year of grief, discovery, and chaotic family history, including one grandma-sized scandal and a mom who always kept things interesting.

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A strict religious upbringing, an older husband, and an open marriage she never expected. This week’s caller talks with Gethard about how she got there and how she’s finally building a life that actually feels like hers.

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A 911 dispatcher calls in to walk Gethard through the ins and outs of emergency dispatch. From how calls get prioritized, to the systems that keep everything moving, there’s a lot more happening behind the scenes than people realize. It’s a fascinating look at a job most of us only think about in a crisis.

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This week’s caller became a U.S. citizen hours before the call, so naturally, she gives Gethard an impromptu citizenship test. They cover life as a Canadian transplant in the South, share their love for ‘80s wrestling, and reflect on what it really means to be an American. She also hints at a near-kidnapping story, but you’ll have to head to beautifulanonymous.com to hear that.

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From Neptune to everywhere and back again. Our caller is in love, looking for joy, and figuring it out along the way. This one’s silly, heartfelt, and a little all over the place, just the way we like it. 

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Gethard is finally taking a well-earned, long-overdue vacation. But we’re not leaving you hanging. Instead, we brought in a past caller/frenemy of the show who knows exactly what makes a great Beautiful/Anonymous call.

If you’ve been around for a while, you know Parade Girl as the caller who somehow cracked our phone system and sparked a whole saga. This week, she ends up chatting with a caller who shares ...

On the way to a hockey game where they're being honored for their non-profit work, this week’s caller explains the tension it’s caused with their day job in military behavioral health. They talk with Gethard about finding purpose, joy, and free tickets to cool stuff.

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She might not have a background in politics, but this caller is thinking about running for office. She and Gethard talk about what it means to feel called to lead, why the current political climate pushed her to consider a campaign, and how terrifying–and thrilling–it is to start from scratch. This one might just light a fire under you, no matter what you believe in.

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A death doula in training talks with Gethard about being a newbie in her field, why she thinks death should be joyful, and how planning your funeral might be the kindest thing you can do for your loved ones.

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A brand new sommelier (that’s a wine expert for the less fancy) needs some help figuring out what her next move should be. She and Gethard get real nerdy about ancient wine-making techniques, and then, as is often the case, the conversation takes a more serious turn when our caller opens up about a tough situation with a family member.

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A long-time listener, first-time caller opens up about finding belonging in an unexpected place: a religious cult she joined in college. She and Gethard discuss the appeal of tight-knit communities, the difficulty of leaving controlling environments, and the surprising role a flash mob played in her story.

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Sharing a new show from our friends at Higher Ground. On IMO, Michelle and her big brother Craig Robinson bring their candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. Each week, they’re joined by a guest to tackle real questions from real folks just like you offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and plenty of laughs. Topics range from ...