Audacious with Chion Wolf
Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood. Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we're often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human. For more: ctpublic.org/audacious
Episodes
What happens when a Brooklyn woman who identifies as queer, liberal, vegan, and an atheist donates her kidney to a conservative Christian man from Virginia?
Kerry Kennedy and Joey Shervey tell the story of what it looks like when compassion outvotes everything else. Their transplant crossed party lines and personal beliefs to create an unexpected friendship.
Then, Lindsay Vigue describes how a small flyer on the wall of a diner led...
When does creation become prayer? And when does prayer become protest?
Artist and poet Zulynette talks about her new book, Becoming a Soft Woman with a Machete. It's equal parts gospel, therapy session, and roast.
From laughter to liberation, explore how art can be both sanctuary and sword.
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Have you ever seen Reborn Babies?
They’re these hyper-realistic-looking dolls that are collected for their extraordinary artistic accuracy… And they’re also used therapeutically for people who suffer from anxiety and depression.
Hear from a woman who uses them for just that reason. Plus, meet a painter who makes them look so real, a researcher on the Reborn community and culture, and a photographer who made these...
It’s 2 a.m.; the phone rings. The caller ID says Stockholm, Sweden. The voice on the other end of the line says, “Congratulations! You’ve just been awarded a Nobel Prize!”
What goes through your mind in a moment like that?
Meet two people who received that life-altering call. Discover not only the incredible doors it opened for them, but the unexpected challenges that came with such a prestigious honor.
This...
DING DONG!
Crash headfirst into the world of singing telegrams: bizarre, moving, and absolutely unforgettable.
You’ll meet Joy Brooker, whose TikTok serenades bring millions to tears and laughter; Jay Bragg, who blends hospice care and honky-tonk into acoustic telegrams; and Paul Mordoff, a children’s entertainer who joins us on a bench by a lake in a tutu-clad gorilla costume.
At the end, Chion puts it all ...
At The Big E, a fair becomes a mirror.
Wander with the Audacious crew through 175 acres of wonder and delight to meet the people who bring it to life! From a Lost & Found sage, to a fairy from the Florence Griswold Museum, to a hot tub ace, to Amber, the bathroom attendant/joy DJ.
President & CEO Gene Cassidy shares the soul of the Exposition, then we follow our heads, hearts, and (especially) stomachs through cream puffs, ...
What happens when adults do “Show and Tell” at a brewery?
In this third live installment, recorded at Willimantic Brewing Company, names are drawn from a vase and strangers step up with objects that carry big stories: a couch cushion, a WWII code talker radio, a NeXT computer by Steve Jobs, a ravioli cutter, a shofar, even a hand grenade.
The results are hilarious, heartfelt, and unforgettable, proving once again that t...
What makes your jaw drop? A celestial event? A powerful piece of music?
In this episode, explore awe in its many forms, from a total solar eclipse to the psychology of wonder.
Psychologist Dacher Keltner breaks down the science of awe, cellist Yumi Kendall shares how music transports us, and Audacious listeners share their most treasured moments of awe.
This episode originally aired on March 14, 2025.
GUES...
Ever look at a wedge of cheddar and think, “Tell me my destiny”? No? Well, it’s time.
Dive into the delicious world of food-based fortune telling with Jennifer Billock, a cheese oracle; Sarah Napoli, a witch who lets onions predict your romantic future; and Rebecca Zaretzky, a tea-leaf reader who sees more than just caffeine in your cup.
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Marfan syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects the body’s connective tissue, sometimes in ways that are life-threatening, and often life-changing. Meet three people whose stories reveal the risks, resilience, and even humor of living with Marfan.
Dr. John Elefteriades, one of the world’s leading aortic surgeons, explains how new AI tools could revolutionize diagnosis. British engineer Tal Golesworthy rec...
Mascots: They’re furry, funny, and sometimes mischievous. But what's actually going on in there?
Tom Burgoyne shares what it’s been like to embody the Phillie Phanatic for over three decades.
Mikaela Higgins reveals how her company became a giant in the world of mascot-makers, designing icons from Ronald McDonald to the Energizer Bunny.
And hear how one “yes“ changed the life of Conor Geary, whos...
What’s in a name?
For me, “Audacious” was the perfect fit for a show about bold conversations, but I’m not the only one drawn to it. Meet three creators who also built their work around that powerful word.
Dr. Jody Jahn hosts The Audacious Year, helping high-achieving women rebuild their self-image from the inside out. Audley Stephenson’s The Audacious Living Podcast shares lessons on resil...
Jeffrey Marsh is back on Audacious, four years after their interview with Chion Wolf cracked open a new kind of conversation about dignity, identity, and radical love.
In this deeply personal follow-up, Jeffrey opens up about self-trust, forgiveness, the spiritual stakes of being visibly nonbinary in America, and why vulnerability is the real magic. Plus, how to keep your heart intact in a time of backlash and burnout.
...
We’ve all imagined holding a winning lottery ticket, but what happens next?
Hear from a man known as The Lottery Lawyer, who shares the most common mistakes people make when trying to claim their winnings.
Plus, a man who scored a $28 million Powerball jackpot at just 21 years old reveals what life was like after the win—the highs, the surprises, and some challenges you might not expect.
What do you want your funeral to look like?
For Bill Edgar, it’s about crashing someone else’s - with their permission - to reveal secrets they didn’t dare share while alive.
For Dr. Matt Morgan, it meant holding his own living funeral in the mountains with his closest friends.
And for Ghanaian artist Jacob Ashong, it’s about crafting fantasy coffins shaped like cars, animals, and anything else that captures...
What would you do if someone’s life suddenly depended on you?
Meet four everyday people who stepped into crisis and saved a life.
A 9-year-old girl calls 911 when her father collapses. A teen athlete performs CPR on a rival player. A librarian administers Narcan to a woman outside the library. A teacher stops the bleeding, and later wrestles with his need to be called a hero.
Resources:
Glynn Washington, the voice behind Snap Judgment, grew up in a white supremacist doomsday cult.
In this episode, Glynn opens up about what that did to his worldview, and how walking away from it all eventually led him to storytelling.
It’s a conversation about survival, identity, and the magic of stories that refuse to offer any easy endings.
Suggested episode:
Not all acts of courage make headlines. Sometimes, being brave means doing something small, but meaningful.
We’re talking about the quiet, low-key moments of bravery that people carry with them for years: saying yes, saying no, starting over, or simply showing up.
Listeners and past guests share their stories of everyday courage, from snapping turtles to stolen cars to personal reinvention.
Poet and philosopher David Whyte re...
What do bread clips, fire alarms, and umbrella covers have in common? Most people toss them, but not our guests.
Diana Mendoza has spent nearly 20 years collecting bread clips and helps moderate a global research community dedicated to their study. Tim Zhang, a recent high school grad, has over 400 fire alarms and a booming YouTube channel. And on a small island in Maine, Nancy 3. Hoffman runs the world’s only Umbrella Cover ...
Hey, kids! Did you know there are grown ups who are just as obsessed with Disney as you?
There's an adult out there who has full-sleeve tattoos of Disney characters, another who’s spent tens of thousands of dollars on merch, and one guy even set a world record for visiting Disneyland for almost 3,000 days in a row!
Those are just some of the Disney adults you’ll meet on today’s show.
This episode originally aired ...
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