Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People

Chris Gethard

1 phone call. 1 hour. No names. No holds barred. Thats the premise behind Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People, hosted by comedian Chris Gethard (the Chris Gethard Show, Broad City, This American Life, and one of Time Outs 10 best comedians of 2015). Every week, Chris opens the phone line to one anonymous caller, and he cant hang up first, no matter what. From shocking confessions and family secrets to philosophical discussions and shameless self-promotion, anything can and will happen! Theme song by Shellshag. read less

Our Editor's Take

Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People is a storytelling podcast with a unique difference. On the podcast, people call in to share their deepest and sometimes darkest secrets. Callers discuss fetishes, unique lifestyles, and terrifying secrets without sharing their names.

Conversations fall across a broad spectrum. Discussion topics revolve around sex, lifestyle, loss, and love, with some comedy thrown in. The people brave enough to call the host are a wide age range. Listeners hear stories beginning from high school seniors to grandparents in their 60s. Their stories have a universality, even when they belong to niche groups.

Comedian Chris Gethard hosts Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People. Chris is an actor, writer, and stand-up comic with years of experience. He hosted the self-titled The Chris Gethard Show between 2011 and 2018. This podcast echoes a segment of his previous show, which had awkward phone calls from viewers. While the podcast does not have the chaos of The Chris Gethard Show, it is as exciting and more.

Real-life people from different backgrounds share intimate stories with Chris. His open-mindedness and endearing manner on the podcast create an air of trust. Although Chris is emphatic about not being a therapist, his role as host has the feel of one. While some topics on the podcast can be out there, they are also educational and entertaining.

Chris has revealed in interviews that when he started the podcast, he had no idea the type of tales he'll hear. In one episode, a man discusses how he and his British Brazilian partner are "furries." These people like to dress up as characters in plush fabric, usually presenting as an animal. He shares how they met and their connection. With Chris, they discuss online dating and living life as a furry. Listeners hear the anonymous caller's foray into the fetish. His candid revelation is among many on Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People. New episodes drop each week.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Start Here

Wrote the New Bible

Wrote the New Bible

A signmaker calls to talk to Gethard about the novel she spent 35 years writing, tapping into life on the quantum level, and a whole lot of stuff we honestly aren’t sure we understand. It’s a fascinating call. Some of you are going to love this one. Some of you are going to feel like you stepped into a weird alternate dimension you can’t escape. And some of you are going to love this one because it will make you feel like you stepped into a weird alternate dimension you can’t escape. This caller has a story to share, and what is Beautiful/Anonymous, if not a place for people to share their stories? Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬ We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/BEAUTIFULSTORIES. As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get 15% off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/STORIES Give all the “moms” in your life a unique, heartfelt gift you’ll all cherish for years—StoryWorth! Right now, save $10 on your first purchase when you go to StoryWorth.com/beautiful! Upgrade your wardrobe. Go to Quince.com/beautiful for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL and enter promo code SPACE80 to get $80 off of your first month and show your support for the show.

Episodes

Wrote the New Bible

Wrote the New Bible

A signmaker calls to talk to Gethard about the novel she spent 35 years writing, tapping into life on the quantum level, and a whole lot of stuff we honestly aren’t sure we understand. It’s a fascinating call. Some of you are going to love this one. Some of you are going to feel like you stepped into a weird alternate dimension you can’t escape. And some of you are going to love this one because it will make you feel like you stepped into a weird alternate dimension you can’t escape. This caller has a story to share, and what is Beautiful/Anonymous, if not a place for people to share their stories? Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬ We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/BEAUTIFULSTORIES. As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get 15% off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/STORIES Give all the “moms” in your life a unique, heartfelt gift you’ll all cherish for years—StoryWorth! Right now, save $10 on your first purchase when you go to StoryWorth.com/beautiful! Upgrade your wardrobe. Go to Quince.com/beautiful for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL and enter promo code SPACE80 to get $80 off of your first month and show your support for the show.

Comedy-Themed Butt Tattoos

Comedy-Themed Butt Tattoos

This week’s caller joins Gethard for a good ol’ fashioned chit-chat. From working in the restaurant industry, to recreational substance-fueled movie marathons, to getting your DnD numbers just right, this call is a laidback hang with a cool, fun person. Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬ As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get 15% off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/STORIES Go to greenchef.com/stories50 and use code stories50 to get 50% off, plus 20% off your next two months. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL and enter promo code SPACE80 to get $80 off of your first month and show your support for the show.

Borehole Geologist

Borehole Geologist

This week, Gethard talks with a borehole geologist about his very unique career. He describes the perils of the job, like traveling 2000 feet underground into a mine with only one way out, the exciting parts of his career that most of us have never even thought about, and why he still gets jazzed about the same stuff that made him love rocks when he was a kid. Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬ Follow The Cat in the Hat Cast on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Cat in the Hat Cast ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus in Apple Podcasts. As a listener of this podcast, you’ll get $80 off of your first month with Talkspace when you go to Talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL and enter promo code SPACE80.

Medieval Recreator

Medieval Recreator

A medieval recreator calls to talk with Gethard about their shared love for her city, meeting her husband while dressed in medieval garb, why what she does isn't reeanctment, and how today's politics manage to show up no matter how far back you travel in time. Plus, a whole lot more about falconry, heraldry, and all kinds of truly nerdy stuff. Just don't confuse her with those LARP dorks, okay? Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬ Follow The Cat in the Hat Cast on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Cat in the Hat Cast ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus in Apple Podcasts.

An Episode for Dave Matthews

An Episode for Dave Matthews

A dedicated Dave Matthews Band fan tells Gethard how her love for DMB led her to donate a kidney to a total stranger. She explains some of the more complicated aspects of the process and how donating her kidney set off a chain reaction that saved a total of 10 lives. Plus, she and Geth talk about cool party tricks, pretentious tattoos, and a whole lot more. The important thing though, is that if you're reading this right now and you know Dave Matthews, you send him this episode. If you’re interested in learning more about living donation, here’s a place to start: organdonor.gov Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller and to learn why we've included a link to the University of Tennessee's Body Donation Packet. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬ Follow The Cat in the Hat Cast on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Cat in the Hat Cast ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus in Apple Podcasts.

Mother, Woman, Artist

Mother, Woman, Artist

This week’s caller is an artist and a mother who called in to talk about the gifts and challenges of both of those aspects of her identity. She tells Geth about what it’s like making art with her dad, how being an artist informs how she’s raising her own daughter, and being part of an incredibly cool grassroots initiative and their mission to “Take Up Space” in galleries all over the world. She also drops a pretty big reveal in the 5 Random Questions segment of the show, so this week might be a good one to sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ if you haven’t already. Learn more about the Thrive Together Network and the Taking Up Space Initiative Tickets for Beautiful/Anonymous at Treefort Music Fest Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬ Follow The Cat in the Hat Cast on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Cat in the Hat Cast ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus in Apple Podcasts.

Imagine a Road Trip in the Sky

Imagine a Road Trip in the Sky

A unique soul with outer space on the brain, this week’s caller has never heard an entire episode of Beautiful/Anonymous and just called to see if our phone number was real. He talks with Gethard about going to the moon, bringing back blimp travel, reducing suffering on Earth, and a few of the million other things he’s got on his mind. Tickets for Beautiful/Anonymous at Treefort Music Fest Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬ Follow The Cat in the Hat Cast on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Cat in the Hat Cast ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus in Apple Podcasts.

The Hammer You Use to Smash Your Old Life Apart

The Hammer You Use to Smash Your Old Life Apart

In classic Beautiful/Anonymous fashion, this week’s caller is in a major transition phase of his life, leaving behind a lucrative career in favor of something less soul-sucking. He talks with Gethard about ghostwriting blog posts for International Women’s Day, what makes a good teacher, and why connection and community are more important than ever. Tickets for Beautiful/Anonymous at Treefort Music Fest Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬ Step into Spring travel activities with Vessi. Visit vessi.com/beautiful for an automatic 15% off your first purchase at checkout! Enjoy free shipping to CA, US, AU, JP, TW, KR, SGP. Follow The Cat in the Hat Cast on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Cat in the Hat Cast ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus in Apple Podcasts. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL to get $80 off of your first month and show your support for the show.

Beautiful Follow-Ups: The Whirlpool Galaxy (BA+ Bonus)

Beautiful Follow-Ups: The Whirlpool Galaxy (BA+ Bonus)

Every month, subscribers at the Touch Tone tier of Beautiful/Anonymous+ get a bonus follow-up episode with a past caller. For February, that call is with one of our community's most beloved callers, "The Whirlpool Galaxy" (EP104, March 19, 2018). We've decided to share the first part of this conversation with everyone in the Beautiful/Anonymous community because we know how important this caller and her story have become to all of you, and she has some truly incredible updates to share. Enjoy! In her first call, "The Whirlpool Galaxy," our caller spoke with Gethard about coping with the grief from an unbelievable tragedy and her work as a new astrophysics researcher. Since then, she has become an integral part of the Beautiful Anonymous community, returning for the first in-person follow-up, and joining us at Beautiful/CONonymous to co-host a screening of her favorite movie, Contact. She returns to Beautiful/Anonymous this week to catch us up on the incredible developments in her life since. And, of course, she takes her turn at the Wheel of Random Questions. Watch the trailer for Space, Hope and Charity here: https://www.spacehopecharityfilm.com/ Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content.

Listen Now: The Cat in the Hat Cast

Listen Now: The Cat in the Hat Cast

Hold on tight and prepare to be whisked away on a weekly adventure with Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat! In a world full of delightful mix-ups and exhilarating mayhem, the mischievous Cat takes the reins and enlightens the ever-cautious Fish on the art of hosting a perfectly poised podcast. Featuring alphabet song sing-a-longs, tremendous tongue-twisters, and wondrous wordplay, you'll be left guessing what surprises The Cat will pull out of his hat next. You can listen to this episode and more of The Cat in the Hat Cast episodes here.

Calling from a Cruise Ship

Calling from a Cruise Ship

Calling from a bathroom on a cruise ship, this caller recounts the series of events that led to her taking someone else's kids on vacation. It's a real lesson on making the best of a tough situation. Tickets for Laughing Together with Chris Gethard: A Comedy Benefit Supporting Mental Health Resources in Our Schools with Joe Pera, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Kenice Mobley, and Kate Nichols! Tickets for Beautiful/Anonymous at Treefort Music Fest Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬

Bonus: Gethard on Paul Giamatti's CHINWAG Podcast

Bonus: Gethard on Paul Giamatti's CHINWAG Podcast

Happy to bring you all a little preview of Gethard's recent appearance on the great Paul Giamatti's podcast, CHINWAG, recorded live in San Francisco at Sketchfest 2024. Geth joins Paul and his cohost Stephen Asma to talk about Paul's connection to The Chris Gethard Show and to tell just a whole bunch of ridiculous stories. It's a good time. Check out the clip and then head over to CHINWAG to hear the rest. of the conversation. And make sure you subscribe so you don't miss part two next week! Follow CHINWAG: @chinwagpod https://link.chtbl.com/beautifulanonxchinwag

Single on Valentine's Day

Single on Valentine's Day

We all know Valentine's Day is bogus, but that doesn't mean it isn't a bummer to spend it alone. This week's caller talks with Geth about dating as a queer man in the digital age and how past trauma makes things even more complicated. They also talk about making art, making connections, and why more people should go to the movies alone. Step into the New Year with Vessi. Visit vessi.com/beautiful for 15% off your first purchase! Enjoy free shipping to CA, US, AU, JP, TW, KR, SGP Get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus get FREE shipping. Text BEAUTIFUL to 64000. Tickets for Laughing Together with Chris Gethard: A Comedy Benefit Supporting Mental Health Resources in Our Schools with Joe Pera, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Kenice Mobley, and Kate Nichols! Tickets for Beautiful/Anonymous at Treefort Music Fest Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬

Heir to a Kite Store

Heir to a Kite Store

A puzzle enthusiast calls to talk with Gethard about running her family's kite store. She breaks down the various fart-themed products she keeps behind the counter, tells Geth about the niche world of kite-flying, and describes how her store acts as a surprisingly good barometer for the country's current political climate. Start the year off right with The Good Habit by going to TryFum.com/BEAUTIFUL and getting the Journey pack today. Füm is giving listeners of the show 10% off with the code “BEAUTIFUL” to help make starting The Good Habit that much easier. Get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus get FREE shipping. Text BEAUTIFUL to 64000. Read Geth’s new book, Dad at Peace, for free on Everand. Tickets for Laughing Together with Chris Gethard: A Comedy Benefit Supporting Mental Health Resources in Our Schools with Joe Pera, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Kenice Mobley, and Kate Nichols! Tickets for Beautiful/Anonymous at Treefort Music Fest Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬

The Pecking Order Is Real

The Pecking Order Is Real

This week, Gethard talks with someone whose youth was affected by the “troubled teen industry.” He and Geth talk about that experience, what it means to be a “troubled teen,” and how that time shaped his adult life. Also? Way more talk about chickens than you might expect. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL to get $80 off of your first month and show your support for the show. Read Geth’s new book, Dad at Peace, for free on Everand. Tickets for Laughing Together with Chris Gethard: A Comedy Benefit Supporting Mental Health Resources in Our Schools with Joe Pera, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Kenice Mobley, and Kate Nichols! Tickets for Beautiful/Anonymous at Treefort Music Fest Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬

Bonus: Dad at Peace

Bonus: Dad at Peace

We've got a special bonus excerpt of Gethard's new book for you! In Dad at Peace, Geth opens up about growing up, ditching the ego, and re-evaluating priorities. Read or listen to it for free at everand.com now!

In Search of a City

In Search of a City

This empty-nester tells Gethard about the year she and her husband spent driving around the Southwest looking for a new city to call home. She and Geth discuss the ways that traveling throughout the USA can make you a more connected, empathetic person. Then, she breaks down what it means to be a little woo-woo and shares her favorite ghost story. Step into the New Year with Vessi. Visit vessi.com/beautiful for 15% off your first purchase! Enjoy free shipping to CA, US, AU, JP, TW, KR, SGP. Go to greenchef.com/60stories and use code 60stories to get 60% off, plus 20% off your next two months. Tickets for Laughing Together with Chris Gethard: A show raising money for mental health awareness in schools. Tickets for Beautiful/Anonymous at Treefort Music Fest Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬

This week's caller is dealing with the loss of a friend who died earlier this year. She and Geth talk about processing grief, honoring the people you love, what sobriety means to her, and how it feels to be a poet sharing her words with the world. Also, pickles. Tickets for Laughing Together with Chris Gethard: A show raising money for mental health awareness in schools. Tickets for Beautiful/Anonymous at Treefort Music Fest Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬ Upgrade your closet with Quince. Go to Quince.com/beautiful for free shipping and 365-day returns on your order.

What Would Ian MacKaye Do?

What Would Ian MacKaye Do?

This week's caller wanted to talk with Geth about the punk and hardcore music scenes. Pretty quickly, that subject became a vehicle for a conversation about community, found family, growing up lonely, and finding places to connect in a difficult world. Tickets for Laughing Together with Chris Gethard: A show raising money for mental health awareness in schools. Tickets for Beautiful/Anonymous at Treefort Music Fest Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬ Set your kids up for success and get started today at gohenry.com/BEAUTIFUL. T&Cs apply. Renews from $4.99 per month unless canceled.

Played Rugby, Changed My Life

Played Rugby, Changed My Life

A military veteran calls to talk with Gethard about co-parenting with her partner and his ex-wife who she was deployed with years ago. But this call goes in some directions neither she nor Geth expected. They talk about how rugby and one specific book led her to serve, what it was like being the only woman among 400 men while deployed, and how she thinks about the time she spent in Afghanistan today. Tickets for Laughing Together with Chris Gethard: A show raising money for mental health awareness in schools. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL to get $80 off of your first month and show your support for the show. Head to FACTORMEALS.com/beautiful50 and use code beautiful50 to get 50% off. Follow Beautiful/Anonymous on Instagram @beautifulanonymouspod Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676‬