, , , “What Are the Chances? Part 1”

Our podcast today was recorded in front of a live audience on June 12, 2019 at The Wilma in Missoula, MT. 8 storytellers shared their true personal story on the theme “What Are the Chances?”

Our first story comes to us from Mariah Kelly, who shares her tale of how her traveling companion and she end up in jail on drug charges after a traffic stop goes sideways on a road trip in Mississippi. She calls her story “Two Pounds of Undeclared Luggage”

Mariah Kelley shares her story “Two Pounds of Undeclared Luggage”

Mariah Kelley recently graduated from the University of Montana in Education and History and then moved to London to pursue a Masters of International Relations at The London School of Economics. She is fascinated by the French language and has the ultimate dream of working for the United Nations. She is an avid, artsy, nomadic student of the world.


Gay Eyman’s son is born with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. He survives, grows up to be a wonderful son, and dies unexpectedly. This is Gay’s story of healing and grace. She calls her story “Breath”.

Gay Eyemon shares her story "Breath"

Gay Eyman is a mom of 5 children and 3 grandchildren. She and her husband farm in Helena, which has always been the dream for her hands and her heart. Gay was raised in the Bay Area near San Francisco and has lived in Montana, her father’s home place for over 40 years. Stories are the threads that weave her together in the fabric of grace and love. She is Nana to her grandchildren, like the dog in Peter Pan.


Adam Washerback is ready for love at the 3rd wedding of his “divorce summer”. A tragic accident while horsing around leaves him a quadriplegic, and he does the work required to make a full recovery. Adam calls his story “After the Bubble Bursts”.

Adam Washerback shares his story “After the Bubble Bursts”

Originally from Wisconsin, Adam Washerback moved to Missoula to work as a Wilderness Ranger. For the last 11 seasons, he has spent his summers working with horses, mules, saws, and axes to maintain the trails of the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. Adam is a traditional skills educator and claims to have near surgical precision with an ax.


Raymond Ansotegui and his campmate hear what they think is a bear outside their tent while camping in grizzly country. They make their escape to the truck and have an unfortunate accident with hilarious results. Raymond calls his story “Hot Sauce on the Backside”.

Raymond Ansotegui shares his story "Hotsauce on the backside"

Raymond Ansotegui was born and raised in Montana. He is a reclamation scientist and spent a decade as a rodeo bullfighter. His wife is a world-renowned artist that patiently deals with his cooking attempts. He loves people and the bond of storytelling that holds us all together.