E87: Crack the World Open

E87: Crack the World Open

Author: Kris Baker Dersch August 4, 2017 Duration: 20:10

The world is always on the verge of exploding and reinventing itself.

"A Town Built on Salt" is on a shaky foundation indeed. By Windy Lynn Harris, copyright 2014, used with permission. This piece was originally published in Crack the Spine in April 2015, issue 147. Visit Windy's website.

Hanako's world is very small and carefully observed, but observers miss things in "Hanako Learns to Count." By Sean Patrick Whiteley, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Sean's bio.

Today's Writing Spaces features longtime friend of the show and repeat contributor Dr. Jeffrey Toney. He was originally featured on Episode 49 and was part of Episode 82's drabble spectacular. Click here to see his writing space.

There are the things you see about a person, and things you don't, especially when that person is "Watermelon." By Lisa Ko, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Lisa's bio.


Kris Baker Dersch hosts No Extra Words one person's search for story, a quiet corner of the audio world dedicated to the power of brevity. Each episode is a complete, self-contained piece of flash fiction, with every story crafted to be under two thousand words. This constraint isn't a limitation but a focus, distilling narrative down to its essential elements-every sentence carries weight. You'll hear tales that span the spectrum of human experience, from subtle character moments to sudden, striking turns of events, all delivered with a thoughtful and intimate narration. The podcast lives up to its name, offering narratives that are precise and potent, leaving room for your own imagination to linger in the spaces between the words. It’s for anyone who appreciates the art of a well-told story and the unique intimacy that audio can bring to fiction. Tune in for a regular dose of concise creativity, a moment of literary escape that fits into the busiest of days.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

No Extra Words one person's search for story
Podcast Episodes
E54: The Tremor That May Become the Earthquake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:52
"Shingle Spit Road" is where what you think you know and what you actually know collide. By Meaghan Hackinen, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Meaghan's bio. Sometimes life doesn't crack open all at once. Somet…
E53: So High School [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:46
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E52: Here of All Places [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:23
"Ben Ailing" isn't sure how he ended up where he did, but there was a reason he was supposed to be there. By Dave Barrett, from his collection Republic, USA. Copyright 2014, used with permission. Read Dave's bio. "A Some…
E51: Curmudgeons and Incorrigibles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:02
Those who won't change and the rest of us who get to deal. Witness the creative destruction of "A New Heart." By Mitchell Krockmalnik Grabois, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read his bio. Grocery clerks are always…
E50: 50 Episodes and 1 Year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:27
It's our special anniversary episode! "Wrong Number" is a voice mail message from an old friend. Does her friend really want to hear from her right now? Written and read by Sally Stevens. Copyright 2015, used with permis…
E49: I'll Be Seeing You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:18
Today's episode is super-sized because it contains some special bonus holiday content at the end. "Memorial Day" looks closely at an important holiday. By C.M. Gabbett, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read his bio.…
E48: Disregarding the Warnings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:08
"Saving Andie" is the story of a board room meeting in which the experts must decide whether to launch a rescue mission. By Lars H. Hoffmann, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Lars' website. In "Sunshine and As…
Special #7: Author Brianne Holmes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:55
Back in January we had a Contributor Appreciation promotion, where we randomly drew four winners from our list of contributors. They received a prize from our sponsor, Channillo.com and the chance to have an interview fe…
E47: Illusions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:20
Four stories, four moments, about mothering, motherhood, and this thing called family. "Chicago, 1965" is one of those wonderful stories that pull you immediately into the writer's experience. By Rhonda C. Poynter, copyr…

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