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
E80: No Matter Where I Am and No Matter When I Am [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:06
Everyone's on some kind of a journey today. No border wall could ever keep out the "Dust." By Patty Somlo, copyright 2009, used with permission. Visit Patty's website. Episode 67 contributor and poet Anuja Ghimire is our…
E79: Poetry Month Field Trip [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:59
For those who love books, they become almost human beings standing there in their "Dust Jackets." By Samantha Dutton, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Samantha's bio. Some things just cannot be escaped, especia…
Special #11: Baseball Opening Day 2017 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:44
A literary celebration of a national pastime. Come with Shawn Aveningo Sanders for "One Final Inning in St. Louis." Copyright 2011, used with permission. Visit Shawn's website. Susan Vollenweider was with us back on Spec…
E78: I Simply Don't Like People [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:03
Somehow life got "Lost at Sea." By Drew Lovell, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Drew's website. Can't go gator hunting without "Gator Bait." By Paul Rousseau, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Paul's…
E77: Kiss it All Better [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:37
It really can all change in "One Moment." By Amanda Staples, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Amanda's website. If only all fairy tales ended like "The Frog Prince." By Clive Collins, copyright 2014, used with…
E76: You Don't Believe in the Morning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:46
No matter how far you run away, you never escape who you are and what your past is. After not being able to slow down a friend who is struggling, those left behind must deal with the fact that there was "Nothing They Cou…
E75: Be Just Like Him [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:56
No one knows life in the ring like "The Undercard." By David Whippman, copyright 2000, used with permission. Read David's bio. "First a Woman Then a Man" is a fictional story about the real-life Guevedoce of the Dominica…
Special #10: Twitter Special: The Job [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:33
"How May I Help You?" is by Kris Baker Dersch, copyright 2015. Inspired by the #FridayFlash hashtag, which I won't link because some people...don't use it as intended. Another new segment! "Social Media Snippets," as ins…
E74: Ain't as Good as it Once Was [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:24
Never has a family been so in need of "Healing Time." By Paul Beckman, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Paul's website. "Suebelle's Homecoming" may not be all it's cracked up to be. By Helen Grochmal, copyrigh…
E73: The Superiority of Rigid Categorization [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:18
When I released our non-Election Day Election Day episode in November, I did not expect to be doing a non-Inauguration Day Inauguration Day Episode, but here goes. "Guinivere Tries a New Kind of In-Vitro" is one of those…