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Using selected text from the Lais of Marie de France, episode explores four iterations of medieval-style story-songs generated from the same text prompt.                     FATE HAS SPUN HER WHEEL "Into the deep woods, they had fled Loggi and her Guigeman She had been the second wife of Yonec But no more Now she had pledged herself to the noble knight For a year and nearly a half they had been together in the dark forest Making frequent love To their great delight. But then the preemption came Fate spun her wheel. They were no longer safe. One Lord rises. Another falls. As she lay next to him, the vision came He would die Yonec would have his vengance “I will die as you die. You are my love in life. And you will be my love in death.”

A Complicated Matter An audio story about an unexpected friendship For Appaloosa Radio   When Stacey receives an unexpected phone call from Hawthorne, Nevada, it pulls her back into the shadow of her manipulative ex-husband, Shawn. The caller is Dina—Shawn's most recent wife, and Stacey's former administrative assistant—who has been left bankrupt, facing eviction, and raising two toddlers alone while Shawn serves time in a federal prison.   Putting aside past bitterness, Stacey flies to Nevada. Together, the two women forge an unexpected, fierce sisterhood, turning practical problem-solving, legal strategy, and a cathartic letter-burning into a path toward true independence and survival.   26 minutes

Shoes An original audio story For Appaloosa Radio "Nice kicks," the veteran commented, his voice gravelly from lack of use. De Marcus dribbled the ball between his legs, catching it with a sharp pop against his palm. He grinned, a flash of white teeth under the fluorescent hum. "Loud, right? They do half the work for you. Cost $1800, but worth it. No better ones on the planet.” “On the planet. That’s saying something.” “Like drivin’ a racing machine.” “Mine were custom-made in Argentina, where I played.” “That’s in South America, right?” Big Mike sensed that the dialogue was developing an edge. Maybe time for a showdown. Teeny-bopper against the veteran. The crowd in the bleachers would love it. “You gents up for a little mano-on-mano combat? We’d love to see what you’ve got. If you’ve got it.” De Marcus was cool. “I don’t do nothin’ unless there’s something for me. What’s the offer?” The Anaconda quickly responded, “Shoes. We’ll play for shoes. Yours for mine.” Mike added. “Gym rules. Baskets only. No points. First to fifteen wins.” De Marcus smiled. “Sure. For shoes. Gym rules. I’ll give him first outs.”

Appaloosa Radio offers Dead Man’s Suit A Southern Gothic, Ghost Story . . . 1958 Every time Harlan wore it, he thought it had a strange odor. It had been dry cleaned multiple times and no one else noticed any sort of odor. In fact, his wife, Wilma thought he looked “spiffy” in it and loved to see him in the double-breasted, brown suit with the faintest of gray pinstripes. “He looks like a movie star,” she proudly told her sister Nellie Grace Lynn. Far better in that suit than in the greasy dungaree overalls that he wore most of the time. But truck mechanics don’t wear suits to work in. They work in greasy overalls. The brown suit was for Sunday church and extra special occasions, like when they had gone to the casino and had a steak dinner for their tenth anniversary.

NO HUNNEY BUNNIES HERE This is Wilson Arz. We had been neighbors for years, but after his wife died, he decided that their house was just too big. So, he sold it and moved into an apartment community for seniors. A couple of months after he had moved in, I dropped by for a catch-up visit.  Over instant coffee and stale bagels, he told me he was not happy with his move. The apartment was OK. No problems.  Just, when he had signed the lease, the agent had teased him that this was the perfect place to meet some new  ‘honey bunnies.’ My friend nearly spilled his coffee with his vehement response. “Hell, there ain’t no honey bunnies here! All the women are my age or older!”

Empty Words from an Empty Head ‘This is Wilson Arz. Recently, I felt the need to create a “political” song. Not about any particular politician, but about the greater assemblage of politicians. How about that for a 50-cent word!   I have an even better one.  Superfluidity --- speech that never ends, goes on forever, flowing indefinitely without purpose or reason. Empty words from an empty head. ‘

Appaloosa Radio is pleased to offer the humor and the music of story-teller Wilson Arz.

Jim Mounts-Miller, Creative Director for Appaloosa, welcomes listeners to Season 15.

This is Wilson Arz. When my kids were small, I used to play a bedtime game with them. They would tell me a letter, and I would make up a nonsense song with every word starting with that letter. One that I still remember is -- “Bungling Bearded Burglars from Broadstone Beach” Just a whimsical song with lots of alliteration. We used to sing it as a round with me starting and then they would come in. Here’s my recreation of it.

Stingaree Gulch A Ring-Tailed Roaring Good Time By J. J. Mounts-Miller Fleeing a rigged boxing match and a deadly mob ultimatum, legendary promoter Tex Rickard arrives in the Nevada boomtown of Rawhide to build his ultimate masterpiece: Stingaree Gulch, a sprawling empire of vice. As the silver rolls in, Tex sets his sights on an impossible dream—staging a controversial heavyweight championship for Jack Johnson. But in a town built on illusions, Tex meets his match in Vera Locke, a brilliant "widow" executing a devastating con. Stingaree Gulch is a high-stakes historical thriller of boomtown greed, masterful hustles, and the explosive, championship prize fight that ultimately forced a millionaire into exile.

My Dad delivered batteries all over hilly Seattle. Drove a truck. Lead-acid batteries. Batteries for cars. Trucks. Fishing Boats. Picked up old ones. Delivered new ones. The acid ate his clothes. Scarred his hands.  He had done the Army during Viet Nam. We lived in Ballard, near the locks. Upstairs in a once-Victorian house. My Mom worked at the doughnut shop. Coming in at four. Frying dozens and dozens. In 1981, my Dad went to night school to learn welding. He wanted a job at the Navy Ship Yard, but they wouldn’t  hire him because he had done drugs. So they loaded the 1968 Chevrolet station wagon and headed South. But at Rice Hill, Oregon. It died. Broke. No job. No place to go. Then a hippie guy in a pick-up truck offered to take us to a hippie commune. No charge. Doing it because of humanity. So that’s where I grew up. My Dad was never a hippie. Just a good place to make things out of metal. To fix things. To make a living.

Friends and Devoted Listeners – Appaloosa Radio Online is ending its podcast series effective January 15, 2026, shifting our focus to our VIMEO and YouTube video channels. However, we will continue to maintain an archive of our previous audio stories for those who wish to re-visit them. As many of you know, we began as four friends who wanted to create audio theater together. With our partnership with the Sacramento Suburban Writers, we grew into a web host for original fiction, posting over 300 audio stories. “Where stories come alive” was our both our slogan and our operating maxim.  Now, we've expanded to include musical stories and contemporary music. Stories. Musicals. Songs. Join us in our new creative work. ~ Appaloosa Radio Online  ~

Appaloosa Radio Offers A new musical story A Little Monkey Magic Act One   A whimsical musical journey to the early days of cartoon animation, featuring Jiminy, the ever-inquisitive, always impulsive, and incredibly funny organ grinder’s monkey, and his three animator friends at the Carousel Cartoon Company of Chicago.  It was 1934 during the very worst days of the Great Depression, and, unfortunately, the Carousel Cartoon Company of Chicago was forced to close. The three animators who had operated the company decided to store the nearly half-million ink drawings on transparent celluloid that they had created by hand in the safes of Vermont’s Old Stone Mountain Life Insurance Company. By saving these cels (as they were called), they hoped to someday begin re-animating cartoons, particularly their favorite character, Jiminy, the mischievous organ grinder’s monkey. Jiminy who so loved playing tricks and making people laugh. Even though he was now in fragments and  thousands of pieces, Jiminy’s unique anima kept doing his cartoon antics. His special monkey magic had not died. Filled with catchy tunes, laughter, and a dash of monkey mischief, this musical tale will have everyone dancing to the rhythm of courage, friendship, and a little bit of monkey magic.   A musical story in three acts.    Song List for Act One ·       Jiminy – King of Cartoon Comedy ·       Magic of India Ink Lines ·       I’m Still Me! ·       Through the Keyhole ·       My Love, Lillian ·       Whispers of Wonder ~Act One runs 41 minutes, 51 seconds

2025 Spring Songfest This is a collection of songs from several stories that we have recently shared on Appaloosa Radio. Enjoy the 2025 Spring Songfest.  Selections include: ·       Shadows and Silhouettes ·       Whimsey Lullaby ·       Weight of Goodbye ·       Middle-Aged Hippie ·       Coyote ·       25 is Too Slow ·       Jar of Sand ·       My Love is a Sonnet ·       Strong Enough ·       Barefoot Morning ·       Grandma’s Rules ·       Warm Hearts and Calloused Hands ·       Beer, Cigarettes, and Stress --- My Life is a Mess

25 is too slow By Eureka Wallace   Sign says 25, that's a snail in disguise.  I'm a rocket on wheels,  not a cloud in my skies.  Got dreams in the trunk. Ambitions on my dash.  Speedometer screaming, gotta move fast . 25 too slow. Can't cage my flow.  Road's a canvas, that I paint. Gotta let it show. Gotta let it show.  Gotta let it show.     Wheels spinning symphonies,  heartbeats in tow  Ain't no limit when you got places to go Ain't no limit when you got places to go Ain't no limit when you got places to go