Anny and John Liot graciously share their miscarriage story with Michael to complete his series on childbirth and childrearing. Losing a baby during pregnancy is one of the more common nightmare scenarios modern humans undergo, so we may as well talk about it and see if that helps. This is a rough one - features asshole doctors and systemic failure…

Michael meets with Cody Franks of the Least Haunted pod and Seqoidea to discuss life through the lens of his Cystic Fibrosis. Opens with the short story "run|time" voiced by Michael and Hana Michels of Spark Creative Coaching.Features:Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORPCody Franks: https://www.leasthaunted.com/Hana Michels: https://twitte…

Michael brings on Brandon and Lisa, parents of two children (aged 1 and 3). Michael investigates the daily life and worries of the initial parenting phase. This episode continues the ongoing conversation about Michael and jenn’s leap into parenthood, including a huge announcement at the beginning of the pod!Buy Michael’s book: https://www.patreon.c…

Michael brings on Marina and Tom Reimann, expecting parents and personal friends. Marina and Tom are expecting any day now so this conversation consists of Michael asking them about their journey so far, as he begins his own. This episode continues the ongoing conversation about Michael and jenn’s leap into parenthood. The Go-Fund Me for Marina and…

Michael asks Abe Epperson, fellow Small Bean, to discuss his thoughts about starting a family. They discuss regret, happiness, and the anxiety of bringing a human into the world. Abe’s pretty satisfied with not having kids, but it’s always been on Michael’s list of life goals. Let’s see how these friends navigate the conversation from two different…

Michael asks Adam Ganser, fellow Small Bean, to discuss his relationship with death. They discuss their faith and assumptions, and the development of death in their lives. There’s also some stories from the community that spark some further introspection.Buy Michael’s book: https://www.patreon.com/smallbeans/shopSupport Small Beans: https://www.pat…

In a never-ending quest to both sell books and ruin his own passions and pastimes, Michael Swaim has invited fellow author Jason Pargin (John Dies at the End, Zoey Ashe series) to break down all the hardest aspects of maintaining a career as a novelist, and learns lessons that apply to all of us, especially the ones with jobs or who want things.Buy…

Check out our movie’s crowdfunding page and consider dropping some coin on our largest ambition YET: https://seedandspark.com/fund/papa-bearOn a very special episode, writer/father/friend Soren Bowie sits in as host and invites Mike to explain why he was just out for a bit, and how his life was changed for the better by his experiences in a partial…

In this episode of Tales, Michael invites friend Vanessa Guerrero to discuss their worst days they’ve ever had and how they dealt with it. The interview begins at 8:12.Features:Vanessa Guerrero: https://twitter.com/nessguerreroMichael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORPCheck our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the…

In this episode of Tales, Michael invites friend and longtime collaborator Daniel O’Brien to discuss the healing properties of meditation and its role in both of their lives.Features:Daniel O’Brien: https://twitter.com/DOB_INCMichael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORPCheck our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-…

In this episode of Tales, Michael invites musician and RAINN Speakers Bureau member Sammy Lynn into the Pit to discuss her experiences suffering and recovering from sexual assault, and share practical coping advice. If you or a loved one has survived such a despicable attack, please know that there is a community that supports you, even if you've y…

The pit is back! Well, the podcast. Honestly, it’s been a while because things have been fairly positive in the lives of Michael Swaim and Katie Willert. It’s not all roses, but the two update us (and hopefully fellow addicts out there) how things are going now that they’re sober. No real trigger warnings this time: they discuss their relationship …

This episode’s guest is streamer, cosplayer, and podcaster: Marina Reimann! Per usual for the pit, we have a disclaimer. We cover being queer, feeling impostor syndrome because we're in monogamous long-term relationships, and a bit of our sexual histories, including Marina's assault and how she came back from that.Features:Marina Reimann: https://t…

Two of the warmest hosts to bless this podcast network take a moment to reflect on some of their coldest days. Both Michael Swaim and Cristian Ramirez have gone through divorces. Cristian, the more recent single, tells Michael about the hardships and eventual self-betterment involved in his experience. Michael in-kind reflects on his own behavior a…

Tales from the Pit returns with a COVID retrospective. Sitting down with Michael is Twitch Streamer, Creator, and Advocate Alebrelle. The two discuss what it’s been like during quarantine as an autistic and intersectional person. WARNING: there are lengthy discussions and specific examples each give about their depression and suicidal thoughts. Bew…

The pit returns with a special episode. Michael speaks to Jason Pargin, former executive editor of Cracked.com and the current head of video, Jordan Breeding, about self-worth and career success. This conversation was partially inspired by Jason Pargin’s recent video regarding making yourself valuable (https://youtu.be/wFBr685TjNs). When you’ve fou…

Katy Stoll and Cody Johnston discuss the unique hardships around running the Some More News series and Even More News podcast, jobs that require them to ingest All The News All The Time. If you're addicted to your news app, Cody's Showdy, or just stressed out, join us in the Pit and let's hug it out.Support Small Beans and access Additional Content…

Andy Bush (Picnicface, Cavendish, My Gorgeous Son) has a POWERTHIRST for creative fulfillment, but that doesn't mean he's always going to get the creatrilytes his art-glands crave. In fact, he's spent a fair amount of his creative journey failing upward, literally, from Los Angeles back to Canada, the final refuge of all showbiz cowards (SHOTS FIRE…

Griffin Rowell, Michael's oldest pal, joins him in the Pit to trace the shape of a friendship and hold fast to the weapons that help us ward off the darkness.Art by Seth Laster.Music by Abe Epperson.Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeansSB Merch: https://smallbeans.bigcartel.com…

Your sick host Michael Swaim is super-stoked to welcome tight guest Vanessa Gritton to discuss hella-pertinent issues like romance and dating through the lens of mental illness, addiction, and family drama.Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeansKirjoittanut Small Beans

Jamie Loftus joins Michael in the Pit of Odiousness to discuss her dealings with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, the importance of wearing long sleeves at work, Lilo & Stitch merchandise, and how all of these things conspired to make her the hackstress she is t0d4y.Art by Seth Laster.Music by Abe Epperson and Kevin Clark.…

Sage of Boning and Bodily Juices (also licensed Sex Therapist) Jamila Dawson returns to help explain what exactly she does, why kink and poly relationships are on the rise, and what to do when it all explodes in your face (and not in the good way). At the top, Michael ruins your mental image of him forever, and all future prospects of holding elect…

Small Beans favorite Katie Willert stops in to discuss the long, hard road of trying to break into Hollywood, the many odd jobs she's taken in the interim, and how to appreciate what life gives you, even when it's not what you expected. Michael opens with a short story that lasts about forty-five minutes, in case you Skippers were wondering. Music …

Writer/comedian Talia Jane recounts her travails dealing with John Cheese (real name Mack Leighty), whom she helped to out as a serial sexual harasser and general creep this year, in spite of a startling lack of support from the systems we expect to support us through that type of thing. Wonder where all of Cheese's Cracked by-lines went? After hea…

Biba Pickles discusses art, battling bi-polar disorder, and covering her body with cereal and self-inflicted cigarette burns. It's a party!Art by Seth Laster.Music by Abe Epperson, Kelsey Hudgins and Kevin Clark.Kirjoittanut Small Beans

Menendez Brothers trial juror Hazel Thornton, author of Hung Jury, stops by to discuss her time engaged with one of the most high-profile cases of the century. Topics include gender bias, political bias, and flow charts.Kirjoittanut Small Beans

Bridgett Greenberg, co-host of Rough Stuff, takes a dose of her own medicine in The Pit and gets personal about her relationship to anxiety, panic attacks, and spinning tubes.Kirjoittanut Small Beans

Those who plumb the Pit discuss the thin, sad line between grief and a bout of depression, practical ways to know when you're depressed, and practical ways to address it that you probably won't take advantage of while you're depressed, but hey, it was worth a shot. Maggie Mae Fish, host of My Top 8, joins to shed her light on these and a number of …

One soldier's experience serving in the Army in Iraq, and, later and much more importantly, as one of the biggest Small Beans around. PCPD host and fixture Cristian Ramirez tries to explain to Mike what war is really like on this week's Tales from the Pit.Kirjoittanut Small Beans

Katy Stoll returns to the Pit to discuss the loss of beloved pets, and why the heck we keep doing this to ourselves.Kirjoittanut Small Beans

Tom Reimann of Gamefully Unemployed ventures to the deepest levels of the Pit, to help Swaim make some sense of the pains, absences, and stresses that sometimes make self-annihilation seem pretty damn appealing. That's right; it's the suicide episode. Tread softly and be brave. You are loved.Kirjoittanut Small Beans

Pop Culture Petri Dish co-host and all around Big Bean Cristian Ramirez joins Mike in the pit to discuss parents, how they shape us (and don't), and tell some hilarious stories about coyotes and raccoons.Kirjoittanut Small Beans

Soren Bowie joins Michael in the pit to discuss textbook teen angst, never being depressed, and the terrible burden of having a child.Kirjoittanut Small Beans

Sex therapist and proudly kinky person Jamila Dawson stops by the Pit to explain some jargon to Michael and take some of the mystery out of healthful erotic exploration.Kirjoittanut Small Beans

Katy and her pal Michael discuss her planned autobiography, "The Skinniest Kid at Fat Camp." Also life.Kirjoittanut Small Beans

Lauren and Michael discuss overcoming paralysis, Brazilian waxing, and tuna noodle casserole.Kirjoittanut Small Beans

Mike and his Mom tackle depression, trauma, and unfortunate technical errors.Kirjoittanut Small Beans