After 4 Years, I've Changed the Name of My Podcast

I’ve changed the name of my podcast from Stolaroid Stories to Open Draft.

Stolaroid Stories was born on 10 September 2021. Back then, the intended audience was adult learners of English, and my goal was to tell anecdotes inspired by photos I’d taken.

I would write my stories, read them aloud, and occasionally explain some tricky words I’d used in them. It was my way of producing original listening content for learners, and the word “Stolaroid” reflected what the show was about: stories and polaroids.

I started it as a solo show, but after a dozen episodes, I had my first guest: an English teacher.

I liked the idea of having guests, so I invited colleagues and learners, and I had fun listening to their language learning views and stories.

After a while, I lost interest in the tell-a-story-from-a-photo format. I also grew tired of talking about how to become fluent in a language, so I began inviting interesting people from all walks of life.

I had a US Army veteran who fought in Iraq, an Iranian influencer helping women in her country, a porn addict who became a porn detox coach, and other cool individuals and experts — including my Italian friend, Ambra, a solo-traveller who’s visited nearly 80 countries, and my other Ambra friend, from Australia, who told her story of overcoming alcoholism.

I tried to invite Aloha, my partner, a million times.

“Forget it!”

Stolaroid Stories hasn’t felt like an appropriate name for a few years now. Today, my episodes are about writing, publishing, creativity, and books — and they’re unscripted, like an open mic performance.

The majority of the interviewees are writers and authors, which reflects what I’m interested in and what I can continue to show up for: reading and writing.

And, like an open draft, the podcast, its host, and its listeners are in constant evolution.

We’re never done editing — this is what the creative life involves, and I want my show to reflect that.

Open Draft — with Fabio Cerpelloni sounds right to me.

Thank you so much for being here.

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