<description>&lt;p&gt;“The Long Echo” follows a man sorting through his late father’s belongings when he discovers journals and letters from generations he never knew. As he reads, he begins to notice something startling—tiny inherited patterns that have traveled through his family for more than a century. A gesture. A habit. A way of thinking. The story becomes a meditation on continuance through lineage, showing how every life leaves traces that outlast the body. Nothing is permanent, but nothing is entirely lost. What we are does not vanish; it moves forward through the people who come after us.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;We fear endings because we imagine they’re absolute. But the truth is more complicated—and far more comforting. What we think, how we move, the quirks we never question… they keep traveling long after we’re gone, carried quietly from one life into the next. If you enjoyed this story, there are more like it at Short Storyverses dot com—where new tales, old tales, and everything in between continue their own echo forward.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;If you’re enjoying&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;New Tales Told&lt;/em&gt;, take a second to tap that five-star rating on Apple Podcasts (or "Rate the Show" five-stars on Spotify). It helps other listeners find the show—and keeps me from taking that two-star rating too personally. Thanks&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Life After Life After Life

“The Long Echo” follows a man sorting through his late father’s belongings when he discovers journals and letters from generations he never knew. As he reads, he begins to notice something startling—tiny inherited patterns that have traveled through his family for more than a century. A gesture. A habit. A way of thinking. The story becomes a meditation on continuance through lineage, showing how every life leaves traces that outlast the body. Nothing is permanent, but nothing is entirely lost. What we are does not vanish; it moves forward through the people who come after us. We fear endings because we imagine they’re absolute. But the truth is more complicated—and far more comforting. What we think, how we move, the quirks we never question… they keep traveling long after we’re gone, carried quietly from one life into the next. If you enjoyed this story, there are more like it at Short Storyverses dot com—where new tales, old tales, and everything in between continue their own echo forward.<blockquote>If you’re enjoying&nbsp;New Tales Told, take a second to tap that five-star rating on Apple Podcasts (or "Rate the Show" five-stars on Spotify). It helps other listeners find the show—and keeps me from taking that two-star rating too personally. Thanks</blockquote> <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

The Long Echo – An Original Short Story by Don McDonald

<description>&lt;p&gt;Drawn from a true incident and retold with a few reconstructed details,&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Safety Matches&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;looks back at a 1962 summer when kids roamed free, parents were overwhelmed, and a box of matches seemed like a reasonable way to pass the time. It’s a story about curiosity, misjudgment, and the surprising weight of a moment you’re too young to understand.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;You’ll find more stories like this—true ones, tall ones, and the ones that live somewhere in-between—over at&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;ShortStoryverses.com&lt;/strong&gt;. It’s the home of&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;New Tales Told&lt;/em&gt;,&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Litreading&lt;/em&gt;,&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Season’s Readings&lt;/em&gt;, FRIGHTLY! It's a multiverse of stories crafted for people who simply love a good tale well told.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;If you’re enjoying&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;New Tales Told&lt;/em&gt;, take a second to tap that five-star rating on Apple Podcasts (or "Rate the Show" five-stars on Spotify). It helps other listeners find the show—and keeps me from taking that two-star rating too personally. Thanks&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

How Mischief Became a Lesson I Never Forgot

Drawn from a true incident and retold with a few reconstructed details,&nbsp;Safety Matches&nbsp;looks back at a 1962 summer when kids roamed free, parents were overwhelmed, and a box of matches seemed like a reasonable way to pass the time. It’s a story about curiosity, misjudgment, and the surprising weight of a moment you’re too young to understand. &nbsp;You’ll find more stories like this—true ones, tall ones, and the ones that live somewhere in-between—over at&nbsp;ShortStoryverses.com. It’s the home of&nbsp;New Tales Told,&nbsp;Litreading,&nbsp;Season’s Readings, FRIGHTLY! It's a multiverse of stories crafted for people who simply love a good tale well told.<blockquote>If you’re enjoying&nbsp;New Tales Told, take a second to tap that five-star rating on Apple Podcasts (or "Rate the Show" five-stars on Spotify). It helps other listeners find the show—and keeps me from taking that two-star rating too personally. Thanks</blockquote> <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Safety Matches – An Original Short Story by Don McDonald

<description>&lt;p&gt;A lonely late-night talk show host at a 50,000-watt "blow torch" station goes from no callers to every line lit up, with every caller sharing the same impossible story. These listeners are from across town, but much father away. &lt;em&gt;Dead Air&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;is an original&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;New Tales Told&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;story about connection, loneliness, and the signals that resonate out into the void.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Authors Note:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Dead Air &lt;/em&gt;is a very loosely autobiographical story. In the mid-1980s, I worked the overnight talk-show shift on the 50,000-watt clear-channel “Voice of the Rockies,” 85 KOA in Denver. Some nights, I’d find myself talking into the void, waiting for a caller — and every now and then, a voice would drift in from halfway around the world. If you enjoyed this original&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;New Tales Told&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;story, please share it with a friend and leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. (If you didn’t… maybe just forget you listened. I’m no O. Henry or Hemingway — just trying to entertain.)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;If you’re enjoying&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;New Tales Told&lt;/em&gt;, take a second to tap that five-star rating on Apple Podcasts (or "Rate the Show" five-stars on Spotify). It helps other listeners find the show—and keeps me from taking that two-star rating too personally. Thanks&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

A radio talk show host is surprised by distant callers

A lonely late-night talk show host at a 50,000-watt "blow torch" station goes from no callers to every line lit up, with every caller sharing the same impossible story. These listeners are from across town, but much father away. Dead Air&nbsp;is an original&nbsp;New Tales Told&nbsp;story about connection, loneliness, and the signals that resonate out into the void. Authors Note:Dead Air is a very loosely autobiographical story. In the mid-1980s, I worked the overnight talk-show shift on the 50,000-watt clear-channel “Voice of the Rockies,” 85 KOA in Denver. Some nights, I’d find myself talking into the void, waiting for a caller — and every now and then, a voice would drift in from halfway around the world. If you enjoyed this original New Tales Told story, please share it with a friend and leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. (If you didn’t… maybe just forget you listened. I’m no O. Henry or Hemingway — just trying to entertain.)<blockquote>If you’re enjoying&nbsp;New Tales Told, take a second to tap that five-star rating on Apple Podcasts (or "Rate the Show" five-stars on Spotify). It helps other listeners find the show—and keeps me from taking that two-star rating too personally. Thanks</blockquote> <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Dead Air – An Original Short Story by Don McDonald

<description>&lt;p&gt;Before there were screens, there was a fire, a voice, and a story. Narrator and author, &lt;strong&gt;Don McDonald&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;invites listeners back to humanity’s oldest tradition—listening.&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;New Tales Told&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;features original fiction inspired by the timeless tales that made us human—stories written for adults, but you won’t need to cover the kids’ ears. Gather by the fire—or more likely, on your walk or in your car—and rediscover the power of a story well told. &lt;strong&gt;You never outgrow good stories.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;If you’re enjoying&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;New Tales Told&lt;/em&gt;, take a second to tap that five-star rating on Apple Podcasts (or "Rate the Show" five-stars on Spotify). It helps other listeners find the show—and keeps me from taking that two-star rating too personally. Thanks&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Brand new stories in a classical style

Before there were screens, there was a fire, a voice, and a story. Narrator and author, Don McDonald&nbsp;invites listeners back to humanity’s oldest tradition—listening.&nbsp;New Tales Told&nbsp;features original fiction inspired by the timeless tales that made us human—stories written for adults, but you won’t need to cover the kids’ ears. Gather by the fire—or more likely, on your walk or in your car—and rediscover the power of a story well told. You never outgrow good stories.<blockquote>If you’re enjoying&nbsp;New Tales Told, take a second to tap that five-star rating on Apple Podcasts (or "Rate the Show" five-stars on Spotify). It helps other listeners find the show—and keeps me from taking that two-star rating too personally. Thanks</blockquote> <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Introducing New Tales Told–Original Short Stories

<description>&lt;p&gt;In a neighborhood caught between old ghosts and new money, Mara just wants a good night’s sleep. But when she offers to walk her neighbor’s barking dog, she steps into the orbit of Iris Lopez—a fiercely independent woman facing the quiet end of her life. What begins as a simple favor becomes a profound exchange of grace, purpose, and belonging.&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;The Borrowed Dog&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;is a story about loneliness, legacy, and the unexpected ways we rescue each other.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;If you’re enjoying&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;New Tales Told&lt;/em&gt;, take a second to tap that five-star rating on Apple Podcasts (or "Rate the Show" five-stars on Spotify). It helps other listeners find the show—and keeps me from taking that two-star rating too personally. Thanks&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

It takes so little to make a difference in someone's life

In a neighborhood caught between old ghosts and new money, Mara just wants a good night’s sleep. But when she offers to walk her neighbor’s barking dog, she steps into the orbit of Iris Lopez—a fiercely independent woman facing the quiet end of her life. What begins as a simple favor becomes a profound exchange of grace, purpose, and belonging.&nbsp;The Borrowed Dog&nbsp;is a story about loneliness, legacy, and the unexpected ways we rescue each other.<blockquote>If you’re enjoying&nbsp;New Tales Told, take a second to tap that five-star rating on Apple Podcasts (or "Rate the Show" five-stars on Spotify). It helps other listeners find the show—and keeps me from taking that two-star rating too personally. Thanks</blockquote> <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

The Borrowed Dog – an Original Short Story by Don McDonald

From the creator of the popular Litreading podcast comes a new collection of original short fiction. New Tales Told features carefully crafted stories new short stories that echo the spirit of classic literature while venturing across time and place—from the distant past to imagined futures. Surprising, thoughtful, sometimes unsettling, these stories explore the enduring power of narrative in a world that keeps changing. The storyteller of old – just a tap away. New Tales Told – the classic short story, reimagined for today. When you're done listening, if you enjoyed the story, I'd be grateful for a five-star rating. If you didn't… maybe just forget you listened. New Tales Told is part of&nbsp;Short Storyverses&nbsp;(<a href="https://open.acast.com/shortstoryverses.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shortstoryverses.com</a>), a growing collection of podcasts devoted to exceptional storytelling. Explore&nbsp;Litreading—our original classic short story podcast featuring a variety of timeless tales;&nbsp;Season’s Readings&nbsp;to brighten your holidays any time of year;&nbsp;FRIGHTLY!&nbsp;for tales of terror; and&nbsp;Readastorus for for younger listeners. Search for all of these titles wherever you get your podcasts.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

New Tales Told – Original Short Stories

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