2nd Story

"I won't judge you. I'm in five-inch yoga shorts right now. I have no moral high ground."
"Gaming is basically couples therapy at our never-ending slumber party called marriage."
"We in this together: if you believe you are safe with me, I will believe I'm safe with you."

Three tellers. Three searches for transformation. One night of stories about faith, defiance, and the radical act of being seen whole.

Magic, Maybe | Sunday, June 7 | Haymarket Pub & Brewery Doors 5:30 | Stories 6:00

tickets @ 2ndstory.com
***rJoy

What grows from the heady combination of faith, effort, and defiance?

A Midwestern boy meets his inner child at a California spiritual retreat. A Black q***r woman navigates bisexual stereotypes and racism through the world of a video game she plays with her husband. A pastor learns to balance self-protection and vulnerability with the very congregants she's called to lead.

These are the stories in Magic, Maybe — 2nd Story's annual Q***r Joy celebration, curated by Aimy Tien and featuring Byron Flitsch, Brandi Jiminez Lee, and jessica young chang.

Sunday, June 7 | Haymarket Pub & Brewery Doors 5:30 | Stories 6:00

tickets @ 2ndstory.com Join the riot and the party.

***rJoy

Save the Date — Cross-Pollination

Albany Park has always been a place where people arrive and make something new.

On June 20, 2nd Story and our neighbors are throwing open the doors for Cross-Pollination — a free community celebration of what migration and immigration have made possible in one of the most beautifully diverse neighborhoods in the world.

Storytelling. Snacks. Activities. Neighbors you haven't met yet.

More details coming soon — save the date and bring a friend!
Free and open to all. 🌱

NEW PODCAST FRIDAY! Check out Love Grows, the first in our series celebrating Mother's and Father's Day! Listen here:

Episode 336: Love Grows In this week's story, we begin a celebration of parenthood with a story about the highs, lows, and loves of foster parenting.

We’re on a field trip this morning for a super exciting StoryBuilds event.

What’s StoryBuilds you ask? It’s our program that applies our artistic craft to business contexts and helps teams become more connected, engaged, and effective.

And sometimes we get to partner with legends like .and.the.goat to make it happen. ❤️

Want to learn more? Let us know in the comments and we’ll slide into your DMs 😘

"Which is how I came to break up with my husband of forty years by text."

"James was the emotional stability of our home because he felt his feelings the loudest."

"When I left that day, I felt like a whole person — not a patient."

Three tellers. Three life-shifting moments. One night of real stories about what it means to show up for yourself and each other.

Showing Up | Sunday, May 3 | Haymarket Pub & Brewery Doors 5:30 | Stories 6:00

Link in bio for tickets.

NEW PODCAST FRIDAY! Check out You're Soaking In It from teller PJ Gray! Listen here:

Episode 335: PJ Gray - You're Soaking In It In this week's story, teller PJ Gray recalls a rather harrowing day with a babysitter and the lesson on survival he learned at that young age.

NEW PODCAST FRIDAY! Check out (Not A) Debacle from teller Julie Ganey! Listen here:

Episode 334: Julie Ganey - (Not A) Debacle In this week's story, teller Julie Ganey shares how she learned to take care of problems early and the difference it makes when past wrongs get forgotten.

NEW PODCAST FRIDAY! Check out Oh Hell No! from teller Geneva Norman! Listen here:

Episode 333: Geneva Norman - Oh Hell No! In this week’s story, teller Geneva Norman recalls how, in the wake of an unexpected pregnancy, her community banded together to blaze a path forward.

Today is the first day of spring. The season turns toward the light –– and so do we!

This April 18, 2nd Story's Birthday Bash brings The Shape of Courage home to Chicago: the city that has always known how to meet hard times with creativity, resilience, and each other.

An evening of powerful stories. Real laughter. And the reminder that showing up — for your neighbors, for the truth, for the room — is its own kind of bravery.

Khanisha Foster. Matt Miller. Karla Estela Rivera. Michelle's Ballroom. Doors at 7:30.

Tickets from $50 — because everyone should be part of the story.

www.2ndstory.com/birthdaybash2026