SILVER CORD STORIES

About SILVER CORD STORIES

Award-winning television writer Bob D. Smiley (Netflix's Atypical) will make you laugh and stir your soul with his original short stories, performed by Bob and a rotating selection of his incredibly talented and possibly famous friends. www.silvercordstories.com (https://www.silvercordstories.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Bob D. Smiley

Category

comedy · fiction

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Mar 2026

Latest episode

30 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Jul 2026

   Bob Smiley Performs "Darryl the Magnificent"

   What do you when you’re living in a house without wonder? You try to pull off the biggest magic trick of all time. Sit back and enjoy “Darryl the Magnificent,” Episode #10 of The Silver Cord Stories Podcast. And to never miss a story or podcast from Bob D. Smiley, become a subscriber at Silver Cord Stories (https://www.silvercordstories.com/). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe (https://www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

2. 

   23 Jun 2026

   Audio: "Now I Know Where Babies Come From"

   Episode #9 of The Silver Cord Stories Podcast brings you my honest, humbling, and hopefully hilarious account of what it was like to watch my wife give birth to our firstborn. If you enjoy this, the best way you can say thank you is to share with others and become a subscriber! Paid subscribers to SILVER CORD STORIES receive a signed copy of my new book—FOR FREE! SHOW NOTES: * “Now I Know Where Babies Come From” on Silver Cord Stories (https://www.silvercordstories.com/p/the-day-my-wife-became-a-mom) * The Silver Cord (https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Cord-Bob-D-Smiley/dp/B0GFKGQD75/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0) now available on Amazon Get full access to SILVER CORD STORIES at www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe (https://www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   11 Jun 2026

   Audio: "Dead Meat"

   This would make one heck of a short film. Actor Eric Nenninger (Mad Men and 100 other things) channels his inner trucker to bring this moody tale to life in a way only a true talent can. Listen. Share. Enjoy. --- Thanks for listening to SILVER CORD STORIES. To support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at www.silvercordstories.com Get full access to SILVER CORD STORIES at www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe (https://www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

4. 

   4 Jun 2026

   Audio: "Why I Invited My Co-Worker to Church for Easter... and Why It Was a Mistake"

   Obliviousness is one of my favorite qualities in a character. The narrator of this tale is just that. Actor Eric Nenninger is back to perform one of the most popular Silver Cord Stories to date (https://www.silvercordstories.com/p/why-i-invited-my-co-worker-to-church). Enjoy. --- SILVER CORD STORIES is a reader-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at SILVERCORDSTORIES.COM. Get full access to SILVER CORD STORIES at www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe (https://www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

5. 

   28 May 2026

   Audio: "Cruel Summer"

   Summer is almost here, making this the perfect time to share a brand new recording of “Cruel Summer.” (https://www.silvercordstories.com/p/cruel-summer?r=2u3pnq) Having trudged through the college application process twice with my own kids—and having helped a few others since—I can’t overstate the pressure put on high school seniors to craft a tear-jerking application essay. This story pokes fun at the whole inane system and the lengths parents will go to in order to guarantee their child admission into a top-tier college. So yes, this is satire. And yet… when I posted a reel for the story on Instagram, I received HUNDREDS of comments and messages from real-life teens BEGGING for me to bring them on my next 10-mile, water-free march across the salt flats of Death Valley. Enjoy. ----- For access to all my stories, visit SilverCordStories.com (https://www.silvercordstories.com/). And buy THE SILVER CORD, now on sale: The Silver Cord on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Cord-Bob-D-Smiley/dp/B0GFKGQD75/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0) The Silver Cord on Barnes & Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-silver-cord-bob-d-smiley/1149680728?ean=9798218909895) The Silver Cord on Bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-silver-cord-bob-d-smiley/4a382e552da8953c?ean=9798218909895&next=t) Get full access to SILVER CORD STORIES at www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe (https://www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

6. 

   19 May 2026

   Hollywood Actor Eric Nenninger Performs "Softie"

   Ten years ago I wrote and produced a TV pilot that—at $2+ million dollars—was the most expensive pilot Disney Channel had ever made. It was a musical about a vampire boy band. Don’t laugh. It was actually awesome and if you come to my house I will screen you the only copy in existence. The boy band had already been cast but what we needed was an actor to play their manager. We saw a lot of famous faces but one actor stood out: Eric Nenninger. If you’ve watched any TV in the last 20 years, the odds of you missing Eric are statistically impossible. Eric’s credits include (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0626069/) Malcolm in the Middle, Mad Men, The Rookie, Big Bang Theory, Wet Hot American Summer, The Politician, The Flash… and that’s just scratching the surface. Eric is funny and smart and a total pro. I’ll never forget during rehearsals on the pilot where our director Adam Stein gave the cast an acting exercise. He pulled a random line of dialogue from the script and asked everyone to deliver it in as many different ways as possible. Long after everyone else had run out of line readings, Eric just kept going. And going. And going. It was like a magic trick. When Eric agreed to come on the podcast and perform a Silver Cord Story, I shouldn’t have been surprised when he said, “Can I do two stories?” (He has since told me he’s doing a third whether I like it or not.) So sit back and enjoy Eric Nenninger… performing the story “Softie.” To receive all new posts and podcasts, become a subscriber at silvercordstories.com. Get full access to SILVER CORD STORIES at www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe (https://www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

7. 

   7 May 2026

   Audio: "Factory Reset"

   Welcome back to the Silver Cord Stories Podcast. Every few weeks, I’m recording and releasing an audio version of one of my original stories. “Factory Reset” came out early last year, but since my readership has grown 750% since then (thank you!) it seemed worthy of being re-released this week and now recorded for all to hear! As promised, some TBA talented friends will soon be reading their own favorite Silver Cord Stories in the weeks to come. So stay tuned — and thanks for listening. THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Some of the best story ideas come from just asking, “What if…” In this case, my old cell phone had been warning me over and over that it was dangerously low on storage. As a writer, rather than fix the problem, instead I asked, “What if someone received a notification that their brain was running out of room and a tech company offered to clear up some space? What’s the worst (and best?) that could happen?” With that, I was off to the races. For access to all my stories, subscribe for free at silvercordstories.com (http://silvercordstories.com). And buy THE SILVER CORD, now on sale: The Silver Cord on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Cord-Bob-D-Smiley/dp/B0GFKGQD75/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0) The Silver Cord on Barnes & Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-silver-cord-bob-d-smiley/1149680728?ean=9798218909895) The Silver Cord on Bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-silver-cord-bob-d-smiley/4a382e552da8953c?ean=9798218909895&next=t) Thanks for listening to SILVER CORD STORIES. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to SILVER CORD STORIES at www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe (https://www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

8. 

   16 Apr 2026

   Audio: Monsoon

   I remember as a kid a pushy realtor who was always dropping off notepads at our house. It felt like every time we came home, a fresh pile was on our front mat. Sometimes we’d pull up and he’d be scampering off to his car like a rabbit back into the shrubs. For a decade every grocery list we had was scribbled on a Don L. Carlton notepad. And look, the fact I can still remember his name says Don L. Carlton accomplished exactly what he wanted: name recognition. Truth be told, we all want to be known. Lisette Buckingham, the protagonist of “Monsoon,” is no different. But Lisette’s reasons go deeper. And when the high of her local fame can’t solve her existential problems… it’s just a matter of time before she bursts. Enjoy. For the text version of “Monsoon,” click here (https://www.silvercordstories.com/p/monsoon?r=2u3pnq). For access to all my stories, subscribe for free at silvercordstories.com (http://silvercordstories.com). And buy THE SILVER CORD, now on sale: The Silver Cord on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Cord-Bob-D-Smiley/dp/B0GFKGQD75/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0) The Silver Cord on Barnes & Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-silver-cord-bob-d-smiley/1149680728?ean=9798218909895) The Silver Cord on Bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-silver-cord-bob-d-smiley/4a382e552da8953c?ean=9798218909895&next=t) Thanks for listening to SILVER CORD STORIES. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to SILVER CORD STORIES at www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe (https://www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

9. 

   8 Apr 2026

   Audio: "Did You Hear About the Jankowskis?"

   This wild tale of a couple and their cruise ship addiction has garnered a lot of love the last few weeks. To say thanks, I bumped it to the front of my recording queue. Bon voyage! STORY NOTES: The question I hear most often about a story is, “Where does this stuff come from?” In this case, I can thank my 70-something mother and her longtime gentleman friend, who on multiple occasions have stumbled into situations on the high seas that have netted them a fancy bottle of wine and some shipboard credit. Unlike the Jankowskis, they’re not looking for trouble, but it finds them nonetheless. It got me thinking about a less scrupulous couple who taste the good life… and refuse to look back. For more of my writing, you can order: The Silver Cord on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Cord-Bob-D-Smiley/dp/B0GFKGQD75/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0) The Silver Cord on Barnes & Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-silver-cord-bob-d-smiley/1149680728?ean=9798218909895) The Silver Cord on Bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-silver-cord-bob-d-smiley/4a382e552da8953c?ean=9798218909895&next=t) Or follow Bob and The Silver Cord on: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/silvercordstories/) Twitter (https://x.com/masterfulbob) Get full access to SILVER CORD STORIES at www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe (https://www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

10. 

    30 Mar 2026

    Audio: bRobert

    I am thrilled (and a little scared?) to bring you the debut of The Silver Cord Stories PODCAST! Every episode, one of my original short stories will be read by a real human who is incredibly talented and possibly famous. While I get busy calling in some favors, this first episode is being read… by me! And why not? “bRobert” is the only story in The Silver Cord (https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Cord-Bob-D-Smiley/dp/B0GFKGQD75/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0) that is autobiographical. No matter the format, my goal remains the same: to make you laugh and stir your soul. So push play, enjoy, and make sure to keep a lookout for Silver Cord Stories on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite audio player. —Bob For more of Bob’s writing, you can order: The Silver Cord on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Cord-Bob-D-Smiley/dp/B0GFKGQD75/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0) The Silver Cord on Barnes & Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-silver-cord-bob-d-smiley/1149680728?ean=9798218909895) The Silver Cord on Bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-silver-cord-bob-d-smiley/4a382e552da8953c?ean=9798218909895&next=t) Or follow Bob and The Silver Cord on: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/silvercordstories/) Twitter (https://x.com/masterfulbob) Thanks for reading SILVER CORD STORIES! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to SILVER CORD STORIES at www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe (https://www.silvercordstories.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings