Rendition Short Stories and Jokes to Tell to Your Friends Mon, 27 Oct 2025 19:21:00 +0000 Mon, 27 Oct 2025 19:21:00 +0000 Libsyn RSSgen 1.0 https://alexcespedes.com en 2018 Aktiv Innovations LLC https://alexcespedes.com alex@alexcespedes.com (alex@alexcespedes.com) A mix of short stories and jokes you can re-tell to your friends. Each week, you’ll hear two or three popular tales based around a common (and timeless) theme. Because history may not always repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/e/b/3/1/eb316dc5d7c3c7eb/rendition3K.jpg Rendition Alex Cespedes yes episodic folk,tales,fables,allegory,stories,parables,jokes,folklore,music,movies no alex@alexcespedes.comAlex Cespedes Unfaithful Unfaithful Wed, 12 Sep 2018 05:12:30 +0000 Stories of cheating on your spouse are as old as time. These three short stories help us understand how--and why--people are unfaithful.

]]> Stories of cheating on your spouse are as old as time. These three short stories help us understand how--and why--people are unfaithful.

]]> 19:14 false 2 3 full Alex Cespedes alex@alexcespedes.com (Alex Cespedes)Stories of cheating on your spouse are as old as time. These three short stories help us understand how--and why--people are unfaithful. This One's A Steal This One's A Steal Tue, 04 Sep 2018 02:23:03 +0000 At an early age we learn that crime has its consequences, especially if we steal another's property. This episode has four stories that show us how ironic and surprising a thief's karma could be.

]]> At an early age we learn that crime has its consequences, especially if we steal another's property. This episode has four stories that show us how ironic and surprising a thief's karma could be.

]]> 19:41 false 2 2 full Alex Cespedes alex@alexcespedes.com (Alex Cespedes)At an early age we learn that crime has its consequences, especially if we steal another's property. This episode has four stories that show us how ironic and surprising a thief's karma could be. Lie To Me Lie To Me Thu, 16 Aug 2018 04:24:43 +0000 A lie can hurt, damage, and even destroy. But, can it ever serve a purpose? Can it help us? These three short stories all revolve around lies told by those closest to us, with surprising effects.

]]> A lie can hurt, damage, and even destroy. But, can it ever serve a purpose? Can it help us? These three short stories all revolve around lies told by those closest to us, with surprising effects.

]]> 20:48 false 2 1 full Alex Cespedes alex@alexcespedes.com (Alex Cespedes)A lie can hurt, damage, and even destroy. But, can it ever serve a purpose? Can it help us? These three short stories all revolve around lies told by those closest to us, with surprising effects. Not-So-Great Expectations Not-So-Great Expectations Wed, 08 Nov 2017 04:33:18 +0000 Expectations usually free up brain bandwidth for the BIG stuff, but they can also imprison us in a flat view of the world.  In this episode, three cautionary stories of when expectations go wrong...

]]> Expectations usually free up brain bandwidth for the BIG stuff, but they can also imprison us in a flat view of the world.  In this episode, three cautionary stories of when expectations go wrong...

]]> 18:03 false 1 7 full Alex Cespedes alex@alexcespedes.com (Alex Cespedes)Expectations usually free up brain bandwidth for the BIG stuff, but they can also imprison us in a flat view of the world.  In this episode, three cautionary stories of when expectations go wrong... The Wise Fool The Wise Fool Mon, 30 Oct 2017 04:10:59 +0000 Every country, near and far, seems to have this one stock character in its folklore. I first became fascinated by this character as a 9-year-old when I was growing up in the Dominican Republic. We'll call this character "The Wise Fool" and hear a handful of stories that showcase the characters versatility and charm.

Music by Ben Murray-Smith and iAmLarry

]]> Every country, near and far, seems to have this one stock character in its folklore. I first became fascinated by this character as a 9-year-old when I was growing up in the Dominican Republic. We'll call this character "The Wise Fool" and hear a handful of stories that showcase the characters versatility and charm.

Music by Ben Murray-Smith and iAmLarry

]]> 18:14 false 1 6 full Alex Cespedes alex@alexcespedes.com (Alex Cespedes)Every country, near and far, seems to have this one stock character in its folklore. I first became fascinated by this character as a 9-year-old when I was growing up in the Dominican Republic. We'll call this character "The Wise Fool" and hear a handful of stories that showcase the characters versatility and charm. Music by Ben Murray-Smith and iAmLarry Clever Is As Clever Does Clever Is As Clever Does Mon, 23 Oct 2017 03:46:49 +0000 Are geniuses born, or made? In this week's episode we hear two ancient stories about brilliant youths, and we see both perspectives to this question. These two folktales also happen to be the genesis of two modern movie genres.

Music by: Ben Murray-Smith and Liam-LRY

]]> Are geniuses born, or made? In this week's episode we hear two ancient stories about brilliant youths, and we see both perspectives to this question. These two folktales also happen to be the genesis of two modern movie genres.

Music by: Ben Murray-Smith and Liam-LRY

]]> 23:10 false 1 5 full Alex Cespedes alex@alexcespedes.com (Alex Cespedes)Are geniuses born, or made? In this week's episode we hear two ancient stories about brilliant youths, and we see both perspectives to this question. These two folktales also happen to be the genesis of two modern movie genres. Music by: Ben Murray-Smith and Liam-LRY It Was All A Dream... It Was All A Dream Mon, 16 Oct 2017 02:15:04 +0000 Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions. A common motif in stories, movies, and music, is to bring in a dream as foreshadowing for what will happen later. Sometimes, it even drives the drama within the plot. This week we hear two stories in which dreams foreshadow and determine the main characters' fate.

]]> Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions. A common motif in stories, movies, and music, is to bring in a dream as foreshadowing for what will happen later. Sometimes, it even drives the drama within the plot. This week we hear two stories in which dreams foreshadow and determine the main characters' fate.

]]> 17:46 false 1 4 full Alex Cespedes alex@alexcespedes.com (Alex Cespedes)Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions. A common motif in stories, movies, and music, is to bring in a dream as foreshadowing for what will happen later. Sometimes, it even drives the drama within the plot. This week we hear two stories in which dreams foreshadow and determine the main characters' fate. Let's Play "Pretend" Let's Play "Pretend" Tue, 10 Oct 2017 06:06:23 +0000 Stories since the beginning of time have been thrilling us by having characters take on false identities. In this episode we look at one legendary song and two folktales that show us the GOOD and BAD consequences of pretending to be someone we're not. Major thanks to Christopher Wallace, Aaron Shepard, and O. Henry for their contribution to the legacy of stories.

]]> Stories since the beginning of time have been thrilling us by having characters take on false identities. In this episode we look at one legendary song and two folktales that show us the GOOD and BAD consequences of pretending to be someone we're not. Major thanks to Christopher Wallace, Aaron Shepard, and O. Henry for their contribution to the legacy of stories.

]]> 36:35 false 1 3 full Alex Cespedes alex@alexcespedes.com (Alex Cespedes)Stories since the beginning of time have been thrilling us by having characters take on false identities. In this episode we look at one legendary song and two folktales that show us the GOOD and BAD consequences of pretending to be someone we're not. Major thanks to Christopher Wallace, Aaron Shepard, and O. Henry for their contribution to the legacy of stories. Infatuation, Thy Name is Love Infatuation, Thy Name is Love Wed, 04 Oct 2017 08:17:27 +0000 Love stories are as old as time, but then again, so are stories about its creepy sibling-emotion: infatuation. Unrequited love often brings a feeling of obsession, and these two folk tales paint the picture of the lengths humans will go to just to catch the apple of their eye.

]]> Love stories are as old as time, but then again, so are stories about its creepy sibling-emotion: infatuation. Unrequited love often brings a feeling of obsession, and these two folk tales paint the picture of the lengths humans will go to just to catch the apple of their eye.

]]> 24:08 false 1 2 full Alex Cespedes alex@alexcespedes.com (Alex Cespedes)Love stories are as old as time, but then again, so are stories about its creepy sibling-emotion: infatuation. Unrequited love often brings a feeling of obsession, and these two folk tales paint the picture of the lengths humans will go to just to catch the apple of their eye. A Stranger Comes To Town A Stranger Comes To Town Wed, 04 Oct 2017 08:10:44 +0000 Tolstoy once said that "all great literature is one of two stories: someone goes on a journey, or a stranger comes to town." In this first episode we hear three folk stories centered around this most familiar theme: a stranger shows up to disrupt the status quo.

]]> Tolstoy once said that "all great literature is one of two stories: someone goes on a journey, or a stranger comes to town." In this first episode we hear three folk stories centered around this most familiar theme: a stranger shows up to disrupt the status quo.

]]> 24:20 false 1 1 full Alex Cespedes alex@alexcespedes.com (Alex Cespedes)Tolstoy once said that "all great literature is one of two stories: someone goes on a journey, or a stranger comes to town." In this first episode we hear three folk stories centered around this most familiar theme: a stranger shows up to disrupt the status quo. Rendition Trailer Rendition Trailer Wed, 27 Sep 2017 01:15:45 +0000 Come along for a modern re-telling of timeless stories, from ancient Egyptian fables, to Shakespearean plot twists, folk tales, and even pop songs that all have one thing in common--they take you on a journey.

]]> Come along for a modern re-telling of timeless stories, from ancient Egyptian fables, to Shakespearean plot twists, folk tales, and even pop songs that all have one thing in common--they take you on a journey.

]]> 44 false trailer Alex Cespedes alex@alexcespedes.com (Alex Cespedes)Come along for a modern re-telling of timeless stories, from ancient Egyptian fables, to Shakespearean plot twists, folk tales, and even pop songs that all have one thing in common--they take you on a journey.