My Body, My Rules. The Very First Story Slam

January 17, 2026 Our Maiden Voyage of the HMS Mother Ship!

Hey everyone! This week, instead of my regular essay, I’m sharing a post about my new project, which you’ve been hearing a lot about, as mentions at the end of my weekly stories. But this week, I want you to know more. I want you to know that creating a story slam on Substack has been a goal and a dream since I got here two years ago.

My two-year anniversary on the platform is on January 17, 2026!

What better way to celebrate than to launch my dream with all of you? I can’t think of one. Will there be cake? Sure, but it’s imaginary, virtual cake, so you’ll be able to have your favorite kind. That way, no one’s disappointed!

I encourage you to take a look, buy a ticket and check out the first slam or take a leap of faith and become a paid subscriber. If my stories have made you happy, made you think, or contributed to your life in other ways, you’ll have even more fun at the slam, because it won’t just be me. There’s so much talent in this first line-up, you’ll be blown away. Don’t miss it, even if you can’t make it on the date.

Because the event will be available after the show, if you’re a paid subscriber.

The theme is an important one: My Body, My Rules. It’s all about our bodily autonomy, which as women, especially in the US, we’re losing as each day goes by.

Now is the time to be activists. To speak out, to say our piece, and to support one another in any way we can.

I hope you’ll come, I hope you’ll watch, I hope you’ll want to see more.

In 10 days, we’ll be officially launching Wham! Bam! Thank You! Slam! with our first show and our first lineup of fabulous writers. If you’re curious, come see the show. Tickets are limited, it’s an intimate affair!

If you can’t make it, you can always see the replay later.*

This is our first story slam ever at Wham! Bam! Thank You! Slam!

​Will it be a happy new year? Gee, we hope so.

We’re doing things here to contribute to the joy, but also to speak our outrage.

It’s time for us to get down to business. The business of being free to determine what we do with our own bodies and what gets DONE to our bodies, before that right was so jarringly stolen from us. Our bodies belong to us. Only we can say how they’re treated. That’s the theme of our slam this month.

What do you think?

​Come see 10 storytellers do their thing. (we just lost our tenth, anyone want to step in?)

1 story. 4 minutes. Zero dicks. This ain’t no open mic!

Our first show is January 17, 2026 at 5pm ET, our room has limited seating, so if you want to check this out, now’s the time to secure your spot. You can become paid subscriber or buy a ticket.

And now, meet our storytellers. These writers have stepped up, excited to support the stack and tell their stories. You can find out more about each of them by clicking their pink buttons.

Individual tickets are $12 if you’re a guy, and $10 for everyone else…it’s that pesky wage gap thing. We call it our SIRcharge. We have a lot of recouping to do!

You can attend any slam live (12 of ‘em) if you reserve early, or in replay by becoming an annual paid subscriber because the replays will be for paid subscribers only.

You’ll be getting 2 shows for free and supporting this project at a time when building community is essential to our well-being. We’re speaking up, we’re speaking out, and we need your help to do that.

And, please restack this, if you have friends who might love to come.

If you’re a writer on Substack, and you want to tell a story, DM me!

*A good reason to become a paid subscriber:

The after-show posts will be paywalled, with a sneak preview of the slam…why it pays to become a supporter. You’ll have access to the live performance, which is first-come, first-serve and access to all posts in the archive.