A warning, this episode contains explicit language and content.

Listener discretion is advised.

The lead of a story is the first, you know, two, three paragraphs, whatever.

It's not very long, that's what they call the lead, it's L-E-D-E.

Don't ask about all the weirdo spelling and internalism.

I sometimes use the analogy of a house.

So am I going to lead you through the fabulous, fancy front doors?

Am I going to sneak you in the bathroom window?

Am I going to, like, stand outside with you for a while?

The lead has so much internal music in it and beats and feeling.

I have to hear everything.

Everything should be metronomic.

It's like tick, tick, tick.

You should be able to tap the foot through the entire story.

It's like the opening, duh!

For the reader, like the opening scene of something.

OK, here we go.

I once read that serial killer John Wayne Gacy's brain was missing.

Someone had stolen it.

Following Gacy's execution, the brain was extracted

in hopes that probing the gray matter might shed some light

on why killers kill.

...