Accessibility links
Kevin Kling Kevin Kling has become well known to NPR listeners thanks to his regular storytelling contributions to NPR's All Things Considered.
Stories By

Kevin Kling

Story Archive

Wednesday

Opinion

Ghost Story: Coma Gives Injured Biker New Insight

Storyteller Kevin Kling tells us of ghosts, but not the scary kind. After a motorcycle accident almost took his life six years ago, Kling recalls, his coma kept him in what he thinks of as two worlds.

Ghost Story: Coma Gives Injured Biker New Insight

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15817043/15817007" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Opinion

Driveway Moments

Prayer: Once a Last Resort, Now a Habit

Storyteller Kevin Kling has often used prayer to try to get himself out of the dumb trouble he finds himself in. But after a life-changing motorcycle accident in 2001, Kling's prayers have changed.

Prayer: Once a Last Resort, Now a Habit

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6788291/6788292" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Wednesday

Opinion

The How and Why of Life and Death

Kevin Kling takes us on a journey that starts with learning how to use voice-recognition software after a motorcycle accident; then to Dante and the things in our lives that haunt us all; some we are born with and others we create with the choices we make.

The How and Why of Life and Death

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6417957/6417958" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Opinion

Weaving the Land into Stories, and History

Storyteller Kevin Kling has just returned from the South Australian Outback. The region isn't just far away from home, Kling says: The familiar is very unfamiliar; the stars in the sky are different, and even the lakes are dry much of the time, quite different from Minnesota. The visit gave him perspective on the land and how the land and stories weave together to create a history.

Weaving the Land into Stories, and History

Audio will be available later today.

Tuesday

Thursday

Friday

Opinion

Daddyland: The Most Magical Place on Earth

After the devastation of the recent hurricanes, writer and storyteller Kevin Kling has been thinking about places and people -- and the connection we have with our neighborhoods and the land. His thoughts turn to his grandfather's farm.

Daddyland: The Most Magical Place on Earth

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4980264/4980265" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Monday

Thursday

Opinion

'Hockey Hair' and Other Buried Memories

Kevin Kling recognizes some peers from his hometown area based on a haircut made famous by a barber in a nearby northern Minnesota town. The incident spurs him unlock doors to the past by opening an old box of photos.

'Hockey Hair' and Other Buried Memories

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4539972/4539973" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

Thursday

Monday

Thursday

Opinion

Passing Sayings Along to a New Generation

Now that storyteller Kevin Kling is at the age his dad was when he remembers his dad best, it all begins to make sense. Losing eyeglasses, getting names of kids and pets mixed up. It also took this long to begin to understand some of dad's old sayings, like "hotter than a three-dollar pistol" or "like a cheap hotel." Now he finds himself passing these sayings along to another generation.

Passing Sayings Along to a New Generation

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/3908786/3908787" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

All Things Considered

Commentary: Minnesota Bus Ride

A six-week bus strike in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul ended recently. For those who drive cars and don't use public transportation, the strike had little effect. But for storyteller Kevin Kling, it was more than just an inconvenience -- and for many their daily routine came to a dead stop.

Commentary: Minnesota Bus Ride

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1902759/1902760" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Friday

All Things Considered

Commentary: Missing the Old Drive-In

Commentator Kevin Kling knows that you can never go back in time. But he has fond memories of going to the drive-in theater in pajamas and falling asleep watching a movie outdoors.

Commentary: Missing the Old Drive-In

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1516892/1516893" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Thursday

All Things Considered

Kevin Kling's Circus Tale

Storyteller Kevin Kling recollects the time he joined the circus, 20 years ago this summer. His love of boat rides, animals and adventure all helped draw him to the circus life. But it was actually the "all you can eat" part that convinced him to join the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater Company and the Circle of Water Circus.

Kevin Kling's Circus Tale

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1404509/1404510" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Thursday

All Things Considered

Kevin Kling on Sitting with Cows

Storyteller Kevin Kling remembers his job at a Chinese Noodle factory and his buddy Larry. Larry hangs out at the Uptown bar. One day, Larry goes missing. Larry tells Kevin that he was sitting with the cows. It turns out that Larry worked at a meat-processing plant, and visiting the cows was his way of looking for forgiveness.

Kevin Kling on Sitting with Cows

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1356327/1356328" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Friday

Thursday

All Things Considered

Kevin Kling: The Girl with the Bat

Storyteller Kevin Kling remembers being young and in great fear of a young girl with a baseball bat. The story turns to thoughts of war, Vietnam draft-dodging and friendship.

Kevin Kling: The Girl with the Bat

Listen · 7:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/981878/981879" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Friday

All Things Considered

Frustration

Storyteller Kevin Kling says since his motorcycle accident over a year ago, he's been leading a life determined by surgeries and recovery. The most menial actions are now mammoth tasks. Kevin takes us on a journey through his day -- today and beyond.

Frustration

Listen · 6:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/901389/901390" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Monday

All Things Considered

Nutcracker

Commentator and storyteller Kevin Kling remembers as a child being enamored of becoming a dancer -- a desire he grew out of. Nevertheless, as an adult, an invitation to participate in a production of The Nutcracker leads him to attempt to re-live the dream.

Nutcracker

Listen · 7:37
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/889110/889111" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org