All Grown Up Now
ALL GROWN UP: A tale of retail, relocation, revenge, re-invention, reckless behavior, really good clothes, indiscretion, infidelity, domestic violence, and one kidnapping. This is a memoir, told in a series of podcasts, by Kenneth D. King, podcasting from his studio near union Square in New York City. It's the story of a small-town boy who dreams of being a “grown-up”, and his journey to get there. Each week, you'll hear another installment of his story.
All Grown Up Now is the story of a life, seen through the framework of a friendship. Written like a novel, the story follows two main characters, Ken, and Mark, on a fast-paced romp through the 1980's and early 90's, blazing a path through retail, relocation, revenge, re-invention, reckless behavior, really good clothes, infidelity, domestic violence, kidnapping, and one kidnapping. (Really.)
While it runs from the 1980's to early 90's, this isn't a story that runs in a straight line--the story itself serves somewhat as a string for "beads", episodes which are flashbacks and detours that relate back to the story at hand—the story of how Ken becomes a “grown-up”.
All Grown Up Now: A Friendship in Three acts, available as a printed book, or an eBook, on Amazon.com.
- Update frequency
- every 14 days
- Average duration
- 20 minutes
- Episodes
- 98
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2023
Episode 64: All the Retail Ladies!
In my time in retail, I encountered a number of formidable women--individuals who had style, class, humor, and power. This podcast is an hommage to some of them.
Episode 63: How do you define Success?
Success is different things to different people. There are the markers of success--fame, money, exposure in the media--but who defines it? And why not define it for oneself?
Episode 62: The Sunburn
We learn the hilarious circumstances whereby Ken gets his first sunburn in Oklahoma City in 1981!
Episode 61: Flowers From Elton
In this episode, we hear of the time when Sir Elton sent flowers to Ken's studio-warming party in 1989. The effect of this gesture was to finally convince Miss Ann that her son had actually "made so…
Episode 60: Boys' Shorts 5
In this short episode, learn about how Ken ruined a career in fast food. Also, mud wrestling!
Episode 59: Reflections on choice
This is a musing on choices--choices that broaden one's horizons as well as ones that narrow them, illustrated by observing Miss Ann's choices growing up.
Episode 58: Boys' Shorts 4
In Boys' Shorts 4, learn about caged birds and bad luck, and how 1,399 gay men can create a microclimate!
Episode 57: The Valentine's Day Stories
Hear about Ken's personal Valentine's Day Jinx, and how it eventually broke.
Episode 56: Misadventures in Window Display
Ken quite his job at Macy's, trading down to work for a store in San Francisco called The Emporium. This podcast recounts some of his misadventures there.
Episode 55: The Chicago Stories
I find that there are places that seem to agree with me, and some that don't. Chicago and the surrounding suburbs--don't. This is not a diss of Chicago, it's just--me. Redacted for your listening p…
Episode 54: Pearl August
Pearl August was one of the strong women I met and loved in my early New York days. This is her story.
Episode 52: Coming Out
In everyone's life, there are decisions that impact on all else that comes after. For this episode, Ken talks about the decision that has impacted the rest of his life-- his coming out.
Episode 51: Boys' Shorts 3
Boys' Shirts 3 is two stories: The Qualities of Silence, and Beards and Veils. You will learn that silence sounds different depending on context, and also--why men don't wear veils!
Episode 50: Love Letter to Darrell
Ken regards Darrell as the Gold Standard for Stand-up men. They dated in the early 1980's in Oklahoma City, and this is their story!
Episode 49: A short tale of authenticity
This is a short tale of how decisions one makes can impact others. Authenticity is something I've chosen, and every now and then, I get confirmation that I've made the right choice.
Episode 48: Jet Set
One of my New York stories: Patty is one of the many strong women who populate my life. Stylish, intelligent, successful--she is what Barbie wanted to be when she grew up! With cameo appearances by…
Episode 47: One Balmy Manhattan Evening
Learn about the adventures of Ken, Pearl, Elka, and the black-sock-fetishists!
Episode 46: Pink Tarantula
This episode chronicles one day in the late 1990's in San Francisco. This was the day that Ken knew that San Francisco had reached a tipping point. The central character is Carmel, the Mayor of Langt…
Episode 45: Love Letter to Susan
Susan Weiss, and her husband George, were Ken's surrogate parents when he moved to San Francisco in 1981. They were a glamorous couple who ran a famous jazz club called the Blackhawk in the Tenderlo…
Episode 44: The Stolen Wallet
This episode details how Miss Ann lost a very valuable piece of her history after her wallet was stolen. in the process, Ken gets mashed on by a saggy stripper.