From TRUTH BE TOLD's June 10th, 2025 show ("First Love/First Lust") Joe Gilford's "Birthday" tells of the eternal battle between love and fear... and about his very noisy first time in 1960's Greenwich Village.

Joe Gilford is a playwright and screenwriter living in Brooklyn. His play "Finks" was a Drama Desk nominee and his new screenplay "Chiaroscuro" is in pre-preparation, for filming in 2027. He teaches screenwriting at NYU and spends most days gazing out his window hoping for the best. More at joegilford.com

TRUTH BE TOLD was created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik and each episode was produced and scored by Eric Svejcar. Logo designed by Joseph Zellnik.

This podcast draws from a hit true story night created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik at Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City. It features members of EST—and friends—who tell heartbreaking, embarrassing, hilarious, true stories based on a theme. This season draws from our first two sold-out evenings in 2025: “First Love, First Lust” and “Scary Monsters.” Each of these 14 episodes will feature one story, and was recorded, scored, and produced by Eric Svejcar. For seven-weeks, stories of love and lust will be released every Monday, and scary monsters every Thursday.