The Leader

Issue date: 10/16/08 Section: A&E

Media Credit: Jennell Jenney Frank Warren comes to UWM

Inspirational to most and creepy to some, the nation's most trusted stranger, Frank Warren, stopped by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on October 2 for a college tour to share his story of Post Secret. Post Secret is the four-year running post card phenomenon where individuals can send anonymous confessions, either through mail or electronic submission on the Post Secret homepage. At the Frank Warren event, he revealed some selected secrets (including his own) and heard from students. For those who were unable to catch the mystery man in person, The Leader presents an exclusive interview with the secret collector himself.

TL: When and how did Post Secret originate?

FW: In November of 2004 as a nonjudgmental art exhibit in Washington D.C., where people could share their fears, jokes and hopes. The exhibit began to spread virally around the world by news, web and word of mouth. There is a current ongoing international exhibit featuring Post Secret.

TL: On average, how many post cards are sent to your house?

FW: I receive about a 1,000 a week. I keep them all and read each one.

TL: Do your mail carriers hate on you for such a large load of mail?

FW: I have a good relationship with my mail carriers.

TL: Are any of your secrets published in the books?

FW: Yes, there is at least one in all the books.

TL: Where do you store them all?

FW: That's my secret.

TL: You are seen as an inspirational leader to some. How does it make you feel to know that you're the most trusted strange person in America?

FW: It feels like a privilege and at the same time a responsibility to treat everyone's secret with respect and nonjudgmental.

TL: What sort of message, if any, do you want people to achieve in submitting a secret or reading others?

FW: There is no intentional message. But what I have learned is that there are two kinds of secrets: the kind we hide from others and the kind we hide from ourselves.

TL: You've read secrets ranging from hilarious to tragic. How does it make you feel when you read secrets of people exposing terrible things that have happened to them?

FW: It makes me feel less alone with the adversity that I have felt in my life.

TL: How much time you do spend on Post Secret a week?

FW: About 40-50 hours a week. My wife helps me out a lot, my daughter not so much.

TL: Although you aren't a Milwaukee native, do you know what a bubbler is?

FW: No, I can't say I do.

TL: If you could have your choice on who submitted their secrets to you, whose secrets would you like to know?

FW: Maybe Tony Soprano's. He'd have some dark secrets to share.

TL: Is there a possibility for a fifth Post Secret book?

FW: There will be a fifth book and it is possible to be due next year.

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