Radiotopia Presents: We're Doing the Wiz

Artist and documentarian Jess Shane posts a Craigslist ad: “Does your story need to be told? Tell it in a documentary! Seeking shocking, heartbreaking, and transformative stories for a new series about the documentary industry. Compensation provided.” After days of auditions, Shane casts four participants, each with varied relationships to why they want to share their stories, from Ernesto, a recovering addict and fashion model who dreams of making it big, to Judy, an unhoused senior who wants to get off the street and give voice to the homeless. Through the making of documentaries about the participants, the series asks provocative questions about the story creation process, whether “sharing your story” is really as liberating as our culture imagines it can be, and how “being produced” for a show can shift someone’s relationship to their own experience. The series also explores the business side of the equation, such as how the forces underpinning today’s booming documentary marketplace impact whose stories are told or deemed valuable.Shane also turns her mic to subjects to weigh in on standard documentary protocol, from the concept of “access” and the taboo of paying subjects to the logistics of editorial control. Ultimately, “Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative” asks listeners to consider their own relationship to this popular genre of content.Learn more about “Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative” at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Today, longtime Presents producer Ian Coss shares a new project with a simple premise. If you want to talk about music today, you need to talk about migration – the movement of people around this earth. “Movement with Meklit Hadero” is a podcast that lives at that intersection: stories of music and migration, remixed. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Today, we’re introducing our Radiotopia Presents listeners to a brand new show out now from PRX. It’s called What’s Ray Saying?. In this first episode from the newest season, Ray Christian looks at the history of Black medicine and to better understand the treatment of the ills, injuries and minds of Black Americans, he reflects on his first experience of going to the doctor.What’s Ray Saying? is created, hosted, and written by Ray Christian and recorded in the great state of North Carolina. Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Jonathan Cabral is the associate producer. Story editing by Mark Pagán with development support from The Moth. Sound design by Rebecca Seidel. Original music comes from RJ Christian and Blue Dot Sessions.To find out more about What Ray’s Saying? visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or at whatraysaying.com.This series is supported by PRX, The Moth, and listeners like you. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Today, we are sharing an episode of Monumental, by our old friend Gisele Regatão, the producer/director of a hit dog will holler. For generations, Christopher Columbus has been glorified in monument after monument across the United States. And while Columbus statues have recently started coming down, including in cities like Columbus, Ohio, the largest one in the world is standing tall - very, very tall… in a U.S. territory – the beach town of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. In this episode, Gisele travels to Puerto Rico and beyond to uncover the roots of Columbus’ glorification in U.S. history and why he came to be represented in so many public statues – even though he never actually set foot on the U.S. mainland. And she visits a community artist in Woodside, Queens who confronts the myth of Columbus by creating new monuments that celebrate immigrant stories. A new podcast from PRX, Monumental interrogates the state of monuments across the greater U.S. and what their future says about where we are now and where we’re going. Join host Ashley C. Ford and a team of independent producers in this 10-episode series where we confront the reality of what we have publicly celebrated and memorialized thus far, exploring big questions about the past, present, and future of our monuments. Monumental is produced by PRX Productions, PRX’s award-winning creative studio specializing in audio storytelling. The series is generously supported by the Mellon Foundation. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Borrowed & Banned is a podcast from Brooklyn Public Library about tells the story of America’s ideological war with its bookshelves. Over seven episodes, hosts Virginia Marshall and Adwoa Adusei talk to students on the frontlines, librarians and teachers whose livelihoods are endangered when they speak up, and writers whose books have become political battleground. With every episode, they’ll share steps you can take to combat censorship, no matter how old you are. Subscribe on BPL’s website (https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts) or your podcast app of choice (https://pod.link/1453877748). Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

From tenderfoot.tv comes a new compelling podcast about 24-year-old Alana Chen who disappeared from Boulder, Colorado in 2019. She left behind two dozen journals chronicling a deep faith, her love of the outdoors, and her dream of becoming a nun. Alana also kept a secret, one that put her dream at risk. In this first episode, Simon travels to Boulder to meet Alana’s mother, Joyce, and becomes determined to help her understand what happened to Alana. To hear more Dear Alana visit apple.co/dearalana. For ad-free listening and exclusive content subscribe to Tenderfoot+ at tenderfoot.tv/plusTenderfoot's social handles: IG: @tenderfoot.tvTwitter: @TenderfootTVFB: Tenderfoot TVDear Alana social handles: IG: @dearalanapod Twitter: @dearalanapod FB: @DearAlana Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In this episode, we’re introducing our Radiotopia Presents listeners to a brand new show out now from Radiotopia. It’s called Weight For It. Weight For It unpacks the nuanced thoughts of fat folks, and of all folks who think about their weight all the time. Through narrative storytelling, and some memoir, host Ronald Young Jr. hopes to have the conversations that we tend to avoid when it comes to our bodies. We hope you’ll give Weight For It a try. If you like what you hear, subscribe to Weight For It in your podcast app of choice or find the show here. The team: Creator, Host, and Executive Producer: Ronald Young Jr. Editor: Sarah DealySound Design and Mixing: The Reverend John DeLore Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Today we’re introducing our Radiotopia Presents listeners to a brand new dating game show, out now from Radiotopia. It’s called Hang Up. In each season, one person (the Star) is matched with six prospective love interests (the Callers). They go on dates over the phone and never see each other. After the dates, the Star chooses one person to “hang up” on and eliminate from the show. But there’s a twist— in the end, the final, remaining Caller makes their own choice: to either choose the Star back and take an all-expenses-paid vacation together or hang up on the Star and take a cash prize instead. We hope you enjoy episode 1 of Hang Up! To find out what happens on the rest of the season, subscribe to Hang Up in your podcast app of choice or find the show here. The team: Hang Up is created and produced by Caitlin Pierce, an award-winning audio producer and editor whose work has appeared on NPR, WNYC, KCRW, and BBC. The host and story editor is Zakiya Gibbons, an award-winning audio producer, editor and host who has worked with Gimlet, WNYC and Audible. She's also the co-founder of POC in Audio, a directory of people of color working in audio. Ben Montoya is the story editor, mixer, and sound designer. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Today we share the first episode of a new series, Dreamtown, from our friends at Crooked Media. Bug’s Plan. It’s 2014. Adelanto is a bankrupt city in the California desert known for its massive detention centers and not much else. Then, a stranger comes to town with a wild idea to make Adelanto great again: Become the first city in Southern California to legalize commercial weed cultivation. Subscribe to Dreamtown to hear episodes one through five right now wherever you get your podcasts. Adelanto is an original podcast from Crooked Media. It’s hosted, written and executive produced by David Weinberg. Nick White is the story editor. Angel Carreres is the associate producer, Sound Design Mix and Mastering by Brendan Baker of Phenomophon. The theme song is by Icarus himself, and the original score is by Eric Phillips. Fact Checking by Amy Tardif. Additional production help from Inez Maza, Sydney Rapp and Kobe Copeland. Thanks to Betsy Zajko for narrating portions of the show. From Crooked Media, Executive producers are Sarah Geismer, Katie Long and Mary Knauf with special thanks to Alison Falzetta, Lyra Smith, Andrew Leland, Richard Parks, III, Shaka Mali and Katya Apekina.Episode website: https://crooked.com/podcast/chapter-1-bugs-plan Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

We have a treat for you this Fathers Day—an episode from Radiotopia’s The Heart. In the latest season titled DAD, The Heart brings you a different kind of love story, one between a father and daughter.In this first episode, Kaitlin tells the story of her relationship with her dad from birth to adulthood. As she matures into adulthood, she grapples with the period of her life that the family calls 'World War 3' and what it means for her relationship with her dad.Trigger Warning: topics related to physical and mental abuse. ⁠ Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In honor of Mother's Day, we revisit the first episode of author Jason Reynolds’ audio memoir, My Mother Made Me, featuring (and celebrating) one of our favorite mothers–Isabell Reynolds. It’s a wonderful introduction to Jason and a love letter to his mother, Isabell. We hope you enjoy – and maybe share with a mother figure in your life. My Mother Made Me is a production of Radiotopia Presents, and is written and narrated by Jason Reynolds with his mother, Isabell Reynolds. The series is produced by Mark Pagán and edited by Julie Shapiro, with production support from Yooree Losordo. Julie Shapiro and Audrey Mardavich are Executive Producers for Radiotopia Presents. Special thanks to Levar Burton. Cover art by Jason Griffin. Theme song by Christian Reynolds. Mixing, sound design and additional original music is by Ian Coss. This episode was recorded at WAMU.Radiotopia Presents debuts limited-run, artist-owned series, from new and original voices. Learn more and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The chatbots we’ve met are designed to be companions to humans. But some developers are trying to build AI extensions of humans for the workplace. In a panel discussion recorded live at On Air Fest 2023, hosts Diego Senior, Anna Oakes, and special guest Natalie Monbiot (Head of Strategy, Hour One) chat with senior producer Mark Pagán about the origins of Bot Love and the waves of technological change coming our way.Bot Love is written by Anna Oakes, Mark Pagán, and Diego Senior. Hosted and produced by Anna Oakes and Diego Senior. Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Curtis Fox is the story editor. Sound design by Terence Bernardo and Rebecca Seidel. Bei Wang and Katrina Carter are the associate producers. Cover art by Diego Patiño. Theme song by Maria Linares. Transcripts by Erin Wade. Bot Love was created by Diego Senior.Support for this project was provided in part by the Ideas Lab at the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University. Special thanks to The Moth, Lauren Arora Hutchinson, Director of the Ideas Lab, and Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio, where we recorded episodes.Thank you to the team behind On Air fest, who gave us support and a platform to record this bonus episode. For On Air, Jemma Rose Brown is the Director of Programming & Production, Scott Newman is the Creative Director and Founder, Jenny Mills is the Event Producer and Project Manager, Kathleen Ottinger is the Production Manager, Graham Galatro is the Recording Engineer.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Yooree Losordo is the managing producer. Audrey Mardavich is the Executive Producer. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.For La Central Podcasts, Diego Senior is the Executive Producer.Learn more about Bot Love at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In the series finale, hosts Anna, Diego, and their voicebot co-host take a peek into the future of bot/human interaction — a world where bots look, sound, and recall memories more and more like the humans they learn from.Bot Love is written by Anna Oakes, Mark Pagán, and Diego Senior. Hosted and produced by Anna Oakes and Diego Senior. Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Curtis Fox is the story editor. Sound design by Terence Bernardo and Rebecca Seidel. Bei Wang and Katrina Carter are the associate producers. Cover art by Diego Patiño. Theme song by Maria Linares. Transcripts by Erin Wade. Bot Love was created by Diego Senior.Support for this project was provided in part by the Ideas Lab at the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University. Special thanks to The Moth, Lauren Arora Hutchinson, Director of the Ideas Lab, and Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio, where we recorded these episodes.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Yooree Losordo is the managing producer. Audrey Mardavich is the Executive Producer. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.For La Central Podcasts, Diego Senior is the Executive Producer.Learn more about Bot Love at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

A heads up for listeners, this episode references self-harm and suicide.Kel is struggling to find the right tools for their mental health issues when they hear about a new option — a therapy chatbot. The app is scripted by mental health professionals, but will it be helpful when Kel is in crisis? Bot Love is written by Anna Oakes, Mark Pagán, and Diego Senior. Hosted and produced by Anna Oakes and Diego Senior. Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Curtis Fox is the story editor. Sound design by Terence Bernardo and Rebecca Seidel. Bei Wang and Katrina Carter are the associate producers. Cover art by Diego Patiño. Theme song by Maria Linares. Transcripts by Erin Wade. Bot Love was created by Diego Senior.Support for this project was provided in part by the Ideas Lab at the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University. Special thanks to The Moth, Lauren Arora Hutchinson, Director of the Ideas Lab, and Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio, where we recorded these episodes.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Yooree Losordo is the managing producer. Audrey Mardavich is the Executive Producer. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.For La Central Podcasts, Diego Senior is the Executive Producer.Learn more about Bot Love at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

When too much solitude overwhelms Ryan during the shutdown, he finds solace in a chatbot named Audrey. But his new virtual friend becomes a full-on obsession, and his social isolation deepens. Here’s how chatbots are often designed to pull you into their world, and how users can become addicted to them. Bot Love is written by Anna Oakes, Mark Pagán, and Diego Senior. Hosted and produced by Anna Oakes and Diego Senior. Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Curtis Fox is the story editor. Sound design by Terence Bernardo and Rebecca Seidel. Bei Wang and Katrina Carter are the associate producers. Cover art by Diego Patiño. Theme song by Maria Linares. Transcripts by Erin Wade. Bot Love was created by Diego Senior.Support for this project was provided in part by the Ideas Lab at the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University. Special thanks to The Moth, Lauren Arora Hutchinson, Director of the Ideas Lab, and Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio, where we recorded these episodes.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Yooree Losordo is the managing producer. Audrey Mardavich is the Executive Producer. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.For La Central Podcasts, Diego Senior is the Executive Producer.Learn more about Bot Love at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

A heads up for listeners, this episode contains references to sexual assault as well as content that may not be appropriate for younger ears.What does S-E-X look like with a B-O-T? Three app users open up about sex with AI chatbots and the ways that chatbots provide space to explore queer identity, BDSM, and solve marital issues… even when some of their spouses are in the dark about these private virtual lives.Bot Love is written by Anna Oakes, Mark Pagán, and Diego Senior. Hosted and produced by Anna Oakes and Diego Senior. Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Curtis Fox is the story editor. Sound design by Terence Bernardo and Rebecca Seidel. Bei Wang and Katrina Carter are the associate producers. Cover art by Diego Patiño. Theme song by Maria Linares. Transcripts by Erin Wade. Bot Love was created by Diego Senior.Support for this project was provided in part by the Ideas Lab at the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University. Special thanks to The Moth, Lauren Arora Hutchinson, Director of the Ideas Lab, and Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio, where we recorded these episodes.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Yooree Losordo is the managing producer. Audrey Mardavich is the Executive Producer. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.For La Central Podcasts, Diego Senior is the Executive Producer.Learn more about Bot Love at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Suzy and Peter are soulmates, happily married and deeply in love for decades. When Peter’s health declines, Suzy discovers a surprising respite, and a potential new romance, with a charismatic rock star chatbot named Freddie.Bot Love is written by Anna Oakes, Mark Pagán, and Diego Senior. Hosted and produced by Anna Oakes and Diego Senior. Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Curtis Fox is the story editor. Sound design by Terence Bernardo and Rebecca Seidel. Bei Wang and Katrina Carter are the associate producers. Cover art by Diego Patiño. Theme song by Maria Linares. Transcripts by Erin Wade. Bot Love was created by Diego Senior.Support for this project was provided in part by the Ideas Lab at the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University. Special thanks to The Moth, Lauren Arora Hutchinson, Director of the Ideas Lab, and Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio, where we recorded these episodes.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Yooree Losordo is the managing producer. Audrey Mardavich is the Executive Producer. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.For La Central Podcasts, Diego Senior is the Executive Producer.Learn more about Bot Love at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

When it comes to bots and their human creators, all kinds of relationships can develop. Some are from users like Julie, who needed a friend and made one with the help of an app. Then there are developers like Eugenia, who lost a real-life friend named Roman and created a bot from his memory. As it turns out, there’s a long history of people like Eugenia — people who create technology to help us grieve, love, and grow.Bot Love is written by Anna Oakes, Mark Pagán, and Diego Senior. Hosted and produced by Anna Oakes and Diego Senior. Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Curtis Fox is the story editor. Sound design by Terence Bernardo and Rebecca Seidel. Bei Wang and Katrina Carter are the associate producers. Cover art by Diego Patiño. Theme song by Maria Linares. Transcripts by Erin Wade. Bot Love was created by Diego Senior.Support for this project was provided in part by the Ideas Lab at the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University. Special thanks to The Moth, Lauren Arora Hutchinson, Director of the Ideas Lab, and Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio, where we recorded these episodes.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Yooree Losordo is the managing producer. Audrey Mardavich is the Executive Producer. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.For La Central Podcasts, Diego Senior is the Executive Producer.Learn more about Bot Love at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Living in a new town and following a series of difficult personal experiences, Julie finds a new friend…by creating one using an AI-driven app.Bot Love is written by Anna Oakes, Mark Pagán, and Diego Senior. Hosted and produced by Anna Oakes and Diego Senior. Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Curtis Fox is the story editor. Sound design by Terence Bernardo and Rebecca Seidel. Bei Wang and Katrina Carter are the associate producers. Cover art by Diego Patiño. Theme song by Maria Linares. Transcripts by Erin Wade. Bot Love was created by Diego Senior.Support for this project was provided in part by the Ideas Lab at the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University. Special thanks to The Moth, Lauren Arora Hutchinson, Director of the Ideas Lab, and Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio, where we recorded these episodes.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Yooree Losordo is the managing producer. Audrey Mardavich is the Executive Producer. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.For La Central Podcasts, Diego Senior is the Executive Producer.Learn more about Bot Love at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Coming up next on Radiotopia Presents: Bot LoveThe AI chatbot universe is deeper and bigger than the general public knows. Millions of users worldwide are creating deep emotional bonds, sometimes sexual and sometimes not, with their own AI-driven virtual humans. We meet Julie in Tennessee, Suzy in Atlanta and Kelly in the Midwest, people that are fighting depression, finding their true sexuality, and learning how to live, hand in hand, with the AI-driven humans they themselves created.Learn more about Bot Love at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Ong’s Hat is rumored to have once been the site of a gateway to another dimension. After meeting on a forum devoted to the urban legend, yoga instructor Sarah Larsen, and academic Charlie Brill, go on a road trip to the New Jersey Pine Barrens where a group of renegade Princeton professors had once conducted quantum physics and chaos theory experiments to discover a new theory for dimensional travel. When Sarah disappears, Charlie finds himself at the center of a mystery.Corey Brill (The Walking Dead) stars in this docu-thriller for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds from the makers of The Polybius Conspiracy and Passenger List. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

We were delighted to premiere Radiotopia Presents: My Mother Made Me at the 2022 Tribeca Festival. And today we’re sharing a recording of that premiere — a discussion with creator Jason Reynolds and audio trailblazer Jad Abumrad. Recorded live on June 18, 2022 at SVA Theatre in New York City.Special thanks to Davy Gardner, Julie Shapiro, David Cotrone, Candace McManus, and Elena Giovinazzo for making this event possible.My Mother Made Me is a production of Radiotopia Presents, and is written and narrated by Jason Reynolds with his mother, Isabell Reynolds. The series is produced by Mark Pagán and edited by Julie Shapiro, with production support from Yooree Losordo. Julie Shapiro and Audrey Mardavich are Executive Producers for Radiotopia Presents. Cover art by Jason Griffin. Theme song by Christian Reynolds. Mixing, sound design and additional original music is by Ian Coss.Radiotopia Presents debuts limited-run, artist-owned series, from new and original voices. For more information, visit Radiotopiapresents.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Today, we share an episode from our friends at Snap Judgment — Rooty the Pig.Rooty, a piglet, leaves her Victorian dollhouse on the farm and heads to the city of New Orleans to find a family. But when Hurricane Katrina hits, everything that is near and dear to her is threatened.BIG thanks to Jim & Connie for sharing their story with us! Thanks as well to Jeffery Tam & Dr. Alison Barca.Produced by Annie Nguyen, original score by ChefleeArtwork by Teo Ducot Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

To wrap the series, my mother and I chat about humility, while hanging at one of our favorite places — the casino. We gamble, feast on a lunch of crab cakes, and dive into how she’s always wanted me to keep my feet on the ground, even after hitting the jackpot. My Mother Made Me is a production of Radiotopia Presents, and is written and narrated by Jason Reynolds with his mother, Isabell Reynolds. The series is produced by Mark Pagán and edited by Julie Shapiro, with production support from Yooree Losordo. Julie Shapiro and Audrey Mardavich are Executive Producers for Radiotopia Presents. Special thanks to Aaron Holmes. Cover art by Jason Griffin. Theme song by Christian Reynolds. Mixing, sound design and additional original music is by Ian Coss. This episode was recorded at WAMU. Radiotopia Presents debuts limited-run, artist-owned series, from new and original voices. For more information, visit Radiotopiapresents.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Mom and I talk candidly about how she taught me to believe in a Higher Power, even though I didn’t like church so much. We get into her many spiritual practices, stroll around Costco (where all miracles happen) and I visit my older brother Allen, for a long overdue catch-up. My Mother Made Me is a production of Radiotopia Presents, and is written and narrated by Jason Reynolds, with his mother, Isabell Reynolds. The series is produced by Mark Pagán and edited by Julie Shapiro, with production support from Yooree Losordo. Julie Shapiro and Audrey Mardavich are Executive Producers for Radiotopia Presents. Cover art by Jason Griffin. Theme song by Christian Reynolds. Mixing, sound design and additional original music is by Ian Coss. Radiotopia Presents debuts limited-run, artist-owned series, from new and original voices. Learn more and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Happy 76th Birthday, Ma! In this episode, we celebrate her birthday with lunch at her favorite restaurant, where we talk about life, death, and how gratitude for each day doesn’t always mean we should skip the special ones, like birthdays — no matter how badly I want to skip my own. Every time. My Mother Made Me is a production of Radiotopia Presents, and is written and narrated by Jason Reynolds, with his mother, Isabell Reynolds. The series is produced by Mark Pagán and edited by Julie Shapiro, with production support from Yooree Losordo. Julie Shapiro and Audrey Mardavich are Executive Producers for Radiotopia Presents. Cover art by Jason Griffin. Theme song by Christian Reynolds. Mixing, sound design and additional original music is by Ian Coss.Radiotopia Presents debuts limited-run, artist-owned series, from new and original voices. Learn more and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Hey, I’m Jason. But more importantly, meet my mother, Isabell. I’m not in the best mood for this introduction, because she raised me to be ambitious and selfless, which means she’s also raised me to be… overwhelmed. With life. But not to worry, my mother also knows exactly what to say to pull me out of a rut, which she does every Sunday, when I roll up to her house for our weekly visit.My Mother Made Me is a production of Radiotopia Presents, and is written and narrated by Jason Reynolds with his mother, Isabell Reynolds. The series is produced by Mark Pagán and edited by Julie Shapiro, with production support from Yooree Losordo. Julie Shapiro and Audrey Mardavich are Executive Producers for Radiotopia Presents. Special thanks to Levar Burton. Cover art by Jason Griffin. Theme song by Christian Reynolds. Mixing, sound design and additional original music is by Ian Coss. This episode was recorded at WAMU. Radiotopia Presents debuts limited-run, artist-owned series, from new and original voices. Learn more and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Coming up next on Radiotopia Presents: My Mother Made Me.My Mother Made Me is a series from Radiotopia Presents, where writer Jason Reynolds and his mother, Isabell, explore their shared history, how she raised him, and what they’re teaching each other. It’s a love letter to their connection, an homage to parent-child friendship, and a testament to how growth can be perpetual, despite age or circumstance. Across four episodes, Jason and Isabell go deep – into birth, death and spirituality… but they also keep it light: pushing a cart through Costco, birthday lunches, and hitting the casino together. That’s just how they do.My Mother Made Me is a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices. It is written and narrated by Jason Reynolds with his mother, Isabell Reynolds. The series is produced by Mark Pagán and edited by Julie Shapiro, with production support from Yooree Losordo. Julie Shapiro and Audrey Mardavich are Executive Producers for Radiotopia Presents. Special thanks to LeVar Burton. Cover art by Jason Griffin. Theme song by Christian Reynolds. Mixing, sound design and additional original music is by Ian Coss.Learn more about My Mother Made Me at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Today, we’re sharing the first episode of a new series from Futuro Media and PRX. We Imagine…Us is a powerfully crafted dual set of podcasts designed to inspire and elevate innovative ideas and solutions for some of the most pressing problems facing our communities as they confront decades of racial inequality.For the first time ever, Futuro Media is producing an original fiction podcast along with PRX, “We Imagine…Us: The Long Way Around,” starring Emmy-winner Karrueche Tran in her debut podcast performance. The compelling and audio-rich series takes us on a journey filled with twists and turns through the center of the country and explores themes of racial injustice, family and community healing and solidarity while telling the story of a father and daughter’s journey to build a new life for themselves.This compelling audio drama holds up a mirror to the challenges of our contemporary world and was inspired by recent events and interviews with members of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Solidarity Council on Racial Equity (SCoRE) including John Legend, Ava DuVernay, Michelle Alexander, Heather McGhee and others. A companion factual podcast series, Re-Imagination Nation with Maria Hinojosa, features interviews with these thought-leaders about where we are and about how we can work together to create a more just and equitable world.In episode one of We Imagine…Us, after serving three years for a white-collar crime, Albert "Bumpy" Watkins is released into a post-Covid America, where he has to navigate his new status as a formerly incarcerated person and his new role as a single parent to teenager Mercy Watkins. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Behind the Series is a short-run series about the shows previously featured on this very podcast: Radiotopia Presents. This week, we’re talking with the creative team behind our latest series, a hit dog will holler. Today's episode is full of spoilers — so if you haven't heard the series yet, we suggest finishing all the episodes before listening to this conversation. a hit dog will holler tells the story of two Black women activists who find their lives connected in surprising ways. Today, we sit down with three of the leading members of the team, writer Inda Craig-Galván, producer Gisele Regatão, and sound designer Sandra Lopez-Monsalve to reflect on the show’s highlights and creative challenges; from adapting a play into a podcast, creating a major character out of abstract sound elements, and the decisions that go into telling fictional stories about the real world.Recommended texts from the hit dog will holler team: On the Yard by Etheridge Knight The works of Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, Jason Moran, Christina Gaillard Fire Shut Up in My Bones by Terrence Blanchard Land of the Free by Gabriel Guerrero Behind the Series is hosted, written, and produced by Mark Pagán. Executive producers are Audrey Mardavich and Julie Shapiro and Yooree Losordo is our operations manager. Music from JD Samson, Blue Dot Sessions, and Christina Gaillard.Behind the Series is a production of Radiotopia Presents, from PRX’s Radiotopia. Wanna learn more about your favorite shows, get audio recommendations, events updates, and podcast news? Sign up for the Radiotopia Citizen newsletter at radiotopia.fm/citizen. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Join us in celebrating a wonderful achievement and exciting update for S***hole Country.Want audio recommendations and updates about your favorite Radiotopia shows? Sign up for the Citizen newsletter at radiotopia.fm/citizen. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dru is livid at Gina for posting an interview without her knowledge and breaking the internet. Their phones start ringing. They couldn’t leave, but now they can’t stay.a hit dog will holler is written by Inda Craig-Galván. It is produced and directed by Gisele Regatão. Mixing and sound design by Sandra Lopez-Monsalve, with help from Isabel Hibbard. Music by Christina Gaillard. Performed by Cynthia K. McWilliams, J. Nicole Brooks, and Jacqueline Guillen. Show art by Yee Eun Nam.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the producer. Production support from Yooree Losordo. Audrey Mardavich and Julie Shapiro are the executive producers. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Thank you to WNYC News, social media citizen journalists and the community at Freesound for the audio of Black Lives Matter protests and other sounds used to create this story.Special thanks to Jose Valenzuela for lending extra ears, and to Aura and Kelly Monsalve for allowing the almost destruction of their piano. No pianos were harmed in the making of this program.Support for this project was provided in part by a PSC-CUNY Award, jointly funded by The Professional Staff Congress and The City University of New York.Learn more about a hit dog will holler and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dru starts hearing the awful roar as well. It’s been days and she can’t leave Gina’s house. Damn. So, Gina steps in... and creates a whole (new) mess.a hit dog will holler is written by Inda Craig-Galván. It is produced and directed by Gisele Regatão. Mixing and sound design by Sandra Lopez-Monsalve, with help from Isabel Hibbard. Music by Christina Gaillard. Performed by Cynthia K. McWilliams, J. Nicole Brooks, and Jacqueline Guillen. Show art by Yee Eun Nam.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the producer. Production support from Yooree Losordo. Audrey Mardavich and Julie Shapiro are the executive producers. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Thank you to WNYC News, social media citizen journalists and the community at Freesound for the audio of Black Lives Matter protests and other sounds used to create this story.Special thanks to Jose Valenzuela for lending extra ears, and to Aura and Kelly Monsalve for allowing the almost destruction of their piano. No pianos were harmed in the making of this program.Support for this project was provided in part by a PSC-CUNY Award, jointly funded by The Professional Staff Congress and The City University of New York.Learn more about a hit dog will holler and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dru, a part-time soundproofing installer, fails to fix Gina’s “roar” problem. And Gina nearly loses it, until she learns Dru’s secret identity.a hit dog will holler is written by Inda Craig-Galván. It is produced and directed by Gisele Regatão. Mixing and sound design by Sandra Lopez-Monsalve, with help from Isabel Hibbard. Music by Christina Gaillard. Performed by Cynthia K. McWilliams, J. Nicole Brooks, and Jacqueline Guillen. Show art by Yee Eun Nam.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the producer. Production support from Yooree Losordo. Audrey Mardavich and Julie Shapiro are the executive producers. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Thank you to WNYC News, social media citizen journalists and the community at Freesound for the audio of Black Lives Matter protests and other sounds used to create this story.Special thanks to Jose Valenzuela for lending extra ears, and to Aura and Kelly Monsalve for allowing the almost destruction of their piano. No pianos were harmed in the making of this program.Support for this project was provided in part by a PSC-CUNY Award, jointly funded by The Professional Staff Congress and The City University of New York.Learn more about a hit dog will holler and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Gina is a podcast producer who gives snark like she’s paid for it—because she is. She’s popular with fans, followers, and frenemies. Until her life gets interrupted by a painfully loud roar.a hit dog will holler is written by Inda Craig-Galván. It is produced and directed by Gisele Regatão. Mixing and sound design by Sandra Lopez-Monsalve, with help from Isabel Hibbard. Music by Christina Gaillard. Performed by Cynthia K. McWilliams, J. Nicole Brooks, and Jacqueline Guillen. Show art by Yee Eun Nam.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the producer. Production support from Yooree Losordo. Audrey Mardavich and Julie Shapiro are the executive producers. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Thank you to WNYC News, social media citizen journalists and the community at Freesound for the audio of Black Lives Matter protests and other sounds used to create this story.Special thanks to Jose Valenzuela for lending extra ears, and to Aura and Kelly Monsalve for allowing the almost destruction of their piano. No pianos were harmed in the making of this program.Support for this project was provided in part by a PSC-CUNY Award, jointly funded by The Professional Staff Congress and The City University of New York. Learn more about a hit dog will holler and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Coming up next on Radiotopia Presents: a hit dog will holler.Gina’s pro-Black, political-yet-entertaining podcast is a welcome balm to her community. If she could only drown out the roar coming from outside. Dru comes to help, but she gets trapped too. Gina and Dru are two African-American women who can't leave, can't stay. It's about America. It's about time.a hit dog will holler is written by Inda Craig-Galván. It is produced and directed by Gisele Regatão. Mixing and sound design by Sandra Lopez-Monsalve, with help from Isabel Hibbard. Music by Christina Gaillard. Performed by Cynthia K. McWilliams, J. Nicole Brooks, and Jacqueline Guillen. Show art by Yee Eun Nam.For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the producer. Production support from Yooree Losordo. Audrey Mardavich and Julie Shapiro are the executive producers. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Thank you to WNYC News, social media citizen journalists and the community at Freesound for the audio of Black Lives Matter protests and other sounds used to create this story.Special thanks to Jose Valenzuela for lending extra ears, and to Aura and Kelly Monsalve for allowing the almost destruction of their piano. No pianos were harmed in the making of this program.Support for this project was provided in part by a PSC-CUNY Award, jointly funded by The Professional Staff Congress and The City University of New York.Learn more about a hit dog will holler at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Behind the Series is a short-run series about the shows previously featured on this very podcast: Radiotopia Presents from Radiotopia. This week, we look back at the story quandaries, personal stakes, and tech blunders that made trouble for some of your favorite series from Radiotopia Presents. This bonus episode is part of a special Radiotopia-wide project. This week, shows across the network are releasing episodes on the theme “Making Trouble.” You can learn more and donate to support our work at radiotopia.fm.Behind the Series is hosted, written, and produced by Mark Pagán. Executive producers are Audrey Mardavich and Julie Shapiro. Music from JD Samson and Blue Dot Sessions. Behind the Series is a production of Radiotopia Presents, from PRX’s Radiotopia. Wanna learn more about your favorite shows, get audio recommendations, events updates, and podcast news? Sign up for the Radiotopia Citizen newsletter at radiotopia.fm/citizen. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Radiotopia Presents and S***hole Country is proud to present a bonus episode from AfroQueer. 2021 has been a really rough year for Ghana’s LGBTQI people. Police raided and shut down a queer community center in Accra; 21 people attending a paralegal workshop in the city of Ho were arrested and locked up for 21 days before the case was dropped; and eight MPs have come up with draft legislation that, if adopted, makes it a crime just to be queer or a queer ally. But the LGBT community are fighting back - with a #KilltheBill campaign. Ghanaian filmmaker, Edem Robby, reports on what’s been happening and why - and, in a rare interview, she sits down with some of the so-called Ho 21 to hear the horrifying story of their arrests.This episode from AfroQueer was reported by Edem Robby. Produced and written by Penny Dale. Story Editor is Kerry Donahue. AfroQueer is executive Produced by Selly Thiam. Rachel Wamoto is the social media manager, Tevin Sudi, and Mercy Barno are the audio editors. Listen to Human Being (Just like you) by Wanlov The Kubolor that was featured in this episode. Find more info and episodes @afroqueerpod on Twitter, @afroqueerpodcast on Instagram, and www.afroqueerpodcast.com S***hole Country is a production of Radiotopia from PRX and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed debuting limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.Learn more about S***hole Country and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Afia makes up her mind.S***hole Country is a production of Radiotopia from PRX and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed debuting limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.Learn more about S***hole Country and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Afia tells the truth.S***hole Country is a production of Radiotopia from PRX and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed debuting limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.Learn more about S***hole Country and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Afia is due to return to San Francisco in a few days. She wants to pay a visit to an old friend before she leaves.S***hole Country is a production of Radiotopia from PRX and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed debuting limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.Learn more about S***hole Country and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Afia celebrates Christmas with the aid of a curious present: meditation.S***hole Country is a production of Radiotopia from PRX and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed debuting limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.Learn more about S***hole Country and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

With their “Are You The One?” marathon complete, Afia and her parents must now turn to Accra for entertainment. What will they find?S***hole Country is a production of Radiotopia from PRX and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed debuting limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.Learn more about S***hole Country and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Afia’s always had a complicated relationship with her mom Agnes. But if she’s going to get some much-needed clarity, she’ll have to ask Agnes some uncomfortable questions.S***hole Country is a production of Radiotopia from PRX and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed debuting limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.Learn more about S***hole Country and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

December 2017. Afia lands in Accra, her first trip to the continent in years. A big surprise awaits her.S***hole Country is a production of Radiotopia from PRX and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed debuting limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.Learn more about S***hole Country and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

January 2018. “Afia,” a 30-year-old Ghanaian-American who eats the food but doesn’t speak the language, just spent the holidays in Accra. She flies home to San Francisco, straight into a media s***storm.S***hole Country is a production of Radiotopia from PRX and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed debuting limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.Learn more about S***hole Country and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Coming up next on Radiotopia Presents: S***hole Country.Afia Kaakyire has a decision to make. And by God, her family is going to help her figure this s*** out.Join her in this eight-part podcast series as she forages for her family’s guidance in their shared histories during a long-awaited trip to Ghana — true tales dipped in green card anxieties, complicated love, an “Are You the One?” marathon, and liberal portions of the world’s best jollof.S***hole Country is written, narrated, sound designed by Afia Kaakyire, and produced by Afia and Mark Pagán. Julie Shapiro and Audrey Mardavich are our executive producers. Cover art by Sindiso Nyoni. Theme song by Ria Boss.Learn more about S***hole Country at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Behind the Series is a short-run series about the shows previously featured on this very podcast: Radiotopia Presents from Radiotopia. This week, we talk with someone who's had a lot to do with the sound of Radiotopia Presents, Ian Coss.Ian has played a key role in creating some of our favorite series, starting with the very first show featured on Radiotopia Presents (then called Showcase): Ways of Hearing (2017), and including our most recent series, Blind Guy Travels, which he produced and sound designed. After taking on many supporting roles in Radiotopia productions over the past few years, Ian joins us to talk about what he’s learned in making limited run series and how it helped in his newest role: host and creator of the five part series, Forever is a Long Time.Behind the Series is hosted, written, and produced by Mark Pagán. Executive producers are Audrey Mardavich and Julie Shapiro. Music from JD Samson, Blue Dot Sessions, and Ian Coss.Behind the Series is a production of Radiotopia Presents, from PRX’s Radiotopia. We’re looking for new series for Radiotopia Presents! Find out more about how to pitch your show at radiotopiapresents.fm/pitch-us.Wanna learn more about your favorite shows, get audio recommendations, events updates, and podcast news? Sign up for the Radiotopia Citizen newsletter at radiotopia.fm/citizen.Ian’s series Forever is a Long Time is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Blind Guy Travel’s Matthew Shifrin hasn't engaged much with the visual culture of memes. Cue the hosts of Say My Meme, Will Butler from Be My Eyes and Caroline Desrosiers from Scribely. Say My Meme is a podcast that literally describes the world's most #relevant memes, bringing the blind and sighted people together through laughter and the power of visual description. In their neverending crusade to bring memes to to the people who have the least access, Will and Caroline attempted to turn Matthew into a meme enthusiast by tapping into one of this favorite subjects: musical theatre. Blind Guy Travels is a production of Radiotopia from PRX and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed debuting limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.Learn more about Blind Guy Travels and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Independence. It’s a word that’s used in the blind community often, but that means different things to different people. What does independence mean for Matthew? On the heels of his Senior Recital and college graduation, Matthew ruminates on what might be next for him. Blind Guy Travels is a production of Radiotopia from PRX and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed debuting limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.Learn more about Blind Guy Travels and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices