http://stateofthereunion.com Our hour-long Public Radio program travels this great nation one town or city at a time and is hosted by multifaceted artist, Al Letson. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:25:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Our hour-long Public Radio program travels this great nation one town or city at a time and is hosted by multifaceted artist, Al Letson. Our hour-long Public Radio program travels this great nation one town or city at a time and is hosted by multifaceted artist, Al Letson. State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/SOTRU_Logo_600px.jpghttp://stateofthereunion.com no Brenton Crozier brenton@stateofthereunion.com http://stateofthereunion.com/coming-home-stories-of-veterans-returning-from-war http://stateofthereunion.com/coming-home-stories-of-veterans-returning-from-war#comments Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:33:47 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=13601 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/coming-home-stories-of-veterans-returning-from-war/feed 0 Team Semper Fi More than two million veterans have come home so far from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.  For returning veterans, reintegrating into society can be a challenge.   How do you find your place, when you’ve changed and the people you love don’t recognize you? When that old life is gone and you have to start a new one from scratch.  In this hour State of the Re:Union explores reintegration and asks the question: how do you come back home from war? For more information on, visit our episode page for photos, links and music information. And keep up with the latest SOTRU releases and events on Soundcloud, iTunes, Facebook and Twitter. More than two million veterans have come home so far from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.  For returning veterans, reintegrating into society c… <a [...] State of the Re:Union 51:29 coming home, veterans, veterans stories, veterans returning from war, military, soldiers, state of the re:union, sotru, al letson no http://stateofthereunion.com/pike-county-ohio http://stateofthereunion.com/pike-county-ohio#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:36:37 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=13531 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/pike-county-ohio/feed 0 Photo Credit: Lloyd Cederstrand In this episode Al Letson and guest producer Lu Olkowski visit a tiny town in the Appalachian foothills of Ohio where, for a century, residents have shared the common bond of identifying as African-American despite the fact that they look white. Racial lines have been blurred to invisibility, and people inside the same family can vehemently disagree about whether they are black or white. It can be tense and confusing. As a result, everyone’s choosing: Am I black? Am I mixed race? Or, am I white? For more information on “As Black As We Wish to Be” visit our episode page for photos, links and music information. And keep up with the latest SOTRU releases and events on Soundcloud, iTunes, Facebook and Twitter. In this episode Al Letson and guest producer Lu Olkowski visit a tiny town in the Appalachian foothills of Ohio where, for a century, residents h… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/pike-county-ohio" [...] State of the Re:Union 51:32 pike county ohio, pike co oh, state of the re:union, sotru, al letson, lu olkowski, east jackson ohio, east jackson oh, waverly oh, east jackson, waverly no http://stateofthereunion.com/internet-communities-virtual-reality http://stateofthereunion.com/internet-communities-virtual-reality#comments Sat, 24 Nov 2012 20:25:03 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=13534 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/internet-communities-virtual-reality/feed 0 At this point in the 21st century, it’s kind of impossible to talk about community-building without, at some point, talking about the internet. The way we meet people, establish connections, maintain our relationships and fight for what we believe in has been radically transformed by the web—and it’s still transforming. But often, when we’re talking about these changes, the focus is either on pure enthusiasm about the possibilities presented by the limitlessness of the web, or anxiety about online connections replacing physical ones. In this episode, we explore how the “virtual” has turned into the “real” in people’s lives. For more information on “Virtual Reality” visit our episode page for photos, links and music information. And keep up with the latest SOTRU releases and events on Soundcloud, iTunes, Facebook and Twitter. .   .   . At this point in the 21st century, it’s kind of impossible to talk about community-building without, at some point, talking about the internet… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/internet-communities-virtual-reality" [...] State of the Re:Union 51:27 internet communities, internet stories, virtual reality, state of the re:union, sotru, al letson, tina antolini no http://stateofthereunion.com/jacksonville-grinding-the-gears http://stateofthereunion.com/jacksonville-grinding-the-gears#comments Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:29:59 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=13489 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/jacksonville-grinding-the-gears/feed 0 Photo Source: Jonathan Zander from Wikimedia Commons Jacksonville, Florida is a lot of things: a military town. A church town. A beach town. And it can be all those things because Jacksonville is the largest city in the whole country: 841 acres of sprawl, highways, and strip malls dotted with tiny, unique neighborhoods. How does a place this huge and diverse lurch forward to keep pace with the rest of the country? The quick answer: often, it doesn’t. But once in a while, in small surprising ways, this place can be an incubator for innovation. In host Al Letson’s hometown episode, SOTRU asks: is Jacksonville is moving backward, stuck in neutral, or shifting towards progress? For more information on “Grinding the Gears,” visit our episode page for photos, links and music information. And keep up with the latest SOTRU releases and events on Soundcloud, iTunes, Facebook and Twitter. Jacksonville, Florida is a lot of things: a military town. A church town. A beach town. And it can be all those things because Jacksonville is the… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/jacksonville-grinding-the-gears" [...] State of the Re:Union 51:29 jacksonville fl, jacksonville, state of the re:union, sotru, al letson, grinding the gears, jacksonville radio show, jacksonville florida no http://stateofthereunion.com/tucson-borderlands http://stateofthereunion.com/tucson-borderlands#comments Mon, 29 Oct 2012 19:09:11 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=13453 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/tucson-borderlands/feed 0 Courtesy: Bob Torrez. All rights reserved. Tucson sits in the borderlands, the desert landscape where America and Mexico meet. This place is crisscrossed by boundaries, visible and invisible—from the US border wall that cuts the Sonoran desert in half, to live-wire political divides in Tucson itself. In this episode, we tell stories about what happens when people cross borders, risking their lives and their reputations to take a chance on the other side For more information on Borderlands, visit our episode page for photos, links and music information. Tucson sits in the borderlands, the desert landscape where America and Mexico meet. This place is crisscrossed by boundaries, visible and inv… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/tucson-borderlands" [...] State of the Re:Union 51:29 state of the re:union, sotru, al letson, borderlands, tucson az, tucson border with mexico, border crossing, tucson border no http://stateofthereunion.com/summer-in-sanctuary-an-american-graduate-special http://stateofthereunion.com/summer-in-sanctuary-an-american-graduate-special#comments Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:58:26 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=13409 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/summer-in-sanctuary-an-american-graduate-special/feed 0 Photo by Anthony J. Merced Every day in America, more than 7,000 students drop out of school. In a State of the Re:Union first, this episode combines radio drama and documentary to explore America’s dropout epidemic through the intimate story of one man’s attempt to make a difference in the lives of a group of high-risk kids. Based on the celebrated off-broadway show by SOTRU host Al Letson, this episode chronicles Letson’s journey teaching at a summer camp at the Sanctuary on 8th Street, a community center in an economically challenged neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida. For more information on how to support our Kickstarter campaign, click here. Every day in America, more than 7,000 students drop out of school. In a State of the Re:Union first, this episode combines radio drama and docum… <a [...] State of the Re:Union 52:53 state of the re:union, sotru, state of the reunion, summer in sanctuary, al letson, sanctuary on 8th street, jacksonville sanctuary on 8th, jacksonville fl no http://stateofthereunion.com/hip-hop-takes-the-podium http://stateofthereunion.com/hip-hop-takes-the-podium#comments Wed, 18 Jul 2012 18:32:19 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=13212 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/hip-hop-takes-the-podium/feed 0 Dayvon Love In the Baltimore episode, we featured the story of Dayvon Love, and learned how the debate team changed his life. Here’s more of Dayvon’s story from SOTRU intern JP Davidson, who tells us about the new shift that’s spreading across the debate community. . For more stories from Baltimore, visit our episode page. And be sure to sign up for our podcasts on iTunes or follow us on Soundcloud. In the Baltimore episode, we featured the story of Dayvon Love, and learned how the debate team changed his life. Here’s more of Dayvon&#… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/hip-hop-takes-the-podium" [...] State of the Re:Union 08:23 state of the re:union, state of the reunion, sotru, jp davidson, dayvon love, baltimore debate, debate team, college debate team, urban debate no http://stateofthereunion.com/pete-the-moose http://stateofthereunion.com/pete-the-moose#comments Fri, 06 Jul 2012 16:49:06 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=13185 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/pete-the-moose/feed 0 Courtesy: WCAX Vermont Last year in a remote corner of Vermont, David Lawrence, a self-proclaimed mountain man, helped rescue an orphaned baby moose.  He named the moose Pete.  Little did he know that Pete would end up sparking a fierce debate, one that ignited the whole state of Vermont – from hunters to legislators to regular people who’d fallen for the gentle moose.  State of the Re: Union production intern Nick Gunner tells this story of what we risk, lose and win when we decide to love wild animals. Listen to our hour-long Vermont episode about the small town state, and for more from State of the Re:Union, subscribe to our podcasts on iTunes. Last year in a remote corner of Vermont, David Lawrence, a self-proclaimed mountain man, helped rescue an orphaned baby moose.  He named the mo… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/pete-the-moose" [...] State of the Re:Union 14:08 state of the re:union, sotru, state of the reunion, nick gunner, pete the moose, vermont moose, moose story in vermont no http://stateofthereunion.com/dear-tri-cities-chuck-palahniuk http://stateofthereunion.com/dear-tri-cities-chuck-palahniuk#comments Wed, 20 Jun 2012 20:06:43 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=13111 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/dear-tri-cities-chuck-palahniuk/feed 0 Sometimes you don’t know how perfect a place is… until you’ve left it. That’s what Chuck Palahniuk discovered. He grew up in a part of southeastern Washington, called the Tri-Cities—after the trio of cities clustered along the Columbia River: Richland, Pasco and Kennewick. It’s in this area that, in the 1940s, the federal government bought up a huge piece of land to make plutonium for nuclear bombs. And theTri-Cities are still shaped by the odd hybrid of farming the soils of the region– and plutonium production. Every episode of State of the Re:Union, we ask residents to write a letter to the place they live. Chuck, who’s the author of Fight Club, and several other books, writes that, with time even things you never appreciated become oddly… perfect. For more on Chuck, visit his website. Or to learn more about the Tri-Cities, check out our hour-long episode about the unlikely perfect place. For more from State of the Re:Union, subscribe to our podcasts on iTunes and look for a new podcast every two weeks. Sometimes you don’t know how perfect a place is… until you’ve left it. That’s what Chuck Palahniuk discovered. He grew up i… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/dear-tri-cities-chuck-palahniuk" [...] State of the Re:Union 05:26 chuck palahniuk, tri-cities washington, state of the re:union, state of the reunion, sotru, fight club author, palahniuk no http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility#comments Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:11:21 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=13066 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility/feed 0 The Community of Comics Episode In this episode we explore a community where when evil rears its head, someone finds a way to set things right, even if they have to make sacrifices and defy the laws of our universe to do it. In this hour we tell the stories of real-life battles between good and evil in the world of comic books, where underdogs often come out on top and fantasy merges with reality. For more information about With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility, visit our episode page for photos, links and music. And we’d love to hear what you think about this episode. Please comment below to get the conversation started. The Community of Comics Episode In this episode we explore a community where when evil rears its head, someone finds a way to set things right, ev… <a [...] State of the Re:Union 51:44 state of the re:union, sotru, al letson, comics, comics episode, with great power comes great responsibility, radio show about comics, story about comics, comics story no http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-ozarks-full-circle http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-ozarks-full-circle#comments Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:28:04 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=13038 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-ozarks-full-circle/feed 0 The Ozarks have long been an isolated part of the country.  Steep mountains break up the landscape into hills and hollows, making each little town into its own microcosm. Here, families have stayed in the same hollows for generations with little influence from the outside world, which means that their daily life is steeped in the past.  In this episode, SOTRU goes deep into the lives of people who live with the ghosts of their past. .     .     . For more information about Full Circle, visit our episode page for photos, links and music. And we’d love to hear what you think about this episode. Please comment below to get the conversation started. The Ozarks have long been an isolated part of the country.  Steep mountains break up the landscape into hills and hollows, making each little to… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-ozarks-full-circle" [...] http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-baltimore http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-baltimore#comments Sun, 03 Jun 2012 13:26:18 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=12967 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-baltimore/feed 0 Baltimore is a city of many neighborhoods, of intense divides—racial, class, and otherwise– not easily overcome. It’s a city bogged down by a reputation for crime, poverty and dysfunction (thanks, in part, to the acclaimed TV show The Wire)—a reputation not entirely undeserved. But all of that often overshadows the passion and dedication many Baltimoreans have for their city, and for taking on what’s wrong with it in ways small and large. For more information about Outsiders In, visit our episode page for photos, links and music. And we’d love to hear what you think about this episode. Please comment below to get the conversation started. Baltimore is a city of many neighborhoods, of intense divides—racial, class, and otherwise– not easily overcome. It’s a city bogged do… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-baltimore" [...] State of the Re:Union 51:24 state of the re:union, sotru, state of the reunion, al letson, baltimore radio episode, outsiders in, baltimore radio show no http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-vermont http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-vermont#comments Sat, 02 Jun 2012 05:32:23 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=12945 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-vermont/feed 0 Quaint storefronts along Main streets, covered bridges over clear streams, cows from dairy farms dotting green valleys: across the state, these are the iconic images of Vermont. But beyond its pastoral beauty, this is a place that prides itself on its independent spirit. In this hour, we’ll hear a range of stories of the way Vermont’s “small town state” identity manifests: from finding new ways to treat mental health problems, to a gallery with a surprising monthly ritual to dealing with the most devastating natural disaster the state has ever seen. For more information about The Small Town State, visit our episode page for photos, links and music. And we’d love to hear what you think about this episode. Please comment below to get the conversation started. Quaint storefronts along Main streets, covered bridges over clear streams, cows from dairy farms dotting green valleys: across the state, th… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/new-episode-vermont" [...] State of the Re:Union 51:46 state of the re:union, sotru, al letson, vermont, the small town state, vermont radio episode, vt show, show about vermont no http://stateofthereunion.com/southeastern-washington-the-unlikely-perfect-place http://stateofthereunion.com/southeastern-washington-the-unlikely-perfect-place#comments Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:13:30 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=12907 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/southeastern-washington-the-unlikely-perfect-place/feed 0 The Tri-Cities are Richland, Pasco and Kennewick—3 cities clustered near one another in the vast plains and deserts of Washington state, to the east of the Cascade Mountains. It’s a region that seems like it would have little to attract newcomers—it’s largely remote, prone to dust storms, not close to any major city. But, over the decades, this area has drawn people from the world over, and, in this episode, we’ll explore how and why. For more information about The Unlikely Perfect Place, visit our episode page for photos, links and music. And we’d love to hear what you think about this episode. Please comment below to get the conversation started. The Tri-Cities are Richland, Pasco and Kennewick—3 cities clustered near one another in the vast plains and deserts of Washington state, to th… <a [...] State of the Re:Union 51:47 state of the re:union, sotru, al letson, tina antolini, southeastern washington, se wa, tri-cities washington, tri-cities wa no http://stateofthereunion.com/dear-viola http://stateofthereunion.com/dear-viola#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 14:08:16 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=12855 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/dear-viola/feed 0 SOTRU’s New Audio Obituary Series Begins Today Viola Morse, a lifelong Vermonter, died last year. After living in the same town for ninety-nine years, she must have left quite an imprint.  State of the Re:Union set up a voice-mail box so Viola’s friends, family, and admirers could share their memories in their own words.  This first piece in our new audio obituary series was produced by SOTRU intern extraordinaire Sara Brooke Curtis. Visit our Flickr page for more pictures of Viola, and hear more incredible stories about Vermonters in our new episode, “Vermont – The Small Town State”, releasing next month. For more from State of the Re:Union, subscribe to our podcasts on iTunes and look for a new podcast every two weeks. SOTRU’s New Audio Obituary Series Begins Today Viola Morse, a lifelong Vermonter, died last year. After living in the same town for nine… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/dear-viola" class="read_more">READ [...] State of the Re:Union 06:00 sara brooke curtis, viola morse, state of the re:union podcast, al letson no http://stateofthereunion.com/kidsbehindbars http://stateofthereunion.com/kidsbehindbars#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:49:07 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=12715 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/kidsbehindbars/feed 0 Wyoming: Second in the Nation for Kids in Jail Source: Andrew Bardwell from Wikimedia Commons When we were researching our Wyoming episode in the summer of 2011, we came across a striking statistic: Wyoming has the nation’s second highest rate of juvenile incarceration. Why would more kids in Wyoming go to jail than pretty much every other state? In this podcast, producer Laura Starecheski tracks down the story behind that number, finding out what happens to the kids who’ve been through the system… and why that system is so resistant to change. .   .   . Want to hear more of Wyoming? Check out our hour-long episode of stories on the New Old West. For more from State of the Re:Union, subscribe to our podcasts on iTunes and look for a new podcast every two weeks. Wyoming: Second in the Nation for Kids in Jail When we were researching our Wyoming episode in the summer of 2011, we came across a striking stati… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/kidsbehindbars" [...] State of the Re:Union 10:07 state of the re:union, state of the reunion, sotru, kids behind bars, al letson, laura starecheski, juvenile incarceration, juvenile jail wyoming, wyoming juveniles in jail. no http://stateofthereunion.com/cellar-door-records http://stateofthereunion.com/cellar-door-records#comments Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:44:56 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=12638 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/cellar-door-records/feed 0 Entrepreneurs at Work in Cleveland, Ohio Courtesy: Cellar Door Records When we visited Cleveland last season, we found a city full of a new generation of entrepreneurs that were making their dreams a reality. Today, we continue our podcast series with a soulful story from senior producer Tina Antolini. Tina takes us back to the rust belt city to learn about about a refreshing addition to the music scene. For more about Cleveland, check out our hour-long episode, chock full of stories about the new generation of entrepreneurs taking over the city. And for more information about Cellar Door Records visit their website. For more from State of the Re:Union, subscribe to our podcasts on iTunes and look for a new podcast every other Monday. . . . Entrepreneurs at Work in Cleveland, Ohio When we visited Cleveland last season, we found a city full of a new generation of entrepreneurs that w… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/cellar-door-records" [...] State of the Re:Union 08:51 state of the re:union, state of the reunion, sotru, al letson, tina antolini, cellar door records, cleveland record label no http://stateofthereunion.com/new-podcast-the-bravest-thing http://stateofthereunion.com/new-podcast-the-bravest-thing#comments Sat, 25 Feb 2012 03:56:08 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=12575 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/new-podcast-the-bravest-thing/feed 0 Podcast Series Debuts Today! The State of the Re:Union (SOTRU) team is proud to announce our new podcast series, making its debut today! Our faithful listeners have told us that they love our episodes, but they want more cowbell SOTRU in between the times the shows are released. So twice a month, Al or one of our talented producers will be releasing a short podcast. From ancillary stories that we didn’t have time to include in the radio show to Al’s random conversations with strangers, these short podcasts are sure to entertain, education and enlighten your day. We kick off the new podcast series with host Al Letson, who asks filmmaker Steve Bognar a fairly simple question… but wasn’t prepared for his answer. Subscribe to SOTRU’s podcasts on iTunes and look for a new podcast every other Monday from Al and our producers, Tina Antolini and Laura Starecheski. If you enjoyed this story, please consider making a donation today to State of the Re:Union. Your tax-deductible contribution helps keep our show on the air. .           .              . Podcast Series Debuts Today! The State of the Re:Union (SOTRU) team is proud to announce our new podcast series, making its debut today! Our fai… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/new-podcast-the-bravest-thing" [...] State of the Re:Union 5:27 state of the re:union, sotru, al letson, the bronx, bronx episode no http://stateofthereunion.com/sacramento-ca-all-hands-on-deck http://stateofthereunion.com/sacramento-ca-all-hands-on-deck#comments Sat, 10 Sep 2011 20:16:54 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=8142 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/sacramento-ca-all-hands-on-deck/feed 0 There’s been a lot of bad news coming out of Sacramento lately: homelessness, the foreclosure rate, unemployment, political gridlock in a state crippled by the recession.  Add to that a stubborn case of politics fatigue, and you’ve got a lot of reasons to write off this city.  But we trekked to California’s beleaguered state capital to peek behind the national headlines and find out who keeps this city running—day in, day out—despite all that’s going wrong.  And we left with the realization that people in Sacramento are remaking the American city, in surprising and deeply moving ways. State of the Re:Union wants to hear from you! Use the comment section below to let us know what you think about our latest episode, All Hands on Deck. There’s been a lot of bad news coming out of Sacramento lately: homelessness, the foreclosure rate, unemployment, political gridlock in a sta… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/sacramento-ca-all-hands-on-deck" [...] State of the Re:Union 51:29 state of the re:union, sotru, al letson, sacramento ca, sacramento episode no http://stateofthereunion.com/cleveland-oh-entrepreneurs-at-work http://stateofthereunion.com/cleveland-oh-entrepreneurs-at-work#comments Sat, 20 Aug 2011 16:26:09 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=7794 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/cleveland-oh-entrepreneurs-at-work/feed 0 Source: GandZ from Wikimedia Commons Cleveland, Ohio is a city that was made by entrepreneurs, but for decades, it’s been known as a city that’s a shell of its former manufacturing-era glorious self. However, Cleveland is being embraced by a new generation of entrepreneurs as a place to put their dreams in motion. This is a now a city of entrepreneurship in a range of incarnations… in their kids’ education, in the environment, even in beer. This is an hour of entrepreneurial stories, taking a look at that go-get-em-seize-your-dreams energy in a variety of forms. State of the Re:Union wants to hear from you! Use the comment section below to let us know what you think about our latest episode, Entrepreneurs at Work. [podcast]http://sotrupodcasts.creativeempirell.netdna-cdn.com/Cleveland_Podcast.mp3[/podcast][/podcast] Cleveland, Ohio is a city that was made by entrepreneurs, but for decades, it’s been known as a city that’s a shell of its former manufactu… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/cleveland-oh-entrepreneurs-at-work" [...] State of the Re:Union 51:29 state of the re:union, sotru, al letson, cleveland ohio, cleveland episode no http://stateofthereunion.com/wyoming-the-new-old-west http://stateofthereunion.com/wyoming-the-new-old-west#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:28:07 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=8034 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/wyoming-the-new-old-west/feed 0 Source: Wusel007 from Wikimedia Commons People are few and far between in Wyoming.  Those that do live here prize tradition, self-reliance, and their connection to the land.  So when change comes to the high plains—an oil boom, a minister with new ideas—communities here are tested.   And neighbors have to strike a balance between preserving their independent way of life, and learning to rely on one another. We trek to the small towns and remote ranches of Wyoming, meeting people as they adapt to the New Old West. Tell us what you think about our Wyoming episode, The New Old West. Just comment below to get the conversation started. [podcast]http://sotrupodcasts.creativeempirell.netdna-cdn.com/Wyoming_Podcast.mp3[/podcast][podcast]http://sotrupodcasts.creativeempirell.netdna-cdn.com/Wyoming_Podcast.mp3[/podcast][/podcast] People are few and far between in Wyoming.  Those that do live here prize tradition, self-reliance, and their connection to the land.  So when c… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/wyoming-the-new-old-west" [...] State of the Re:Union 51:29 state of the re:union, sotru, wyoming episode, al letson no http://stateofthereunion.com/the-bronx-ny-still-rising-from-the-ashes http://stateofthereunion.com/the-bronx-ny-still-rising-from-the-ashes#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:24:37 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=7879 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/the-bronx-ny-still-rising-from-the-ashes/feed 0 The Bronx has long been seen as a symbol of America’s failings.  For many people here, ‘making it’ means escaping the crime and poverty of their borough.  But some have refused to flee. This episode shines a light on the hold-outs and the dreamers, people who’ve committed their lives to keeping chaos at bay in the Bronx. What did you think of Still Rising from the Ashes? Start the discussion by using the comment section below to let us know what you think. The Bronx has long been seen as a symbol of America’s failings.  For many people here, ‘making it’ means escaping the crime and poverty of their b… <a [...] State of the Re:Union 51:29 state of the re:union, sotru, al letson, the bronx, bronx episode no http://stateofthereunion.com/mississippi-gulf-coast-defending-the-gulf http://stateofthereunion.com/mississippi-gulf-coast-defending-the-gulf#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:59:11 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=7578 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/mississippi-gulf-coast-defending-the-gulf/feed 0 After Hurricane Katrina ravaged the area, Mississippi Gulf Coast residents were forced to come together to deal with the aftermath. Then, just as they were starting to get back on their feet, the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster dumped millions of barrels of oil into the water just off their shores. Cumulatively, these events have made environmentalists out of a whole lot of Gulf Coast residents who may not have considered themselves as such… We tell an hour of stories about the fight for the natural world Gulf Coast bringing residents together, both with one another and with unlikely partners—and how, in some instances, that fight is turning out to be exactly what a community needed to survive. We would love to hear what you think about our newest episode, Defending the Gulf. Simply comment below to get the conversation started. After Hurricane Katrina ravaged the area, Mississippi Gulf Coast residents were forced to come together to deal with the aftermath. Then, jus… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/mississippi-gulf-coast-defending-the-gulf" [...] State of the Re:Union 51:28 state of the re:union, sotru, al letson, mississippi gulf coast, gulf coast, ms gulf coast, gulf coast episode no http://stateofthereunion.com/coming-up-from-underground http://stateofthereunion.com/coming-up-from-underground#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 15:06:45 +0000 Tina Antolini http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=4358 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/coming-up-from-underground/feed 1 Entrance to tunnel, Las Vegas, NV When you’ve spent several years living underground, or out in the stark quiet of the desert, what it’s like to find yourself back in an apartment with cable TV and a fridge stocked with food? In State of the Re:Union’s Las Vegas episode, we explored the world beneath the casinos: a network of flood channels running under the city that have become home to a community of people. Transition back to “normal” life after living in the tunnels is no easy experience. But, as State of the Re:Union’s Senior Producer Tina Antolini shows us, they’re getting some outside help… wpa_urls.push('\u0068\u0074\u0074\u0070\u003a\u002f\u002f\u0073\u0074\u0061\u0074\u0065\u006f\u0066\u0074\u0068\u0065\u0072\u0065\u0075\u006e\u0069\u006f\u006e\u002e\u0063\u006f\u006d\u002f\u0077\u0070\u002d\u0063\u006f\u006e\u0074\u0065\u006e\u0074\u002f\u0070\u006f\u0064\u0063\u0061\u0073\u0074\u0073\u002f\u0077\u0065\u0062\u002d\u0066\u0065\u0061\u0074\u0075\u0072\u0065\u005f\u0035\u002d\u0031\u0038\u002e\u006d\u0070\u0033');Las Vegas - Coming up from Underground SOTRU Producer Tina Antolini interviews former desert-and-tunnel-dweller Tom Ortega, Las Vegas, NV Tom Ortega shows off his now well-stocked fridge, Las Vegas, NV When you’ve spent several years living underground, or out in the stark quiet of the desert, what it’s like to find yourself back i… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/coming-up-from-underground" [...] http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-oakland-the-self-made-city http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-oakland-the-self-made-city#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 16:35:30 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=4057 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-oakland-the-self-made-city/feed 1 Refugees, entrepreneurs, visionaries—these are the historic roots of Oakland, California. The city has long been home for people building new lives and imagining even better ones. But dreams deferred also haunt this place, in its empty post-boom skyscrapers, its infamous homicide rates and deep budget cuts. In the face of entrenched problems, though, the people of Oakland characteristically answer back with diverse, revolutionary solutions. We would love to hear what you think about our newest episode, Oakland – The Self-Made City. Go ahead, give us what you got! Simply comment below to get the conversation started. Refugees, entrepreneurs, visionaries—these are the historic roots of Oakland, California. The city has long been home for people building n… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-oakland-the-self-made-city" [...] State of the Re:Union 50:01 state of the re:union, state of the reunion, sotru, al letson, oakland, oakland ca, oakland california, prx, npr show, public radio no http://stateofthereunion.com/start-the-discussion-about-our-las-vegas-episode http://stateofthereunion.com/start-the-discussion-about-our-las-vegas-episode#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 16:26:16 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=2880 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/start-the-discussion-about-our-las-vegas-episode/feed 0 These days, two versions of Las Vegas occupy the public imagination. One is of Sin City, home to The Strip, to glitter and entertainment. The other is as a dramatic victim of the recent economic recession, a city where whole neighborhoods have been foreclosed upon, where the jobless rate shot up to double digits, where massive casino and hotel constructions were suspended, leaving hulking ghosts to remind residents of the boom times. We would love to hear what you think about our newest episode, Las Vegas – Bright Lights, Big City, Small Town. Go ahead, give us what you got! Simply comment below to get the conversation started. These days, two versions of Las Vegas occupy the public imagination. One is of Sin City, home to The Strip, to glitter and entertainment. The oth… <a [...] State of the Re:Union 51:55 state of the re:union, state of the reunion, sotru, al letson, las vegas no http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-miami-bridging-the-divide http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-miami-bridging-the-divide#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 16:10:49 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=4158 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-miami-bridging-the-divide/feed 0 Famous for its beaches and clubs, Miami is also the 3rd poorest city in the nation. If you own a store in South Beach, your customers are equally likely to be billionaires or homeless people . . . and likely to have started life somewhere else. Although Miami is an incredibly international city—instead of working towards assimilation and blending with one another, ethnic communities exist as a patchwork, remaining like isolated microcosms of their homeland. We would love to hear what you think about our newest episode, Miami – Bridging the Divide. Go ahead, give us what you got! Simply comment below to get the conversation started. Famous for its beaches and clubs, Miami is also the 3rd poorest city in the nation. If you own a store in South Beach, your customers are equally li… <a [...] State of the Re:Union 51:27 state of the re:union, sotru, miami, miami florida, spam allstars, diaspora, state of the reunion, npr show, prx, publc radio no http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-utica-city-with-a-warm-heart http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-utica-city-with-a-warm-heart#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 15:43:23 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=4038 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-utica-city-with-a-warm-heart/feed 3 A couple of decades ago, Utica, New York, was dying, by even its residents diagnosis: a popular bumper sticker in the ‘90s read “Last One Out of Utica, Please Turn Out the Lights.” Once a bustling textile city perched on edge of the Erie Canal, Utica lost its mills in the mid-20th century, and has been losing population ever since. But something has changed in recent years, with a surprising influx of refugees to this part of snowy, cold upstate New York—the newcomers have given Utica hope for second chance. We would love to hear what you think about our newest episode, Utica – City with a Warm Heart. Go ahead, give us what you got! Simply comment below to get the conversation started. A couple of decades ago, Utica, New York, was dying, by even its residents diagnosis: a popular bumper sticker in the ‘90s read “Last One Out of Ut… <a [...] State of the Re:Union 50:51 state of the re:union, state of the reunion, sotru, al letson, npr show, prx, public radio, utica, utica ny, utica new york no http://stateofthereunion.com/birmingham-episode-announcement http://stateofthereunion.com/birmingham-episode-announcement#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 15:18:12 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=4020 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/birmingham-episode-announcement/feed 0 Birmingham is a place that can’t escape its history—especially the painful parts. Almost fifty years later after the tragedies and triumphs of the civil rights era, Birmingham is still a community trying to put itself back together. Some have started trying to unearth the city’s past and face it. To do that, people are looking beyond the civil rights era: from slavery to vaudeville, and from Birmingham as a steel town to its post-industrial future. We would love to hear what you think about our newest episode, Birmingham – The Long Story Short. Go ahead, give us what you got! Simply comment below to get the conversation started. Birmingham is a place that can’t escape its history—especially the painful parts. Almost fifty years later after the tragedies and triumphs o… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/birmingham-episode-announcement" [...] State of the Re:Union 50:51 state of the re:union, state of the reunion, sotru, al letson, public radio, npr show, birmingham, alabama no http://stateofthereunion.com/record-store-day http://stateofthereunion.com/record-store-day#comments Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:23:48 +0000 Katie Ball http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=845 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/record-store-day/feed 11 Music lovers across the globe all have stories of that first record store that ushered in their individual Age of Enlightenment. Chances are, those little shops of our youth are long gone, particularly now that digital technology offers customers the chance to shop from home with a click. But there are still die-hard fans out there who not only continue to go out into the world seeking used vinyl and new and used CDs, these folks are also fostering a young brood of new music lovers; buyers who are still willing to embrace new technology but also looking for both the tangible and more intrinsic benefits of vinyl. wpa_urls.push('\u0068\u0074\u0074\u0070\u003a\u002f\u002f\u0073\u0074\u0061\u0074\u0065\u006f\u0066\u0074\u0068\u0065\u0072\u0065\u0075\u006e\u0069\u006f\u006e\u002e\u0063\u006f\u006d\u002f\u0077\u0070\u002d\u0063\u006f\u006e\u0074\u0065\u006e\u0074\u002f\u0075\u0070\u006c\u006f\u0061\u0064\u0073\u002f\u0032\u0030\u0031\u0030\u002f\u0030\u0034\u002f\u0044\u0065\u0068\u0069\u0073\u0073\u002d\u0052\u0065\u0063\u006f\u0072\u0064\u002d\u0073\u0074\u006f\u0072\u0065\u002d\u0064\u0061\u0079\u005f\u006d\u0069\u0078\u0064\u006f\u0077\u006e\u002e\u006d\u0070\u0033');Ringing in Record Store Day More and more artists are answering the call by issuing new recordings in said-format, often in spectacular colors (and more and more with a digital download code included as a free bonus). Still, independent record stores throughout the country are struggling. On the third Saturday of April, Record Store Day is celebrated throughout the world, where your favorite independent gets the chance to dream up all sorts of shenanigans to help celebrate the cornerstone of a music lover’s community. In honor of this year’s Record Store Day (April 17th) producer Katie Ball wandered around her three favorite haunts in Orlando, Florida: East-West Music Records, Rock & Roll Heaven and Park Ave CDs. Take a look at these great record stores for yourself! Be sure to check out the new Sounds of the Re:Union feature, For the Record, where we chronicle independent gems from across the country. We started with The Beat in Sacramento, California, and are working on an episode about the Louisiana Music Factory in New Orleans. Music lovers across the globe all have stories of that first record store that ushered in their individual Age of Enlightenment. Chances are, t… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/record-store-day" [...] http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-bayard-rustin-who-is-this-man http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-bayard-rustin-who-is-this-man#comments Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:32:09 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=725 http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-bayard-rustin-who-is-this-man/feed 0 State of the Re:Union 52:53 state of the re:union, state of the reunion, npr, public radio, prx, al letson, bayard rustin, civil rights, martin luther king no http://stateofthereunion.com/mariachi-documentary http://stateofthereunion.com/mariachi-documentary#comments Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:16:17 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=2284 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/mariachi-documentary/feed 4 El Rey – You Can Never Leave the Music For our Los Angeles documentary, we teamed up with California Is a Place in an intimate piece that focuses on the day-to-day life of working mariachis. From the daily uncertainty of employment and living conditions to the unquestionable passion and love for the music, State of the Re:Union explores how these practitioners of beloved culture are making their living and making home in LA. To listen to our radio episode, Los Angeles – Home Sweet Home, or see other related collateral, visit our Los Angeles page. And please start the conversation about this documentary by commenting below. blank Listen to Our Radio Episode, Los Angeles – Home, Sweet Home: blank wpa_urls.push('\u0068\u0074\u0074\u0070\u003a\u002f\u002f\u0073\u006f\u0074\u0072\u0075\u0070\u006f\u0064\u0063\u0061\u0073\u0074\u0073\u002e\u0063\u0072\u0065\u0061\u0074\u0069\u0076\u0065\u0065\u006d\u0070\u0069\u0072\u0065\u006c\u006c\u002e\u006e\u0065\u0074\u0064\u006e\u0061\u002d\u0063\u0064\u006e\u002e\u0063\u006f\u006d\u002f\u004c\u0041\u005f\u0046\u0075\u006c\u006c\u0045\u0070\u0069\u0073\u006f\u0064\u0065\u002e\u006d\u0070\u0033');Los Angeles - Home, Sweet Home El Rey – You Can Never Leave the Music For our Los Angeles documentary, we teamed up with California Is a Place in an intimate piece that foc… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/mariachi-documentary" [...] http://stateofthereunion.com/appalachia-rising-episode http://stateofthereunion.com/appalachia-rising-episode#comments Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:29:32 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=2075 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/appalachia-rising-episode/feed 1 Rural Appalachia has long been portrayed in the media as a place of victims: people at the mercy of the region’s poverty or bigotry. In this episode, SOTRU turns that notion of Appalachia on its head, telling stories of residents fighting for the well-being of their land, people and culture. We travel to southern West Virginia, where former coal miners and their families are fighting mountain-top removal mining and a small town is reinventing itself. Then, we visit Eastern Kentucky, where a community radio show has inspired an outpouring of activism. To discuss this episode, please comment on this post. We would love to hear your thoughts. Start the discussion! wpa_urls.push('\u0068\u0074\u0074\u0070\u003a\u002f\u002f\u0073\u006f\u0074\u0072\u0075\u0070\u006f\u0064\u0063\u0061\u0073\u0074\u0073\u002e\u0063\u0072\u0065\u0061\u0074\u0069\u0076\u0065\u0065\u006d\u0070\u0069\u0072\u0065\u006c\u006c\u002e\u006e\u0065\u0074\u0064\u006e\u0061\u002d\u0063\u0064\u006e\u002e\u0063\u006f\u006d\u002f\u0041\u0070\u0070\u0061\u006c\u0061\u0063\u0068\u0069\u0061\u005f\u0046\u0075\u006c\u006c\u0045\u0070\u0069\u0073\u006f\u0064\u0065\u002e\u006d\u0070\u0033');Appalachia Rising Rural Appalachia has long been portrayed in the media as a place of victims: people at the mercy of the region’s poverty or bigotry. In this episo… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/appalachia-rising-episode" [...] http://stateofthereunion.com/austin-texas-growing-pains http://stateofthereunion.com/austin-texas-growing-pains#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:37:41 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=2063 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/austin-texas-growing-pains/feed 0 Unlike places that have been thrown into a state of crisis by a disaster, Austin, Texas, has been thrown into crisis by success. Its population has skyrocketed, but along with the economic advantages has come a considerable identity crisis. Austin has long prided itself on its funkiness, and many residents have grown worried new development and growth might jeopardize the city’s countercultural “feel.” In this hour, SOTRU looks at the tension between “keeping Austin weird” and its growing success. To discuss this episode, please comment on this post. We would love to hear your thoughts. Start the discussion! wpa_urls.push('\u0068\u0074\u0074\u0070\u003a\u002f\u002f\u0073\u006f\u0074\u0072\u0075\u0070\u006f\u0064\u0063\u0061\u0073\u0074\u0073\u002e\u0063\u0072\u0065\u0061\u0074\u0069\u0076\u0065\u0065\u006d\u0070\u0069\u0072\u0065\u006c\u006c\u002e\u006e\u0065\u0074\u0064\u006e\u0061\u002d\u0063\u0064\u006e\u002e\u0063\u006f\u006d\u002f\u0041\u0075\u0073\u0074\u0069\u006e\u005f\u0046\u0075\u006c\u006c\u0045\u0070\u0069\u0073\u006f\u0064\u0065\u002e\u006d\u0070\u0033');Austin - Growing Pains Unlike places that have been thrown into a state of crisis by a disaster, Austin, Texas, has been thrown into crisis by success. Its population h… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/austin-texas-growing-pains" [...] http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-los-angeles-home-sweet-home http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-los-angeles-home-sweet-home#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:25:17 +0000 admin http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=2017 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-los-angeles-home-sweet-home/feed 0 Los Angeles, Lala land, often thought of as the city of movies and money and fame. But that characterization doesn’t get at the heart and soul of this City of Angels. SOTRU will spend the episode telling stories of habitat and how several groups of people are making a home in this beautiful and sprawling metropolis. To listen to the episode, check out our LA photos and much more, visit our Los Angeles page. To discuss this episode, please comment on this post. We would love to hear your thoughts. Start the discussion! wpa_urls.push('\u0068\u0074\u0074\u0070\u003a\u002f\u002f\u0073\u006f\u0074\u0072\u0075\u0070\u006f\u0064\u0063\u0061\u0073\u0074\u0073\u002e\u0063\u0072\u0065\u0061\u0074\u0069\u0076\u0065\u0065\u006d\u0070\u0069\u0072\u0065\u006c\u006c\u002e\u006e\u0065\u0074\u0064\u006e\u0061\u002d\u0063\u0064\u006e\u002e\u0063\u006f\u006d\u002f\u004c\u0041\u005f\u0046\u0075\u006c\u006c\u0045\u0070\u0069\u0073\u006f\u0064\u0065\u002e\u006d\u0070\u0033');Los Angeles - Home, Sweet Home Los Angeles, Lala land, often thought of as the city of movies and money and fame. But that characterization doesn’t get at the heart and soul of t… <a [...] http://stateofthereunion.com/oakridge-npr-weekend-edition http://stateofthereunion.com/oakridge-npr-weekend-edition#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:59:08 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=1816 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/oakridge-npr-weekend-edition/feed 0 Did you miss State of the Re:Union’s piece about Oakridge on NPR’s Weekend Edition? Don’t fret, you can listen now: wpa_urls.push('\u0068\u0074\u0074\u0070\u003a\u002f\u002f\u0073\u006f\u0074\u0072\u0075\u0070\u006f\u0064\u0063\u0061\u0073\u0074\u0073\u002e\u0063\u0072\u0065\u0061\u0074\u0069\u0076\u0065\u0065\u006d\u0070\u0069\u0072\u0065\u006c\u006c\u002e\u006e\u0065\u0074\u0064\u006e\u0061\u002d\u0063\u0064\u006e\u002e\u0063\u006f\u006d\u002f\u0053\u004f\u0054\u0052\u0055\u005f\u004f\u0061\u006b\u0072\u0069\u0064\u0067\u0065\u005f\u004f\u006e\u0057\u0065\u0065\u006b\u0065\u006e\u0064\u0045\u0064\u0069\u0074\u0069\u006f\u006e\u004e\u0050\u0052\u002e\u006d\u0070\u0033');SOTRU on NPR's Weekend Edition You can listen to the full hour, watch our documentary Dear Oakridge, read the Dear Oakridge Letters and much more at our Oakridge page. Did you miss State of the Re:Union’s piece about Oakridge on NPR’s Weekend Edition? Don’t fret, you can listen now: You can… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/oakridge-npr-weekend-edition" [...] http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-twin-cities-world-within-two-cities http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-twin-cities-world-within-two-cities#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:45:38 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=1985 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/state-of-the-reunion-twin-cities-world-within-two-cities/feed 0 It isn’t exactly Lake Wobegon anymore… Once known as the home of Midwestern Lutherans and Scandanavian farmers, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are now wildly diverse. They have become cities of immigrants, from Tibetans to Somalis, Iraqis to the Khmer people of Cambodia. In this episode, SOTRU explores the worlds within the Twin Cities, from Ethopian Lutherans to Hmong rappers to a Somali community struggling with a devastating mystery. To listen to our Twin Cities episode, take a look at our pictures from the area and much more, visit our Twin Cities page. We want you to start the discussion. To share your thought, simply comment on this post and get the conversation going! wpa_urls.push('\u0068\u0074\u0074\u0070\u003a\u002f\u002f\u0073\u006f\u0074\u0072\u0075\u0070\u006f\u0064\u0063\u0061\u0073\u0074\u0073\u002e\u0063\u0072\u0065\u0061\u0074\u0069\u0076\u0065\u0065\u006d\u0070\u0069\u0072\u0065\u006c\u006c\u002e\u006e\u0065\u0074\u0064\u006e\u0061\u002d\u0063\u0064\u006e\u002e\u0063\u006f\u006d\u002f\u0054\u0077\u0069\u006e\u0043\u0069\u0074\u0069\u0065\u0073\u005f\u0046\u0075\u006c\u006c\u0045\u0070\u0069\u0073\u006f\u0064\u0065\u002e\u006d\u0070\u0033');Española - The Land Remembers It isn’t exactly Lake Wobegon anymore… Once known as the home of Midwestern Lutherans and Scandanavian farmers, the cities of Minneapolis and… <a [...] http://stateofthereunion.com/espanola-discussion http://stateofthereunion.com/espanola-discussion#comments Sun, 15 Aug 2010 15:15:56 +0000 admin http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=1937 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/espanola-discussion/feed 2 We are excited to announce the release of our Española episode: The Land Remembers. Al Letson and team explore this incredible area to examine the ancient water distribution culture of acequias, the heroin epidemic and what is being done to combat it and the amazing family tradition of low riders. To listen to the episode, watch our documentary, check out our pictures and much more on our Española page. To discuss this episode, please comment on this post. We would love to hear your thoughts. Start the discussion! wpa_urls.push('\u0068\u0074\u0074\u0070\u003a\u002f\u002f\u0073\u006f\u0074\u0072\u0075\u0070\u006f\u0064\u0063\u0061\u0073\u0074\u0073\u002e\u0063\u0072\u0065\u0061\u0074\u0069\u0076\u0065\u0065\u006d\u0070\u0069\u0072\u0065\u006c\u006c\u002e\u006e\u0065\u0074\u0064\u006e\u0061\u002d\u0063\u0064\u006e\u002e\u0063\u006f\u006d\u002f\u0053\u0074\u0061\u0074\u0065\u006f\u0066\u0074\u0068\u0065\u0052\u0065\u0075\u006e\u0069\u006f\u006e\u005f\u0045\u0073\u0070\u0061\u006e\u006f\u006c\u0061\u005f\u0046\u0075\u006c\u006c\u0045\u0070\u0069\u0073\u006f\u0064\u0065\u002e\u006d\u0070\u0033');Española - The Land Remembers We are excited to announce the release of our Española episode: The Land Remembers. Al Letson and team explore this incredible area to examine t… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/espanola-discussion" [...] http://stateofthereunion.com/new-orleans-the-big-easy http://stateofthereunion.com/new-orleans-the-big-easy#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 20:02:30 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=1075 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/new-orleans-the-big-easy/feed 0 Listen to the episode and check out our video documentary, podcasts, images and articles on New Orleans! If you’ve listened to our NOLA episode, we want to hear from you. Please tell us what you liked, what you didn’t like and what you thought we could have done differently. The SOTRU team appreciates your feedback! Listen to the episode and check out our video documentary, podcasts, images and articles on New Orleans! If you’ve listened to our NOLA e… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/new-orleans-the-big-easy" [...] State of the Re:Union 51:28 state of the re:union, state of the reunion, npr, public radio, prx, al letson, new orleans, nola, the big easy, bounce no http://stateofthereunion.com/oakridge-or http://stateofthereunion.com/oakridge-or#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 18:58:08 +0000 State of the Re:Union http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=1054 READ MORE]]> http://stateofthereunion.com/oakridge-or/feed 9 Listen to the episode and check out our video docs, podcasts, images and articles about Oakridge! If you’ve listened to our Oakridge episode, we want to hear from you. Please tell us what you liked, what you didn’t like and what you thought we could have done differently. The SOTRU team appreciates your feedback! Listen to the episode and check out our video docs, podcasts, images and articles about Oakridge! If you’ve listened to our Oakridge epi… <a href="http://stateofthereunion.com/oakridge-or" class="read_more">READ [...] State of the Re:Union 51:23 State of the Re:Union, state of the reunion, Oakridge, Al Letson, SOTRU, NPR no