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.

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.

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.

SOTRU’s new season of five episodes will be available for download beginning on June first. For the first half of season three, we traveled to Vermont, Maryland, Missouri and Washington State.

And in a series first, we are exploring a community based around a medium, instead of a location, for our much-anticipated Comics Book Episode.

Here is more information about our upcoming Episodes:

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
The Community of Comics – Releases June 5th

Despite the outdated stereotype of a solitary nerd holed up in his bedroom, burying himself in a world of fantasy, comic books serve as the connection point for a diverse community of people, who are drawn to them for all manner of reasons. And sometimes, comics become the vehicle for people to take action within the community itself or inspire individuals to make a difference in the wider world.

.    .    .

Vermont – The Small Town State
Releases June 2nd

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. Not only in the ways you might have heard of—first state in the nation to legalize same sex civil unions, say—but in the way Vermonters take on everyday life, and the challenges of it.

Southeastern Washington – The Unlikely Perfect Place
Releases June 1st

The Tri-Cities of Washington are Richland, Pasco and Kennewick—three 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 for reasons as various as nuclear bombs, wine-making, and harvesting sugar beets.

Ozarks: Full Circle
Releases June 4th

The Ozarks have long been an isolated place—steep mountains break up the landscape into hills and hollows, making each little town its own microcosm.  Outsiders might know little beyond the stereotypical hillbillies, generations of poverty, and an infamous meth problem, one of the worst in the country. But people in the Ozarks are pushing for ways to build community with few resources, to hold on to what is authentic about their identity while bucking stereotypes imposed on them by the outside world.

Baltimore, MD: Outsiders In
Releases June 3rd

Baltimore is a city of many neighborhoods, and of intense racial divides not easily overcome. But this it’s a place with more dimensions than the impression cast by the headlines and the TV series The Wire. Those images often overshadow the passion and dedication many Baltimoreans have for their city, and for taking on what’s wrong with it in ways small and large.

Wyoming: Second in the Nation for Kids in Jail

Source: Andrew Bardwell from Wikimedia Commons

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.