Podcast: Smart Community Narratives, Media & A Wise Economy

Eric Model and Della Rucker chat about how Community-based narratives can be a powerful tool to communities, businesses, media, and the public alike.

Della has decades of experience in community planning and economic development. Eric has been chronicling the “offbeat, off the beaten path, overlooked and forgotten” for almost 25 years.

They have gotten together to help make the most of stories that tap into a sense of place and a sense of who we are. They are also narratives that can also provide a “customized branded-content opportunity” through a unique radio-based multi-media platform.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=448

Podcast: A Day Celebrating Louie Louie

April 11 is International Louie Louie Day. It provides an annual opportunity to celebrate a song that has been called by some “the greatest part of song of all time”. It has been recorded more than any other song in rock history (by one estimate more than 2400 times), and was almost declared the state song of Washington.

In this Journey into Hidden America, we speak with Louie Louie enthusiast and entertainer Andy Martello about Louie Louie Day.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=442

Podcast: Baseball Americana

Baseball, the sport that helped reunify the country in the years after the Civil War, is still considered the National Pastime. The Library of Congress houses the world’s largest baseball collection, documenting the history of the game and providing a unique look at America since the late 1700s. Now Baseball Americana (Smithsonian Books, 2010) presents the best of the best from that treasure trove. From baseball’s biggest stars to street urchins, from its most newsworthy stories to sandlot and Little League games, the book examines baseball’s hardscrabble origins, rich cultural heritage, and uniquely American character.

The more than 350 illustrations—many never before published—featured first-generation, vintage photographic and chromolithographic baseball cards; photographs of famous players and ballparks; and newspaper clippings, cartoons, New Deal photographs, and baseball advertisements.

We speak with co-author Harry Katz about the book and how it came to be.

Katz is the former curator in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress and a lifelong Red Sox fan. He curated the Library’s website devoted to historical baseball cards as well as multiple graphic art exhibitions.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=440

Podcast: Recalling the John Wilkes Booth’s Escape

On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot and President Abraham Lincoln at the Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. Lincoln died soon thereafter.

A popular area tour just outside Washington is a 12 hour bus ride that takes riders over the route used by Abraham Lincoln’s assassin. We speak with Laurie Verge of the Surratt House Museum about John Wilkes Booth, Mary Surratt (the first woman executed in the United States) and the John Wilkes Booth Escape Route Tour.

For more info, see: http://www.surratt.org

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=436

Podcast: World Championship Pickled Qail-Egg Eating

They’ve been at it again in Grand Prairie, Texas in a one of a kind event.

It’s the world championship pickled quail-egg eating contest in which contestants devour as many of these gourmet delights as possible in the 60 second limit.

The eggs, about the size of an olive, are soaked in jalapeno.

This world-renowned Traders Village contest chomped in at #5 in the Travel Channels Top Ten all-time great eating contest in the world.

We speak with Alan Hughes of Trader’s Village about this unique event, its origins, and about the art of being a championship pickled quail-egg eater

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=434

Podcast: FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List Turns 60

March 14, 1950 was the date that the Federal Bureau of Investigation instituted the “10 Most Wanted Fugitives” list an effort to publicize particularly dangerous criminals who were at large. From 1950 to 2008, 491 fugitives have appeared on the list; 460 have been located. Generally, the only way to go off the list is die or be capture. The FBI has come to cooperate with the producers of T.V.’s “America’s Most Wanted” to further publicize those fugitives.

In this Journey in Hidden America we speak with Bradley Bryant, Chief of the Violent Crime Unit of the FBI, about the list, its history and just what it means to the bureau.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=430

Podcast: A Day’s Outing for Spring

Journeys into Hidden America contributor Elizabeth Muse joins us to chat about some ways to spend a Day’s Outing now that the snow has melted and the winter chill has gone away.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=411

Podcast: Sorry Charlie Day

Back in the 1990’s Cathy Runyan-Svacina was going througha tough stretch. In response, she decided to create a day to recognize anyone who has been rejected and lived through it. That day became Sorry Charlie Day. We speak with Cathy about her inspiration and how it is celebrated. BTW, you can join the “Sorry Charlie, No-Fan-Club-For-You Club” by sending her your best rejection story (along with a SASE) (Her address: 7812 NW Hampton Rd, Kansas City, MO 64152

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=406