May 26, 2007 (#70)- The One Room Schoolhouse Show


The One Room School in the 21st Centuy
Neenah Ellis - Producer

You might think the one-room schoolhouse is a phenomenon from a bygone era, but there are still a fewhundred of these schools left in the United States. They're often far from cities, in the most remote corners of the country, sometimes at the end of unpaved roads. The kids who attend one-room schools have close relationships with the other students, get lots of individual attention from their teachers, and often benefit from the small family-like community. Veteran producer Neenah Ellis traveled from Maui to Maine, visiting seven one-room schoolhouses to see what was going on in these vestiges of a time gone by.

Interview with Neenah Ellis

Re:sound host Gwen Macsai talks with Neenah Ellis about the declining numbers of one room schools in the U.S. and what one room schools can teach us about education.

Featured Music:

Original music composed and performed by Howard Levy
Takagi Masakatsu, “Come March,” Childish Music (Staubgold Germany, 2005)

Extras:

Visit Neenah's website to see photos from the schools and learn more about the project.

Listen to another story, about centenarian Ruth Ellis, by Neenah Ellis.

May 19, 2007 (#52)- The Stans Show
Originally aired July 22, 2006

The Stans
Benjamin Adair- Independent Producer

Here’s the entertaining and provocative story of a group of Americans seeking adventure, new experiences, and maybe a little bit of extra-marital sex, while traveling through Central Asia, into Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. One thing makes itself abundantly clear: all of their well-laid plans and pre-conceptions about what to expect were terribly mistaken. (The Saavy Traveler, 2001)

Interview with Benjamin Adair

Re:sound host Gwen Macsai talks with the producer of The Stans about documenting a world (and worldview) that was on the cusp of a drastic change.

Featured Music:
Luc, "EtE" peaofthesea (Aagoo Records, 2005)
Balun, "Disappearing Act" Something Comes Our Way (Brilliante, 2006)
Balun, "To My Room," Something Comes Our Way (Brilliante, 2006)
Burka Band, "Blue Burka (Barbara Morgenstern Remix)" (Monika Enterprise, 2003)
Sevara Nazarkhan, "Yor-Yor" Yol Bolsin (Real World, 2003)

Extras:

The 2001 version of Benjamin Adair shares some insider information about the controversy this piece stirred up, Behind the Scenes.

May 12 , 2007 (#51)- The Flux Show
Originally aired June 24, 2006


Roger Dowds, "Millionaire" Winner
Ronan Kelly- Host/Producer Flux

Roger Dowds may have been the least likely person in Ireland to be a contestant on “Who wants to be a millionaire”.  It’s not that he wasn’t smart enough. Or quick enough. It’s just that nothing in the life of this shy, introverted man indicated that he would have the will, the confidence, the moxie, to put himself to the test, on national television, in front of thousands and thousands of people. But in January of 2001, he did just that.

Adrian Vernon Fish
Ronan Kelly- Host/Producer Flux

Our next story is the story of an obsession.  And like most obsessions, it started taking over someone’s life. In the fifth episode of Ronan Kelly’s show “Flux”, we meet Adrian Vernon Fish. A man whose hobby turned into an obsession and then slowly, other things in his life, important things, started falling by the wayside.

Extras:

Hear more episodes Flux from RTE.

May 5, 2007 (#50)- The Pets Show
Originally aired June 10, 2006

Jerome the Pig
Bob Garfield - Producer/Host, NPR

In Texas, in the late eighties, there lived a pig. And not just any pig either. This pig became somewhat of a celebrity, for a variety of reasons we shall not divulge. Way before the phrase “driveway moment” had been coined, this story defined one. (All Things Considered, 1988)

When the Dog was Just the Dog
Lea Redfern- Producer, Australian Broadcast Corporation
Russell Stapleton- Engineer, Australian Broadcast Corporation

When her husband brings two puppies home, producer Lea Redfern becomes completely immersed in the world of canines. Now dog culture pervades her every waking moment, from commanding her social life to steering her personal politics. (Radio Eye, 2004)

Featured Music

Balun, "To My Room ," Something Comes Our Way (Brilliante, 2006)
The Beach Boys, "Pet Sounds" Pet Sounds (Capitol, 1966)
Balun, "Snol ," Something Comes Our Way (Brilliante, 2006)

Extras:

Lea Redfern discusses the important role dogs play as social instruments, Behind the Scenes.