Stay Connected***No longer adding new episodes*** On The Record was co-hosted by Sheilah Kast and Ashley Sterner. Sheilah and shared conversations with audacious artists, intrepid scientists, community leaders and more. And of course, tales from the beloved Stoop Storytelling Series.
On The Record was produced by Melissa Gerr. Jon Ehrens created the theme music. Louis Umerlik designed the logo.
Copyright: © 2024 WYPR Baltimore
What does the picture of infant and toddler health look like in Maryland? We speak with Laura Weeldreyer of the Maryland Family Network about a new report that traces child well-being and how many low-income families make use of programs like food stamps and home health visits. Check out the report: Building Better Beginnings For Maryland's Children: Maryland's Prenatal-to-Three Equity Report.Plus, distributing baby essentials to Baltimore families in need. Amina Weiskerger, of the nonprofit ShareBaby, says demand for diapers, wipes, bottles, and strollers tripled during the pandemic. Find the list of partner organizations that distribute items here. Learn how to donate and volunteer.
Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers mgerr@wypr.org 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his sbdawes@wypr.org 410-235-1472
Experiencing delusions, Brian Bechtold shot and killed his abusive parents in 1992. The court ruled him “not criminally responsible,” due to mental illness, and sent him for treatment to Maryland’s maximum-security psychiatric hospital.He claims he’s restored to mental health. His psychiatrists point to his attempted escapes and original diagnosis to say he’s NOT safe to release. His efforts to prove he’s sane are construed as proof that he’s not. Psychoanalyst and MICA professor Mikita Brottman tells his story in the new book, "Couple Found Slain: After a Family Murder."Original air date: August 23, 2021.
Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers mgerr@wypr.org 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his sbdawes@wypr.org 410-235-1472
Ted Venetoulis, the son of Greek immigrants, was a city kid who made good as a reform politician in the suburbs. But his four years in elective office, as Baltimore County Executive in the ‘70s, were just part of decades in public service, policy and business. Writer Michael Olesker, a friend for fifty years, marveled at Venetoulis’s unrelenting optimism. Johnny Olszewski, the current Baltimore County executive, said his legacy stretches across the region and the state.
“He inspired a whole generation of public servants, he was there for the new generation and my generation, he was involved in things beyond government and for our communities and for issues out there and so he just was a special person.”
Links: Michael Olesker's article in Jmore, Josh Kurtz's obituary in Maryland Matters, On the Record's 2016 interview.
Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers mgerr@wypr.org 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his sbdawes@wypr.org 410-235-1472
Here's a Stoop Story from Dave Ettlin about the satisfaction of getting his day in court. You can attend a LIVE stoop show just days away on MONDAY, Oct. 18 at 7pm at Center Stage. The theme is: Didn’t See That Coming: Stories about shocks, surprises, and real-life plot twists. More information here.
Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers mgerr@wypr.org 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his sbdawes@wypr.org 410-235-1472
Evictions are picking up, with no moratorium to stop them.Tisha Edwards, of the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success, says 5,000 households have gotten help with rent, and funds are now available for relocation and security deposits. Find rental assistance information here.Find eviction-prevention resources across Maryland here.Nichole Battle, head of GEDCO, tells us how the interfaith non-profit helps renters in Baltimore with utility and food costs, finding jobs, and now, applying for eviction-prevention funds. And we meet GEDCO client Shantae Fauntleroy.
Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers mgerr@wypr.org 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his sbdawes@wypr.org 410-235-1472
Bethlehem Steel in Sparrows Point meant much more than a job for its employees. It forged a part of Maryland’s history.
The Baltimore Museum of Industry’s exhibit “Fire and Shadow” uses voices, images and artifacts to chronicle the story. Curator Deborah Weiner gives a preview. Plus we hear what it was like to grow up in the shadow of the mill, and how working there was a life changer for many employees, like Kathy Garrison:
“You could have the hopes of having a nice home and a couple of cars and swingset in the yard. You know, you didn’t have dreams of being a millionaire but it was a really nice life, it was a very good opportunity for a little slice of American pie.”
Links: Baltimore Museum of Industry 'Fire and Shadow: The Rise and Fall of Bethlehem Steel' tickets, Sat. Oct. 23 'Women of Steel' live event, Sparrows Point: An American Steel Story podcast.
Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers mgerr@wypr.org 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his sbdawes@wypr.org 410-235-1472
Food waste rotting in a landfill has no future. As compost, old scraps morph into a nutrient-dense spread for your garden. We hear from Kristyn Oldendorf of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works about a pilot program to collect food waste at drop-off stations. And Marvin Hayes, of the Baltimore Compost Collective, gives us a how-to on backyard composting, including making sure your mixture is moist. Check out youth entrepreneur @kenny.captures on Instagram.
Links:
Baltimore GROW Center compost workshops
Baltimore City Food Scrap Drop-off
Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers mgerr@wypr.org 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his sbdawes@wypr.org 410-235-1472
For more than one hundred years, thousands of Native American children were taken from their homes and sent to residential Indian schools in the United States and Canada, to forcibly assimilate them into white culture and Christianity.
Indigenous advocate Jennifer Night Bird Miller describes cruelties they endured and what she hopes for as the U.S. moves toward understanding this painful past.
“The US citizens need to know and acknowledge that these atrocities have occurred and the people are still here. And in order for us to heal, we need acknowledgment.”
Plus -- Sandi Cianciulli and MaryAnne Robins from the Carlisle Indian School Project 90 miles northwest of Baltimore, tell us how they hope to memorialize young lives lost.
Links: Carlisle Indian School Project, Washington Post Op Ed by Deb Haaland, Map of locations of US Native American Boarding Schools, Home From School: The Children of Carlisle documentary, Secretary Haaland's plan for the Indian Boarding School Initiative investigation, Guardian video history of residential schools in Canada.
Kerry Hawk Lessard, executive director of Native American Lifelines in Baltimore discusses the lack of Native American representation in Covid 19 data here.
Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers mgerr@wypr.org 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his sbdawes@wypr.org 410-235-1472
Here is a Stoop Story from Creative Alliance performance director Josh Kohn about the importance of role models, even when they’re invented! You can hear his story and many others at stoopstorytelling.com, as well as the Stoop podcast.
There’s a lot going on this weekend. The Baltimore Running Festival is having its 20th outing tomorrow morning, coursing through Federal Hill, Fells Point and the inner Harbor area. Not sure you can still register to run--we’ve got the link for you to check--but you can come out to cheer if you don’t expect to park close by.
And this is the season of Fall Festivals -- On Sunday both Towson and Pikesville at Quarry Lake are celebrating. See links below.
Links: Baltimore Running Festival, Towson Fall Festival, Quarry Lake Fall Festival
Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers mgerr@wypr.org 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his sbdawes@wypr.org 410-235-1472
It’s not a traditional comic--it uses augmented reality, through a phone app, to bring out the real barbarity of slavery on a Maryland plantation. And not your traditional comic superhero: this is a 19-year-old enslaved African-American who wins immortal powers. Jupiter Invincible is the concept of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa and graphic artist Ram Devineni. Devineni is already known for a heroine who fights for those society scorns:
“The Superhero doesn’t have to fight an asteroid that’s about to collide into the earth. You can have superheroes fight basic problems that everyone deals with and understands, but through their heroic acts really challenge us and hopefully become better people.”
Links: Books in Bloom Festival Sun. Oct. 10 at 12:30pm; Filmmaker magazine interview, In Conversation at ComicCon Africa, video.
Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers mgerr@wypr.org 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his sbdawes@wypr.org 410-235-1472
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