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
In Elissa Brent Weissman’s novel Renegade Reporters, Ash and her best friend Maya get sacked from the daily newscast at their middle school in Federal Hill, so they start their own news team, and soon discover that the software company with the contract for all the public schools in Baltimore is collecting a lot more data about pupils than anyone knew. Join Weissman virtually this Thursday for her book launch with the Ivy Bookshop. Details here.Then we ask a real-life legal expert--UB Law Professor Michele Gilman--whatprivacy protections kids have online.
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
Who is at risk for hunger in Maryland? Where? What help is there? The Maryland Food Bank has done a deep data drive to create a new statewide “Hunger Map” that pinpoints areas of need and exposes gaps in assistance. Meg Kimmel, the non-profit’s Executive Vice President, lays out key insights:
“Our estimates at the Maryland Food Bank are that as many as two million Marylanders will face food insecurity this year. And that’s one in three. Which is a staggering, staggering, statistic.”
Plus, we hear how Meals On Wheels provides much more than nutritious food to its clients and how the pandemic changed its work and why the University of Maryland Medical System is working to eradicate food insecurity across the state.
Links: Maryland Hunger Map, Meals on Wheels.
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
Sharks are the fierce top dogs of the ocean … yet they’re also one link in a delicate environmental system. When it’s tossed out of balance ... the result can be disaster.
The Natural History Society of Maryland hopes to change how the public looks at sharks and to underscore their critical role in the world’s waters. That’s what Shark Fest is about— featuring presentations by experts, hands-on activities and even a shark-tooth hunt! We get a preview from naturalist Nick Spero and biologist and underwater photographer Nick Caloyianis:
“As fearsome a reputation that these sharks have, they are more fragile than you can possibly imagine, which goes along with the fragility of the planet.”
Links: Natural History Society of Maryland Shark Fest, Nick Caloyianis productions.
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
In honor of the ‘dog days’ of summer, Here’s a Stoop Story from Lynn McDonald about love that comes from furry paws and a cold nose. You can hear her story and others at Stoopstorytelling.com.
This weekend, starting today, is the Baltimore Ceasefire Peace Challenge. There are lots of ways to honor it; one is to visit the photo exhibit ‘Peace in Motion: Baltimore Ballet Boys.’ It’s on view today through Sunday at Motor House, 120 West North Avenue . This is also National Farmers Market week, so stop by your favorite market and load up on the summer harvest.
Links: Baltimore Ceasefire 365, Baltimore Farmers Markets Guide, Motor House Peace in Motion: Baltimore Ballet Boys exhibit.
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
Using federal pandemic rescue funds, Coppin State University will wipe out $1 million in student loan balances and offer a $1200 credit for the fall semester. We speak with the HBCU’s President, Dr. Anthony Jenkins. He says the pandemic pushed some students to pause their education or drop to part time, "We saw one constant factor and that was finances. And so we wanted to use these dollars to help put our students in a stronger position and allow them to do something that is very important to them, and that’s finish what they started.” Plus, Scott Jaschik, editor of Inside Higher Ed, with an update on college enrollment and COVID safety measures.
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
As the Delta variant drives up the number of residents with COVID, Baltimore’s public health web is hard at work, running vaccination clinics and deploying community ambassadors.Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa talks about what it takes to dispel vaccine myths, "It’s different for different communities, but what has been relatively universal is having a trusted messenger. And that’s not always the government. I think that’s really how the concept of VALUE ambassadors were born."We hear how the VALUE project offers culturally responsive outreach and education, including to some who may have felt ignored by the health system.And Evan Serpick, of Open Society Institute-Baltimore, tells how grants are supporting vaccine equity and outreach to marginalized groups.If you have a question about COVID-19 or the COVID vaccines, you can reach the city’s COVID Call Center at 443 - 984 - 8650. Find a local vaccination site here. Check out this weekend's Ceasefire Block Party - vaccinations available Saturday - 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
When persistent pain invaded Gary Stern’s gut, doctors at two local hospitals focused on the digestive-tract disease he’d had a decade earlier. They didn’t listen to him insist this felt different, and they didn’t order a standard test to check for an ulcer. The misdiagnosis triggered a cascade of surgeries and suffering that took his life. David Black wrote the book Ripped Apart to tell the story. Gary’s wife Carol never left his side:
“Doctors need to realize it’s ok to make a mistake. But don’t cover it up. And that’s what they did with Gary. And that’s what ended up being his demise.”
And neurologist Dr. David Newman-Toker of the Johns Hopkins ‘Center for Diagnostic Excellence’ tells how patients can guard against medical misdiagnosis.
Links: Ripped Apart book, Center for Diagnostic Excellence, Armstrong Institute for Patient Quality and Safety.
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
In Western Maryland, a decrepit log cabin in an historic African-American neighborhood is being transformed into affordable housing:Nicholas Redding of Preservation Maryland and Reggie Turner of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture tell us about the tiny home, which likely belonged to Jonathan Hager, founder of Hagerstown. Learn more about the Jonathan Street cabin.Then, amateur archaeologist Evan Woodard excavates forgotten privies and trash pits in Baltimore, looking for relics of 19th-century life. What treasures has he found? How can you get started seeking artifacts? Check out Woodard's series with the Enoch Pratt: part one, part two.
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
Victor Barstow, downsized from a great human-resources job at a Baltimore business, is eking out a living selling shoes in a mall … wondering how he’ll send his daughter to college … when he gets a long-shot chance to compete for the top job at an elite hiking-boot company up north. So Victor dives into meeting a farcical series of demands from the quirky owners of the boot company … striving against some fairly odd characters. It’s kind of a hero’s quest, with witty observations from our hapless hero. We ask Richard Bader, who titled his first novel Booted, what the quest is about:
“The underlying theme is that Victor is a man who is trying to do well by his kid. He’s trying to restore his career, his job, in order so that he can send his daughter to college.”
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 Mike Ricigliano about a special friend he took to a special game ... and life as a die-hard Colts fan. You can hear his story and others at Stoopstorytelling.com .
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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