This podcast, Hometown Photographer, is a passion project I started a few years ago.

Episode 1 portrays two photographers - Denny Valentine and Rick Black - from my hometown of Louisville, Ohio. They have spent three decades photographing the people. While being tasked to keep a visual record of a town where there are 9,500 residents, this part of history could be filed away when they retire.

Listen to their stories of how they got started and became the town’s photographers.

Using audio and video, I told the stories of two siblings who resettled to the U.S. from Afghanistan, which was for Ideastream Public Media’s series called Arrivals, a Sound of Us initiative. I was one of three reporters to produce the series.

Listen to my radio segment here about my video reporting process.

telling the story on multiple platforms

Here’s another Sound of Us series called Life on the Spectrum. I, and other reporters, captured the stories of those with autism. I shared my reporting process on the Sound of Ideas radio show and The Ohio Channel broadcasting station. Watch me here at minute 30:58.

I produced an audio story about Elizabeth Stiles while teaming up with another reporter for a video story.

a few more highlights of audio storytelling work -

Temporary shelter serves growing number of unhoused women in Canton

There has been an increase of single women showing up at the front desk of Refuge of Hope the last several months asking for a place to stay, said Scott Schnyders, the shelter director.

Publication: Ideastream Public Media

Early intervention for children with disabilities meets growing need in Cuyahoga County

More children from birth to age three with disabilities or developmental delays are qualifying for early intervention services through Cuyahoga County. The increase is also statewide. Locally, the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities has been meeting the need by expanding its resources.

Publication: Ideastream Public Media

Amish and other Plain people help grow businesses in Holmes County

Atlee Kaufman opened Bentwood Solutions four decades ago. The Millersburg business’s original product was bending buggy shafts, which connect the carriages of Amish people like Kaufman to their horses. A few years later, he expanded to table and chair parts at a local Amish furniture maker’s request. He was so successful he sold off the buggy shaft division.

Publication: The Ohio Newsroom

Women leaving the Amish community find support from nonprofit organizations

Amish people who decide to leave their community to live in "English," or non-Amish American, culture are typically around 18 years old and have limited resources. In Greenwich, Ohio, the faith-based nonprofit organization Mission to Amish People, also known as MAP, offers Amish women temporary housing, employment and the basic necessities to transition.

Publication: Ideastream Public Media

Workers struggle to find housing in Tuscarawas County amidst strong labor market

New jobs in manufacturing, healthcare and other industries are being created in Tuscarawas County, but workers have a hard time finding housing in the county due to low housing stock.

Publication: Ideastream Public Media

NE Ohioans are reselling goods for a profitable side hustle

Julie Brown sells second-hand items, such as floral print clothing, cassette tapes and nostalgic movie posters. She also buys tiki mugs for wholesale prices and resells those through flea markets or for her shop on Ebay, Downtown Julie Brown’s. She’s been reselling for 26 years.

Publication: Ideastream Public Media