A curated list of recent radio, web, video, social media, and print projects
December 17, 2021: “A final segment after 8 years in Cleveland radio“
WCPN, ideastream: After 8 years behind the mic in Cleveland, I sign off by remembering a bit of how I got to Ohio, and some of the people who trusted me with their stories.
December 16, 2021: “Setting a new course between the profound and absurd”
WCPN, ideastream: An essay about the absurd and profound things experienced in a long journalism career, and a little about the self-reflection that led me to leave the microphone.
November 3, 2021: “Happy Dog Takes on the next mayor of Cleveland’s inbox“
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a conversation about challenges facing Cleveland’s new mayor, the first change in office in 16 years. Education, economic development, equity, and more.
Aug 24, 2021: Cuyahoga County Gun Deaths Spiked in 2020, Public Health Approach May Help
WCPN, ideastream: Cuyahoga County saw a historically “eye-popping” rise in gun-related homicides in 2020, according to new analysis from the Medical Examiner’s office. A public health approach to data may help decision-makers find new solutions.
May 21, 2021: Ohio Family Rides Pandemic Online Learning Wave All The Way To Finland
WCPN, ideastream: A profile of a Finnish woman who has lived in Northeast Ohio for 15 years, who used the pandemic as an opportunity to take online work and schooling for her kids to Finland.
May 4, 2021: “Happy Dog Takes on the World: 10 Years of War in Syria“
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a high-level conversation on the humanitarian and political crisis of Syria, after a decade of war, featuring Robert S. Ford, Senior Fellow, Middle East Institute; Former United States Ambassador to Syria.
May 3, 2021: Tutoring Vital For Refugee Students In Cleveland Impacted By Pandemic
WCPN, ideastream: The pandemic disrupted schooling for kids, teachers and parents alike. For resettled refugee families, there can be added complications. I speak again with a Syrian woman resettled in the US, and with a resettlement service agency.
April 22, 2021: “Spiritual Poverty and Helping Hands”
Faith Full Podcast: Narrative podcast talks about the idea of spiritual poverty by juxtaposing homelessness rates in Zurich, with a multimillion dollar investment in a community center by a church at a time the Pope called for the Catholic Church to be a poor church.
April 20, 2021: Pandemic May Provide A Chance To Rethink Early Learning In Ohio
WCPN, ideastream: The upheaval caused by the pandemic may provide an opportunity to rethink Ohio’s approach to early education. I speak about this with Eric Morse, CEO and president of The Centers for Families and Children in Cleveland.
April 13, 2021: A La Calle: People, Protest, and the Road to Restoring Democracy in Venezuela
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a virtual forum on the documentary A La Calle, which tells the story of the Venezuelan people’s attempts to reclaim their country’s democracy. The conversation includes Tamara Taraciuk Broner, Acting Deputy Director, Americas Division, Human Rights Watch; and Maxx Caicedo, Director/Producer of A La Calle.
April 6, 2021: “Happy Dog Takes on the World: Why Rust Belts Matter Around the World“
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a high-level conversation on the transatlantic effort to diminish the appeal of populism, revitalize rust belt economies, and restore democracy.
March 2, 2021: “Happy Dog Takes on the World: Russia, Putin, and the Pro-Democracy Movement“
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a high-level conversation on the present state of Russian relations with the US, and what observers might read into Vladimir Putin’s handling of opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
February 8, 2021: Cleveland Refugee Community Still Feeling Effects of Trump’s ‘Travel Ban’
WCPN, ideastream: A Syrian woman resettled in the US shares her thoughts on the ‘travel ban,’ and local refugee agencies talk about making hard decisions and operational pivots to survive the ban, plus a pandemic.
February 2, 2021: “Happy Dog Takes on the World: Coups and the Fragility of Democracy“
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a high-level conversation on what makes a coup, or an insurrection, following the storming of the US Capitol and (separately) a military takeover in Myanmar.
November 10, 2020: “Happy Dog Takes on the World: Next President’s Foreign Policy Inbox”
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a high-level conversation on foreign policy challenges for President-Elect Joe Biden, and how the U.S. might approach international issues in the post-Trump Administration era.
November 10, 2020: “Praying at a Lego House For God”
Faith Full Podcast: Narrative podcast tells the story of John Kraemer, a Michigan man with mild cerebral palsy who for 21 years has made exquisite Lego models of Catholic churches as a form of ministry.
November 2, 2020: U.S. Election Profiles, Swiss Abroad
Swissinfo.ch: Authored four profiles of Swiss abroad for the multimedia website of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation: Swiss in New York: ‘The US is very much based on the individual’; Swiss in Ohio: ‘We have two choices. I don’t like either of them.’; Life in a divided US ‘a roller coaster ride’ for Swiss expat; ‘There’s no search for dialogue at all’, says Swiss expat in US
October 6, 2020: “Happy Dog Takes on the World: COVID-19 & Global Women’s Leadership”
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a high-level conversation on 20 years since Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, and on the importance of representation and participation of women at all levels of governance.
September 24, 2020: “US presidential election: Focus on Ohio”
BBC World Service/Business Matters: Provided video and audio content to help contextualize for a foreign audience Ohio and US politics.
September 1, 2020: “Happy Dog Takes on the World: Foreign Threats and the 2020 Election”
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a high-level conversation on foreign interference in U.S. elections, and how tech giants and civil society are and could address various threats.
August 28, 2020: “Fr. Jamie Dennis, a Blind Priest Guiding the Faithful”
Faith Full Podcast: A 30-minute sound-rich podcast profiling one of a handful of US Catholic priests who are blind. He talks about challenges, victories, and his love of trains (including the real railroad he built himself!)
August 15, 2020: “Blind Catholics Keeping the Faith During a Pandemic”
Faith Full Podcast: A 30-minute sound-rich podcast about the experiences of Catholics who are blind and how they have weathered the COVID-19 pandemic. They rely, as many do, on technology, and Braille materials from the Xavier Society for the Blind.
July 15, 2020: “Pittsburgh lawyer shares how the ADA equips people with disabilities to fight for their rights“
Unabridged Press/Public Source: Lead producer and reporter/host for this podcast episode in a series of reports on the ADA’s 30th anniversary. In it, we hear about the legal basis of the ADA from Jay Hornack, a Legal Committee member of Disability Rights Pennsylvania, and adjunct professor of disability discrimination law at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Law.
July 13, 2020: “How does accessibility in the Pittsburgh region compare to other areas?”
Unabridged Press/Public Source: Lead producer and a reporter for the kick-off podcast episode in a week-long series on 30 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Work included writing, editing, reporting, and sound-design. Using conversations, interviews, and reported elements, this episode focused on physical accessibility.
July 7, 2020: “Happy Dog Takes on the World: Health Surveillance, Privacy, Future of Democracy”
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a high-level conversation on privacy and surveillance concerns during the pandemic, and how public health concerns balance against individual rights.
June 26, 2020: “COVID Pandemic Affecting Researchers, But Not Lake Erie Algae Blooms”
WCPN, ideastream: Researchers are having to freeze samples, and not take as many measurements because of pandemic restrictions. Algae blooms are not expected to change, though.
May 20, 2020: “Cuyahoga County To Test For Coronavirus From Pre-Lockdown Deaths”
WCPN, ideastream: Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson on plans for coronavirus testing on samples before and after Ohio’s lockdown.
May 5, 2020: “Happy Dog Takes on the World: How Will Coronavirus Change the World?”
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a high-level conversation on how the coronavirus pandemic might or might not affect global power dynamics, inequality, international organizations, and more.
September 23, 2019: “How Swiss experience is helping the US embrace apprenticeships”
swissinfo.ch: Ohio wants to be a leader in how the United States trains the workforce of the future, and Swiss companies are at an advantage. The Alpine nation’s long expertise in workforce training gives those firms a foothold in a space U.S. firms are just discovering.
September 10, 2019: “Happy Dog Takes on the World: The Conflict over Kashmir”
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a sometimes contentious community conversation about the status of Kashmir, and how the conflict fits (or doesn’t) into international law.
September 1, 2019: “Egyptian Fino Bread“
The Baking Journalist: Part of a web video series on journalism and bread baking. I tell the story of what happened trying to report at the pyramids after the revolution, and a story of charity right after we left. I also try to make Egyptian Fino bread, which I ate nearly every morning in Cairo.
July 1, 2019: “Buyer Beware Answering Those Health Insurance Spam Calls”
WCPN, ideastream: An onslaught of spam phone calls trying to sell health insurance prompts an investigation of non-ACA-compliant insurance plans, and what products are sold by cold call.
May 9, 2019: “Canada’s Transport Minister Says Tariffs Complicating Trade Deal’s Path Forward”
WCPN, ideastream: In an interview, Canadian Minister of Transport Marc Garneau talks about the USMCA ‘new NAFTA’ deal, and why steel and aluminum tariffs complicate business moving forward on the continent.
April 16, 2019: “What we need is trust: strengthening ties between the public, the press, and law enforcement”
Remarks to the Rocky River Citizen Police Academy
March 29, 2019: “Response and Responsibility: How to Address Grave Violence Beyond our Borders”
City Club of Cleveland: Facilitator of a conversation on international intervention, human rights violations, and the Responsibility to Protect.
March 21, 2019: “Zoss The Swiss Baker Closing After 23 Years In Cleveland Heights”
WCPN, ideastream: A beloved bakery in Cleveland Heights is set to close, as its Swiss owner and his wife look for the next adventure.
March 19, 2019: “Ohio Is Still The Front Line Of Trade Skirmish, But Tariff Effects ‘Confusing'”
WCPN, ideastream: Tariffs and retaliatory tariffs in a ‘trade skirmish’ are definitely affecting Ohio, but the economic data is muddied by other factors, Ohio State University Professor Ned Hill says in an interview.
January 21, 2019: “Penance, Prayers, and an Incorrupt Heart”
Faith Full Podcast: The incorrupt heart of St. Jean Vianney travels the United States amid a time of great pain and soul searching for many Catholics. A 22-year-old man drives across the country with the heart of a saint in his passenger seat, trying to bring peace to the faithful.
December 20, 2018: “Zealot’s Axe: The Conversion of Joerg Jenatsch”
Faith Full Podcast: A Swiss legend tells the story of a convert to Catholicism who fought for the freedom of the canton of Graubuenden, until he was murdered by a man dressed as a bear. His story shows a time of great trial for Christendom.
August 22, 2018: “A Grandfather’s Faith”
Faith Full Podcast: Exploring grief and celebration of life.
July 13, 2018: “Why Some See Ohio’s Renewable Energy Potential As A Matter Of Economic And National Security”
WCPN, ideastream: Business and military leaders alike are calling for more investment in sustainable energy and technology.
May 21, 2018: “For Fans Of K-Pop Megagroup BTS, It’s Not Just About The Music”
WCPN, ideastream: Scores of fans of the Korean Megagroup BTS reached out to explain why philanthropy and community are integral parts of the fandom. Your humble correspondent gets adopted by them as they explain their perspective. Video.
April 14, 2018: Facing Terror, Finding Hope”
Faith Full Podcast: A priest who organized villagers against jihadist militants, and carries a weapon himself, ends up in an Ohio hospital as a chaplain. Fr. Cirilo Nacorda tells his amazing story of being a hostage, preparing for martyrdom, and ministering to patients of many faiths.
April 11, 2018: “Opioids Are Making Cocaine More Fatal, Challenging Crisis Stereotypes”
WCPN, ideastream: Some think the face of the opioid crisis is white, but health officials, law enforcement, and advocates warn that deadly synthetic opioids are showing up in drugs like cocaine, to deadly effect in the African-American community.