Tales from the 202 Elani Lawrence

***Please note this was recorded during the summer of 2021.***

For Steve Anders, Washington DC is a living, breathing contrast. Back in the seventies and eighties, it was one of the murder capitals of the world - and yet it also felt safe. And this parallelism never felt truer for him growing up biracial in the US capital back in those days.


This episode is a well-told time machine in the eyes of Anders, a native through and through who experienced the best and the worst that DC can offer. He narrates his fun childhood days living in the shadows of the White House, surrounded by massive monuments and landmarks that revealed the city's sense of grandeur and history.
Then, he looks back on the massive changes that have occurred over the years—the gentrification and its impact on a small US city that wants to hold on to culture and tradition but also keep up with the rest of the world.


In between, he tells personal stories of a black child who just wanted to fit in with a highly diverse population but ultimately made it because he had immense pride in his roots.


This is a touching, powerful, and inspiring memoir about one man's journey through the ups and downs of life in America's capital. It is also a reminder that no matter how much things change, some things will always remain the same.

Important Points of This Episode:

Get a glimpse of Washington DC over 40 years ago from a child who grew up in the seventies and eighties.
Trace the biggest developments—and downsides—of gentrification.
Understand the struggles of biracial children to find their place in a diverse society.
Hear an uplifting story about one man's journey to success in the face of adversity

***Please be advised that this was recored in 2021***

For Kate Christenberry, the best word to describe Washington DC is “arts.”  In fact, she has lived and thrived because and through it.

A Washington DC native as soon as she was born, Kate grew up in a creative and innovative family. His father, for example, ran a studio. Her siblings have taken up arts in school, while she currently sits on the board of Washington Project for the Arts, which has been supporting home-grown artists for decades.

And like most of those who considered DC as their home their entire lives, she has seen the nation’s capital past the usual monuments, memorials, and museums.

For instance, the eclectic neighborhoods offer experiences unique from one another, whether it be a cozy cup of coffee from a local cafe or an underground theater experience.

If you want to know more about the arts and culture scenes that continue to breathe vibrancy and life into DC, listen to our podcast episode with Kate today. We promise you that you will never look at DC the same way again.



In This Episode:


Experience the arts and culture of Washington DC in the eyes of an advocate
Discover the creative gems of DC’s neighborhoods
Learn why Kate calls DC unique (What makes it different from other popular places, like New York?)
Unwrap the massive changes in DC (Is it good or bad?)

***Please be advised that this was recorded in 2021***

Sometimes you can live in a neighborhood or city all your life and still feel you do not know everything about it. This is the experience of our guest, Hugh Beshers.

To say that Hugh is a DC native is an understatement. He and the generations before him went to the same school. Belonging to a congenial small community, he was comfortable to hop to friendly neighbors’ homes to play games with the other kids or even rummage through their fridges.

Everything changed when their teacher introduced a school building to their class. And this memory shattered his innocence and made him realize he could be living a sheltered life.

Let’s listen to this stand-out memory and figure out together the good and bad—and the misconceptions people have—about living and thriving in DC.



In This Episode:


Uncover a life-changing experience that changed Hugh’s outlook about his city
Know the biggest myth people tell about the country’s capital
Get a glimpse of the normal life among growing kids in the 1970s

***Please be advised that this was recorded in 2021***

What happens when politics, religion, and sex walk into a bar? More likely, you’ll come across a DC native!

Jamie McElroy, our guest for this episode, is a proud Episcopal priest in Alabama. But perhaps unlike other religious, he is not afraid of conflict or tackle with sensitive topics, such as sex and politics. He even belongs to a progressive church, which ordains women and officiates same-sex weddings.

He didn’t develop these characteristics overnight. Instead, he bloomed right where he was first planted: Washington DC.

The country’s capital is all about personal connection. You grow up with the same neighorhood kids and families over the years and meet individuals from all walks of life. These alone encourage openness, critical thinking, and lively engagement.

But we want you to let Jamie tell us more about this endearing DC attribute. Listen to his journey now.



In This Episode:


Unearth DC attributes that the rest of the world hardly knows
Learn how living in the capital inspires people to serve
Understand why the metro is a big city with a small-town feel

***Please be advised that this was recored in 2021***

Have you heard a lion’s roar outside the window? Carter Stallard did. A professional gardener, he has worked at a DC zoo. But even when he was still young, he was already familiar with the non-human residents as he lived near one!

But that is not his only favorite memory of growing up in the US capital. Throughout the episode, he offered snippets of the natives’ regular lives: the ease of entering the Smithsonian on the weekend, costume parades, and deep political talks among friends and family.

He also shared his views on the importance of statehood, diversity, and the fast-changing landscape of people, culture, and architecture.

Let's follow him as he retraces his beloved stories from past to present in this episode.



In This Episode:


Get a glimpse of the lives of the real DC natives
Dive deep into the capital’s politics, including representation
Understand why diversity matters in the area, especially today

***Please be advised that this was recorded in 2021.***

Once a DC native, always a DC native - and this episode highlights that no one can get the capital out of a person who has lived and breathed it for most of their lives.

Today, Julia Schwartz talks about how the metro lifestyle seems to be embedded into her DNA, especially now that she’s living in the West Coast. But it is also for this reason that she can easily spot a transplant and a true-blue child of the capital.

Further, being raised in a mixed-race family, Schwartz touches on how DC is so far ahead of its time for embracing diversity.

Want to learn more about her insights about these topics? Listen to this episode now.



In This Episode:


Know what makes diversity one of the core values of DC
Learn the nuances of a real DC native - what makes them truly different from the transplants
Understand why connection matters for those raised in the capital