The Facing Project

Indiana Public Radio
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Hosted by J.R. Jamison, each episode's theme is explored through a variety of engaging avenues, from performances of stories from different points-of-view collected using The Facing Project's story sharing model, to interviews with storytellers, artists, and bestselling authors exploring complex topics we all face -- leaving listeners with the courage to share their own stories and the empathy to listen to others.

  1. Always Carry Salt, with Author, Playwright, and Journalist Samantha Ellis

    6D AGO

    Always Carry Salt, with Author, Playwright, and Journalist Samantha Ellis

    J.R. Jamison sits down with Samantha Ellis to journey through time, language, and cultural connectivity as the two explore her new memoir, Always Carry Salt.  The daughter of Iraqi Jewish refugees, Samantha grew up surrounded by the noisy, vivid, hot sounds of Judeo-Iraqi Arabic; a language that’s on the verge of extinction. Now, raising her own family, she questions how to pass on this heritage without passing on the trauma of displacement. Always Carry Salt is a life-affirming tale of resilience and repair, the healing power of our ancestor's music, stories, and recipes, and a moving meditation on the words and traditions that shape us.

    57 min
  2. Talking Story with Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner Malia Chun

    12/27/2025

    Talking Story with Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner Malia Chun

    Guest host Kelsey Timmerman “talks story” with Kaua’i educator and cultural practitioner Malia Chun. Together they explore how Hawaiian stories carry genealogy, belonging, environmental knowledge, and resistance—and why reconnecting with our own roots shapes how we move through the world. Malia invites listeners to reflect on their ancestors, their land, and what it means to be a good ancestor today.

    1 hr
  3. Stone Lands: A Journey of Darkness and Light

    11/29/2025

    Stone Lands: A Journey of Darkness and Light

    J.R. Jamison is joined by writer and editor Fiona Robertson, whose latest memoir of grief, hope, and love explores Britain’s standing stones and the solace of their offerings in times of darkness, and lessons learned on endurance, survival, joy, and the luminous reminder of what it means to exist on this earth.

    54 min
  4. Facing (In)Justice in Health

    10/25/2025

    Facing (In)Justice in Health

    J.R. Jamison explores the everyday impacts of injustice in health through the stories of those on the frontlines in Baltimore, Maryland, touching on barriers to care in Black, Brown, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ communities; challenges with mental health and housing; and the influence of identity, community, and culture on wellbeing.  Later, J.R. is joined by the Facing (In)Justice in Health project organizers Mindi B. Levin and Dr. Stéphie Dulièpre, along with Dr. David Fakunle, the founder and CEO of DiscoverME/RecoverME, an organization that utilizes the African oral tradition to empower use of storytelling for healing and growth.  Photo credit: Dr. David Fakunle

    1 hr
  5. Exploring Love, Longing, Loss, and Home with Singer-Songwriter Cliff Ritchey

    08/30/2025

    Exploring Love, Longing, Loss, and Home with Singer-Songwriter Cliff Ritchey

    Kelsey Timmerman is joined by singer-songwriter Cliff Ritchey to discuss his new album, The Long Haul, and the stories behind his music that have been inspired by global travels and the simple country life of Markleville, Indiana—where gravel roads, sunsets, and stillness seep into his melodies of home. Photo credits: Kelsey Timmerman for Patagonia Books.

    1h 8m
  6. A Place Called Home with Award-winning Author David Ambroz

    07/26/2025

    A Place Called Home with Award-winning Author David Ambroz

    J.R. Jamison is joined by David Ambroz to discuss his memoir, A Place Called Home, a story about growing up homeless in New York, Ambroz’s subsequent years in foster care, and eventually becoming an attorney with a vision to change the laws that affect children in poverty. Hillary Rodham Clinton praised A Place Called Home “[as a book that will] redouble your efforts to fight the systems of poverty that have plagued America for too long.” Photo credits: David Ambroz (by Austin Hargrave)

    1h 10m
  7. Healing Earth and Growing the Future with Author Kelsey Timmerman and Regenerative Farmer Chris Baggot

    06/28/2025

    Healing Earth and Growing the Future with Author Kelsey Timmerman and Regenerative Farmer Chris Baggot

    J.R. Jamison is joined by former co-host Kelsey Timmerman to discuss his latest book, Regenerating Earth: Farmers Working with Nature to Feed Our Future, and later Kelsey sits down with an Indiana farmer to explore how he’s working to build a local food system while healing the land through regenerative farming practices.  Music in this episode -  "I Leaned My Back Against an Oak (after The Water is Wide)" by AxletreeLicensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.From the Free Music Archive.

    1h 5m
  8. Facing Aging — 24 Stories on Life and Living in the Golden Years

    05/31/2025

    Facing Aging — 24 Stories on Life and Living in the Golden Years

    J.R. Jamison explores aging through the stories of those aged 60 to 95 who look back at their careers and accomplishments, and discuss times of war and peace; strength and bravery; struggle and tenacity; and the secrets to life and living in the golden years.   Special guests: Molly Flodder, editor of Life After 60: The Golden Years?, and Dr. Jacquelyn Frank, a leading gerontologist and anthropologist whose research focuses on aging in place.

    1h 10m
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5
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Hosted by J.R. Jamison, each episode's theme is explored through a variety of engaging avenues, from performances of stories from different points-of-view collected using The Facing Project's story sharing model, to interviews with storytellers, artists, and bestselling authors exploring complex topics we all face -- leaving listeners with the courage to share their own stories and the empathy to listen to others.

Information

  • Creator
    Indiana Public Radio
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © Indiana Public Radio, Ball State University, and The Facing Project
  • Show Website
    The Facing Project