The Facing Project

Indiana Public Radio
  • 5.0 (26)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Monthly

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. 9h ago

    Filmmaker and Journalist Ursula Liang

    Host J.R. Jamison sits down with FRONTLINE filmmaker, producer, and journalist Ursula Liang to talk about her latest film Two Strikes, a documentary short that follows the two strikes law in Florida that put a former West Point cadet struggling with PTSD and alcoholism in prison for life without the possibility of parole. The two also explore how to tell authentic stories through print and film. Photo Credit – Ursula Liang, photo provided. Chapters – [00:00] Introduction. [03:05] Interview with Ursula Liang. [06:32] Making the transition from written storytelling to film. [10:38] The decision making process of visual storytelling and navigating complex narratives. [17:24] Handling the delicate balance of investigative interviews, and consequences that impact more than just individuals. [26:38] Building a storytelling experience while balancing the control of the narrative. [30:07] Storytelling that connects the audience and the creator to the story's culture. [41:14] Advice for filmmakers and storytellers. [49:03] How do we create a more empathetic world?  Original air date: Jul. 27, 2024

    Filmmaker and Journalist Ursula Liang

  2. Sep 5

    More Than My Illness

    Genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events—all contributing factors to the more than 40 million adults in the U.S. who suffer from anxiety or depression. Yet, with nearly 12% of the overall population battling these illnesses, mental health is still stigmatized and misunderstood. Join J.R. Jamison as he shares the story of a missionary who battled depression 4,000 miles from home, and another from a college student with a “broken brain” who says the best way to help is to listen. Later in the show, J.R. is joined by that former college student who is now a high school English teacher at a virtual public school in Washington state. Photo – Via Flickr Creative Commons by Seth Jackson: https://flic.kr/p/TrtEhh. Stories included in this episode –• It’s Not the Common Cold: Bailie Sage’s story as told to Jon Toronto from Facing Depression in Cache Valley, Utah. Performed by Amy Leffingwell.• It’s Not My Fault My Brain is Broken. Kiah Penfield’s story as told to Chris Bavender from Facing Depression in Muncie, Indiana. Performed by Melinda. Music used in this episode –• "spring_thaw" by The Green Kingdom. Released under an Attribution 3.0 United States (CC BY 3.0 US) license. From the Free Music Archive.• There Is Always A Reason" by Borrtex. Released under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. From the Free Music Archive. Chapters –[00:00] Introduction.[00:56] It’s Not the Common Cold.[09:24] It’s Not My Fault My Brain is Broken.[16:10] Interview with Kiah Penfield.[18:27] Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.[22:00] Relations between depression and identity.[24:11] Depression and anxiety with young people and navigating it as a teacher. Original air date: Mar. 26, 2022

    More Than My Illness

  3. Sep 2

    Teachers are Heroes

    Teachers and educators are facing challenges like never before, including battling misinformation, burned-out kids, parents, and of course—COVID. Join J.R. Jamison as he explores these challenges and shares the story of a man who stays in teaching despite external pressures; another from a woman who uses empathy to teach multicultural education; and one from a teacher who decided to make her own kind of change—at the Statehouse. Photo – Via Flickr Creative Commons by Phil Roeder: https://flic.kr/p/2kf6XeR. Stories included in this episode –  • This Is Why I Teach: An anonymous story as told to Suzanne Clem from Facing Teaching.• Mrs. Miller, You Set Us Up!: Barbara Miller’s story as told to Clarissa Cheslyn from Facing Teaching.• Votes for My Students: Melanie Wright’s story as told to Susan Volbrecht from Facing Teaching.  Music used in this episode –• "GREEN LEAVES" by Jason Shaw. Released under an Attribution 3.0 United States (CC BY 3.0 US) license. From the Free Music Archive. Chapters –[00:00] Introduction. [04:42] This Is Why I Teach. [11:59] Mrs. Miller, You Set Us Up![18:01] Votes for My Student. [23:15] Aloha Shirt Man Thanks the Students Who Made His School Psychology Career a Gift.  Original air date: Feb. 26, 2022

    Teachers are Heroes

  4. Aug 29

    Cleanup on Aisle Five

    J.R. Jamison is joined by journalist Ann Larson to discuss her new book, Cleanup on Aisle Five, a deep dive informed by her time behind the register that examines supermarkets and how they operate from the inside out with low-wage workers stocking shelves, to the customers who roam the aisles at night, to the communities these stores serve and the larger capitalist forces and corporate interests at play that control how we shop for food. Chapters[00:00] Introduction.[01:26] Interview with Ann Larson.[05:58] Surprising aspects of every day grocery store work.[13:14] The grocery store as a reflection of class relations in America.[23:27] The history and context of grocery stores and franchising.[31:47] Grocery stores are only one part of a larger food supply and poverty system.[40:29] The links between education and financial stability.[46:52] Learning from the experience of working in a grocery store and living through people's stories. Original air date: Aug. 29, 2026

    Cleanup on Aisle Five

  5. Aug 22

    Healing Earth and Growing the Future

    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 Indiana farmer Chris Baggot 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. Chapters - [00:00] Introduction.[01:15] Interview with Kelsey Timmerman.[05:11] The various definitions of regenerative agriculture.[14:14] The returning generation of agrarian people.[22:51] Regenerative agriculture in urban environments.[26:36] Expanding regenerative agricultural into conventional farming.[36:04] Staying in a place and learning to care for it as a community.[41:58] Interview with Chris Baggot.[44:20] What farmland can be like before regenerative farming practices.[47:42] The rising cost of farmland ownership.[52:45] The upcoming transition of significant amounts of farmland to the next generation.[57:58] The role of consumers in motivating the supply of regenerative farming.[01:01:58] Differences in experiencing regenerative and conventional farming. Original air date: Jun 28, 2025

    Healing Earth and Growing the Future

  6. Aug 15

    Life After Prison

    Each year, more than half a million people are released from state and federal prisons, some of them after years of incarceration. But with an unemployment rate of over 27% for the formerly incarcerated, what does life on the outside look like for them?    Join J.R. Jamison as he explores this question, and shares the story of a woman with a felony who is working on a new life with her kids, and another from a retired prison doctor who works on re-entry program reform.   Later in the show, J.R. is joined by Dr. Jacquelyn B. Frank, Professor of Aging Studies and Human Services at Eastern Illinois University, whose research and community engagement work focuses on long-term incarceration and life after prison.  The co-host this time around is 15-year-old Charlie Isaacs who is a fan of the show and hopes to someday go into radio.   Photo – Via Flickr Creative Commons by Michael Scott at Felons Get Hired. Stories included in this episode – • You Can Only Go So Far with Optimism: An anonymous story as told to Rodrigo M. Jr. and Allison W. from Behind the Faces of Criminal Justice in Chippewa Valley, Wisconsin. Performed by Tiffany Erk.• Ken’s Story: Ken Adler’s story as told to Rachel E. and Nicole B. from Behind the Faces of Criminal Justice in Chippewa Valley, Wisconsin. Performed by Larry Beck. Music used in this episode –• "The Collector" by Broke For Free. Released under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0)license. From the Free Music Archive.• "I Will Wait For You" by Scott Gratton. Released under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. From the Free Music Archive. Chapters – [00:00] Introduction. [02:40] “You Can Only Go So Far with Optimism.” [07:22] Ken Adler's story. [11:36] Interview with Dr. Jacquelyn B. Frank, Professor of Aging Studies and Human Services. [14:01] What can be done to reduce the unemployment rate for the formerly incarcerated. [18:22] Success stories of ex-prisoners. [24:13] Interview with Charlie Isaacs, self-professed “radio nerd.”  Original air date: Dec. 18, 2021

    Life After Prison

  7. Aug 12

    Afghanistan, My Neighbor

    In August of 2021, over 200,000 Afghans fled their country in a matter of days, adding to the 2.5 million who left in the months prior to the Taliban takeover. But where did they go and what would be their fate?  Join J.R. Jamison as he explores the past and present of Afghanistan, and shares the story of Dr. Mohammad Saber Bahrami—a man who fled the country after the Soviets invaded in 1979 and made Muncie, Indiana his new home.    Later in the show, J.R. is joined by Dr. Bahrami’s wife, Bibi Bahrami, the founder and president of AWAKEN, a nonprofit organization that provides key educational programs, vocational opportunities, health care services, and timely emergency assistance to women and children in Afghanistan, and works with Afghan refugees to ensure that the systems, structures, and support are in place to help them thrive in their new home.  Photo – Via Flickr Creative Commons by Afghanistan Matters.  Story included in this episode – • From Khwara Banda to Muncie: Dr. Mohammad Saber Bahrami’s story as told to Bibi Bahrami from A Midsummer Night’s Narrative: Stories of Home, performed by Bryn Marlow    Chapters –[00:00] Introduction. [04:47] “From Khwara Banda to Muncie, Indiana” - Mohammad Saber Bahrami’s story. [14:15] Interview with Bibi Bahrami. [16:14] The impact of the Taliban on education & health efforts in Afghanistan. [22:53] Getting involved with helping refugees.  Original air date: Nov. 27, 2021

    Afghanistan, My Neighbor

  8. Aug 7

    Writing Unexpected Plot Lines and Finding Community

    Host J.R. Jamison sits down with GLAAD award-winning journalist Samantha Allen—author of Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States, and the novels Patricia Wants to Cuddle and the forthcoming Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet. Photo Credit – Samantha Allen, photo provided. Chapters –[00:00] Introduction. [02:39] Getting into writing and publishing. [08:09] Experiences of finding LGBTQIA+ communities in unexpected places. [17:16] Queer world-building through real world encounters in the digital age. [27:25] The importance of physical spaces in an interconnected world. [36:11] Advice on being your authentic self. [42:48] Developing creative ideas in non-fiction LGBTQ storytelling. [46:44] Differences and similarities between fiction and non-fiction writing. [57:11] Creating a more empathetic world.  Original air date: Jun. 29, 2024

    Writing Unexpected Plot Lines and Finding Community
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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
    79
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © Indiana Public Radio, Ball State University, and The Facing Project
  • Show Website
    The Facing Project

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