Latest Occupational folklife Podcast Episodes
Kolma “Sam” Ewu, Meatpacking Plant Worker. Beardstown, Illinois
America Works Podcast - March 10, 2022 14:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsWest African immigrant Komla Ewu tells oral historian John McKerley about how he left a prestigious but unprofitable teaching career in his native Togo to pursue the American dream. He talks about how he raised the funds needed to pay his way to the U.S., how he found work on the “picnic line” in...
William (Bill) Hatch, Vineyard Owner and Winery Worker. Leesburg, Virginia
America Works Podcast - March 03, 2022 14:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsBill Hatch, a farmer, winery work and the owner of Zephaniah Farm Vineyard in Leesburg, Virginia, explains to folklorist Kim Stryker how he transformed his multi-generational family milk and beef farm into a successful winery – and why he loves being part of the wine industry. “Nobody ever asked ...
Thomas Sink (Popcorn the Circus Comic). Circus Worker, Professional Clown. Mead, Oklahoma
America Works Podcast - February 24, 2022 14:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsThomas Sink, who is better known to his many fans as “Popcorn the Circus Comic,” is interviewed by oral historians Tanya Finchum and Juliana Nykolaiszyn as part of their AFC-sponsored Archie Green Fellowship to document traveling circus workers who for decades have “wintered over” and settled in...
Kira Fobbs, Elementary School Teacher. Madison, Wisconsin
America Works Podcast - February 17, 2022 14:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsKira Fobbs, an elementary school teacher who has devoted her life to teaching 3rd and 4th graders and Special Ed students in the schools of Madison, Wisconsin, is interviewed by folklorist Mark Wagler. Teaching is one of America’s largest professions, yet the voices of classroom teachers are rare...
Dolores Fortuna, Professional Potter. Galena, Illinois
America Works Podcast - February 10, 2022 14:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsThe respected profession potter Dolores Fortuna, head of Fortuna Pottery in Galena, Illinois, is interviewed in her studio by folklorist Meredith McGriff. Fortuna, whose career includes teaching at the Art Institute of Chicago, talks about how she discovered her love of pottery as a student at Un...
Henrietta Ivey, Home Health Care Professional. Detroit, Michigan
America Works Podcast - February 03, 2022 14:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsHenrietta Ivey, a dedicated home health care professional, is interviewed in her Detroit home by Michigan State gerontologist Clare Luz and her colleague, epidemiologist Khalid Ibrahim, as part of an Archie Green Fellowship documenting the occupational experiences of home healthcare professionals...
Roberta Washington, Architect. New York, New York
America Works Podcast - January 27, 2022 14:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsThe distinguished architect Roberta Washington, who is the principal (or head) of her own firm, Roberta Washington Architects in New York City, speaks with oral historian and architect Sarah Filkins as part of Filkins’ Archie Green Fellowship to document women architects throughout the United Sta...
Mario Cervantes, Boeing Air Craft Factory Worker. Wichita, Kansas
America Works Podcast - January 20, 2022 14:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsMario Cervantes, a skilled factory worker who makes the tools that make the planes for Boeing aircraft in Wichita, Kansas, is interviewed by Briana O’Higgins on behalf of the Kansas Humanities Council as part of an American Folklife Center Archie Green Fellowship to document Boeing Aircraft Worke...
Bernardo “Bernie” Piña, Fresh Produce Salesman. Nogales, Arizona
America Works Podcast - June 03, 2021 14:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsArizonian Bernardo “Bernie” Piña is the sales manager at Ciruli Brothers, a family-owned fresh produce import company in Nogales, Arizona. For generations, the city of Nogales, which is located directly on the US-Mexican border, has been a major port-of-entry for the buying, selling, and shipping...
Mike Peabody, Garbage Man and Recycling. Barre, Vermont
America Works Podcast - May 27, 2021 14:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsMike Peabody of Barre, Vermont, is a program coordinator at the Additional Recyclables Collection Center (ARCC) of the Central Vermont Waste Management District, one of the few hard-to-recycle centers in the country. He talks about how he learned his trade, the cultural and ecological importance ...
Jim Mercer, Commercial Marine Diver. New Bedford, Massachusetts
America Works Podcast - May 20, 2021 14:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsUnderwater marine diver Jim Mercer describes his year-round job checking, maintaining, and repairing commercial fishing boats in and around the port of New Bedford, Massachusetts. It’s a unique, challenging, and dangerous job. Jim, who grew up in the New Bedford area, is totally committed to it. ...
Kim Spicer, Electrician and Wire-Women. Queens, New York
America Works Podcast - May 13, 2021 14:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsElectrician and journey wire-woman Kim Spicer is a proud member of The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local #3, in Queens, New York. Kim talks about how she tried numerous other, less fulfilling jobs before apprenticing to become an electrician and why she loves it. She t...
Jennifer Sgro, Nurse Practitioner, Night Ministry Bus. Chicago, Illinois
America Works Podcast - May 06, 2021 14:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsThis episode features Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Sgro, who works with The Night Ministry in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1976, The Night Ministry provides housing and healthcare to people who are homeless or who are living in low income situations. Sgro talks about providing healthcare on the M...
James Hensley, Port Pilot. Houston, Texas
America Works Podcast - April 29, 2021 14:00 - 13 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsHouston ship channel pilot Captain James Hensley has the daunting task of guiding giant ocean-going ships into and out of one of the world’s largest and busiest ports. The famous Houston Ship Channel is 52 miles long and in some places incredibly narrow. His is not a job for the faint of heart --...
Heather Campbell Hill, Funeral Director. Raleigh, North Carolina
America Works Podcast - April 22, 2021 14:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsFuneral director Heather Campbell Hill of the Renaissance Funeral Home in Raleigh, North Carolina is interviewed by folklorist Sarah Bryan as part of an Archie Green Fellowship from the American Folklife Center to document funeral services workers in the Carolinas. Although relatively new to her ...
Sarah Fortin, Fish Net Maker. New Bedford, Massachusetts
America Works Podcast - April 15, 2021 14:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsFish net maker Sarah Fortin was working for Reidar’s Trawl & Scallop Gear Marine Supply in New Bedford, Massachusetts when she was interviewed by oral historian Fred Calabretta from the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center as part of an American Folklife Center funded Archie Green Fellowship proje...
Patrick Bovenzi, Race Track Worker and Horse Identifier. Tampa Bay, Florida
America Works Podcast - October 08, 2020 14:00 ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsOriginally from upstate New York, Patrick Bovenzi has spent his entire career as a race track worker, rising through the ranks to hold numerous official positions at race tracks across this country. Today, he is one of America’s very few “horse identifiers” – i.e., an expert who can assess and ce...
Sharon Sisson, Iron Worker. Chicago, Illinois
America Works Podcast - October 01, 2020 14:00 ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsChicago-based folklorist Bucky Halker interviews iron worker Sharon Sisson and her husband, iron worker Richard Sisson about their experiences as iron workers in the Chicago area. Their interview, which was recorded at Iron Workers Union Local #63 Headquarters in Broadview, Illinois, covers numer...
Shuly Amsel, Wig Maker. Brooklyn, New York
America Works Podcast - September 24, 2020 14:00 - 7 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsShuly Amsel, an accomplished wig maker from Brooklyn, New York, talks about her successful wig and beauty business. She explains how she learned the trade and expanded her business from a small home-based shop primarily serving the women in her own Orthodox Jewish Community, to a high-profile bus...
Richard Bludworth, Shipyard Owner. Houston, Texas
America Works Podcast - September 17, 2020 14:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsHouston shipyard owner Richard Bludworth of Bludworth Marine talks about growing up in his family’s shipyard, learning his complex trade, and the community of maritime workers that make Houston one of the world’s largest and most vibrant ports. A fine story teller, he relates some great on-the-jo...
Joyce Vegar, Home Health Care Worker. Coos County, Oregon
America Works Podcast - September 10, 2020 14:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsJoyce Vegar, a dedicated home health care worker from Coos County, Oregon, talks about her pride and pleasure as well as her challenges in helping her clients remain in their own homes and communities. Vegar is one of more than 40 home health care workers interviewed by University of Oregon resea...
Barbara Miller Byrd, Circus Owner. Hugo, Oklahoma
America Works Podcast - September 03, 2020 14:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsBarbara Miller Byrd, the third-generation owner of the Carson and Barnes Circus based in the small town of Hugo, Oklahoma, talks about growing up in the traveling circus founded by her grandparents more than 75 years ago. She shares great memories and stories and offers in-sights into the colorfu...
Jeff Hafler, Hair Stylist. Wonder Valley, California
America Works Podcast - September 03, 2020 14:00 - 8 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsJeff Hafler, hair stylist and owner of The Beauty Bubble Hair Salon and Museum in Wonder Valley, California, talks to interviewer Candacy Taylor about how much he loves his job, how beauty salons function as impromptu community centers, and why customers confide in their stylists. He talks about...
Greg Vaught, Gold Mine Worker. Elko, Nevada
America Works Podcast - September 03, 2020 14:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsGold mine worker Greg Vaught tells folklorists Meg Glaser and Charlie Seemann from the Western Folklife Center about how he came to work at a gold mine and his various mine jobs, including being the mine safety officer. He explains how he started using his musical talents to write humorous songs ...
America Works - Series Preview
America Works Podcast - August 27, 2020 14:00 - 1 minute ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsNew from the American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress: “America Works” features the voices of contemporary workers from throughout the United States talking about their lives, their workplaces, and their on-the-job experiences. Premieres September 3.
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