How does an 11-year-old camper finding her rhythm behind a drum set turn into a lifelong calling to empower young women? Find out on this episode of Quick-Fire Quips with Mary Foster, former camper and current mentor with Girls Rock Birmingham. She opens up about finding her home in music, how the non-profit builds confidence and community on stage at Saturn, and why spaces built for young women are so vital in today's music scene. Plus, hear all about the return of the free, come-as-you-are Girls Rock Fest at Avondale Brewing Company!

It's hard to know where to start talking about former Alabama U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance. She's a fixture on MS Now, and she's been on PBS's Overheard with Evan Smith. The midterm elections are also just a few weeks away, and Vance is out with a new book titled "Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy.” Bear with me; I'm just getting warmed up. 2026 is also the 30th anniversary of the Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta. Vance helped build the legal case against bomber Eric Rudolph after a similar attack in Birmingham. We'll start off by talking about her connection to a national award-winning investigation right here at Alabama Public Radio. All of that and more on APR Notebook.

This week, Don reviews Murder on a Girls’ Night Out by Anne George.

In this episode of BrightPath, hosts Lisa Jones and Johnnie Aycock sit down with Dr. Andrea Cevasco-Trotter and musician Matt Jones spotlights the visionary people and research shaping the state's future. The series debuts with hosts Lisa Jones & Johnnie Aycock speaking with The University of Alabama President Dr. Peter Mohler, exploring how UA is training future leaders and driving groundbreaking innovation across the state.

Most of us define ourselves by what we do for a living, and that label can stick long after the job is gone. Commentator Cam Marston met a man in Chicago this week who was struggling to let go of his, and the conversation hit closer to home than Cam expected.

This week, Don reviews 20 over 60: Short Stories edited by Beth Weinhouse and David Galef.

Choosing a veterinarian for your pet may depend on several factors, including location, hours of operation - maybe ask other pet owners which vets they use and if they are happy with the way their pets are treated.

Cam and his wife finally got the traveling life they'd talked about for years. This week, he files a report on what that dream actually looks like from an uncomfortable chair in the Atlanta airport.

Today we’ll be talking about dating in the digital age and the new terms you may hear younger Americans using these days— ghosting, couple goals, soft launch, and the momentous “FBO” (that’s Facebook official, btw). How have mobile dating apps changed how hopeful singles engage with each other? Does social media put extra pressure on couples to put on the appearance of happiness? This is the research focus of Dr. Leah E. LeFebvre at the University of Alabama. She joins Lacey to discuss how technology and trends affect the dating landscape, for better OR for worse.

BrightPath spotlights the visionary people and research shaping the state's future. The series debuts with hosts Lisa Jones & Johnnie Aycock speaking with The University of Alabama President Dr. Peter Mohler, exploring how UA is training future leaders and driving groundbreaking innovation across the state.