birmingham alabama

What happens when you mix forensic engineering with abstract art? Ask Dr. Raymond Thompson. The first-gen college student turned engineering legend has spent more than 60 years looking at the hidden beauty inside metals. On this episode of Quick-Fire Quips, he joins APR's Baillee Majors to talk about the evolution of Alabama tech, his "love letter" to the city that launched his business career—and how he's turning industrial steel into stunning public art at Sloss Furnaces.

Meet Jun Ebersole, the man who proves Alabama is actually the "Shark Tooth Capital of the Cosmos." As the Director of Collections at the McWane Science Center, Jun spends his days elbow-deep in everything from 37-million-year-old "sea monsters" to... well, 100 pounds of whale brain. In this episode of Quick-Fire Quips, his passion for Alabama's "paleo-biodiversity" is infectious. Catch the full conversation to find out why your backyard might be a scientific goldmine!

This week on StoryCorps, Annie Pearl Avery is back to talk about a dangerous encounter she had when she and her friends got lost on the way home from a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee conference in Georgia.

In this episode of Alabama Out Loud, Aydan explores historic sites across Alabama connected to Black history, highlighting how communities continue engaging with that legacy during Black History Month and beyond.

Ever wondered what a Birmingham musician would hand an alien invader to explain Earth? For Cash Langdon, it’s all about funk, rock and ambient sound. In this episode of Quick-Fire Quips, he talks with host Baillee Majors about his 2025 record Dogs, the long-distance synth project for his band Caution and the "good" bad sound that comes from listening to music on cassettes. Plus, local music labels and radical bookstores, the beauty of biodiversity— and why you should never let someone sweep under your feet.

From witchcraft and tattoos to creating safe spaces for the community, Mambo Baptiste is a force in Birmingham! She talks with Quick-Fire Quips host Baillee Majors about Magic City Conjure, the truth about pagan practices and breaking Alabama stereotypes. Plus, why it’s time for Alabama to "get out of its own way."

Birmingham native Cash Langdon is taking his unique Alabama sound across the country. Following the release of his acclaimed new album, Dogs, the musician is set to play at Seasick Records in the Magic City on Nov. 6, as part of his national 2025 tour. APR Digital Content Reporter Aisha Smith recently sat down with Langdon to detail his journey from "jazz band kid" to a touring artist.

APR Digital Content Reporter Aisha Smith interviews the founder and executive director of The Firehouse Community Arts Center, Eric Wallace, about his unconventional teaching space. Wallace also explains how the Firehouse is fostering a subversive movement in the local music scene.

Restaurants & businesses in the Magic City are getting a digital dose of fame! Birmingham native and foodie LaDarrius Hutcherson, a.k.a. LHUT, talks with Quick-Fire Quips host Baillee Majors about the power of social media. Plus, hear about his process for crafting creative content— and the collab with Jake's Soul Food Cafe to release his very own LHUT Meal!

Ashley M. Jones is a Birmingham native and the current Poet Laureate for the State of Alabama. She talks with Quick-Fire Quips host Baillee Majors about how Alabama's revolutionary past shapes her experience as a resident of the Yellowhammer State. Plus, her takes on sweet vs salty grits, Alabama BBQ and how one of her childhood dreams may soon become reality!