community

This week on StoryCorps, Afriye Wekandodis tells the story of how she was called to move to Selma, Alabama where she would become the director of the Ancient Africa, Enslavement and Civil War Museum and the founder of the By The River Center for Humanity.

This week on StoryCorps, Sarah Aghedo and Verdell Dawson compare South Africa and Selma and discuss how Selma's family-oriented community has changed over the decades.

Fannie Etheridge has been quilting for 30 years, but she’ll be the first to tell you that the legacy of Gee’s Bend started long before her. She shared a beautiful insight during our latest Quick-Fire Quips: The women who started the Freedom Quilting Bee didn't have five-year business plans—they had an idea, a community and the drive to build something from nothing. Today, those quilts aren't just blankets, they are world-renowned art.

Meet the man who makes "the snake pit" look like a walk in the park: Trippy McGuire, a veteran handler at the legendary Opp Rattlesnake Rodeo! From childhood jars of "specimens" to the high-stakes snake pit, Trippy shares why he swapped fear for fascination on this episode of Quick-Fire Quips. Plus, Alabama legends, hidden RV gems, and why he doesn't bleed red—he bleeds orange and blue.

Today Lacey sits down with a pro on social media culture, influence and history. Dr. Jessica Maddox is an Associate Professor of Entertainment and Media Studies at the University of Georgia, but spent 7 years of her academic career at the University of Alabama. In this episode, she chats with Lacey about how people can get dependent on social media, how these websites design themselves to make them as "scrollable" as possible, and how humans have craved connections (like the ones social media seems to provide) for centuries.

How much trash can you pick up in just 60 minutes? According to Courtney Dombroski, founder of the coastal nonprofit Eco Clean Marine, it's enough to make a difference. On this episode of Quick-Fire Quips, she proves that young entrepreneurs and a little "Bucket of Goodwill" are exactly what the Gulf needs.

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.

This week on StoryCorps, Tasha Dangerfield speaks with her friend Marla Moore about what brought her to Selma, and the incredible support group she found when she needed it most.

This week on StoryCorps, Tres and Helene Taylor return to tell the story of the community mural they organized in Selma, Alabama and how they used the power of art to bring people together.

From touring with actual rockstars with his band Within Reason to playing bass on the TV set of One Tree Hill, David Koonce is more than happy to trade showbiz for sports! In this episode of Quick-Fire Quips, he talks about working front office for the Birmingham Bulls and how Alabama might never have heard the legendary voice of Eli Gold without hockey. From his deep Alabama roots to the hidden history of "Hockey Town, Alabama," David proves there’s more to the state than just the gridiron.