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Special Guest – Al Letson (SOTRU)
Producer’s note: Al is “responsible” for every flight that has ever been cancelled on me

Show Sponsor:
Walk A Mile In Their Shoes March 27 benefitting the Sulzbacher Center
walk, run or sleep in
Coffee Sponsor:
Bold Bean Coffee

State of the Re:Union

• Applied for PRX Public Radio Talent contest 3 years ago
• idea: losing local flavor, homogenization
• Clear Channel owns EVERYTHING!
• lo-fi garage band submission made Top 10
• 3 out of 6 shows made the cut
• NPR picked up the show
• PRX (Public Radio eXchange) = distributor
• CPB = $$$
• NPR = distributor + network
• PRX and NPR had never worked together before
• SOTRU only crossover show between PRX/NPR
• Black History Month program
• public radio needs a dose of fresh air
• not a news show
• rich media
• inspired by Ira Glass (This American Life) *spot-on impression*
• stateofthereunion.com
• Twitter – @alletson
• video content as well
• audio content allows you to do other things while you participate
• this (ujw) is “serious business” – T
• carried by WJCT (yay!)
• 150 stations

Sounds of the Re:Union

• local music of the locations featured
• video podcast
• separate but affiliated

UJW jocked SOTRU intro music (at first) ;)

$$$
funded by huge grant from CPB
responsible for raising own money as well
hitting up locals
donate on the website
Can’t spell LOCAL without “AL” – T

Upcoming
shows on Brooklyn, Greensburg, KS, New Orleans, Oregon, Milwaukee (May 1)
writing a book on grassroots solutions to American problems

Lyricist Hour tonight at nerdysouth.com

Next Week: Citrus Cel

Recommendations

Jack – Speed Mechanics
Tony – Saturday = River Day at RAM also March is River Month
Jonathan – beta.jacksonville.com
Al – Citrus Cel Animation Festival also, Nerdy South
Joey – Justified on FX

Other Events

Bike Porn
Warehouse Show
Art Friends Electric
Sulzbacher Benefit at Underbelly
TSI B&W Ball

Al Letson is one of Jacksonville’s most famous celebrities, yet no one knows who he is. That’s about to change when his new NPR radio show launches soon. Al’s show, called State of the Re:UNION, will highlight different aspects of communities around America that work together to make this country what it is.

I highly recommend you attend this FREE party.

Letson recently won the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Public Radio Talent Quest and he is about to embark on a new part of his career. (go to stateofthereunion.com for more details about the show) This national show will be produced out of Jacksonville, so take this chance to get on board early and see what the show will be about and meet the man responsible for the concept at the launch party this weekend.

This is the promo spot for the show:

Al has curated the launch party to showcase some of his favorite parts of Jacksonville culture along with an after party at the Burrito Gallery.

• See the work of some of Al’s favorite artists (Marsha Hatcher and Princess Rashid)
• See a short film by Patrick Barry
• Music by Willie Evans Jr and David Luckin
• Food by the Burrito Gallery

Saturday, August 23, from 5 until 8 pm
In the Gallery at Fogle Fine Art & Accessories
3312 Beach Boulevard in the historic St. Nicholas neighborhood
(904) 296-1414 for details or visit foglefineart.com

Al on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam