The State of the Re:Union

State of the Re:Union was created by Al Letson as an entry in the Public Radio Talent Quest, which started with more than 1,400 hopefuls. The contest aimed to identify a new generation of Public Radio on-air talent. After four rounds and voting from both a select panel of judges and the public at large, three winners were selected. For his pilot episode, Al and his team created “Welcome to D.C.” Two of the three winning shows were awarded with a year’s worth of funding to produce new episodes, including State of the Re:Union.

State of the Re:Union has set out to explore how a particular American city or town creates community, the ways people transcend challenging circumstances and the vital cultural narratives that give an area its uniqueness. 

We initially took creative and conscious cues from the iconic shows that have inspired us. From the scenic road, simple-pleasure sensibilities of Charles Kuralt’s On the Road and the investigatory spirit of 60 Minutes to the aesthetic and music-fueled backdrop of MTV and do-it-yourself spirit of Current TV, these things have moved us to create a show where neither artistry or content are ever compromised for one another.

From this, we found our own voice and style and were more fueled from the incredible stories that we’ve been made aware of. As Al says, each episode is like a love letter to America.

SOTRU produces everything under a strict set of standards to ensure accuracy, respect for discussed subjects and a comprehensive representation of the full story.

State of the Re:Union

Arts & Culture

WAMU 88.5

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, October 7

You can explore one calligrapher's modern take on Korean handwriting, or see two shows that require a little help from the audience.

Food

NPR

Fairfax Schools Pull All-Beef Burgers From Menu, Citing Complaints

Students in a Virginia school system are now eating hamburgers with additives in them, after officials heeded their complaints about the appearance and taste of all-beef burgers it had been serving. The burgers that are now being served include a reported 26 ingredients.

Politics

NPR

No End In Sight: Shutdown Showdown Enters Week Two

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Technology

NPR

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