StoryBoard 30

SB 30 Episode 11: Documenting Blight – Benjamin Rednour and Jordan Danelz of Pigeon Roost productions

We sat down with the men behind the 9-part documentary series “In The Absence.” We talked about their perspectives on getting this important series produced and their personal takes on city blight and the lives it effects. Their important series looks at the long-term effects of disinvestment in many of our core neighborhoods and what Memphis is doing about it.

We’ve all seen them. In the back dining room of the Arcade Restaurant, behind a bookshelf at Burkes Books, and in coffee shops, lobbies and offices all over town. They are the Don Newman’s now-iconic photos of 1940s, ’50s and ’60s Memphis.

For this week’s show, we sat down with the two leaders of the Newman to Now project, project director Emily Cohen and photographer Gary Walpole...

“What’s going to fill the (daily print newspaper) gap? I think what we’re seeing happening in Memphis is actually very encouraging, seeing entrepreneurial, startup local journalism efforts going on. . .”

We sat down with revered columnist and former Commercial Appeal Viewpoint Editor David Waters for a little bit of reminiscing about 495 Union Ave...

“Why isn’t there a Film Prize in Memphis?” David Merrill was asked four years ago after a visit to local film competition in, of all places, Shreveport, Louisiana. What was born out of the experience was Memphis Film Prize. This year’s is the 4th, and we talked about the festival/competition and other things Memphis film for this week’s episode. 

We gave listeners a behind-the-scenes Pink Palace tour with museum curators Caroline Carrico and Steve Masler, as they reminisced over their efforts in the 4-year+ mansion renovations and talked about the current slate of Pink Palace exhibits.

“Kendra started in 2002, with $500 in the spare bedroom of her house, and was able to grow it into a billion-dollar fashion brand.”

We sat down with Kaitlyn White and Garner Keppen of Kendra Scott, the craft jewelry and fashion brand that is now adored globally. Known for its generous philanthropy almost as much as its fashion, the company started small. It’s an inspiration to anyone hoping to achieve success through their creative passions.

Host Mark Fleischer sat down with Ron Jewell, Halloran Centre VP of Operations, and Mark Edgar Stuart, Memphis musician and singer-songwriter, to discuss the exciting upcoming season at The Orpheum’s Halloran Centre for Performing Arts and Education.

Oh, and you won’t want to miss this: during the show, Mr. Jewell brought out a special guest, known in these parts by the moniker Mark Twain.

We sat down with John Zeanah, Director of the Memphis & Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, and Roshun Austin, President & CEO of The Works, Inc., and discussed the ground-up intentions of the Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan, the first city plan Memphis has initiated in almost 40 years.

To read more about the plan and the current schedule, visit the Memphis 3.0 website at https://www.memphis3point0.com

In this week’s episode, we sat down with Dr. Teri McCann, founder of the Fairhaven Treatment Center, and one of her all-around dynamic associates, Donya Ahmadian, to discuss the sensitive issues of eating disorders and trauma.

For additional information on the subject, please find the Fairhaven Treatment Center at their website, https://www.fairhaventc.com

We sat down with Valentina Cochran and Chooch Pickard of ArchInc.* for a lively discussion on historic preservation, restoration and reuse, and about new construction that restores and honors a healthy, vibrant streetscape.

*ArchInc. has been a StoryBoard sponsor since our inception.