Veteran Voices: The Oral History Podcast
ABOUT THE PODCAST
Veteran Voices: The Oral History Podcast features conversations with those who tell veterans’ stories in creative and interesting ways, such as oral historians, authors, poets, playwrights, and photographers.
This podcast is a production of The Social Voice Project, an innovative public media initiative dedicated to capturing, preserving and sharing the voices and stories of our time through the first-hand, authentic accounts of lived experiences we call oral histories. The podcast was formerly produced by the award-winning Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh Oral History Initiative.
COMING SOON!
COMING UP IN 2021 ON THE VETERAN VOICES PODCAST
We’ve always understood the veteran experience in broadest terms that include the full range of issues veterans, their families, and our communities go through before, during, and after military service.
Some of these issues are well known, such as post traumatic disorders or military-related illnesses known as Agent Orange, Gulf War Syndrome, or the most recent toxic Burn Pit exposures.
Also fitting into these experiences are the social, political, and economic consequences communities endure as a result of exposures to dangerous military-industrial activities abroad and at home.
Dr. James Van Keuren’s upcoming book, The School Poisoning Tragedy in Caledonia, Ohio, tells the tragic but little known story of what a small community in Ohio went through in the years and decades after WWII:
“In the early 1960s, the River Valley Local School District built its middle school, its high school and its athletic fields in the former Marion Engineer Depot. During World War II, the depot had used the land for heavy equipment rehab, military artillery practice, materials storage, burial of construction debris and burning of waste materials and fuels.
“In 1997, a River Valley High School nurse grew concerned about the high rate of leukemia and other cancers in graduates. Then a stunning news report announcing a 122 percent increase in death rates over thirty years in the Marion area sparked an investigation.
“Was the land to blame? The question of what may have been known about the contaminates on the school grounds sent shock waves through the community that still linger today.”
Stay tuned for this new episode coming in early 2021. Meanwhile, be sure to check out our most recent conversation with Dr. Van Keuren discussing WWII POW camps in Ohio on episode 43 of Veteran Voices: The Oral History Podcast.
Veterans Oral History Association
PITTSBURGH – January 28, 2017 – The Veterans Oral History Association is an informal social media community for those who capture, preserve, and share veterans stories. Members can promote their projects, discuss issues related to the practice of doing oral history work with veterans, and share technical production advice about recording gear, techniques, and production methods.
Check out the Veterans Oral History Association on Facebook
EPISODES
Episode 8 | 2013 Year In Review
Episode 7 | Mary Caparosa | Veteran Photography
Episode 6 | Kathleen Short & Joe Zablotny | Veteran Stories
Episode 5 | Jean Ann Barsotti | Carnegie Free Library, Beaver Falls
Episode 4 | Jesse Mercure | US Army (ret.)
Episode 3 | Alex Sopka, George Priatko, Joe Capone | Veterans Stories
Episode 2 | Veterans Stories
Episode 1 | Veterans Stories
ABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Farkas is an independent multimedia producer specializing in creative audiography, sound design, and audio engineering. He has produced several audiobooks, radio dramas, live storytelling events, a podcast network, videos, as well as print and digital media publications.
Kevin also founded the nonprofit Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh Oral History Initiative—a leading regional multimedia project working closely with the Veterans Breakfast Club, StoryCorps, and the Senator John Heinz History Center/Smithsonian Institution to capture, preserve, and share the stories of veterans with a Western Pennsylvania connection.
Argot: Audio Short Stories Podcast
Argot: Audio Short Stories Podcast is a collection of creative story vignettes adapted from the Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh Oral History Initiative Collection. These audio short stories are inspired by actual events. Argot represents some of the most heartfelt moments from veterans’ oral history interviews conducted throughout Western Pennsylvania.
EPISODES
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SUPPORT LOCAL HISTORY
Let’s keep local history alive for future generations! If you like our podcast, please help us continue this great educational program–for today and tomorrow. Show your support by making a financial donation, underwriting the podcast, or advertising your business or service on the show.