Midwesternish

What happens when a state regulates a tradition practiced on stoops and living room floors for generations? Missouri hair braiders say you could end up disenfranchising a community. On this episode: African hair braiding in the Midwest. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: " Home Home At Last ," " Sunday Lights ," and " One Needle ," by Blue Dot Sessions; all have been edited for length.

What happens when a state regulates a tradition practiced on stoops and living room floors for generations? Missouri hair braiders say you could end up disenfranchising a community. On this episode: African hair braiding in the Midwest. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: " Home Home At Last ," " Sunday Lights ," and " One Needle ," by Blue Dot Sessions; all have been edited for length.

It's one of the hardest conversations to have: the conversation about abortion. But what if we tried to just talk about it without all the politics. We sat down to hear two women share their stories, they stand on opposite sides of the issue, politically, but they've both had abortions. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: " Denzel Sprak ," " Cobweb Transit ," " Headlights/Mountain Road ," and " One Needle ," by Blue Dot Sessions; all have been edited for length.

It's one of the hardest conversations to have: the conversation about abortion. But what if we tried to just talk about it without all the politics. We sat down to hear two women share their stories, they stand on opposite sides of the issue, politically, but they've both had abortions. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: " Denzel Sprak ," " Cobweb Transit ," " Headlights/Mountain Road ," and " One Needle ," by Blue Dot Sessions; all have been edited for length.

Roger Thomas wants you to move to his hometown, Orrick, Missouri, in order to save a small town that's only getting smaller. But can he convice you to see what he sees in Orrick? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: " Milkwood ," " Paper Napkin ," " Algea Tender ," and " On Belay ," by Blue Dot Sessions; all have been edited for length.

Roger Thomas wants you to move to his hometown, Orrick, Missouri, in order to save a small town that's only getting smaller. But can he convice you to see what he sees in Orrick? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: " Milkwood ," " Paper Napkin ," " Algea Tender ," and " On Belay ," by Blue Dot Sessions; all have been edited for length.

The story of how one Kansas City man's DIY fireworks display got completely out of hand. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: Gentle Marimba by Alastair Cameron, The Stars And Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa

The story of how one Kansas City man's DIY fireworks display got completely out of hand. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: Gentle Marimba by Alastair Cameron, The Stars And Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa

Can you imagine what it would be like to regain your sense of hearing after years of silence? Regaining the ability to hear isn't as simple as flipping a switch. Hear what Rob Jefferson heard as he relearned to hear with cochlear implants. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: " Dirtbike Lovers " by Blue Dot Sessions; it has been edited for length.

Can you imagine what it would be like to regain your sense of hearing after years of silence? Regaining the ability to hear isn't as simple as flipping a switch. Hear what Rob Jefferson heard as he relearned to hear with cochlear implants. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: " Dirtbike Lovers " by Blue Dot Sessions; it has been edited for length.

When you're falling in love, spending time apart can seem unbearable. Kansas City-born musician Krystle Warren has been away from her first love, her hometown, for a long time. She shares her story of finding a new home in Paris when her heart was still in the plains. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: Krystle Warren

When you're falling in love, spending time apart can seem unbearable. Kansas City-born musician Krystle Warren has been away from her first love, her hometown, for a long time. She shares her story of finding a new home in Paris when her heart was still in the plains. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: Krystle Warren

Weird stuff happens in the middle of the night. We share stories recorded at a live storytelling event hosted by Gina. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: " Tiny Putty "," " Balti ", " Filing Away ", and " Milkwood ," by Blue Dot Sessions; all have been edited for length

As Confederate monuments come down in New Orleans, people in other states across the country are considering similar memorials in their own backyards. On this episode, one Midwestern state deals with its own Confederate history. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: " Headlights/Mountain Road ," " Milkwood ," " Cobweb Transit ," " MKNT ," and " In Passage " by Blue Dot Sessions; all have been edited for length.

William Least Heat-Moon takes us on a trip across America's forgotten rural routes, through history, away from our digital devices and into the universe. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Google Play and Stitcher . Music: " Twosome ," and " Ice Climb ," by Podington Bear; " Chime ," by Quietest; and " Lighting the night " by Ketsa; all have been edited for length.