The Facing Project

A mother in Indiana asks others to see her daughter with autism for who she is, and a man who comes out of the closet later in life stands up for himself—and ultimately others—in a small Ohio community.

Join us as J.R. and Kelsey discuss if ignorance is bliss or if awareness is the key to happiness.

Stories
• Ask: A mom asks people to see her daughter with autism for who she is. Dana William’s story as told to Clarissa Bowers from “Facing Autism in Muncie, Indiana.” Performed by Melinda Messineo.
• Stand Up: A man who comes out of the closet later in life stands up for himself . . . and ultimately . . . for others. Bob Carr’s story as told to Meaghan Summers from “Facing Intolerance at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.” Performed by Larry Beck.

Music used in this episode
• "The Ants Built A City On His Chest" by Doctor Turtle. Licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. From the Free Music Archive.

An Indiana man with autism gives a peek inside of his mind and explores a friendship that helped him discover nothing is too difficult to overcome, and a college student in North Carolina decides that self- love is more important than letting other people define her worth.

Join J.R. and Kelsey for a reflection on alone time and finding the space for self-acceptance.

Stories
• Chasing the Sunset: A man with autism and bi-polar disorder gives a peek inside of his mind and explores a friendship that helped him discover that no challenge in life is too difficult to overcome. Shannon Brown’s story as told to Jamie Reese from “Facing Disabilities in East Central Indiana.” Performed by Brian Meekin.
• Breaking a Mold that Shouldn’t Exist: A college student decides that self-love is more important than letting other people define her worth. Elizabeth’s story as told to Morgan McGrath from “Facing Perfection at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina.” Performed by Angie Rogers-Howell.

Music used in this episode
• "Warm" by Cambo. Licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License. From the Free Music Archive.
• "Finger Cut" by Vernon Lenoir. Licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0) License. From the Free Music Archive.

A gay teen who was kicked out of his home and forced into sex trafficking writes a letter to his parents, and a teen survivor of dating violence shares early warning signs from her own experiences.

Join J.R. and Kelsey as the talk about how painful stories are often the ones that provide a sense of strength.

Stories
• Dear Mom & Dad: An Anonymous Story as told to Jeff Perri from Facing Sex Trafficking in Atlanta, Georgia. Performed by Drew Vidal.
• You’re Not Alone: Annie’s Story as told to Carli Scalf from Safety in Love in Muncie: A Facing Project. Performed by Kristie Inman.

Music used in this episode
• "Mr Brown is Outta Town" by Hammer of Hathor. Licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0) License. From the Free Music Archive.
• "Cloud Launching" by Little Glass Men. Licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. From the Free Music Archive.

A grandmother in Ohio pens a letter to her infant granddaughter sharing the history and promises of their tight-nit Black neighborhood, while a son in Colorado begins to appreciate his late-father’s paintings during a trip to his alma mater. Also in this episode, we unveil an easy way to engage with The Facing Project and how to get your story featured on this show. 

Stories
• My Grandbaby: Linda Woods’s Story from Neighborhood Narratives in Dayton, Ohio: A Facing Project. Performed by Chandra Ford.
• Remembrance of a Legacy: An Anonymous Story as told to Tessa Smith from Facing Change: Exploring Community in Northern Colorado—A Facing Project. Performed by Bill Inman.

Music used in this episode
• “If You Won’t Choose Me” by Pierce Murphy. Licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. From the Free Music Archive.
• “Bethena (A Concert Waltz)” by Scott Joplin. Performed by Tom Pascale. Music in the Public Domain. Recording released for non-profit use from the Piano Society project.
• “Windswept” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under an Attribution 3.0 International (CC BY 3.0) License. From the Free Music Archive.

J.R. and Kelsey explore connecting across difference in a world divided.

Stories
• It Shouldn’t Matter: WaTasha Barnes Griffin’s Story as told to Seth Carrier-Ladd from Facing Racism in Muncie, Indiana. Performed by Amanda Hummer.
• Hearts & Homes: Katie Flesch’s Story as told to Kate DeVantier from Facing Intolerance in Springfield, Ohio. Performed by Laura Williamson.

Music used in this episode
• “my bloody beating heart” by kitchenromance. Licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. From the Free Music Archive.
• “Bufflehead” by Chad Crouch. Licensed under an Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 International License. From the Free Music Archive.

Hosts J.R. Jamison and Kelsey Timmerman discuss lessons on gratitude learned from past stories they’ve told, and stories they’ve helped to tell.  

Stories
• A Brothership Memoir: Kelsey Timmerman’s Story as told to Michael Brockley from Mentoring in Muncie–A Facing Project. Performed by Akil Thompson.
• Inextinguishable, Wholly: Pat’s Story as told to J.R. Jamison from Facing Poverty in Delaware County, Indiana. Performed by Debby Girtman.

Music used in this episode
• “Summer Pride” by Loyalty Freak Music. Released to the Public Domain. From the Free Music Archive.
• “I Leaned My Back Against an Oak (after The Water is Wide)” by Axletree. Licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. From the Free Music Archive.

An undocumented “dreamer” in Los Angeles works up the courage to apply for college, while a college-bound wheelchair user in Ohio wants others to see that she’s more than her chair.

Join J.R. and Kelsey as they talk about these stories, J.R.’s experience of growing up gay in Cowan, Indiana, and how we often find what we need in the most unlikely of places.

Stories:
• Becoming Limitless: No Tengo Limites: Josephina Flores’s Story as told to Ana Gomez from Facing Access to Higher Education in Los Angeles, California. Performed by Melinda Messineo.
• More Than My Chair: Morgan’s Story as told to Sammy Voors from Facing the Future Beyond High School in Ada, Ohio. Performed by Jo Robertson.

Music used in this episode:
• “coelum” by Kai Engel Licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. From the Free Music Archive.
• “Scattered Light” by David Hilowitz Licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. From the Free Music Archive.

A “War on Terror” veteran intends to bomb a local mosque, but instead meets its occupants and begins a healing process through unlikely friendships.

In this premiere episode, J.R. and Kelsey share the inspiration behind The Facing Project and why bringing people together across borders and through stories is more important than ever.

Stories
• The Anger is Mine: Richard McKinney’s Story as told to Tom Steiner from Facing Racism in Muncie, Indiana. Performed by Drew Vidal.
• From Khwara Banda to Muncie, Indiana: Mohammad Saber Bahrami’s Story as told to Bibi Bahrami from Facing Home in Muncie, Indiana. Performed by Bryn Marlow.

Music and production by Sean Ashcraft.