The Pittsburgh Convos by Storyburgh

Carsen Brunn, a New Kensington resident, is the president for Bridge USA chapter at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to depolarizing college campuses across the United States, with similar efforts underway in Europe and Africa. The organization is also to cultivate a healthy democratic society by addressing political polarization, especially prevalent on social media platforms.

Professor Anita Varma, from the University of Texas in Austin, provides insights into her personal unconventional journey into journalism. Formerly a resident of Pittsburgh, Professor Varma discusses the industry's challenges, particularly in the aftermath of the 2008 economic crash, and reflects on its evolving nature from then till now.

Christine Biancheria grew up in Edgewood, attended Allderdice, and completed her college degrees in University of Pittsburgh.

Maria Manautou-Matos, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University, founded Pittsburgh Latino Magazine to address the absence of coverage for Latino events. Originating from Puerto Rico, she encountered misconceptions about the territory's relationship with the U.S.

Sonja Reis shuttered her Gazette 2.0 magazine for good on All Souls Day on November 2nd, 2023. Several articles in local media outlet have covered its closure, so in this podcast the host and Sonja discuss the circumstances surrounding the closure, her involvement with Gazette 2.0, the challenges faced by the publication and community journalism, the need for stronger partnerships among local newsrooms, and her perspective on the changing landscape of the media industry.

John Bolanos, a retired executive from Austin, Texas, relocated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania a few years ago to be nearer to his grandchildren. His roots trace back to San Bruno, located on the southern side of San Francisco, California, where he was raised with conservative values.

During her time as a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, Kelsey Grushecky shared her personal story in the "Collectors' Items" series hosted by Storyburgh. Her tale was a heartfelt account of her experiences and deep connection with the city and people of Gifu, Japan.

The overall goal of Storyburgh is to build community and understanding through storytelling and there are many ways to tell own stories. In addition to regular published articles published on www.storyburgh.org, we also have "The Convos" where informal conversations take place in a private studio setting that are then broadcasted through various platforms.

Samson Johnson, who was adopted as a toddler and raised by an Orthodox Jewish family in Swissvale, had the unique opportunity to learn about other religions too, including Christianity and Islam. This experience emphasized the value of understanding and respecting diverse belief systems. Despite not pursuing formal higher education, Samson’s intellectual curiosity led him to explore complex philosophies like Stoicism and various religions, demonstrating that self-education can be just as valuable as traditional academic paths.

In our third episode, we have the pleasure of chatting with the ever-energetic Margo Hinton from Troy Hill. We delve into a variety of topics that she previously shared at The Demilitarized Zone community storytelling event. This event took place at the Tripoli Street Community Center on September 1st, 2022, and our discussion serves as a follow-up to the intriguing narratives she presented there.