The TMI Project Story Hour

Reclaiming Our Time is a Bonus Episode of The TMI Project Podcast. It was released in honor of the first anniversary of Nikole Hannah-Jones' New York Times podcast: #1619Project, a reframing of the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the center of our national narrative. Hayley Downs produced this episode in partnership with Radio Kingson.

On Juneteenth 2017, five writers accompanied by Terry James, living historian and board member of The Slave Dwelling Project, participated in TMI Project’s immersive program of workshops that began with an overnight stay in a preserved cellar kitchen where enslaved Africans once lived.  The resulting production, “Reclaiming Our Time,” was performed live at the Reformed Church of New Paltz on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, and was the recipient of the 2017 Awards of Excellence from Greater Hudson Heritage Network, which recognizes creative vision in the preservation of the history, culture, and diversity of the region. Inspired by Maxine Waters, this special bonus podcast episode features the recordings of the five participating storytellers--Victory Reese, Dara Lurie, Freedom Walker, Tameka Ramsey, and Micah--performing their stories during the live performance.

The Slave Dwelling Project raises awareness about enslaved Africans’ history by organizing overnight stays at sites where they once lived. Historic Huguenot Street, a national landmark in New Paltz, New York, comprises seven stone houses from the 18th century that were inhabited by Huguenot settlers fleeing religious persecution in France. 

Contrary to the popular belief that slavery was practiced exclusively in the South, Northern states were also dependent on enslaved African labor in the 17th and 18th centuries. 

Victory Reese was born and raised in the mostly-white New Paltz, NY, where she wasn't exposed to the history of slavery in the Hudson Valley, nor did she ever ask herself the question, "How do you move forward without knowing where you come from?"

Dara Lurie spent years searching for ways to find communion with the spirits of her African ancestors, only to discover an unexpected new language which helped her communicate with those spirits: dance.

Freedom Walker As the turbulent feelings ebb and flow during Freedom Walker's (formerly TinaLynn Dickerson) night in a cellar where former enslaved Africans once lived, she drifts off to sleep. She awakens to the voice of an unknown entity who awards her a new name and helps her see the current state of racism in America.

Tameka Ramsey addresses a letter to her ancestors, in which she reveals the truth about why history never interested her until recently: it was never hers to learn.

Micah knows the trials and tribulations he and his ancestors carry, and he's not afraid to face them: in fact, he seeks them out to find his retribution and honor his past.

Useful Links: 

• The Slave Dwelling Project: https://slavedwellingproject.org
• Historic Huguenot Street: https://www.huguenotstreet.org
• Radio Kingston: https://radiokingston.org
• Greater Hudson Heritage Network: http://www.greaterhudson.org
• TMI Project: https://www.tmiproject.org

True storytelling is a vehicle for human connection and can ignite hope during the darkest of times. Alone Together was launched by TMI Project in the spring of 2020 with the goal of creating a safe and welcoming space for people to connect around their shared experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. TMI Project invited writers from across the country via an open call to submit a story of up to 1000 words about hope, resilience, loss, loneliness, silver linings, and the unexpected gifts they’ve received during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resulting performance Alone Together was performed live via Zoom.

Alone Together is a bonus episode of TMI Project’s Podcast. This episode was produced by Hayley Downs and edited by Nate Brogan in partnership with Radio Kingson. Our theme song is “Secrets” by Edison Woods. TMI Project’s External Affairs Director is Sara DeRose, Operations Manager is Blake Pfeil, and Graphic Designer is Lauren Gill. Special thanks to Ida Hakkila, Kale Kaposhilin, Jimmy Buff, and Kashka Glowascka. 

STORY SYNOPSES

Jacquese Armstrong, Edison, NJ

For Jacquese, the isolation of quarantine sparks flashbacks of a time nearly 40 years ago when psychosis, depression, paranoia, and anxiety held her captive in her apartment. Instead of focusing on the details of her past trauma, she puts to use what helped her so many years ago: her creative mind.  

Isa Coffey, Chatham, NY

When Isa’s COVID-19 symptoms reach their climax, she fears she may die alone and longs to connect with those she loves, but physical closeness is out of reach. As she fights for her life in solitude, she finds hope in the sound of Andrea Bocelli’s voice, as he sings by himself to the empty Duomo of Milan on Easter Sunday broadcast live worldwide.

Ryan Pfeil, Medford, OR

Ryan’s wife is a nurse and “called to war” during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a journalist, suddenly forced to work from home and to grapple with the juggling act of meeting deadlines, while being the primary caretaker of two young daughters. They want nothing more than his undivided attention.

Thomas Pickarski, New York, NY

Thomas contemplates his long-standing love affair with solitude as the backdrop of his alone time quickly shifts from the fast paced-world he has no desire to keep up with to one at a standstill.

Amanda Reed, Washington, DC

Amanda recently moved into her apartment in Washington, DC across the street from Smithsonian National Zoological Park. She lives alone, hasn't made many friends, and her whole family lives far away. She finds unexpected comfort in the company of her new neighbors, the captive lions. Their regular roars remind her to use this time to tap into her calling.

Terri Weagant, Brooklyn, NY

Amidst the global pandemic, Terri, newly unemployed and feeling desperate, becomes obsessed with a man she calls Charles. She calls him over 2,000 times before she gets through. You’ll have to hear her story to find out why her husband is not just understanding but grateful for her persistence and devotion to another man.

Useful Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.tmiproject.org/podcast/
• Alone Together Website: https://www.tmiproject.org/covid-19/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tmiproject
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmiproject
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmiproject/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSe3UtpOEzhQG03PzwVRUqA
• Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/tmiproject

This is a Bonus Episode for Season One of The TMI Project Podcast, Tragedy + Time = Comedy. It was created to celebrate the May 1st, 2020 online release of Vicarious Resilience. This episode was produced by Hayley Downs in partnership with Radio Kingson.

The docu-short Vicarious Resilience follows three Hudson Valley residents over the course of a 10-week TMI Project true storytelling workshop held in partnership with The Mental Health Association in Ulster County (MHA) as they experience the transformative power of true storytelling; they face mental illness, childhood neglect, and addiction head-on; and, ultimately, share deeply personal stories about love, loss, and triumph. In this bonus episode, we share all ten stories that came out of the workshop.

Since 2012, twice a year, TMI Project has offered 10-week memoir writing and true storytelling workshops specially tailored to meet the needs of MHA's population of adults with mental illness. Our partnership with this peer-based organization–where a portion of the staff are people who have recovered from mental illness–is designed to help destigmatize mental illness, while also empowering participants to imagine and work toward the possibility of their own recovery.

The documentary was shot by North Guild Films and premiered locally at The Rosendale Theater on May 29th, 2018.

This is Episode 9, Season 1 of The TMI Project Podcast, Tragedy + Time = Comedy featuring Hayley Downs. It was produced in partnership with Radio Kingson with production assistance from Ida Hakkila, Nate Brogan, Marlan Barry and Manuel Blas.

Hayley wrote and performed her story during TMI Project’s weekend writing intensive at Omega Institute in September 2016. We invited her to read it a few weeks later at Voices in Action, our annual fundraiser.

This is Episode 8, Season 1 of The TMI Project Podcast, Tragedy + Time = Comedy featuring Markel Mosley.

It was produced in partnership with Radio Kingson with production assistance from Ida Hakkila, Nate Brogan, Marlan Barry and Manuel Blas.

Markel wrote and performed his story during a 10-week TMI Project workshop produced in partnership with the Mental Health Association in Ulster County in 2017. 

Useful Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.tmiproject.org/podcast/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tmiproject
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmiproject
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmiproject/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSe3UtpOEzhQG03PzwVRUqA
• Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/tmiproject

This is Episode 7, Season 1 of The TMI Project Podcast, Tragedy + Time = Comedy. 

It was produced in partnership with Radio Kingson with production assistance from Ida Hakkila, Nate Brogan, Marlan Barry and Manuel Blas.

Useful Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.tmiproject.org/podcast/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tmiproject
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmiproject
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmiproject/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSe3UtpOEzhQG03PzwVRUqA
• Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/tmiproject
• Gender at Work: https://genderatwork.org/

This is Episode 6, Season 1 of The TMI Project Podcast, Tragedy + Time = Comedy. 

It was produced in partnership with Radio Kingson with production assistance from Ida Hakkila, Nate Brogan, Marlan Barry and Manuel Blas.

Useful Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.tmiproject.org/podcast/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tmiproject
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmiproject
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmiproject/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSe3UtpOEzhQG03PzwVRUqA
• Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/tmiproject
• Margarita Meyendorff’s Website: https://margaritameyendorff.com/home/

This is Episode 5, Season 1 of The TMI Project Podcast, Tragedy + Time = Comedy featuring the late storyteller Erica Chase Salerno. It was produced in partnership with Radio Kingson with production assistance from Ida Hakkila, Nate Brogan, Marlan Barry and Manuel Blas.

Sari Botton, TMI Project’s previous editorial director and workshop leader, worked closely with Erica on this monologue which she read for the first time at a gallery in New Paltz, New York in 2017. She passed away in February 2019. Six days before she died she invited Shana Falana from the podcast, I WANT WHAT SHE HAS to interview her at her bedside about the experience of dying.

Useful Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.tmiproject.org/podcast/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tmiproject
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmiproject
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmiproject/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSe3UtpOEzhQG03PzwVRUqA
• Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/tmiproject
• Remembering Erica Chase Salerno: https://www.tmiproject.org/remembering-erica-chase-salerno-enthusiasm-incarnate/
• Erica’s writing on HV1: https://hudsonvalleyone.com/author/erica-chase-salerno/
• I want what SHE has podcast: https://iwantwhatshehas.org/podcast

This is Episode 4, Season 1 of The TMI Project Podcast, Tragedy + Time = Comedy featuring Erin Baretto. 

It was produced in partnership with Radio Kingson with production assistance from Ida Hakkila, Nate Brogan, Marlan Barry and Manuel Blas.

Useful Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.tmiproject.org/podcast/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tmiproject
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmiproject
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmiproject/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSe3UtpOEzhQG03PzwVRUqA
• Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/tmiproject
• Mental Health Association in Ulster County: https://www.mhainulster.com/

This is Episode 3, Season 1 of The TMI Project Podcast, Tragedy + Time = Comedy. 

It was produced in partnership with Radio Kingson with production assistance from Ida Hakkila, Nate Brogan, Marlan Barry and Manuel Blas.

Useful Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.tmiproject.org/podcast/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tmiproject
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmiproject
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmiproject/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSe3UtpOEzhQG03PzwVRUqA
• Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/tmiproject
• Upstater: https://upstater.com/contributors/sam-osterhout/