VOA Connect - Voice of America

VOA Connect Episode 330 - Enhancing water safety and addressing glacier melt’s impact on rising sea levels.

Amy Heape is an open water swim coach. Open water swimming is a swimming discipline which takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as oceans, lakes and rivers. Amy trains individuals first in the pool to enhance their swimming technique so they can then enjoy the freedom and joy of swimming in open waters. Camera | Producer | Editor: Gabrielle Weiss

Maira Thomas is a scuba diving instructor. She wanted to involve more women in the sport, so several years ago she started ScubaMAR Maids, an online community of women, who travel and dive together. We'll be joining them on their upcoming trip to Panama. Camera | Producer | Editor: Genia Dulot)

Thwaites Glacier located in Antarctica, is an unusually broad and vast glacier. Known as The 'Doomsday Glacier', scientist say it is rapidly melting. Sridhar Anandakrishnan is a glaciologist and professor at Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. He explains the danger of global warming's effect on Thwaites Glacier, with the increased melting from the glacier causing sea level rise across the globe. Reporter | Camera:  Aaron Fedor, Producer: Kathleen McLaughlin, Editor: Kyle Dubiel

Explore the Washington Park Arboretum, an outdoor museum renowned for its focus on trees and woody plants. Situated in the heart of vibrant Seattle, Washington, this 230-acre park is home to over 40,000 plants sourced from various corners of the globe. Camera | Producer | Editor: Gabrielle Weiss

VOA Connect Episode 329 - Unraveling the music within and beyond.

Handbells are for everyone, regardless of age; all it requires is patience and determination. Alan Payne, the Executive Director of Music to Free, introduces handbells to seniors as they bond over the joy of music. Reporter: Marsha James, Camera | Editor: Philip Alexiou

Fred’s Lounge, open exclusively on Saturday mornings, has been a vibrant hub for Cajun culture since 1946, hosting lively Cajun bands and preserving this rich heritage. Reporter | Camera: Aaron Fedor, Producer: Kathleen McLaughlin, Editor: Kyle Dubiel

Gravelly Point, managed by the National Park Service and nestled along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, offers a haven for bikers, walkers, and picnickers, while also being renowned as one of the prime spots in the nation for airplane-watching. Camera | Editor | Producer: Philip Alexiou

Refik Anadol, an artist at the forefront of data painting and AI-generated art, explores the fusion of technology and creativity. By leveraging machine-learning algorithms, Anadol is known for innovative media works and showcases the creative potential of AI. Camera | Producer | Editor: Genia Dulot