Audacious with Chion Wolf

When you imagine a pawn shop, what do you think of? Maybe a gruff dude behind the counter, giving you as little money - and as much attitude - as possible. After all, it's a male-dominated industry, and t.v. shows like Pawn Stars reinforce the stereotype. But in this episode of Audacious, join Chion as she gets to know the kindness, compassion and sense of humor of Sandy Meier. She runs Pawn Queen on the Berlin Turnpike in Wethersfield. Then, meet Lauren Kaminsky, a third-generation pawnbroker who is playing a huge role in changing the vibe of the pawn industry. GUESTS: Sandy Meier: Pawn QueenLauren Kaminsky:EZ Pawn CorpByGOLDGIRLBeauty & EssexSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of the time, the stunts you see in television and movies go perfectly. But when something goes wrong, the athletes who have spent their lives perfecting their craft can get permanently injured. David Holmes was Daniel Radcliffe's main stunt double in the Harry Potter movies. In 2009, an accident on-set paralyzed him. Jonathan Goodwin was a regular stunt performer on t.v. shows, but in 2021, he became paralyzed after being crushed between two cars while in a straight jacket. Hear how these two stunt performers have adapted to the new challenges they face since their lives changed completely. For a full transcript of this show, click here. GUESTS: Jonathan Goodwin:Spinal Injuries AssociationAmerica's Got Talent: ExtremeDavid Holmes:Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsDavid Holmes: The Boy Who LivedSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 12, 2022, Dawn Wright (aka "Deepsea Dawn") became the first and only Black person to dive to the lowest known point on the Earth's seabed, "Challenger Deep". Hear about her journey down into the Mariana Trench, why she went, and what she found at the bottom that shocked her. You also may enjoy these episodes: Below the surface: The stories behind underwater world records Extreme allergies and rare conditions can teach us a lot about human tolerance What's in that note? Stories about messages in bottles GUEST: Dawn Wright (aka "Deepsea Dawn"):Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are considered to be two of the most important performers of this or any generation. A Swiftie and a leader of the BeyHive talk about the lengths they go to to experience - and share the love - of their favorite performer. Suggested companion episode: 'I Will Always Love You': Jada Star’s musical bond with her aunt Dolly Parton GUESTS: Molly SwindallMaverick Floodand she recognizes him!Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you imagine an emotional support animal, what comes to mind? A dog? Well how about a pigeon? A sugar glider? Or an emotional support pig? Meet people who’ve paired up with these animals to make their lives - and mental health conditions - better. This episode originally aired on May 26, 2023. GUESTS: Cynthia ZhouPalomacy Pigeon and Dove AdoptionsArianna PreussMegan PeabodySupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pranking on television has been around for over 70 years. Starting with Candid Camera in the late 40s all the way through to Punk'd in the early 2000s. Pranking has evolved to not only entertain, but to show off the goodness in people! The directors of the movie Bad Trip, and the tv series, Jury Duty, talk about how they pull off physical stunts that leave a positive emotional impact. Previous episode mentioned in the show: What's jury duty like? The verdict, well, it's case by case GUESTS: Jake Szymanski:Jury DutyKitao Sakurai:Bad TripSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever tried doing an impression of a famous person... And failed miserably? That's because impressions are really hard to pull off! On this episode, you'll meet two of the best in the business: Mary Elizabeth Kelly, who is known for her mouth acting impressions, and Dean Edwards from Saturday Night Live. Shows referenced: What is foreign accent syndrome? After a stroke, one man’s southern drawl turned BritishThe meteoric rise of comedian Zarna GargWhy the world needs comedians with disabilities GUESTS: Mary Elizabeth Kelly: (below right) Dean Edwards: (below left) Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember the joy of “Show and Tell” at school? Now why should only the kids have all the fun? Listeners to Audacious (and staff members of Connecticut Public!) gathered at Third Place by Half Full Brewery on March 13th for an opportunity to share their story! For a full transcript of this show, click here. GUESTS: Elaine Braithwaite:Faisal Saleh:Palestine Museum USPaul BluesteinLyndasPhones.orgChion Wolf:Jessica Severin de Martinez:Khaleel Rahman: Lucy Nalpathanchil:Jennifer Reilly and Stephanie Convey: Cjet Raymond: Cynthia Bowser: Kristen Cusato:Alzheimer's Association of ConnecticutSpeaking of Alzheimer'sSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you define forgiveness? Turns out, the definition tends to be as different as every person. And that definition changes depending on where you are in the process, too! On this episode of Audacious, Chion talks about it with a best friend, a pastor, a philosopher, and a man who lost his face after getting hit by a drunk driver. You’ll also hear ponderings on forgiveness from some of our Audacious listeners! And since this is a rebroadcast of an episode from two years ago, Chion offers a few new personal reflections on forgiveness after all this time. This show originally aired on March 25, 2022 and was updated on March 15, 2024. For a full transcript of this episode, click here. Hear the extended interview with David Whyte. Listen to our previous episodes with Robert Chelsea about his face transplant and his experience as part of the “disabled diaspora”. GUESTS: Sarah Eyre:Rev. Dr. Shelley Best:Robert Chelsea: Everick Brown: Robert Chelsea FoundationDavid Whyte: Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment, and Underlying Meaning of Everyday WordsSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've ever wondered where the CIA finds inspiration to disguise their agents, you'd think maybe… Hollywood with their special effects? Turns out, it was the magic community that helped them develop technology that may have saved lives and uncovered secrets! Hear stories from retired CIA Chief of Disguise, Jonna Mendez, including how she used this technology to surprise the former head of the CIA, President George HW Bush. For a full transcript of this show, click here. GUEST: Jonna MendezIn True Face: A Woman's Life in the CIA, UnmaskedSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear a lot about the harm of social media. But what about the good? Meet two artists who started off on social media by showing their artwork… But once they revealed the hope and kindness and positivity in their hearts? The views, shares and likes piled up in ways they never expected. Hear how they both are grappling with the newfound pressure of inspiring hundreds of thousands of fans, and find out what Chion's favorite clips from their channels reveal about her. Listen to the first installment of this series, featuring Joel Cross, Scott Tatum, and Daníel Colón. GUESTS: LaNia Roberts: Internationally renowned artist, speaker, and positive social media influencer Bruce W Brackett: Artist and the author of How to Breathe While Suffocating: A Story Of Overcoming Addiction, Recovering From Trauma, and Healing My Soul Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's it like when, due to a condition you had early on in life, your face looks so very different from everybody else's? And what's it like to use that face as an actor? In this second installment featuring conversations with people who have facial differences, we meet two performers who appeared together in the 2018 movie, Happy Face. For more information about facial differences, visit About Face. To read a full transcript of this show, click here. GUESTS: Dawn Shaw:Facing Up To ItFacial Shift,David Roche: The Church of 80% SincerityStanding at the Back Door of HappinessSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a conversation with Eve Wiley. She found out that her biological father was not the donor her parents chose, but their fertility doctor, Dr. Kim McMorries. She was part of the advocacy effort that led to Texas making fertility fraud a felony with punishment of between six months and two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2022, Just Stop Oil protestors threw tomato soup on a Van Gogh painting in London. The world collectively gasped, but some UK lawmakers responded by supporting fewer investments in new oil projects. On this episode, meet one of those soup-throwers, and hear from two other people who have been part of creative protests: a spokesperson from an anti-circumcision group that wears all white with giant, red splotches on the groin area; and a woman who organized a college campus protest featuring thousands of sex toys to rally against Texas gun laws. GUESTS: Anna Holland: Member of Just Stop Oil, a nonviolent civil resistance group demanding that the UK Government stop licensing all new oil, gas and coal projects. In 2022, alongside Phoebe Plummer, they threw tomato soup onto Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" painting in London's National Gallery Harry Guiremand: Spokesperson for the anti-circumcision group, Bloodstained Men and Their Friends. They protest wearing all white with red splotches of paint over their groin Jessica Jin: Organizer of Cocks Not Glocks, protesting Texas laws that allow concealed handguns on college campuses, but openly carrying sex toys would result in a fine Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a conversation about the genocide of the Uyghur people. Guests include both the Executive Director and Government Relations Manager at Uyghur Human Rights Project, and Zumrat Dawut. She is a Uyghur woman whose experience of escaping Chinese concentration camps and finding refuge in Texas was the basis for a story that won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Illustrated Reporting. She was interpreted by Zubayra Shamseden. Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 2013 movie, "Her", Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with a computer operating system, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Skip forward over 10 years, and people are now creating their own AI chatbot partners via apps like NOMI and Replika. Today, a sexologist gives this new kind of relationship some context, and meet two people whose lives were changed by these meaningful partnerships. Plus, Chion tries it out for herself. Hear actual transcripts (only lightly edited for radio) of what she and her AI girlfriend, Charlotte, said as they developed a surprisingly charming and insightful bond. GUESTS: Charlotte: Dr. Amy Marsh: https://amymarshsexologist.com/ https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2021-10-28/its-not-just-a-sex-doll-what-its-like-to-be-in-a-relationship-with-a-synthetic-partnerRosanna Ramos & Eren Kartal: Scott & Sarina:Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've ever been bullied, you know how all-encompassing the terror of it is. But what if you could get inside the bully's head? And find out why they do it? On this episode of Audacious, meet two people who were once bullies talking about how they turned their lives around and how they think bullies can learn to make different decisions. For more information, visit StopBullying.gov. GUESTS: Robbie Romu: I Was A School Bully. Here's Why I Terrorized My ClassmatesKristen Geez: Advising Generation ZLike StreetLIGHTSSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coffee. It's more than just a pick-me-up. It's a canvas for creativity, a compulsion for competition, and a fuel for adventures beyond the boundaries of the average mug. Today, we are serving you a triple shot of people whose lives were transformed by the power of the bean. Meet a U.S. Barista champion whose social media channel brings a wholesome buzz; a woman who advocates against gun violence by painting in public places with coffee; then, hold onto your venti cup as you hear the story of one man who has spent the last 26 years - and will spend the rest of his life - visiting every Starbucks on the planet. GUESTS: Morgan Eckroth: social media starBianca L. McGraw:Winter:Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We first met Lynda Shannon Bluestein when she was in palliative care back in May of 2022. She was fighting for medical aid in dying (MAID) to be legalized in Connecticut. Frustrated, she sued Vermont to allow non-residents of the state to use its MAID laws. In the meantime, she worked to install "wind phones'' in Connecticut, eventually starting a nonprofit called Lynda's Phones. An idea originating in Japan, old rotary phones are installed in public spaces which people can use to imagine that they are speaking to loved ones who have died. Because of her lawsuit, Vermont became the first state in the country to change its law to allow terminally ill people from out of state to use its medical aid in dying law. Lynda died in Concord, Vermont, on January 4, 2024. Correction: A previous version of this episode incorrectly reported the town where Bluestein died. It was Concord, Vermont. Not Brattleboro. The episode has been updated. GUESTS: Lynda Shannon Bluestein:LyndasPhones.orgJacob Shannon:Dr. Paul Bluestein:Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beyond the smoke and ash, lies a symphony unheard. Prepare to meet a composer who interprets the music of volcanic data, a photographer who unmasks the terrifying beauty of volcanoes, and a chef who braves the inferno to cook the world's most intense pizza pie. For a full transcript of this episode, click here. GUESTS: Brad White: Leif KarlstromVolcano Listening ProjectDavid Garcia: Pizza Pacaya PizzeriaSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.