Soundings
Soundings
soundings
Soundings is the sandbox for all student work from the Stanford Storytelling Project (SSP). SSP is an arts program at Stanford University that explores how we live in and through stories and how we can use them to change our lives. Our mission is to promote the transformative nature of traditional and modern oral storytelling, from Lakota tales to Radiolab, and empower students to create and perform their own stories. The project sponsors courses, workshops, live events, and grants, along with its radio show State of the Human.
Thread Count
Through the two possible journeys of an Aloha Shirt, Tead Count tells the story of the true cost of fast fashion. Music from Blue Dot Sessions. Interviewees: Barchi Gillai, Associate Director Value Chain Innovation Initiative,https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/labs-initiatives/vcii Lila Temple, Stanford FashionX, https://www.stanfordfashionx.com/ Research:a. https://www.sgs.com/en-be/news/2023/10/cc-q3-2023-profitability-and-textile-durability-in-the-circular-economyb. https://www.roadrunnerwm.com/blog/textile-waste-environmental-crisisc. theguardian.comd. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/fashion-and-the-circular-economy-deep-divee. https://cottonique.com/blogs/articles/how-long-will-it-take-for-fabrics-to-decompose?srsltid=AfmBOoqh10_PyQpTbPI-XzlMYGUo2dN1DVejdaOfczf7fPLVzUfVWJVhf. https://www.unep.org/technical-highlight/sustainable-fashion-take-centre-stage-zero-waste-day
Jun 26, 2025
10 min
I Speak for the Trees
I Speak for the Trees is a podcast that explores the consequences of land use change. Join us as we investigate the parallels between The Lorax and the real world in order to address the issue of sustainable land use change. From local land clearing in Wisconsin, restoration of overgrazed ranchland in Texas, to green space implementation in Chicago, we highlight how technology, policy, education, and community action can come together to reshape the way we think about and interact with our land. Music and Sound: Music and sound effects from Descript Library other than McCarthy (Blue Dot Sessions)Quantum Jazz - Passing Fields (Blue Dot Sessions) First Results (Blue Dot Sessions),Basketliner (Blue Dot Sessions) Borough (Blue Dot Sessions) Lakal (Blue Dot Sessions) andDelamine (Blue Dot Sessions). David Bamberger speaking clips from National Geographic’s “50Years Ago, This Was a Wasteland. He Changed Everything | Short Film Showcase” YouTubeDocumentary. The Lorax by Dr. Suess, audiobook read by Ted Danson   Interviewee Bios:Dr. Diana Moanga is a Lecturer and the Manager of the Spatial Analysis Center in the StanfordDoerr School of Sustainability. Her research includes studying land use land cover changeprocesses using remote sensing and spatial analysis, focusing on the effects of environmental andanthropogenic stressors on coastal socio-environmental systems. She is particularly passionateabout furthering our understanding of climate equity for coastal communities and mappingcoastal hazards at various scales. She has a Ph.D. in Environmental Science Policy andManagement from UC Berkeley in 2020. Her dissertation research used geospatial techniques tostudy land use and land cover changes across California. Specifically, her research exploredmanagement impacts on California’s coastal lands, agricultural transitions in the Central Valley,and wildfire activity under future climate regimes. Diana also earned a Master’s in Science inMarine Affairs and Policy from the University of Miami in 2015. For her master's research sheexamined the spatial and temporal characteristics of harmful algal blooms and studied coastalzone management and coral conservation.Scott Stortz is the elected Village President of Slinger, Wisconsin, where he leads efforts to fosterthoughtful growth and community development with an emphasis on quality of life, controlledtaxes, and business development. He’s held the position of Village President since 2021, and isalso the president of Star Properties, Inc, a real estate firm specializing in residential sales inWashington, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Fond Du Lac, Dodge, Waukesha and Milwaukee counties.He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cardinal Stritch University with a Bachelor of Scienceand a minor in Sales & Marketing.   David Bamberger is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Selah Ranch in Blanco County,Texas, in the heart of the Hill Country. Born into poverty, he created a successful career inentrepreneurship, which allowed him to fund the purchase of Selah Ranch in 1969. Over thecourse of the next quarter century, Bamberger and his team restored what was the “‘sorriest pieceof land’” in Blanco County. Through a myriad of methods–including the selective thinning ofAshe Juniper trees–and countless difficulties, their efforts have resulted in a thriving ecosystemand the rejuvenation of formerly-dry springs. In addition to being a steward of the land, Mr.Bamberger has made tremendous efforts to share his wisdom with the next generation, hostingfield trips to Selah Ranch, and developing curriculum on topics such as groundwater infiltration.Research:● Importance and prevalence of cities in the futureNeil Khor, et al. (2022). World Cities Report 2022, Envisioning the Future of Cities, UNHabitat https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2022/06/wcr_2022.pdf● Maggie Daley Park construction processTarantino, J. (2024). Explore Maggie Daley Park: Chicago’s Urban Wonderland. TheEnvironme
Jun 26, 2025
15 min
Green Health
Join Natalia, Iamanni, and Marjorie on a journey of investigating the connection of health inequity and sustainability in diabetes treatments!
Jun 26, 2025
14 min
Reimagining the Road Ahead
"Reimagining the Road Ahead" delves into the concept of car-free days, especially their implementation in Bogotá and Paris, the political and practical challenges to their widespread adoption, and the broader push to re-imagine urban spaces with fewer cars. Interviews:Enrique Peñalosa is a Colombian politician and urban strategist who served as mayor ofBogotá (1998–2000, 2016–2019). He is known for championing sustainable urban mobility,including Bogotá’s TransMilenio bus system and the city’s first Día Sin Carro (Car-Free Day), abold initiative that reshaped public attitudes toward transportation and urban space. His policiesprioritized pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, aiming to create a more equitable andaccessible city.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrique_Pe%C3%B1alosaDaniel Rich is a former local government manager with over 30 years of public sectorexperience. He served as Mountain View’s City Manager from 2011 to 2019, overseeingcomplex land use projects and regional planning efforts. Earlier in his career, he held leadershiproles in Sunnyvale, Belmont, and Campbell, as well as working for members of Congress. Sinceretiring, he has been a lecturer at Stanford University, teaching courses on public policy andlocal governmenthttps://urbanstudies.stanford.edu/people/daniel-h-richDehan (Danno) Glanz is an urban designer and planner with expertise in transit-orienteddevelopment. His work spans large-scale village design, architectural prototypes, andmixed-use neighborhoods that integrate sustainable transportation. He has contributed toprojects such as the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Re-Use Plan and the Richmond BARTTransit Village. Glanz holds a BA in Urban Studies from Stanford University and a Master ofArchitecture from UCLA. (Though not in our podcast, his interview helped our group refine ourscope early in production).https://urbanstudies.stanford.edu/people/dehan-danno-glanz   MusicArtist | Song Title | Source (in order of appearance)Carlos Vives | Ella Es Mi Fiesta | YouTubeGreenfire | False Records | Blue Dot SessionsJon Presstone | The Nature of Curiosity | YouTubeDesjardins | The Maison | Blue Dot SessionsAzalai | Taoudella | Blue Dot SessionsBodytonic | Thannoid | Blue Dot SessionsMaurice Larcange | Traditionnel musette | YouTubeStromae | Alors on danse | YouTubeGlass Obelisk | First Results | Blue Dot SessionsEltham House | Delicates | Blue Dot SessionsThe Fence | Bivly | Blue Dot Sessions ReferencesAtlas of Urban Expansion - Los Angeles. (n.d.).http://www.atlasofurbanexpansion.org/cities/view/Los_Angeles This online resource provides detailed spatial and statistical data on the urban expansion of Los Angeles, emphasizing the city's extensive growth and sprawling roadnetworks. It highlights how urban development patterns have shaped car-centric land use and transportation infrastructure.Chrisafis, A. (2015, September 27). All-blue skies in Paris as city centre goes car-free for firsttime. The Guardian; The Guardian.https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/sep/27/all-blue-skies-in-paris-as-city-centre-goes-car-free-for-first-time This news article reports on Paris’s first car-free day, describing the environmental and social impact of the initiative, including improved air quality and public reception. It serves as a case study demonstrating the short-term benefits of restricting car access in urban centers.Glazener, A., Wylie, J., Van Waas, W., & Khreis, H. (2022). The impacts of Car-Free Days andevents on the environment and human health. Current Environmental Health Reports,9(2), 165–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-022-00342-yThis peer-reviewed study reviews global evidence on how car-free events affect air pollution levels and public health, with findings that support reduced vehicular traffic as a means to improve urban environmental conditions. The authors also explore limitations and recommendations for future policy design. Identifying the amount of urban space occup
Jun 26, 2025
14 min
2025 Stories to Save Our Planet trailer
The United Nations have called climate change the challenge of our generation. A growing body of environmental storytelling is bringing clarity to complicated climate conversations by casting a vision for a better future, and providing compelling, actionable climate change solutions. In this course, students have the opportunity to contribute to that conversation by creating a 10 to 15-minute narrative podcast episode that entertains, challenges, and moves your audience.
Jun 26, 2025
2 min
The Sound of Profit
Follow Jacob, Miles, and Victor through a story about musical exploitation, globalization, and hope, starting with the creation of Jazz and concluding with the future of Afrobeats.    Names: Jacob Matlof, Miles C. Selles, and Victor Chen Interviewees: Bolaji Oyedepo  Bolaji Oyedepo is an Nigerian American musician from Houston, Texas, paving his own way in the modern music industry with the fusion of Afrobeats with hip hop and R&B. He’s known for his primarily afrobeats song “OWO!”. Viranshi Vira Viranshi Vira is a student at Case Western University. Raised in Los Angeles, Vira found her love for K-pop during the pandemic and has been fascinated by the industry ever since. However, she’s also aware of the forces that shape the K-pop industry. Dr. Pheaross Graham - music.stanford.edu/people/pheaross-graham Dr. Pheaross Graham is a Mellon Fellow at the Stanford Humanities Center and Lecturer in the Department of Music at Stanford University. He is a musicologist and concert pianist with expertise in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Western art and African American music.  Research: No research was explicitly cited in the episode. However, the following resources were consulted during the development of the podcast: The Origins of Jazz - Jazz Observer Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog’: Big Mama Thornton’s Influence – Rolling Stone Little Richard: I Am Everything Documentary Review – Rolling Stone Studs Terkel Radio Archive - Jazz Topics Forum Discussion on Record Label Hopping in the 50s and 60s Big Mama Thornton – Wikipedia Hound Dog (Song) – Wikipedia WhoSampled - Elvis Presley's ‘Hound Dog’ Covers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller – Wikipedia Fela Kuti – Wikipedia Fela Kuti Official Website Is K-pop Afrobeats Here to Stay? – JoySauce   Music Acknowledgements: “Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton, Youtube  “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley, Youtube “Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard, Youtube “Money” by Pink Floyd, Youtube “Shakara” by Fela Kuti, Youtube “OWO!” by Bōlají, Provided by Artist, Deezer “Smart” by Le Sserafim, Youtube “Dynamite” by BTS, Youtube
Apr 22, 2025
15 min
Secret Graffiti
Katie Cheng, Lela Hanson, Reyna Duffy, and Will YuThis is a story about a girl named Katie who suddenly discovers that her seeminglystraight-laced, engineer dad used to lead a secret life as a graffiti artist. Fueled by curiosity andwonder, she sets out on a journey to learn more. From exploring hidden graffiti tunnels withfriends to having an eye-opening conversation with her dad, Katie uncovers surprising truthsabout his past—and gains a new perspective on her own.Interviewee:Dave Cheng - Katie’s FatherDave is a key character in our podcast being the spark that ignited Katie’s personal journey. As aproduct of his environment, Dave turned to graffiti during his teenage years, quickly becoming afairly well-known graffiti artist in San Francisco. Through his graffiti years, we highlight themotives behind graffiti and use his story to reflect on the theme of “growing up.”Music Acknowledgements:From Blue Dot Studios● Order of Entrance● Bauxite● Borough● Small World Reveals● Hardboil● Gene’s Waltz● Lakkalia● Curious Kepler● Mood Unit● One Quiet Conversation● Dorica ThemeKevin Macleod● Limit 70● I Got a Stick Arr Bryan TeohLeonard Rosenman● Star Trek IV Opening Titles, via Cpt. Cybernaut on YouTube
Apr 22, 2025
14 min
Vernon vs. Exide: The Fight For Justice
How can supposedly green initiatives, such as battery recycling, still result in dirty outcomes?Community members in Vernon, California, fight to shut down a local battery recycling plantbecause its toxic waste is polluting their air, water, and soil. The company and governmentalagencies that are supposed to be responsible fail to listen and act, forcing the community to takeever more dramatic action. This episode examines their fight for environmental justice andhighlights the distinction between policy-driven environmentalism and the real-worldconsequences that disproportionately harm minority communities. Episode AuthorsSamuel Desai, Alice Heiman, Ian BriskiInterviews:Rossmery ZayasCommunity organizing since the age of 14, Rossmery Zayas is now a South East Los Angeles(SELA) Youth Organizer at Communities for a Better Environment (CBE). She works extensivelyin grassroots activism, and has participated in several campaigns, including shutting down thetoxic battery recycling plant facility owned by Exide Technologies (one of the world’s largestproducers and distributors of batteries) in Vernon, California. Rossmery Zayas majored inCommunication Studies and studied at Humboldt State University, East Los Angeles College, andCal State LA.Organization link: https://www.cbecal.org/Dr. Jenna ForsythDr. Jenna Forsyth is a research scientist affiliated with the School of Medicine, Woods Institutefor Environment, and King Center for Global Development at Stanford University. Dr. Forsyth’swork addresses the global environmental health problems stemming from contaminants in air,water, soil, and food. Her recent work revolves around lead pollution in South Asia, where shechampioned getting lead out of turmeric in Bangladesh.Website link: https://jennaforsyth.com/Mari Rose TarucMari Rose Taruc is a Filipino-American artist and activist in Oakland, CA. She has been advancinglocal, state, national, and international environmental justice campaigns for clean air, affordablehousing, renewable energy, and climate solutions for over 28 years. Before her role at CaliforniaEnvironmental Justice Alliance (CEJA), she held various environmental justice roles at theSouthwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ) and Asian PacificEnvironmental Network. Inspired by Hurricane Katrina, she founded a neighborhood group inOakland, where she has lived for over two decades, to fight gentrification, promote affordablehousing, redefine community safety, and actively engage in elections.Website link: https://environmental-professionals-of-color.yale.edu/person/taruc-mari-rose     References and Further Reading● Barboza, T. (2015, December 21). Story So Far: How a battery recycler contaminated L.A.-area homes for decades. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-exide-cleanup-story-so-far-20151121-story.html● Barboza, T. (2020, October 16). Court approves abandonment of Exide plant and toxiccleanup. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-10-16/exide-bankrtuptcy-decision-vernon-cleanup● Briscoe, T. (2024, July 11). Exide site on the verge of getting Superfund designation. LosAngeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-07-11/la-county-battery-recycler-on-the-verge-of-becoming-california-next-superfund-site● CA.gov. (2016, November 4). Governor Brown Issues Statement on Paris ClimateAgreement Milestone | Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. Retrieved March 1, 2025 fromhttps://archive.gov.ca.gov/archive/gov39/2016/11/04/news19592/index.html● California Department of Toxic Substances Control. (October, 2020) The State’s PoorManagement of the Exide Cleanup Project Has Left Californians at Continued Risk ofLead Poisoning. https://information.auditor.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2020-107.pdf● CDC. (2024, October 31). Exide Contamination Information and Resources. CommunityStress Resource Center. Retrieved March 1, 2025 fromhttps://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/community-stress-resource-
Apr 22, 2025
15 min
IncludEd
In an unprecedented political, social, and cultural climate where executive orders are being issued to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives nationwide, especially in educational institutions, three college-aged students from diverse racial backgrounds reflect on their experiences with racial discrimination and exclusion in K-12 education. In sharing their stories, they engage in thoughtful interviews and discussions that demonstrate the interconnectedness of the exclusion they faced based on their identities and the importance of DEI efforts in educational settings—a gift of support that could have greatly benefited their younger selves during those challenging times. Produced by Madisyn Cunningham, Glenn Kleiman, Emily Lim, and Rocio Sanchez Salcido Research: Using research was the antithesis of IncludEd’s intentional demonstration of how research falls short in capturing students' lived experiences facing racism when discussing DEI. IncludEd’s research is through the sourcing and storytelling of Emily’s, Madisyn’s, and Rocio’s lived experiences with exclusion in schools.  Music Acknowledgements: - Blue Dot Sessions: Column and Law (Dorica), Fissure Forming (Trailhead), Line Exchange (Marble Run), Toadstool Runner (Fabulist), Waypost (Desert Kalimba) - Freesound: Low Synth Note Atmosphere (Synthetic Sounds), TV Switching Sound - TV Sound Effects (AltF4)
Apr 22, 2025
16 min
The Detour - Yes, Chef
How exciting would it be if you actually tuned into that little voice in the back of your head? The one telling you to go for the thing you really want, even if it’s probably, most likely, definitely not what’s expected of you? Aren’t you curious how a girl can go from making pancakes in the kitchen with her mom one day to suddenly winning MasterChef Junior—only to lose her passion for cooking, then find her way back to it again? Let’s dive into the story of Jasmine Stewart, who actually did listen to that tiny voice, took an unexpected detour, and found out where it would lead her.   Produced by Aaryan Harshith, Christina Ademasu, and Jenny Huynh Interview w/ Jasmine Stewart, first African American to win Master Chef Jr. Bio: Jasmine Stewart, the Season 5 winner of MasterChef Junior, made history as the first African American champion of the competition. At just 12 years old, she not only claimed the title but also became the only contestant in the show's history to win after being previously eliminated. Today, Jasmine continues to break boundaries, pursuing an individually designed major in Black Food and Multimedia Studies at NYU’s Gallatin School.   Acknowledgments for music: 1. 2. 3. 4. King Billy by Blue Dot Sessions Tell What You Know by Blue Dot Sessions Castillo by Blue Dot Sessions The Cornice by Blue Dot Sessions
Apr 21, 2025
21 min
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