I want to tell you something before you listen this episode about what happens at the end

of this episode.

At the end of it, after the story, I will tell you that this show is a proud member of

Radio Topia, a network of independently owned and operated listener supported podcast

from PRX, a not-for-profit public media company.

And in that, in that sentence, you find the core of what makes this show different.

And every way, whatever it is you like about the show, whatever it does for you, whether

it is the content or my approach to the content, whether it is a vibe or an emotional register.

Whatever makes it connect with you, and whatever distinguishes it from the other podcast

in your feed, that happens because Radio Topia is different.

It is a network of independently owned and operated podcast.

So each show, like this show, is the creative vision and the labor and the responsibility

of its creators.

The content, the approach to the content, the vibe, the emotional register.

It is what it is because it's what I want it to be.

There isn't anyone telling me what I get to write about or how, because it is independent.

And it gets to be independent.

And it gets to be different because Radio Topia is different.

The bit at the end that it comes from PRX, not for profit public media company, means

that the organization doesn't have to put profit first.

It is mission driven and that mission is helping creators make what they want to make.

And that is so different in this industry that is dominated by huge corporations and entertainment

...