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Host Lee Hunsaker presents two powerful onstage stories: Shannon Dominguez recounts leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses and an abusive marriage, facing shunning and her father’s suicide, then rebuilding her life and career; Tess Wortinger reflects on growing up on an Iowa family farm, the song that sustained her, and the bittersweet work of clearing a childhood home.Together they explore grief, courage, community, and the hard work of starting over.

This episode of Hoot and Holler Radio features two courageous teenagers sharing honest stories about identity and belonging. Asher recounts discovering and embracing an autism diagnosis, finding friendship and confidence, while Ambrose describes coming out as transgender, finding compassionate community, and beginning medical transition.The show includes onstage performances recorded at the Grandin Theatre and follow-up interviews in the Hoot and Holler studio, offering a hopeful, human look at resilience, acceptance, and the power of being seen.

Two storytellers take the Grandin stage: Brooke Saul boards a Greyhound to Roanoke chasing first love, only to find a new, unexpected life with Adam; Brent Stevens reflects on his father through an old trench coat and the soundtrack of his college years. Both stories explore love, loss, and transformation.After each performance, the storytellers join the Hoot and Holler studio for intimate interviews that dig into how those moments shaped their lives, and how small objects and chance encounters can open the door to healing and home.

Host Bruce C. Bryan sits down with Bailey Medeiros, Director of the Roanoke Valley Collective Response (RVCR), to discuss the collaborative strategies fighting the addiction epidemic across the Roanoke Valley and Allegheny Highlands. Medeiros explains how the RVCR unites first responders, healthcare systems, local businesses, and peers with lived experience to dismantle operational silos, expand harm reduction, and drastically reduce preventable overdoses. Drawing from her own journey in recovery, Medeiros also highlights trauma-informed care, the role of local mentors, and community initiatives like the "Places of Recovery" campaign that redefine what healing looks like. To learn more about regional recovery resources, visit RVCR-dot-org.

This episode features Margaret Terry's tender memoir about a lifelong obsession with France, a visit to Vincent van Gogh's room in Saint-Rémy, and an emotional reconnection with her mother's creativity and pain.Also included is Casadie Smith's story about tarot, the Wheel of Fortune card, and her struggle with obsessive thoughts and anxiety, ultimately learning to sit in the present rather than demanding certainty from the future.

Host Bruce C. Bryan sits down with Lee Hunsaker, founder and "story midwife" behind the live storytelling event and radio show Hoot and Holler. Hunsaker shares how her live shows have evolved from a packed coffee shop yard in Roanoke to sold-out theater performances and a broadcast program on Radio IQ. She discusses her unique role in coaching storytellers to dig beneath the surface, navigating the raw vulnerability of live performance, and the magical, community-building power of personal narrative.

Host Bruce C. Bryan speaks with Dr. Robert Canida, Chief Inclusive Excellence Officer at the University of Lynchburg, about the evolving landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Social Justice in higher education. Dr. Canida discusses the difference between equality and equity, how higher education institutions navigate national shifts, and the importance of fostering a genuine sense of belonging for students, faculty, and staff. He also shares insights on "calling in" rather than "calling out," the legacy of his great-grandmother's guidance, and how constructive dialogue builds stronger community connections.

Host Bruce C. Brian sits down with Megan Lucas, CEO of the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. Lucas discusses her efforts in building the business climate, generating jobs, cultivating talent and investment, and more.

Ami Trowell recounts a desperate attempt to save her marriage during a Myrtle Beach vacation that turns into a swirling ordeal, while Chris Henson shares a chaotic night rescuing a cat from under a toddler’s bed that spirals into a comic medical emergency.

Lexington native Brenna Angel anchored local morning newscasts for WUKY through May 13. She joined the station in March 2010 after previously working for WHAS-AM in Louisville.