Naturally Curious is an up-close conversation with interesting people who have meaningful stories to tell. Host Bruce C. Bryan takes his listeners on a journey that is both personal and universal. The people he talks with are dynamic, engaged, helpful, and willing to share what they’ve learned and how their lives impact others. Everyone has a story to tell and when these interesting folks share theirs, listeners immediately feel the impact and are motivated to learn, do, or say more.
We talk about their stories, their challenges, how they impact the world around them. We discuss what inspires them and how their work or their organization inspires or supports change and improvement in the world. These will be very personal interviews and stories – I’ll dig to ensure that happens each episode.
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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. 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. -
Host Bruce C. Bryan sits down with Sarah Quarantotto, the CEO of Miriam's House and a leading voice with the Central Virginia Continuum of Care, to examine the complex realities of housing insecurity and homelessness in Lynchburg. Quarantotto traces the origins of Miriam's House...from its founding post-World War II roots to its modern role as a multidisciplinary, community-based response hub. She outlines how sudden personal crises combined with systemic poverty lead to families becoming unhoused, while highlighting practical solutions such as rapid rehousing, street outreach partnerships, and a dedicated intake line. The discussion also covers her 16-year journey leading the organization, the critical need for affordable housing investments across Virginia, and how involving former clients in decision-making helps break the cycle of homelessness for 98% of the families they serve.
