Podcasts
Carbon Valley
Carbon Valley is a highly-produced nine-episode audio series that I reported, wrote, hosted, and produced with the help of staff at Wyoming Public Radio. It tells two stories moving along parallel lines.
One, the path forward for Wyoming’s economic future. As coal declines, so do jobs and state revenue. State leaders have pushed their poker chips into a solution they hope could revive coal: carbon capture.
Two, a former skateboard CEO is competing in.a carbon capture competition in Wyoming. He’s pursuing the technology though for very different reasons.
We follow the unique story to the end of the competition, as we explore what’s next for Wyoming.
Once upon a time, coal miners took pride in the hard work they did. But these days the coal industry is sluggish and miners are feeling left behind—even disrespected—by the world. What they want most now is to just figure out how to hold on to the strong community that coal once gave them.
Sports illustrated weekly
[2:47 - 17:46] - The NBA’s One Minute Club
[2:00 - 19:40] - Merl Code on His Bribery Scandal
[24:04 - 41:10] - Kevin Sweeney on Coppin State’s Crazy Road Schedule
Sports History This Week
Sports History This Week brings to life moments in competition that redefined sports and our culture. Every week, host Kaelen Jones will unpack one sporting event that occurred within that calendar week sometime in the past. Through gripping narratives, illustrative archival and interviews with athletes and experts, we guide listeners through the pivotal triumphs, failures and turning points that shaped today’s sports world and beyond.
Each story is a deeply produced and compelling 30-minute audio documentary. As one of two producers, I led production of every other episode taking an idea from pitch to release. That includes storyboarding, finding the right guests, leading our host through interviews, and writing the episode itself.
Below is a selection of episodes I’m particularly proud of that I’ve written and produced…
F1 Wrecks Its Chances In America
June 19, 2005. Formula 1 is hosting its U.S. Grand Prix at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For years, F1 has desperately tried to establish a foothold in America, and heading into this race, there’s real momentum — until there’s a major problem.
Today, F1’s nightmare at the U.S. Grand Prix. More than a 100,000 spectators show up to a race that becomes a disaster. How do things go so wrong? And how will this race affect F1’s future in America?
Kobayashi Arrested At The Hotdog Eating Competition (ft. Takeru Kobayashi & Joey Chestnut)
July 4, 2010. Nathan’s Famous is holding its annual hot dog eating competition on Coney Island. But this year, one perennial champion is not taking the stage: Takeru Kobayashi. The legendary eater destroyed competition for six years in a row, launching him into international stardom. But then, things start to go wrong.
Today, Takeru Kobayashi looks to make a statement. In front of thousands of spectators, Kobayashi gets arrested at the very competition he used to dominate. Why is there so much drama at a hot dog eating contest? And how does the original competitive eating superstar get to this point?
Muhammad Ali Enters Boxing’s Moral Crusade
November 22, 1965. In downtown Las Vegas, thousands of fans come inside from a rare rainstorm to watch a boxing match featuring young superstar Muhammad Ali. But the lopsided crowd isn’t cheering for Ali; it’s backing two-time heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson. The two men have come to symbolize more than boxing, but an entire societal struggle.
Today, why was Muhammad Ali—formerly Cassius Clay—such a polarizing figure across America? How did this boxing match embody an internal struggle within the Civil Rights movement? And how did it serve as a key stepping stone in Ali’s evolution into one of the era’s most iconic activist voices?
An NBA Star Pays The Price of Speaking Out
March 12, 1996. The Denver Nugget's leading scorer, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, is shooting around before the big game tonight. Strangely, a large crowd of reporters is gathering. It turns out, they’re here to ask him one big question: what do you think about the American Flag?
Today, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf faces consequences for not standing during the national anthem. Twenty years before Colin Kaepernick, why does Abdul-Rauf make this controversial choice? And how does he fit into the long line of athletes who have chosen to take a stand?
A Baseball Pioneer Finds His Way Behind Home Plate
February 20, 1951 (or July 1951). Emmett Ashford is waiting inside the ballpark of the Mexicali Eagles. At 36 years old, he's toiled around the United States, working toward his goal of becoming a professional umpire. Finally, he lands a tryout just south of the border to make it happen. But there's a problem: the other umpires needed to play the game are white— they won't take the field with a Black man.
Today, Emmett Ashford attempts to become the first Black umpire in organized baseball. Can he make it happen? And if so, can he overcome barriers to make it all the way to the majors?
May 29, 2003. Every year, a little island off the English coast is home to the world’s most dangerous race: the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. Motorcyclists zip through the course going more than 200 miles per hour, navigating hairpin turns — all on public roads.
Today, one of the greatest racers in Isle of Man TT history passes away, when nine-time champion David Jefferies becomes the event’s 206th casualty. How does the TT become such a deadly competition? And how can a race be held every year where it’s almost expected that someone will die?
WWI Soldiers Find Peace in Football
December 24, 1914. Soldiers are stuck in cold, wet trenches on either side of the conflict across the Western Front. The Great War has just begun and it’s their first Christmas away from home.
On the holiday’s eve, one man sees a light coming from the German’s side. A British soldier recalled, “With ears strained, I listened, and then all down our line of trenches, there came to our ears a greeting unique in war: ‘English soldier, English soldier, a merry Christmas!’”
Today, World War I comes to a halt as an unofficial ceasefire breaks out across the northeastern border of France. Why do opposing nations choose to lay down their arms? And when they cross the battlefield, how do sports help them meet as friends?
The Indicator from Planet Money
As an avid skier, I noticed the business has changed a lot since I was a kid. So I reported and hosted a piece to answer my questions.
The Military Industry … It’s Complex
With the U.S. supporting two major war efforts, I got curious about the defense industry. So I pitched, managed, and produced a three-episode series on the topic.
For an Indicators of the Week episode, I wrote a segment on dynamic pricing and co-hosted the episode.
Is chicken getting cheap? And other questions
The Indicator is constantly receiving listener questions. In this episode, I headed off reporting to find answers to three of those questions and then wrote a script around it.
I noticed an offshore wind auction had flopped, as the industry writ large had been struggling. I tracked down the right story, found the voices, and helped put together a story conveying the difficulties in offshore wind right now.