Stories

NPR.org • 29th December 2022

Rooted in Motown, Detroit style skating rolls on into the next generation

Angie McClendon has been roller skating since she was 5 years old. Now 61, she's a veteran of the Detroit skating community. McClendon is a Detroit style skater – every move is rhythmic, following and matching a beat. "Everything is in sync because it's from the Motown era," McClendon explains.

AAJA Voices • 26th August 2021

Asian-Americans demand: ‘Call me by my name'

‘Why did you give me this name?’
Divy Mente is Indian and an incoming freshman at Cal State University, Northridge, whose real name is Divyasri. Her parents gave her the nickname ‘Divy’ when she was born. Divy gets anxiety when introducing herself because every school year her teachers stumble over her name. But she still feels her nickname Divy is conforming to make other people’s lives easier.

AAJA Voices • 26th August 2021

The Great Resignation: Why journalists of color left the industry

It’s no secret that the demographic makeup of U.S. newsrooms seldom reflect the diversity of the communities they cover. In fact, a 2018 Pew Research Center analysis found that 77% of newsroom employees in the U.S. are white.

NPR.org • 3rd October 2022

The Nord Stream leaks are a wake-up call for countries with vulnerable pipelines

The Nord Stream leaks are a wake-up call for countries with vulnerable pipelines

A week after several suspicious ruptures were discovered along the undersea Nord Stream pipeline, gas has reportedly stopped leaking but the questions keep flowing. Namely: What — and who — caused the damage? And how can countries try to prevent similar incidents going forward?

Scientists say the two leaks were likely caused by powerful underwater explosions, based on seismic data from Sweden and Denmark. And Euro

Wyoming Public Media • 19th May 2021

Returning To 'Normal' Is A Different Reality For Many Immigrants

As more people across the U.S. are getting vaccinated for COVID-19, talks of 'returning to normal' are growing. This can look like attending concerts with friends to gatherings with family for holidays and traditional events. But this depiction of normalcy isn't the same for everybody.

Wyoming Public Media • 12th April 2021

What Anti-Asian Sentiment Looks Like In Smaller, Rural Areas, And Why It Matters

The past year has shown evidence of an increase in Anti-Asian violence in major cities. All of that escalated when six Asian women were murdered in the March Atlanta spa shooting. But has that anti-Asian sentiment permeated into smaller, rural areas in the U.S.? And what does it look like?

NPR • 10th February 2021

A Look Into How The Pandemic Will Change Lunar New Year Celebrations

Lunar New Year begins February 12. The two-week festival is expected to be much more subdued this year due to the pandemic, but Chinese international students are still trying to make the most of it.

NPR • 14th November 2020

How Hindus In Wyoming Are Celebrating Diwali, the 'Festival Of Lights,' Amid Pandemic

Every year, the Hindu festival of Diwali commemorates a new year and a fresh start. But that celebration will look very different during a pandemic.. I shared what that looked like in this story for NPR. Aired on Weekend Edition.

Wyoming Public Media • 6th November 2020

An Audio Postcard: The Journey To Get Basic Cultural Amenities

For people of color and immigrants living in Wyoming, getting a haircut, shopping for groceries, or celebrating holidays can be difficult. I shared how it's been, making trips between Laramie, Wyoming, and Denver, Colorado to get the basic cultural amenities I need for my lifestyle through this audio postcard.

Wyoming Public Media • 23rd April 2021

New Mothers Discuss Becoming A Parent During A Pandemic

Without a guidebook, millions of women who were expecting and had to give birth during this pandemic had to navigate foreign territories on their own, some with their loved ones.

1A • 21st November 2019

Democratic Debate: Atlanta Edition

The candidates spent more time criticizing the president than they did each other. What were the night’s big takeaways? How will this affect the Democratic primary going forward?

ONA On Air • 17th September 2019

S2E7 – Can Immigrants Cover Immigration Objectively?

Reported and produced my story for the Online News Association's podcast "ONA On Air", on how immigrant reporters decide a story they should cover or advocate for.

YR Media • 16th February 2018

5 GIFs That Explain What Black Panther Means To Millennials

Asked students at Michigan State University what the imminent release of Marvel’s Black Panther means to them.

Wyoming Public Media • 5th March 2021

Late Japanese Artist's Legacy Reflects Hope Over Dark Times

The pandemic has put uncertainty at the forefront of many people's lives. It's forced many to believe and hope for better days, even if there's no end in sight. In the town of Superior, Wyoming, near Rock Springs, there's a mural that reflects this resilient spirit.

Wyoming Public Media • 4th November 2020

Award-Winning Poet And Writer, Camille T. Dungy, Shares Her Story

The University of Wyoming Libraries hosted award-winning poet and writer, Camille T. Dungy, for a virtual reading of her work on October 24, 2020. Wyoming Public Radio's Naina Rao spoke with her about how she got started with poetry, and what she thinks about the state of society today.

Wyoming Public Media • 19th March 2021

Best-Selling "Diary Of A Wimpy Kid" Author Comes To Wyoming With His Latest Book

Originally published online in 2004, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a series of fiction books that share the story of Greg Heffney, a teenage character, and his journal entries as he navigates middle school. When it was published into a print series in 2006, it became an instant bestseller across the world. Now, author Jeff Kinney is trying something different.

Wyoming Public Media • 12th March 2021

What To Expect From Wyoming Public Media's Upcoming Podcast Series, 'Carbon Valley'

Coming this month, Wyoming Public Media will be releasing Carbon Valley, a bi-monthly limited series following the race to develop an unlikely climate solution. Wyoming Public Radio's Naina Rao sat down with energy reporter Cooper McKim, who developed this series, on how Carbon Valley came about, and what drove the decision to create it.

Wyoming Public Media • 22nd January 2021

UW Art Museum Director Talks About Insurrection's Impact On Art, History And Museums

When an insurrection mob violently pushed through the entrance of the Capitol building on January 6, the American Alliance of Museums issued a statement condemning the violence that occurred. They did so because the Capitol is more than a workplace, it's a living museum.

Wyoming Public Radio's Naina Rao spoke to University of Wyoming's Art Museum director, Nicole Crawford, on her perspective regarding the aftermath and effects the insurrection has made on art, history, and museums.

Wyoming Public Media • 23rd December 2020

Wyoming's Poet Laureate Shares What He's Thankful For This Year

It's safe to say that 2020 has been a very difficult, trying year for a lot of people across the world. Wyoming's Poet Laureate, Eugene Gagliano, agrees. But the pandemic also made him realize a different perspective—how grateful he was to be living in the state of Wyoming.

He shared his perspective by writing a poem, called The Blessing of Wyoming. And it got published in the New York Times. He recited the poem during his conversation with Wyoming Public Radio's Naina Rao.

Wyoming Public Media • 8th June 2020

How Did Wyoming's Suffrage Movement Affect Women Of Color?

Even though women in Wyoming were allowed to vote, run for office and get involved in politics back in 1870, it took much longer after that for women of color to get elected.