Hoosiers, IU students can share experiences in Stories from Home mobile studio
Hoosiers interested in telling their own stories can look no further than the bright red mobile studio traveling around Bloomington as a part of IU is Home’s Stories from Home initiative. Inspired by the format of the Peabody Award-winning podcast series, StoryCorps, this pint-sized recording studio on wheels is for any IU students, alumni, faculty or staff who wish to sit down with each other and record any conversations they would like to have.
“People can speak about whatever they want, whatever is a meaningful moment or experience to them,” said Janae Cummings, strategic communications specialist at the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President. She manages the IU is Home campaign and spearheaded the Stories from Home concept. “It can be funny, powerful, meaningful, all of that. We want to show all experiences.”
The idea of having a podcast dedicated to showing different Hoosier experiences had been swirling around Cummings’ office for a while, but they didn’t have the right equipment or resources to get it going. When she found out that the Media School had been floating the same idea, she reached out to Jay Kincaid, director of facilities and technology at the Media School, for help in designing and building the trailer.
“To build a true Airstream like the one in StoryCorps, the cost can start at $70,000, and to equip it you can spend $90,000 to $100,000,” Kincaid explained. The Stories from Home mobile studio is not decked out to the extent that StoryCorps’ is, but thanks to the vision of Cummings, the knowledge of Kincaid, the new equipment from Radio and TV Services and the support of the Provost’s office, it more than gets the job done.
Despite its small size, the studio is fully equipped with large cabinets to hold recording gear, a small fold-up table and laptop that serves as a producer’s station and a round table with three positions for microphones, office chairs and headphones for guests. It is powered by a small generator and is wheelchair accessible. When it is not parked at the motor pool near campus, the studio is rolling around town, pulled by an IU Services truck. All of the conversations are facilitated by Cummings, recorded onto a thumb drive and backed up onto a hard drive. Provost Office intern Emily Miles produces all the episodes. With the participants’ permission, the IU is Home team edits and publish these conversations on their website for others to enjoy.
For now, the studio has limited its travels to just the Bloomington campus. Since its first appearance at IU’s Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center in February, it has been at First Thursday events and Dunn Meadow. Cummings is also planning on having it at homecoming events, alumni reunions and other culture centers like La Casa. Kincaid also says that the studio will likely be a fixture at upcoming county and state fairs and football games. There are also plans to have the studio travel beyond the Bloomington campus and visit the 11 counties that surround Monroe County.
The Stories from Home podcast concept is just one part of IU is Home’s goal of showing a diverse array of experiences here at IU. In addition to these audio stories, the campaign also has a video series that seeks to talk about inclusion on campus.
A lot of people have great experiences here but that doesn’t apply to all of us,” Cummings said. “But through these experiences, we want to share how they’ve made IU a home and made themselves comfortable while also working to make it better.”
With projects like Stories from Home, Cummings said she and her team are interested in showing the true experiences of Hoosiers.
“Through this project, we want to take a harder look at ourselves and the depth and breadth of experiences in our community,” Cummings said. “It’s important to shine lights on the diversities of our stories and use those to make IU a better place—and home—for all.”
To listen to some of Stories from Home’s latest guests and to schedule a recording time, visit: https://iuishome.indiana.edu/stories/index.html