The Facing Project

We’ve all seen and read the stories of those with disabilities portrayed as secondary characters, there in the background to support the able-bodied lead in their quest for love, adventure, and success. But what if the script were flipped, and those with a disability were the main characters finding their own love, adventure, and success? Join J.R. Jamison as he shares the story a polio survivor w...

Genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events—all contributing factors to the more than 40 million adults in the U.S. who suffer from anxiety or depression. Yet, with nearly 12% of the overall population battling these illnesses, mental health is still stigmatized and misunderstood. Join J.R. Jamison as he shares the story of a missionary who battled depression 4,000 miles from home, and...

Teachers and educators are facing challenges like never before, including battling misinformation, burned-out kids, parents, and of course—COVID. Join J.R. Jamison as he explores these challenges and shares the story of a man who stays in teaching despite external pressures; another from a woman who uses empathy to teach multicultural education; and one from a teacher who decided to make her own k...

Each year, more than half a million people are released from state and federal prisons, some of them after years of incarceration. But with an unemployment rate of over 27% for the formerly incarcerated, what does life on the outside look like for them?    Join J.R. Jamison as he explores this question, and shares the story of a woman with a felony who is working on a new life with her kids, and a...

In August, over 200,000 Afghans fled their country in a matter of days, adding to the 2.5 million who left in the months prior to the Taliban takeover. But where did they go and what would be their fate?  Join J.R. Jamison as he explores the past and present of Afghanistan, and shares the story of Dr. Mohammad Saber Bahrami—a man who fled the country after the Soviets invaded in 1979 and made Munc...

Bathrooms. Pronouns. Sports. These are a few of the topics in which transgender people have become the center of a debate on who is allowed to exist and where.    Join J.R. Jamison and Kelsey Timmerman as they explore Beyond the Binary and share the stories of a trans man’s journey with hormone therapy; a non-binary person who found acceptance at home; and a pastor who struggled with her faith and...

Racism has existed for millennia, but as laws and time have passed it can now show up in covert ways. Join J.R. Jamison as he shares the stories of three women—one Black, one Muslim, and one Native American—and what their lives are like in a mid-sized Midwestern community, and he sits down with Yvonne Thompson, Director of the Human Rights Commission, to talk about what everyday people can do to c...

Poverty is everywhere, but we like to pretend it doesn’t exist and could never happen to us. Yet 38 million Americans live in poverty. Join J.R. Jamison and Kelsey Timmerman as they share a story of a woman who sees home as more than a physical space, and a story of a homeless man who wants to be seen. Photo – By 7C0 via Flickr Creative Commons . Stories – • It’s Not a Shelter, It’s My Home: Sonya...

Professional athletes, like any celebrities, have huge followings and can influence positive change; yet they are often expected to temper and censor their statements on politics, social justice, and activism. Join J.R. Jamison and Kelsey Timmerman as they discuss Athletes & Activism . Photo – By Ron Cogswell via Flickr Creative Commons: https://flic.kr/p/DH81JN . Stories – • Momma’s Boy: Jess...

Think about your community . . . What’s changed? Was your parents’ childhood different from your own? And then ask yourself . . . What do you imagine your community will be like in another generation? On this episode, a man wonders what the future will hold for his small Colorado community; and we sit down with James Fallows, a correspondent from The Atlantic and co-author of Our Towns: A 100,000...

Mr. Rogers said, “Even though no human being is perfect, we always have the chance to bring what’s unique about us to life . . . in a redeeming way.” But for some that’s easier said than done. On this show, a woman’s search for perfectionism leads to a battle with anorexia; and we sit down with Claire Mysko, the CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association and author of You're Amazing!: A No-P...

In the span of a life, you’ll interact with thousands of people but only a handful of those will impact you in such a way that changes your perspectives and ideologies forever. On this episode, a young chaplain from a conservative, anti-LGBTQ background provides spiritual care to a dying woman whose wife sits at her bedside. We also sit down with the storyteller to learn where he is now. Join J.R....

Imagine that you have a sudden illness and your entire life changes. What would happen with your job?  On this episode, we hear a story mash up from Des Moines, Iowa: one told from the perspective of an employee whose son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, and the other from her supervisor who became one of her biggest supporters.  We also sit down with Miriam Lewis, the chief diversity and inclu...

More than half a million Americans experience homelessness each night. On this episode of The Facing Project we hear from a man in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who shares his life not as a homeless person . . . but as someone who happens to live. . . outside. We also sit down with Lauren Knill of The Empowerment Plan , an organization that breaks the cycle of homelessness through employment.  Join J.R. an...

How do you view the police in your community? Positively? Negatively, or somewhere in between? Your perspective probably depends on who you are and where you live. We share the story of a police officer in Indiana who recounts his experience as a black officer working in a predominantly black community. And we also sit down with Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon, an associate professor of criminal justice...

The American Dream . . . Fact or fiction? For those who come to the U.S. undocumented as children, the future can seem uncertain. We share the story of Daniel, a DACA recipient whose family fled drug cartels and NAFTA trade wars in search of a better life in Oregon. And we also sit down with Janet Arias-Martinez from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, D.C.   Join J.R. and K...

They say girls shouldn’t go to school. And by they , we mean Boko Haram. We share the story of Serena, a Nigerian student whose family fled the terror group and settled down in Flint, Michigan, during the water crisis. Now, she studies pre-med in Houston. Join J.R. and Kelsey as they explore new beginnings. Stories • They Say Girls Shouldn’t Go To School: Serena’s story as told to Rylee Fritsch fr...

An Indiana man facing the end of his life reflects on the legacy he’ll leave behind, and an individual in Texas who lost the love of their life starts over in a new community in Indiana. Join us as J.R. and Kelsey reflect on Season 1 and explore the adage: When one door closes, another always opens. Stories • Times to Make a Difference : Jay Zimmerman’s story as told to Kelsey Timmerman from “A Mi...

A Georgia woman who was sex trafficked as a teenager shares her story and inspires a kiosk to educate air travelers in the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and a woman in Kansas who struggled to feed her children influences the development of an on-campus food pantry Join us as J.R. and Kelsey discuss Facing Project stories that have created tangible change in communities. Stories • Daddy...

An Indiana man gives an honest response to what life is like living in the throes of addiction, and a woman in Wisconsin changes her life through recovery to be a role model for her kids. Join us as J.R. and Kelsey discuss the impacts of addiction with a personal revelation for listeners.   Stories • Artificial Happiness : Devin Thorp’s Story as told to Samantha Mattlin from “Facing Addiction in E...

A woman forced from her home as a child by nuclear testing in the Bikini Islands reflects on the aftermath of that fateful day, and an Indiana man whose life changed shortly after he tucked his kids in for the night finds peace through the darkest hours. Join us as J.R. and Kelsey explore what happens when life changes in an instant. Stories • When the Bomb Went Off : Mary’s story as told to Anna...

A mother in Indiana asks others to see her daughter with autism for who she is, and a man who comes out of the closet later in life stands up for himself—and ultimately others—in a small Ohio community. Join us as J.R. and Kelsey discuss if ignorance is bliss or if awareness is the key to happiness. Stories • Ask : A mom asks people to see her daughter with autism for who she is. Dana William’s st...

An Indiana man with autism gives a peek inside of his mind and explores a friendship that helped him discover nothing is too difficult to overcome, and a college student in North Carolina decides that self- love is more important than letting other people define her worth. Join J.R. and Kelsey for a reflection on alone time and finding the space for self-acceptance. Stories • Chasing the Sunset :...

A gay teen who was kicked out of his home and forced into sex trafficking writes a letter to his parents, and a teen survivor of dating violence shares early warning signs from her own experiences. Join J.R. and Kelsey as the talk about how painful stories are often the ones that provide a sense of strength. Stories • Dear Mom & Dad : An Anonymous Story as told to Jeff Perri from Facing Sex Tr...

A grandmother in Ohio pens a letter to her infant granddaughter sharing the history and promises of their tight-nit Black neighborhood, while a son in Colorado begins to appreciate his late-father’s paintings during a trip to his alma mater. Also in this episode, we unveil an easy way to engage with The Facing Project and how to get your story featured on this show.  Stories • My Grandbaby : Linda...