VOA Connect - Voice of America

VOA Connect Episode 330 - Enhancing water safety and addressing glacier melt's impact on rising sea levels.

Amy Heape is an open water swim coach. Open water swimming is a swimming discipline which takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as oceans, lakes and rivers. Amy trains individuals first in the pool to enhance their swimming technique so they can then enjoy the freedom and joy of swimming in open waters. Camera | Producer | Editor: Gabrielle Weiss

Maira Thomas is a scuba diving instructor. She wanted to involve more women in the sport, so several years ago she started ScubaMAR Maids, an online community of women, who travel and dive together. We'll be joining them on their upcoming trip to Panama. Camera | Producer | Editor: Genia Dulot)

Thwaites Glacier located in Antarctica, is an unusually broad and vast glacier. Known as The 'Doomsday Glacier', scientist say it is rapidly melting. Sridhar Anandakrishnan is a glaciologist and professor at Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. He explains the danger of global warming's effect on Thwaites Glacier, with the increased melting from the glacier causing sea level rise across the globe. Reporter | Camera:  Aaron Fedor, Producer: Kathleen McLaughlin, Editor: Kyle Dubiel 

Explore the Washington Park Arboretum, an outdoor museum renowned for its focus on trees and woody plants. Situated in the heart of vibrant Seattle, Washington, this 230-acre park is home to over 40,000 plants sourced from various corners of the globe. Camera | Producer | Editor: Gabrielle Weiss

VOA Connect Episode 329 - Unraveling the music within and beyond.

Handbells are for everyone, regardless of age; all it requires is patience and determination. Alan Payne, the Executive Director of Music to Free, introduces handbells to seniors as they bond over the joy of music. Reporter: Marsha James, Camera | Editor: Philip Alexiou

Fred's Lounge, open exclusively on Saturday mornings, has been a vibrant hub for Cajun culture since 1946, hosting lively Cajun bands and preserving this rich heritage. Reporter | Camera: Aaron Fedor, Producer: Kathleen McLaughlin, Editor: Kyle Dubiel

Gravelly Point, managed by the National Park Service and nestled along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, offers a haven for bikers, walkers, and picnickers, while also being renowned as one of the prime spots in the nation for airplane-watching. Camera | Editor | Producer: Philip Alexiou

Refik Anadol, an artist at the forefront of data painting and AI-generated art, explores the fusion of technology and creativity. By leveraging machine-learning algorithms, Anadol is known for innovative media works and showcases the creative potential of AI. Camera | Producer | Editor: Genia Dulot

VOA Connect Episode 327 - We follow a ski expedition and urban hair evolution.

Determined2Heal Foundation, Inc., is a nonprofit organization which empowers, enlightens and assists those impacted by spinal cord injuries. Founded by Josh Basile, the group embarks on a winter skiing adventure in Pennsylvania, bringing together individuals with spinal cord injuries for an exhilarating experience on the slopes. Reporter | Camera | Editor: Philip Alexiou

We visit Astor Place Hairstylists, an iconic New York City business that has set the trends for urban hairstyles, spanning from punk to hip hop, for more than four decades. Reporter | Camera: Aaron Fedor, Producer: Kathleen McLaughlin, Editor: Kyle Dubiel

We explore innovative farming and experience Ethiopian wine.

Mike Sands leads ecologically farming at Bean Hollow Grassfed, in Flint Hill, Virginia. He uses regenerative agriculture methods to rejuvenate a run-down piece of land and establish a sustainable, profitable model that challenges conventional farming norms. Reporter| Camera | Producer: Zdenko Novacki, Additional Camera: Philip Alexiou    

Bean Hollow Grassfed operates as a self-service farm store, providing a diverse selection of animal welfare-approved, certified grass-fed meats. Customers have the freedom to select their cuts, weigh them, and make purchases through an honor system. Reporter| Camera | Producer: Zdenko Novacki, Additional Camera: Philip Alexiou     

Gize Negussie aims to introduce Ethiopian culture to Americans by offering the experience of Tej, known as honey wine. Reporter | Camera | Producer: Philip Alexiou

In Franconia, Virginia, the annual Pumpkin Hill tradition, spanning 30 years, showcases pumpkins of various sizes, gourds, and squash, presenting a colorful autumn display. Reporter | Camera | Producer: Philip Alexiou

The Seattle Japanese Garden is a 3.5-acre urban sanctuary in the heart of the city, and has been open to the public since 1960. Reporter | Camera | Editor: Gabrielle Weiss

VOA Connect Episode 325 - The resurgence of lowrider cars and the cutting-edge manufacturing techniques transforming the automotive industry.

Kevin Czinger, an automaker based in Los Angeles, and his son Lucas are introducing 3D printing to create digital manufacturing for vehicles that will change how we make cars and save the environment. Reporter | Camera | Editor: Genia Dulot

A lowrider or low rider is a customized car with a lowered body. It has been a part of Mexican American culture in the U.S for many decades. This year the state of California repeals the laws from 1958 and 1986, that prohibited lowering the cars and cruising. Reporter | Camera | Editor: Genia Dulot

Once on the verge of extinction, sea otters now thrive in the icy harbors, in Homer, Alaska. These adorable creatures must eat as much as 25% of their body weight every day to stay healthy and warm. Producer | Camera | Editor: Gabrielle Weiss

VOA Connect Episode 324 - Individuals dedicated to serving their communities.

Kids Give Back Kids is a nonprofit organization in Northern Virginia that provides volunteer opportunities for kids ages 6-12. We join them as young kids discover ways to give back to communities in need. Producer | Editor | Additional Camera: Lisa Vohra, Camera: Philip Alexiou

Nathan Harrington is a Washington, DC resident and nature lover. His nonprofit organization, Ward 8 Woods, strives to rejuvenate urban forests through picking up trash and enhancing the beauty and ecological health of more than 500 acres of forest. Producer | Camera | Editor: Linus Manchester

Come see "The Future of Orchids: Conservation and Collaboration" exhibition, featuring over 100 orchid varieties in the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard. Find out the challenges facing wild orchids today and the dedicated efforts of scientists and conservationists working to ensure their future. Reporter | Camera | Producer: Zdenko Novacki

VOA Connect Episode 323 - A restaurant's fusion journey and the buzz of bee pollinators.

Serigne Mbaye, chef and owner of Dakar NOLA restaurant, blends Senegalese flavors with New Orleans cuisine, creating a unique dining experience that celebrates cultural diversity. Through his storytelling and culinary skill, Mbaye bridges his Senegalese roots with the traditions of New Orleans. Reporter | Camera: Aaron Fedor, Producer: Kathleen McLaughlin, Editor: Kyle Dubiel

VOA Connect Episode 322 - Fostering sustainable farming and nurturing ocean health.

Community supported farms are growing in popularity across the United States. Rather than depending on banks to fund their operations they sell shares to their customers who are paid back with fresh food throughout the season. Reporter | Camera | Editor: Jeff Swicord

California's sea mammals are a beloved tourist attraction, but they also serve as frontline indicators for evaluating ocean health and the effects of pollution on humans. Reporter | Camera: Aaron Fedor, Producer: Kathleen McLaughlin, Editor: Kyle Dubiel

We take a stroll around the D.C. auto show with a quick look at new electric and gas powered vehicles in Washington D.C. Camera | Editor: Producer: Jeff Swicord

Groundbreaking strides minorities are making at the rodeo.

See a rodeo in El Reno, Oklahoma where LGBTQ (acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) men and women compete together to show off their talents in events like bull riding, team roping and bronc riding. The rodeo is also an opportunity to remind people that the sport is for anyone regardless of sexual orientation. Producer: Nathaly Salas Guaithero, Camera | Editor: Nelson Vignolles

See highlights of the annual National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. The festival features a horse show, rodeo and premier livestock. Camera | Editor: Producer: Scott Stearns

People progressing despite facing challenges.

When Ellen Oh became a mother, she struggled to find books featuring Asian-American children for her daughter. To fill this gap, she co-founded We Need Diverse Books and began writing children's literature herself. Meet the lawyer turned author champion diversity in storytelling. Producer | Camera | Editor: June Soh

We spend some time with members of the NY Metro Blind Hockey team, exploring the history of blind hockey and some of the modifications made for visually impaired players. Reporter | Camera: Aaron Fedor, Producer: Kathleen McLaughlin, Editor: Kyle Dubiel

Get an up-close look at Alaskans ice skating on Grewingk Glacier Lake in Kachemak State Park, Alaska. Camera | Editor | Producer | Gabrielle Weiss

VOA Connect Episode 318 - Life both within and beyond the water's surface.

Home to the largest sockeye salmon run in the world, Bristol Bay salmon thrive while salmon fisheries elsewhere decline. They use a stationary fishing method called set-netting, which involves nets anchored near fish camps along the beach during the summer fishing season. Producer | Camera | Editor: Gabrielle Weiss