Ben Lewellyn: Member of the Month, January 2016

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/01/Ben-updated-picture.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:4:"file";s:31:"2016/01/Ben-updated-picture.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:7:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"Ben-updated-picture-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"Ben-updated-picture-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"Ben-updated-picture-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"Ben-updated-picture-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"Ben-updated-picture-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"Ben-updated-picture-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"Ben-updated-picture-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:180837;s:14:"optimized_size";i:121364;s:7:"percent";d:32.890000000000001;}s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/01/Ben-updated-picture.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:57061;s:14:"optimized_size";i:37477;s:7:"percent";d:34.32;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/01/Ben-updated-picture-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:6758;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5057;s:7:"percent";d:25.170000000000002;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/01/Ben-updated-picture-336x224.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:14534;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9847;s:7:"percent";d:32.25;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/01/Ben-updated-picture-507x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:29206;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17867;s:7:"percent";d:38.82;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/01/Ben-updated-picture-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:23233;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17394;s:7:"percent";d:25.129999999999999;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/01/Ben-updated-picture-467x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25010;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16512;s:7:"percent";d:33.979999999999997;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/01/Ben-updated-picture-398x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:19377;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12939;s:7:"percent";d:33.219999999999999;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/01/Ben-updated-picture-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5658;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4271;s:7:"percent";d:24.510000000000002;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1662779532 
1453308214

I’m Ben Lewellyn, and I’m the Sales Director at Good People Brewing Company where I’ve worked since 2011. I’ve lived in Birmingham and the suburbs my whole life except for a two-year stint in Texas for graduate school. While I was in Texas, I started listening to the podcast of This American Life and discovered the world of public radio from there. I guess that is the most millennial thing about me — I was introduced to great terrestrial radio through podcasts.

My favorite programs these days are probably On The Media or Says You, although a great episode of World Cafe or This American Life is still a treat. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I was comparing notes with a fellow public radio fan about our favorite stories from TAL. My answer is “The Super,” the wild story that Jack Hitt tells about the manager of his NYC apartment building in the early 80s. I won’t ruin it for you, but that story has stayed with me and been forced upon unsuspecting family and friends for many years now.

For a few years, WBHM has been my primary information and entertainment source. I’m proud to be a sustaining member of this station, whose original reporting and programming schedule — just like our local beers — are as good as anywhere else in the country!

 

What to know about the mass Gen Z protests in Nepal

At least 19 people have been killed in the protests and more than 200 others were admitted to the hospital due to injuries, according to Nepal's Civil Service Hospital.

Hollywood stars boycott Israeli film companies in response to Gaza crisis

Emma Stone, Ava DuVernay and Gael Garcia Bernal are among more than 2,000 who signed the petition.

What will happen to dance, with a major grant program changing?

Twenty dance projects from around the country won grants totaling $100,000 dollars each today. These grants are among the most coveted in the dance world, but this round of winners is the last of its kind due to a funding shortage.

Supreme Court will weigh in on Trump’s tariffs. Here’s what to know about the case

Two lower courts have said some of President Trump's tariffs are unlawful. Now the Supreme Court has agreed to examine the issue.

Iran and the IAEA are expected to resume cooperation under agreement backed by Egypt

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency signed an agreement in Cairo to pave the way for resuming cooperation, including on ways of relaunching inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities.

Birmingham youth choir returns to the stage after golden buzzer moment

The Birmingham Youth and Young Adult Choir returns to NBC's "America's Got Talent" Tuesday evening after having won one of the show's golden buzzers earlier this summer.

More Front Page Coverage