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Arc Stories: September 2016 Edition

Three stories where our storytellers find themselves in situations completely over their heads. A woman has the opportunity to fulfill a dream she’s been pursuing most of her life; one woman’s discovery of whether or not you really can come home again; and another where a man struggles to create a connection across barriers of […]

Birmingham Schools Host Charter School Forums

Alabama may very well have its first-ever charter schools next year. The approval process, which has already hit snags in other parts of the state, will go either through a state commission or through local school boards that have elected to become authorizers. Birmingham City Schools is one of just two authorizers in the state, and last night, school leaders held a meeting to explain what that means.

CIA Director Visits Birmingham City School Students

Today Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan spoke to dignitaries and more than 50 high school students at Birmingham City Schools’ Central Office. His main goal was to get Birmingham students interested in careers at the CIA. He also acknowledged the CIA’s lack of diversity. “We need to have people from all different backgrounds and experiences,” he […]

Taking care of your instrument…

Birmingham Cellist Nancy Lewis…

Family photo memories…

Lessie Dingler of Gardendale…

Arc Stories: August 2016 Edition

This month on Arc Stories, we have four stories where our storytellers can’t quite comprehend what’s happening to them.

Arc Stories: July 2016 Edition

Four stories where the storyteller learns something new about themselves and others. A man attempts to find reconciliation with a childhood friend he betrayed 30 years before; a husband discovers something about his wife after she endures a major medical procedure; a young woman without any training moves to Africa to become a teacher; and what happens to a […]

HABD Fatherhood Initiative

As the door to Jimmy’s Barber and Style in Eastern Birmingham opens, three barbers are busy cutting and trimming hair. James Mason is there too. Except he’s not a customer or an employee. He’s a pastor giving his testimony as part of the Fatherhood Initiative, a program designed to empower fathers to help build strong […]

Arc Stories: June 2016 Edition

Stories where plans put into motion take some unexpected turns. One young woman’s attempt to have a little fun at some protester’s expense, a boy who is taken on the ride of his life, and a family forced to deal with the loss of nearly all of their possessions. (Originally aired June 30, 2016 at 2 […]

Arc Stories: May 2016 Edition

Birmingham’s own true stories. A man’s encounter with perhaps the world’s worst burglar; a woman overlooks some early warning signs in the pursuit of love; and student recalls a beloved teacher who’s influence  doesn’t take root until years later. (Originally aired May 26, 2016 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)

Birmingham Students Show Presentation Skills, Gain Praise from Condoleezza Rice

“It’s hard to get up in front of a group and sell your ideas. And somebody among this group is really going to be a great entrepreneur,” she says. “You could see that they loved it. They are passionate about it.”

Arc Stories: April 2016 Edition

Stories about serving, giving and the greater community.  A young man commits himself to giving back to his community by serving the less fortunate; a father convinces his kids to give away all their Christmas presents to a needy family; and one man benefits from the generosity of strangers in a very cool way. (Originally […]

Arc Stories: March 2016 Edition

Stories about a woman who learns you can’t always trust somebody just because they’re in a  position of authority; a guy deals with a serious case of bad luck of his own making; another who has a brief flirtation with his childhood celebrity crush; and, a woman witnesses her mother fall in love with her childhood sweetheart […]

From Disco to Digital: Celebrating WBHM’s 40th Birthday

This year WBHM is turning 40 and WBHM's Junior Board invites you to a fundraiser to celebrate this child of the '70s! Come meet some of your favorite WBHM personalities and help support the station's award-winning regional journalism and entertainment programming. Tickets are just $40 each and all proceeds go to benefit the station.

Arc Stories: February 2016 Edition

Stories about growing up during the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham. A young black boy who lives in the basement of a wealthy white family’s home and then becomes a key player during the civil rights movement; a young woman who was arrested by Bull Conner, then driven in his car to be dropped off […]

Arc Stories: January 2016 Edition

Stories about learning a valuable lesson. A young man striving for his father’s approval; a couple whose relationship is defined by the purchase of a van; and an educator who’s life trajectory is shaped by one of his students. (Originally aired January 28, 2016 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)

Ben Lewellyn: Member of the Month, January 2016

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 […]

Arc Stories: Holiday Edition

‘Tis The Season: Stories about the Holidays:  A Christmas gift that completely changed the trajectory of on man’s life; the first time a little-girl gets a glimpse of the adult world; and a confession 20 years in the making, as a boy searches his parents house for that Christmas gift he really wanted. Originally aired: […]

StoryCorps: “There’s a little piece of you that’s still shining through.”

Amanda: So how does your queerness impact you on a day-to-day basis? Steven: My queerness operates in very different ways when I’m in a professional setting. I’m expected to be in slacks and things that are not form-fitting. Three months into the job, I was told if I wanted to fit in, I needed to […]

StoryCorps: “I’m not complicated…”

Lacey: I identify as bisexual so that means that I am attracted to people of multiple genders. I used to feel like, in queer spaces, that I wasn’t queer enough to be there. I was constantly having this fear that other people were sort of assessing my queerness. It constantly felt like it was insufficient […]

StoryCorps: “You’re a person of value…”

Kristye:  I feel like I loved you before our first date, but I didn’t think that was possible. And when I pulled up to meet you, I got out of my car and you got out of your car, and I’ll never forget the look on your face because you … your eyes were real wide, […]

The Great Thanksgiving Listen

WBHM is proud to partner with StoryCorps for the Great Thanksgiving Listen. This Thanksgiving weekend, StoryCorps will work with teachers and high school students across the country to preserve the voices and stories of an entire generation of Americans over a single holiday weekend. Open to everyone, The Great Thanksgiving Listen is a national assignment […]

Arc Stories: November 2015 Edition

Stories about people trying to navigate through major dilemmas. A young man tires to discover a family secret; a girl comes to grips with the loss of her mom; and a woman finds herself completely exposed outside of a stranger’s house. (Originally aired November 19, 2015 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)

StoryCorps: “I got in the most trouble I think I ever had in my entire life.”

Derrick: When I was younger, I remember I was on the playground and I kissed a boy. It wasn’t like anything sexualized or anything like that, but I got in the most trouble I think I ever had in my entire life. I had no perception of what bisexuality was, but I guess that was when I would […]

Birmingham City Schools Enrollment Shows Slight Increase For First Time In Decades

Something happened in Birmingham schools this year, that hasn’t happened in more than three decades – the system didn’t have a drop in enrollment.

StoryCorps: “The difference is in everybody’s heads.”

Jonathan Hankins and partner Maura Barnett are expecting their first child and discuss raising him with their gender nonconforming values. They had a conversation at Storycorp's mobile booth in Birmingham, AL

StoryCorps: “I need to get my last name legally changed, please.”

Gregory and Joshua Laning share their experiences getting their names changed and talk about being one of the first legally gay married couples in Alabama. They had a conversation at Storycorp’s mobile booth in Birmingham, AL

StoryCorps: “Because I love him.”

Neil Rafferty talks to his partner Mike Rudulph about their emotions before Mikes deployment to Iraq. They had a conversation at Storycorp's mobile booth in Birmingham, AL

StoryCorps: “We’re just people too.”

Jennifer Sumner and her 12-year-old son Rae talk about the challenges of being transgender. They had a conversation at Storycorp's mobile booth in Birmingham, AL

Arc Stories: October 2015 Edition

Three storytellers find themselves in frightening situations.  A camp ghost story that gets out of hand; a man forced to look death in the face; and trying to spy on religious fanatics (Originally aired October 22, 2015 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)

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Changing Gears with the Launch of Bikeshare in Birmingham

Kiosks have been popping up in parking spots around Birmingham. These 40 stations will hold 400 bikes. They're part of Zyp BikeShare, which starts tomorrow. Cycling has devotees in the Magic City, but plenty still see it as a risky way to travel. Cycling enthusiasts hope more bikes on the road will change attitudes.