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SPNN Member Spotlight - Disability Viewpoints (Mark Hughes and Joan Willshire, Part 3)
2025/09/02
Welcome to another episode of the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network Member Spotlight! We are honored to feature two longtime members with SPNN, Mark Hughes and Joan Willshire, who are also respected mediamakers and disability advocates. The public-access show that they host and produce, Disability Viewpoints, has been broadcasting to the Twin Cities and beyond in some form since 1998. Mark and Joan spoke about their experiences producing the show, and talked about their respective backgrounds in media production and community advocacy.
Note: This episode was recorded in three separate parts. Mark Hughes joined host and Americorps member Dana for the first two, and Joan was present for the final segment.
In Part Three: Mark and Joan discuss more about how Disability Viewpoints came to be. Joan talks about her trailblazing disability advocacy work with the state of Minnesota. Mark and Joan also talk about the limited transportation resources for people with mobility issues in the state, and how the Metro Mobility system has a long way to go to truly be a reliable option. This segment is a little over twenty minutes.
You can find the MnDOT transportation survey mentioned in this podcast here.
You can find more about the goMARTI pilot program for self-driving vehicles in Minnesota here.
Margot Imdieke Cross is the disability activist Mark and Joan mention in this segment. You can find more about her groundbreaking work here.
This episode should interest anyone looking to know more about their fellow community members making media at SPNN, and contains some insights into the worlds of public access, television production, and disability access in the Twin Cities. Disability Viewpoints can be seen on SPNN's Comcast cable affiliate, and on the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network's Youtube Channel.
SPNN Member Spotlight - Disability Viewpoints (Mark Hughes and Joan Willshire, Part 2)
2025/09/02
Welcome to another episode of the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network Member Spotlight! We are honored to feature two longtime members with SPNN, Mark Hughes and Joan Willshire, who are also respected mediamakers and disability advocates. The public-access show that they host and produce, Disability Viewpoints, has been broadcasting to the Twin Cities and beyond in some form since 1998. Mark and Joan spoke about their experiences producing the show, and talked about their respective backgrounds in media production and community advocacy.
Note: This episode was recorded in three separate parts. Mark Hughes joined host and Americorps member Dana for the first two, and Joan was present for the final segment.
In Part Two: Mark talks about how being born with cerebral palsy led to a longtime association with Shriners Children's Hospital in Chicago, and how the show Disability Viewpoints is an expression of gratitude for their work. Mark also thanks the people who've helped to support him over the years, including his sister, and once again gives credit to the people who've helped to create and influence the Disability Viewpoints show. And at the end, Mark gets a call from Joan live on-air, which makes for a great transition to the final segment of the episode, where you'll hear from Joan and Mark! This segment is about six minutes.
This episode should interest anyone looking to know more about their fellow community members making media at SPNN, and contains some insights into the worlds of public access, television production, and disability access in the Twin Cities. Disability Viewpoints can be seen on SPNN's Comcast cable affiliate, and on the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network's Youtube Channel.
SPNN Member Spotlight - Disability Viewpoints (Mark Hughes and Joan Willshire, Part 1)
2025/09/02
Welcome to another episode of the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network Member Spotlight! We are honored to feature two longtime members with SPNN, Mark Hughes and Joan Willshire, who are also respected mediamakers and disability advocates. The public-access show that they host and produce, Disability Viewpoints, has been broadcasting to the Twin Cities and beyond in some form since 1998. Mark and Joan spoke about their experiences producing the show, and talked about their respective backgrounds in media production and community advocacy.
Note: This episode was recorded in three separate parts. Mark Hughes joined host and Americorps member Dana for the first two, and Joan was present for the final segment.
In Part One: You'll hear some congenial banter between Mark and Dana, before they get down to business, and Mark begins discussing how "television is a labor of love" and highlights some of the hardworking crew members behind Disability Viewpoints that help to put the show on air every month. This segment is about six minutes.
This episode should interest anyone looking to know more about their fellow community members making media at SPNN, and contains some insights into the worlds of public access, television production, and disability access in the Twin Cities. Disability Viewpoints can be seen on SPNN's Comcast cable affiliate, and on the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network's Youtube Channel.
SPNN Member Spotlight - Jonathan Rogers
2025/06/12
The Saint Paul Neighborhood Network reboots its podcast after a long hiatus! To mark the occassion, we took the opportunity to spotlight one of our incredible members, who used SPNN's equipment to make an incredible short film, which can now be seen on Youtube, as well as SPNN's cable affiliates! We welcome filmmaker Jonathan Rogers into the podcast studio to discuss "The Mirror of Amun-Ra"!
Len Sanqui: behind the lense
2023/05/16
Len has been doing photography since they were old enough to handle their mom's camera — and now they're branching out into freelancing, documentary, and maybe even some zine-making. We talked about building communities in new places and the power of media to connect people.
You can check out Len's photo documentary project here. She keeps her Instagram up to date with her current work and freelancing availability.
Find the SPNN podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at our website. To learn more about SPNN's programs and opportunities, check out spnn.org.
This episode's music is composed by Bennie, one of our youth interns.
This is also the last episode of this season of the SPNN podcast! We'll be back soon with more conversations. Thanks for tuning in for the last few months!
Emerging Artist Panel
2023/04/21
Earlier this winter, SPNN hosted a series of artist panels: this episode is the first in that series. For this panel, three early-career artists joined us to talk about their work so far and where they're going next. This panel is also available as a video.
Nia Navarro is a community organizer and emerging filmmaker, and they focus their work on queer, Black, and working class stories. Kehinde Olumide Famule is a Nigerian-American filmmaker and photographer telling stories about groups and individuals who are making positive change in their communities. Pa Houa Xiong is a graphic designer looking to inspire curiosity and joy through her art.
Find the SPNN podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at our website. To learn more about SPNN's programs and opportunities, check out spnn.org.
Want to get involved in the podcast, or learn to make your own? We're hosting a podcasting class on April 25th and 26th, open to any community members! Learn more here.
This episode's music is composed by Bennie, one of our youth interns. Bennie and Mai co-hosted this artist panel. Intern Juan Rios co-edited this episode.
Brian Few Jr.: The Camera Found Me
2023/04/14
Brian Few Jr. is a multitalented filmmaker, graphic designer, and photographer. He joined the podcast to talk about a couple of his projects — and his goals of traveling and expanding his work.
You can find Brian's work on his Youtube channel. He also works on Georgia Fort's TV show, "Here's the Truth," which airs on the Twin Cities CW channel on Saturdays at 11 a.m. You can catch the old episodes on Youtube, too.
Find the SPNN podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at our website. To learn more about SPNN's programs and opportunities, check out spnn.org.
Want to get involved in the podcast, or learn to make your own? We're hosting a podcasting class on April 25th and 26th, open to any community members! Learn more here.
This episode's music is composed by Bennie, one of our youth interns.
Katherine Vo and Charlie McCarron: Film Score Fest
2023/03/24
UPDATE: The 2023 Film Score Fest screening will be on June 10th at 7 p.m. at the History Theatre. Selected films will be announced and tickets will go on sale on April 17th. Check out the Film Score Fest website for the info.
Film Score Fest is pretty unique. The annual festival randomly pairs filmmakers and composers to make a five-minute film and score, and selected films are screened with a live orchestra in downtown St. Paul. This year, five BIPOC creators earned scholarships to make films for the festival. Today, we're talking to Katherine and Charlie about what it takes to pull off this event — and why it's so cool to have an accessible, collaborative celebration of film and music.
You can keep up with Film Score Fest at their website and Facebook.
Find the SPNN podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at our website. To learn more about SPNN's programs and opportunities, check out spnn.org.
Want to get involved in the podcast, or learn to make your own? We're hosting a podcasting class on April 25th and 26th, open to any community members! Learn more here.
This episode's music is composed by Bennie, one of our youth interns.
Joua Lee Grande: storytelling and spirituality
2023/03/10
Joua Lee Grande is a filmmaker and community educator, and she's a familiar face at SPNN — she used to work here! On this episode, we're talking about a documentary she has in the works about shamanism among young Hmong Americans. We also heard about her short film in the works for Film Score Fest, a local challenge that pairs filmmakers with composers.
Joua's website has the latest updates on her work and all of her completed projects.
Find the SPNN podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at our website. To learn more about SPNN's programs and opportunities, check out spnn.org.
Want to get involved in the podcast, or learn to make your own? We're hosting a podcasting class on April 25th and 26th, open to any community members! Learn more here.
This episode is co-hosted by Olivia, one of our youth interns. The music is by Bennie, another youth intern.
Alison Guessou: from comedy to sci-fi
2023/02/24
Alison Guessou is a local filmmaker with a big variety of work under her belt. She joined the show to talk about her most recent web series about a breakup between best friends, and her upcoming feature film, a very timely sci-fi inspired drama.
You can find Alison's work through her production company, Djini Productions. Her web series, "It's Not You," is available on Youtube.
Find the SPNN podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at our website. To learn more about SPNN's programs and opportunities, check out spnn.org.
Want to get involved in the podcast, or learn to make your own? We're hosting a podcasting class on April 25th and 26th, open to any community members! Learn more here.
Music by youth intern Bennie.
Kelly Huang: My Borrowed Name
2023/02/10
Kelly Huang is a Minneapolis-based documentary filmmaker, content creator, and actor. In this episode, she talks about her first feature-length documentary, called My Borrowed Name. It tells her family's immigration story — a story that she hopes will get people thinking about their own names and identities.
Learn more about Kelly's work on her website.
Find the SPNN podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at our website. To learn more about SPNN's programs and opportunities, check out spnn.org.
The music in this episode is by our youth intern Bennie.
Georgia Fort: transforming the media landscape
2023/01/27
Georgia Fort is an independent journalist working in TV, radio, and digital media. She's on a mission to transform the media landscape, focusing on stories by, about, and for communities of color.
Learn more about Georgia Fort and all her projects at her website. Georgia's TV show premieres 2/25 at 4:30 on the CW channel.
Find the SPNN podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at our website. To learn more about SPNN's programs and opportunities, check out spnn.org.
Interlude music composed by youth intern Bennie.
Want to get involved in the podcast, or learn to make your own? We're hosting a podcasting class on January 31st and February 1st, open to any community members! Learn more here.
Teaser: Welcome to our New Season!
2023/01/13
It's time for a new season of the SPNN podcast! Starting now, we're posting new episodes regularly. In each episode, you'll hear from someone in the world of Twin Cities media. Tune in two weeks from today — January 27th — to catch the first episode.
Find the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at our website.
To learn more about SPNN's programs and opportunities, check out spnn.org
Want to get involved in the podcast? We're hosting a podcasting class on January 31st and February 1st, open to any community members! No experience necessary.
Music courtesy of pixabay.com
Saint Paul STRONG hosts city street-assessment panel discussion
2022/07/28
Saint Paul STRONG hosted an on-air panel discussion about the court decision to identify Right Of Way (ROW) street assessments as property taxes rather than special assessments. The decision impacts all Saint Paul property owners – including non-profits. Panelists include: Robert D. Ebel, Greg Blees, Peter Nelson, Ellen Brown, and Simon Taghioff.
Deconstructing Purity
2022/07/06
In this episode, Will discusses the social construct and idea of virginity and how the deconstruction of purity is an important step to engaging in safe, consensual sex. Explored within is how sex education often only talks about the physical steps of having sex rather than the social and emotional power it can take to feel ready to make the choice of abstaining or participating. Although abstinence is typically intertwined with religious connotations, this episode focuses on, during, dismantling the social construct of virginity while uncovering new attitudes towards sex in a more fluid and transparent way while removing potential judgment or feelings of guilt. Making the choice to or not to have sex is entirely up to each individual person and regardless of the choice you make can assist in creating a more inclusive, and conversational atmosphere in terms of sex and sex education.
Resources
Annex Teen Clinic - https://annexteenclinic.org/
Family Tree Clinic - https://www.familytreeclinic.org/
Minneapolis School-Based Clinics - https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/school-based-clinics/
Smitten Kitten - https://www.smittenkittenonline.com/
the body org - https://linktr.ee/thebodyorg
Podcast reviews
Read SPNN Podcast podcast reviews
MNMHay 2020/08/15
Great!
Excellent podcast that focues on artists, activists, and community.
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