STORYTELLER SERIES

JRA is thrilled to partner with VPM News to bring Stories by the James to the public. Click here to listen to exclusive cuts of storyteller interviews that originally aired in the fall of 2022.

Our sincere thanks to The Tomato Fund and VPM for the opportunity.

Pull up a chair

These storytellers talk about how the river has impacted and shaped their lives in interviews initially developed by a partnership between JRA and VCU students and professors.

Our Storytellers

Almeta Ingram-Miller

Almeta Ingram-Miller

Almeta Ingram-Miller currently leads The Legendary Ingramettes, a renowned Richmond-based gospel group.
Listen to Almeta's story

Mark Campbell

Mark Campbell grew up in the mountains of Waynesboro and moved to Richmond in the late ‘70s.
Listen to Mark's story
Mark Campbell
Amber Ellis

Amber Ellis

Amber Ellis, JRA’s Restoration Director and Professional Landscape Architect with a certificate in ecotherapy, has looked to the James River as a source of comfort and healing for as long as she can remember.
Listen to Amber's story

Elizabeth Wise

Elizabeth Wise is a Richmond-based musician and lifelong river lover. 
Listen to Elizabeth's story
Elizabeth Wise
Amber Ellis

 Tricia Pearsall

Tricia Pearsall gives us a slice of James River history in Richmond, sharing her own love for the river through paddling, fishing, and educating children.

Listen to Tricia's story

Andrew Alli

Andrew Alli is a Trail Manager for the James River Park System and a talented blues musician.

Listen to Andrew's story
Elizabeth Wise
Amber Ellis

Ashley Noble

Ashley Noble is the owner of James River Reeling & Rafting in Scottsville, Virginia.

Listen to Ashley's story

Horace Scruggs

Horace Scruggs and his family have lived along the James for generations. He brings to light the importance of telling the whole story of the river.

Listen to Horace's story
Elizabeth Wise
Amber Ellis

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Founders Eric McKay and Patrick Murtaugh discuss the importance of a clean river, both professionally and personally.

Listen to Hardywood's Story

Krista Weatherford

Krista Weatherford has worked along the James ever since she moved to Richmond, most recently as the Director of Community Engagement at Maymont.

Listen to Krista's story
Elizabeth Wise
Amber Ellis

Lisa Moss

Lisa Moss shares a day in the life of a Fish Biologist, and urges us to remember what the river gives us.

Listen to Lisa's Story

Senator Tim Kaine

Senator Tim Kaine discusses the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, his ‘Nature Triathlon’, and more.

Listen to Senator Kaine's story
Elizabeth Wise
Amber Ellis

Headwaters Down

Justin Black, Will Gemma, and Dietrich Teschner share their epic tale of adventure, appreciation, and conservation paddling the entire James River.

Listen to Headwater Down's Story

Sophie Smith

Constantly inspired by the River in her artwork, Sophie Smith shares her printmaking process and passion for the James.

Listen to Sophie's story
Elizabeth Wise
Amber Ellis

Cooper Sallade

 Truly a lifelong river lover, Cooper Sallade invites us into his fascinating world of snakes, salamanders, shark teeth, and more.

Listen to Cooper Sallade's Story

Tales from the RIVERKEEPER

Former James RIVERKEEPER and Director of Advocacy, Jame Brunkow, remembers river adventures with co-worker and longtime friend, Director of Community Conservation, Justin Doyle.

Listen to Jamie and Justin's story
Elizabeth Wise

Partnership with VCU

In the fall of 2020, JRA was very fortunate to join forces with students and professors from VCU’s Advanced Media Production Technology (or AMPT) Program to develop and craft our Stories by the James project into what you see today.

Students have had the opportunity to provide creative direction with JRA and receive hands-on experience during various stages of media production. They have created compelling full-length audio recordings, with complementary video and photos.

Special Thanks!

JRA extends our sincere gratitude to our Storytelling Series partners.

VCU Executive Producers Julian Pozzi, Carlos Chafin, Bob Tyskowski
Associate Executive Producer & Editor Annie Lacey
Producer, Director, and Editor Jordan Joseph

VCU’s Advanced Media Technology Production program

  • 2021-2022 Cohort:
    Producer Amaya Fuentes; Production Team Tony Beres, Clevon Hall, Brendan Hamilton, Jordan Reinecke
  • 2020-2021 Cohort:
    Producers Zack Forbes and Fiona Walkington; Editor Marcus Emmanuel; Production Team Joe Fitzpatrick, Tina Harding, Meg Sheehy

Special additional thanks to VCU’s AMPT program, In Your Ear Studios, Audio Editor Daniel Davis, Drone Operator Crixelle Matthews, Voice-over Artist Erin Frye, Editor Greg Elgin, Berkeley Darr, Jen Pike, and Craig Rolan Martin