Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 // Forbes Avenue
For this episode of Forbes Avenue, we spoke to T. J. Murphy and Em Voelker about ReelQ – Pittsburgh’s longest running film festival and the the 6th oldest LGBTQ+ film festival in the world! ReelQ will run from October 3 to October 11 in 2025, and have 14 screenings of various films from the animated comedy Lesbian Space Princess to a documentary on the activist organization ACT UP.
T. J. and Em shared about the history of the festival, which started in 1982 when films were still on reel to reel tape. They also discussed the relevance of keeping up this work in the modern day, as well as the importance of representation and film media overall. Tune in to hear more about the best parts and challenges of holding such a long-running festival!
Listen to the episode: T. J. Murphy and Em Voelker
Riona Duncan, host, audio editor, audio engineer, researcher
Recorded September 26, 2025; WRCT debut September 30, 2025
Tuesday, May 20th, 2025 // Forbes Avenue
This week on Forbes Avenue, we talked to Dr. Edda Fields-Black, a CMU history professor who just won a Pulitzer Prize for Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War! We talked about her prize-winning book, her other research, and writing untold stories. She also told us why a rice field is a historical document. A fascinating conversation!
Listen to the episode: Edda Fields-Black
Riona Duncan, host, audio editor, audio engineer, researcher
Recorded May 12, 2025; WRCT debut May 20, 2025
Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 // Forbes Avenue
This week on Forbes Avenue, we aired an April 16 interview with Jaime Martinez, the Community Defense Organizer at Casa San José, an agency that supports Pittsburgh’s Latino community.
Martinez related some of the issues immigrants face when confronted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. He also summarized the advice he gives in Casa San José “Know Your Rights” sessions, detailed some of the confrontations of which he has firsthand knowledge, and explained the history of increased ICE enforcement over the last 10-15 years. He appealed to listeners to value the humanity in all of us — no matter where we each come from.
In the course of the conversation, Martinez mentioned several agencies or initiatives that can help with Immigration questions:
Listen to the interview: Jaime Martinez
Credits:
Richard Gordon, host, audio engineer, audio editor, researcher
Riona Duncan & Archan Das, additional research
Recorded April 16, 2025; WRCT debut April 29, 2025
