Re-Imagined Radio’s “In Progress” Invites Listeners To Create Stories Through Sound (Photo) - 09/08/26

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Re-Imagined Radio continues its experimental soundscapes Workshops series this month with “In Progress,” premiering at 1 p.m. on Sept. 21.  
 
This installment invites listeners to become active participants, creating their own stories and meanings from a carefully curated collection of sounds gathered from North America and beyond. The episode weaves together recordings of industry, weather, travel, technology and everyday life, from the clanging of a pile driver on a waterfront pier in Victoria, Canada, to the strange, melodic sounds of electromagnetic radiation captured by spacecraft exploring our solar system. 
 
Part of Re-Imagined Radio’s ongoing Workshop series, the episode encourages active listening and explores how sound alone can inspire imagination, reflection and storytelling. Listeners are invited on an auditory journey designed to inspire, refresh and spark new ways of hearing the world around them. 

The theme and title for the episode was inspired by the work and philosophy of avant-garde composer John Cage, whose famous composition “4:33” challenged audiences to listen more closely to the sounds around them and consider everyday noise as part of the listening experience. 
 
“The performer is instructed to sit at an instrument without playing a single intentional note for the duration of the piece,” said John F. Barber, producer of Re-Imagined Radio and faculty member in the digital technology and culture program at Washington State University Vancouver. “The ‘music’ of the performance is the ambient, accidental sounds occurring in the room at the time of the ‘performance.’” 
 
As with the previous Workshop episode, Barber begins with an imagined scene designed to spark listeners' creativity. He describes townspeople gathering at sunrise in a festival tent for a shared meal before inviting audiences to continue the story themselves through the sounds that follow. The episode encourages listeners to imagine their own narratives and discover meaning within a rich tapestry of sounds from distant places, everyday environments and unexpected sources. 
 
About Re-Imagined Radio 

Created in 2013 by Barber, Re-Imagined Radio explores sound-based storytelling across genres including drama, comedy, documentary and sound art. Through performances, broadcasts, streaming, podcasts and social media, the program reimagines radio storytelling for contemporary audiences. 

New episodes premiere on the third Monday of each month. Re-Imagined Radio episodes air on KXRW-FM (99.9) in Vancouver, KXRY-FM (91.1 and 107.1) in Portland, and KNOM-AM (780) in Nome, Alaska. Listening links and an archive of past episodes are available at reimaginedradio.fm, which also features Re-Imagined Radio EXTRA, offering additional sound-based storytelling between monthly episodes. 

About WSU Vancouver 

WSU Vancouver is one of six campuses of Washington State University and the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington. The campus offers undergraduate and graduate programs that support workforce development, innovation and economic growth through strong partnerships with businesses, industries and community organizations. 

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Re-Imagined Radio Celebrates 100th Episode With Retrospective Special "RiR 100" Aug. 17 (Photo) - 08/10/26

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Re-Imagined Radio marks a major milestone with the premiere of its 100th episode,"RiR 100," at 1 p.m. Aug. 17. The special program celebrates more than a decade of sound-based storytelling by revisiting memorable moments, themes and productions from the series' first 100 episodes.

Since its debut in 2013, Re-Imagined Radio has explored the art of storytelling through sound, presenting dramas, documentaries, soundscapes, comedies, adaptations and original productions that have transported listeners across time, place and imagination. Over 100 episodes, the program has reached audiences locally, nationally and internationally through broadcasts, streaming, podcasts and online archives.

"One hundred times before, we've packaged dialogue, sound effects and music and sent them across the airwaves to create believable worlds on the wide screen of the listener's imagination," said John F. Barber, producer and host of Re-Imagined Radio and faculty member in the Digital Technology and Culture program at Washington State University Vancouver. "This episode is our opportunity to reflect on that journey and celebrate the people, stories and creative collaborations that made it possible."

The number 100 carries special significance across cultures. Often associated with completeness, achievement, abundance and success, it represents both a culmination and a new beginning. For Re-Imagined Radio, the milestone symbolizes years of creative experimentation, persistence and growth.

Episodes were produced intermittently during the program's early years, from 2013 through 2020. As production evolved into a regular monthly schedule, the collection steadily expanded until reaching the century mark in 2026.

Rather than focusing on a single story, "RiR 100" serves as a retrospective celebration, revisiting highlights from the program's extensive archive. Drawing from approximately 90 recorded productions, the episode offers listeners an opportunity to rediscover favorite moments while introducing newer audiences to the breadth and variety of Re-Imagined Radio's work.

"We're not bragging," Barber said. "But we are proud of this achievement. Reaching 100 episodes required creativity, dedication and the support of listeners, collaborators and broadcast partners. We wanted this program to honor that shared accomplishment."

The centennial episode also marks a transition point for the series. Following August's broadcast, Re-Imagined Radio plans to step away from its monthly production schedule and explore new approaches to audio storytelling. Future programming may include a more experimental series, tentatively titled RiR Workshop, along with guest-produced episodes, original works and other creative collaborations.

"Who knows what serendipity might send our way?" Barber said. "More partner stations, more guest artists, more original productions. We're excited to discover what comes next."

Listeners are invited to join the celebration Aug. 17 and experience a journey through more than a decade of innovative sound-based storytelling.

About Re-Imagined Radio

Created in 2013 by John F. Barber, Re-Imagined Radio explores sound-based storytelling across genres including drama, comedy, documentary, adaptation and sound art. Through performances, broadcasts, streaming, podcasts and social media, the program reimagines radio storytelling for contemporary audiences.

Re-Imagined Radio episodes air on KXRW-FM (99.9) in Vancouver, Washington; KXRY-FM (91.1 and 107.1) in Portland, Oregon; KNOM-AM (780) in Nome, Alaska; KAAD-FM in Sonora, California; and Galloway's Star 24 in Galloway, New Jersey. In addition, each station streams its programming globally, helping Re-Imagined Radio reach listeners in more than 60 countries. Listening links and an archive of past episodes are available at reimaginedradio.fm.

About WSU Vancouver

WSU Vancouver is one of six campuses of Washington State University and the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington. The campus offers undergraduate and graduate programs that support workforce development, innovation and economic growth through strong partnerships with businesses, industries and community organizations.

WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. in Vancouver and is accessible via I-5, I-205 and C-TRAN bus service.

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