Vaguely Local is a podcast focusing on locality while leaving room for variety, focusing on people and issues as experienced through their own places and spaces - in Manhattan and beyond.

In this episode, Nick is joined by Manhattan-based artist JahVelle Rhone - also known as JRSaxophonic on social media. JahVelle is a multi-instrumentalist, known today for his stylings on the Soprano Sax. In 2021, he was 1 of 100 artists - and 1 of 2 instrumentalists - chosen to participate in the TikTok for Black Creatives program.

He shares how that came about, what the platform and social media in general has done for his music career, his concerns about the proposed Restrict Act and its potential to remove TikTok from the US market, as well as his background in music starting in Kansas City.

Vaguely Local is a podcast focusing on locality while leaving room for variety, focusing on people and issues as experienced through their own places and spaces - in Manhattan and beyond.

In this episode, Nick is joined by Dr. Rune Hjarnø Rasmussen of the platform Nordic Animism. Rasmussen is a Danish scholar with credentials from the Universities of Copenhagen and Uppsala and years of work around the world in countries such as Uganda, Ghana and Brazil.

The two discussed Rasmussen's roots, his academic background studying both Scandinavian religiosity and African diasporic religions, and the importance of animist worldviews in contemporary times. You can check out his work on a variety of social media as well as through his website NordicAnimism.com.

Music in this podcast is provided by artist Blush Akimbo, and production is supported by Wildcat 91.9 FM in Manhattan, KS. As a note, a few explicit words are included in this conversation.

Vaguely Local is a podcast focusing on locality while leaving room for variety, focusing on people and issues around Manhattan and beyond.

In this edition of the show, Nick spoke with City Commissioner and now District 22 State Senator Usha Reddi. She’s approaching her 10th year in city government, and in January was selected to replace Tom Hawk in the Kansas Senate – becoming the first Indian and Asian American Senator in State history. The Andhra Pradesh born politician speaks about that fact, how she navigated the pandemic as a human and mayor of Manhattan, and also got into some of the conflict over her decision to remain in city government while stepping into the Statehouse.

Vaguely Local is a podcast focusing on locality while leaving room for variety, focusing on people and issues around Manhattan and beyond. This first episode, Nick spoke with a pair of guests on a common topic - that being the City of Manhattan’s partnership with the Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills as part of the National League of Cities City Inclusive Entrepreneurship program ; announced in December of 2022.

The program is an effort to address inequity faced by entrepreneurs of color as they seek investment and improve economic mobility for historically marginalized communities, which is now in its fourth year with hundreds of local partners.

Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills Founder and CEO Sheila Ellis-Glasper joined the podcast to discuss what this will look like in Manhattan. In the second half of the program, City Commissioner Linda Morse -- mayor at the time of the announcement -- talks about how the city got into the mix and who the main players were in getting the work started.