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Behind the Scenes with Arielle Adams of Blunt Youth Radio
Interview conducted by Julie Shapiro
> How and when did you become involved with Blunt Youth Radio?
I became involved with Blunt about three years ago. My friend invited me to one
of the recruitment meetings and having nothing better to do, I went. at first I
was intimidated by the whole thing, but as I began to be trained in hosting and
reporting, I knew that I had found something I loved.
> What do you like best about using audio to tell stories, rather than
video or illustrations?
What I love the most about audio is that you are able to use your imagination.
Characters and settings aren't just there for you to see -- you have to create
them. This gives me a challenge, because I have to use sound, tape and my own
voice so the listener will see exactly what I want them to.
> What inspired your decision to document your and your friends' first
menstruation stories?
I was with Blunt in San Francisco attending a national radio conference and a
bunch of us girls were just hanging around in our room chatting. It turned out
that nearly half of us were on our periods and this unusual coincidence began a
conversation spanning this, that and all that other girl stuff. It was a
wonderful discussion, and about midway through, I realized what great radio it
would have made -- all of us telling our first period stories so openly. When I
got home I immediately started to get tape.
> Were the girls you approached always so forthcoming, or did some tell
you it was too "private" a thing to share?
Actually about 75% of the girls I spoke to were willing to share their stories.
This really surprised me, because I thought I might have to push real hard for
girls to open up and at least talk to me.
I think all of the girls who refused probably thought their story would have
been too boring -- or maybe they were just uncomfortable.
> Do you think the girls you interviewed would have told their stories
to a video camera as willingly?
Radio is wonderful because you can tell your most personal story and still be
anonymous. Having a bright and intense light in your face not only takes away
from the personalness, but it creates this self-concsiousness that was never
there in the first place. I think girls were so open and honest because
microphones are much more comfortable than a flashing red light.
> Did you interview anyone who you didn't know, or was each participant
a friend or acquaintance? (and if you did know all of the interviewees, would
you make the same documentary but with total strangers?!)
Everyone in my piece are either friends, acquaintances or girls whose names I
knew. In the beginning I thought that I would have to go out and interview
people I had never seen before, and that really didn't bother me, I would still
do the documentary that way, but by the time I had gone through the halls of my
school I had collected so many great stories I had no reason to go out and get
more.
> How have people reacted to this story overall? Do you think age has
been a factor in listeners' responses? What do your male peers think?
Most of the reactions I've gotten from people have been positive ones. I think
at first people are a little weary, but once they hear the feature they loosen
up and really enjoy all of the stories. The greatest thing about this piece is
that it's completely age friendly. Every women has had their first period, so
hopefully this feature makes them think back to that time in their lives. As
far as the male perspective goes, most guys have enjoyed the piece and I just
shrug off those who have said negative things, because I know deep inside they
secretly wished they had a first period story to tell too.
> Are you considering any sort of follow-up? What are you working on
now?
I would love to do a whole series about the menstrual cycle, from young girls'
expectations to their first period, to pregnancy and menopause. I think often
times women are afraid or intimidated to talk about their bodies or what goes
on "down there." I want to break that barrier with this piece or any feature I
do in the future. I want women to talk about what they want when they want and
not feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk about their bodies. Hopefully after
hearing my piece, women will begin to think about the gender issues,
stereotypes, double standards and pressures that are still in place within our
world today -- and maybe they'll get a few laughs too.
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