This hour: a woman investigates a secluded religious community, another secretly tapes her interactions with paint store owners, and yet another peels back the layers of “geek speak.”

New Violet Flame
by Brenda Hutchinson (Soundprint, 2002)
When Brenda Hutchinson's sister decided to raise her kids in a secluded religious community in Montana, Hutchinson went to investigate. This piece documents her exploration into a completely foreign world of worship.

Letter From Chicago
by Jonathan Menjivar (The Savvy Traveler, 2003)
Jonathan Menjivar's mom started worrying about him when he moved to Chicago -- and hasn't stopped. In this audio letter, Menjivar attempts to reassure his mom by documenting a day in his life.

The Paint Mixers
by Damali Ayo and Dmae Roberts (Studio 360, 2004)
As a little girl, Damali Ayo looked for her skin tone in a box of crayons but it was nowhere to be found. So as an adult, she asks paint mixers to create a color that matches her skin -- and surreptitiously records them as they do so.

Geek Speak 
by Pamela Z (Parts of Speech, 1995)
Listen as Pamela Z turns the vocabulary and attitude of a computer geek into an entirely new language, complete with harmony, rhythm, and melody.