News of the day, tales of the times
Joe Heath is an Audio Engineer living in Chicago. He is an alumni of Indiana University Bloomington's Jacobs School of Music Recording Arts Department where he concentrated in Telecomunications.
Growing up in Indiana, Joe Heath has spent the majority of his life living in conservative middle America. He is an avid reader of science, politics, and culture. While growing up, Joe developed a passion for information and the desire to learn about the world around him. In 2016 he teamed up with his former colleaguee, Lucas Wozniak, in Chicago to start Frankly Info. Joe and Lucas's desire for truth and discussion came about in the spring of 2013 at Indiana University in Bloomington, where Joe was co-managing the student radio station WIUX.
Frankly came about as a way to create a dialog between what is right and what is truthful. He is determined now more than ever to provide accurate, factual and substantive commentary toward political, social, and cultural events. Having also been involved in comedy for a number of years, Joe's take on the issues can be a bit sarcastic at times. His overall goal remains to understand more about the world around him and more so understand the complex relationships humans have with society and the enviornment. He also likes Star Wars. Like, alot, man.
Lucas is the son of some extraordinary people in the Middle-West- all retired now. He was brought up in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and educated in Cincinnati, Ohio at the School for Creative and Performing Arts and later in Bloomington at Indiana University, studying history and arts management. Nicknamed “Young Winston” by the Chairman of his College Republicans chapter and subsequently “RINO” by other Republicans, he let his party registration lapse in 2012 (validating the Churchill reference) and started spending his extra-curricular time at WIUX, the campus radio station. He hosted a political news show called Yesterday’s Tomorrow for three years, later becoming the station’s Business Director and working with Joe Heath- not for the last time.
WIUX gave Lucas the opportunity to pursue his lifelong passions for broadcast media, history and discussion of policy all at once and to make the kind of friends everyone should hope to carry into adulthood. He’s amazed at his fortune in getting to work with many of them on Frankly, along with several of the diversely talented people he’s privileged to have known since high school, who were all nice to him even when he was one of five people among 300 or so eligible students who voted for John McCain in 2008.
Being proudly raised by a working-class Irish-American grandfather, a hippie-turned-entrepreneur and an English degree-wielding feminist, Lucas learned an early enjoyment of examining issues and ideas from very different perspectives that has poisoned him with moderate inclinations. He’s a steadfast believer in dialogue and a less responsible believer in the Irish Catholic version of God. In 2016, he found out that his optimism is incurable.
Lucas currently lives in Chicago in an all but perpetual state of existential confusion, though he remains confident that truth is neither partisan nor relative. His hobbies include reading nonfiction to procrastinate notoriously, maintaining the collection of 1930s-1950s radio programs he started when he was thirteen, and trying to restore civility to our national discourse. He has been accused, falsely, of being a Time Lord.
Alex Powell loves all things art. It doesn’t matter if it’s music, fine art, design, theater, or culinary, Alex will participate with a childlike giddiness. He has dedicated his life to developing his skills as an artist and a consumer. Alex is always looking for the next way to express himself artistically. His entrepreneurial attitude drives him to push himself in all facets of his life.
Spending the majority of his life in central Indiana, some might say that it was nothing short of a miracle that he turned out as great as he did. After honing his skills in design and branding, Alex moved to Chicago in the summer of 2010. He has since been working on climbing his way into the upper echelons of the culinary industry.
Hannabelle Farrell is a writer and wardrobe consultant for film and life from middle America with a particular love for sartorial satire, period pieces, and absurd alliteration. She is a wannabe Claire Underwood and avid patriarchy smasher.
She is currently a graduate student at The New School - Parsons School of Design. studying fashion business, and a retail manager with thirteen years' experience.
Sam Velazquez is always listening to music. Always thinking about it. Always considering its cultural impact, the quality of its production, the craftsmanship of the songwriting. And sometimes, he’s just listening because it sounds good.
A product of central Indiana and Indiana University’s Media School, Sam’s writing retains the pleasantness and conversational tone that have long been associated with the Midwest. He believes in the importance of listening, in absorbing different perspectives in an attempt to better understand the people around him. He is not, however, shy about sharing his own opinions, whether they’re about the most capital-I “Important” albums of the year or about the ramifications of political decisions across the globe. He tends to ramble; he is not good at self-editing. At the very least, it sounds pleasant.
Sam was raised on classic rock, blues, and jazz music, but that hasn’t kept him from expanding his tastes deeper into indie, electronic, and hip-hop music. He believes U2 was the last great “rock band” in the classic archetype. He believes Anderson .Paak had the best 2016 of anyone in music, including Chance the Rapper and Beyoncé. He believes in the importance of diversity in music, even if his tastes don’t always reflect it (he’s working on it). And finally, he does in fact give a fuck about an oxford comma.
A product of the sweet, fertile Ohio valley Ben Kleesattel retains the salubrious qualities of a stock of corn and emotional disposition America’s dying middle class. Bearded, white, heterosexual, and registered to vote in a swing state he has a opinion worth considering, but not because you would choose to. He is nice.
He has experience working in the legal and environmental fields, he holds a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Studies. He’s explanation of what that degree entails is usually based on who is asking him about it. Though the environment, and how humans interact with it, is of great interest to him he spends most days worrying about ideas. The fact that abstract thought can simultaneously be a cruel misstep in evolution and the only redeeming quality of humanity is not lost him. Some days being nice is hard for him.
Leaving Northwest Indiana for Indiana University, Brendan Biesen sowed his midwest and music roots in his arts management studies. Through his record collecting and constant attendance at shows he pursued his passion for the music industry at full speed. Shortly after graduating he relocated to Chicago and started working for The Windish Agency (now known as Paradigm Talent Agency). From here he learned more about concert tour booking and also that the music industry salary is mostly in free shows. The addition of Schubas to his resume allowed him add to promoter and venue to his working knowledge of the industry.
It is through this passion about music and its business that Brendan hopes to connect people with. Do you ever frantically count the number of people in a room to calculate the Box Office Gross of a show? Maybe you have a knack for which venue will be behind or ahead of their set time schedule. What artist should you be keeping an ear out for? How many cups of coffee should you drink before a show? More news from behind the scenes and what we can see in the music industry’s future from Brendan Biesen.
Addy Wilson is an American graduate student based in the Australian capitol of Canberra.
Attracted by the wonders of the postindustrial Midwest, he left the sunny weather of his native Northern California to read degrees in International Studies and Cultural Anthropology at Indiana University and Notre Dame, respectively. In the time between schools, he spent several years working in rural Japan for the Japanese government's JET Program. The experience left him deeply humbled, and as a result of the 2012 quake/tsunami/meltdown disaster, slightly irradiated.
After volunteering for members of congress, student and public radio, Addy hopes to continue his family's tradition of public service in Washington D.C., albeit by the most scenic route possible on downhill skis.
Natalie Rowthorn, 23, is a proud Clevelander who is still processing the five stages of grief of her post-graduate life. In May 2016, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Indiana University’s new Media School. And yes, she is still quite bitter about the merger. She double-minored in French and international studies, with a focus on international human rights and law, specifically pertaining to gender violence and freedom of the press.
During her time at IU, she worked as the Opinion Editor of the student-run newspaper, the Indiana Daily Student, as well as a columnist, reporter and photographer. Opinion-based writing is easily her favorite style of journalism, and believes all columnists should consider themselves journalists and should rightfully be treated as such – when earned.
Natalie loves playing field hockey, traveling and always having chocolate within arms reach. She spent several months working for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in Cleveland until that obviously ended in November. Today, however, she spends her time on the job hunt and resisting the urge to engage with trolls on Twitter.
David Gordon-Johnson is an actor & singer, currently living and working in Chicago. From Cincinnati, he's slowly (but surely!) making his way west, state by state. David graduated from Indiana University with a B.Mus. in Voice and a B.A. in Theatre & Drama.
David is an avowed political junkie and NPR aficionado (although he does try to maintain a fairly balanced media diet). In those rare moments that he isn't at work, rehearsal, or a performance, you might find David crossing a book off of his never-ending list, baking bread, cooking up a storm, or running along the lakefront. He's also a big video and board game nerd (AND PROUD OF IT).
Katie Barrett (KB) is a Kansas native and current Chicago resident. After graduating from the University of Kansas with a degree in Communications, she moved to Argentina to teach English. Outside of living in Argentina, she has traveled extensively through out South and Central America. Currently she in television marketing and thinks it's pretty great. When not at work, KB can be found running, painting, and obsessing over 10 year old pop punk albums. KB hopes to open a rescue farm for small animals in the future.
Holly Golightly is an attorney with an activist heart and a practical agenda. Raised by a tough momma bear who did not tolerate the word "impossible," Holly continues to push boundaries, usually and misguidedly at large family gatherings. She can come up with a reason to question practically everything, which is an asset, sometimes.
When she's not trying to save the Republic, Holly enjoys quiet time at art exhibits and yoga studios, as well as less quiet time spent at both the theatre and the theater. She fervently believes that dogs are the purest force of good and love in the world. Cats are alright, too.
Cincinnati bred, Chicago fed.
Graduate of Indiana University and the Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts. Enthusiastic Ambassador of #BlackBoyJoy and pretty much 100% down for the cause. Free time is often spent making art, admiring fearless Black women, or sleeping.
To borrow from poet Danez Smith, I can be best described as "coal awaiting spark & wind".
When not posting political articles on the net in a far-fetched plan to become Earth's Hegemon, Peter Wiggin tends to enjoy the simpler things in life: walks through scenic routes, driving on country roads, enjoying the food of a fine restaurant, playing a fascinating new board game, and occasionally cooking his own food and making specialty drinks - you should ask him how to make homemade eggnog!
Born in the Midwest and raised with Midwestern values and manners oddly lacking in other regions, Peter's deeply conservative values and ideals lurched leftward through his university and menial job years, landing him firmly in a murky gray center area of politics.
His hobbies include staying up late for no reason, waking up late, regretting both of those, playing board games with friends, and sharing his opinions with the rest of the world.
Dog Lover. Coffee Addict. Thinker.
When Colin isn’t playing outside with his dog, drinking copious amounts of coffee, or posing as ‘The Thinker,’ you can find him behind his computer screen reading, writing, researching, and studying. Colin was born in Indiana to a suburban, white, middle class family in the early 90’s, he grew up privileged but raised an individual. His passion has always been to help the people who have been less fortunate than he has, preaching appreciation and love. Currently, Colin is pursuing his Bachelors of Science degree in Engineering Technology Education at Purdue University. Upon graduating from the undergraduate level, Colin intends to continue his education and pursue a Master’s degree in education policy focusing on STEM education policies. Whilst in grad school, Colin aspires to be involved with his local government in the city of Lafayette, IN. Colin’s vision is to learn the ins-and-outs of local government and further evolve his knowledge of government in order to obtain his long-term career goal, Secretary of Education.
Carolyn Suna is a proud New Yorker with New York values, hailing originally from Larchmont, New York (no, that is not upstate). She attended Indiana University, earning a degree in Sports Marketing and Management. While attending IU, Carolyn was actively involved in WIUX, the student-run radio station, where she befriended the founders and some of the contributors of Frankly Info.
Carolyn now works as a Strategist at a social-media marketing firm in Boston. She is a proud feminist, Mets fan, music junkie, and beer snob. When she’s not working, you can find her watching re-runs of RuPaul’s Drag Race, at a show, or sleeping.
Though, all you really need to know about Carolyn is that she once fell on someone’s nachos.