Rumble Strip: Finn and the Bell

13 snips

Aug 25, 2023

Guest

Erica Heilman

Guest

Tara Reese

Erica Heilman, an independent podcast producer known for her poignant storytelling, joins Tara Reese, the mother of Finn Rooney, to reflect on Finn's life and the community's healing after his tragic loss. They share heartfelt anecdotes about Finn's vibrant spirit and his efforts to unite their small Vermont town. The conversation touches on themes of grief, connection, and the enduring legacy of a community coming together, emphasizing the importance of shared memories symbolized by a historic bell that unites them in remembrance.

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ANECDOTE

Finn's Diverse Interests

Finn Rooney, a multifaceted teenager in Walden, Vermont, balanced diverse interests.
He was involved in theater, the fire department, baseball, and student government.

ANECDOTE

Finn's Inquisitive Nature

Finn showed a deep curiosity and eagerness to learn, exemplified by his time as a junior firefighter.
He was attentive, eager to understand how and why things were done, possessing a mind beyond his years.

ANECDOTE

Finding Joy in Simplicity

Finn cherished simple pleasures and creating cozy moments.
He valued small gestures like setting the table, lighting candles, and appreciating nature's beauty.

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A couple years ago, our producer Annie McEwen listened to an audio documentary that, she said, “tore my heart wide open.” That episode , “Finn and the Bell,” (https://zpr.io/TDjwQuXFDSz6) by independent producer Erica Heilman (maker of the podcast Rumble Strip), went on to win some of the biggest awards in audio (including a Peabody, https://zpr.io/tu4hwhKQ3TWN), and the rest of the staff finally got around to listening, and it tore our hearts wide open, too. It’s a story about a death, but as so many of the best stories about death tend to be, it ends up mainly being about life, in this case, the life of a small town in far northern Vermont, the town where Erica lives and makes her show. We think you’ll like it.

You can find more than 200 other episodes of Rumble Strip here (https://zpr.io/dwGNnSFmAEFX).

Erica’s episode about The Civic Standard (https://zpr.io/GJMP95QENFKq), the community organization started by Finn’s mom Tara Reese and her friend Rose Friedman, is here (https://zpr.io/9HL9mpZT4LTM). A follow-up episode to “Finn and the Bell” is here (https://zpr.io/ycxSU7ceDXNi). The episode Lulu mentions about the camp for people with and without disabilities is here (https://zpr.io/cnyyUWrfQJey).Special thanks to Clare Dolan, Tobin Anderson, Amelia Meath and of course, Tara Reese 🥚. Rumble Strip is a member of Hub and Spoke, a collective of independent podcasts from around the country.

EPISODE CREDITS Reported by - Erica Heilman Produced by - Erica Heilman

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