As I say on another page, I am “your podcaster,” but this podcast would not exist without the time and talents of many people. In developing this podcast, I’ve come to understand how fortunate I am in my friends. I research and write the scripts, but that’s only the first step in getting an episode on the air. After I’ve pulled a draft of a script together, as you can see below, I lean on a lot of folks to get the story out.
Script Review
Professor Paul Rubinson: E1-E12
Professor Stephen Schechter: E8-E9
Professor Andrekus Dixon: E6-E7
Dan Quinn: Editorial Review
Sound Consultants
Erin Cornett & Lauren Upshaw
Voice Acting
One thing I quickly realized with this project is that I’m not the guy to bring WPA testimonies to life. That’s why I’m grateful to a group of talented Texans from across the state who have so respectfully breathed life into these priceless testimonies as well as the other VOs necessary to bring these stories to you:
Stef Bailey
Ryan Conover
Jessica Cooper
Yusef Dixon
Lauren Jordan
Sandra Organ
Armando Rodriguez
Emilio Mejia
Lylah Taank
Doug Watson
Music, Sound & Recording
In addition to the music and sound credits below, I particularly want to thank these musicians for kindly sharing/licensing their wonderful music with this project:
The Hope Trust
Jay Haynes
Lubomyr Melnyk
Cassandra Berry and Mark Graham
Watcha
Brad Kolodner
Marketplace Zero
Shinyribs
Thank you to Mockingbird Sound Recording Studio in Denton for handling the audio for my interview with Professor Andrew Torget.
And . . .
A big thanks to Professor Paul Rubinson of Bridgewater State University. Paul reviews all the scripts and has consistently offered pointed, insightful comments that have improved the narrative and helped me find my voice.
I am particularly indebted to five people for getting this podcast off the ground: My wife, Cynthia Jenkins Cooper, my brother, Monte Cooper, and my friends Travis Glass, Stephen Kleppe, and Samuel Garcia. When I had the idea for this podcast several years ago, I didn’t have a sense for whether people would be interested in listening to it. So I typed up scripts for the first few episodes and showed them to this group. To my surprise, they thought I was on to something. I cannot overstate how important that early encouragement was.
Erin Cornett patiently helped me early on in this project when I had many questions about audio in general and about Audacity, the audio editing software I use for this project. Thank you, Erin!
Many thanks to Professor Andrew Torget of the University of North Texas, who kindly sat for an interview for this podcast and also answered questions of mine along the way. His book, Seeds of Empire: Cotton, Slavery, and the Transformation of the Texas Borderlands, 1800-1850, demonstrates that a work about such a complicated topic can be accessible and engaging.
Dedications:
To Professor Randolph “Mike” Campbell, emeritus professor of the University of North Texas. Professor Campbell had no involvement in this podcast, but he is my model of what a true scholar is. Thank you, Professor Campbell, for your pioneering work on slavery and Reconstruction in Texas and, more broadly, on your work in American history. And thank you for giving me and many other students the tools to move the ball forward on our understanding of American history.
To my mother, Janice Elaine Powell Cooper, who loved the beauty of the South, but taught me that it’s okay – actually, that it’s essential – to see things from the other side.
To those Texans who endured slavery, and to their descendants.
Credits
Episode 1
Music/Sound:
Intro music: “Think About the Other Side,” performed by The Hope Trust, written by Kelly Upshaw © 2018
Outro music: DPmusic, “Family Journey,” https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/85828713-family-journey-acoustic-folk-optimistic-happy-guitar
ShadyDave, “Expressions of the Mind,” https://freesound.org/people/ShadyDave/sounds/325647/
Voice-over:
Jessica Cooper, “Francis Black.”
Episode 2
Music/Sound:
Intro music: “Think About the Other Side,” performed by The Hope Trust, written by Kelly Upshaw © 2018
Outro music: Arcadian Sounds, “Rustic Acoustic,” https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/93701712-rustic-acoustic-indie-folk-guitar-backing
Meral, “Celtic Meral,” https://freesound.org/people/Meral/sounds/104588/
Ceich93, “Water Lapping River,” https://freesound.org/people/ceich93/sounds/318064/
Meffy Ellis, “swamp at dusk,” https://freesound.org/people/MeffyEllis/sounds/156448/
Setuniman, “Cinematic Moments,” https://freesound.org/people/Setuniman/sounds/424669/
SirmXe, “Harpsichord Szolo,” https://freesound.org/people/SirmXe/sounds/79974/
La Chica del Boom, “Tambores Calle Trafico Iluvia Truenos,” https://freesound.org/people/La.Chica.Del.Boom/sounds/403179/
Richard Moore, “CW Battle Nearby,” https://freesound.org/people/richardemoore/sounds/162628/
orangefreesounds, “Melancholy Piano,” https://www.pond5.com/sound-effects/item/124410329-melancholy-piano
Atomazul, “Steamboat Whistle,” https://www.pond5.com/sound-effects/item/7750014-steamboat-whistle
Atomazul, “Steamboat Paddles,” https://www.pond5.com/sound-effects/item/7750017-steamboat-paddles
Episode 3
Music/Sound:
Intro music: “Think About the Other Side,” performed by The Hope Trust, written by Kelly Upshaw © 2018
Outro music: “Shenandoah,” performed by Jay Haynes
Satrianizado, “Spanish Vibe Intro,” https://freesound.org/people/Satrianizado/sounds/330557/
Robinhood76, “tavern ambience,” https://freesound.org/people/Robinhood76/sounds/209354/
Bull Sam, “Banjo Melody,” https://freesound.org/people/BullSam/sounds/509495/
orangefreesounds, “Piano Melody,” https://freesound.org/people/orangefreesounds/sounds/340075/
Episode 4
Music/Sound:
Intro music: Fool Boy Media, “Sky Loop,” https://freesound.org/people/FoolBoyMedia/sounds/264295/
Outro music: Jam Central, “Piano and Cello Transition,” https://www.pond5.com/sound-effects/item/63619702-piano-and-cello-transition-music
SoundIdeasCom, “Horse, Wagon,” https://www.pond5.com/sound-effects/item/8902251-horse-wagon
birdsong, “evening in the forest,” https://freesound.org/people/reinsamba/sounds/18765/
dynamicell, “fire embers large campfire,” https://freesound.org/people/Dynamicell/sounds/17554/
Lomax, John A, Ruby T Lomax, and Roosevelt “Giant” Hudson. Field Hollers. near Varner, Arkansas, 1939. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/lomaxbib000058/
klankbeeld, “horror ambience,” https://freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/sounds/133100/
Zat Dude, “Ominous Background,” https://freesound.org/people/Zat_Dude/sounds/402439/
bevangoldswain, “running leafy area,” https://freesound.org/people/bevangoldswain/sounds/54780/
Soundholder, “Animals Dogs Big Barking,” https://www.pond5.com/search?kw=big-dog-barks-052801885&media=sfx
sounddogs, “Animals Horses Grass Onboard,” https://www.pond5.com/sound-effects/item/67060852-animals-horses-grass-onboard-variables-various-galloping-spe
Inspector J, “Gunshot, Distance,” https://freesound.org/people/InspectorJ/sounds/417345/
agcnf media, “Piano Loop – Only Backwards,” https://www.pond5.com/sound-effects/item/976181-piano-loop-only-backwards
TuneLight, “Amazing Grace Cinematic Variation,” https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/74828367-amazing-grace-cinematic-variation-loop
Episode 5
Music/Sound:
Intro music: “Think About the Other Side,” performed by The Hope Trust, written by Kelly Upshaw © 2018
Outro music: Arcadian Sounds, “Rustic Acoustic,” https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/93701712-rustic-acoustic-indie-folk-guitar-backing
Satrianizado, “Spanish Vibe Intro,” https://freesound.org/people/Satrianizado/sounds/330557/
Meral, “Celtic Meral,” https://freesound.org/people/Meral/sounds/104588/
Episode 6
Music/Sound:
Intro/Outro: MUSIC: “Pockets of Light” by Lubomyr Melnyk, piano, with Peter Broderick, voice.
brianjilg: https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/112711435-african-nature-documentary-full-version
audiodesignAES: https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/88395797-life-meditative-pad-progression-swell-violins-delayed-piano
ToivoMedia: https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/148161867-haunting-blues-guitar-solo
Voice-overs:
Lylah Taank, “Eliza Holman”; “Lizzie Jones”;
Yusef Dixon, “Ben Simpson.”
Stef Bailey, “Betty Simmons”; “Eliza Elsez.”
Lauren Jordan, “Sylvia King”; “Alice Rawlings.”
Armando Rodriguez, “Martin Jackson.”
Ryan Conover, “Runaway Notice.”
Doug Watson, “Runaway Notice.”
Doug Watson, “Marshall Newspaper Notice.”
Emilio Mejia, “Abram Sells.”
Sandra Organ, “Harriett Robinson.”
Episode 7
Music/Sound/Interview:
Intro music: “Think About the Other Side,” performed by The Hope Trust, written by Kelly Upshaw © 2018
Outro music: StarTrack: https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/108061993-route-flagstaff
ErickMcNerney: https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/68022771-beautiful-mechanism-softer-piano-plus-legato-cello-pizz-viol
Faulk, John Henry, and Harriet Smith. Interview with Aunt Harriet Smith, Hempstead, Texas,part 1 of 4. Hempstead, Texas, 1941. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/afc1941016_afs05499a/.
Voice-overs:
Yusef Dixon, “Andy J. Anderson”; “John White.”
Emilio Mejia, “Jacob Branch”; “Mose Smith.”
Doug Watson, “Runaway Notice.”
Armando Rodriguez, “Andrew Simms”; “Bob Maynard.”
Stef Bailey, “Sarah Ford.”
Lylah Taank,”Phyllis Petite”; “Ida Henry.”
Sandra Organ, “Annie Hawkins.”
Lauren Jordan, “Adeline Cunningham.”
Episode 8
Music/Sound:
David Iskandaryan, “Drone Tone.” https://www.pond5.com/sound-effects/item/108190123-drone-tone-22-dark-scary-suspense-evil-ominous-scifi-dire-th
Marco Zannone, “Inspirational Piano Arpeggios.” https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/134930972-inspirational-piano-arpeggios-10-strive-and-inspire
Voice-overs:
Stef Bailey, “Sarah Ashley.”
Yusef Dixon, “William Moore.”
Lylah Taank, “Annie Hawkins.”
Emilio Mejia, “Andy J. Anderson”; J.W. Terrill.”
Lauren Jorden, “Ida Henry.”
Armando Rodriguez, “Carey Davenport”; “Green Cumby.”
Sandra Organ, “Annie Hawkins.”
Episode 9
Music/Sound/Interview:
James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson. “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Cassandra Berry and Mark Graham. 2022.
ErickMcNerney: https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/68022771-beautiful-mechanism-softer-piano-plus-legato-cello-pizz-viol
Watcha. “Africa.” 2022.
“Roscoe.” Brad Kolodner. 2022.
Robert Johnson. “Me and the Devil Blues.” 1937.
Andrew Duke: https://freesound.org/people/Andrew%20Duke/sounds/2432/
“Long John.” http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5758/
“Run Old Jeremiah.” http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5759
Faulk, John Henry, Unidentified Female Interviewer, and Laura Smalley. Interview with Laura Smalley, Hempstead, Texas, part 3 of 5. Hempstead, Texas, 1941. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/afc1941016_afs05497a/.
“Saved All Day.” Cassandra Berry and Mark Graham. 2022.
Ralph Vaughan Williams. “The Lark Ascending.” https://www.pond5.com/search?kw=the-lark-ascending&media=music
audiodesignAES: https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/88395797-life-meditative-pad-progression-swell-violins-delayed-piano
florianreichelt: https://freesound.org/people/florianreichelt/sounds/459977/
zat_dude: https://freesound.org/people/Zat_Dude/sounds/402396/
“June Apple.” Brad Kolodner. 2022.
Voice-overs:
Sandra Organ, “Lizzie Jones”; “Florence Ruffins.”
Armando Rodriguez, “Green Cumby”; “James W. Smith”; “William Adams.”
Stef Bailey, “Betty Powers.”
Yusef Dixon, “John White”; “William Moore”; “Richard Carruthers.”
Doug Watson, “Runaway Notice.”
Ryan Conover, “Runaway Notice.”
Lylah Taank, “Syliva King”; “Rosanna Frazier”; “Mollie Watson.”
Emilio Mejia, “Monroe Brackins”; “Anderson Edwards.”
Lauren Jordan, “Ida Henry.”
Episode 10
Music/Sound/Interview:
Intro music: Marketplace Zero, “Lemonade” (instrumental).
Outro music: Shinyribs, “Highway of Diamonds.”
Voice-overs:
Yusef Dixon, “Felix Haywood.”
Emilio Mejia, (runaway notice)
Lylah Taank, “Alice Rawlings.”
Doug Watson, (newspaper article)
Ryan Conover, (runaway notice)
Episode 11
Music/Sound/Interview:
Balmorhea, “Bowsprit.”
Amos Lee, “Worry No More.”
Episode 12
Music/Sound/Interview:
Intro music: Brad Kolodner and George Jackson, “Wandering Boy.”
Voice-overs:
Sandra Organ, “Sarah Ford.”
Emilio Mejia, “Anderson Edwards.”
Stef Bailey, “Alice Rawlings.”
Armando Rodriguez, “John Bates.”
Yusef Dixon, “Felix Haywood.”
Jessica Cooper, “Tempie Cummings.”
Lauren Jordan, “Katie Darling.”
The Other Side of the Story: Slavery in Texas 