{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Truth In This Art","title":"#32 – How Do You Choose Stories Worth Telling? | Joe Tropea","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2895,"description":"Baltimore’s award-winning documentary filmmaker, public historian, and Baltimore City Hall curator Joe Tropea returns to share how personal connection guides his project choices, why he embraces “ums” and raw moments in the edit, and what it takes to build strong creative partnerships — from abandoned true-crime concepts to a new mayoral portrait gallery.\nFollowing personal connection: why priests breaking into draft boards, censored movie trailers, punk archives, and barbershop stories all felt like natural fits\nEmbracing imperfections: the case for keeping “ums,” pauses, and rough cuts to give stories authenticity and respect the voices involved\nKnowing when to pivot: lessons from shelving a State Department project and a true-crime doc that no longer aligned with his ethics\nKeys to collaboration: how attraction, creative tension, and shared values shape meaningful partnerships with co-directors and researchers\nCurating City Hall: what it’s like to activate a 150-year-old space through public tours, historical exhibits, and a new mayoral portrait gallery\nRapid-fire reflections: favorite Vietnam War movie, a one-word definition of curation, and the low-key joys of exploring City Hall’s archives\n🎧 Catch Joe Tropea’s first conversation here:\nWhether you’re filming, curating, or simply looking for stories that speak to something deeper — Joe’s approach will push you to trust your instincts and lead with heart.\n📸 Photograph by Elena Volkova","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/JOa6JbGOYOtDQMaChk3GEjdMaqieN4aTVZIMSZjm84c/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85Y2U0/ZjJkMjUzNTFiYjlh/NTNkMDAxNzg0Y2Iy/ZWI5My5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}