What Had Happened Was: A Podcast For Dayton

As the old saying goes, everyone has a story. Some of those stories just happen to involve MURDER. Angie Hoschouer of Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum returns to the “What Had Happened Was” podcast to share shocking tales of Dayton murders pulled right from the Gem City’s distant past. Angie shares the tragic story behind the "Bessie Little Bridge," a mother murderer that ended up in a place worse than jail and the mom who gave her daughter one fatal whack and didn't live to tell about it. But this episode is not all about creeps, ghosts and supposed ghouls. Angie tells America about famed former slave Jordan Anderson and how he left a legacy of defiance with the help of one of Dayton’s most well-known citizens.

He is Dayton’s other Dave (the other one is Chappelle), and you’ve probably seen his truck. “What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson sat down with David Hurwitz, the dude wearing overalls behind the over-the-top book truck often parked near Blind Bob's or elsewhere in Dayton’s Oregon District. The community activist, artist and retired educator is a key organizer of the Dayton Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration and Deeds Park Dog Park, among other things.. This one-of-a-kind spirit is one of Amelia’s favorite Daytonians and is full of surprises, as you are about to find out. They chat about Dave’s country "Jew upbringing" (one of his favorite terms), how he went to the love of his life’s wedding… as a guest, his passion for overalls, Shamalama Dingdong and his eccentric squad of do-gooder friends. "The What Had Happened" podcast is a project of Dayton.com and WHIO Radio.

Few people would blame Mike Turner if his heart were full of rage. His only child - his best friend in the entire world - was gunned down during the Dayton mass shooting. In the days since, Mike has been angry, but he refuses to let hate rule the day. Instead Mike is spreading a message of love and conversation. Through #Loganhugs, the retired car salesman with a big heart hopes to remind people that tomorrow is not promised and love and a simple hug are very powerful things. Mike explains why he leaves messages on napkins in restaurants and why he hugged hundreds of people at the recent Gem City Shine concert hosted by comedian Dave Chappelle. Mike and What Had Happened Was host Amelia Robinson talk about Logan and the legacy he has left behind. Cox Media Group Ohio, including WHIO, Dayton Daily News and Dayton.com, has partnered with the Dayton Foundation in the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund. The fund allows individuals to make charitable contributions to help the families directly affected by this te

Somehow saying 2019 has been a hell of a year in Dayton is an understatement. There was a water crisis, an FBI investigation and then a Klan rally followed days later by 15 tornadoes. As the city climbed back to its feet, it was punched in the gut by extreme trauma when a 24-year-old opened fire in the Oregon District, killing nine and causing more than 30 others to be injured. The city’s strength has been tested, but as Dayton Mayor Nan tells What Had Happened Was host Amelia Robinson, the Gem City is far from broken. They talk about the tragedies, the community’s spirit, Dave Chappelle, gun control, national news, why a Hoosier became a Buckeye and what Nan has in store next. The episode was recorded the day after Chappelle hosted the Gem City Shine block party in the Oregon District and brought in Chance the Rapper, Kanye West, Jon Stewart and other celebrities. Cox Media Group Ohio, including WHIO, Dayton Daily News and Dayton.com, has partnered with the Dayton Foundation in the Dayton Oregon District Tra

Culture in the Gem City is changing and Steve Bognar and Julia Reichert are documenting it on film. The region’s most acclaimed filmmakers will host the theatrical premiere of their latest work “American Factory” at the Victoria Theatre. Before that, they sat down for a chat with “What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson. Julia and Steve, both groundbreaking artists in their own right, discuss American Factory, the Obamas, being wined and dined by Netflix, what brought them together as filmmakers and life partners and their very different upbringings. The public is invited to a free screening of Steve Bognar and Julia Reichert’s “American Factory” at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19 at the Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St. in downtown Dayton. Visit www.gofobo.com/AmericanFactoryGA for tickets. Indiewire.com called “American Factory” “an eye-popping look at the differences between American and Chinese workers” and a top contender for a 2020 Oscar. The award-winning film follows the creation of the Chinese-owned

The loud pops and bangs that filled the air in Dayton’s Oregon District early Sunday, Aug. 4 were sadly not made by fireworks. It was the sound of Dayton joining the sisterhood of cities rocked by mass shootings. A 24-year-old man with a semi-automatic pistol that police say was modified to act like a rifle, murdered nine people enjoying what was a beautiful night out on the town. What Had Happened Was host Amelia Robinson and her husband Anthony Shoemaker heard the gun blast from their home and were among the first journalists on the shocking scene. WHIO TV reporters Molly Koweek and Monica Castro rushed to the entertainment district known for its independent restaurants, bars and shops. They were able to get some of the first reports and have continue to cover the horrific crime. Amelia talks to Molly and Monica, who despite being just a few years into their news careers, have covered mass shootings in the past. NOTE: This episode includes first person accounts. Cox Media Group Ohio, i

Keith Harrison knows more than most about "riding high" and having to "let it whip." The Grammy Award-winning artist tells “What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson about his life as a member of the funk bands Faze-O, Dazz Band and Heatwave. The Jefferson High School grad breaks down how much money he never earned from the hit song “Riding High,” and where he thinks all those millions went. Keith says he’s experienced band infighting, jealousy and a whole lot of fun during his long career in the music industry. Keith describes being dazzled by Clarence "Satch" Satchell from the Ohio Players and his fish bowl table and explains why he used cocaine, heroin and nearly every other drug in the book before giving it all up. He won a Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal Grammy Award with the Dazz Band for 1982’s "Let It Whip” and penned “Let It All Blow.” Keith will play at the Levitt Pavilion at Dave Hall Plaza in downtown Dayton 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3. The concert follows a festival celebrating T

Wu Tang is definitely for the children when your folks own the bar. What Had Happened Was podcast host Amelia Robinson spoke with Barrel House owners Sara and Gus Stathes about ferrets, Tinder, Dayton, beer, jerks and Wu Tang Wednesday. Ellie, Sara’s 9-year-old daughter and the Barrel House’s unofficial mascot, was their to represent all things Taylor Swift and to keep things moving. Sara dishes about what it is like to be a boss lady in the male dominated beer world. She and Gus, her new husband, shared the trials and triumphs they have faced their first year owning one of downtown Dayton’s liveliest hangouts. The What Had Happened Was podcast is a product of Dayton.com sponsored by Cox Digital Marketing. The Dayton area was hit 15 tornadoes on Memorial Day. Want to help the community recover? The Dayton Foundation’s Tornado Relief Fund (daytonfoundation.org) and The Foodbank (thefoodbankdayton.org) are accepting financial donations.

Few could blame Roger “Dean” Gillispie if he were angry. He was in prison 20 years for raping and kidnapping three women in the Dayton area despite no physical evidence of his guilt. That means Dean spent his 20s, 30s and most of his 40s “sleeping with one eye open” and defending himself in some of the Ohio’s toughest prisons. Exonerated with the help of the Ohio Innocence Project, Dean now lives in his childhood bedroom. He never married and has no children. The dreams he was working towards as young man never materialized. Despite it all, Dean says he is not wallowing in the past. Instead, he is spreading awareness of wrongful convictions and the need for prison reform. He told “What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson how the legal battle and his long stint in prison impacted his life and the lives of his family members. The Dayton area was hit 15 tornadoes on Memorial Day. Want to help the community recover? The Dayton Foundation’s Tornado Relief Fund (daytonfoundation.org) and The Foodbank

WHIO Chief Meteorologist McCall Vrydaghs used passion and scientific knowledge to inform Dayton area residents when 15 tornadoes - including a monstrous one - assaulted the community on Memorial Day. She talks to “What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson. Want to help Dayton area residents impacted by the Memorial Day tornadoes? Donate to The Foodbank of Dayton (thefoodbankdayton.org) or the Dayton Foundation’s Greater Dayton Relief Fund (daytonfoundation.org).

There’s are few things better than a punk rock geek who loves babies. “What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson talks to Dayton.com geek culture correspondent about the twisty road that lead him to becoming a baby nurse, trivia host and Dayton's unofficial geek king. There is even D&D chatter and sex ed talk in this episode featuring trivia questions that begins with 'd' words and ends in 't' words. BTW, Geek Gala is planned for June 8 at Blind Bob's. Prepare to let your geek flag fly.

When one door slams, another one opens. Karen Korn found a career in marijuana when she walked through that open door. Karen tells "What Had Happened Was" host Amelia Robinson how being booted out of a job propelled her and her business partner Audra Sparks to open Leaf Medic, an online school for medical marijuana professionals. The state-approved company also offers consultations to medical marijuana patients.

You can take the Sodapop out of Dayton, but you can’t take Dayton out of the Sodapop. “What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson talked with actor, director and game show host Rob Lowe about his years growing up in the Gem City, where he started his acting career. Lowe plans to present a Dayton-centric version of “Rob Lowe: Stories I Only Tell My Friends: LIVE!” at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 2 at the Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St. in Dayton. He's been a Hollywood mainstay since his breakout role as Sodapop Curtis in Francis Ford Coppola's big-screen adaptation of S. E. Hinton's “The Outsiders. Known for his role on “Parks and Recreation” and a long list of films that include “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “Behind the Candlelabra,” “Wayne’s World” and “How to be a Latin Lover,” Lowe starred along with fellow Daytonians Martin Sheen and Allison Janney on NBC’s “The West Wing.” He shares stories about his childhood in Oakwood and Dayton’s Five Oaks neighborhood, his dreams of pie from his grandfather's restaurant, his love of

Podcasters talking about how to podcast... “What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson talked with Tony Peters of DATV and the Icon Fetch podcast and Juliet Fromholt, the host of WYSO’s Kaleidoscope and Alpha Rhythms, live at Dayton Podfest 2019. Tony and Juliet teach podcasting and shared tips, tricks and stories of not fan girl-ing and boy-ing out with Amelia and the audience at Brightside Music and Event Venue in downtown Dayton. Dayton Podfest was hosted by the Gem City Podcast.

Nina West is trying to nab $100,000 on the current season of "RuPaul’s Drag Race" on VH1, but the crazy creative Columbus-based drag star and activist has already raised more than $2 million for Ohio charities. West, the stage name of actor Andrew Levitt, tells “What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson why she kept it real on the reality competition show and why she’ll never complain about how she’s been depicted. They dish about why being from the Buckeye State does not require eating corn on the front porch or waiting for planes to drop rations. The What Had Happened Was podcast is sponsored by Cox Digital Marketing. Find more information about the show on Dayton.com: https://on.dayton.com/2OXZDbM

“What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson chats with Fran DeWine, the Buckeye State’s first lady. They chat about the boy who knocked on Fran’s door when she was just 12 and eventually stole her heart. They dish about pie, ice cream and how Fran hopes to help Ohio children have better lives.

“What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson sits down with former Dayton Daily News and Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Janice Hisle, the author of the new book “Submerged, Ryan Widmer, his drowned bride and the justice system.” Janice covered nearly every aspect of Ryan Widmer’s three trials on charges he drowned his young wife Sarah in the bathtub of their Warren County home. She tells Amelia how pig brains, a supposed confession and porn played a role in this tragic, real life murder mystery.

Wright State graduate Hannah Beachler did all of Dayton proud when she became the first black woman to win the Best Production Design Academy Award for her work creating Wakanda for Marvel's “Black Panther.” And she looked fly doing it. In honor of Hannah’s accomplishment, we opened the vault and pulled out the talk “What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson had with Hannah just before she was inducted in to the Dayton Region Walk of Fame last year. Hannah tells us what it took to make her dreams come true.

Amaya Sexton has Betty White dreams. The JLo-loving, corn country native was vote Best Dayton Drag Queen in Dayton.com’s Best of Dayton Contest. She sat down with “What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson. Amaya talks about the Sextons - her drag family - , chicken wings, channeling Beyoncé and being a trans woman on Facebook. Sexton, Miss Masque 2018, has 10 years in the drag game and plans to be the Betty White of her profession. MORE: https://on.dayton.com/2TyYDc5

“What Had Happened Was” host Amelia Robinson sits down with award-winning Dayton Daily News journalist Laura Bischoff whose political and statehouse stories have lead to federal investigations and exposed corruption, deceit and even murder. Laura’s reporting on children as young as 14 marrying in Ohio is credited with sparking the recent change in state law. Amelia and Laura discuss some of the most outrageous stories Laura has covered and why she loves her job despite the divisive political climate.