Sami LaCount

Radio Producer

Sami LaCount is a student intern for Alabama Public Radio. She is majoring in Creative Media with a minor in Spanish at The University of Alabama. When she's not behind the camera or working on a new project, Sami enjoys reading a good book, listening to new music and spending time with her family.

Commentary

"Your life can be richer by spending time with people that are different than you"

Sami LaCount

Today at StoryCorps, coworkers Kirsten Purvis and Yohana Carrillo discuss their lives working within the English as a Second Language (ESL) department at Mobile public schools. Throughout their work, they've learned the true meaning of community and the ways our differences make the world a better place.
Commentary

“I could remember going ‘If I could do $750 a day, $3,500 a week, I might not have to get a night job.'”

Sami LaCount

Pete Blohme and his sister Cheryl sit down at StoryCorps to reminisce on the opening of Panini Petes in Fairhope, Alabama. From building their menu to building a customer base, they touch on how they achieved long-term success and stability.
Commentary

“My supervisor [at the time] in the department told me I was committing professional suicide pursuing something like this”

Sami LaCount

Kathryn Coumanis, a member of the philanthropic organization Daughters of Penelope, sits down with her daughter Tonie Ann Torrans at StoryCorps to share how she founded Penelope House and the impact they’ve seen it have on the Mobile community.
Commentary

"We can't go forward for going backwards in this country"

Sami LaCount

Darron Patterson talks to new friend Franchesca Pena at StoryCorps about how his ancestors came to Africatown, the history of the Clotilda, and how he sees racist ideologies of the past still impacting our society today.
Commentary

"The court of which I stood judge in was the same court that tried to convict my father wrongfully during the Civil Rights era"

Sami LaCount

In the previous StoryCorps segment, Karlos Finley spoke on the teamwork and service his parents showcased during the Jim Crow and Civil Rights era. In today's continuation, Karlos discusses the wrongful charges his father faced after transitioning from pharmacology to Mobile's music industry, showing that Karlos is the realization of his ancestors' dreams.
Commentary

"My father's mother told him 'Son, I want you to grow up to be somebody, and then I want you to go out and help somebody'"

Sami LaCount

In today's episode of StoryCorps, Kelly Finley interviews her husband Karlos Finley about his family's history. From his parents leaving Mobile to pursue college degrees to becoming educators, business owners and Civil Rights activists, Karlos discusses how they not only exemplified teamwork but also the importance of service.
Commentary

“I think that the hope for everybody is that you might be in a really desperate situation, but it’s not going to stay there”

Sami LaCount

Today at StoryCorps, Kelly Finley interviews her friend Dale Pfeiffer about Driftwood housing, a non-profit he co-founded to combat chronic homelessness in Mobile. Dale’s story shows that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Note to listeners, suicidal thoughts are mentioned in this piece.
Commentary

"It was almost like I was strapped to the bed and I was miserable"

Sami LaCount

While at StoryCorps, death doula Marjorie Bowden interviews her niece, Nafeesah As-Salafeeyah, who’s a birth doula. They discuss how Nafeesah found this passion, the history of caretakers within their family, and the importance of having access to care and advocacy.
Commentary

"Once we lose that tradition and stop playing those tunes, then the band is out of business"

Sami LaCount

In today's episode of StoryCorps, Hosea London and Herbert Nelson talk about how they first joined the historic Excelsior Band. They emphasize the importance of maintaining and memorializing the band's traditions so that they may last for the generations to come.
Commentary

"I felt like a failure even though I had earned a degree"

Sami LaCount

In today's episode of StoryCorps, Kiara Brown talks to her colleague Jeremiah Chapmin about the ups and downs she's experienced during her journey into the world of media. Despite the challenges, Kiara now works at a job she loves, showing that perseverance always pays off.