The American Dream Team: The Boston marathon bombing

Jack, Jodie and Ben were joined by the Siren FM news team for a special edition of the programme in the aftermath of the bombing of the Boston Marathon.

You can find interviews and clips from the programme below.

View from the race

Andrea Mia was at the Boston Marathon and joined the show live to discuss events as she saw them.

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From Boston UK to Boston USA

There are strong ties between Boston, Lincolnshire and Boston Massachusetts, dating back to the 1630s.

Siren FM reporter Ed Wellman spoke to Councillor Colin Brotherton, Mayor of Boston, Lincolnshire, to get his response to the events.

He began by asking Councillor Brotherton about the historical links and how both places are responding to yesterday’s events.

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Mayor of Boston, Lincolnshire also had a special message for the Mayor of Boston, USA.

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The aftermath and security

Whilst the needs of the victims from the bombings in Boston are of paramount importance, attention is also focusing on the perpetrators and their motives. In the UK there’s some speculation as to whether this will have an effect on two significant events this week – the funeral of Baroness Thatcher and the London Marathon.

Dr Andrew Defty is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln in the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences. His particular area of expertise includes the intelligence service and security issues.

When Andrew David spoke to him, earlier today, he talked, first, of his reaction to the events that unfolded yesterday:

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Reaction from America

Professor Craig Stark, Associate Professor of Communications at Susquehanna University, joined the show live to discuss his thoughts on the event.

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Mark Leon, Global Social Media Solutions Consultant, and friend of the American Dream Team, Pennsylvania, was due to be in Boston for the race. He joined the show live to discuss the reaction to the event in America and how it was covered online.

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Professor Norman Cherry from the University of Lincoln is currently visiting America, he and Virginia Wilcox joined Andrew David to discuss his reaction to the event and how news of it spread.

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The American Dream Team and The Fulbright Scholarship

In October and November, The American Dream Team spoke with four people involved in the Fulbright Programme, including the director of the UK Branch of the institution; Michael Scott – Kline. The Fulbright Programme is designed to allow for academic movement between the US and other countries, allowing for the exchange of ideas and culture. You can visit the American Dream Team page on YouTube to listen to the interviews, or hear them below:

Yulia Chubarova

Yulia Chubarova is a Russian teacher who, under the Fulbright initiative, taught and studied at Juniata College in Pennslyvania.

Michael Scott-Kline

Michael Scott-Kline is the director of the UK branch of the Fulbright institution.

Lauren Allison

Lauren Allison is a graduate of St. Andrews University student who, under the Fulbright programme, is currently studying in California.

Camilla Barker

Camilla Barker is a Fulbright scholar originally from Lincolnshire, now studying at Harvard Law school in Massachusetts.

The American Dream Team with David Mark

On Tuesday October 9th, The American Dream Team was delighted to be able to welcome Lincolnshire based crime writer David Mark to the Siren FM studios. David joined us for the entire show, during which we talked to him about his work, both as a journalist and author, and his experiences and influences in America.

You can listen here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6xxe0_RbQ4&feature=plcp

The American Dream Team with Shar Doherty

Shar Doherty, via telephone link from Glasgow, joins the American Dream Team on Siren FM to talk about Matchbox 20. Shar won a Twitter competition to see them live and have a meet and greet with the band, including singer/songwriter Rob Thomas.

Michael Reeve – live acoustic performance on the American Dream Team

Live set

Local singer/songwriter Michael Reeve performed two of his songs live in the Siren FM studios on the American Dream Team on Tuesday 25th of September. Listen to his excellent set here:

Interview

As part as his visit to Siren FM, we spoke to Michael Reeve discussing his time travelling and working in the USA and you can hear the interview below:

The American Dream Team with John Connolly

Crime writer John Connolly visited Lincoln on Tuesday Sept 11th as part of a tour to promote his new book, The Wrath of Angels. The American Dream Team was very fortunate that John was able to visit the Siren FM studios before his appearance at Waterstones and discuss his life and work.