Americans overwhelmingly agree that gun violence is a worsening problem. But instead of collectively addressing the problem itself, we argue about solutions: more guns or fewer guns? Framing the issue as “the gun debate” forces Americans onto opposing sides, each trying to win. In that fight, empathy suffers collateral damage.
The Arms Around America podcast (AAA) seeks to change the way Americans talk to each other about guns. As a socially engaged theater ensemble, Dan Froot & Company believes in the power of theatrical storytelling to transform that divisive debate into a civil dialogue, grounded in listening, complexity, and shared humanity.
To realize this vision, the podcast’s objectives are to:
Six episodes are being released over 18 months. The final three episodes are in post-production, with new releases scheduled through the coming months.
The concept of dialogue—the respectful exchange of perspectives, ideas, and lived experiences—underpins all of Dan Froot & Company’s work. We believe that meaningful dialogue begins with attentive, intentional listening. The Arms Around America podcast embodies this belief through every phase of its creative process.
We began by conducting book-length oral histories with six families across the U.S. whose lives have been shaped by guns. These families vary widely in race, region, ideology, and relationships with firearms. Their stories span topics including school shootings, suicide, hunting culture, home defense, racial injustice, and intergenerational trauma. These are not “case studies.” They are complex, deeply human narratives of survival, fear, hope, accountability, and love.
Our diverse creative team collaboratively adapted the interviews into six short-form audio dramas (radio plays), with interviewees retaining editorial control throughout. Families consulted with us on how to capture the fact and spirit of their stories, and gave final approval before the production phase began. Our actors recorded the plays, accompanied by original music and sound design. Each episode begins with one of the plays and concludes with a roundtable discussion featuring artists, scholars, stakeholders, and the families themselves, reflecting on the broader social resonance of the story. In doing so, we model respectful discourse across different perspectives.
Every episode is paired with:
We release three episodes each summer, aligning with national tours of the live performance. This allows the podcast to serve as both a standalone experience and a complement to our in-person programming: master classes, residencies, community workshops, and public conversations.
We’ve faced challenges: Gaining the trust of pro-gun-rights communities has been especially difficult. But after hearing one episode, Clark Aposhian, an initially reticent Utah gun lobbyist, was moved to tears and later joined us as a discussant. His voice opens an upcoming episode, encapsulating the complexity of guns in American life:
“The great thing about guns is they’re so darn effective for what they do. The bad thing about guns is they’re so darn effective for what they do.”
One oral history participant nearly withdrew, fearing her partner’s disapproval, though we protected her anonymity throughout. She ultimately agreed to share the episode as a cautionary story about risk, healing, and the reality of firearms in intimate spaces.
The original oral histories are now archived at UCLA’s Center for Oral History Research. The podcast is featured in Animating Democracy’s national landscape of arts-for-change projects and appears in Miami Dade College library’s campus-wide LibGuide learning resource.
Arms Around America serves as a “slow media” alternative to a frantic, intrusive, and superficial mediascape. It’s a living archive that demonstrates the diversity and nuance of Americans’ relationships with guns. It’s a civic toolkit, a pedagogical resource, a conversation starter, and a call to action.
Having released three of six planned episodes, AAA is building engaged audiences among educators, veterans, public health professionals, community organizers, and fellow artists.
Key outcomes include:
Listener testimonials describe AAA as “a compassionate counter to society’s assumptions,” “superb artistic journalism,” and “a powerful statement… that tugs at our humanity.” One reviewer wrote:
“Dan Froot and Company provide a beautiful inroad to the challenging and layered debate about guns… I was moved, upset, and inspired as I listened.”
The AAA podcast serves as an entry point for performing arts curators, leading to additional bookings of the live performance.
While the production is artist-led, its impact is felt across sectors, through partnerships including:
Rather than measuring success in numbers alone, AAA tracks its impact in conversations sparked, trust built, and new relationships formed across political and ideological divides.
