Mara Hall
HostMara Hall is a longtime listener and proud supporter of Siouxland Public Media. Her love for public radio began with World Café, and over the years, her favorites have shifted to SPM’s local programming, especially What’s the Frequency and SPM PM.
Mara earned her degree in writing and theology from Briar Cliff University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership. She finds joy in discovering, creating, and sharing meaningful moments, which fuels her work and her creative projects.
By day, Mara serves as the Internal Communications Coordinator at Western Iowa Tech Community College, where she helps faculty, staff, and students stay informed and connected.
Now, Mara is combining her love of writing, storytelling, and building community into a new audio series called Voice Imprints—a project dedicated to sharing the voices and stories of people we love.
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Amy Hobbs, a photographer and owner of Storefront Studios, shares a voicemail from her gran, Marilyn Calvert, who was a true Southern belle born on a cotton patch in Holly Pond, AL. Amy's voice waivers and carries the weight of grief as she remembers her joyful, opinionated, and wonderfully persnickety gran. For Amy, hearing her gran's voice is a powerful reminder of love wrapped in honesty, humor, and care.Have a message you keep? Email us at voiceimprints@kwit.org. -
Newly elected Iowa Senator Catelin Drey shares a recording of the bedtime conversation she had with her daughter on the evening after she was sworn into office. We hear the quiet rhythm of goodnights, the lull of a noise machine, and a loving conversation between mother and daughter that reminds us that even in moments of history, love and connection anchor us the most.Have a message you keep? Email us at voiceimprints@kwit.org. -
Anne Westra, Communications & Public Engagement Specialist for the City of Sioux City, shares a birthday message from her grandmother, Josephine Myers. Though the words are brief, they hold a lifetime of love and wisdom. Josephine was Anne’s model for how to live—with warmth, grace and strength—and Anne strives every day to reflect her grandmother’s example. Have a message you keep? Email us at voiceimprints@kwit.org. -
Jennifer McCune, Accounting Specialist Instructor at WITCC, shares a voicemail from her father, Greg Nelson. He was never afraid to make the big asks, to celebrate life’s highlights, and to turn ordinary moments into laughter. For Jennifer, this message is a reminder of love, humor, and presence that can’t be replaced.Have a message you keep? Email us at voiceimprints@kwit.org. -
Peggy La, owner of Yummi Blox and Hong Kong Supermarket in Sioux City, shares a recording of Hong Cuc Nguyen, a matriarch of the Siouxland Asian community who left behind a legacy of culture, community, and connection.Have a message you keep? Email us at voiceimprints@kwit.org. -
Chef Michael Gasaway, Program Coordinator of the Culinary program at WITCC, shares a voicemail from his daughter Carli as a five-year-old with something important to tell her dad. In the blink of an eye, those childhood voices give way to an empty nest and three grown daughters. For Chef Gasaway, being a father has been the greatest gift, and a role that continues to shape him in ways he never could have predicted.Have a message you keep? Email us at voiceimprints@kwit.org. -
Bret Hayworth, Reporter at Siouxland Public Media, shares a voicemail from a lifelong friend who calls to check in, a reminder that sometimes the smallest gestures say the most.Have a message you keep? Email us at voiceimprints@kwit.org. -
For Holly DeGrote, Title III Project Manager at WITCC, every birthday came with a gift she could count on: a call from her grandfather. In this episode, Holly shares one of those messages, the kind of simple ritual that becomes priceless once it’s gone.Have a message you keep? Email us at voiceimprints@kwit.org. -
Ben Knoepfler of Knoepfler Chevrolet shares a voicemail from his father, a quick update on the numbers that was, beneath it all, a father’s way of saying he cared.Have a message you keep? Email us at voiceimprints@kwit.org. -
Clara MacFarlane Coly, Neighborhood Services Outreach Supervisor for the City of Sioux City, shares a voicemail of her sister and father laughing together, an exchange that echoes with love.Have a message you keep? Email us at voiceimprints@kwit.org.
