The Valley Today

The Valley Today is a radio show and podcast dedicated to shining a light on the vibrant community leaders and local events that make the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia truly special. Insightful conversations, engaging stories, and event details connect listeners with the heart and soul of the valley, showcasing its unique culture, initiatives, and people. Guests are recorded (mostly) in advance in local coffee shops, at local businesses, and during local events. The radio program airs just a few minutes after noon every weekday on The River 95.3 and Sports Radio 1450.

The Valley Today is a society podcast hosted by Janet Michael, with 1,000 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Janet Michael hosts The Valley Today, a society show with 1,000 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #2725

  Art, History, and Horses

  Sep 15, 202618 minS10

  It's Tourism Tuesday, Berryville/Clarke County edition, and that means one thing every September: Art at the Mill is back. Janet Michael is joined by Nathan Stalvey, Executive Director of the Clarke County Historical Association, for a full rundown of what's new this fall — from the juried art show's opening weekend to a brand-new exhibit exploring the little-known history of Black horsemen in Clarke County's equine legacy. Nathan and Janet cover the details on Art at the Mill (including the online gallery), the CCHA's newest exhibit on art, memory, and history, the return of the Haunted Historic Berryville tours, and the county's biggest history event of the year, Heritage Day. Tune in for all the dates, hours, and ticket details you need to plan your fall around Clarke County history. EVENT DETAILS Art at the Mill (Fall Show) Dates: Saturday, September 19 – Sunday, October 4 Location: Burwell-Morgan Mill, 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA Hours: Sunday–Friday, 12:00–5:00 PM; Saturdays (3 dates), 10:00 AM–5:00 PM Admission: $5 adults, $3 seniors, free for kids and students Online gallery goes live September 19 at clarkehistory.org Exhibit Opening: "William and Byron: Art, Memory, and the Black Horsemen of Clarke County" Opening talk: Thursday, September 24, 6:00 PM Location: CCHA Museum, 32 East Main Street, Berryville, VA Free and open to the public; light refreshments; talk by curator Dana Getka On display through the end of the year Haunted Historic Berryville Tours Dates: Friday, October 23 & Saturday, October 24 Tour times: first tour 6:30 PM, last tour 8:00 PM (approx. 45 min–1 hour, walking tour) Tickets available at clarkehistory.org (Events tab) Heritage Day Date: Saturday, November 7, 11:00 AM–4:00 PM Free admission; historic re-enactors, working mill and cider press, family-friendly activities LINKS & RESOURCES Clarke County Historical Association: clarkehistory.org THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

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  Episode #2724

  The Long Road Home

  Sep 14, 202621 minS10

  When a disaster destroys your home, the shelter is never meant to be the ending point — it's step one. Janet Michael sits down with Deb Fleming, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of the Greater Shenandoah Valley, for a deep dive into the Red Cross's Shelter Resident Transition (SRT) program: the behind-the-scenes work of moving disaster survivors out of shelters and into permanent, sustainable housing. Deb walks through how SRT identifies each person's unique barriers to housing, why the Red Cross deliberately avoids "quick fix" solutions like extended hotel stays, and what it's actually like to help someone rebuild when they've lost everything — including the emotional toll on both survivors and the workers who support them. She also shares stories from Maui, from local house fires, and from building community partnerships that stretch far beyond the Red Cross itself. If you've ever wondered what happens to people after the cameras leave a disaster zone, this conversation has the answer. LINKS & RESOURCES American Red Cross volunteer sign-up: redcross.org United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley Day of Caring — presented by First Bank: https://www.unitedwaynsv.org/day-caring-2026 Community Baby Shower donation drop-off: Marlow Motors locations and participating First Bank branches

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  Episode #2723

  More Than a Bus Stop

  Sep 11, 202626 minS10

  After a record-breaking summer, the YDC is diving straight into a packed fall season — and Executive Director Sarah Fishel joins Janet Michael at the YDC's Loudoun Street home to walk through all of it. From a brand-new after-school program to two beloved traditions making their long-awaited return, there's a lot happening at 302 S. Loudoun Street in Old Town Winchester. Sarah shares how the new YDC Connect after-school program is reimagining care for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade, previews the return of free Saturday art classes (plus new donation-based classes for the grown-ups), and looks ahead to Trunk or Treat on October 17 and the comeback of Festival of Trees on November 21. She also introduces Baker's Anchor Mentoring, a program honoring the families who helped start the YDC three decades ago. Tune in for a full look at everything happening at the YDC this season — and how the community can get involved. EVENT DETAILS Trunk or Treat on Loudoun Street Date: Saturday, October 17 Location: The YDC, 302 S. Loudoun Street, Winchester Cost: Free (registration encouraged) Details: Community partner trunks, entertainment, and a pre-event "witch walk" fundraiser Festival of Trees Date: Saturday, November 21 Location: The YDC, 302 S. Loudoun Street, Winchester Daytime (10 AM–2 PM): Free family activities, cookie decorating, Santa, and viewing of trees/wreaths up for silent auction Evening: Ticketed candlelight showcase with a live tree and wreath auction, cocktail hour, and heavy hors d'oeuvres Cost: Free during the day; ticketed for the evening candlelight showcase Giving Tuesday Date: December 1 Focus: Raising support for summer access programming LINKS & RESOURCES YDC website (events, registration, volunteering, donations): myydc.org YDC Connect after-school program: available via myydc.org Baker's Anchor Mentoring (mentor/mentee applications, donations): available via myydc.org THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #2722

  Running for Recovery

  Sep 10, 202625 minS10

  A local 5K is doing double duty this year — raising money for scholarships and keeping a beloved friend's memory alive. Host Janet Michael is joined by Guy Curtis, Director of Marketing at Laurel Ridge Community College, along with Julie Judy and Meredith Speir-Cavalier, co-founders of The Recovery Connection, to talk about the Laurel Ridge Community College 5K and the scholarship it supports in honor of Alex Burton. In this episode, Julie and Meredith share how The Recovery Connection came to be, what their residential and community-based programs for women in recovery look like day to day, and why the Alex Burton Scholarship means so much to them personally. Guy Curtis rounds it out with everything you need to register, donate, or just show up and cheer on race day. Whether you're lacing up your running shoes or just want to support a great cause, this one's worth a listen. EVENT DETAILS Event: Laurel Ridge Community College 5K (run/walk, multi-surface course) Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026 Start time: 9:00 AM Location: Laurel Ridge Community College, Middletown Campus — starts and finishes at the Student Union building Cost: $35 per person Registration: Online at laurelridge.edu/5k ; registration closes the night before the race (September 18) Extras: T-shirt while supplies last, plus a barbecue sandwich for every runner courtesy of Shaffer's BBQ Beneficiary: Proceeds support the Recovery Connection Scholarship in honor of Alex Burton Direct donations: laurelridge.edu/give LINKS & RESOURCES Laurel Ridge 5K registration: laurelridge.edu/5k Donate to the Alex Burton Scholarship: laurelridge.edu/give The Recovery Connection: www.trc-va.com The Recovery Connection helpline: 540-594-HELP (540-594-4357) The Recovery Connection email: info@trc-va.com THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #2721

  Don't Touch That Dial

  Sep 9, 202618 minS10

  Would your car still have AM radio if automakers got their way? Janet sits down with Andrew Shearer, President/Owner of Royal Broadcasting, which owns The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450, to talk about why AM radio still matters, and why it might disappear from new cars for good. Andrew breaks down why AM signal reaches places FM and cell service can't, what the American Red Cross has to do with any of this, and where things stand on a bill in Congress that could settle the question for good — including a House vote already on the calendar. Plus: what you can do about it before that vote happens. LINKS & RESOURCES theriver953.com — AM radio facts and a tool to find and contact your representatives THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

  ListenShow Notes

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