Mean Girls Movie Review

In Iceland, much like the rest of the world, stories get passed down through generations. Ghost stories are no exception, even if they may be slightly overshadowed by elves in the media. These stories still serve as influences and inspiration for Icelandic pop culture today, and not just between children trying to scare each other around a campfire.  After talking with Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir and Jóhannes Benediktsson about Deacon of Dark River, also known as Djákninn á Myrká, it's easy to see why. Listen to the story here.

Djákninn á Myrká (Deacon of Dark River)/ Icelandic Ghost Stories

I get asked about my summer so much, and it's so hard to describe... so I made my f<(mily do it for me.

Drum Corps: More Than Just Band

In January 2016, I traveled to Dublin, Ireland with Columbia College Chicago's Journalism department. I've defined myself as a runner since I started college, since it's been a huge part of my life since then. After registering for the trip and beginning my research for stories in the European city known for the abundance of bars and clubs, I started stumbling on more and more things relating to running. Obviously, I took that as a sign, and here we are today. Enjoy!

Special thanks to:

Suzanne McBride
John O'Neil
Ash Seynik 
Michael McGovern
Susan Walsh 
Matthew Behan
Maria Hetherington


Dublin Running

Just shy of a month ago, I flew to Atlanta, GA to spend the weekend with my favorite group of people... and record a lot of things. I gathered hours worth of audio to start piecing together my first documentary... I figured it was time to give you a taste of what's coming. Stay with us! 

Drum Corps Documentary (Teaser)

The members of Spirit of Atlanta 2016 are ready and excited to celebrate the 40th Anniversary. Listen to music selection previews, hornline and battery snippets from February, and most of all, the voices of some of the people who will be taking the field this summer. The 40th year is bound to be special. 

Special thanks to Chris Moore and the members interviewed for this piece.

Get Ready... Spirit of Atlanta 2016

Drum Corps International (DCI) is marching music's major league, and is comprised of over 40 different corps. One of those corps, is Spirit of Atlanta. In 2016, Spirit is celebrating their 40th anniversary - and it's not secret why the corps has made it through the troubling times, even though many struggle to stay afloat. Listen to hear what this activity, group of people, and lifestyle means to the current members, and recent alumni.

This documentary was written, produced, and mastered by me, I’m Erika Kooda. Contributing work provided by David Haven. Featured voices and MAJOR thank-yous directed to: Robert Herrera, Josiah Marinos, Collin Rishell, Jack Roberts, Tyler Hixon, Mickie Elliott, Josh Fouche, Katie Gulledge, Ethan Tipton, Sydney Vanderlaan, Chris Loman, Brayden Gruen, Lamont Hall, Hannah Banbury, Aidan Seigers, Tyler Bennett, Jacob Weikle, Garrett Hunt, Ian Dyer, Kristen McBrayer, Drew Renshaw, Danya Burdick, Jonathan Ashley, Megan Caldwell, Gian Campanon, Courtney Verna-Brown and Philip Martinez. Special thanks to Chris Moore, Scott Keefer, and WCRXfm 88.1fm at Columbia College Chicago. Donate to and find more information about Spirit of Atlanta at their website, spiritdrumcorps.org. Enjoy!

40 Years of Family: Spirit of Atlanta

A short documentary-style piece that explores what it looks like to be in a long-distance relationship, and the role that technology plays.

Written, edited, produced, and mastered by Erika Kooda. Thanks to Katie Gulledge and Ryan Anderson, Courtney Verna-Brown and Robert Herrera, and Philip Martinez. Completed for Dave Berner's Radio & Audio Documentary Class at Columbia College Chicago, Fall 2016

Technology: The Ultimate Third Wheel

The Chicago Toy and Game Fair (CHITag) is held every year at Navy Pier in downtown Chicago in November. This year, two producers from WCRX/Columbia College Chicago to set out to find a story... and ended up re-discovering how important play is, and how it's changed in almost two decades. 

Written, produced, and mastered by Erika Kooda
Field Recordings by Erika Kooda and Gioncarlo Faczek
Special thanks to Dave Berner, Melissa Hunter, Alex Vazquez, Dan Wright, and Candice Kilpatrick

The Importance of Play

In 2008, the StoryCorps trailer made a week-long stop in my hometown of Grand Rapids, MN. My mom grabbed my grandpa, Mel, and I a 30-minute slot so we could capture some of the family stories forever. This past spring, both my grandma Nancy and my grandpa Mel passed away. Now more than ever, I'm so glad that she thought ahead to grab that slot of time. 

My interviewing skills are far below sub-par, my accent is so strong, and I missed a lot of opportunities to dig deeper into the story... but hey, I was in middle school still. Cut me some slack.

StoryCorps Interview with Mel Kooda

Technology: The Ultimate Third Wheel - edited for Kroc Fellowship

:30 spot to be used on streaming services for the 50th AJC Peachtree Road Race, Mizuno USA. 2019.

Mizuno x Peachtree :30 spot

BA in Radio/Business & Entrepreneurship from Columbia College. Erika is a Staff Writer at Atwood Magazine, a color guard instructor at Downers Grove South marching band and winter guard, and a Retail Sales Associate at Fleet Feet Sports Chicago. In her free time, you can usually find her running on the Lakefront Path or dreaming of moving to Reykjavík, Iceland... or just out of the Midwest.

Erika Kooda

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