The host of the Josh’s Corner weekly classical podcast for WBOI-FM in Fort Wayne, Ind., may be unique within the pubradio system: In addition to being just 16 years old, Joshua Stephenson is also on the autism spectrum, reports the local Journal Gazette.
When Joshua was 6, to treat his sensitivity to sound, his parents turned to audio therapy, using headphones that emphasized high and low pitches. Joshua learned to tolerate noise through classical music — and developed a love for the genre.
Will Murphy, general manager of Northeast Indiana Public Radio, said that given that passion, Joshua might have a career in radio. “Anytime you have somebody who really loves something and can convey that affection on the radio,” Murphy told the newspaper, “I think there’s potential there.”
Murphy said Joshua’s participation in the station reflects its mission statement: To engage the community with content that enriches the human spirit. “If Josh’s show doesn’t do that, I don’t know what does,” Murphy said.