podcasts
STM Vlog Podcast Returns: Your Weekly Connection to Stories That Matter
Last Updated on October 31, 2025 by Daily News Staff
STM Vlog Episode
The wait is over. STM Vlog is back, and we’re bringing you a fresh take on the news and stories shaping our world—from Phoenix to the globe.
Hosted by Rod Washington, the relaunched STM Vlog podcast is your weekly deep dive into the stories we’ve been covering on STM Daily News, our social channels, and through TNC Network’s original projects. Whether it’s infrastructure changing how we move, community events bringing us together, or global stories that impact us all, we’re connecting the dots and keeping you informed. https://stories-this-moment.castos.com/episodes/stm-vlog-returns
What We’re Covering This Episode
This week’s episode is packed with stories that span from our backyard to the cosmos. Here’s what Rod breaks down:
Aviation & Safety
Long Beach Plane Crash – A small plane crash-lands in a Long Beach park. We cover the recovery of both the pilot and a pedestrian, and what this incident tells us about urban aviation safety.
Consumer Alert
Nationwide Shrimp Recall Expands to Arizona – A shrimp recall is making waves across the country, including right here in Arizona. Rod breaks down what you need to know to keep your family safe.
Infrastructure & Innovation
Arizona I-17 Flex Lanes – Phoenix is getting I-17 flex lanes. We explain how they work, what drivers can expect, and how this changes your commute.
LAX Transit Center Opening – Exciting news for Southern California travelers: the LAX Metro Transit Center is opening June 6. We dive into what this means for getting to and from one of the busiest airports in the world.
LA’s Transit Future: 2028 and Beyond – What’s next for LA Metro? Rod explores the final episode of “The Long Track Back” and what the future holds for transit in Los Angeles.
Automotive
2026 Honda Prelude Returns – The Honda Prelude is back with hybrid power, Type R hardware, and a fresh driving experience. Car enthusiasts, this one’s for you.
Slate Automotive Truck Update – We’ve been following Slate Automotive’s affordable electric truck promise. This week, Rod covers the latest progress and price shifts.
Science & Space
Interstellar Visitor 3I/Atlas – An interstellar visitor is surprising astronomers with its growing tail and strange chemistry. We zoom out to explore what 3I/Atlas tells us about our universe.
“The Knowledge” Features
Garrett Morgan’s Traffic Signal – Who really invented the modern traffic light? Rod dives into Garrett Morgan’s incredible contribution to road safety and why his story matters.
Valerie Thomas: NASA Engineer & STEM Trailblazer – Meet Valerie Thomas, the NASA engineer and inventor who blazed trails in STEM and changed how we see the world.
Culture & Lifestyle
The Great American Soda Divide – Do you call it soda, pop, or Coke? Rod explores how geography shapes what we call our fizzy drinks in this fun cultural deep dive.
Why This Episode Matters
This episode is a perfect example of what STM Vlog is all about—connecting local stories to national trends and global conversations. From infrastructure projects changing how we move around Phoenix and LA, to space discoveries expanding our understanding of the universe, to the inventors and engineers whose work shapes our daily lives, we’re covering it all.
What’s New?
This isn’t just another news podcast. STM Vlog is designed to bridge the gap between our written articles, video content, and the conversations happening across our platforms. Each week, Rod introduces segments pulled directly from the stories you’ve been reading and watching—giving you context, behind-the-scenes insights, and a deeper understanding of what’s really going on.
Here’s what you can expect every episode:
Top Story of the Week
We kick things off with the biggest story making waves. Whether it’s a local development or a global event, we break down what happened, why it matters, and how it connects to your daily life.
Regional Spotlight
Phoenix, Arizona, and Southern California are home base, and we’re committed to shining a light on the stories that define our communities. From infrastructure projects to grassroots initiatives, these are the moments that don’t always make national headlines but shape the fabric of where we live.
National & Global News
We zoom out to cover what’s happening across the United States and around the world. Policy changes, cultural movements, international relations—if it affects us, we’re talking about it.
Infrastructure, Development & Innovation
What’s being built today shapes how we live tomorrow. We track the projects, technologies, and innovations transforming cities and communities—whether they’re happening in Phoenix, across the Southwest, or in cities around the country.
Sports, Culture & Entertainment
From local sports moments to global cultural conversations, we hit you with quick takes on what’s trending and what’s worth your attention.
TNC Network Projects Teaser
We’re not just covering stories—we’re creating them. Each episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re working on, from documentaries to video series and everything in between.
Why Listen?
Because the news shouldn’t feel like noise. STM Vlog is conversational, authentic, and rooted in the belief that storytelling matters. Rod brings the same energy and insight that drives STM Daily News and TNC Network’s award-winning content, delivering it in a format that fits your life—whether you’re commuting, working out, or just kicking back at home.
Every episode connects you to:
- The full articles and videos on STMDailyNews.com
- Exclusive content from our social channels
- Original projects from TNC Network, including documentaries, “The Knowledge” video series, and more
How to Listen
New episodes drop every week, and you can catch them wherever you get your podcasts. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Want more? Head over to STMDailyNews.com for the full articles, videos, and photos from every story we cover. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @STMDailyNews for daily content that keeps you connected to what matters.
Join the Conversation
STM Vlog isn’t just a podcast—it’s a community. We want to hear from you. Drop a comment, share the episodes that resonate, and let us know what stories you want us to cover next.
Whether you’re in Phoenix, Arizona, Southern California, somewhere else in the States, or tuning in from around the world, we’re glad you’re here.
Stay informed. Stay inspired. And welcome back to STM Vlog.
Listen now and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow STM Daily News:Instagram | TikTok | YouTube: @STMDailyNews
Website: STMDailyNews.com
Blog
The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House
A fifth-grade assignment took a strange turn when a substitute teacher asked students to draw schematics of their homes. What followed — a wildly fictional floor plan and a priceless reaction from my mom — turned into one of my funniest childhood memories.
The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House
Elementary school memories tend to blend together — cafeteria pizza, playground arguments, the eternal struggle of times tables — but every once in a while, something happens that sticks with you for life. For me, that moment came in the fifth grade during a week when our regular teacher was out, and we cycled through substitute teachers like we were testing models for durability.
By midweek, in walked a substitute with a mysterious, slightly intense energy — the kind of vibe that suggested he either meditated at dawn or worked a graveyard shift doing something he couldn’t talk about. We settled into our seats, expecting worksheets or quiet reading time.
But nope.
He had other plans.
“Today,” he announced, “we’re going to draw schematics of our houses.”
Schematics. Not drawings. Not little houses with smoke coming out of the chimney. Actual blueprint-style schematics. He wanted the layout of our bedrooms, our parents’ rooms, and where the pets slept. Every detail.
Now, to be fair, Highlights Magazine did have a feature that month teaching kids how to draw floor plans. So maybe he was just a bit overenthusiastic about cross-curricular learning. Or maybe — and this is my completely rhetorical adult theory — he worked the graveyard shift as a cat burglar gathering intel between heists. Just moonlighting between blueprints.
While the rest of the class tried their best to recreate their actual homes, my imagination sprinted in a totally different direction. The house I drew had:
- A massive master bedroom with an oversized bathroom for my parents
- Separate bedrooms for us kids on the opposite side of the house
- A kitchen placed right in the center like a command center
- And the dog — the true VIP — had a luxurious two-story doghouse
I had basically created a dream home designed by a 10-year-old watching too much Fantasy Homes by the Yard.
Later that day, my mom asked the usual question: “So, what did you guys do today?”
“We drew schematics of our house,” I said casually.
The look on her face was instant and intense. She wasn’t panicked, but there was definitely a “Why does a substitute teacher need to know the exact layout of my home?” expression happening. Parental instincts activated.
But then I showed her my diagram.
She stared at it. Blinked. Then sighed with massive relief.
“This isn’t our house,” she said.
“Nope! I made it up,” I replied proudly.
Her shoulders relaxed so much she probably lost five pounds of tension in one instant. If the substitute was secretly planning a heist, my masterpiece of misinformation would have sent him to the wrong house entirely.
Looking back, the whole moment feels like a sitcom setup — a mysterious substitute collecting “house schematics,” me creating a completely fictional piece of architecture, and my mom going on a full emotional journey in under 30 seconds.
Maybe he was just excited about the Highlights Magazine floor-plan activity. Or maybe — just maybe — he moonlighted in cat burglary. We’ll never know.
But if he was, I like to think I threw him completely off the scent.
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Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
Jay Mohr’s long-running podcast is expanding to FAST television through an exclusive LG Channels launch in the U.S. and Canada.
Cineverse has announced the launch of Mohr Stories, a new free ad-supported streaming television channel built around comedian Jay Mohr’s long-running podcast. Unveiled during LG Electronics and LG Ad Solutions’ 2026 IAB NewFronts presentation, the channel will be available exclusively through LG Channels on LG TVs in the United States and Canada.
The new channel will feature weekly episodes alongside more than 100 hours of library content, giving the show a larger footprint in the growing FAST market. Hosted by Mohr, the series includes conversations with guests from comedy, film, sports, music, and television, including Ron Funches, Jay Leno, Joe Mantegna, Patton Oswalt, Kevin Pollak, Andy Richter, George Wallace, Flavor Flav, Michael Eric Dyson, Seth Rollins, Gene Simmons, Billy Gibbons, Byron Scott, and Jeanie Buss.
The launch is notable not only because of the talent involved, but because it reflects a broader shift in how podcast brands are being distributed. What once lived primarily as an audio product is now being packaged as a 24/7 streaming destination, built for connected TV audiences and ad-supported discovery.
Cineverse said Mohr Stories will continue to be available as a podcast through the WITZ Podcast Network, a partnership between Cineverse and The Stand Group. The company also pointed to strong audience momentum after the show expanded into video, saying consumption hours on Spotify rose 50% month over month and downloads increased 34% quarter over quarter.
That growth aligns with wider audience behavior. In the U.S., more than 150 million people listen to podcasts every month, and an increasing share of those consumers are also watching podcast content on video platforms. As those habits continue to evolve, media companies are looking for ways to extend proven shows beyond their original format.
For LG Channels, the addition of Mohr Stories strengthens a FAST lineup built around free, accessible programming across a wide range of genres. For Cineverse, it underscores a strategy centered on expanding the reach and value of entertainment properties across multiple platforms.
The result is more than a new celebrity-led channel. It is another example of how streaming, podcasting, and digital video are converging into a more flexible content ecosystem—one where recognizable brands can move fluidly from audio feeds to connected television.
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Cineverse Partners With VA Media to Expand YouTube Monetization Strategy
Cineverse has announced a strategic partnership with VA Media to accelerate growth and digital monetization across its expanding portfolio of fandom-focused YouTube channels.
The agreement will bring a YouTube-first strategy to Cineverse’s channel network, including longform and shortform content planning, channel optimization, financial modeling, and broader monetization support. The partnership will begin with Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, which Cineverse identified as its top revenue-generating YouTube channel.
Cineverse said its owned or operated YouTube channels currently account for more than 10 million subscribers and over 200 million video views. The company’s digital portfolio spans genres including horror, anime, romance, indie film, Asian cinema, and other fandom-driven categories.
VA Media, which specializes in YouTube strategy and social video monetization, will work with Cineverse to improve discoverability, strengthen channel performance, and unlock new revenue opportunities across YouTube and adjacent platforms.
The partnership reflects the growing role of YouTube as a core distribution and monetization channel for premium entertainment content.
For more information, visit Cineverse.
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STM Daily News’ Entertainment section delivers the latest on movies, television, music, pop culture, events, and industry buzz. From breaking news and trending stories to feature coverage and community-centered entertainment reporting, it keeps readers connected to what’s happening on screen, on stage, and beyond.
