Jo Strogatz, Salt '24, begins her story, Just Friends, with a phone call to a friend. It feels like we are getting a phone call from Strogatz herself as she delves into questions around the value of romantic relationships in conversations with Steve Small, a man in his 60s who has never been in a relationship and is happier for it.
Strogatz, also a musician and composer, created the original score to the piece. Weaving the music alongside the voices, Stogatz takes listeners on an emotional journey through questions of companionship, partnership, and commitment.
This tenderly curious story was created at the Salt Institute of Documentary Studies in 2024 and won Strogatz the 2025 NPR College Podcast Challenge Grand Prize.
Just Friends was also shortlisted for the 2025 New York Festivals Radio Awards.