Local Educator Creates Father–Son Music Podcast Bridging 1,200 Miles and 80+ Years of Stories
Cary, IL — December 1, 2025 — A Chicago-area educator and filmmaker has teamed up with his father in Florida to create a growing podcast that blends family storytelling, history, and music in a uniquely intimate way. With the release of its tenth episode, Songs in the Key of Dave continues to deepen a creative exchange that spans 1,200 miles.
Created by Hersey High School Librarian Bruce Janu and his father, Dave, who lives in Florida, the show emerged from an ordinary weekly tradition: every Tuesday night, the two pour a drink, get on a virtual call, and talk — about cars, childhood memories, family history, and the music that shaped their lives. Those conversations eventually became the backbone of a fully produced podcast. Dave grew up in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood before eventually moving to Mt. Prospect, where Bruce was raised, and many of the podcast’s stories focus on life in Old Town and the northwest suburbs.
Bruce’s professional work makes the project feel especially fitting. At Hersey, he has been building a historical archive of school and community stories, preserving decades of local memory. He is also currently producing a documentary film, Ginny & Juel, which explores the history of a daughter whose mother performed in the 1920s all-female jazz band, The Ingenues. For him, preserving stories — whether his own family’s or someone else’s — is part of a much larger mission.
“Working on this podcast with my dad has become one of the most meaningful things I’ve done,” Bruce says. “It started as a way to stay connected. But it’s become much more than that. I consider it oral history punctuated by music."
Conversations Across the Miles
Each week, Bruce records their Facebook Portal conversation, capturing Dave’s stories about a variety of subjects. Thus far they have produced podcasts about:
Growing up in 1950s Chicago
First cars, road trips, and travel
Neighborhood mischief and youthful milestones
Pets, friends and the the drinks that made family history
Bruce then edits the conversations and pairs them with carefully chosen songs, turning their casual chats into warm, nostalgic episodes that resonate with listeners of all ages.
“Every week I learn something new,” Bruce adds.
How to Listen
New episodes premiere every Sunday at 2pm (EST) on Vinyl Voyage Radio, with full episodes available on demand at any time via Mixcloud.
Listen on Mixcloud: https://www.
More info: https://www.
About the Podcast
Songs in the Key of Dave is a music-driven storytelling podcast recorded between The Villages, Florida, and the Chicago suburbs. Blending memory, family history, and curated music selections, the show offers a heartfelt look at life across generations — often told over a weekly glass of wine or other adult beverage.
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