Episode 2.29: Working As Designed

Don and Amy are joined by Dr. Maureen Walker in discussing disruptive empathy and the challenge of engaging across difference, especially when part of that difference rejects the humanity of the other. They also explore the persistence of white supremacy across our history and within groups that are not white.

This episode contains several mentions of the N-word.

Additional resources:

• "Exclusive: Lee Atwater's Infamous 1981 Interview on the Southern Strategy" (The Nation, by Rick Perlstein, November 13, 2012)
  https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/exclusive-lee-atwaters-infamous-1981-interview-southern-strategy/ 
• "Notes on the State of Virginia" (by Thomas Jefferson, February 27, 1787)
  https://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/jefferson/jefferson.html 
• "The Wife of His Youth" (The Atlantic, by Charles W. Chesnutt, July 1898)
  https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1898/07/the-wife-of-his-youth/306658/ 

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Episode 2.28: Yet Another Boss Level

Amy and Don share their "After-election Word Barf" to reflect on a projected victory for Joe Biden and end to the Donald Trump administration. While recognizing lots of work and difficult times remain, the friends discuss the challenges of talking to people mired in fear and end with a list of three good things that lift their spirits.

Additional resources:

• "U.S. Presidential Election Results 2020: Biden Wins" (NBC News)
  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-elections/president-results 
• "Laugh? We nearly all died - Why my US failed state Twitter thread went viral" (The Guardian, by Patrick Gathara, November 15, 2020)
  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/15/patrick-gathara-donald-trump-us-election-joe-biden-twitter-thread 
• "Police groups break with Biden" (Politico, by Marc Caputo and Natasha Korecki, June 4, 2020)
  https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/04/police-groups-joe-biden-300222 
• "Transforming Community Through Disruptive Empathy" (Whole Person, by Maureen Walker, June 9, 2016)
  https://wholeperson.com/blog/transforming-community-through-disruptive-empathy  
• "Give Us Life" (Spotify playlist, compiled by Kevin Makice for pandemic 2020)
  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6oTK358qK5GPsWVpmRvXAW?si=KtFLxKuvRSmpLMjL3up1eQ 

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

Episode 2.27: Plug the Hole

As Election Day approaches, Amy and Don talk about efforts to put social workers in the local police department, and the problems inherent in that approach. Don shares the second half of a story he started in a previous episode about being harassed by local law enforcement. Plus, a little more Lovecraft Country and a plug to watch Schitt's Creek.

If you missed the first half of Don's story, listen to Episode 2.23 ("Love Louder").

By the time the next episode comes out, the country will have finished casting their votes to shape the course of the nation for the next four years. #Vote, if you haven't already. Be respectful, and be safe.

Additional resources:

• "How Zello Became A Recruitment & Organizing Tool For The Far Right" (WNYC Studios, On the Media, October 16, 2020)
  https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/segments/how-zello-became-recruitment-organizing-app-far-right 
• "A friend in NE Iowa works as a child care provider ..." (Twitter, by Sarah Ziegenhorn, October 13, 2020)
  https://twitter.com/sarah_ziggy/status/1316045446553321472 
• "Activists want to defund police departments. What could that look like in Bloomington?" (Indiana Daily Student, by Vivek Rao and Kaitlyn Radde, October 8, 2020)
  https://www.idsnews.com/article/2020/10/activists-want-to-defund-police-departments-what-could-that-look-like-in-bloomington-black-lives-matter 
• "Letter to Council Members" (Defund12)
  https://defund12.org/bloomington 
• "Bloomington To Create Two New Racial Equality Task Forces" (Indiana Public Media, by Ethan Burks, October 21, 2020)
  https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/bloomington-creates-two-new-racial-equality-task-forces.php 
• "City Proposes A New Commission On Public Safety" (Indiana Public Media, by Ethan Burks, October 29, 2020)
  https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/city-proposes-a-new-commission-on-public-safety.php 
• "Episode 2.23: Love Louder" (My Racist Friend, September 13, 2020)
  https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-eg3hd-eb5edb 
• "Why the hope and optimism of Schitt's Creek matters" (Medium, aristhought, December 30, 2019)
  https://medium.com/@aristhought/why-the-hope-and-optimism-of-schitts-creek-matters-18fbbe3acae4 
• "5-hour Empathy" (SNL, October 17, 2020)
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP0H0j4pCOg 

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes