A New Normal

This time on the podcast, the story of an invisible war. Shots are fired. Injuries sustained. But how do you fight an enemy you can't see — one that may not even exist?

An armchair safari to a place where humans and elephants are engaged in a deadly conflict over resources — and the one man who can communicate with both sides. -----Much of the music in this episode is from the Free Music Archive by:Bruce Miller (https://www.freemusicarchive.org/music/Broos) CC BY-NC-NDVinod Prasanna (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Vinod_Prasanna__Okey_Szoke__Pompey) CC BY NCSiddhartha Corsus (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Siddhartha) CC BYPodington Bear (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear) CC BY NCTheme music: Fragilistic by Ketsa; licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

Confederate soldiers never reached the US Capitol during the Civil War, but the "Confederate flag" (which was actually the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia) finally arrived in the building on January 6. Join us for a deep dive into the question: why does that symbol still speak to people so long after the Civil War? The answers lie in another disinformation campaign — one that took root in this country 155 years ago, and still impacts us today. This time on the podcast: America's original Lost Cause — and the real cost of alternative facts. Cover art: A printed poster from 1896 celebrates the Confederacy more than 30 years after the end of the Civil War. It features (center) Confederate Generals Stonewall Jackson, PGT Beauregard and Robert E. Lee along with three versions of the flag of the Confederate States of America and the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. Surrounding them are Confederate notables including President of the Confederate State of America, Jefferson Davis, Vice President Alexander Stephens, and storied army officers James Longstreet and A.P. Hill.  For photos and resources, visit our website: anewnormalpodcast.comTheme music: Fragilistic by Ketsa; licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0Much of the music in this episode was from the Free Music Archive by:Lobo Loco (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lobo_Loco) CC BY-NC-SA Cletus Got Shot (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Cletus_Got_Shot) CC BY-NC-SA 4.0Shake that Little Foot (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Shake_That_Little_Foot) CC BY-NC-SA 3.0The Joy Drops (https://freemusicarchive.org/search/?quicksearch=the+joy+drops)CC BY

The divisions that have taken hold of the country are playing out not only in our public lives, but also in some of our closest relationships. What drives the tensions are our very different answers to that perennial question: What do you do when you believe your country is heading the wrong direction? In this episode, we look to history — and the story of a man who has been called “one of the most troubling figures in American History”— for insight.  Note: The cover image of John Brown is from a painting called Tragic Prelude, a mural painted in 1937 by John Steuart Curry for the Kansas State Capitol building in Topeka. Portrayals of Brown have changed over time. "From 1890 to about 1970 John Brown was insane. Before 1890 he was perfectly sane, and after 1970 he has slowly been regaining his sanity." —from Lies My Teacher Told Me, Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, byJames W. LoewenTheme music: Fragilistic by Ketsa; licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0The music at the end of the episode isBattle Hymn of the Republic Medley by Marisa AndersonFree Music Archive, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 US

Is Santa real? You bet. These days he goes by the name Mike Gray, a retired jack of all trades who lives not at the North Pole, but in a recycled house in the Arizona desert—when he's not with the Lakota on Pine Ridge or the Seri people in Mexico. He's given up the red suit for a work shirt, jeans and a straw hat. And he's stopped making toys in favor of making gardens, building houses and furnishing clinics for people who need them. The sleigh filled with gifts? He traded it in for a van full of tools he also uses to carry people and art—and he is the gift.  You can watch the film on the Seri (Comcaac) people that Mike mentions in the podcast on YouTube. It's called Seri-People Live by the Desert and SeaAnd while I wouldn't normally reference Wikipedia, the entry on the Seri people has some basic information for the mildly curious as well as a lot of resources for anyone interested in a deeper dive.Theme music: Fragilistic by Ketsa; licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0Other music in this episode by Podington Bear from the albums Meet Podington Bear and  Liquid Gold; Licensed under CC BY-NC

In the first of our “be the change” stories — stories about people who are being the change they want to see in their own communities — we talk with Matt Marasch, former infantry paratrooper and green beret turned potter and healer. A couple of years ago, having lost a number of veteran friends to suicide and struggling to reinvent himself, Matt started looking for a way to bring veterans together to learn new skills and build the kind of close relationships they missed from their days in the military — and Veteran Potter's House was born.Veteran Potters House on FacebookVeteran Potter's House on YouTubeTheme music: Fragilistic by Ketsalicensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

This has been a time of trauma — for some of us it started four years ago, for others just last week. It's tempting to think the answers to our pain lie in retreating further into tribalism. But if there's one thing this election made painfully clear, it's that we can't vote the other side away.Transcending our differences won't be easy. Our guest, Alaine Duncan, Author of the Tao of Trauma explores this time through the lens of our national body as a trauma survivor. How do we heal the divisions and the mistrust? How can we — individually and collectively — act from the connection and regulation of our frontal cortex instead of the primitive, reactive fear of our brain stem? And how can we play a role in helping all parties find that all-important moment to distinguish between “I am uncomfortable” and “I am unsafe"?Keep listening (from 42:30) as we talk with co-host Obaidul Fattah Tanvir in Bangladesh about some of the surprising (and hilarious) responses people there have had to the US election.Cover Art: A joke in the form of a typical Bangladeshi style campaign poster supporting Donald Trump that has been widely circulated on Facebook. Loosely translated, it says that the Republican Party has selected him as their candidate, he has the endorsement of the Bush dynasty (ha!), he is a successful businessperson and one-time successful President; he is honest, and he will sacrifice everything for the country. So please vote for Donald Trump and give him another chance to make America great again. SHOW NOTESAlaine Duncan graduated from acupuncture school in 1990 and completed Somatic Experiencing training in 2007. She was a founding member of the Integrative Health & Wellness program at the DC Veterans Administration Medical Center where she served as a clinician and researcher from 2007-2017. She also co-founded the National Capital Area chapter of Acupuncturists Without Borders who, until Covid 19, provided free weekly acupuncture treatment to immigrants, refugees and neighbors in need. Her book, The Tao Trauma: A Practitioner's Guide for Integrating Five Element Theory and Trauma Treatment explores East-meets-West approaches to restore survivor's balance and regulation. It is available in print, audio and kindle wherever you buy books on line.Alaine mentioned the "invention of race". For more information on the origins of race as a concept, see John Biewen's TED talk, "The Lie that Invented Racism". Another huge favorite with us here at A New Normal is John Biewen's podcast (Through The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University) , Scene on Radio. We loved Season 2, Seeing White and Season 4, The Land that Never Has Been Yet. Theme music: Fragilistic by Ketsalicensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

Today, as voters head to the polls in record numbers and with concerns around the election at a fever pitch, we're talking about a topic that has us alternately feeling like Chicken Little and Pollyanna. But we're not alone. Everywhere you look people and organizations are prepping for this election—and most would say with good reason. So when we heard about a training designed to prepare people to take action in the event of an undemocratic power grab, we decided it was definitely worth our virtual attendance. The premise of the training, called Choose Democracy, can be distilled into a few simple sentences: We will vote and we will refuse to accept election results until all of the votes are counted. And if this, the most basic principle of democracy, is denied, then we the people will defend our democracy through nonviolent mass protests. (Now, it's important to say here that no one candidate is supported for the win. The objective is simply that democratic processes are honored and all votes are counted.)About a week after the training we sat down with facilitators Michael Levi, a Quaker and long term activist schooled in non-violence and Alaine Duncan, also a Quaker as well as a healer and author of The Tao of Trauma. Her East-meets-West approach to trauma feels more needed than ever.And one last thing: we hope you'll stay tuned after this conversation as Kelley seeks some advice about coping with situations like this from our co-host, Tanvir, in Bangladesh—a country that has definitely seen its fair share of struggles for democracy over the years.We hope you find this useful—and that it turns out we were Chicken Little in the end..OVER ON THE WEBSITE>We've got a new website: www.anewnormalpodcast.com >This is where we will post show notes, transcripts and more. It's also the place to subscribe, rate, review and share the show and to sign up for our email newsletter. >If you've got a Be the Change story you'd like to share—or like for us to share—on the podcast, please get in touch with us via our contact form, which you can find here.  RESOURCES>For more information about Choose Democracy go to www.choosedemocracy.us >Here's a super interesting episode of Radiolab called What If that takes on the speculation about what Donald Trump might do in the wake of the election. "Part war game part choose your own adventure, Rosa's Transition Integrity Project doesn't give us any predictions, and it isn't a referendum on Trump. Instead, it's a deeply illuminating stress test on our laws, our institutions, and on the commitment to democracy written into the constitution.”>Here's an interesting article from Buzzfeed that places our divisions and the potential for violence over the longer term into the larger context of rising inequality.>Theme music: Fragilistic by Ketsalicensed under CC BY NC ND 4

There's nobody better to kick off our new season — and "Plan Be" — than the man who helped inspire it: Citizen Baratunde, Executive Producer and Host of the hit podcast How to Citizen with Baratunde. Writer, activist and comedian Baratunde Thurston has been "citizening" since way back in high school (which we discuss). In addition to his podcast, check out his Ted Talk, and his New York Times bestselling book, How to Be Black. You can find all of that and more on his website: www.baratunde.comOVER ON THE WEBSITE>We've got a new website: www.anewnormalpodcast.com>This is where we will post show notes, transcripts and more. It's also the place to subscribe, rate, review and share the show and to sign up for our email newsletter.>If you've got a Be the Change story you'd like to share—or like for us to share—on the podcast, please get in touch with us via our contact form, which you can find here. SHOW NOTES>Cindy mentioned an episode of NPR's Hidden Brain podcast called Moral Combat. Listen to it here. >Here's links to some resources Cindy and I are using as we set up our Plan Be conversation project, as mentioned in the last part of this episode:The Listen First ProjectThe National Conversation Project>Another podcast we're enjoying that speaks to these themes and this time: To See Each OtherMUSIC>Slide guitar:  Thomas Robertson>Theme music: Fragilistic by Ketsalicensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

As the pandemic drags on and the American project feels like it's spiralling out of control, hope can feel hard to come by. What's an ordinary person to do? Especially if you're more comfortable ghosting family members with different political beliefs than engaging them, and clicktivism is your idea of getting involved. Join hosts Kelley Lynch and Cindy Sealls in Washington, DC and Obaidul Fattah Tanvir in Bangladesh as they step outside their comfort zones and embark on "Plan Be"— a project to live more in line with at least a few of their loftier ideals by cultivating connection, community and conversation in their own backyards one episode at a time.Ride along at our new website:  www.anewnormalpodcast.comThe theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsalicensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

Early on during the pandemic there was a popular refrain: "We're all in this together." Sadly, time has shown that to be a fiction. The recession ended for the haves months ago. Meanwhile, it's gotten harder and harder for many of us to kumbaya our way through it all. Join us as we talk with our go-to economists Shuaib Hassan and Chinesom Ejiasa about the wealth gap—what it looks like today, how we got here and what it means for us going forward. It may be economics, but we promise you it's not boring!*Regarding the Gini in the title: The Gini coefficient, sometimes called the Gini Index or Gini ratio, is a statistical measure of distribution intended to represent the income or wealth distribution of a nation. It was developed by Italian statistician Corrado Gini in 1912, and today is the most commonly used measurement of wealth or income inequality.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gini_coefficientInfo and background links for today's show:Shuaib Hassan:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shuaib-hassan-mba-7119363/Chinesom Ejiasa:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinesom-ejiasa-9277468/Interesting info on the Wealth Gap:https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/02/07/6-facts-about-economic-inequality-in-the-u-s/Byron Rumford and the California Fair Housing Act: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Byron_RumfordThe Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goalsRedlining's legacy:https://www.forbes.com/sites/brendarichardson/2020/06/11/redlinings-legacy-of-inequality-low-homeownership-rates-less-equity-for-black-households/#3697636d2a7cWe're No. 28! And dropping!https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/opinion/united-states-social-progress.htmlConnect with us on our Instagram feed:https://www.instagram.com/anewnormalpodcastThe theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsalicensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

What do All in the Family, the Brady Bunch and our all too apparent political divisions have in common? Join us as we cast (real) political commentary aside (we were no good at that anyway) and resurrect the sitcoms and TV dramas of the 70s in a musically fuelled episode for the current political climate. Grab your lifejacket and climb aboard!

Enough already! As if a pandemic, looming economic disaster, racial and civil unrest, and political division weren't enough, there is talk in some circles about a second civil war. Clearly we're in uncharted territory. Is it possible that what we learned all those years ago in high school history and government classes might come in handy after all? This week's guest, Steve Steinbach, current high school history and government teacher and former trial attorney, looks back at our past, examines our present and gives his take on what might lie in our future. Spoiler alert: all is not lost.At the end of the episode we talk about the poem Let America be America Again, by Langston Hughes. Though it was written in 1936, it couldn't be more relevant if it had been written today. Here's a link to the whole poem:https://poets.org/poem/let-america-be-america-againConnect with us on Instagram:@anewnormalpodcastThe theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsa licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

It's a surreal time. Millions are unemployed and, for others, work has changed in ways they never imagined. This week we talk with career and leadership coach Karen Gulliford about managing change, what it takes to lead during a pandemic and why NOW could actually be the time to find a job or a career that fits you better than the one you're leaving behind. Find out more about Karen's work here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/karencgulliford/Connect with us on our Instagram feed:https://www.instagram.com/anewnormalpodcast/The theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsalicensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

Mortgages, the economy and capitalism, oh my. In this wide ranging conversation, our guest, economist Shuaib Hassan, talks about (among other things) immigrating to the US from Afghanistan when he was 11, what makes capitalism great (and how we could do better) and how the chaos in the housing market that led to the Great Recession has become a lifesaver (for those with a mortgage) during the pandemic. Find out more about Shuaib's work here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shuaib-hassan-mba-7119363/Connect with us on our Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/anewnormalpodcast/The theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsa licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

Is there one (bitter) pill that, consumed regularly, could save us from COVID-19? As cases surge across the country, our guest, hospital pharmacist Samira Duja, reflects on the challenges of keeping up with the demand for medicine in her New York hospital during the spike—and we take the opportunity to rummage through the medicine cabinet in search of the only remedy guaranteed to slow the spread of a pandemic: clear, accurate information.To see pictures related to this story, check out our Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/anewnormalpodcast/The theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsa licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

For many of the world's 1.2 billion children who are out of school due to the pandemic, continuing their education is not a matter of how or even when—but if. Kelley talks with Education Specialist Alberto Begue about the impact the crisis is having on students, families, schools and governments in developing countries and the opportunities it may provide to modernize education.Find more about Alberto and his work here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alberto-begue-37465a7/To see some of my work as a photographer/storyteller documenting education in developing countries follow these links:http://www.kelleyslynch.com/educationhttp://www.kelleyslynch.com/publicationsAnd if you want to see pictures related to this story, check out our Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/anewnormalpodcast/The theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsa licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

What's the future of tourism in a post-COVID-19 world? How do you do it sustainably, so that it benefits local communities without leaving a massive carbon footprint? Kelley talks with Mark Chapman, whose community tourism organization, Tesfa Tours, has been answering these questions—while providing guests with unforgettable experiences—for the last 20 years. Check out Testa Tours at www.tesfatours.com Tesfa Tours has been featured in National Geographic, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Telegraph, The Irish Times and Wanderlust Travel Magazine.Do yourself a favor and check out photos of Tesfa Tour's communities—located in the stunningly beautiful landscape of Northern Ethiopia—on our Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/anewnormalpodcast/And if you have a suggestion for the show, by all means get in touch. Until our website is up and running you can contact me at www.kelleyslynch.comThe theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsa licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0 

What's it like to collect news footage in a brothel while wearing full PPE in 93ºF (34ºC) heat and 90% humidity? During the pandemic, Bangladeshi video-journalist Salman Saeed has been taking on the near impossible to bring the news you need to the safety and comfort of your air conditioned living room. Links to Salman's work: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/densely-populated-bangladesh-faces-immense-infection-control-challengehttps://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/26/asia/daulatdia-bangladesh-brothel-as-equals-intl/index.htmlhttps://www.itv.com/news/2020-04-27/retailers-withhold-2-4bn-from-bangladeshi-factories-as-coronavirus-dents-sales/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52417822https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/04/asia/refugees-stranded-rohingya-bangladesh-intl-hnk/index.htmlWant to see photos of Salman in action? Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anewnormalpodcast/And if you have a suggestion for the show, by all means get in touch. Until our website is up and running you can contact me at www.kelleyslynch.comThe theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsa licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

America is battling two deadly pandemics. Is this a moment for hope or despair? Kelley asks her two co-hosts and close friends, Cindy and Tanvir—both from cultures with a history of white oppression, but on opposite sides of the planet—to weigh in on the current moment and that other virus that has infected America from the beginning: racism. Want to put faces to the voices you hear on the show? Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anewnormalpodcast/And if you have a suggestion for the show, by all means get in touch. Until our website is up and running you can contact me at www.kelleyslynch.comThe theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsa licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

How are companies using the pandemic as an opportunity to re-imagine the way we work? Marie Woods, Director of Operations for a global law firm based in Washington, DC, talks about how her firm has shifted operations and how this shift may become the new normal.Want to put faces to the voices you hear on the show? Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anewnormalpodcast/Our website will be up soon: www.anewnormalpodcast.comAnd if you have a suggestion for the show, by all means get in touch. Until our website is up and running you can contact me at www.kelleyslynch.comThis episode was edited by KelleyThe theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsa licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

Why do African Americans make up just 47% of the population of Washington, DC but account for 80% of DC's deaths from COVID-19? We've been told that it boils down to factors like genetics and diet. But today's guest, Maurice Cook, Founder and Executive Director of Serve Your City DC, a non-profit based in Washington, is fed up with explanations like that. Maurice talks with co-host Cindy Sealls about how his organization is continuing to support underserved youth and their families during the pandemic. He also offers a generous helping of straight talk about the larger factors that are making African Americans vulnerable to COVID-19 and that other virus that has long infected this country: racism.Links to Serve Your City DC:Find out more and/or make a donation here: www.serveyourcitydc.orgInterested in volunteering? Email Maurice here: ward6mutualaid@gmail.comInstagram: instagram.com/serveyourcityTwitter: twitter.com/serveyourcitydcWant to put faces to the voices you hear on the show? Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/anewnormalpodcast or @anewnormalpodcastA couple of other resources:The podcast Cindy mentions in the last section: https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/anxiety/episodes/why-covid-black-peopleA few facts:https://dcist.com/story/20/05/06/black-washingtonians-make-up-less-than-half-of-d-c-s-population-but-80-of-coronavirus-deaths/Get in touch!And if you have a suggestion for the show, we'd love to hear from you. Our website will be up soon (www.anewnormalpodcast.com). Until then you can always contact me at www.kelleyslynch.comThis episode was edited by Kelleywww.kelleyslynch.comThe theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsa licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

Who do you call when you suspect that life as we know it may have reached a point of no return? Kelley talks with Laurie Mazur, Resilience Editor at Island Press. Laurie has been writing and thinking about scary things since the 80s. She talks about what the pandemic has revealed about our world and how resilience thinking might come to the rescue. Check out some of Laurie's most recent publications:https://islandpress.org/resilience-matters-downloadhttps://progressive.org/magazine/build-infrastructure-for-the-future-mazur/https://progressive.org/magazine/fix-it-and-they-will-come-mazur/https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2019-10-08/commentary-the-danger-of-development-in-flood-prone-areashttps://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/despairing-about-climate-crisis Find more about Laurie and her work here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-mazur-5232a46/ This episode was edited by Kelleywww.kelleyslynch.com The theme music is Fragilistic by Ketsa licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0

What do you do when a pandemic brings life as you know it to a screeching halt? In quarantine, with travel on hold, photographer and storyteller Kelley Lynch, finds a new normal at home and ropes her two best friends—one in Washington, DC and the other in Bangladesh—into starting a podcast. Join hosts Kelley Lynch, Cindy Sealls and Obaidul Fattah Tanvir as they talk with people from around the world about adapting to life during the pandemic and where we go from here. New episodes every week starting May 27.