Beyond Race Podcast

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Beyond Race Podcast presents a weekly conversation that is frank, provocative yet friendly about sensitive topics around race, social issues and politics.

Brian Gillet & VJ Smith


    • Jun 13, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 43m AVG DURATION
    • 32 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Beyond Race Podcast

    Brian & VJ Welcome Their First Listener Guest - Nik!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2021 47:41


    Brian and VJ welcome their first listener guest – Nik!  They discuss Nik's experiences living in 3 different countries, family, favorite episodes, media, racism and diversity training at home and work.   

    A CONVERSATION WITH TONI ANN JOHNSON

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 62:12


    VJ and Brian welcome awarding winning writer Toni Ann Johnson for a lively conversation about her new novella Homegoing and her challenges with growing up in one of the few Black families in the predominantly white suburb of Monroe, New York.

    Adam Toledo, Racism Against Latinx & The Split-Second Decision Standard

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 25:28


    VJ & Brian explore the disturbing death of a 13-year-old Latino boy, the violent history of racism against Latinx people and the lethal split-second decision standard. 

    The Police.......DEFUND or DEMOLISH?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2021 29:17


    VJ & Brian discuss the history and question the future of the police institution in America.  Unconscionable police brutalities dictate that change needs to happen in order to save lives.  Our intent is to educate and make us all think about what “To Protect and To Serve” should mean in our country. 

    The Reckoning of George Floyd's Murder

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2021 23:35


    VJ & Brian discuss the trial and verdict of George Floyd's murderer. We share our thoughts about the trial, the verdict and the great lengths the prosecution has had to go to gain people's awareness and understanding.

    Voter Suppression....AGAIN??

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2021 45:24


    VJ and Brian talk about the new wave of voter suppression laws that are sweeping states across the country under the guise of "Voter ID Laws" and making America "safe" against voter "fraud". Buckle up and Hang on for this one!!!

    A Conversation with Rev. Aldana Allen

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2021 55:07


    VJ & Brian have an engagingly moving conversation with Rev. Aldana Allen, Pastor  of the Providence United Methodist Church in Western North Carolina. The Reverend is making a name for himself in bridging racial divides as he leads a primarily white congregation.https://www.pumc-salisbury.org/

    Devin Galaudet Talks the Baha'i Faith & the Elimination of Prejudice

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 67:20


    This week, VJ & Brian talk to author  of "10,000 Miles With My Dead Father's Ashes" Devin Galaudet.  Devin is also the Editor and Publisher of the well-established, "In The Know Traveler" series of websites, and  also publishes several other travel-inspired websites. We talk to Devin about his Baha'i faith and how that faith brought him to a feeling of peace, tranquility and how his faith enhances his acceptance of all races.https://devingalaudet.comhttps://www.amazon.com/Devin-Galaudet/e/B079P8S6JJ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

    How to Change Someone's Mind

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2021 23:16


    VJ & Brian talk about learning skill sets that have been proven to get through to people set in their beliefs. These tips could well put you on your way to convincing others that racism is real.

    Racist Expressions

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 51:59


    VJ & Brian talk about words and expressions that are considered offensive. We explore their origins and talk about whether they're still considered offensive or perhaps have become so diluted through time they have come to mean something else. There are others on our list that started out innocently and people have made them offensive. Do YOU use any of them?

    Breonna Taylor: A Remembrance & Reminder

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2021 16:26


    AJ & Brian recount the tragic and unjust details that led to the murder of young Breonna Taylor. It's been a year and very little has changed. Why is that?

    A Conversation w/Ally Henny, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2021 37:48


    Listen in as VJ & Brian continue their lively conversation with the ever fascinating, author, blogger and podcaster Ally Henny. Be sure to check out her podcast too, Combing the Roots.

    A Conversation w/Ally Henny, Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 47:09


    VJ & Brian Talk with author, speaker, blogger and podcaster Ally Henny about racism from her perspective.

    Black History Month: 21 in '21

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2021 49:20


    Listen in as VJ and Brian talk about their top picks for Black Leaders to watch in '21. Do you agree? Do you disagree? Let us know what YOU think!!

    Black History Month: Black Hollywood

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 73:06


    Listen in as we continue honoring Black History Month with Guest Speaker and Film Enthusiast, Allan Halcrow, as he takes us through the history of Blacks in film and Hollywood's treatment of them.

    Black History Month: A Musical Legacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2021 43:41


    Listen in and learn as VJ & Brian talk about the amazing female pioneers of American song who helped lead the way for Black performers of today. They sang the blues, they helped make jazz mainstream, they be-bopped and became mainstream in the process.

    Black History Month: The Slowly Changing Color of Congress

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2021 28:35


    VJ and Brian start out celebrating Black History Month by VJ giving us a brief history of how it came into being and then we talk about what it would take to make Congress to look like the demographic makeup of this country. We then spend some time on two new shining examples that just joined Congress, Rep Cori Bush and Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock.

    BIASED MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Or Is it?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2021 48:09


    Listen to VJ & Brian discuss bias in the media. What’s happened to critical thinking skills? How do you wade through the facts and the propaganda? Who do you believe? WHAT do you believe?

    The Capitol Insurrection

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2021 31:23


    VJ & Brian discuss the horrifying events of January 6th and how tepid the response was towards the insurrectionists that attacked the US Capitol. The insurrectionists were white; if they had been black the response would have been much more swift and violent.

    Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 31:37


    In this episode VJ & Brian Talk about Dr. King and his legacy. We tackle it from a different perspective and address why Dr. King's life, message and purpose was far more encompassing than just race and why we should be looking at him through a much broader lens.

    White America & Biden's America

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2021 45:00


    In this first episode of 2021, VJ & Brian talk about Cabinet nominations and dissect a New York Times editorial piece by Roger Cohen entitled, "A Last Stand for White America".

    D.A.R.V.O. : What is it? Lets play BINGO!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2020 30:02


    Listen to Brian vent his frustrations about a guest that backed out of our show because he didn't think it would go well for him. VJ and Brian then talk about he made himself into a victim and how a concept known as DARVO applies to racism.

    Crime Free Housing: Jim Crow Is Alive & Well

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2020 40:54


    Brian & VJ go back and forth about Crime Free Housing Ordinances or CHO and how people are using it to create their own form of segregation. Under the guise of making neighborhoods "safe" the execution and roll out of this ordinance is actually pushing people of color out of good neighborhoods and into crime ridden neighborhoods allowing them little hope of bettering themselves.

    Race, Ethnicity & Culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2020 51:07


    Race, Ethnicity & Culture? Is there a difference? Did you know there is? Are we asking the right questions of people when we're curious? Learn all about what is distinctive about each are are we really prejudice against color or is it where you came from or perhaps your culture? Maybe all three? Find out in this episode!

    White Angst: What is it?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2020 54:15


    Listen in as we explore the concept known as 'white angst'. Also referred to as 'white fear' or even 'white fragility', VJ and Brian talk openly about what triggers these feelings in white people and how all of us can better learn how to recognize the signs and change our behaviors.

    Native Americans: The Invisible Race

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2020 50:35


    Listen to VJ & Brian as they take everyone through the basics of Native American history the way it REALLY happened. Learn about why our Native Americans are dubbed the "invisible" race and how what we thought we knew is all wrong! Check that image of an Indian riding a horse and discover how the actual background of what the pilgrims were really thankful about!

    Election 2020 Recap & Voter Suppression

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2020 48:29


    VJ and Brian talk about the election and the angst it created. More importantly, they detailed all sorts of ways voter suppression took place all over the country.

    Melungeon Struggles: A Conversation w/Sandra Goins

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2020 53:15


    In this episode we chat with Sandra Goins, poet, who talks about her struggles as a tri-racial individual who is not traditionally accepted by any race and how she turns her struggle and anxiety into beautiful poetry.

    Systemic Racism, Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2020 31:10


    We continue the discussion of Systemic racism and dive into specifics! Explore the history of Systemic Racism and how it became so ingrained into our American Culture that most white people don't even see it. Learn about how it permeates the financial sector, our educational system and even urban planningAdd a TranscriptGet episode better indexed by search engines.Add Chapter MarkersListeners can tap through & see what’s coming up.Visual Soundbite AvailablePortrait Soundbite - 1:00Great for Instagram Stories.Download SoundbiteDelete this Soundbite and create a new one.

    Systemic Racism, Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2020 61:05


    Explore the history of Systemic Racism and how it became so ingrained into our American Culture that most white people don't even see it. Learn about how it permeates the financial sector, our educational system and even urban planning

    White Supremacy & the President

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2020 40:36


    VJ & Brian discuss the Presidential debate and go into depth how the President skirts the issue and refuses to come out to condemn it and its followers.Brian also vents his disgust over Justice Clarence Thomas' public statement about marriage equality and VJ talks him off the ledge!

    Beyond Race: Episode 1 Pilot Welcome

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2020 52:10


    Beyond Race Pilot Episode. Premiere October 9, 2020Pilot episode introduces VJ Smith & Brian Gillet and gives their background and why they wanted to start a podcast about race, social and political issues. It gives an overall taste of the kinds of discussions that will take place. The pilot episode is centered around race and politics leading up to the Presidential Election.

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