If Not Us

In this episode of Uniquely American Problems we're covering the topic of medical debt. Who has it, why is it an issue, and what can we do about it? Folks in the US owe around $195 billion in medical debt. 16 million people have over $1,000 in medical debt and 3 million people owe over $10,000 in medical debt. I know that's a lot of numbers - just know it's a big group of people that owe a decent chunk of change. While we hear in the episode this kind of debt is treated differently than say an overdue credit card, it still is a burden that can negatively impact a variety of other financial decisions. In this episode, we chat with Jack Daily, Attorney for the Legal Aid Society of San Diego to see how he and his team tackle the issue day in and day out.

In this episode of Uniquely American Problems we're covering the hot topic of Misinformation with John Silva, Senior Director of Professional and Community Learning, from the News Literacy Project. The News Literacy Project, is a nonpartisan education nonprofit, is building a national movement to advance the practice of news literacy throughout American society, creating better informed, more engaged and more empowered individuals — and ultimately a stronger democracy. We talked about the goals of misinformation, how it hooks you and how just about everyone is susceptible in falling for a false claim. We also talked about how to navigate the holidays if you're spending time with someone who regularly shares false narratives on social media - and fun fact - that plan doesn't include confronting them at the dinner table.

In our second episode of Uniquely American Problems, we'll share a chat with Lily Milwit, Attorney for the Housing Not Handcuffs initiative from the National Homelessness Law Center. The National Homelessness Law Center is dedicated to using the power of the law to end and prevent homelessness and to protect the rights of people experiencing homelessness. We talked about the assumptions people have about being unhoused and what's at risk when you don't have permanent shelter. We also talk about the cost to the taxpayers when someone is unhoused - not to spoil the episode, but housing folks actually saves taxpayers money - and not just a few bucks, but tens of thousands of dollars year over year.

In the first episode of our new season, Uniquely American Problem, we're talking to Laura Hartley, Founder and CEO of Public Love Enterprises on how yoga, a mug of tea, and a mid-day walk won't dismantle the internalized capitalism we're all fighting against day in and day out. Laura is an activist, writer and coach. She's also the founder of Public Love Enterprises and Public LovEd, a school committed to helping changemakers unlearn and dismantle systems that inhibit our thriving, while visioning and seeding a more just, regenerative and loving world. Website: https://www.laurahartley.com

After a small break, we are back! We will be bringing you our next season of episodes, Uniquely American. 

In this episode, Sarah chats with Tuere Butler, Director of Operations at Plywood People about her time working with the late Representative John Lewis, and how to balance a life of service.

In this episode, Sarah chats with Adam Podowitz-Thomas, Senior Legal Strategist for the Princeton Gerrymandering Project about the 2020 Census, the new maps it lead to and who counts in this upcoming election cycle.

Eve Crevoshay joined Take This as Executive Director in 2018. She is a 15-year veteran of the nonprofit sector, with a focus on fundraising and executing strategy. Her background spans education, social services, and the arts, and she is committed to identifying and enabling systemic change. Eve is a member of the advisory boards for GDC (in the advocacy track), the Fair Play Alliance, The Games and Online Harassment Hotline (gameshotline.org), and The International Game Summit on Mental Health (TIGS.ca); and is the recipient of the inaugural GamesBeat Up and Comer award (2020). She's also a yogini, avid gardener and cook, and gamer. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband, daughter, and dog.

In this episode, Sarah chats with the team behind the show Intersection about gentrification - the good, the bad, and the ugly and how the team made it all come together in a wonderful dark comedy.

Dr. Lucretia Carter Berry joins host, Sarah Ackerman, to discuss race and racism in today's world.  Brownicity's President & Learning Community Director, Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD is an antiracism curriculum specialist, course designer and author of What LIES Between Us - Fostering First Steps Toward Racial Healing, a TEDx speaker, and a writer for in(courage).me. She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Iowa State University and her BA from South Carolina State University.

Megan Gordon-Kane is the Public Affairs Manager and Lobbyist for the Feminist Womens' Health Center located in Atlanta, Georgia, and focuses on using policy and law to advance reproductive justice in the South.

Josh and Sarah chat about how politics works in such a polarized system, the role of politicians–especially in more local politics–and how to make things better for the future.

Comedians Mark Kendall and Bill Worley chat with host Sarah Ackerman on how using comedy to break down complex subject matter will save the world.

In this episode host Sarah Ackerman chats with Product Accessibility Pro Jesse Hausler on how we can make the world, and specifically the web, a more accessible place for all.

Bami Kuteyi is a Young Fearless Entrepreneur, having founded the International dance fitness brand Bam Bam Boogie when she was only 22 years old. In February 2018, Bami decided to risk it all and leave her full-time job at Google as an advertising executive, to focus on empowering women and young girls all around the world through ‘Fearless Inclusive Fitness.' She not only aims to transform the way that women feel about their bodies and minds, but she's a huge advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equality. As someone who has been a minority within the workplace, she has a passion for long term change, and she's driven change, growth and helped to reshape businesses through her engaging training and workshops.

If Not Us host Eric Facas talks with, Jason Rezaian, his old friend and Washington Post reporter about the importance of press freedom in 2021. Jason Rezaian is a writer for the Washington Post's Global Opinions. He served as The Post's correspondent in Tehran from 2012 to 2016. He spent 544 days unjustly imprisoned by Iranian authorities until his release in January 2016. In this episode, we discuss Jason's experience being held captive in an Iranian prison, his experience working with and covering Jamal Khashoggi's murder, the effects of the “Fake News” catch phrase, the rise of new types of oppression tactics against the press as well as what people can do to support press freedom. Check out Jason's book Prisoner here.

Eric Facas sits down with Michael German, Fellow, Liberty & National Security at Brennan Center of Justice. A former special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Prior to joining the Brennan Center, German served as the policy counsel for national security and privacy for the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington legislative office.During this week's episode, Eric and Michael discuss White Supremacy and Law Enforcement.

In honor of Earth Day 2021, Samir Lakhani, Founder of Eco Soap Bank, joins Eric Facas to talk about the incredible work Eco Soap is doing—and how his nonprofit has recycled over 12M bars of soap.

In episode 3, Ivy Teng Lei, joined Host Eric Facas and Clara Campbell. This month, Ivy, Head of Growth at Exygy, wrote an open letter the industry and beyond about discrimination against Asian Americans.

The rest of the country might be done with the political ads, calls, and texts, but we're not. Georgian, Sarah Ackerman, joins host, Eric Facas, to talk about the historic runoff happening in Georgia right now. In today's episode, Sarah and Eric talk about the election, what's at stake, and how everyone can get involved, both Georgian and non-Georg ians.

In this episode, Eric Facas invites colleague, Clara Campbell, Associate Director of Advocacy to join us in our first episode. Clara and Eric may be 4,700 miles apart but are here to talk about everything in between us. One of the recent topics Clara and Eric talked about was WHAT THE F IS UP with advocacy in the era of Trump Republicanism, and what do we need to make it successful again?  This was actually one of the inspirations for this series, so it made sense to have this be the topic for our first episode.