Making Contact

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Weekly sermons by Rev. Wade Griffith from Contact, a ministry of Trinity United Methodist Church

Contact Worship, Trinity UMC


    • Jun 15, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 28m AVG DURATION
    • 781 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Making Contact

    I Am Because I Am: The Expansion of Gender Identity (Encore)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2022 29:04


    Making Contact is a 29-minute weekly program committed to investigative journalism and in-depth critical analysis that goes beyond the breaking news. On the Web at www.radioproject.org.

    The Agony and the Ecstasy: Race and the Future of the Love Story Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2022 29:16


    We revisit a major race debate within the Romance Writers of America that began in 2019 and talk about why questions of race in art and in institutions are so relevant in today's America. This is a two part series.

    The Agony and the Ecstasy: Race and the Future of the Love Story Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 29:16


    Jerusalem Calling from Kerning Cultures

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2022 29:23


    The Palestine Broadcasting Service started airing in 1936, from a brand new transmitter tower in Ramallah. It was a British station in three languages, aimed at promoting the message of the mandate government throughout the region. But over the following decades, as Palestine saw political upheavals, bloody conflicts and power shifts, the radio station found itself in the middle of it all, and became a unique capsule of the events that lead up to the Nakba. This story originally aired on Kerning Cultures, a podcast telling stories from across the Middle East and North Africa and the spaces in between.

    22-19 “The Pseudo-Science of Whiteness: Biology as a Social Weapon ENCORE” POD

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022 29:23


    Making Contact is a 29-minute weekly program committed to investigative journalism and in-depth critical analysis that goes beyond the breaking news. On the web at www.radioproject.org.

    Angelic Troublemaker: Bayard Rustin

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2022 29:22


    On today's program we honor Bayard Rustin, one of the most central figures in the African American struggle for Civil Rights and Freedom. Rustin was a pacifist, homosexual and practitioner of nonviolence who dedicated his life to racial equality, economic justice and ending warfare. 

    re:Work - Redemption

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 29:16


    This episode explores the story of Billy Taing, a Cambodian refugee who got caught up in the US criminal justice system at a young age.

    Unequal Justice: the Criminalization of Black Youth

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 28:58


    Nearly two thirds of all children in the U.S. juvenile justice system are kids of color. That's according to a report by the Children's Defense Fund. In this episode of Making Contact, we'll hear from Dr. Kris Henning on the disparities faced by Black youth in the juvenile justice system.

    70 Million: When a State Treats Drug Addiction Like a Health Issue, Not a Crime

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2022 29:17


    A year ago, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize drug possession. The goal is to reverse some of the negative impacts of the War on Drugs by approaching drug use from a health-centered basis. Reporter Cecilia Brown visits an addiction and recovery center in Portland that's gearing up for what they hope will be an influx of people seeking treatment.

    Capital City: Gentrification and the Real Estate State

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 29:23


    Making Contact is a 29-minute weekly program committed to investigative journalism and in-depth critical analysis that goes beyond the breaking news. On the Web at www.radioproject.org.

    Generation Putin, Ten Years Later

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022 29:01


    This week, Making Contact's Jessica Partnow offers a look at the state of Russian youth activism from 2012 to today. She revisits her reporting from Ukraine and Russia and speaks with the people in those stories against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine today. In the first part of the show she shares the story of re-connecting with her childhood pen pal Sasha, a Ukrainian boy who witnessed the fall of the Soviet Union and is now fighting to protect his country from the Russian invasion, through the eyes of his younger sister Anna who is now living in the US and desperately trying to stay connected with her Ukrainian family and friends under siege. After the break, we meet Vassili, a Muscovite who has always been proud of his country but is now grappling with a grim view of its future.

    Juristac and the Amah Mutsun: Indigenous Resistance and Regeneration

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 28:57


    22-10 "Medical Apartheid and the COVID-19 vaccines (Encore)" POD

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 29:23


    Making Contact is a 29-minute weekly program committed to investigative journalism and in-depth critical analysis that goes beyond the breaking news. On the Web at www.radioproject.org.

    Special Mini Episode: Interview with Jeremy Menchik, COVID Moderna trial participant

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 7:38


    Jeremy Menchik volunteered for Moderna's vaccine trials, wanting to help end the COVID pandemic. However, as Moderna continues to hold patent rights and refuses to openly share their vaccine technology, Jeremy began to feel conflicted. He has since publicly quit as a volunteer and urges others to do the same, until everyone can freely access the vaccine. Listen to our interview with Jeremy on this special edition of Making Contact, an extra to our larger show on vaccine equality.

    She's Beautiful When She's Angry

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2022 29:08


    Re:Work Soul Force, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2022 29:16


    On Dec. 11, 2021, the UCLA Labor Center's historic MacArthur Park building was officially named the UCLA James Lawson Jr. Worker Justice Center, in honor of a civil and worker rights icon who has been teaching at UCLA for the last 2 decades. In this episode of Re:Work, 93-year-old Rev. Lawson shares stories from his youth, and how he came to discover soul force and the path of nonviolence.  

    It's Magic: Birth Justice and Black Maternal Health (Encore)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 28:57


    Through the work and birth stories of midwife Allegra Hill, the producers of Re:Work Radio explain how Black midwives in Los Angeles are helping women to experience empowered births.

    Black Women In History (Encore)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2022 29:21


    While Black women have played a critical role in the development of the nation, their stories have been mostly overlooked. In the new book, A Black Women's History of the United States, historians Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross honor the many significant contributions of Black women who have worked tirelessly to build this country and fight for social justice in the face of racism and sexism.

    Part 2 of The Pandemic Inside: Covid-19 and Prisons (ENCORE)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2022 29:22


    Part 1 of The Pandemic Inside: Covid 19 and Prisons - Encore

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2022 29:01


    In this encore episode, we look at how COVID-19 has torn through prisons and how organizers are trying to push state and local governments to release inmates in order to contain the spread of the pandemic. In part one, we focus on California. We take a look at why a prison, like San Quentin, is such a perfect environment for infectious diseases, especially an airborne one like COVID-19, how we might safely release large amounts of inmates across the prison system, and what we've learned from past release programs like realignment.

    70 Million: An Effort to Hold Prosecutors Accountable

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2022 29:27


    A legal matrix that incentivizes criminal convictions can motivate unethical prosecutors to bend or break the rules. In New York, a group of law professors is trying to curb that by pushing the system to discipline its own. Reported by Nina Sparling.

    Re:Work Radio: Stranded

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2022 28:57


    When India went into lockdown in 2020, millions of jobs disappeared and tens of millions of migrant workers struggled to get home, often on foot. Many died attempting the journey. This week, we bring you the story of one man who left his village as a child to earn money to support his family.

    Fallen Heroes, 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2021 29:29


    In our annual Fallen Heroes episode, we share words of inspiration from, and about some lesser-known grassroots activists who passed away in 2021.

    Making Contact 2021 Spotlight

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 29:27


    In this special year-end episode, Making Contact producers and staff turn the spotlight on some the best shows they aired in 2021.

    Medical Apartheid and the COVID-19 vaccines

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2021 29:23


    The world is struggling to contain COVID-19, as variants continue to emerge in countries where the virus is spreading unchecked, killing thousands. Not only could widespread vaccination campaigns help slow the virus, they would save countless lives. So why can't countries in the global south access the novel COVID-19 vaccines? We take a deep dive into the world of international patents and talk about what needs to change in order to create a more just, global, medical system.

    But Next Time, Episode 4: Higher Ground

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 29:29


    When communities face the aftermath of catastrophes, what does it take to ensure that the next time will be different? In Houston, it takes a city council member who bicycles in her neighborhood to hear from constituents about what they need most. It takes 12 moms who organize to take legal action against the landlords that have kept their families in moldy, substandard apartments.  In this fourth episode of the podcast But Next Time hosts Chrishelle Palay and Rose Arrieta head back to Houston to meet organizers making a difference.

    But Next Time, Episode 3: Rising Waters

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 29:23


    In cities around the globe community organizers and direct service agencies are often the first line of response when a climate fueled natural disaster strikes. In this third episode of the podcast But Next Time we meet organizers in Houston and Puerto Rico whose shared experiences of hurricane response bind them together in the effort to assure next time things will be different.

    A special message from the Making Contact Board of Directors

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 4:23


    We're popping into your feed today with a quick announcement for fans of Making Contact. We know you love the show, and right now we've got an extra special opportunity for your support to go twice as far. Every donation you send to Making Contact through the end of the year will be doubled by NewsMatch! And if you sign up as a new monthly sustainer, your donation will be matched all year long. You can visit our donation page to make your gift right away, or click to listen to this special year-end message from our board of directors. https://makingcontact.networkforgood.com/projects/39193-making-contact-year-round

    Beyond Recognition: The Ohlone (Encore)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2021 29:25


    Our radio adaptation of the film Beyond Recognition by Underexposed films, "After decades struggling to protect her ancestors' burial places, a Native woman from a non-federally recognized Ohlone tribe and her allies occupy a sacred site to prevent its desecration. They then vow to follow a new path- to establish the first women-led urban Indigenous land trust. 

    70 Million: Where Juvenile Detention Looks More Like Hanging Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2021 29:23


    There's a place in rural St. Johns, Arizona, where teens who have encounters with officers of the law can play pool, make music, and get mentored instead of going to jail. It's called The Loft, and it's the brainchild of a judge who wanted to save the county hundreds of millions of dollars and divert young people towards the support many were not getting at home.

    A History of Traditional Root Healing

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2021 29:24


    In some parts of the world, traditional herbal remedies are the norm.  When we  think of natural remedies we tend to think of older generations living in remote areas, in far away  countries,  with little access to modern healthcare.  We rarely think about the ancient medicinal plants that might exist in our very own cities. On today's episode we look at plant and herb medicines through the lens of Michele E. Lee the author of Working The Roots.  

    Re:Work Radio: Trafficked, the Journey of Lester Ramos (Encore)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2021 28:57


    One of the most common forms of trafficking is labor trafficking. In this episode, Re:Work Radio brings you the story of Lester Ramos and his journey from the Philippines. Later in the broadcast, we hear from Filipino migration expert, Dr. Robyn Magalit Rodriguez, on the circumstances in the Philippines and the US that drive Filipinos to work abroad.

    U.S. Anti-Torture History After 9/11

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 28:57


    In today's program, sociology professor Lisa Hajjar traces the rise and fall of torture after 9/11. She examines the ways in which torture and the fight against it have altered the legal terrain on torture in the United States, and potentially on a global scale.

    70 Million: How Black Women Are Rightfully “Taking Seats at the Table”

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2021 28:57


    Nearly one in two Black women in the US have a loved one who has been impacted by our prison system. Many become de facto civilian experts as a result. Some rise to lead as  catalysts for change. And now, scores of Black women are joining the ranks—as officers of the court, police, and judges—to manage and advance a system that has had such an outsized impact on their lives. On today's episode we look at the many ways Black women are leading the conversation around policy and reform within the criminal justice system. 

    But Next Time Part 2: From the Ashes

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2021 28:57


    As fires ravaged California's world-famous wine country in 2017, a community radio station, emergency dispatcher, and tenant organizers helped the most vulnerable in their community survive and recover. Community organizers and hosts of the podcasts But Next Time Chrishelle Palay and Rose Arrieta bring us the first of four stories of hard-won lessons learned from people on the frontlines of California's wildfires and Texas' storms as they work to answer the question, how can next time be different? 

    But Next Time Part 1: Toward the Fire

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2021 28:57


    As fires ravaged California's world-famous wine country in 2017,a community radio station, emergency dispatcher, and tenant organizers helped the most vulnerable in their community survive and recover. Community organizers and hosts of the podcasts But Next Time Chrishelle Palay and Rose Arrieta bring us the first of four stories of hard-won lessons learned from people on the frontlines of California's wildfires and Texas' storms as they work to answer the question, how can next time be different? 

    A More Perfect Union: Latinos, Minority Majorities, and Redistricting

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 28:57


    How will demographic shifts affect redistricting in 2021? Latinos are the second largest ethnic group in the U.S. In California, the Latinos grew to 39% of the population, surpassing whites as the largest ethnic group. Meanwhile, the white population decreased nationwide for the first time.

    Black Women In History

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2021 28:57


    While Black women have played a critical role in the development of the nation, their stories have been mostly overlooked. In the new book, A Black Women's History of the United States, historians Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross honor the many significant contributions of Black women who have worked tirelessly to build this country and fight for social justice in the face of racism and sexism.

    It's Magic: Birth Justice and Black Maternal Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 28:57


    Through the work and birth stories of midwife, Allegra Hill, the producers of Re:Work Radio explain how Black midwives in Los Angeles are helping women to experience empowered births.

    September 11th 20 Years Later: Surveillance, Policing, and Torture

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2021 28:57


    September 11th, 2021 marks 20 years since the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. Today, we turn our attention not to the tragedy of 9/11 itself, but to 9/11 as an inflection point in U.S. culture and policy in two areas: domestic surveillance in the form of fusion centers, and the rise and fall of the use of torture in the War on Terror.

    Life During Covid

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2021 29:18


    The COVID 19 pandemic has transformed all of our lives in some way. But some are feeling the impacts more than others. Take healthcare workers, for example: As the United States surpasses 38 million COVID-19 cases and 637,000 deaths as of August 28th, 2021, many healthcare workers continue to be overloaded by caring for COVID-19 patients. Globally, COVID-19 has presented unique challenges, leading to increased mental health issues among healthcare workers. Others are feeling the impacts while struggling to find or maintain housing, and balance parenting during the pandemic.

    Frontline East LA: The Chicano Moratorium 50 Years Later (Encore)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2021 28:57


    Fifty-one years ago, 30,000 people peacefully protested the disproportionate number of Latinos dying on the frontlines in Vietnam. The August 29th Chicano Moratorium ended with an attack by police, 400 arrests, and the deaths of four people, one of whom was Los Angeles Times journalist Rubén Salazar.

    The Response: The Fight for Justice after the Grenfell Tower Fire

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2021 28:57


    On June 14, 2017, a fire started in a 24-story public housing apartment in West London called Grenfell Tower. The fire raged all night and reduced the building to a shell. Seventy-two people lost their lives, making the Grenfell Tower fire the United Kingdom's deadliest disaster since World War II. In this episode, we examine the events that led up to the Grenfell Tower fire and learn how the community has responded through the voices of survivors, their families, and others who were impacted.   

    The World's Largest Methanol Refinery (and the fight to stop it) - Encore

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2021 28:57


    Barbara Bernstein's story of several communities in the Pacific Northwest of the United States who are fighting mammoth fracked gas projects that would turn this green region into a fracked-gas export hub. For years, Bernstein has reported for Making Contact on David versus Goliath battles against oil and gas corporations, and the fight for a clean environment. Today you'll hear part one of Bernstein's project, Holding The Thin Green Line as we bring you, The World's Largest Methanol Refinery.

    Locked Down and Loaded: The 2020 Gun Surge and Violence Prevention (Encore)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 28:57


    Regardless of race, gender, or political affiliation, Americans in 2020 bought guns; many, for the first time. In this show, we hear from gun and mental health communities on last year's panic buying, and what they are doing to prevent gun violence and suicides in the wake of surging national gun sales. 

    The Many Faces of Justice: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls of North America (Encore)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2021 28:57


    As reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act awaits a vote in the U.S. Senate, missing and murdered indigenous women and girls continue to face an unequal system of justice. In this show we'll hear from indigenous women scholars and activists on what justice means for MMIWG2.

    Symbols of Resistance Part Two: A Tribute to the Martyrs of the Chican@ Movement (Encore)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2021 28:57


    Our radio adaptation of the film Symbols of Resistance: A Tribute to the Martyrs of the Chican@ Movement, offers a reflection on the untold stories of the Chicano Movement with a focus on Colorado and Northern New Mexico. Produced by Freedom Archives, the film delves into issues of cultural identity, student activism; land rights and social justice, in the face of police oppression.  

    Symbols of Resistance: A Tribute to the Martyrs of the Chicano Movement, Part One - Encore

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2021 28:57


    Our radio adaptation of the film Symbols of Resistance: A Tribute to the Martyrs of the Chicano Movement, offers a reflection on the untold stories of the Chicano Movement with a focus on Colorado and Northern New Mexico. Produced by Freedom Archives, the film delves into issues of cultural identity, student activism; land rights and social justice, in the face of police oppression.  

    George Floyd Anniversary & Reimagining Public Safety: Special YES!/PNS Report

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 28:57


    Minneapolis, MN - May 25 marks the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Floyd's death - captured on video that showed Chauvin's knee on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes - sparked a global uprising in defense of Black lives and against police brutality. But amid the coverage of protests in the wake of Floyd's death, media attention rarely focused on the ways communities impacted by police violence were organizing to keep each other safe, in Minneapolis and beyond.

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