Punk Journalism

Multi-level-marketing, pyramid schemes, whatever you want to call it, is a predatory business practice that exploits the vulnerabilities of those who fall for the façade of a legit opportunity. Roberta Blevins was one of the primary subjects of the Amazon Prime original docuseries LulaRich where she explains her experience with LuLaRoe and the toxic and sleazy nature of MLM's.

Conservatives trivialize very important and complex issues, such as drug addiction, by saying things like "Just say no!" rather than exploring the societal root cause of an issue. Ronald Reagan did this, and it led to a myriad of issues such as dramatically increased incarceration rates. Did this conservative gold standard do much, if not hurt, the working class who continue prop him up?

The title pretty much says it all, doesn't it? We talk about who among us are basically just taking up space in society, and probably shouldn't reproduce (yet, unfortunately, reproduce the most).

Climate change is arguably the most pressing issue that we face globally. The evidence couldn't be any more explicit, yet there's hardly a sense of urgency in addressing it. We spoke with Dr. Laurie Adkin from the University of Alberta and Dr. Christopher Wright from the University of Sydney Business School who have both written on how capitalism, corporatism and consumerism are major obstacles in the way of addressing this dire issue.

The growing popularity of conspiracy theories in recent years has proven to go beyond a harmless hobby, as shown by the January 6th insurrection on the capitol and the anti-vaccination movement. We spoke with psychologist Mikey Biddlestone about the research he's done on conspiracy theories, and the various personality traits many of these people display.

How has social media and video games contributed to our regression into the lowest common denominator? We speak with clinical psychologist Dr. John Arden about how he felt technology was dumbing us down in 2003 compared to where we are today.

Abortion is an incredibly complex and nuanced topic with many variables to be considered on a case-by-case basis. Conservatives in Texas, though, have discarded this complexity by imposing their morals by recently making it illegal to receive an abortion after six weeks without exception. We spoke with feminist philosopher Dr. Cori Wong who offered incredible insight and education into this very sensitive topic.

Quick! Tell me what the ingredients are in Tylenol! Also, are your essential oils FDA approved?? It seems that no social issue goes without being yet another divisive topic, and COVID-19 is certainly no exception. Largely fueled by conspiracy theories, the vaccine has become a source of contention, as many would rather risk getting the virus, or infecting others, than deal with the uncertainty of what's otherwise been deemed safe and effective. We discuss the reservations among the folks abstaining from the vaccine, and also get some enlightening perspectives from folks on the street.

We ask one another some personal questions so our audience can get to know us.

We discuss critical race theory with activist and author Dr. Frank Douglas. He shares his experiences of moving to the U.S amidst the civil rights movement, how that impacted him as a black man from outside the U.S., as well as his desire to fight injustice through peaceful, and powerful means.

JT Burk is a Lutheran pastor in Washington state, and along with his wife Erin, they have three children; the oldest of whom is bisexual and the middle kiddo is trans. We discuss the challenges of leading a congregation with this family dynamic, as well as what kind of support they've received within their community.

Lisa (aka Froggy) is a Buddhist who's married to Lee Ann, a Christian minister in Fort Worth, Texas. Lisa shares her story of how she came out as a lesbian following a rural upbringing, and how her and Lee Ann practice compassion and acceptance in a part of the country that's very conservative.

We chat with the co-chapter head of the Missouri Chapter of the Satanic Temple about the organization's beliefs (or non-beliefs), community involvement and misconceptions. Disclaimer: The views of Nevin Morrow are her own, and she does not speak on behalf of the Satanic Temple.

Our grandparents' generation (Depression era) argues that they didn't divorce, because they “made it work.” Is there perhaps more to it than that? Often, people tolerated intolerable behavior, because in many cases, divorce simply wasn't an option. We discuss why there shouldn't be shame in recognizing when it's time to throw in the towel.

We attempt to define what Punk Journalism is, and why it is needed in an era so inundated with "news" and information in every flavor.

One is all about individuality, and the other is all about being part of a whole. Punk expresses itself through unconventional clothing styles and hairstyles, the other requires that everyone wear the same uniform and maintain standards of dress and appearance. Can you question authority while also having a job that requires that you fall in line?

Redlining was a completely lawful practice from banks and lenders to deny a loan or insurance to someone because they lived in an area deemed to be a poor financial risk. Consequently, this affected ethnic neighborhoods the most. Listen to us discuss the history of redlining and how people in these neighborhoods were practically doomed to a life of poverty and disadvantage. Although made unlawful by 1968, the fallout from the policy still looms large.

Many angry, straight white conservative men feel they're missing out on opportunities their fathers came by with greater ease. The culprit in their eyes: marginalized groups who are entitled to the same rights everyone enjoys. Have a listen while three whiteys do our best to understand why.

Track I played lead guitar on in 2008.

Best-selling author Aaron James dissects the philosophy of Donald Trump's asshole behavior, and how he's been able to cultivate such a loyal and huge following by being such an asshole. James is a professor of philosophy at University of California Irvine.

There are a many who don't see any one religion as the only correct and righteous path, but are instead "spiritually fluid." Duane Bidwell is one such person who practices Christianity and Buddhism. Bidwell is a professor of Practical Theology, Spiritual Care, and Counseling at Claremont School of Theology at Willamette University, and author of When One Religion Isn't Enough: The Lives of Spiritually Fluid People.

"The average person doesn’t connect the Joker with psychosis." Years ago I asked Dr. Travis Langley, author of Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight, if it was problematic for Batman to go around beating his mentally ill rogues gallery to a bloody pulp. I followed up with him to see what his thoughts were in light of the recent film, Joker, and his newest book Joker Psychology: Evil Clowns and the Women Who Love Them.

Assholes come in all shapes and sizes, and we encounter them almost every day in every setting. Whether it's at work, school, home. media or government, asshole behavior abounds. Aaron James, professor of philosophy at the University of California Irvine, helps us sift through asshole types as we discuss his 2012 book Assholes: A Theory.

Denver's Punk Rock Burlesque carries out the punk ethos of acceptance for misfits. The troupe's founder, "Squeaky Springs," talks to me about how body positivity is so important to the group by celebrating all body types and backgrounds. She also lets me in on her background in the sex industry.

Many white men feel they've (ironically) found their place among the marginalized and victimized. This is based on the premise that historically, to be a straight, white male grants many privileges that are slowly slipping as minorities gain any clout. Sociologist and gender studies expert Michael Kimmel explains that while their anger may be justified, it's been sorely misdirected towards ethnic minorities, women and the LGBTQ community.

A lack of critical thought, an influx of on-demand entertainment and people who identify with a president who speaks at a fourth-grade level. Dr. John Arden breaks down chapter one of his 2003 book as we compare it to today with regards to the "lowest common denominator."

Lifestyle changes won't do the trick. Nor will we be at the point of no return by 2030. Atmospheric scientist Dr. Scott Denning humbles me when it comes to incorrect framing by the media about climate change. But, there's still the issue that so many people still deny the realities of climate change. Denning guides us on how to find the line between reality and urgency when it comes to this serious issue.

Recently Marlon Anderson was fired from his job at the Boys and Girls Club(and later rehired) after reprimanding a student who called him an n-word...by telling him not to call him an n-word. Does this zero-tolerance policy on racial slurs cross the line of common sense? When, if ever, can we use this historically foul word? Is there any proper context?

There are a lot of stigmas placed on people who work in taboo professions, and perhaps they aren't given enough opportunity to speak about their work in a fair, mature way. We talked about what led her to this career, her background and what she has planned for her future.

Do we take guns away? Do we blanket everyone with "mental illness"? Virtually always perpetrated by men, how do we get to the core of preventing mass shootings? Criminology expert Professor Prabha Unnithan shares his insights based off of years of research into criminal behavior.

In the wake of Bernie Sanders declaring his intent to run for president, as well as Trump's statement during the State of the Union: "We are alarmed by the new calls to adopt socialism in our country”, we take a look at the merits of democratic social and capitalism, as well as their flaws.

Men who are insecure about the size of their dicks+firearms. Are these a good combination? We discuss toxic masculinity, what makes a man, guns and hunting.

"And I say, really, we're not supposed to use that word. You know what I am? I'm a nationalist, OK? I'm a nationalist." Recently, Trump declared himself a nationalist. Chance and Nick argue that nationalism is little more than blind loyalty, and Eli makes his case that the definition has been distorted.

No child ought to be denied a five-star education. So, should taxes be increased to fund public education, or is the system so beyond repair that it needs to be revamped entirely?

From experience, I can tell you that businesses don't do themselves any favors in the long-term by stiffing their employees on benefits and wages (It's called "morale"). Conversely, when we hear about a raising the minimum wage, we immediately assume it's a good thing, but there are many variables to look over. Does cashiering or working fast food warrant a "livable wage"?

A year since Trump went on a Twitter rampage against all those who would take a knee during the National Anthem, Kaepernick has made controversy once again as Nike’s new spokesperson. We revisit the controversy, and debate the hypocrisies we each see on the issue.

I received a lot of response regarding the blog I read regarding Social D lead singer Mike Ness punching a dissenting fan. Mostly, people condoning the behavior because "it's always OK to punch Nazis." It's a dangerous thing to demonize someone so harshly for disagreeing with you...as actual Nazis did.

What's holding up FM radio from going the way of the dodo? How many times can you listen to "More Than a Feeling" or Five Finger Death Punch try to pass itself off as "hard rock"? We question folks on the street on whether they still see the use in FM, or if streaming is their go-to.