Podcasts about Joplin

A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. Guest host Jovelyn Richards presents White Switch   WHITE SWITCH Show Transcript Opening: [00:00:00] Apex Express Asian Pacific expression. Community and cultural coverage, music and calendar, new visions and voices, coming to you with an Asian Pacific Islander point of view. It's time to get on board the Apex Express.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:01:07] Hi, this is Jovelyn Richards and I'm happy to be here on Apex. Some of you may know me from Cover to Cover, which is every Tuesday at two o'clock, which I, um, spend time with artists, filmmakers, uh, writers, play writers, poets, to bring that to my audience. And on every third Monday you would hear me on Women's Magazine and my colleagues. We all take one Monday and Tuesday on different topics from a feminist perspective, from a global perspective. And my specific way of approaching that is to look at writings and, um, that's either from fiction or either it is nonfiction, but at the core of it, because my interest really is getting to the story of what it's like to be human.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:02:05] Those reflect characters topics that really dig inside of that written by women who was in search of, in their research, their lives of highlighting either known people or ordinary people who are. Living in ways in which moves humanity forward. So that's where you'll find me. And so why am I here? I'm here because I did a project, uh, over a year ago, and this, this, uh, tape is, uh, this program is a long time coming. I partnered with this particular project with, so when you would be familiar with, and that's Preeti Shekar last name is spelled S-H-E-K-A-R. And we began this story, uh, of looking at anti-blackness in the South Asian community together. So what I'm going to do is let you listen to a clip, not from Preeti or myself. But from someone else's doing this anti-blackness work in South Asian communities with Ritu Bhasin, and the last spelling of her name is B-H-A-S-I-N. So we'll take a listen to that and then I will be right back and have that discussion.   CLIP PLAYS   Jovelyn Richards: [00:04:46] All right, so here we go. And so one of the things I appreciated seeing and listening to her video when I first was introduced to her, that aligned with the work that myself and Preeti was doing in our project curriculum called The White Switch, and we'll dig into that. What is the White Switch? What is the curriculum of the White Switch and how it came about? And so what I appreciate, the continuous work, you may wanna Google, if you don't already know, you probably do with Ritu Bhasin, uh, because she speaks directly about anti-black, uh, racism within South Asian communities, especially among professionals and leaders. And as you've heard in the video, she shares what that experience has been. And I was so happy to be able to offer that in the beginning of this. Uh, broadcast so that it, uh, to break the sense of isolation just in myself. Speaking of it as a black woman, I was hoping that Preeti would be here, but she's, um, back in India and I'll talk a little bit about what that's like for me, uh, that my co-create, um, my partner on this here.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:05:59] So the white switch and the history of it for years. Uh. Probably like close to 15 years now. We were part of the beginning of white, uh, women's magazine and we had wanted to do something together. We knew that we wanted to work together without knowing the why, but every time we were in conversation in the building, uh, women's magazine and the way I approach the topics, uh, as a collective. And where the resistance was, where the fun of it was at. Uh, and then her way she approached it, there was place the, the connected dots. So example would be for any of our lives, when you're in very difficult conversations, you pay attention to the other, uh, uh, collaborators or whatever the, what the team is made of. And even if it's to people and you see whether or not they're coming from a place of inclusiveness, you're seeing how, how hard they are holding on to their opinion, whether it's negotiable, whether they're really deeply listening. And what was really interesting to where we connect the is that we found that both of us and we were relatively new to each other.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:07:20] What we both found is that the humor. That in the heat of it all, or the conflict of it all, there was, we relied on this part of humor to not, to deflate and deflect from the situation, not to deflate it, like take off the, the, the fullness of the topic, but to give us all a moment to breathe in humor. Right? And, and that's, that is part of my go-to as a standup comedian. So that's real for me. So. Let's talk about the white switch. So the, oh, so the, how it began, how we came up with that since we wanted to do a project together, how did we come up with the white switch anti-blackness in South Asian community Preeti, uh, was in New York over a year ago, and she was taking a Lyft in Harlem to wherever else she was going, or she was going to Harlem and the Lyft driver. South Asian, uh, driver asked her why was she going there or coming from there. Then she said, what do you mean? And he began to have a conversation around the dangers of that even. He didn't always like to pick up folks there and he was referring to black folks. And so pretty him not knowing that she's an independent journalist, she's also an activist.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:08:48] Begin to ask important questions and starting with what has been your experience, your personal experience, and then your experience with others close to you that might have shared that is informing these thoughts. You have these feelings, you have these decisions you're making, these things you're telling me not to do, and he had nothing, none to offer. So the next question would be, so then, then. Why, and then from, if I got the story right, there was a, um, uh, moments of silence and so I think he was sort of processing, processing in his own mind. Why am I telling, why am I feeling this way? Why am I hesitant to go to areas where I know there'll be black folks? Why am I telling a woman who is South Asian, particularly identifying with his own, uh, identity, wanting her not to go? And in that emptiness, one would hope that. Once he did self-reflection, uh, with that question that he was discovering, like he really didn't have anything substantial to go by. And so when she got back from her trip, we were talking and she said this was very important to her, to talk about that.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:10:15] And uh, and I told her at the time, surprisingly enough that I was. Actually had been working on a project in my isolation, uh, called the White Switch, and that this coincidence, we wanted to take advantage of both of our energy of importance towards the matter. So the thesis statement within it is that the whites, which is a healing curriculum. This innovative program designed for activists very specifically anyone can, can be involved in the curriculum of, of essentially looking at the anti-blackness in any community outside of the black community. Specifically for activists and then, but anyone can do that if you, if they're, you don't have to be actively considering yourself an activist just by wanting to, to think about and look at the curriculum on some level. Something is activating inside and looking at that, and then to, in the curriculum to recognize as this, this Lyft driver did that there was no logical reason for him. To not only have that stance, but to offer it to strangers, then spreading that untruth or have no validity to it, right? And so the curriculum addresses that and to begin as, as to, to eradicate the deeper feelings despite being activists, despite education around anti-blackness.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:12:12] That even among the most astute South Asians, there are the deeper roots, the deeper roots of anti-blackness. And that is the white switch. The white switch. And so the, the pattern. The reoccurring pattern that one has seen politically in black communities. As we also heard in the, um, video, which were two of us seen, uh, has been, that is, is even after years of political education, community organizing, or DEI, where there's a sudden internal shift that occurs. This shift is not intellectual, it is somatic. Emotional and rooted in the proximity to whiteness. And that switch, the white switch goes on immediately for survival purpose. So when confronted. By anti-blackness in conversation and actions, there's a switch that goes off. Fight or flight, fight or flight. And when that happens, there are things that happen again in the activist. In, in communities that have, uh, fought for years for political education through community organizing. But the, the, the roots of the proximity to whiteness globally is no joke because literally it is saying, this is for your survival.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:14:18] You are invested here in this proximity to whiteness. For your survival, economically, social placement, accessibility, back to safety for all of the above, and this buried there even while you're doing the, the, the radical work, however you show up, is sitting there with those deep roots, right? And so the workshop curriculum was created. I had started it before Preeti and I began doing it, um, writing about it. And I'll give you that history. This is a good place to do the history of that. I had been doing political education around anti-blackness and around many issues, but what, this is what we're speaking about, right? And educating around domestic. Other things were like hunger, domestic violence, um, community organizing, and specifically that, that came out of anti-blackness, holding workshops, creating workshops. And what I discovered is, um. Most of the people, the audience that was there, I'm thinking example of the Stockton Unified School districts district where myself and peer advocates went in, uh, to do the work of anti-blackness over some incidences that had happened in in Stockton in the public school system that was quite serious and quite painful for the black students and black community.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:16:07] And when I was there doing a workshop, and this was in my particular, um, um, curriculum that we was, we was doing, uh, but I was implementing it and what I noticed was more pronounced, I had noticed it before. And had even talked about it, had, um, had dialogues about it, uh, with others. What I noticed in those, the, those times that there's a point. Where in the, that particular workshop, I could see where there was staff that was really wanting to get to the bottom of their own anti-blackness for their students. So the teacher part of them and the diversity of the students. And there was activated and then there was those, uh, that were not engaged with the caring of, they were there to teach and they brought, they. Didn't have an issue with their behavior that spoke to anti-blackness. Example would be two students are talking and one non-black. Black. And these are just random examples. Very, they're not mild, but compared to what had happened, what brought us there that was so extreme, it involved death. Um, uh. I shouldn't just say it like that without giving more backdrop to it, but, and maybe I will.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:17:43] But here's in the daily classroom that then this black student would be called out and removed more times than not from a classroom. And so by the teachers that did not take up responsibility, that in their teaching they had a responsibility to be teaching themselves. By listening to the students that would call, would call them out and, and stay forth and say, why, why? This person started talking to me? Why are you only pointing out at me? So this, this is not new. I'm sure this happened throughout the teaching person teaching career. Why am I have to go to office? And so now we can see what happens when students are constantly in the office, how that impacts them. So. That is part of when I started making more notes on this here. And then I, uh, worked with, and probably you're very familiar with this organization in the Bay Area, surge showing up for racial justice. And they were, uh, we worked together on a project. That I was doing as a writer. I was writing the Play 911: What's your emergency? And it was in response to white communities, particularly women calling the police on Brown and black people. And most notable in the Bay Area was barbecue, Becky and Permit Patty. So I met La Peña. I was a resident artist at La Peña Cultural Center. Hopefully you're all aware of that. Uh, of the center and its beauty that it, uh, and work is done over the decades. And I, so in writing the play and working with community folks, uh, actors, performers, and interested and impacted by these phone calls, and we worked in Workshop to create together, I did. I wanted to. Dig more into the psychology now of the barbecue Becky and permit Patty.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:20:10] That means I wanted to look at the racism within white women. And again, I wanted to look at that from, of. White women who have done work and fight for anti-blackness and other, uh, social ills. And so I went to search and, uh, they agreed immediately, which is kudos and kudos, uh, that, uh, they were willing to even think to themselves, yes, I can look, I can get, I, there's, there's roots in here. There's something in here. And so we, um. Created, I created the curriculum for the workshop that lasted over the weekend, and I found out some very interesting things and they found out more importantly, some very interesting things being activists themselves. And as we dug deeper using healing curriculum, for example, uh, there's, uh, healing, uh, um. Theater is based in theater, similar to, um, not similar to, but another theater thing you could think of that deals, which social ills would be theater of the press, uh, playback theater. And I also use that in some of the work I do. That's part of the White Switch. But I had created a thing called two Tiers Telling. Jovelyn Richards: [00:21:38] And in the chairs, two chairs telling the facilitator being me and the, the person who is working on, and this, in this case, women from s would sit in the chair and the others are the witness. They hold the space. Right. And again, this is a healing, uh, process. And then we go into some reflection questions, right. The same way. Preeti did with the Lyft Driver. But these particular questions, because I'm working with activists who are very savvy in the work they do, and very knowledgeable and, uh, the political, uh, things that are happening are happening in the world, then I created those questions to dig past the intellect. Pass the work into the personal, right? So we go into to memory, we go into early memory, and that became really a wonderful experience, as I said, for everybody, right? And I took those notes again, collecting that. And over the years, other workshops I've done. And so again, by the time it circled to pretty us looking forward. Uh, work to do together. It came up. Now I even in this rec, this, um, programming, it was odd when I 'cause this, this recording, this program was due like almost a year ago. We started this program in this 20, 20, 26. Now we started together in late 2024. We presented this at the DESI Conference in 2024, south Asian uh, DESI Conference.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:23:41] We presented at that conference, right? And we were building the curriculum looking for, um, support for it, and Kamala Harris spoke at that conference. There was some political uproar from some of the folks there. They had their own feelings about her and the, the, the, what was, what was happening, what was not happening in the, uh, Biden and her administration with Biden. And there happened to be a moment when I got into, uh, an argument with one of the people who wanted to disrupt the moment she was speaking. I had an issue with that and wanted to, um, ask more questions and in the questioning the person was, was crying and so upset, and then I asked them what work they had been doing in their, in anti-blackness, and their response to me was, I don't have time for that right now.  That was very concerning. Very concerning. And so when I talk about this now, I'm recording this. It's actually Martin Luther King's Day where I'm recording it at air, uh, later and, and I'm sitting here reflecting on where we're at as a whole. Jovelyn Richards: [00:25:14] And I know that a lot of that was, we're here now, whatever, wherever you're thinking about where we're at, because of anti-blackness, because of anti-blackness. So, so much feels kind of odd to be talking about the work we were doing and wanting to do, and then more fiercely leading up to the election. Right? So again, this was, uh, 24. 2024 when we started the story in the, the spring of, and it just turned 2024. The conference was in the spring, I think it was May, late spring, and we came back wanting to do workshops and I left the conference. It was a wonderful. And I love the diversity of the conference in terms of the way diversity and how they was approaching it. Different topics, whatever the topics they were using. It was a different, it was different than most conference where the talking hads and, and then you go to break room, then you come back to another workshop on the program and then you go on the talking hat. You take notes or. And then you come out and then there's a, another break or lunchtime, you go back in and you meet people. There were hundreds of people and there were, there were people approaching difficult subject matters with comedy. And I'm a comedian, so I know that, and we all know on some level the comedians can tell you the best of the best stuff in terms of, um, political social ills, and they get you with that punch.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:26:50] That's another way to get people to sort of pay attention to where they're at in the world, where they're at within the subject matter and what or what not they want to do. Richard Pryor would be a good one, uh, most notable. Uh, and Eddie Murphy to some degree. Yeah, to some degree, but definitely Richard Pryor. Um. And so, and then they also had the dance. They have so much, they had so much of, they brought themselves their culture to the conference and it was one, it was the best conference I had been to. Uh, in a long time. 'cause it brought the, the, the one beautiful thing about many communities is that if, if the conference is put on by them, uh, and for whatever the topics, some, a lot of communities bring their culture into it, right? It's not a template of traditional conference, which very cut, very linear, et cetera. And that was absolutely fantastic. And I enjoyed it deeply and that was my takeaway from it. My takeaway from what we presented, very active listeners, very painful. As I was listening to some of the panelists, I was on the panel, discussed the work they do and gave, uh. Examples, like, uh, one woman was an his attorney and deals with, uh, prison reform and she was giving case cases that she had shared and the disparity of an justice system and the pain of, and then it was, it was, um, very, uh, emotional for me because I know these things occur, but when you hear, hear them in a case study and the results of them.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:28:47] So I was. How very, I was feeling that very deeply. And when it was my, someone asked a question, it was my, and I was speaking again. I'm feeling a certain kind of way. And I'm much, much, uh, I mean at this point my, you can hear and feel my passion when I was answering the question and the frustration that the story of the prison system. Uh, the, the racial, uh, inequality, the punitive measures, and I, and frustrated because this is not new. We know that in the different presidential folks, uh, say the Reagan administration, the Clinton three strikes, we know that's been going on and on, and yet the same stories being told over and over again. Uh, the sameness is like the, the, that different, different, different zip codes, different people, et cetera. But the same story of the injustice. The injustice, right? Going all the way back for some of you that are familiar with history. Going back to, uh, emancipation when the, um, black folks were, the, this sort of system we're working on now was created from that, that system doing emancipation with black folks, had nowhere to go with no resource, no money, and that no land.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:30:19] And that wandering the roads of trying to, to make up a life. And they created a system, a law that if you were the, what is the fragrant of fragrant frequency law, lot loitering, L-O-I-T-E-R-I, in order to re imprison them. So they had choices either go to prison or go work on Mr. X Farm of Land. And so it's been a continuation of, of creating systems, of imprisonment, of enslavement, of brown and black folks. And then so that came out and one of the people facilitating the conference when I, I just, my impatience of keep dis of discussion, my impatience of intellectual approach, my impatience and my bottom line question is, is what is taking this so long? If everybody, if we have attorneys and politicians and all these folks working on the same thing, why are we still here? What is that? And the persons, and so whatever I said after that was really about being more radical, more clear, more intolerant of it. And the person said, we are not ready yet. Meaning we are not we, we are not ready. We don't have all those pieces in place. And then I said, we are. And why? And why are we on the timeframe of others?   Jovelyn Richards: [00:31:50] Right. Why is it we're looking at the clock of others? What is that about other than anti-blackness? The deeper woods where the white switch clicked on? Why are you, why would anyone or any bodies of people talk about the atrocities of the prison system? The injustice? Talk about it, the atrocities. Then when approached to say, meet it, meet it where it's at, it turns the intensity to say, we are not ready yet. What does that, what did that mean? Jovelyn Richards: And what I learned even in that statement that at the conference, and as men pretty came back and talked about and realized that even after years of political education, the community organizing or DEI, a sudden internal shift occurs. The shift is not intellectual, it's somatic. Emotional and again rooted in proximity to whiteness and despite activists stated commitments to racial justice, many South Asians activists experience a movement with their nervous system over rise their politics. Fight or flight response activation. Instead of leaning into accountability, they retreat.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:33:23] Retreat into defensiveness, fragility or self-protection. And when I say those words, we see that more. We think about in the, what is the book? White fragility. So it's the same thing, right? The same characteristic. 'cause again. It's that close proximity to whiteness. So of course you're taking the, the, the, when you, and this, I think it's across the board when anyone is confronted on anything and don't take the word confronted, um, and begin to think of it just as confront, like it seems like a hard word, word and English language doesn't always offer enough words to express. One thing without making it as heavy, because confront, confront could be simply in a conversation and someone says, do you know what you just said is very offensive to me? And, and say, why? And then suddenly the possibility of the white switch, this reflective, turned toward whiteness. Toward innocence. Jovelyn Richards: [00:34:29] Rural more purity and distance from blackness is the white switch. And so when in my experience, uh, south Asian activist is confronted with their own anti-blackness, does the switch may show up as defensiveness. Words like, I've done so much work on this. I, you know, I do the work. It's like proving, here's my resume, here's my, this, I've done the work and, and, and that's not me. I've taken anti-racism training. I work every day my and, and bring credentials into it. I teach workshops. I'm dismantling racism, volunteer in prison reform. I've marched, donated, organized, centering my, uh, centering, centering. And that I wanna say is what people do in any situations, not just a topic like anti-blackness. It's in a relationships you can, and we call, what do people call it now? Uh, you're deflecting, you're being a narcissist. It's all these other things that cover it up. So it's a, it is, it appears to be something that human beings do in constant protection. So I wanna make that clear, but now we're talking about.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:35:50] In a way of the social pains of this world that we are trying as activists, uh, as people trying to get, not just get a handle on, but to eradicate it. Like right where, just take a moment. Where are we at right now? Where are we at in Minnesota? Where are we at in any state? DC Chicago? Where are we at? This is the thing that we're dealing with. And so it, if the answer is to look at the things that, the look at, the things that the government is saying, it is saying, we clearly, we are racist, and everything we about to do was about to be about that. I'm so happy. Again, you're going to hear this after, uh, today, which is Martin Luther King's Day. I'm so happy on social media where everyone is celebrating. Not everyone, but those that I see are, are celebrating and they're honoring. And they're ignoring any, any kind of dismissal. Erasure, ain't nobody. Yeah. You can forget what you wanna forget. You can have what you want to hide, but, but everybody out here knows the truth.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:37:18] We just gotta get to their truth of humanity. Other ways of dis defensiveness is the feeling in a sense of, of almost like being dismissed as all that they've done. Like, I've done all this, I do all this. And then to hear that and in, in, in that moment, I have, uh, witnessed we're almost as if in the mind, you know, if they say we are not mind Raiders, but if you. You don't have your mind reader to pay attention to the, the flesh of a person, the eyes of a person to be able to get cold. Where they're running, where they're hiding, which, where what, what, what are they doing to survive the moment? Right. To be seen and not seen. Right. And it's not intentional. It's not malicious. It again, it is a, it is the umbrella psychology that we exist under and. When a person works so hard to, to show up their best self as an activist in anti-blackness, and then someone, and particularly a black person, joins in their huge effort to say, Hey, this, this ain't this. This is not working here. Let's work with this here. It's almost like they just threw out their. Whole journey of sense of, of what they're proud of, what they're, what makes them feel good about themselves inside this human life. And it should, oh, and they should absolutely adore, feel good because we're out here doing the work.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:39:09] And so these are the things that is important for us to know. And we're going to listen to another, um, video, and you are going to hear, I, I appreciated this video because it asked a question, what would I have been if I had not been doing this? So take a listen and then I will be right back.   CLIP PLAYS   Jovelyn Richards: [00:41:55] So what would. Right. What would we be doing? I ask myself as a black woman, if a lot of what I do as a writer, as a performance artist, as a community, um, activist, whatever the title is, how much energy it takes, and right now. The energy is taken again in a very different faith. This hurts, this hurts, this really hurts. Right? In a way that almost the thinking about again, the timeframe of when we were doing the work and then where we at now. Being in the conference where we at now, how many people voted against Kamala, where we are now after the conference, um, I got a text message and this was when they were, uh, folks was holding, uh, zoom.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:43:20] And it was really exciting. So many people from so many different communities was doing Zoom calls to talk about the, the elections that were coming up. And when she became the primary chosen person to run as a democratic party and people were talking, people raising money. Oh, did you see the excitement, the energy. I got a text message from one of the people from the DESI conference and, and was very, they were in pain. He said, I feel so hurt right now because on the zoom that she was uh, on, there were many people saying that they weren't gonna vote for her, or no, this is South Asian Zoom. They weren't going to vote for her. Or they weren't gonna vote at all. My re I was so my livid, which is really not as important as the liveness of now. But I was just surprised given what everybody understood and knew about her opponent. And so I said to the person in text. I said, go back to the Zoom, and I said this, everyone, there's a slogan that people are saying as if it's, uh, the, the, you know, there's always this new thing to say.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:44:58] And the slogan was, listen to black women. Listen to black. So I said to her, which, which I, I think people really don't get it, don't understand the history of what that means. They don't understand history with that. They don't care. And, and I'm saying, I shouldn't just say I, it's not that they don't care. I don't think they, they, they take, they don't look at what that meaning. That means listen to black women means the story of black women in this country, how the, how our arrival, and then the story after that. They're not gonna even get into you. You know that if you know anything, if you listen to KPFA, you know, and the MA mechanisms of how that happens, the template of how that works is the, the ask black women, the template, right? We, we know that the, the intimate details of how that works, right? And so the thought that people were literally not wanting to. I not wanting to, and that was disturbing.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:46:19] And so that happened. And then we did, oh, then I was, um, watching a couple ones that were white women were getting together. On these zooms, and they were so excited, so excited. And in their excitement, they were talking about, they were connecting. They, they were having so much fun talking about this, this, the leading up to the election, the support, the, the, and they felt some sisterhood. They felt energized. They felt all of this stuff and the energy I got from that. The energy I got from that is this is about y'all having fun, connecting, laughing, having a project. This is a project, and I asked, what I didn't hear them say is how much they had raised. They weren't talking about any of the practicalities of the next step.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:47:28] It was just about. It was a, and I put it in the way I took it. Good, bad or different. You can agree or not agree, but I'm telling you what I experienced. It felt like it was a big party, a really big fun party that they had experienced and being able to see people, they and strangers, and laugh and talk and, and go on and on and on, that it was a party, right? But it really wasn't about the truth. It had something to do. And then, and I said, and I left that, that when I saw that, I wasn't in the Zoom, but this was people talking afterwards, like on social media, about how excited they were. And I had asked, what did you raise? What are your next steps? They had nothing.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:48:14] Well, we are gonna have another one in a couple weeks. We can figure that out. Really interesting. You got two weeks to figure it out. You got, oh, you got that kind of time. Interesting. Right. And then, uh, we saw how that happened and I see that they're working right outside my window. So let me just day. I apologize for those. Got a little bit of that noise out, said that, oh, I think that happened a little bit. And so that's how that went. And now we are here. So again and again, we, I think to find a way, even though there's a sense of probably hopelessness that some of us are feeling and we are not gonna go into, um, the hopelessness of it all. We are gonna go into, uh, not in this here, um, thing, but I think all of us needs to go into, uh, the, not even about the hope, but the necessity. Hope is wonderful. Necessity. They're going to the necessity, right? They go into that place like, and find where do you live, where it's like this is the urgency, the necessity to it.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:49:42] Uh, other quotes that I'm gonna give you a few of them. A few quote, anti-blackness is foundational, not peripheral. And that's Frank B Wilderson. The third on the limits of allyship. So as we go into this, uh, we're in this thing right now. I think it's important for, uh, connectiveness, interconnectiveness in groups, intubated, dig. Inside, um, those roots to be the most effective on the nervous system and racial conditioning, the body keeps the score. I think that's, um, something that's important. And then when the, when I bring that up, the body keeps the score because what does proximity to whiteness doom where it literally dismantles parts of you no matter how deep you've been educated.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:50:43] That it can dismantle you. Um, and where does that go? Example, the nervous system and racial conditioning I speak about That is the, you lose the ability to see, hear, and speak that racial conditioning, proximity to whiteness. You give up the ability to hear. To see and to speak. You are muted and your critical thinking skills is dismantled in areas of, of, uh, anym. So I'm gonna broaden it anym, and it dismantles those parts of you energetically. Like here we are on this human experience. And, and all the, the human properties that belong to us. All the gifts of being human and to come into a circumstance, uh, where you are immediately given isms and in this story, anti-blackness. And I think some of you have, you, you may have heard of the book cast and we know it South. Asian communities coming from a caste system and then coming to America. If you came here to America with, or a history of, however, the story is that you, it's, you have a built in template for anti-blackness. I mean, it's already set thousands of years of being set.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:52:27] And so coming here, it's not so hard, uh, to even, no matter how hard when you work to be educated. And to work in systems, uh, it gives you, working in systems and anti-blackness gives you sort of the oodles and feel a sense of pride when you sit down at the table. Right. But that white switch is there that you, the, the hearing, the saying, and the knowing is gone speaking, and so it's at what percent. What percent are you really doing the work if you are embedded with anti-blackness? You, so, like I said, the co. The co, the conference, I asked that questions. I asked a question like, why is it taking so long? Because people operating, operating at 40%. It's like being in a burning building and people in the burning building, you say, okay, I'm gonna go get, um, uh, enough water for half the building to be, um, uh, fire to be put out.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:53:45] So stand on that part of the building. The building's still on fire. So you're gonna put that out. So you're kind of running around in a burn, a, a burning building, and that's not okay. And so in creating the curriculum to do work, I think is really relevant. Now, I would fe I think February, um, 20, uh. 20 something, there's gonna pop the white switch, uh, ebook is coming out and it'll be on Amazon.  I know. Um, and that's not the best thing. Um, it'll be on, but it'll be out there and it will be the curriculum, it'll be the self-reflection, it'll be stories. And I, one of the things that I'm wanting of folks is to start partnering with. Like, if you're listening to this as a South Asian activist, what would it be like to get to, to hook up, which probably folks in your circle, um, black activists and there, and, and you may say what you, you may, I'm pretty sure you, you connected, but some folks have said, well, what if they're, they're not an activist.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:55:15] Um, very difficult to be breathing in black and not be an activist, if that's even before this time being aware of your activism. 'cause if you gotta move through space every day, you're fighting for yourself. You endure, uh, worlds. You are code switching, you are being aware of and mindful of and of your activities. You are an activist and always saving yourself. Saving yourself, saving your family, aware of signs of, uh, like, uh, signs that are out movies, you're always looking after anti-blackness that exists, even if it's not conscious on that level. Right. And so as I come to an end, I must say that, uh, it would've been nice to have done this with pretty, uh, one of the things that I think we both was learning an I that was.   Jovelyn Richards: [00:56:11] We were working on the anti-blackness and our work together that was, that couldn't be helped, uh, in working together. And as she shared with me one time, and she does a lot of fantastic work on herself, she said, you know, I am, I am the white woman in India. And I appreciated that knowledge and how that might work out with us. I work and it did show up and we were able to discuss some things, some things I, my own stuff kept silent. Right. And that's something I gotta work on. And I'll leave you with that. It's been traveling. Again, the ebook called We Switch by Joplin, uh, late February. Uh, curriculum exercises, thoughts, reflections, Self-Reflection, uh, and I'll see you on Cover, the cover of Women's Magazine. Until then, be mindful. Be conscious. Goodbye.   Miko Lee: [00:57:18] Please check out our website, kpfa.org to find out more about our show tonight. We think all of you listeners out there. Keep resisting, keep organizing, keep creating and sharing your visions with the world because your voices are important.   Apex Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Cheryl Truong, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Preeti Mangala Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Thank you so much for joining us.   The post APEX Express – 1.29.26 – White Switch appeared first on KPFA.

The Stirring meets at 5:30 pm on Sundays.—Stay connected with The Stirring at Hope Church in Memphis, TN:Website • HopeChurchMemphis.comIInstagram • @TheStirringAtHopeTikTok • @TheStirringAtHopeFacebook • @TheStirringAtHopePrayer • HopeChurchMemphis.com/PrayerGiving • HopeChurchMemphis.com/Give

Send us a textJanis Joplin didn't just sing a song—she shouted a truth. And for Erica Saccoccio, "Piece of My Heart" was the raw, fearless soundtrack to her wild, love-filled, unconventional childhood.Raised by a motorcycle-riding, leather-wearing single mom in the 1970s, Erica (Little Indian) and her sister (Little Terror) belted this iconic anthem in the living room and biker hangouts. These days, she's cranking the same song in her convertible, singing like she did back then. In this episode, Erica shares how the unapologetic energy of Joplin—and her own mother's fierce independence—shaped her confidence, resilience, and bold spirit. Listen now to laugh, remember, and feel empowered by the music that still moves us.Full Show Notes

Susan Barrett, of Barrett Barrera Projects in St. Louis, is Veronica’s podcast guest this month. Many of you may know of Susan through her work in the art world, where she develops exhibitions for tour, produces artists’ collaborations, and provides management and consultation of private art collections. In today’s episode, Susan shares the exciting details of a new, years-long project that helped transform two sprawling Victorian houses into a combined historic house museum in Joplin, Missouri. The restoration and interior design of both the Schifferdecker and Zelleken residences called for a complete immersion into the fascinating lives of two immigrant families who rose to prominence in the heartland in the late 19th century. From the furniture to the wallpapers, the clothes to the kitchen utensils; through books, toys, art, and so much more, Susan’s vision brings the families’ worlds to life. Historic house enthusiasts will appreciate Susan’s dogged pursuit of authentic home decor and furnishings totaling 10,000 items, including a stunning sofa purchased at auction from the estate of the late Vogue fashion editor André Leon Talley. Listen and follow House of Lou on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. New to podcasts? Follow these instructions to start listening to our shows, and hear what you’ve been missing! Want more? Check out all of St. Louis Magazine’s podcasts. Mentioned in this episode: John Mineos Italian Restaurant Mc Arthur’s Bakery Architect & Designer Awards Susan Barrett, Barrett Barrera Projects The Charles Schifferdecker and Edward Zelleker Historic Houses Campbell House Museum Guest House Brad Belk Saint Louis Fashion Fund The Collection of Andre Leon Talley, Christie’s Crossland Construction Warson Woods Antique Gallery PGAV Destinations Design with Canva, St. Louis Public Library Intro to Chair Caning, Perennial Orchid Show, Missouri Botanical Garden You may also enjoy these articles from SLM: More episodes of House of Lou See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 It's the Ranch It Up Radio Show Herd It Here Weekly Report!  A 3-minute look at cattle markets, reports, news info, or anything that has to do with those of us who live at the end of dirt roads.  Join Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt, the Boss Lady Rebecca Wanner aka 'BEC' by subscribing on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. New World Screwworm Detected Mere Hours From U.S. Border The latest detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in Mexico is the nearest case yet to the U.S. border. According to reports from Mexico's National Service of Agro-Alimentary Public Health, Safety, and Quality (confirmed by the Texas Department of Agriculture), NWS was identified on Dec. 27 in a six-day-old calf in Tamaulipas, a Mexican state that is 197 miles (about 3.5 hours) from the border. This is the northernmost detection of NWS. Since May 2025, U.S. imports of Mexican cattle have been halted, and USDA officials have met with their Mexican counterparts about eventually resuming trade. In December, Mexican government officials detailed their own efforts to contain NWS, which surpassed $65 million across various initiatives. REFERENCES: https://meatingplace.com/new-world-screwworm-detected-mere-hours-from-us-mexico-border/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_cid=1103020073&utm_campaign=MTGMCD260101003&utm_date=20260101-1300 Record-Breaking Calf Markets Kick Off the New Year at Joplin and Sioux Falls Regional Livestock The U.S. cattle market opened the New Year with unprecedented strength as Joplin Regional Stockyards (Carthage, Missouri) and Sioux Falls Regional Livestock (Worthing, South Dakota) delivered historic sales on January 5, rewriting the record books and signaling extraordinary momentum in the feeder cattle and calf markets. Joplin Regional Stockyards Sets All-Time Calf Market Records Joplin Regional Stockyards launched the year with the hottest calf market in its history, posting an all-time best calf sale and shattering 19 barn records in a single day. In an unprecedented performance, the barn established new all-time highs across 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-weight calves, making this sale one of the most significant feeder cattle events ever recorded at the facility. Historic 5-Weight Calf Prices Lead the Way The 5-weight division dominated the market and delivered the strongest performance the barn has ever seen: 504 lb calves sold for $545.00 522–524 lb drafts brought $530.00 These prices claimed the top three all-time spots in barn history Eight of the top ten 5-weight prices ever recorded occurred in this single sale This sale now stands as the best 5-weight calf market in Joplin history. 4-Weight, 6-Weight, and 3-Weight Records Also Fall The historic momentum extended across every weight class: 409 lb calves brought $600.00 467 lb calves reached $575.00, securing six of the top ten 4-weight prices ever A new 6-weight record was set at $453.00 on 601 lb calves The 3-weight division reached a new all-time high with 358 lb calves selling for $640.00 With records falling in every category, Joplin Regional Stockyards opened 2026 with a landmark sale that will be remembered as the strongest calf market in barn history. Sioux Falls Regional Livestock Delivers a January Barn Burner Not to be outdone, Sioux Falls Regional Livestock in Worthing, South Dakota, kicked off the year with a barn-burner feeder cattle sale on January 5, setting 16 new barn records and posting some of the most impressive steer prices ever seen at the facility. Record-Setting Heavyweight Steers The sale featured exceptional demand for heavier cattle: 812 lb steers sold for $381.00, establishing a new all-time barn record 811 lb steers brought $374.00, ranking 5th highest ever 852 lb steers at $373.50 placed 6th all-time in the 8-weight category REFERENCE: https://www.nationalbeefwire.com/clara-live-jan-6 Upcoming Bull & Heifer Sales On RanchChannel.Com Lot's of bull and heifer sales coming up on the RanchChannel.Com sale calendar.  Check out the full line up HERE. SPONSORS Jorgensen Land & Cattle https://jorgensenfarms.com/ @JorLandCat Ranch Channel https://ranchchannel.com/ @RanchChannel Questions & Concerns From The Field? Call or Text your questions, or comments to 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Or email RanchItUpShow@gmail.com FOLLOW Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow SUBSCRIBE to the Ranch It Up YouTube Channel: @ranchitup Website: RanchItUpShow.com https://ranchitupshow.com/ The Ranch It Up Podcast is available on ALL podcasting apps. https://ranchitup.podbean.com/ Rural America is center-stage on this outfit. AND how is that? Because of Tigger & BEC... Live This Western Lifestyle. Tigger & BEC represent the Working Ranch world by providing the cowboys, cowgirls, beef cattle producers & successful farmers the knowledge and education needed to bring high-quality beef & meat to your table for dinner. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner aka BEC here: TiggerandBEC.com https://tiggerandbec.com/

In this episode of the Innovation Storyteller Show, I sit down with Amy Freeze, a meteorologist, innovator, and public safety advocate who has spent decades helping people understand risk when it truly matters. Everywhere I go lately, conversations circle back to AI, but this one brings it out of the abstract and straight into our homes, our screens, and moments where trust can make all the difference. Amy shares her remarkable journey from broadcast journalism to becoming one of the most recognized voices in weather. We talk about her work forecasting major events like Superstorm Sandy and the Joplin tornado, and how those experiences shaped her sense of responsibility to the public. As the first female chief meteorologist in Chicago and a six time Emmy Award winner, her career has been built on credibility and calm communication. What fascinated me most was why she chose to create a digital avatar, and how she sees AI as a way to deliver urgent, accurate information at scale without losing the human connection people rely on in moments of uncertainty. We also dig into the fears and ethical questions surrounding digital twins, AI driven storytelling, and protecting name, image, and likeness. Amy offers a grounded perspective on why avoiding new technology can sometimes create more risk than adopting it thoughtfully. Together, we explore how empathy, trust, and clear storytelling help audiences move past fear toward understanding, especially when the stakes involve safety, language barriers, and real time decision making. This conversation reminded me that innovation does not have to feel cold or distant. It can be practical, human, and deeply rooted in care. We talk about how trusted voices evolve with technology, how stories help people accept change, and why the future of AI may depend far less on hype and far more on responsibility, context, and trust.  

We're taking a look back at some of our favorite episodes of 2025. This week on the Oakley Podcast, host Jeremy Kellett welcomes Bryan “Bossman” Martin, Owner of 4 State Trucks/Chrome Shop Mafia in Joplin, Missouri. During the episode, Bryan shares his journey from a mechanic to a leader in the custom truck industry, detailing the evolution of his business from a small parts store to a renowned custom truck shop. He discusses the impact of the "Trick My Truck" TV show on his business and the growth of his truck show. The episode highlights the sense of community in trucking, Bryan's future plans for 4 State Trucks and Chrome Shop Mafia, and so much more.Key topics in today's conversation include:Bryan's Background in Trucking (2:05)Evolution of 4 State Trucks (3:23)Impact of "Trick My Truck" (7:08)Reality of Reality TV (8:37)Origin of Chrome Shop Mafia (10:46)Trends in Truck Customization (16:24)Guilty by Association Truck Show Origins (20:26)Entertainment at the Truck Show (24:44)Community and Camaraderie in the Trucking Community (27:16)Future Plans for 4 State Trucks (28:05)Location and Accessibility for 4 State Trucks (30:14)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (32:04)Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Joplin preaches a message often difficult to hear but always necessary to hear and apply to our lives as Christians.

Rev. Vincent Joplin continues the Advent season with a message on "Peace". We know there is peace is because God promises us his peace through His son Jesus, and we know this because He tells us no other kings are worthy enough to lead us than Himself. Eternal peace requires and eternal king. —Stay connected with The Stirring at Hope Church in Memphis, TN:Website • HopeChurchMemphis.comInstagram • @TheStirringAtHopeTikTok • @Hope4MemphisFacebook • @TheStirringAtHopePrayer • HopeChurchMemphis.com/PrayerGiving • HopeChurchMemphis.com/Give

Pastor Joplin examines why God would choose shepherds in order to deliver His message

The Stirring meets at 5:30 pm on Sundays.—Stay connected with The Stirring at Hope Church in Memphis, TN:Website • HopeChurchMemphis.comIInstagram • @TheStirringAtHopeTikTok • @TheStirringAtHopeFacebook • @TheStirringAtHopePrayer • HopeChurchMemphis.com/PrayerGiving • HopeChurchMemphis.com/Give

Some houses feel their age in creaks and drafts. Others wear their history the way a body wears scars. And then there are homes like the one outside Joplin, Missouri — places that seem to wake up when the sun goes down. For Courtney and her siblings, childhood didn't just happen inside that house… it happened alongside whatever else lived there. Something small and fast enough to blur across the hallway. Something bold enough to sit on a girl's chest in the dark. Something strong enough to slam a door through thick carpet. But the real story isn't just what they saw — it's the heaviness that settled into the walls afterward. The sense of being watched on the stairs. The feeling of breath behind you in the hallway. The way every child in the house learned to walk fast, never look into the dark too long, and never, ever sleep with their door cracked open. Years later, the house is gone from their lives… but not from their dreams. Because some places don't stay behind when you move. Some places follow. #ShadowEntity #JoplinHaunting #ParanormalChildhood #MidwestGhosts #RGSOStory #SomethingInTheHall #ShadowCreature #OldHouseEnergy #UnexplainedEncounters #HauntedMemories  Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez joined NewsTalk KZRG to discuss local business and road work. Join Ted, Steve, and Lucas for the KZRG Morning Newswatch!

Jeremy Morris is with the Joplin Expo Center. He joined NewsTalk KZRG to discuss the center, and upcoming events. Join Ted, Steve, and Lucas for the KZRG Morning Newswatch!

Betsy Mense is Joplin Chamber of Commerce's new President and CEO. She joined NewsTalk KZRG to discuss her background, the chamber, and upcoming events. Join Ted, Steve, and Lucas for the KZRG Morning Newswatch!

James Dakota Jones is with White Cross Food Pantry based in Joplin. James joined NewsTalk KZRG to discuss food insecurity, and a state wide grant his organization received. Join Ted, Steve, and Lucas for the KZRG Morning Newswatch!

Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez joined NewsTalk KZRG to discuss the health department, squatters, and local dispatchers. Join Ted, Steve, and Lucas for the KZRG Morning Newswatch!

Joplin Fire Department's Dustin Lunow joined NewsTalk KZRG to discuss winter weather safety tips for driving and homeowners. Join Ted, Steve, and Lucas for the KZRG Morning Newswatch!

Rev. Vincent Joplin moves us from our "ProphoSEE" sermon series into "Advent" at Hope with a powerful Advent message reminding us to imagine a better world and place our hope in the only King who carries every burden: Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace and bringer of Hope.Stay connected with Hope Church Memphis:Website • HopeChurchMemphis.comInstagram • @Hope4MemphisTikTok • @Hope4MemphisFacebook • @Hope4MemphisPrayer • HopeChurchMemphis.com/PrayerGiving • HopeChurchMemphis.com/Give

Pastor Joplin preaches a message from Hebrews 12:1-4 entitled "Press On"

#239: Brent Beshore is the founder and CEO of Permanent Equity, a private-equity firm he launched in 2007 that takes a mission-driven, long-term approach: investing in family-owned and founder-led companies and rarely exiting them.Raised in Joplin, Missouri, Brent studied politics (with a focus on poverty) at Washington & Lee University. Before starting Permanent Equity, he was an entrepreneur and operator across service and marketing ventures. He's well-known for his patient, “slow-growth” philosophy — raising ultra-long (30-year) funds, avoiding heavy leverage, and emphasizing value-creation over quick returns. He also authored The Messy Marketplace: Selling Your Business in a World of Imperfect Buyers, reflecting his belief in thoughtful transitions and is also the founder of Main Street Summit which gathers business owners, operators, investors, and teams in Columbia Missouri. For more on Brent you can find him on social as well as www.permanentequity.com Enjoy the show!

Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez joined NewsTalk KZRG to discuss the new MOmentum Bike Park, and Memorial Hall. Join Ted, Steve, and Lucas for the KZRG Morning Newswatch!

The Stirring meets at 5:30 pm on Sundays.—Stay connected with The Stirring at Hope Church in Memphis, TN:Website • HopeChurchMemphis.comIInstagram • @TheStirringAtHopeTikTok • @TheStirringAtHopeFacebook • @TheStirringAtHopePrayer • HopeChurchMemphis.com/PrayerGiving • HopeChurchMemphis.com/Give

On today's episode of the Fast Life Podcast, I'm sitting down with Frank, the man behind Speed Dealer Performance, in his historic Route 66 building, House of Speed, in Joplin, Missouri.  Speed Dealer brought high-quality, precision, American-made billet performance-oriented swingarms and many other components to the motorcycle industry a few years back and has set a high standard for quality craftsmanship and customer service!    website: https://speeddealercustoms.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speeddealer @TheFastLifeGarage   Join our Patreon community to gain access to our Patreon-only podcast, Garage Talk, our chat room, and ad-free episodes! https://Www.patreon.com/fastlifegare   Big thanks to our Show Sponsors   ⚡️ @arlennessmotorcycles https://www.arlenness.com Code "FASTLIFE10" for 10% off   ⚡️ @cowboyhdaustin https://www.cowboyharleyAustin.com   ⚡️ @customdynamics Https://www.customdynamics.com    ⚡️ @lawtigersdallastexas https://lawtigers.com 1-800-LAW-TIGERS   ⚡️ @rwd__vtwin https://www.rwdvtwin.com Code "Fastlife" for 10% off 

Dr. Mwangi with Joplin schools joined NewsTalk KZRG to discuss the Joplin school's Annual Performance Report scores. Join Ted, Steve, and Lucas for the KZRG Morning Newswatch!

Hey there friends and weirdos! This week we add a little entomology creamer into our New Age spiritual enlightenment coffee with the tale of...the Butterfly People. When a massive crop circle depicting the Vitruvian Man as a Butterfly Man pops up in the Netherlands, skeptics and believers alike are baffled. Was this design man-made, as the lying media would like to suggest? Or is it alien, perhaps even cosmic, in its design? We tie this event into a bizarre phenomenon that would occur only a few years later: the Butterfly People of Joplin. All this and much more!

Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez joined NewsTalk KZRG to discuss memorial hall, the finance committee, and burning in city limits. Join Ted, Steve, and Lucas for the KZRG Morning Newswatch!

Pastor Joplin, referencing Song of Solomon 4:4, speaks on implementing the weapons God has provided in your life for spiritual warfare

Meet Saw and Brittany Naing, the husband-and-wife team powering Ojai's rock-and-roll barbecue joint Joplin's — and the culinary force many locals already know from The Dutchess. Saw grew up in Myanmar under military rule, fronting a heavy-metal band whose politically charged lyrics earned him unwelcome attention from the junta before he emigrated to Los Angeles in 2007.Los Angeles Times+1 In California kitchens he traded guitar amps for grill grates, cooking everywhere from Bouchon and Café Pinot to Tallula's in Santa Monica before finally landing in Ojai as chef-partner at The Dutchess, where he cooks a deeply personal Burmese-Indian-meets-California menu.Ojai Food and Wine+1Brittany came up through the music world too, running an online music publication, De La Vie TV, before moving into restaurants, eventually becoming beverage director at The Dutchess and creating Namari, a cult-favorite non-alcoholic amaro.Namari+3Joplin's+3Podbay+3 Together they dreamed up Joplin's — named for the dog who adopted them during the pandemic — a “food, drinks, rock & roll” roadhouse on East Ojai Avenue where Texas-style barbecue picks up Burmese and Indian accents, local meat and produce, and a seriously dialed-in playlist.Eater LA+4Joplin's+4Los Angeles Times+4In this episode we talk about Saw's journey from Rangoon stages to Ojai smokers, Brittany's path from showrunner to beverage innovator, the near-miss rock-and-roll pop-up that Covid canceled, and how they've poured every second act of their lives into Joplin's and The Dutchess. It's a conversation about risk, reinvention, and what happens when you take “low and slow” as a life philosophy, not just a way to cook ribs.We did not talk about whether Limp Bizkit is actually nu-metal, cloning polo ponies or the consequences of the Foreign Plot on the French Revolution. To learn more about Saw & Brittany, check ot https://www.joplinsojai.com

Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez joined NewsTalk KZRG to discuss city pay and social media. Join Ted, and Steve for the KZRG Morning Newswatch!

Pastor Joplin shares a personal message that God has placed on his heart Ref - Acts, Ch. 16

The Stirring meets at 5:30 pm on Sundays.—Stay connected with The Stirring at Hope Church in Memphis, TN:Website • HopeChurchMemphis.comInstagram • @TheStirringAtHopeTikTok • @Hope4MemphisFacebook • @TheStirringAtHopePrayer • HopeChurchMemphis.com/PrayerGiving • HopeChurchMemphis.com/Give

We have the absolute pleasure this week of chatting with our friend and brother, Aaron DuRall. Aaron talks to us about growing up in Joplin, Missouri, finding his voice in hardcore and in country music, and what motivated him to recently record and release some exceptional songs. For this edition of record club, we explore George Strait's "Strait from the Heart," Whiskeytown's "Stranger's Almanac," and Tyler Childers' "Bottles and Bibles." We don't toss away what we love.

In this episode, Jared Flinn sits down with Ben Huston from the Iowa 80 Group — home of the World's Largest Truck Stop — to talk about the incredible history behind Iowa 80, how the company supports America's truck drivers, and what makes their locations in Walcott, IA, Joplin, MO, and Kenly, NC a home away from home for drivers across the country. Ben shares stories from his journey in the trucking world, the legacy of the Moon family who started it all, and what it takes to run a truck stop with 900 parking spaces, 24 showers, and nine restaurants — all designed with drivers in mind. Plus, hear about the exciting new partnership between BulkLoads and Iowa 80 offering major fuel savings (up to 70–80¢/gallon) through the BulkLoads Fuel Card, along with discounts at Truckomat washouts and CAT Scale locations nationwide. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/onji5492wbg

Did you know the term “hybrid mattress” didn't exist until one bold idea sparked a $100M+ industry shift? Here's the wild story.Ever wondered who invented the “hybrid mattress”—and why it matters for your health and business? This episode reveals how Mark Kinsley, industry disruptor and host of The FAM Podcast, helped redefine the way the world sleeps. From humble beginnings as a late-night DJ to leading billion-dollar brands, Kinsley shares stories about surviving the Joplin tornado, creating viral marketing campaigns (with elephants!), and how he turned a simple podcast into a thriving community and the must-attend Sleep Summit.If you've ever struggled to stand out in a sea of sameness, felt overwhelmed by industry consolidation, or questioned whether your mattress actually supports your health, this conversation is your playbook. Kinsley drops actionable wisdom for sleep professionals, retailers, and anyone obsessed with better sleep: from engineering memorable customer “transitions” to harnessing AI in your business.Plus, hear the untold story behind the term “hybrid,” why kindness and honor are non-negotiable in leadership, and why community—not competition—will define the next era of the sleep industry. Ready to transform your approach to sleep science, business, and personal growth? Hit play.Timestamps:- 00:53 – The surprising story behind 650+ episodes and a 25-year commitment- 05:30 – Why “hybrid” mattresses didn't exist (and how one campaign changed everything)- 11:57 – The $100M secret: How content atomization turned a word into a movement- 16:10 – What it's like leading at Leggett & Platt and Englander- 19:40 – The life-changing lessons from a tornado (and a mattress career pivot)- 23:01 – Mattress buying: Why the real emotion is fear, not excitement- 32:55 – How The FAM grew from podcast to community to Sleep Summit- 38:03 – The “secret sauce” of creating unforgettable transitions (and customer delight)- 52:54 – AI for mattress professionals: What you need to know NOW- 1:03:25 – The industry's biggest challenge no one is talking aboutConnect with The FAM Podcast:

The Stirring meets at 5:30 pm on Sundays.This series is for anyone seeking authentic faith, honest conversations, and a deeper understanding of God's word—whether you're deconstructing, in recovery, or just searching for real answers in a divided world.—Stay connected with The Stirring at Hope Church in Memphis, TN:Website • HopeChurchMemphis.comInstagram • @TheStirringAtHopeTikTok • @Hope4MemphisFacebook • @TheStirringAtHopePrayer • HopeChurchMemphis.com/PrayerGiving • HopeChurchMemphis.com/Give

Meet Saw and Brittany Naing — the husband-and-wife team behind Ojai's new rock-and-roll-tinged barbecue spot, Joplin's, and the culinary force you already know from The Dutchess. Saw is executive chef and partner at The Dutchess, where his Burmese-Indian roots shape one of Ojai's most celebrated menus; at Joplin's, he channels that same precision into brisket and ribs, leaning on good cuts, time, and low, slow heat.Brittany runs the front of house at Joplin's, setting the tone for a room that's equal parts hospitality, comfort food, and guitar-amp energy. Instagram+4The Dutchess+4Saveur+4We talk about the juggle — how you staff and multi-task across two restaurants — and why culture beats chaos in a busy kitchen. Saw traces his path from Bouchon and Tallula's to becoming chef-partner at The Dutchess, and, yes, his years as a guitarist (with a soft spot for nu-metal like Korn) before kitchens became his stage. Brittany shares how the couple met working in LA restaurants, and why Joplin's leans into “food, drinks, and rock & roll” without losing sight of the essentials.Plus: why Niman Ranch ribs, a dialed-in brisket, and a FOH that truly sees guests are the secret to Ojai's newest staple. Instagram+6Variety+6Eater LA+6We talked about the daily grind, weightlifting and superior sides. We did not talk about Mickey Mantle's off-the-field antics, bauxite production in Western Australia or the Flying Dutchman.Learn more at https://www.joplinsojai.com/ or https://www.thedutchessojai.com/

Kristen and Kent Cristy didn't plan to take over Reeves Tire in Joplin, MO. But when John Reeves, Kristen's father and founder of the business, faced a health scare in the late '90s, they stepped in together and never looked back.Kent gave up a future in medicine to help his community stay on the road, learning every inch of the business from the ground up. Kristen brought her sharp attention to detail and managed the office, handling payroll, HR, and everything behind the scenes.In 2000, they officially bought the business. Over the next two decades, they opened two more locations, navigated a devastating fire, and kept the Reeves Tire name strong in Joplin, MO.In today's episode, Johnny g talks to Kristen and Kent about growing a business as partners in work and life, why they've focused more on stability than scale, and what it means to preserve a legacy.

In this episode, Dr. Nathaniel Wilson begins by discussing the transformative power of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He highlights the Midnight Cry Preaching Conference that was recently hosted by Pastor Moses Mendoza at Apostolic Tabernacle Church in Stockton, CA. Dr. Wilson also mentions his honor of being inducted this week into the Ministerial Hall of Fame class of 2025 sponsored by Apostolic Archives International in Joplin, MO.

Yesterday was a nostalgic kind of day for me. 15 years ago yesterday we hosted our very first gathering and called it a retreat. It was the most unimpressive, duct taped together event you've ever seen, in the basement of Joplin, MO city hall. Looking back it's almost embarrassing … But it was the beginning. […]

Doug Stuart welcomes back James Whitford, founder of Watered Gardens and the True Charity Initiative, for an in-depth discussion on his new book, The Crisis of Dependency: How Our Efforts to Solve Poverty Are Trapping People in It, and What We Can Do to Foster Freedom Instead. James shares the journey from launching a small local ministry in Joplin, Missouri, to spearheading a national movement focused on transforming how we address poverty.Diving into the roots of toxic charity and the pitfalls of well-intended handouts, James explains how our charitable efforts often create cycles of dependency—rather than empowering those in need. He unpacks the principles of true charity: it should be privately funded, outcome-driven, and challenge-oriented, always respecting the dignity and agency of every individual.Doug and James also explore practical steps for compassionate, effective giving, the important role of relationships in overcoming poverty, and how churches and organizations can shift from relief-based to empowerment-based ministry. With references to Frédéric Bastiat, John Stuart Mill, and powerful personal anecdotes, this episode challenges listeners to rethink what it means to truly help—and to foster real freedom in their communities.Crisis of Dependency Book Description:Millions in the U.S. are trapped in cycles of poverty due to well-meaning but misguided charitable models. In The Crisis of Dependency, James Whitford, Founder of Watered Gardens Ministries, shares how our compassion often perpetuates the very problems we aim to solve. Through personal stories, firsthand experience, and research, he reveals that handouts offer temporary relief but deepen dependency.James has worked for decades with those struggling with homelessness and poverty and after a brief stint of living on the streets, he recognized that what most people in poverty need isn't material aid alone, but a path to self-sufficiency. Inspired by thought leaders like Marvin Olasky and Robert D. Lupton, and drawing from his own ministry, Whitford reimagined charity as one that restores dignity through relationship and accountability. His work has transformed lives by helping individuals build the skills and mindset needed for long-term success.This book offers a blueprint for those who want to move beyond transactional charity. James invites readers to embrace approaches that challenge the status quo and cultivate meaningful, sustainable change in communities.Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI!Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

In this inspiring episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with James Whitford, founder of True Charity in Joplin, Missouri. What began as a heartfelt effort to serve the homeless through Watered Gardens Ministry became a journey of discovery about what truly helps people escape poverty. Whitford shares how he realized that one-way charity—simply giving without accountability—was trapping people in dependency rather than setting them free. His transformative model focuses on restoring dignity through work, reciprocity, and personal responsibility, helping individuals rediscover their worth and potential. Now, through True Charity, Whitford is teaching nonprofits and churches nationwide how to move from relief to empowerment. He explains why America faces a “crisis of dependency,” how toxic charity has taken root in both public and private aid, and how local organizations can lead a national shift toward outcomes-driven, privately funded, work-oriented solutions. This episode is a powerful reminder that real compassion doesn't just meet needs—it unleashes potential.

Fort Hays State travels to Joplin to face Missouri Southern State at Fred G. Hughes Statdium on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

The Stirring meets at 5:30 pm on Sundays.This series is for anyone seeking authentic faith, honest conversations, and a deeper understanding of God's word—whether you're deconstructing, in recovery, or just searching for real answers in a divided world.—Stay connected with The Stirring at Hope Church in Memphis, TN:Website • HopeChurchMemphis.comInstagram • @TheStirringAtHopeTikTok • @Hope4MemphisFacebook • @TheStirringAtHopePrayer • HopeChurchMemphis.com/PrayerGiving • HopeChurchMemphis.com/Give

What if the unseen world is not just something to fear but something to learn from?In Out of the Darkness, Into the Light, paranormal investigators Cara Cilento and Gail Gamble take readers on an extraordinary journey through some of the most haunted locations, eerie artifacts, and chilling personal encounters with the supernatural. Drawing from years of firsthand experiences, they blend historical intrigue with deeply personal insights, uncovering not just spirits, but the lessons they leave behind.From haunted asylums to cursed objects, every case reveals more than just a ghost story—it explores the imprints of human emotion, trauma, and the echoes of history that refuse to fade. Through their investigations, the authors invite readers to see the paranormal as more than mere mystery, but as a mirror reflecting our own fears, hopes, and the unresolved chapters of our past.Part memoir, part supernatural exploration, this book is a compelling guide for seekers of the unknown, skeptics looking for answers, and anyone who has ever felt a chill in the air and wondered: What if something is truly there?Step beyond the veil and embrace the unknown—you may just find the light within the darkness.BioGail GambleGail Gamble first became interested in the paranormal as a child in Joplin, Missouri when her parents took her to visit the “Spook Light”. Since then she and her brothers would visit cemeteries rumored to be haunted. She found a new paranormal partner in Cara Cilento and together they run Nine Lives Paranormal. Always the healthy skeptic, she constantly seeks why but admits sometimes the knocks and creaks are not the pipes! She works closely with equipment developers in Italy hoping to bring international knowledge of the paranormal to the United States. Gail can be seen on Haunt TV, In Search of Hauntings and has authored Out of Darkness, Into the Light as well as The Pen and the Planchette.BioCara CilentoCara Cilento is a paranormal researcher, investigator, and author. She is part of a team of exorcists and is the co-owner of the Nine Lives Paranormal. Cara has been featured on Haunt TV, In Search of Hauntings and countless podcasts. Her books include Out of the Darkness, Into the Light and, The Pen and the Planchette.https://www.ninelivesparanormal.com/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DWPXS54G https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlifeMy book 'Verified Near Death Experiences' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXKRGDFP Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the unseen world is not just something to fear but something to learn from?In Out of the Darkness, Into the Light, paranormal investigators Cara Cilento and Gail Gamble take readers on an extraordinary journey through some of the most haunted locations, eerie artifacts, and chilling personal encounters with the supernatural. Drawing from years of firsthand experiences, they blend historical intrigue with deeply personal insights, uncovering not just spirits, but the lessons they leave behind.From haunted asylums to cursed objects, every case reveals more than just a ghost story—it explores the imprints of human emotion, trauma, and the echoes of history that refuse to fade. Through their investigations, the authors invite readers to see the paranormal as more than mere mystery, but as a mirror reflecting our own fears, hopes, and the unresolved chapters of our past.Part memoir, part supernatural exploration, this book is a compelling guide for seekers of the unknown, skeptics looking for answers, and anyone who has ever felt a chill in the air and wondered: What if something is truly there?Step beyond the veil and embrace the unknown—you may just find the light within the darkness.BioGail GambleGail Gamble first became interested in the paranormal as a child in Joplin, Missouri when her parents took her to visit the “Spook Light”. Since then she and her brothers would visit cemeteries rumored to be haunted. She found a new paranormal partner in Cara Cilento and together they run Nine Lives Paranormal. Always the healthy skeptic, she constantly seeks why but admits sometimes the knocks and creaks are not the pipes! She works closely with equipment developers in Italy hoping to bring international knowledge of the paranormal to the United States. Gail can be seen on Haunt TV, In Search of Hauntings and has authored Out of Darkness, Into the Light as well as The Pen and the Planchette.BioCara CilentoCara Cilento is a paranormal researcher, investigator, and author. She is part of a team of exorcists and is the co-owner of the Nine Lives Paranormal. Cara has been featured on Haunt TV, In Search of Hauntings and countless podcasts. Her books include Out of the Darkness, Into the Light and, The Pen and the Planchette.https://www.ninelivesparanormal.com/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DWPXS54G https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlifeMy book 'Verified Near Death Experiences' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXKRGDFP Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 428 of Friends Talking Nerdy is a celebration of women who didn't just rock the stage but bent the rules of the game, reshaped culture, and left scorch marks on the history of music. Professor Aubrey and Tim the Nerd dive into their favorite women rock and roll stars, not just rattling off names but unpacking what made these artists lightning rods for change.The conversation moves track by track like a lovingly curated mixtape, which they made availble on YouTube. They start with Pat Benatar's anthemic “We Belong,” discussing how Benatar combined powerhouse vocals with a sense of vulnerability that made her a radio staple without softening her edge. From there, they barrel into the raw energy of Janis Joplin's “Move Over,” talking about how Joplin embodied a feral, unapologetic energy that made her voice feel like a declaration of war. Kathleen Hanna and Le Tigre's “Much Finer” prompts Aubrey to bring in the riot grrrl movement, with Tim marveling at how Hanna's blend of activism and art feels more vital now than ever.When Jefferson Airplane's “Somebody to Love” comes up, they highlight Grace Slick's psychedelic snarl and how she stood toe-to-toe with the male counterculture icons of her era. Joan Jett's “Bad Reputation” naturally gets both of them fired up—Tim noting how Jett weaponized punk's simplicity, while Aubrey points out that her career longevity is proof she wasn't just a “bad girl” novelty. They lean into Stevie Nicks' “Edge of Seventeen,” marveling at her voice's mythic qualities and the way she carved out her own witchy rock persona that still resonates across generations.From The Pretenders' “Back on the Chain Gang” to Blondie's “One Way or Another,” the hosts highlight the unique blend of grit and sophistication Chrissie Hynde and Debbie Harry brought to the table. Tina Turner's “Private Dancer” inspires a passionate sidebar on resilience, survival, and the way Turner reinvented herself against impossible odds. And Hole's “Celebrity Skin” brings the discussion full circle, with Aubrey making the case that Courtney Love's voice—half sneer, half scream—was a necessary counterweight to the sanitized pop machine of the late ‘90s.After the amps cool down, the duo pivot to television, giving their first impressions of South Park's Season 27 debut. They note how the new season takes aim at the current American political landscape with a sharpness and weird clarity the show hasn't always nailed in recent years. Tim points out that the difference between South Park's take on the first Trump Administration years and now is like night and day—back then, the writers seemed shell-shocked, unsure how to lampoon chaos that already felt like satire. Professor Aubrey adds that the new season feels more like the show's golden years, where cultural absurdity is filtered through the bizarre but laser-focused worldview of four Colorado kids. Together, they agree that this season might mark a creative resurgence for the long-running series.The episode balances music history and cultural commentary with the usual Friends Talking Nerdy flavor—part nerdy scholarship, part passionate fan energy. By the end, listeners get both a playlist of iconic women who changed the sound of rock forever and a thoughtful dive into how South Park still finds a way to speak to the strange moment we're all living through.As always, we wish to thank Christopher Lazarek for his wonderful theme song. Head to his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for information on how to purchase his EP, Here's To You, which is available on all digital platforms.Head to Friends Talking Nerdy's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for more information on where to find us online.

Janis Joplin's untimely death on October 4, 1970, marked a profound loss for rock music just sixteen days after Jimi Hendrix's passing. We explore her remarkable legacy, breakthrough at the Monterey Pop Festival, and participation in the legendary Festival Express train tour across Canada.• Janis Joplin died at age 27 with only four albums released, yet her impact remains enormous• "Mercedes-Benz" was the last song Joplin recorded before her death• The Festival Express train tour featured impromptu jam sessions with Joplin, The Grateful Dead, and The Band• Room 105 at the former Landmark Motor Hotel (now Highland Gardens Hotel) has become a shrine to Joplin• We compare rankings of greatest female vocalists across genres, including Ann Wilson, Stevie Nicks, and Whitney Houston• Notable discussion of other musical icons including David Bowie's "Scary Monsters" album, Genesis' "Turn It on Again" Split Enz "I Got You" and The Cure "Close to Me"You can reach us at musicinmyshoes@gmail.com. Please like and follow the Music in My Shoes Facebook and Instagram pages.Send us a one-way message. We can't answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!!

The Stirring meets at 5:30 pm on Sundays.This series is for anyone seeking authentic faith, honest conversations, and a deeper understanding of God's word—whether you're deconstructing, in recovery, or just searching for real answers in a divided world.—Stay connected with The Stirring at Hope Church in Memphis, TN:Website • HopeChurchMemphis.comInstagram • @TheStirringAtHopeTikTok • @Hope4MemphisFacebook • @TheStirringAtHopePrayer • HopeChurchMemphis.com/PrayerGiving • HopeChurchMemphis.com/Give

TW:  We do at one point briefly discuss suicide, so if this is a problem for you, feel free to skip the part about the spooklight's origins, which is where the discussion happens.  This week, Arthur talks school ande grandma, Laura talks her recent birthday (other Virgos holla!) and then we talk the Hornet Spooklight.  Seen over E 50 Road better known as spooklight road to the locals.  The area is also called the Devil's Promenade and the Spooklight is often seen over this cursed stretch of ground.  It lets viewers chase it, often dodging out of the way or going behind them.  Skeptics say it's reflections from the road.  Non-skeptics say it's been reported by indigenous Americans in the area for hundreds of years.  We talk it's origins, it's histories and so much more in this first episode of Spooky Season specials in the Family Plot Podcast!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/family-plot--4670465/support.