Podcasts about Just Mercy

Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroominalist, 2024 CrimeCon Clue Award, True Crime Book of the YearWinner, 2025 Georgia Independent Author of the Year (Memoir)Winner, 2025 Georgia Spotlight Award (GIAA)Like a nonfiction John Grisham thriller with echoes of Rainman, Just Mercy, and a captivating smalltown Southern setting, this is the fascinating true story—sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking—of an idealistic young lawyer determined to free an innocent neurodivergent man accused of murdering the wife no one knew he had. Want to be a guest on Book 101 Review? Send Daniel Lucas a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17372807971394464fea5bae3hyrvyN-bazta9-kojkur acast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Mel sits down with one of the most extraordinary guests to ever appear on this podcast. If you've ever asked yourself: What's my purpose? How can I make a difference? How do I stay hopeful when the world feels broken? This is the conversation that will change the way you think about your own power to lead a life that matters. Bryan Stevenson is Mel's personal hero, and what he shares in this episode will change how you see yourself. He is a world-renowned civil rights lawyer and author of Just Mercy, one of the most powerful books of our time which was turned into a movie in which Michael B. Jordan played Bryan. Bryan is the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and has argued and won cases before the United States Supreme Court. He has saved over 140 people from death row, many of them who were wrongly convicted, and his work has fundamentally transformed the conversation about justice, mercy, and human dignity. His life's mission is proving one powerful truth: You are not defined by your worst mistake. And neither is anyone else. This episode will shake you, open you, and move you to action. You'll learn: – 3 life-changing lessons from the lawyer who's saved 140 lives – The mindset that will help you stay hopeful, even in the darkest moments – Why compassion is courage — and how to practice it daily – How to live a life that reflects what you truly believe – Why the smallest actions often create the biggest change If you're feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or unsure how to make a real difference, this episode is for you. For more resources, click here for the podcast episode page. If you liked this episode, you'll love listening to this one next: How to Find Your Purpose & Design the Life You WantConnect with Mel:  Get Mel's #1 bestselling book, The Let Them TheoryWatch the episodes on YouTubeFollow Mel on Instagram The Mel Robbins Podcast InstagramMel's TikTok Sign up for Mel's personal letter Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes ad-freeDisclaimer

You are more than your grades, your struggles, or your past, says Bryan Stevenson (author of Just Mercy and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative). Stevenson shares his journey defending the wrongly accused and why he's hopeful about the next generation. Click here for this episode's transcript.The conversation was produced by Kiran Bhatia from Brookline, MA. Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske produced this episode with editing and mixing by Genesis Magpayo and help from Wyatt Mayes. Ryan Janes is the camera and audio operator.  

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“There is a strength, a power even, in understanding brokenness, because embracing our brokenness creates a need and desire for mercy, and perhaps a corresponding need to show mercy. When you experience mercy, you learn things that are hard to learn otherwise. You see things you can't otherwise see; you hear things you can't otherwise hear. You begin to recognize the humanity that resides in each of us.”~Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy “On the cross we see God doing visibly and cosmically what every human being must do to forgive someone, although on an infinitely greater scale. I would argue, of course, that human forgiveness works this way because we unavoidably reflect the image of our creator. That is why we should not be surprised if we sense that the only way to triumph over evil is to go through the suffering of forgiveness, that this would be far more true of God, whose just passion to defeat evil and loving desire to forgive others are both infinitely greater than ours.”  ~Tim Keller, The Reason for God “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”~Pablo PicassoSERMON PASSAGEHebrews 9:15-28 (ESV) 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. 23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Send us a textJoin me for a compelling conversation with my guest, Dameon Wroe. His story is one of struggle, survival, and ultimately, redemption. Growing up in Southern California, Dameon faced challenges early on. After his parents' divorce, he lived with his sister and, by his teenage years, had already experienced run-ins with the police. He learned his lesson and set out to become a police officer, studying law enforcement in college.Music became his avocation. He performed at the Roxy, and was discovered by The Whispers—an iconic R&B group known for hits like "And the Beat Goes On" and "Rock Steady." He landed a record deal with Capitol Records. It seemed like he was on his way to stardom.But life took a drastic turn. While working as a security officer and preparing to enter law enforcement, Dameon found himself on the wrong side of the justice system. He endured the trauma of wrongful accusations, jury trials, and a million-dollar bail that kept him locked up. Books like Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson and The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander give us a powerful background for Dameon's journey.Dameon just published his fifth book - a captivating account of his painful journey - The Road to Redemption (July 2024). It's the “non-fictional story of an author's relentless pursuit of justice, and full vindication. After being wrongfully arrested and maliciously prosecuted for murder, Dameon tells the truthful version about what happened on the night of January 1, 2004.”Now, as an author, motivational speaker, mentor, and life coach, Dameon draws on his experience to inspire change. Join us on this episode as we unpack the realities of the justice system, share this story of resilience, and spark conversations that matter. SHOW NOTES Support the showBecome a Patron - Click on the link to learn how you can become a Patron of the show. Thank you! Ken's Substack Page The Podcast Official Site: TheBeachedWhiteMale.com

Each Friday during Black History Month, Mayor Arceneaux highlights an individual whose impact, courage, and achievements inspire us all. Their stories remind us of the resilience, innovation, and leadership that have shaped history.This Friday, his inspiration is Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer, social justice activist, and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. Bryan Stevenson has dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of marginalized communities. His work challenging wrongful convictions and advocating for criminal justice reform has changed countless lives. His bestselling book Just Mercy sheds light on systemic injustices and continues to inspire change. Enjoy!

Send us a textEpisode 525"American Primeval"Dominic BogartThey very kind Dominic Bogart joins me to talk about his career and  "American Primeval".   Dominic is low key excellent in his role as "Frank Cook" We break down his character, working with Dane DeHaan, Peter Berg and some deleted scenes that did not make it into the final cut.Dominic Bogart is an actor, musician, and horseman who grew up riding racehorses in rural Ohio. He briefly played football for the Bearcats at the University of Cincinnati where he earned a BFA in Dramatic Performance from the College-Conservatory of Music. Before headlining the Sundance Film Festival music drama, I AM NOT A HIPSTER, and the SXSW Film Festival sci-fi drama, EXTRACTED, Bogart performed on stages in front of over a million live audience members in the US and Europe. Notable theatre credits include leading roles in JERSEY BOYS and RENT, as well as live performances alongside Alicia Keys, Bon Jovi, Christina Aguilera, Mike Reid, and Dave Chapelle. He has recurred on several TV shows and recently acted in Fox Searchlight's THE BIRTH OF A NATION, Lionsgate's THE GLASS CASTLE, and Warner Bros' JUST MERCY.Welcome, Dominic Bogart.#americanprimeval #americanwest #netflixseries #western #westernmovies #westernmovies #shorts Reach out to Darek Thomas and Monday Morning Critic!Instagram:   / mondaymorningcritic  Facebook:   / mondaymorningcritic  TikTok:   / mondaymorningcritic  Mondaymorningcritic@gmail.com

Recording of Off the Shelf Radio Show from WDLR with co-hosts Nicole Fowles and Molly LaBadie with guests Kinjal, Shreya, Varshita, and Harshini who are all sophomores at Olentangy High School.  This week we chat about a presentation Kinjal, Shreya, Varshita, and Harshini are doing for HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) about the loneliness epidemic and ways the Library can help too.  And, of course, what we're reading!!  Recommendations include Christmas, Criminals, and Campers by Tonya Kappes, Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson, and Nicole talks about a list of recommended mysteries made by the Library Teen Advisory Board (TAB). Read more about today's episode here.  Listen live every Friday morning at 9 AM https://my967.net/program-schedule/off-the-shelf/ This episode originally aired on January 3, 2025.

Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, shouted and struggled with law enforcement Tuesday before entering a Pennsylvania courthouse for an extradition hearing. Mangione was denied bail and contested extradition to New York.Albertsons called off a $25 billion merger with rival Kroger after a judge temporarily halted the deal. The grocery chain is also suing Kroger for willful breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. CBS News Moneywatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady explains the latest developments.While Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was playing in an NFL game on Monday, authorities say someone was breaking into his Ohio home. It's the latest in a string of burglaries targeting the homes of NBA and NFL athletes. In October, the homes of Kansas City Chiefs superstars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into just days apart.A new consumer survey shows package thieves have stolen from 14 million Americans in just the last three months. National consumer correspondent Usher Quraishi shows how to protect yourself from porch pirates.The end-of-the-year holiday travel rush begins next week and AAA is expecting more than 119 million travelers. Most, 107 million, will drive, with gas prices nearly $.15 cheaper than a year ago.Civil rights lawyer and activist Bryan Stevenson revisits his award-winning memoir "Just Mercy" with a new edition that reflects on its enduring impact.Emily Bear, co-creator of "The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical Album," has worked with Beyoncé and co-written songs for "Moana Two." Natalie Morales visits her Los Angeles studio to see her creative process."Sonic the Hedgehog 3" brings back director Jeff Fowler and introduces Keanu Reeves as Shadow, Sonic's powerful and enigmatic rival from the video games. They join "CBS Mornings."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

October 2024 Dante's Old South Major Jackson is the author of six books of poetry, including Razzle Dazzle: New & Selected Poems (2023) and The Absurd Man (2020). He is also the author of A Beat Beyond: The Selected Prose of Major Jackson . A recipient of fellowships from the Academy of American Poets, The National Endowment for the Arts, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, Major Jackson has been awarded a Pushcart Prize and has been honored by the Pew Fellowship in the Arts and the Witter Bynner Foundation in conjunction with the Library of Congress. Major Jackson lives in Nashville, Tennessee where he is the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair in the Humanities at Vanderbilt University. He serves as the Poetry Editor of The Harvard Review and hosts the podcast – The Slowdown. www.majorjackson.com Tim Blake Nelson is an actor, writer, director, and producer who has appeared in over ninety films including Just Mercy, Lincoln, Holes, The Incredible Hulk, Meet the Fockers, Minority Report, O Brother Where Art Thou?, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and Old Henry. Other recent acting credits set for release in 2023 and 2024 include The Bricklayer, Bang Bang, Captain America: New World Order, and Invisibles. His playwriting credits include Socrates, Anadarko, The Grey Zone and Eye of God, the last two of which Nelson adapted and directed for the screen. Other film directing credits include O, Leaves of Grass, and Anesthesia the last two of which he also wrote. His first novel, City of Blows, was published earlier this year and will be released as a paperback in early 2024. Geoffrey Owens was born and raised in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. He attended New York City public schools before attending Yale University.He has had a notable career as a teacher and an actor. On television, he played ‘Elvin' on NBC's “The Cosby Show,” as well as roles on numerous other shows, including “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Power,” and “Divorce.” He currently lives in Montclair, New Jersey. He thanks Josette for all her support. https://shorturl.at/y4m5D Seth Ingram is a seasoned film producer, educator, and Creative Director of the Rome International Film Festival (RIFF), where he has elevated the event into one of Georgia's most celebrated showcases for independent cinema. As the founder of the Film Program at Georgia Highlands College, Seth also serves as Division Chair of Film, Theatre, and Digital Entertainment, where he mentors emerging filmmakers. His production work includes films such as Signing Day, Spirit Halloween: The Movie, and Outlaw Posse. Recently, he was named one of Georgia's most influential figures in the creative economy by Georgia Entertainment News. Mobley, acclaimed indie singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, returns with a rhapsodic new single, "Y'r Ghost," via Last Gang Records / MNRK Music Group. Written, performed, and produced by Mobley himself, this release signals his reemergence from the studio, where he's been fervently crafting the sci-fi epic foreshadowed on his late 2022 EP Cry Havoc!. “Y'r Ghost” offers a first glimpse of the next installment of this sweeping sonic and narrative world. www.mobleywho.com Additional Music by: Logan Mac “Dance Under Stars” Special Thanks Goes to Our Sponsors: Lucid House Press: www.lucidhousepublishing.com Whispers of the Flight: https://shorturl.at/eAhoD The Crown: www.thecrownbrasstown.com The Red Phone Booth: www.redphonebooth.com Bright Hill Press: www.brighthillpress.org UCLA Extension Writing Program: www.uclaextension.edu Mercer University Press: www.mupress.org NPR: https: www.npr.org WUTC: www.wutc.org The host, Clifford Brooks', The Draw of Broken Eyes & Whirling Metaphysics, Athena Departs, and Old Gods are available everywhere books are sold. Find them all here: https://shorturl.at/Fwv48 Check out his Teachable courses, The Working Writer and Adulting with Autism, here: https://shorturl.at/9bsU3

Send us a textDaniel K. Forkkio is CEO of Represent Justice, building a critical mass of “system-impacted storytellers” using film and media to mobilize audiences to take action and transform the legal system. Because, those closest to the problem are closest to the solution. About this transformational approach to filmmaking, Daniel says, “What I started to learn about these (grassroots) films is that the films themselves were part of the reconciliation process for the person that had gone through a (traumatic) experience. And so, the act of writing down what had happened, thinking about their audience, the different characters ... and what were the myths around those characters. And what did they want the audience to do and think and feel concerned about, allowed for a reconciliation of all of the different frames that they had been told about their story … and allowed for a different level of control and empowerment around their story. And then, with the film screening, they could go to their local community, their local council members, their local community partners and they could just gather people differently. When you learn together, and when you learn someone's story and see how it connects to yours, it just creates this inspiration and this understanding that allows you to tell your story more effectively.” In the 5 years since inception, RJ now has people in 20 different states producing films & campaigns about their own lived experience, learning and growing from one another in ways that are completely transformative. RJ provides training, support, compensation and mental health resources ... all of which culminates in folks being able to produce a campaign about their unique personal experience rather than relying on whatever Hollywood has produced most recently. For this exceptional work Daniel was recently named a 2024 Elevate Prize winner, chosen alongside 9 other nonprofit leaders from across the globe for leading some of the most impactful missions to change our world for the better. RJ began as part of the impact campaign for the highly acclaimed Hollywood film, Just Mercy, starring Jamie Foxx and Michael Jordan, about the life of acclaimed public interest lawyer, Bryan Stevenson, and the civil rights work he does helping the incarcerated and the condemned. A policy expert conversant in the film's core issues, Daniel witnessed something remarkable at the screening and advocacy events he organized for Just Mercy - the unexpected impact of the people present connecting with each other through their own real life stories of similar lived experience. Says Daniel, "It got me thinking … what about this power of firsthand storytelling should extend beyond a campaign? What if we we were constantly working with folks who were impacted by this issue and, in fact, what if they were the ones producing the film? What if it wasn't a matter of a Hollywood actor? What if it wasn't as much a matter of a studio release? What if impacted folks, in their communities, had these skills of convening and using film as a medium? And, that became really the blueprint for Represent Justice." Learn more and watch some of these magnificent films at RepresentJustice.org@danielforkkio@werepjusticeShare your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, author of Just Mercy, thinks with Kelly about repair in the face of deep societal ruptures. Can memorials transform thinking?  Can laying bare  injustice and its personal and collective effects foster a collective understanding -- followed by a durable commitment to equity?  From Berlin to South Africa to Montgomery, Alabama, people are confronting past harms and leaving with a Never Again spirit that just might save us.  Join us for the special episode in our Rupture and Repair series, sponsored by The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.Previous podcast episode with Bryan Stevenson here.You can watch Kelly's previous video interview with Bryan Stevenson on her PBS show Tell Me More here.(And here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on bravery, which refernces Bryan Stevenson and his grandmother -- please share.)

In this week's episode, we continue our book study on the Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe Chapters 5-8. We reflect deeper on the story and how it relates to our spiritual lives. Themes such as the battle of light and darkness, jealousy and making others feel small, the power of the name of Jesus, surrender vs control and how the story of Narnia is an echo of what our hearts long for in Christ.   Heather's One Thing - Evangelization Ministry of Catholic Christian Outreach  Sister Miriam's One Thing - The women from the “Undone” retreat  Michelle's One Thing - The book “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson   Journal Questions: Who can I go to who will speak wisdom into my life? Like Edmund, are there any places in my life that I feel fear when I think about God? What parts of my heart have been turned to stone and need the warmth of God's hand to bring them back to life?   Discussion Questions: What is one truth about God that you can see in your story? Where do you need to grow into your royal identity as a daughter of God? Discuss the truth about how the name of Jesus contains His presence. How could this change how you pray? “He isn't safe, but He's good.” How have you experienced the truth of this quote?   Quote to Ponder: “"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”” - (Mr. Beaver) C.S. Lewis - The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe   Scripture for Lectio:  "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children." - Revelation 21:4-7   Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction (01:36) - Welcome (03:48) - Discovering the Truth (08:33) - The Professor (14:14) - Going Back into the Wardrobe (15:22) - The Power of Aslan (23:54) - Safety and Goodness (29:56) - One Things

Death, Love and Redemption "In October 1997, the town of Ringgold in northwest Georgia was shaken by reports of a murder in its midst. A dead woman was found in Alvin Ridley's house..."  Georgia attorney-turned-writer, McCracken Poston Jr., joins us live via Zoom to tell the story behind one of his most famous defense cases and his upcoming book, Zenith Man: Death, Love and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom. "Like a nonfiction John Grisham thriller with echoes of Rainman, Just Mercy, and a captivating smalltown Southern setting, this is the fascinating true story—sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking—of an idealistic young lawyer determined to free an innocent neurodivergent man accused of murdering the wife no one knew he had." - from the Publisher McCracken Poston Jr. is a practicing criminal defense attorney and former state legislator in the Georgia House of Representatives. He is a graduate of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and received his law degree from The University of Georgia. He gained national attention for his handling of several notable cases that were featured on CNN Presents, Dateline NBC, A&E's American Justice, and Forensic Files. He lives in Ringgold, Georgia. READ Check out McCracken's work from the library! THE LIBRARY RECOMMENDS True crime stories to investigate: Bone Deep: Untangling the Betsy Faria Murder Case by Charles Bosworth  Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson  Two Truths and a Lie: A Murder, a Private Investigator, and Her Search For Justice by Ellen McGarrahan  --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at https://bit.ly/JaxLibraryUpdates  Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: jplpromotions@coj.net 

Jessica Pryce believed a career at Child Protective Services would be a rewarding way to help keep kids safe. What she learned on the job completely changed her mind, as the system itself kept getting closer and closer to home. Now she's a scholar of the system and works as a public advocate to help change it for the better.  Dr. Jessica Pryce joins us to talk about her new book, Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services—Notes of a Former Caseworker. Pryce earned her Master's of Social Work degree from Florida State University and a PhD from Howard University. She's currently a research professor at Florida State University's College of Social Work.  Transcript JESSICA PRYCE: I was very close to the people I worked with. I was in their homes. I was opening up their kitchen cabinets. I was talking to their neighbors. I was very close. But I wasn't engaging them. I didn't really see them. I was investigating them and objectifying them. BLAIR HODGES: When Jessica Pryce began working for Child Protective Services, she was shocked at some of the living conditions she encountered. She wanted children to be safe, so she worked with the courts and police to figure out who should be taken away from their parents or what parents needed to do to prove their fitness. It was a tough job, and it got even tougher when people she personally loved got wrapped up in the system. She started to see cracks in the foundation—ways the system harmed families instead of helping them. It set her on a path to advocate for big changes. In this episode, Jessica Pryce joins us to talk about her book, Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services. There's no one right way to be a family and every kind of family has something we can learn from. I'm Blair Hodges, and this is Family Proclamations. FIRST DAY WITH CPS - 01:31 BLAIR HODGES: Jessica Pryce, welcome to Family Proclamations. JESSICA PRYCE: Thank you so much for having me. BLAIR HODGES: Your book starts off right in the thick of things when you were a graduate student in social work. You'd landed this internship with Child Protective Services, CPS—this is a government agency that's tasked with protecting children from neglect and abuse. Take us to your first day in the internship when you visited the home of who you call Naomi Harden. JESSICA PRYCE: Sure. A big part of writing this book was me trying to make sure the reader understood what happens when you get a CPS case. On my very first day I was going to meet my internship supervisor and didn't really know what to expect. As soon as I got into the office, she had a case so we were thrust out into the field to go meet this mom. As an intern we're really supposed to observe and ask questions afterwards and take notes if we can. We weren't allowed to do any of the direct interviewing or things like that. It felt overwhelming at the time, but I still said, "Okay, I have my supervisor with me. I'll see what happens," and was bewildered by what we walked into. BLAIR HODGES: Naomi was a woman in her late twenties. She was Black. She was a mom of three. She'd been reported for an environmental hazard. When you got in the house, how did you feel? Do you remember walking in there and kind of taking it in? What was it like? JESSICA PRYCE: I do. It's one of those things you could never forget because I hadn't been in a house that looked like that. It looked very—you know, I'm trying to say messy, but it was it was deeper than that. It was clear that Mom was having some sort of issue around the home because typically, as I learned on that day, environmental hazards are deeper than a messy home. It really depends on the ages of the children, and because there was an infant in the home this became a huge issue for CPS. We know what infants do. They crawl around, they get into things. So I think that was why it was a big red flag for the system to go into the home in that way. Because again, I was shocked that we got called for messy homes, but because the child was so young they wanted us to come and investigate. BLAIR HODGES: You say you felt things like disgust and righteous indignation. You had an attitude toward the mom of like, "Who is this person? This is disgusting and terrible." JESSICA PRYCE: I did. I talk about the fact that I didn't grow up in a home like that and I had never seen a home like that. I immediately felt like, why would she do that? Why would she be raising kids in this sort of environment? So yes, absolutely came in thinking this is ridiculous. These kids shouldn't live here. We have to do something. That was my mentality at the time. ROLES IN THE SYSTEM - 04:07 BLAIR HODGES: It was so different from your upbringing. You grew up in this small town. Everyone cared for each other. It was a clean home. You didn't have to worry about environmental hazards in your house. You had parents who took good care of the home and of you. So this was like walking into an alien planet or something. You're learning quickly how removals of children might work, the type of people who are involved. Walk us through the roles of all the different people in the system who would be involved in deciding whether or not they needed to remove a child from a home. JESSICA PRYCE: We typically start with calling the reporter of the abuse. Around the country, there are mandated reporters. They call in a CPS report and we touch base with them on. what are your concerns? Is there anything else you want us to know about before we make contact with the family? BLAIR HODGES: This could be teachers, doctors, and stuff like that? JESSICA PRYCE: School social workers. We talk to the school, we talk to collateral contacts—which is sometimes neighbors. Again, these collateral contacts are people that don't live in the home but know the family. We're talking to teachers, school social workers, sometimes knocking on doors around the home to say, "We have this going on with this neighbor and her kids. What are your thoughts about it? Do you have any concerns about it?" After we compile all this information, if we feel there's a danger threat, we then have to call our attorneys, really debrief the case, tell them our concerns, tell them what we found, and they let us know, "Hey, this isn't enough for removal," or "I think we have something here, let's take it to the judge." That's how removals work. We have to consult with our attorney to see if there's enough to do that. BLAIR HODGES: You had to do it every time? Sometimes I'm sure you would just know based on the system's rules, you'd be like, "Oh, this is a pretty clear-cut case." But investigators have to call attorneys regardless, and then they would make the call, and then they would call a judge to get an order to remove the child—is that right? JESSICA PRYCE: What's interesting about that is we remove kids and then see the judge. We do talk to our attorneys to see if we have enough to petition the court, but that happens after the fact. As you read in the book, those children were removed before we ever went to court. So we do make the removal based on an attorney saying, "I think we have enough to do this. Go ahead and shelter the kids." Then we put the kids elsewhere, and generally the very next day we go before the judge. I learned very quickly during the early days of my internship that sometimes judges send kids back home. Sometimes judges say, “You know what? This looks like you did the right thing, let's keep them in foster care.” People don't realize we actually take kids away from families and then ask for permission to keep the removal. BLAIR HODGES: Sometimes police get involved too. That's another element of this, that cops can be involved in the removal process. JESSICA PRYCE: Absolutely. Generally, when we're removing kids we're encouraged to call law enforcement. In the book I take folks through my training, and during that training phase we are told if you're going to remove a child, also if you're dealing with family violence around intimate partner violence or domestic violence, we are encouraged to bring law enforcement. They play a big role in removals, because it gets very heated, and we wanted to make sure we had some support. BLAIR HODES: If I recall correctly, there are also special doctors who are licensed to assess children. They're going to look at a kid and figure out if there's been abuse and things like that, right? JESSICA PRYCE: Absolutely. If you're dealing with a case around particularly physical abuse, sexual abuse, and some cases with medical and physical neglect, we have physicians examine the child. That's really something we add to the evidence when we go to the judge. These are all pieces of the puzzle we're pulling together to take to the judge for a ruling. And sometimes the judge says, "Yes, the child should be removed." But the consolation prize, as I call it, for some families is, we're not going to remove your kids, but you're going to be monitored by the court for the next year or so. Again, somewhat a success, right? We didn't remove the children, but I think it's also important to know now you have the court system in your home really dissecting everything you're doing for the foreseeable future. NAOMI'S CASE – 08:28 BLAIR HODGES: Okay, so on the surface, Jessica, this seems pretty comprehensive. It seems fairly reasonable when we look at the process at this level. There are mandated reporters, there's investigators, there's attorneys involved, there's judges that make decisions, there's police that provide some protection, there's special doctors that assess the health of children, and it's an ongoing process. We all want children to be safe. This process seems important. It seems like it could work well. What your book does is show us the gaps in these services, the problems with some of these approaches and how yhe system disproportionately affects some people compared to other people. You experienced this firsthand. You had a follow up visit with Naomi, the mom you introduce us to at the beginning of the book, and she was told by the court to do certain things. When you went back, you were really troubled because you felt like she wasn't doing everything she could do. You felt like, “If I was a mom, I would be doing everything I could to prove I'm a worthy mom,” and you didn't see that with Naomi. So you were still bringing this judgment to her and now you had to build a case. Maybe talk about the case building that you had do at that point and the kind of things parents might be expected to do by the court to either prove they were fit to have their children or to get their children back. JESSICA PRYCE: With Naomi, I remember feeling like, why wouldn't she clean up her home in order to get her kids back? I just felt this was a very simple ask. But what I'm hoping people realize as they read the book, because a lot of these cases are left unresolved in the book—I give them what I experienced and then often I move on to a new case or I move on to the next part of my experience. And what I want folks to ask themselves, even if they're not in the field—I don't know who will read this book—is that what you would have done? Did that feel like a compassionate way to help a mom that was clearly going through something? If someone is not doing what you would do in a situation, how do we react? Do we react, saying, "You're not trying. You're not doing the right thing. Why are you doing it this way?" We need to ask ourselves, are we putting that judgment on this mom because it's something we would do? Are we projecting our standards on this person? Are we able to drill down into what's really going on? So she was asked to do several things, one of which was to clean up her home. There were several things I discovered a few weeks after her children were taken, and we realized she had been dealing with domestic violence in the past, that she was dealing with a lot of mental health issues. Her family started to weigh in on it. That she hadn't been the same since the domestic violence incident. She hadn't been the same since the birth of her child. It hit me in that moment, we saw what we saw, and we made—in my opinion, with our knowledge at the time, we made—the decision we thought was best. But what happens with a lot of families is we miss what's truly going on. As you saw in the book, we placed the children with Grandma, she lived about an hour away. We thought we were fixing a situation, but it created so many other issues with the kids possibly having to move schools, and Grandma being an elderly woman that doesn't drive much anymore. It became this issue of what does the system need to do differently with families? How do we pull the community in to help a family stay together? Somebody asked me who's read the book, "Why can't we bring in people to help clean the home? And mental health services?" Again, I know we're living in a certain type of world, but that was the point of the book. I wanted people to see what CPS professionals see every day and how they might have done things differently, and what we did in the moment and why we did it. INTRUDE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE – 12:07 BLAIR HODGES: I think you made it clear the one person in the entire scenario that didn't get support was Naomi. There were things that could have been done perhaps to help her, instead everything was put on her in a sense of blame and shame and personal responsibility, instead of looking at systems and things around her that were contributing to this. Postpartum depression, and abuse, and mental illness—all of the different things that could be addressed for Naomi, and that's not what the system was doing. You found that more and more as you were working there, because you didn't just internship there, you became a full-time employee. That's when they took you through a short training. It's so funny when you're talking about how short it is. You're like, compared to what we're doing, it was pretty lightning quick to tell us what to do. [laughter] I have this quote from the training materials, it says, "CPS intervention should intrude as little as possible into the life of the family, be focused on clearly defined objectives, and take the most parsimonious path to remedy a family's problems." That's an ideal that you say did not match the reality of what you ended up doing. JESSICA PRYCE: Absolutely. I was in that training cohort with other colleagues that had either been in the field or done an internship and we're in training thinking, "Wow, this sounds good." And I do understand what they're asking us to do, but how are we not translating what we're learning into actually what we're doing in the field? That continues today, where people are trained, and then they come into the field and their supervisors and colleagues say, "I know you just got trained, but let me tell you what we're really going to do." I think that disconnect continues to create confusion and moral conflict with folks that are coming into the field to actually promote child safety. What we really start to do, as other colleagues of mine have said, if we start to police families and over surveil them—a lot of families are under surveillance and we're really not getting to what's actually going on. BLAIR HODGES: The idea of “intruding as little as possible,” that's fine to say, but there weren't a lot of actual ways to monitor that. To say, what does it look like to intrude as little as possible? Because a CPS case against a family can really take over a life. JESSICA PRYCE: Indeed. And someone recently asked me what would that even look like if CPS wasn't intrusive? My only answer to that was, a lot of things would need to change. We would need to partner with families in a different way—as opposed to going in their home, walking through rooms, opening up cabinets—we would actually have to partner with not just that family, but extended family on, what are the needs? Do I need to go in here and do what I just did, or can we actually sit down and talk about, do you have food? Do you have material needs that are not being met? What can we do to support you in that way? BLAIR HODGES: There would have to be a lot of trust built there too, because as the current system is, people might be reluctant to say whether they needed food or not or anything like that. That's because of stories they hear about how CPS works, and the adversarial relationship you describe between investigators in the system and the families that are undergoing it. We're talking today with Jessica Pryce. She's a research professor at Florida State University's College of Social Work. Her book is called Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services. SCOPE AND SYSTEMIC RACISM – 15:23 BLAIR HODGES: Jessica, I wanted to zoom out a little bit and just talk broad scope, give us a general sense—you might not have the exact numbers off the top your head, we're just trying to get an idea of how big the CPS system is. How many investigations are happening, how common it is for kids to get taken into the system? Give us that broad scope of the system. JESSICA PRYCE: Absolutely. In a given year, there could be four hundred thousand youth in foster care. I believe in one of the years that I wrote about in the book, there were seven million cases called in across the country. That gives you a sense of how many people are calling in reports. I believe four million of those calls were actually screened in. I talk about in the book, every call that comes in isn't taken. We were thankful for that. The folks taking these calls try their best to screen out ones that don't seem like abuse is really happening. Then they screen in ones that really meet the protocols and the metrics they have to look for in order to accept a case. The data is clear in most of the states in this country, Native American children and Black children are experiencing disparate outcomes. They're spending more time in foster care. They're spending more time under court mandated services, meaning they didn't get taken out of their home, but their families are being overrun by the courts for a period of time, usually minimum of one year. And these youth are also moving from place to place more once they're put in the system. And the path to reunification is much longer for Black and Native youth. So that's a little bit of the data around disproportionality, disparity, and the broad strokes of how many cases the system is seeing each year. BLAIR HODGES: Let's look a little more at the racism here, because some people might hear what you just said and say, "Oh, well I guess Black parents and indigenous folks need to be better parents. It's on them. Of course, they would have more because XYZ." How do you educate people against that kind of racism and bias? JESSICA PRYCE: A lot of people feel that way. They really look at the fact that these families are who they are and they have a certain mindset toward these families. They say, "Well, of course that makes sense. They're abusing their children more." But there's actually data and scientific studies that have been done that actually have evidence against that notion. That Black and Brown families don't abuse their children more, but they're reported more and have their children taken more. So I try to educate people on what's happening and not the narrative, and also not the narrative we have in our minds around certain family. There's also a big discussion right now, that in my opinion, continues to happen around the conflation of neglect and poverty. At this point we're at 76% of the cases that come into child welfare nationwide have a maltreatment code of neglect. Often neglect is parents not meeting needs. That's the definition. They're not getting enough food to their kids. Kids are going to school and stealing lunches. These parents may not be taking their children to get medical care. These parents may not have a place to live. This broad idea of neglect is driving families into the system. When you think about the fact that indigenous families and Black families are overrepresented in the impoverished population, you start to realize there is this connection between poverty, systemic racism, and the long journey of social and racial disadvantage for families. ERICA'S CASE – 19:05 BLAIR HODGES: So it usually affects people in poverty, more often than not. Sometimes people aren't in poverty when they get trapped into the system. I think one of the most arresting parts of your book is the personal stories you tell, because things got personal for you really fast when you started working for the system. I'm thinking about your friend Erica. Tell us a little bit about Erica and how she got tangled up into your experience as a caseworker. JESSICA PRYCE: I'm so grateful I was able to share that story because that was really pivotal for my development. When people ask, "You thought a certain way in the system, and then you started to shift," I said, "Yeah, because I started to see people in my familial and social networks become entangled in the system." That's what brought me to sharing the story of Erica. And I appreciate her walking alongside me as I wrote this book. Essentially, I was in my full-time position at the Department of Children and Families, doing CPS investigations. One day there was a case that came in and a colleague took that case, and it was on my friend Erica. I was very shocked. I knew Erica had been providing caregiving duties for her godchild at the time. She had been going through a lot. She was a college student and trying to figure out how to take her courses, take care of this four-year-old, and the child's parents were in many different ways just unavailable, unreachable, and not helping at the time. Stress got to her in a situation where she did corporal punishment as a consequence for behavior. And she was reported to CPS for physical abuse. As I share in the book, everything that happened after was insane, in my opinion. I was caught in the middle of it because I understood on the system side, we have a four-year-old with evidence of abuse, based on what we call abuse and what the policies say about physical abuse, and we have a person who is not her biological mother. We need to shelter this child right away. I understood that in theory, but having the close connection I had with Erica, knowing that at that time there was possibly no other person on the earth that cared about that child as much as she did, it was really a tough situation to walk through. BLAIR HODGES: Erica is caring for this young girl. The girl's parents are experiencing poverty. Mom went back to New York, believed they would leave the girl with Erica for a certain time. And you describe the corporal punishment thing, because technically corporal punishment is legal. That's a big question about whether that should be the case, but it was. And it was something Erica seemed reluctant about herself, but felt backed into a corner, just didn't have the parenting tools and the skills and the support as a parent to deal with a child who was experiencing real trauma. That trauma was coming out in bad behavior and causing problems for Erica's life. So that's when she started spanking and doing this, and at one point leaves bruises on the child. In the meantime, the child's mom who's experiencing poverty was seeking public assistance, and that's how CPS got involved on her side of things—not to find out how to help but to assess her. She went to get help, and instead of, "How can we help?" it was like, "What's wrong with this person. We need to evaluate this person." Again, the system has this adversarial approach, even when people try to seek help it can start to cause problems. This little girl, her mom on one side and Erica on the other, were both going to get sucked into the system. As you said, you knew Erica as a wonderful person. She's your best grad school friend. What a shock it must have been. You describe the scene where the girl, who you knew, shows up in your office. You have no idea what's going on. All of a sudden, she's right there behind your chair, excited to see you because she knew you. JESSICA PRYCE: Yeah, and children don't come into the office unless they're on their way into foster care. When I saw her I knew something has gone terribly wrong. I did not know what had happened at that point. I had been working the entire day on my own cases and realized pretty quickly that Erica was about to be under a lot of scrutiny and was about to go through a situation and a process I take a lot of parents through. But watching how it affected her really made me reluctant to do that to other parents. To your point, Erica is on this side of the situation, and then Didi—which is the pseudonym I gave Madisen's biological mom in the book—Madisen is the little girl—is on the other side of this trying to get herself together in a very difficult, in my opinion, place to live in this country. It's super expensive. Trying to rebuild her life. Meanwhile, this chaotic exchange has happened in Florida around corporal punishment, which a lot of people have feelings about. I could have written, "There was a corporal punishment situation," but I wanted people to think about their reactions to that scene in the book. Because I know people are going to react to, “That should never have happened, this is completely inappropriate.” But I think that is a snapshot of a much larger picture that I knew of at the time, but others didn't. I realized when I go to meet a mom on a case I am seeing a snapshot and this person has an entire life and existence that is worth trying to figure out. BLAIR HODGES: I was shocked by the numbers you report. Anywhere between forty and seventy percent of parents have reported spanking at some point. That's huge. That's a lot of people. When does it cross the line from legal corporal punishment to abuse that the system would intervene about? JESSICA PRYCE: This is a discussion that's been going on for quite a while, but I can say when it comes to CPS if there are marks or bruises—and often these marks or bruises are left unintentional, and I know that might sound strange to people because they think, "Well, if you hit a child, you're intentionally causing that”—There are a lot of people that spank their kids and there are never any marks. So I don't think most parents intend to leave marks on their children when they are trying to provide a consequence to certain behaviors. For CPS, the line is crossed if there's evidence of marks and bruises on the child. But again, even when that happens I'm hoping the system continues to evolve into, what do we do at this point and what should be our next steps? Because the immediate ejection of a child because of that isn't working very well for the system. There are a lot of issues going on—not enough foster parents, not enough placements, too many kids in the system. So how can we tease that out and find some nuances. Like okay, maybe there is stress, maybe this parent made this decision and it went further than they thought it would go. But is that an immediate ejection? Is that an opportunity for the system to say, Hey, we see this happen. We don't like it. We don't think it was the best thing to do. But how do we partner toward a future where this doesn't have to happen and this mom actually gets the help, and what you said earlier, the parenting tools she needs? BLAIR HODGES: Erica felt up against the wall. She's a student. She had to start working to afford daycare and other expenses. That made her spend even less time with Madisen. She's desperate to find a way to get Madisen's behavior to change because daycare is saying maybe we can't have Madisen here. She's desperate. She's trying to find anything. Again, it comes down to whether she had enough money to keep this going, whether she could be supportive, whether she could learn parenting tools different than corporal punishment. None of that was happening. Instead, the bruises happened and then the system comes in to say, "Did this person harm the child? We need to protect the child and possibly prosecute the caregiver." In fact, Erica was later arrested for this, and you describe the case in the book. RACHEL'S CASE – 27:12 BLAIR HODGES: Now, if that was all you had encountered as a caseworker, in terms of it touching your personal life, that would have been a lot. But that wasn't the only way your personal life got tangled up. This next part really shocked me. I have to say, Jessica, it shocked me because I'm thinking about Rachel, this is your sister. You actually yourself reported her to CPS while you're working for the system. What was it like to include this really personal story in the book? JESSICA PRYCE: Essentially, I will say it was not easy to include it because it talks about culpability and the way I used to think and what I thought in that moment. I really appreciate that my sister to this day talks about how the system intends to help but often they exacerbate already very fraught situations. I appreciate her willingness to continue to advocate for change, specifically relating to domestic violence and child welfare. Although it wasn't easy, I wanted to include it because this continues today. When there is a domestic violence situation, we're trying to figure out which victim we're going to actually come in and try to help, and who gets protected in a situation like that. At the time I felt very much like CPS and law enforcement was the best route to take when I made the call. But I realized perhaps I was naive. What happened after that with my sister, I realized her life all of a sudden became even more stressful than it was before. Again I, at that moment, maybe being a little bit naive, called it in because she was experiencing domestic violence, but realized after that her stress levels were increased and services and support weren't there the way I thought they would be. BLAIR HODGES: You talk about the double bind your sister was in, and that a lot of women are in. She was abused by her partner. She was abused. When the system got involved, she also becomes a suspect of the system because they want to know if she is a perpetrator for not protecting the children from domestic violence, or even perhaps just witnessing domestic violence. Now she's gone from being a victim to being a suspect. JESSICA PRYCE: Absolutely, and I think states are moving away from the term "failure to protect." There was a time where that was the buzzword, that this mom is failing to protect her children. Although we're moving away from that term, there are still ways in which we come on the scene and there is a mom victim, and we're trying to ask questions here and there about, "We see this is happening, what are you going to do next to protect these kids? What are you going to do next to protect your home from this perpetrator?" This is a tough situation to talk about. I think people who read the book might have certain thoughts and feelings about it. And I welcome that. I welcome folks to say, "Well, a mother should protect her kids." And “She must do this, and she must do that.” And what I'm hoping they also stop and think is what it feels like to be a victim of domestic violence, because that's an entirely other phenomenon we need to really consider. Again, I don't know if CPS is prepared to understand the dynamics associated with that sort of abuse. BLAIR HODGES: There are all kinds of reasons why someone like your sister might not call. They might have some mental health issues because of the abuse that would lead them to want to cling tight to the relationship out of trying to be protective. Or maybe there are financial reasons. They're trying to protect the circumstances they're currently in and if they left, they wouldn't have resources to care for their kids. There's a ton of different reasons why. And again, the system is not coming in and saying, "How can we support this person who's been abused and their kids and get them out of the situation?" It's trying to figure out if they have culpability in some way. JESSICA PRYCE: Yeah, and they come with a lot of, "We want you to go do this, we want you to go do that. We want you to go and take care of this." It becomes this rat race of a mom trying to do these things, because now you're under surveillance and one wrong step, or one thing you don't do, are you going to lose your kids today? And I think that was the fear she had. A lot of parents I talk to have that same fear. I'm going to go do what they told me to do, even though it doesn't feel relevant. It's not helpful. It's not genuinely something I need. But if I don't, what are going to be the repercussions for me? Again it's policing and pushing families into experiencing certain services, when we didn't do the due diligence to actually see what they really needed. MORAL INJURY – 31:57 BLAIR HODGES: They might be telling them to go take some classes or do things that further burden. Maybe they already don't have time for stuff and now they have to do a bunch more. Like you said, it's not meeting the immediate need. It's adding more needs. You describe this time, and again it's not just the people who are being investigated that the system can harm, you also talk about the dangers of the system on the employees themselves. You experienced a lot of work-related stress, and double binds, and difficulties that affected your own mental health and your own sense of wellbeing. “Moral injury” is a term that comes up in this context. I wondered about your thoughts about moral injury and the impact on employees themselves. Because you saw burnout. You saw people working and then leaving. So many people came in, worked, and then got out of there. You yourself did that. Talk about the moral injury side of things. JESSICA PRYCE: I didn't want to write this book and not mention this, because if I'm anything, I am going to speak truth about the system, but I'm also going to say the professionals on the front lines doing this work, it's far bigger than them. I think there are systemic issues, systemic racism, systemic dysfunction, and we are on the front lines trying to do the work to the best of our ability. Some people start to really experience that moral conflict, this idea of, "I'm making decisions, I'm doing certain behaviors to protect myself or protect the system. But am I really helping these families?" I started to feel that big time with what happened to my friend, what happened to my family, and then how that impacted the moms I started to interface with throughout my career. I also realized that, as it related to me and law enforcement, I think I put in the book that people don't know who's there to help. I arrive with law enforcement and I'm there trying to investigate child abuse, but these parents are looking like, “Are you here to arrest me? Are you here to help me? What is actually going on?” That conflict started to manifest in me as well. I call law enforcement because I feel safer. But what is that creating with this interaction? What is that actually doing to this interaction for the next few moments? And as you said, I started to experience a lot of anxiety. Ultimately, that impacted my departure from the system. The anxiety got to the point where I really couldn't manage anymore, and the stem of that anxiety was just the feelings of moral distress and moral injury I was perpetuating on families. ABOVE THE FRAY OR ON THE FRONT LINE – 34:43 BLAIR HODGES: That's Jessica Pryce. For the past fifteen years, she has been working in child welfare from multiple angles—directing casework, and then researching, teaching and training, and policy development. She's provided training to over two hundred child welfare organizations now, and we're talking about her book Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services. Jessica, you left the system, but you couldn't leave it alone, so to say. You wanted to know more about it. You went to Howard University to study it. A lot of people think universities are disconnected from life. There's a stereotype that if you become a researcher or go to university, you're in the ivory tower. You're away from real life so you're not able to grasp it. You brought your own personal experiences of being on the ground to the university and say in some ways it gave you an even closer perspective than you had before. You could really zoom in on the history of it. What did you learn about the history of CPS when you went to Howard University? JESSICA PRYCE: I often talk about the importance of proximity to families you're serving. When I first read a book called Just Mercy years ago, Bryan Stevenson talked about how you really need to be in close proximity to folks you're trying to help. It dawned on me I was very close to the people I worked with. I was in their homes. I was opening up their kitchen cabinets. I was talking to their neighbors. I was very close. But I wasn't engaging them. I didn't really see them. I was investigating them and objectifying them. When I zoomed out, when I left the system, I did go to the ivory tower but then I was able to look at the history of child welfare—something I never knew about, something that wasn't taught in training, which of course it wouldn't be—and realized that at the onset of child welfare, Black families weren't even allowed to be serviced by the system. They had to go a completely different route, because they were seen as inferior. And as I tracked child welfare over time, I started to realize those remnants of systemic exclusion and systemic racism were still around in many facets of the system today. That's when I went down the path of looking at disparity, disproportionality—looking at Black professionals and how they viewed the system. Also looking at leadership changes and how that impacts policy. So it was huge for me to go—I think it took about five years—to really look at the system, write a dissertation, do some research. But I felt closer to the system at that point than I did when I was actually working with families. Because again, I was too close. And I think when I zoomed out I was able to get to the bottom of a lot of things. It really ignited this advocacy that I wanted to do something to help child welfare professionals, and by helping them create more ethics and create more compassionate services, ultimately to help families. WHEN INDIVIDUAL BLAME GOT BAKED IN – 37:36 BLAIR HODGES: I think laying out the history matters so much. You show how in 1974 the United States passed this law, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. It was informed by a group called Mothers Anonymous, then called Parents Anonymous. A woman who went by Jolly K. was abusing children. She came to see the error of her ways, changed, and then became this huge advocate for preventing child abuse or addressing child abuse in the United States. This law gets passed. Then you point out something really important here we've talked about all along the way, that it was a very individualist ideology here. The idea was to identify parents as the perpetrators and to not really, at all, look at systems around the parents. Don't look at the economy. Don't look at jobs. Don't look at parental leave. Don't look at anything else other than, “If you harm a child, you're a bad person, and you made that individual choice, you bear all the blame.” So that Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was intended to help kids. It created this reporting system and then, to this day, laws direct money to programs that investigate parents based on this individualist approach, instead of putting funds into better mental health services, into better affordable housing services, into schools and programs that can help parents and children have better relationships and help alleviate the stresses that can lead to abuses, that can lead to neglect. Rooted in how these laws came together, you show clearly how society is focusing on individual blame, not systemic change. When you learned that at Howard, I'm just interested in your own process there because like you said, you were so close to the system. What was it like for you personally to learn that history and start to have to digest it? JESSICA PRYCE: It was bewildering and it was overwhelming, but it also created this motivation to make sure that I'm educating others, and to make sure I am always challenging people to look at how we perpetuate harm, how we perpetuate the very harmful parts of history in modern times. So it has created in me this idea that I'm not going to shy away from saying to child welfare professionals, “I used to be you. It's really hard. You're overwhelmed. You're overtaxed, and you're possibly dealing with burnout and moral injury, but families deserve a person that is going to do everything we can ethically to consider the full picture.” I appreciate you bringing up Parents Anonymous, because that was really eye-opening for me when I started to look at that, and look at congressional testimony around Jolly K. I think her story captivated America during that time because she was accepting accountability, some would say, that she was abusing her child. But she was very vocal that nothing was impacting her doing that. Now later, we found out that Jolly K. experienced so much mental illness, that she herself had been abused, and there were so many things that were going on with her that people didn't really pay much attention to. But again, I think that time in history created for child welfare, a microscope on the mom or a microscope on the dad, and what are you doing? Why can't you be better? BLAIR HODGES: You had seen that microscope come into the lives of people you loved. Erica, as I mentioned, your friend, was arrested. She does eventually get out of jail, and somehow is able to make it through the system. She adopts Madisen. People might say that seems like a happy ending then because it all worked out. But first of all, you invite us to remember all the things Erica had to go through, and Madisen, the child. But you also want us to say hold on, what happened to Madisen's mom? To Didi? There was no help there for her. So a happy ending is really complicated here. JESSICA PRYCE: Absolutely. And in the first iteration of this book, Didi's perspective wasn't included and the publisher said, "Is there any way you can get some interviews with her?" And I took a long shot. I said, "I really don't want to write this without your story." So I appreciated being able to interview her because again, in one way, it was a happy ending—we had a permanent placement between a child and a person where they were bonded and loved, and this wasn't a stranger she was being adopted by, this is somebody she really cared about. But I want the reader and folks that are considering adoption to stop and think: What world do we need to build where Didi would have had the help, the services, the support, to bring her child back in her home? Because again, I think people are going to have mixed feelings and thoughts around Didi and her behavior if you focus on the actual behavior and decisions she's making without looking at the systemic barriers she was also experiencing. WRITING AS AN ADVOCATE -  BLAIR HODGES: You say this wasn't necessarily the book you set out to write. Your publisher helped with that. You talk about in the book that originally you conducted research with Black women in particular who were in the system. You wrote in a third person voice as a researcher, an intellectual book, and the publisher and your editor challenged you to dig deeper and said, "You know, I think you can reach more people if you make this a personal story." That was intimidating for you. Talk about that, because there's a big shift. You were a CPS agent, an academic researcher, and this book is written more in the voice of a public activist. That's a different role altogether. JESSICA PRYCE: I was overwhelmed and a little bit scared about switching gears. As I sit here today, I'm extremely grateful I was challenged and pushed in this direction because I want child welfare professionals to read the book, maybe they feel certain things about the book, maybe they feel like, "Oh, I'm pinched here. I'm jabbed here. But I'm supported there and validated there." Because there are nuances to doing this work that I don't want people to miss. I don't want people to assume all child welfare professionals are evil creatures that are snatching kids. I don't want that. But I also don't want them to assume they're all benevolent. So how do we bring this together in a balanced way to say this is a very difficult job, and I was able to show that, I hope, in the pages, because it was very difficult for me when I started in that work. But how do we push ourselves as a workforce and challenge ourselves to do things differently, not just better, because we can get better and better because in many ways we have, but things haven't changed. There's not a difference in how we're approaching the families we're supposed to be serving. JATOIA'S CASE – 44:31 BLAIR HODGES: Oh, that reminds me of Jatoia Potts. This is a mom who lost her children because of no fault of her own, it turns out. This is a story of grave injustice. Maybe take a second to tell us about Jatoia Potts' story. The follow-up question I have for it is whether it ever feels completely overwhelming. You're facing such difficult odds and change seems to be slow. Tell us about Jatoia's experience and then how it affects you personally now that you're an activist. Is there activist burnout? Is there activist fear? JESSICA PRYCE: As you read the book, you see I'm taking folks back to when I first started in the field, but I also wanted them to see these things are still happening. So you have stories that happened in 2008 and 2009, which feels like a long time ago, so you could read the book and say, "Oh, that's over. Why has she taken us through all that?" But then you see a story that happened in 2021, 2022, and 2023. That's where Jatoia came in. She was at the other end of my career, where I'm moving into the academic space. I'm speaking, I'm training, and I'm also doing quite a bit of expert testimony in TPR trials—TPR is the “Termination of Parental Rights.” If folks don't know what that means, it's when a court says legally you are no longer the parent to this child, and that clears children for adoption. When I became connected to Jatoia, I became an expert witness in her TPR trial. Again, this was someone who started to suffer at the intersections of all the things we've been talking about: systemic racism, systemic dysfunction, and this narrow view of, “What did this mom do? Did she react the way we wanted her to react? Did she make decisions the way we would have made a decision? Surely she's done something wrong.” There was this mindset toward her, as folks will read, that she can't be exonerated. She certainly did something that hurt this child. And I'm so grateful Jatoia shared her story throughout this book. I think her placement in this book was huge because I don't want people to think the early cases of me when I was a twenty-two-year-old investigator are a thing of the past. These things continue to harm mothers to this day and it often results in literally severing the ties between a mom and her children. BLAIR HODGES: Someone like Jatoia becomes connected to you and is willing to use her voice to speak out about these issues. So some moms will turn into activists about the system, but not many of them either, and you also understand that. Talk about that, the fact that some moms and dads even can step forward and advocate, but a lot of others can't. Talk about those dynamics. JESSICA PRYCE: I'm always amazed when parents turn this sort of pain into purpose. That is a really good example for Jatoia and another mom in the book that I was able to highlight. To them, they want to do all they can to discuss their story, to connect with other mothers or other parents that are going through this, and to do as much community work as they can to make changes. I often say if I were Jatoia, I would want nothing to do with this case. I would want nothing to do with CPS. I would want nothing to do with being front facing for the movement. But I'm always astonished by her power that she's taken back, right? And also her resilience, and as I put in the book, Jatoia sees this as a much larger purpose than her individual story. When a mom goes through this now, Jatoia is a resource for them. And I think it's amazing. PLAYING JENGA: AN ANALOGY FOR THE FUTURE - 48:18 BLAIR HODGES: Take us through the Jenga analogy. Jenga is this game people might know where you're building these blocks, and the blocks are all stacked up and you're pulling one block out and putting it on top. You just kind of keep doing that. You use this Jenga analogy to talk about the system itself because a lot of listeners might be wondering, does the system get anything right? How solid is the system? Are there some people that are being helped by it? Are we just looking at rearranging a few pieces or do we need a fundamental change? JESSICA PRYCE: I'll start with responding to the question of, “Is the system doing anything right? What are we doing well?” I'll start by saying that I often talk about this, I believe the system needs to be here. I know not everybody believes that, but I believe that we need a CPS system—but we need a CPS system that investigates actual child abuse. I hope in my lifetime I see a parceling out of, what is child abuse and what is a family crisis? What is economic stratification? What is poverty? What is mental illness? I personally don't think CPS should be investigating as much as they're investigating. So back to the question. When there has been abuse, when there has been a child that has been willfully harmed by their caregiver, I absolutely think CPS is a structure that comes in and it's very clear this child needs protection and there needs to be accountability for what happened. I just wanted to put that out there, that I do think when it comes to willful abuse and children that are in need of help, this system can really step in in that way. Then when I go to other issues that are societal and community wide, CPS in my opinion is a little bit out of their depth. I think when it comes to neglect and poverty and mental illness and things of that nature, I don't think they're the best source of support. I don't think they're the best mechanism or structure to really come in and try to figure out what's going on with that family. You brought up Jenga, and Jenga became a powerful metaphor for me because I play it a lot with my nieces. And I realized we do that with child welfare. The entire point of Jenga is you move a block and you put it on top of the Jenga system. You're doing all you can not to make the system fall. You're just keeping it standing up. You're moving blocks from here and there, very rarely touching the bottom. If you're touching the bottom, you're being very meticulous about it, because again, we don't want the system to fall. I realized we're doing that in child welfare, and we have for a hundred years, continued to move programs, move services, add something here, add something there, but we're putting it back on the same system. But we're not getting to the root. We're not getting to the dysfunction and the assumptions that have been found in years of policies that are really driving the things we're doing. And until we actually get to the bottom of child welfare and until we start moving blocks from below and changing those blocks, I think we're going to continue to perpetuate what we're seeing. If we continue to have a block at the very bottom of our system that is absolutely targeting and blaming parents, then we're going to continue to be punitive and blaming parents with the policies and the practices we're doing. So I challenge folks to consider letting it fall. It's scary—the idea of letting the system fall down is huge and scary. People are like, "This is my livelihood. This is how I work." I think it takes courage to build something new, but that's what I'm advocating for—not being too afraid to go to the foundation of a system and say, “Why do we think this? Why is it built on that? Why are these families excluded? Why don't we send every parent to a parenting class? Why do we do the things that have built this system?” If we start to really tease that out and dismantle that part, and then rebuild a system that actually investigates actual abuse, right? And then diverts families that need assistance and support, I think that's when we get to rebuild something that we're actually proud of and rebuild something professionals can come into and feel less moral conflict, hopefully less burnout, and the families can really experience a different system. BLAIR HODGES: Do you have hope that we can move in that direction? JESSICA PRYCE: I do. I do. And the reason why I have hope is because child welfare, as a system, is doing things differently today. I was just at a convening this week around kinship care. Kinship care is when you remove a child from the home if there's a safety threat, but you place with family. Although I think we've always wanted to place with family, we haven't been having discussions about, “Are we supporting kinship here as much as we support a foster placement?” So we're having those discussions now. Don't just place with Grandma and say we've done it—which reminds us of the Naomi case. Don't place with Grandma and say we've done it, we placed with kinship. Now, how are you going to support that grandma? How are you going to support making sure those kids are connected to their mom? Because now they're far away from their mom, and not in communication. SoI do have hope we're moving in that direction. Again, I don't know how quickly we'll get there. But I think people are having those hard discussions about, “Why do we provide all of this financial support to foster parents, but we don't have that same energy toward a grandma or an older sibling or an aunt or uncle that have said, ‘I want the child to stay with us. They're our family.'" EVERYDAY ADVOCATES – 53:46 BLAIR HODGES: Is there anything actionable you would suggest everyday listeners do—like listeners to this show that might not have direct ties, a lot of them might not have any kind of direct involvement in the CPS system. Is there something that everyday folks can do to help push things in the direction you're advocating for? JESSICA PRYCE: Absolutely. I'm so grateful I was able to include some resources in the book for folks, particularly around reporting abuse. I tell people all the time, there's a resource in the book that says consider these things before you report abuse. For everyday listeners, as you said, if you have thoughts about a neighbor, or you're concerned about folks in your life—is this abuse? Should I call this in? I do offer some things that hopefully make you pause and consider certain aspects of the family before you make that call. Some people when they go through these considerations, they no longer want to make the report, right? But some people still do. Now they have a lot more information to provide to the system because they've actually thought through what's actually going on. I am grateful I was able to include that resource for folks that might be wondering about a family, might be wondering how they might be able to support. I want people to understand what happens when you report a family, what they experience when a CPS agent comes to their home, and with that sort of knowledge I hope that it makes reporters pause. REGRETS, CHALLENGES, & SURPRISES – 55:08 BLAIR HODGES: The resources you offer have some ideas for mandated reporters, and also for people who might be considering talking to CPS, and you're inviting them to think about how well you know the circumstances in that family's life. If you've considered connecting them with community or social supports that can help them out, if there's a trusted colleague or community advocate you can connect with to brainstorm about what to do. There are things people can do if they're wondering what to do in situations where they're wondering about children. The book, again, it's called Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services, really gives some good ideas and good tools that people can consider when they're trying to help out kids. Because at the bottom of it, I really believe that pretty much everybody truly does want to protect kids, and even the people who are overseeing the system and making policies that are actually damaging families, I don't see any evil people that are like, "Let's destroy lives." [laughs] JESSICA PRYCE: Yep. BLAIR HODGES: They're thinking in individualistic terms and not addressing systemic issues. The more we can get people thinking in that way, the more likelihood we have of impacting the CPS system. Jessica, I just want to say, the book was so helpful for me. I learned so much about the system. It was also really personal. I felt connected with you. So I hope people will check this book out, because together we can start to make inroads in the system. Again, that's Jessica Pryce, research professor at Florida State University in the College of Social Work there. Alright, that brings us to our final segment of the show. This is called Regrets, Challenges, & Surprises. Jessica, this is your chance to choose your own adventure. You can speak to one, two, or all three of these things. If there's anything you'd change about the book now. This book's just now coming out, so this is one of the freshest books on the show. Maybe you haven't had time to think about what you would do different at this time. But you can also speak to challenges, what the hardest part about writing it was, or the surprises, how you changed in the course of making the book. JESSICA PRYCE: I really appreciate the question. I'll start by saying the most challenging part by far was feeling that I've done justice to the stories that were shared with me. And also, connecting with former colleagues and really re-living what I did in the system. I did this exercise around narrative journaling, just writing out cases I've been on and how they impacted me and what I remembered about them, and how I thought in that moment, and how I think today. I think that was challenging in general to take that journey back. Another challenge is making sure I've done justice to the best of my ability to the stories that were shared with me. As far as surprises, I think for me, a big goal of mine was for people to see my development. I could have written this book from the seat I'm in now, and we've only talked for an hour but there's a lot of things I could have said about data and science and organizational change and culture. Because that's where I'm at now. I understand these things. But it was important for me that people saw my developmental trajectory because I hope it shows them they can also change. That if they think a certain way, if they see parents a certain way, if they have a certain opinion about certain communities, that you can get on the other side of that if you continue to educate yourself and you take a journey with colleagues who actually want to take this introspective journey. That you can also get on the other side of this work, do this work ethically, and do this work with compassion, and advocate and become an activist toward social justice and racial justice. So again, I think that's been the most surprising and the most edifying, that I was able to really show my development, and it surprised me how much I appreciated being able to share that. It's not easy to share how you used to think about families. But I think in sharing that it might show someone else they too can change. BLAIR HODGES: I certainly hope so. That's part of why I do this show myself, because I'm on a journey about all my thinking about families, what they are, about how we treat families, and your book is a really important part of that story. Again, it's called Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services by Jessica Pryce. And again, Dr. Pryce, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for writing this book, and thanks for taking the time to talk to us about it. JESSICA PRYCE: Thank you so much for having me. BLAIR HODGES: Thanks for listening to this episode of Family Proclamations. I invite you to listen to other episodes if you haven't had the time to do that yet. Special thanks to Camille Messick, my wonderful transcript editor, and to David Ostler, who sponsored the first group of transcripts. If you'd like to sponsor transcripts, please let me know. Reach out to blair@firesidepod.org. You can also send feedback about any episode you want. There's a lot more to come on the show. If you're enjoying it, please take a minute to rate and review. It makes a really big difference. It truly does. Go to Apple Podcasts and let me know your thoughts—like Ryan G. Mullen, for example. He went to Apple Podcasts and gave me five stars. He said, "Wow, I just listened to the episode with Cat Bohannon, author of Eve. I initially thought, this will be good to listen to so I won't have to read the book. But Hodges and Bohannon gave such a lively interview that I changed my mind." I'm sorry about that, Ryan. This podcast can be hazardous to your book buying budget, that's for sure. Thanks for leaving that review. Also, another thing that would help is recommendations. Let people know you listen to this show. This is the number one way people hear about podcasts. Reach out to a friend or family member and let them know about the show. Thanks to Mates of State, a great band, for providing our theme song. Family Proclamations is part of the Dialogue Podcast Network. I'm Blair Hodges, and I'll see you next time.   [End]   Transcripts are edited for readability. 

In Ep. 167, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and I are circling back to 2018 in the book world with a special retrospective episode!  We share big bookish highlights for that year, including book news, award winners, and what was going on in the world outside of reading. We also talk about our own 2018 reading and our favorite 2018 releases.  Plus, you'll hear listener-submitted favorites!  This episode is overflowing with great backlist titles to add to your TBR!   This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights The big news going on outside the book world. Book stories and trends that dominated 2018. Looking back at 2018, we couldn't help but say, “If only we knew what was coming!” The books that have had staying power.⁠ Titles that now are comps for SO MANY books!⁠ We explore the early days of this new wave of celebrity book clubs. Our personal 2018 reading stats.⁠ Listener-submitted favorites from 2018.⁠ Circling Back to 2018 in Books [2:05] The World Beyond Books Spare by Prince Harry | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:12] A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R. R. Martin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:45] The Walking Dead (Compendium One) by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:54] The Book Industry Becoming by Michelle Obama | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:55] Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:46] The Meltdown (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 13) by Jeff Kinney | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:50] Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:54] Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:56] Wonder by R. J. Palacio | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:12] Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:16] The President Is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:42] Book Trends Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:30] Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman | Amazon | Bookshop.org[14:34] Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:36] Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:38] Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:27] Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:34] You Are a Badass® by Jen Sincero | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:59] 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:08] The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson | Amazon | Bookshop.org[18:14] Big Books of 2018 Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:46] The Reckoning by John Grisham | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:58] The President Is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [21:05] Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:56] There There by Tommy Orange | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:25] The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:27] Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:16] Normal People by Sally Rooney | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:20] Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:21] Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:33] Verity by Colleen Hoover | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:30] Circe by Madeline Miller | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:08] The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:32] The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:36] The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:07] I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai | Amazon | Bookshop.org[28:19] Becoming by Michelle Obama | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:36] Spare by Prince Harry | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:11] Educated by Tara Westover | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:31] Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:18] Atomic Habits by James Clear | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:11] I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara | Amazon | Bookshop.org[31:51] Wandering Stars Tommy Orange | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:53] The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:12] The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:37] Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (expected publication: August 15, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:50] Less by Andrew Sean Greer | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:54] The Friend by Sigrid Nunez | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:02] Milkman by Anna Burns | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:09] Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:22] The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth Book 3) by N. K. Jemisin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:04] Our Top Books of 2018 Circe by Madeline Miller | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:46] An American Marriage by Tayari Jones | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:55] The Line that Held Us by David Joy | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:30] The Pasha of Cuisine by Saygin Ersin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:55] Only Child by Rhiannon Navin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:32] Anatomy of a Miracle by Jonathan Miles | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:54] Song of a Captive Bird by Jasmin Darznik | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:00] There There by Tommy Orange | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:04] She Would Be King by Wayétu Moore | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:06] Tin Man by Sarah Winman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:09] Waiting for Eden by Elliot Ackerman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:42] A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:33] I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:46] Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:23] The Ensemble by Aja Gabel | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:36] The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:46] The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:55] Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:00] You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:31] Listeners' Top Books of 2018 The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:09] A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:29] Educated by Tara Westover | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:46] The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:54] An American Marriage by Tayari Jones | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:58] Circe by Madeline Miller | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:01] The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:04] Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:26] Other Links Time Magazine | What to Know About the Controversy Surrounding Where the Crawdads Sing by Annabel Gutterman, July 2022

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Mary are discussing: Bookish Moments: fun new hobbies and maybe not having a bookish moment Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: our love for all things memoir The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  .  1:39 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 8:06 - Our Current Reads 8:14 - Bride by Ali Hazelwood (Mary) 10:29 - Wolfsong by T.J. Klune 11:58 - Unhinged by Vera Valentine 12:29 - Renegades by Marissa Meyer (Kaytee) 12:40 - Cinder by Marissa Meyer 15:47 - The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune 16:47 - Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera (Mary) 19:55 - An Inconvenient Cop by Edwin Raymond (Kaytee) 20:03 - Booktenders 24:51 - A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall (Mary) 28:26 - @ginnyreadsandwrites on Instagram 28:44 - Fairyloot 29:07 - Pango Books 30:16 - Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson 30:34 - Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross 31:53 - A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (Kaytee) 32:10 - Betty by Tiffany McDaniel 35:29 - Deep Dive: Our Love For Memoirs 36:10 - Sarah's Bookshelves 39:49 - The Black Count by Tom Reiss 41:43 - My Life in France by Julia Child 42:30 - Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me by Mindy Kaling 42:32 - Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling 42:46 - Bossypants by Tina Fey 42:51 - Spare by Prince Harry 43:12 - Becoming by Michelle Obama 43:42 - Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe 43:47 - I Have Something to Tell You by Chasten Buttigieg 44:04 - I Have Something to Tell You by Chasten Buttigieg (young readers' edition) 44:59 - Waypoints by Sam Heughan 45:31 - Finding Me by Viola Davis 46:20 - As You Wish by Cary Elwes 46:58 - Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes 47:50 - Great with Child: Letters to a Young Mother by Beth Ann Fennelly 47:55 - Heating and Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly 48:06 - Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan 48:10 - These Precious Days by Ann Patchett 49:04 - Soil by Camille T. Dungy 49:15 - An Exact Replica of A Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken 50:29 - Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder 50:37 - What Looks Like Bravery by Laurel Braitman 50:43 - After This by Claire Bidwell Smith (amazon link) 50:58 - Tragedy Plus Time by Adam Cayton-Holland 51:15 - Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottleib 51:30 - When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi 51:53 - A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter 52:02 - At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider 52:52 - Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver 53:05 - The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green 53:12 - A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg 53:43 - The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton 53:45 - Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson 53:48 - The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore 54:03 - Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer 54:15 - I Take My Coffee Black by Tyler Merritt 55:17 - Meet Us At The Fountain 55:21 - I wish to press the Ember Quartet series, starting with Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. (Mary) 55:30 - Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir 56:52 - A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 56:53 - Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 57:22 - Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros 58:38 - My wish is for more bookish board games. (Kaytee) 58:47 - By the Book game Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. April's IPL comes to us from A Room Of One's Own in Madison Wisconsin! Trope Thursday with Kaytee and Bunmi - a behind the scenes peek into the publishing industry All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the special insights of an independent bookseller The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

Sometimes it's people outside our industry who have the biggest impact on how we grow and develop our values and our businesses. This is true for me, and this week I'm sharing more about the person who has helped shape how I conduct business and work with clients every day.In this week's episode, I'm sharing how Bryan Stevenson -- the renowned lawyer, activist and author behind Just Mercy and the Equal Justice Initiative -- ended up becoming one of the most influential figures on my financial coaching philosophy and methods.While Stevenson's work confronting injustice in the criminal justice system may seem unrelated to money, his ideas around the power of proximity, leading with empathy, instilling hope in suffering, and fighting for human dignity have transformed how I view my role and approach clients.In the episode, I'm exploring the key lessons from this modern-day hero that became foundational pillars, such as intimately understanding people's struggles for true impact, seeing the full nuanced humanity in each person, and making justice and restoration my driving mission.You'll hear how Stevenson's philosophy allowed me to shed limiting beliefs to find the courage to offer transformative high-level and high-touch support.By the end, you'll understand why this visionary activist, despite having no direct finance ties, became one of my most influential mentors for creating meaningful, lasting impact.Links & Resources:Cash Flow Planning and Control for Small Business Owners (scroll to the bottom)Ten Percent Happier: How to Keep Going When Things Get HardWe Need to Talk About Injustice TED TalkTrue Justice: Bryan Stevenson's Fight for Inequality documentaryThe Power of Proximity CEO InitiativeFinancial Coaches Unite Facebook group

This episode is a master class on sticking with it, no matter what. From our friend Dan Harris on the Ten Percent Happier podcast, we're joined by Bryan Stevenson, who is a public interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned. He is the author of the bestselling memoir “Just Mercy,” which was made into a feature film, and the subject of an HBO documentary, “True Justice.” In this episode they talk about:  • Bryan's “non-negotiables,” including exercise, music, and mindfulness  • The necessity of “proximity”  • How he manages fear, anger, and hatred  • How he cultivates hope and faith in the face of overwhelming odds  More on the Ten Percent Happier podcast:   A skeptical journalist, Dan Harris had a panic attack on live TV that sent him on a journey that led him to try something he otherwise wouldn't have considered: meditation. He went on to write the best-selling book, 10% Happier. The show features interviews with top scientists, celebrities and experts in the field of mindfulness. And Dan's approach is seemingly modest, but secretly radical: happiness is a skill you can train, just like working your bicep in the gym.   Listen to more Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris 

Bryan Stevenson, in his excellent book, "Just Mercy", describes the advice his grandmother once gave to him. She said: “You can't understand most of the important things from a distance, Bryan. You have to get close...”And this relates to mission driven organizations how?

Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom by McCracken Poston Jr. https://amzn.to/49OrmAE Like a nonfiction John Grisham thriller with echoes of Rainman, Just Mercy, and a captivating smalltown Southern setting, this is the fascinating true story—sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking—of an idealistic young lawyer determined to free an innocent neurodivergent man accused of murdering the wife no one knew he had. An inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice for readers of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and Just Mercy. Was this small-town TV repair man “a harmless eccentric or a bizarre killer” (Atlanta Journal Constitution). For the first time, Alvin Ridley's own defense attorney reveals the inside story of his case and trial in an extraordinary tale of friendship and an idealistic young attorney's quest to clear his client's name—and, in the process, rebuild his own life. In October 1997, the town of Ringgold in northwest Georgia was shaken by reports of a murder in its midst. A dead woman was found in Alvin Ridley's house—and even more shockingly, she was the wife no one knew he had. McCracken Poston had been a state representative before he lost his bid for U.S. Congress and returned to his law career. Alvin Ridley was a local character who once sold and serviced Zenith televisions. Though reclusive and an outsider, the “Zenith Man,” as Poston knew him, hardly seemed capable of murder. Alvin was a difficult client, storing evidence in a cockroach-infested suitcase, unwilling to reveal key facts to his defender. Gradually, Poston pieced together the full story behind Virginia and Alvin's curious marriage and her cause of death—which was completely overlooked by law enforcement. Calling on medical experts, testimony from Alvin himself, and a wealth of surprising evidence gleaned from Alvin's junk-strewn house, Poston presented a groundbreaking defense that allowed Alvin to return to his peculiar lifestyle, a free man. Years after his trial, Alvin was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a revelation that sheds light on much of his lifelong personal battle—and shows how easily those who don't fit societal norms can be castigated and misunderstood. Part true crime, part courtroom drama, and full of local color, Zenith Man is also the moving story of an unexpected friendship between two very different men that changed—and perhaps saved—the lives of both. About the author McCracken King Poston, Jr. was born and raised in Catoosa County in Northwest Georgia. A four-term member of the Georgia House of Representatives, his world unraveled after a number of personal and professional setbacks, including a losing bid for the U.S. Congress. Soon, Poston found himself representing a most unusual client - a man once revered as a natural TV repairman who had also suffered several downfalls, including being accused of holding his wife captive in their basement for almost three decades before killing her. Poston went on to complete the representation of Alvin "Zenith Man" Ridley, and the community was shocked to hear the truth of what went on at the dilapidated house in Ringgold, Georgia. Only recently, Alvin Ridley was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, which explains much about how throughout his life he was misunderstood by his community. Poston's first book is a story of redemption, of more than one man in Catoosa County, Georgia. Poston went on from this case to a distinguished career as a criminal defense lawyer, with cases featured on television's "Forensic Files," A&E's "American Justice," and several national publications. He and his secretary continue to help Mr. Ridley, now eighty-one, making and getting him to appointments, and helping him navigate a neurotypical world.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“One of the challenges that we have collectively as a society is that in this country, we do victory great, we do success great, we do power great. We do not do shame very well; we do not do guilt very well. We don't own up to our mistakes. And the absence of shame is what makes us vulnerable to discrimination and bigotry and abuse of power…If you see two people who've loved each other for fifty years, if you ask them what the secret is; they've learned how to say I'm sorry to one another…”~Bryan Stevenson (1959-present), lawyer, activist, and author of Just Mercy “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.”~John Owen (1616-1683), British theologian and church leader “There is a mean streak to authentic self-control. Underneath what seems to be the placid demeanor of those who are not ruled by their desires is the heart of a warrior… Self-control is not for the timid. When we want to grow in it, not only do we nurture an exuberance for Jesus Christ, we also demand of ourselves a hatred for sin…The only possible attitude toward out-of-control desire is a declaration of all-out war.”~Ed Welch (1953-present), Counselor and Author in Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave “See dawg I live by the Spirit so I don't gratifyAll them old sinful desires that never satisfy… [Sin]: Man you know you miss them old days…Yeah you right possiblyBut after that I sober up and think of Jesus holding upHis skin up on the cross for all them drunken nights I'm throwing upEvery thought of blowin' up is captured in his flowing bloodI start thinking Philippians 4:8 when you showing up. [Sin]: You know I ain't gone quit right?Yeah I know but I'm dead to youAnd one day I'll be present with Jesus who died and bled from youColossians 1:15 that's the God that I trust inThe Father crushed HimIn doing so he has crushed sin.”~Lecrae Moore (1979-present), Grammy-winning hip-hop artist in song Indwelling SinSERMON PASSAGEGalatians 5:13-26 (ESV)

“Wildly entertaining…. Zenith Man By McCracken Poston, Jr. is a true crime book but the events described seems more like a John Grisham novel.” —Mystery TribuneLike a nonfiction John Grisham thriller with echoes of Rainman, Just Mercy, and a captivating smalltown Southern setting, this is the fascinating true story—sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking—of an idealistic young lawyer determined to free an innocent neurodivergent man accused of murdering the wife no one knew he had.An inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice for readers of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and Just Mercy.Was this small-town TV repair man “a harmless eccentric or a bizarre killer” (Atlanta Journal Constitution). For the first time, Alvin Ridley's own defense attorney reveals the inside story of his case and trial in an extraordinary tale of friendship and an idealistic young attorney's quest to clear his client's name—and, in the process, rebuild his own life.In October 1997, the town of Ringgold in northwest Georgia was shaken by reports of a murder in its midst. A dead woman was found in Alvin Ridley's house—and even more shockingly, she was the wife no one knew he had. McCracken Poston had been a state representative before he lost his bid for U.S. Congress and returned to his law career. Alvin Ridley was a local character who once sold and serviced Zenith televisions. Though reclusive and an outsider, the “Zenith Man,” as Poston knew him, hardly seemed capable of murder. Alvin was a difficult client, storing evidence in a cockroach-infested suitcase, unwilling to reveal key facts to his defender. Gradually, Poston pieced together the full story behind Virginia and Alvin's curious marriage and her cause of death—which was completely overlooked by law enforcement. Calling on medical experts, testimony from Alvin himself, and a wealth of surprising evidence gleaned from Alvin's junk-strewn house, Poston presented a groundbreaking defense that allowed Alvin to return to his peculiar lifestyle, a free man.Years after his trial, Alvin was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a revelation that sheds light on much of his lifelong personal battle—and shows how easily those who don't fit societal norms can be castigated and misunderstood. Part true crime, part courtroom drama, and full of local color, Zenith Man is also the moving story of an unexpected friendship between two very different men that changed—and perhaps saved—the lives of both.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Like a nonfiction John Grisham thriller with echoes of Rainman, Just Mercy, and a captivating smalltown Southern setting, this is the fascinating true story-sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking-of an idealistic young lawyer determined to free an innocent neurodivergent man accused of murdering the wife no one knew he had. Was this small-town TV repair man "a harmless eccentric or a bizarre killer" (Atlanta Journal Constitution). For the first time, Alvin Ridley's own defense attorney reveals the inside story of his case and trial in an extraordinary tale of friendship and an idealistic young attorney's quest to clear his client's name-and, in the process, rebuild his own life. In October 1997, the town of Ringgold in northwest Georgia was shaken by reports of a murder in its midst. A dead woman was found in Alvin Ridley's house-and even more shockingly, she was the wife no one knew he had. McCracken Poston had been a state representative before he lost his bid for U.S. Congress and returned to his law career. Alvin Ridley was a local character who once sold and serviced Zenith televisions. Though reclusive and an outsider, the "Zenith Man," as Poston knew him, hardly seemed capable of murder. Alvin was a difficult client, storing evidence in a cockroach-infested suitcase, unwilling to reveal key facts to his defender. Gradually, Poston pieced together the full story behind Virginia and Alvin's curious marriage and her cause of death-which was completely overlooked by law enforcement. Calling on medical experts, testimony from Alvin himself, and a wealth of surprising evidence gleaned from Alvin's junk-strewn house, Poston presented a groundbreaking defense that allowed Alvin to return to his peculiar lifestyle, a free man. Years after his trial, Alvin was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a revelation that sheds light on much of his lifelong personal battle-and shows how easily those who don't fit societal norms can be castigated and misunderstood. Part true crime, part courtroom drama, and full of local color, Zenith Man is also the moving story of an unexpected friendship between two very different men that changed-and perhaps saved-the lives of both.

Like a nonfiction John Grisham thriller with echoes of Rainman, Just Mercy, and a captivating smalltown Southern setting, this is the fascinating true story-sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking-of an idealistic young lawyer determined to free an innocent neurodivergent man accused of murdering the wife no one knew he had. Was this small-town TV repair man "a harmless eccentric or a bizarre killer" (Atlanta Journal Constitution). For the first time, Alvin Ridley's own defense attorney reveals the inside story of his case and trial in an extraordinary tale of friendship and an idealistic young attorney's quest to clear his client's name-and, in the process, rebuild his own life. In October 1997, the town of Ringgold in northwest Georgia was shaken by reports of a murder in its midst. A dead woman was found in Alvin Ridley's house-and even more shockingly, she was the wife no one knew he had. McCracken Poston had been a state representative before he lost his bid for U.S. Congress and returned to his law career. Alvin Ridley was a local character who once sold and serviced Zenith televisions. Though reclusive and an outsider, the "Zenith Man," as Poston knew him, hardly seemed capable of murder. Alvin was a difficult client, storing evidence in a cockroach-infested suitcase, unwilling to reveal key facts to his defender. Gradually, Poston pieced together the full story behind Virginia and Alvin's curious marriage and her cause of death-which was completely overlooked by law enforcement. Calling on medical experts, testimony from Alvin himself, and a wealth of surprising evidence gleaned from Alvin's junk-strewn house, Poston presented a groundbreaking defense that allowed Alvin to return to his peculiar lifestyle, a free man. Years after his trial, Alvin was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a revelation that sheds light on much of his lifelong personal battle-and shows how easily those who don't fit societal norms can be castigated and misunderstood. Part true crime, part courtroom drama, and full of local color, Zenith Man is also the moving story of an unexpected friendship between two very different men that changed-and perhaps saved-the lives of both.

Let us know if you have any burning questions you need answered. Send us your questions for celebrity stylists, brand educators, ambassadors or c-suite members and we will work to get those answered by someone we trust who can lend a brush! Send in your questions via email to volumeup@thetease.com.Interview with Lawrence DavisLawrence Davis is a two-time Emmy-winning film and TV Hair Department Head with more than 22 years of industry experience. After styling hair for 11 years in his hometown of Baltimore, he sold it all, moved to California, and never looked back. Lawrence began his career as a freelance hairstylist at E! Entertainment Television in 2002 before coming on board for Season One of The Tyra Show. Lawrence continued his work on the show into Season Two, for which he landed an Emmy award for Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for Daytime Television in 2007. Ten years later, Lawrence won a second Emmy for his work on Hairspray Live! He has earned five additional Emmy nominations for Outstanding Hairstyling for Bessie, True Detective, Mare of Eastown, and The First Lady. Over the years, Lawrence has led as the Hair Department Head of several high-profile films and TV series including HBO's Watchmen starring Regina King, Netflix's Mudbound; and Just Mercy, starring Michael B. Jordan. In addition to his work as a Hair Department Head, Lawrence served as a Key Hair Stylist on several well-known films, including Green Book, Tag, The Founder, Dirty Grandpa, and Vacation. He was also a hairstylist on films such as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. Most recently, he was the Hair Dept. Head of Warner Bros.' 2023 musical adaptation The ColorPurple, starring Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, and Coleman Domingo. Lawrence received a Critics Choice nomination for Best Hair and Makeup, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and a Local 706 Makeup Artist and Hairstyling Guild Award (MUAHS) nomination for his work on the film. Positive thinking, taking direction and great networking have been the key to Lawrence's success. Making people look and feel good is what pleases him the most. Links: https://www.instagram.com/iamlawrencedavishair/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1956803/ News from TheTease.com:https://www.thetease.com/the-january-hair-and-beauty-launches-that-you-absolutely-need-to-know-about/ https://www.thetease.com/mego-ayvazian-is-farouk-systems-new-vp-of-education-and-shows/ More from TheTease:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eljeffreycraig/ (eljeffreycraig)Web:

I'm talking today with Professor Michalyn Steele, a member of the faculty at the J. Reuben Clark Law School, about Bryan Stevenson and his best-selling book Just Mercy. Stevenson has spent his career assisting people in some of the worst circumstances I can imagine: those on death row or facing a life sentence. He's also a Christian, and his faith in Jesus and love of the Bible are on full display in his book. Professor Steele helped me see what Stevenson's work with imprisoned people can teach all of us about mercy and justice. This is something she knows firsthand from her own experience ministering to incarcerated women in her community. As she says, “we're in a web of hurt and brokenness, but we're also together in a web of healing and mercy.” Too often, though, we look away from that web and choose not to see our brothers and sisters in their lowest moments. Or we simply don't know how to make the connections we want to make. How to “get proximate”, as Stevenson puts it, is a question we should be asking--and it's the topic of our conversation today. I hope you enjoy it.

Have you already bailed on your resolutions? Where are you on your other life goals? This episode is a master class on sticking with it, no matter what.Bryan Stevenson is a public interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, based in Montgomery, Alabama—an organization that has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, as well as reversals, relief, or release from prison for over 140 wrongly condemned prisoners on death row. He is the author of the bestselling memoir Just Mercy, which was made into a feature film, and the subject of an HBO documentary, True Justice. He is also a MacArthur “Genius,” a graduate of Harvard Law School, and a recipient of over 50 honorary doctoral degrees from institutions like Yale, Princeton, and Oxford University.In this episode we talk about:Bryan's “non-negotiables,” including exercise, music, and mindfulnessThe necessity of “proximity”How he manages fear, anger, and hatredHow he cultivates hope and faith in the face of overwhelming oddsRelated Episodes:Father Gregory Boyle on Conquering Hatred with LoveEsther Perel, Bill Hader, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Pema Chödrön's “Non-Negotiables”Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/bryan-stevensonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Medical anthropology provides a lens through which we can view the intricate tapestry of human health, woven with the threads of cultural beliefs, social structures, and biological realities. Few have played a more significant role in creating this discipline than psychiatrist Arthur Kleinman, MD, whose early, extensive field work in Taiwan and China have shaped how we think about cross-cultural healthcare systems and their impacts on human suffering. Many of his books, including The Illness Narratives and Patients and Healers in the Context of Culture, have become seminal texts in medical anthropology. Dr. Kleiman is also a moral philosopher whose writings have explored the frailty of our existence and how uncertainty and crises sharpen our moral identities. Over the course of our conversation, we discuss Dr. Kleinman's bold explorations of human wellness across cultures, the search for meaning amid pain and suffering, the struggle to lead a moral life, and medical anthropology as a clarion call for a more nuanced and empathetic approach to health and healing.In this episode, we discuss: 2:26 - Dr. Kleinman's path to medicine 7:00 - How anthropology and psychiatry became central to Dr. Kleinman's work  11:23 - The four core questions that define Dr. Kleinman's decades of study 16:09 - How cultural definitions of a healthcare system greatly impact its effectiveness and reach22:12 - Finding meaning in experiences of pain and sorrow  33:56 - An anthropological view of human existence, morality, and ethics 46:00 - The basis for Dr. Kleinman's book The Soul of Care 47:51 - How Dr. Kleinman's search for meaning shapes his approach to medicine50:35 - The delineation between “morality” and “Morality”57:40 - Connecting to our shared humanity by “doing” careDr. Kleinman has authored seven books, including his most recent, The Soul of Care.In this episode, We share excerpts from: Dr. Kleinman's book What Really Matters, Morten Lauridsen's choral piece O Nata Lux, and Bryan Stevenson's book Just Mercy. Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor's Art Podcast 2023

Hosts Arielle Davis and Kolby Webster introduce this episode of Focus: Black Oklahoma, our second broadcast. This originally aired on KWGS in March of 2020. In our first story, we learn what Hunger Free Oklahoma is doing to keep children across the state fed amongst the many disruptions of the COVID 19 crisis. Executive Director Chris Bernard takes us through the connections from food insecurity to the school to prison pipeline, health outcomes, college and career readiness, and disease prevention. Find out more at mealsforkidsok.org & hungerfreeok.org.With the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Anniversary on the horizon, and Mayor G. T. Bynum's commitment to uncover the mass graves that resulted from the massacre. Many Tulsans are experiencing polarized responses for how the city can move forward in a way that honors descendants and Black Tulsans who live with the aftermath of a destroyed community. Crystal Patrick speaks with Rev. Robert Turner (who was at historic Vernon AME Church at the time the story aired) about the complexities. Allison Ikley-Freeman is running for re-election in Oklahoma State Senate District 37. District 37 includes parts of Jenks, Sand Springs, and Tulsa. Ikley-Freeman was first elected in 2017 during a special election. With deep roots in Tulsa, Ikley-Freeman's parents are McLain grads who still live in Sperry, Ikley-Freeman spent formative years in Turley. [As of the publication of this remastered podcast, Ikley-Freeman now goes by Taten Freeman]Richard Baxter, also known as Negro Spiritual 121, is a formerly justice involved paralegal and activist. who has recently embarked on a unique campaign to help North Tulsa residents. Continuing our international coverage of intimate partner violence, we explore simple solutions to combat the issue. Here is Kristi Eaton reporting from a Somalian region in Ethiopia. Could discussion over tea help prevent intimate partner violence in refugee settings? That's what two researchers, Dr. Vandana Sharma and Dr. Jennifer Scott, from Harvard University schools are trying to find out.Musically, there are two worlds in Tulsa. The Tulsa sound, Leon Russell, J. J. Cale, and Paul Benjamin. Then there's the soul, composed of rhythm and blues, a southern touch of spirit, of call and response, and harmonious ballads. Talent, like the Gap Band, Full Flava Kings, and Fay and Bobby Moffett all of whom represent some of the artists not given the same invitation to the Tulsa Sound table. Written Quincy considers this in the second installment of his series on performing artists in Tulsa, discrimination, and what he calls the Brown Code.Just Mercy, directed by Destin Daniel Creighton, is a film and number one bestselling true story of a man, Walter McMillan, portrayed by Jamie Foxx, who was wrongly convicted and incarcerated in 1980s Alabama. Through this story we find out about the Equal Justice Initiative, founded by the book's author Bryan Stevenson, played by Michael B Jordan. Other stand out performances include Herbert Richardson, portrayed in the film by Rob Morgan, and Oklahoma's own Tim Blake Nelson's performance of Ralph Myers. Focus Black Oklahoma film reviewer, Devin Williams, has our review. Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership by Public Radio Tulsa, the Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective and is broadcast from the studios of Public Radio Tulsa on the campus of the University of Tulsa. Our theme music is by Moffat Music. Our contributing music artist on this broadcast is Malachi Burgess (Mali Music, Mali Motives).Additional music is contributed by Two Piece. The executive producers of Focus: Black Oklahoma are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Scott Gregory. The Associate Producers are Bracken Klar and Ali Shaw. Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the...

In this episode of the Wisdom Calling podcast, host Bobo Beck interviews Allan Sherer, Director of Global Connections at North Hills Church in Taylors, SC, about the wisdom of cultivating God's heart for the marginalized and vulnerable.Sherer discusses the importance of seeing the poor and vulnerable through the lens of God's love and compassion, and he shares practical ways that we can live out our faith in this area. He also talks about the importance of connecting our hearts to our theology, and how our understanding of God should shape the way we treat others.This episode is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how to live a life of generosity and compassion, and how to be a better advocate for the marginalized and vulnerable in our communities.Key takeaways from the episode:Poverty is often rooted in brokenness of relationships (with God, self, others).There is a direct connection between our personal piety/holiness and how we think about and treat people, especially the poor.Generosity is not just about money, but also about time, skills, and leveraging human and social capital.God wants our hearts more than anything else.There is a relationship between obedience and blessing, and between disobedience and cursing/lack of blessing.We can cultivate a heart for the marginalized and vulnerable by getting to know God as the one who hears the cries of the poor and is compassionate.We should not think about or engage with the poor and marginalized in a way that is patronizing or dehumanizing. Instead, we should see them as people who are loved by God and who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.Resources mentioned in the episode:North Hills Church https://northhillschurch.com/New Way Global https://www.newway.global/The Judson School https://thejudsonschool.com/Yass Prize https://yassprize.org/awardees/new-way-global/Acton Institute - Effective Stewardship (curriculum) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2YhagjmWvB9W74vf16yuVx6IH1RM7SsOChalmers Center https://chalmers.org/When Helping Hurts (book) https://chalmers.org/resources/books/Walking With the Poor (book) https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Poor-Principles-Transformational-Development/dp/1570759391Tyler Staton https://www.tylerstaton.com/Bryan Stevenson; Just Mercy (book/film) https://justmercy.eji.org/Bob Goff; Dream Big (book) https://www.bobgoff.com/shopSupport the showYou can order the devotionals at https://wisdomcalling.org

Our exploration of the history of race in America takes us to Montgomery, Alabama. Harvard Attorney Bryan Stevenson opened the offices of the Equal Justice Initiative in the city where Rosa Parks refused to yield her seat on a public bus and where a young Dr. Martin Luther King became pastor of Dexter Street Baptist Church. The best-selling book which became a full-length feature film, JUST MERCY, tells the story of Bryan's work uncovering the incarceration of innocent victims and exposing the racial inequities of the Criminal Justice System. The Legacy Museum takes our contributors through the history of Slavery to Segregation to Incarceration to Lynching, highlighting the real resistance and the champions of the Civil Rights Movement. The Peace and Justice Memorial is designed to acknowledge and honor more than 4,000 documented lynchings that took place in some 800 counties in the United States. This episode is a moving account as our team processed, engaged, and learned, sharing their personal responses. SHOW NOTESMeet our contributors.Listen to the entire series - TRUTH QUEST: Exploring the History of Race in America - in their own words.Support the show

We all have choices about how we think and interact with those around us. In John 8, Jesus shows us how he responds to an adulterous woman who is brought before him by the religious leaders of the day. He says to them in verse 7,  "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Notice Jesus didn't judge her- although being holy and righteous, he surely could have. Jesus didn't gossip about her. He didn't belittle her. He didn't shame her, or punish her.He didn't throw stones. Instead, he caught the stones that the Pharisees wanted to hurl at her and traded them for grace.Join us this week as we unpack this passage and ask ourselves if we are stone catchers and/or a stone throwers. Inspired by Equal Justice Initiative Founder and Author of Just Mercy Bryan Stevenson, this podcast will be both informative and challenging.Show NotesJust Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan StevensonTo hear the podcast mentioned in this episode:https://katebowler.com/podcast/bryan-stevenson-love-mercy/

Welcome to Wilhelm and another edition of The Wilhelm Movie Swap!Join Kristin and Ben this episode as they each break down their thoughts on the movie assigned to them as their "homework assignment" film to watch.On this episode, Kristin gives her thoughts on the 1996 At Sea comedy "Down Periscope" while Ben gives his thoughts on 2020's "Just Mercy" based on true events.Let us know your thought on our homework from this week as well as next week's assignments by visiting www.wilhelmpodcast.com or by emailing us directly at feedback@wilhelmpodcast.com. Also make sure you are subscribed to the podcast as well as following Wilhelm on social media!

Just Mercy of God // Chariots of Fire, Part 4

Changing the Narrative: Empowering Stories for a Brighter Future with Melody OwenIn this episode of Curiously Wise, Laurin engages in a transformative conversation with Melody Owen, a writer and publishing expert. They explore the power of stories, discussing the importance of understanding the narratives we tell ourselves and how they shape our lives. Melody shares insights on reframing stories, embracing emotions without judgment, and finding healing through writing. They delve into the significance of empathy and compassion, the role of fiction in expanding perspectives, and the transformative effects of changing one's narrative. Melody's community-based publishing solution, Author Nation, is introduced, along with her recommendation of the book "Just Mercy" by Brian Stevenson. In this episode we get curious about:The importance of understanding the stories we tell ourselves and how they impact our lives.The power of reframing stories and changing perspectives for personal growth and empowerment.The role of writing and journaling in healing and self-reflection.The significance of sharing personal stories and wisdom with others through writing and publishing.To learn more about our guest: Melody Ann helps memoir writers finish writing their books and decide whether to publish it or keep it for their own healing and records. She is passionate about supporting authors as they write their stories to change their internal story, empower themselves, and reconnect with their truth. Melody is the founder of Author Nation and is here today to give us the steps to empower ourselves and others through story.Website: Author Nation | Non-fiction Book Writing CoachFB: Author Nation | FacebookIG: https://www.instagram.com/authornationtube/LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodyowen/Recommended Book(s):Just Mercy by Brian StevensonCreditsAudio Engineer: Sam WittigMusic: Where the Light Is by Lemon Music StudioPhotography & Design: Asha McLaughlin/Tej ArtTo learn more about Laurin Wittig and her work: https://HeartLightJoy.comCopyright 2023 Laurin Wittig

This special episode is a primer for an upcoming event at Bethany on 5/19, where we will watch the movie Just Mercy, a film that deals heavily with the topic of the Death Penalty. In this episode, Pastor Nate speaks with Bethany Member, Carol Haller, who spent many years as a Public Defender. The two discuss Carol's work, her understanding of the design of the legal system, and the ways that our life of faith connects to conversations about the defense of accused criminals and the death penalty. Listen in to this great conversation and plan to attend the Just Mercy movie viewing and discussion event (put on by the Social Concerns Committee) on May 19th at 5:30 at Bethany.

This week our guest is Lydia Welker, the digital communications coordinator for the Appalachian Prison Book Project based in Morgantown, West Virginia. This organization does a lot of things, including sending books to prisoners in six states and hosting book clubs for inmates. I discovered Appalachian Prison Book Project on social media where they often put out requests for specific books prisoners are looking for. There are over 43 books to prisoner programs across the country and you can find one in your area by going to the Books to Prisoners website (www.bookstoprisoners.net/outside-organizations/ ). Book to Prisoner programs believe education is a basic human right. We talk to Lydia about the most requested books by prisoners, why she is a fanatic for sharks, and the best zombie movie to watch at the holidays. You can find Appalachian Prison Book Project on Instagram @appalachianpbp and at their website at www.appalachianprisonbookproject.org For show notes for any episode, go to our website at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com. We are also on Instagram @perksofbeingabookloverpod and on FB Perks of Being a Book Lover. Books Mentioned In This Episode: 1- Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson 2- The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander 3- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 4- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston 5- Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett 6- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 7- Ulysses by James Joyce 8- Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver 9- The History of Everything by Bill Bryson 10- The Body by Bill Bryson 11- Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh 12- She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran 13- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 14- Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer 15- Authority by Jeff VanderMeer 16- Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer 17- Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel 18- Severance by Ling Ma 19- Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem Podcast mentioned:1- You Might Hate This Book podcast Movies or series mentioned-- 1- The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (Apple + 2023) 2- Get Out (2017) 3- Annihilation (2018) 4- Sharknado film series 5- The Night of the Living Dead (1968) 6- Ravenous (2017) 7- Zombieland (2009) 8- Shaun of the Dead (2004) 9- Anna and the Apocalypse (2017) 10- The Last of the Us (HBO Max 2023)

This week our guest is Lydia Welker, the digital communications coordinator for the Appalachian Prison Book Project based in Morgantown, West Virginia. This organization does a lot of things, including sending books to prisoners in six states and hosting book clubs for inmates. I discovered Appalachian Prison Book Project on social media where they often put out requests for specific books prisoners are looking for. There are over 43 books to prisoner programs across the country and you can find one in your area by going to the Books to Prisoners website (https://www.bookstoprisoners.net/outside-organizations/ ). Book to Prisoner programs believe education is a basic human right. We talk to Lydia about the most requested books by prisoners, why she is a fanatic for sharks, and the best zombie movie to watch at the holidays. You can find Appalachian Prison Book Project on Instagram @appalachianpbp and at their website at www.appalachianprisonbookproject.org For show notes for any episode, go to our website at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com. We are also on Instagram @perksofbeingabookloverpod and on FB Perks of Being a Book Lover. Books Mentioned In This Episode: 1- Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson 2- The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander 3- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 4- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston 5- Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett 6- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 7- Ulysses by James Joyce 8- Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver 9- The History of Everything by Bill Bryson 10- The Body by Bill Bryson 11- Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh 12- She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran 13- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 14- Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer 15- Authority by Jeff VanderMeer 16- Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer 17- Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel 18- Severance by Ling Ma 19- Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem Podcast mentioned: 1- You Might Hate This Book podcast Movies or series mentioned-- 1- The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (Apple + 2023) 2- Get Out (2017) 3- Annihilation (2018) 4- Sharknado film series 5- The Night of the Living Dead (1968) 6- Ravenous (2017) 7- Zombieland (2009) 8- Shaun of the Dead (2004) 9- Anna and the Apocalypse (2017) 10- The Last of the Us (HBO Max 2023)

Eric and I got the honor of talking with Anne and Benson who have been in the process of inventing AI's (Artificial Intelligence or robots) that are capable of teaching Nonviolent Communication. As well as finding a way to build a robot that has the ability to give empathic responses. My main take-away from this episode is that these robots won't be replacing other humans. These robots will support humans in their growth, and learning of NVC so that when we are connecting with humans we can communicate with more ease. The robots would allow for us humans to practice and grow our feelings and needs vocabulary. The robots will also help translate judgments into feelings and needs so we can have a better understanding of what lies beneath our criticisms, blame, judgments or diagnosis, & evaluations. This gives us an opportunity to bring what we learned into the real world. I believe with a lot of data collection the robot will give strategies and offer do-able requests of Self and or for the other person. In my thought, the more data we can collect the better responses the robot can have. In the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson he uses the word broken and changed it to experiences and trauma. He says on page 289 “ Our experiences and traumas is the source of our common humanity, the basis for our shared search for comfort, meaning and healing. Our shared vulnerability and imperfection nurtures and sustains our capacity for compassion.” He goes on to say that “he never fully considered that being “broken” is what makes us human. Sometimes we're fractured by the choices we make; sometimes we're shattered by the things we would never have chosen”Being apart of this episode and reading what Bryan said, really made me think about embracing our humanness. We are all so unique and connected and I want to hold on to that. Our human experiences are real and at this point, no robot can deeply feel and be impacted by those experiences. Humans share universal needs of belonging, meaning and healing, when robots are just a collection of data, inputs and algorithms that compute into a variety of results. As Anne said, “robots replacing humans is so far away in the future.” When I hear that I worry that in order for that not to happen, humans need a way to tap into something higher in brain capacity than what robots can offer so that we humans don't become extinct.Resources from Anne & Benson:Our new story-based workshop on using ChatGPT for wellbeing and creativity:https://www.emotionalhealthessentials.com/i-humanHere is a demo of our non-violent communication support AI:https://www.emotionalhealthessentials.com/technologyBecome a Supporter of the show CLICK HERECONTACT INFORMATION:Email: Livingconnected.nvc@gmail.comInstagram: livingconnectednvcLiving Connected Facebook PageWebsite: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1153175Music is brought to you by: https://www.purple-planet.com/

The transatlantic slave trade was a global phenomenon – directly affecting Africa, Europe and the Americas, with implications for Asia - and the UN can be a leader in promoting dialogue to addresses its complicated legacy.That's the opinion of renowned American lawyer and social justice activist Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a non-profit working to end mass incarceration in the United States, which mainly impacts people of colour and the poor.He was at UN Headquarters on Thursday for an event to examine how museums can deal with the colonial past and include the voices of people of African descent.Mr. Stevenson spoke to UN News's Dianne Penn about what inspired his fight for justice, how slavery is linked to past atrocities such as lynchings and present-day violations such as police brutality, and why wider engagement by cultural institutions is needed to usher in a “new era” of greater inclusion.

In this episode we speak with Rose Beale (@laurenrosebeale on Instagram) about using people skills when solving problems and working in production. Rose has worked as a Production Coordinator, Supervisor & Production Manager on numerous film and tv shows. Some of her credits include Just Mercy, The First Purge, Kidnap, LBJ, The Expendables 2 and many more...

Original Air Date: June 6, 2018Oprah sits down with Bryan Stevenson, the law professor, civil rights attorney and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, who shares why he has dedicated his life to giving a voice to incarcerated men and women. Bryan has spent more than three decades challenging poverty and racial discrimination within the criminal justice system. He explains why he believes we are not fully evolved as human beings until we care about universal human rights and basic dignity. Bryan has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent death row prisoners and confronting abuse of the incarcerated. Bryan also discusses his New York Times best-selling book, "Just Mercy," his views on the death penalty, and the transformative power of mercy and forgiveness. Next week,  be sure to download Oprah's two-part podcast interview with one of Bryan Stevenson's most extraordinary clients, Anthony Ray Hinton, a man who wrongfully spent 30 years on death row until Bryan helped him win his freedom. Anthony's new memoir about his experience in prison, "The Sun Does Shine," was just selected for Oprah's Book Club.

Throwing away the key is what the criminal punishment system – and, by extension, the U.S. public – does to tens of thousands of people behind bars. Why does the acclaimed public interest lawyer Bryan Stevenson attend to and represent those serving extreme sentences? What does Joseph G. Ramsey mean by Stevenson's “compassionate radicalism”? Ramsey talks about Stevenson's transformative ideas, and his own. Joseph Ramsey, “Never Throw Away the Key: On the Compassionate Radicalism of Bryan Stevenson's ‘Just Mercy,'” Socialism and Democracy Joseph Ramsey, “Don't Judge an Issue Just by Its Cover – 12 Important Points from Jacobin's Latest Issue ‘Reduce the Crime Rate,'” The Multiracial Unity Blog (Image on main page by Ron Lach.) The post Beyond Condemnation appeared first on KPFA.

Storytelling, pain, rage, and cultural competency are just some of the themes we will explore in this episode. Our guest, Dr. Haider Warraich, grew up and went to medical school in Pakistan before completing residency at Harvard Medical School and fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at Duke University Medical Center. Today, he is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and the associate director of the Heart Failure Program at the VA Boston Health Care System. A prolific writer, he contributes regularly to the New York Times, Washington Post, and others. He is the author of three books on medicine for the general audience, most recently 2022's The Song of Our Scars: The Untold Story of Pain, which examines the nature of pain not only as a physical, but also a historical and cultural experience. Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Warraich compares his medical experiences in Pakistan and in the US, discusses why he strives to incorporate palliative care into his cardiology work, and offers an impassioned critique of how modern medicine fails to address patients' suffering.In this episode, you will hear about:How Dr. Warraich went from thinking of his medical training as an “arranged marriage” to loving the career - 2:10How Dr. Warraich stays connected to his patients and his work despite the intense pressure and responsibility he experiences on a daily basis - 7:03What drew Dr. Warraich to cardiology and end-of-life care - 13:22Dr. Warraich's reflections on the gaps in the care of patients with heart disease and how he now strives to reform the practice of cardiology - 17:33A discussion of how the medical culture of Pakistan differs from the United States and how they can be shockingly similar - 22:06How Tom Brady, the football quarterback, inspires Dr. Warraich to stay connected to the emotional core of his practice - 28:49Why it's important to stay in a field if you care about it, especially if you hope to change and improve it - 35:37Dr. Warraich's reflections on the nature of pain and how he hopes to change our cultural conversation around it - 41:38How acute pain and chronic pain are very different processes and how we can address suffering as a subject and deeply personal experience - 45:17You can follow Dr. Warraich on Twitter @haiderwarraich.Dr. Haider Warraich is the author of several books, including The Song of Our Scars: The Untold Story of Pain, Modern Death: How Medicine Changed the End of Life, and State of the Heart: Exploring the History, Science, and Future of Cardiac Disease.In this episode, we discuss the article “At the Edge of the Inside” by David Brooks, for the New York Times, and the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, and feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor's Art Podcast 2023

On this week's episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: pet conspiracy against Meredith + airport friendships Current Reads: A whole slew of books that might be hard to listen to us talk about for various reasons Deep Dive: the goodies to buy for the bookworm that doesn't need books The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!  We are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site). The goal here is to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon, you can still do so here through our main storefront. Anything you buy there (even your laundry detergent, if you recently got obsessed with switching up your laundry game) kicks a small amount back to us. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . 1:25 - Bookish Moment of the Week 3:12 - HH Holmes Murder Castle Puzzle 8:13 - An Immense World by Ed Yong  10:13 - Current Reads 10:28 - Glass Houses by Louise Penny (Meredith) 11:10 - A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny 16:53 - Still Life by Louise Penny  18:45 - The Measure by Nikki Erlick (Kaytee) 21:30 - Sarah's Bookshelves Live Episode 123 w/ Nikki Erlick 23:03 - The Duke Alone by Christi Caldwell (Meredith) 29:22 - The Kraken's Sacrifice by Katee Robert (Kaytee) 29:52 - The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert 29:54 - CR Season 5: Episode 3 SKIP TO 35:11 IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT KRAKEN SEX!!! 35:27 - The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch (Meredith) 37:28 - Fabled Bookshop 42:56 - Picking Cotton by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton (Kaytee) SKIP TO 46:37 IF SEXUAL ASSAULT IS YOUR TRIGGER 45:01 - Know My Name by Chanel Miller  45:03 - Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson  46:37 - Bookish Gifts We Want to Give and Receive 48:19 - Mug Warmer 49:09 - Book Darts 49:40 - Pilot FriXion Pens 49:55 - Pilot FriXion Highlighters 50:52 - Sharpie Pen 51:43 - Libro.fm 51:53 - Scribd 51:44 - Bookshop.org 52:10 - Thriftbooks 52:35 - Fabled Story Bound Subscription 53:29 - Currently Reading Patreon 53:37 - Fabled Bookshop 54:24 - Currently Reading Tote 54:51 - Currently Reading Zazzle store 55:17 - Lego Bookstore 55:59 - Galison Puzzles 56:01 - White Mountain Puzzles  56:27 - Barefoot Dreams throw blanket 56:54 - Meet Us At The Fountain I wish, if you are looking for cozy holiday reading, that you read the Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton. (Meredith) 57:32 - Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton (#1 in series) I wish that book festivals and author events get as much hype as Taylor Swift tickets. (Kaytee) Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram Roxanna is @roxannatheplanner on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast and www.zazzle.com/store/currentlyreading

We love a good unit makeover, and today you'll hear part of one in action! We're going to do a makeover on a unit that Marie has taught one time so far. It uses the text, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. This unit is part of a brand new course. As many of you may have experienced, brand new course + brand new unit = flying by the seat of your pants! In other words, it's a good time to talk through it and think about some changes that can be made the next time that it's used.  The unit that we're talking about in today's episode looks at systems of power. You'll hear us discuss the vision for this unit, go through some clarifying questions, and move into forming an essential question. Most importantly, you'll gain an understanding that this process is pretty messy to work through! Register for our virtual workshop on teaching biography and memoir: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/biographyandmemoir Check out the show notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode118 Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching

My guest today is Jonathan Otto, an investigative journalist, filmmaker, and humanitarian. His upcoming work, the Unbreakable Series, is a brave nine-part exploration of never-before-seen truth as it relates to the plandemic and its so-called solutions. In this one, we explore some powerful and creative solutions to the issues we face both on a physical and metaphysical level. You are in for some mind blowing information about the medical/media tyranny we are currently experiencing. But fear not my friends – yes, Jonathan lays out all kinds of reasons to be fearful, pissed off, even hopeless – he also provides the one divine solution and true combatant to all of these things: love (and how to wield it for good). This one goes far beyond the fear porn and rage common in the truth movement. Stay tuned and keep an open mind. It might just save your life.   00:07:07 — Discovering Truth in the Lies  Got a job to sponsor a hungry child  Trip toTanzania in high school The realization that a lack of information was hurting people  Reckoning with the vast risk in truth telling  The unpersoning of Alex Jones (InfoWars/NPR) Gaining a boots-on-the-ground perspective    00:23:55 — The Insane Learnings of a Documentarian      The CIA's chilling heart attack gun testimony (1975) Presence of animal and shellfish toxins in humans Using nicotine as detox from envenomation Free protocol resources at beyondthecon.com  Other effects of the plandemic on health and wellbeing   00:39:15 — Education, Punishment & Forgiveness  Nine-part documentary series: Unbreakable Series Negative health reactions and comorbidities  The insanity of reading a blank label Denial and those that are unwilling to see their own shadow  What it takes to get eaten in a Jurassic Park film Removing oneself from the negativity porn  Reframing the ideas of punishment and evil Just Mercy (2019) Incredible examples of goodness from the Rwandan genocide Lessons from Ted Bundy's last interview    01:28:11 — Media's Role in Molding the Mind  Your values are being served to you Anton LeVey's role in Hollywood Basics of mind control  Manipulation of storylines to form new values  Indoctrination of children with illicit content  MK-Ultra: The CIA's secret pursuit of mind control The new age of censorship  Adrian Ebens - The Character of God   More about this episode. 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Whether you're happy or unhappy with your performance in the bedroom, why not perform even better? JOYMODE's Sexual Performance Booster is like a pre-workout, but for sex. Go to usejoymode.com/LUKEor enter “LUKE” at checkout for 20% off your first order. Resources Nine-part documentary series: Unbreakable Series Watch Jonathan's other amazing films: jonathanotto.tv Instagram: @jonno.otto Ebook: Restoring Health Post-Vax - Expert Healing and Recovery Advice Ebook: Bioterrorism: COVID Vaccines and Their Mechanism of Destruction Ebook: Is It Really a Virus? Are you ready to block harmful blue light, and look great at the same time? Check out Gilded By Luke Storey. Where fashion meets function: gildedbylukestorey.com Join me on Telegram for the uncensored content big tech won't allow me to post. It's free speech and free content: www.lukestorey.com/telegram   Related Episodes Universal Love Vs. Lockdown Lunacy: A Worldwide Wake-Up Call w/ David Icke #286 Solving The Wuhan-5G COVID-19 Mystery w/ Dr. Thomas Cowan #273 Healing the Collective & Awakening to Unity w/ Charles Eisenstein #392 Mental Health Liberty: Beating Big Tech Censorship & The Pharma Mafia w/ Dr. Kelly Brogan #230  

On this week's episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Mary are discussing: Bookish Moments: a new social media delight and a bookish gathering Current Reads: each of us sneakily convinces the other one to read a book that she wasn't sure about before Deep Dive: we are planning the bookstacks to bring on your family vacation so that everyone can read together Book Presses: a YA drama from a favorite author and a diverse multiverse sci-fi adventure As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!  New: we are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site). These are generated by AI, so they may not be perfectly accurate, but we want to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon, you can still do so here through our main storefront. Anything you buy there (even your laundry detergent, if you recently got obsessed with switching up your laundry game) kicks a small amount back to us. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . 1:24 - Bookish Moment of the Week 2:07 - Mary's picture book instagram @teenybookshelf  5:07 - Current Reads 5:22 - Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau (Mary) 9:01 - A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw (Kaytee) 13:16 - When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord (Mary) 15:29 - Tweet Cute by Emma Lord 15:48 - You Have a Match by Emma Lord 16:07 - Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Melinda Lo (Kaytee) 18:46 - A Day Like This by Kelley McNeil (Mary) 18:50 - Dark Matter by Blake Crouch 18:51 - What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 21:19 - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (Kaytee) 21:30 - An Unlikely Story bookshop 24:21 - Deep Dive: Family Vacation Book Clubs 24:42 - @bookliz on Instagram The Family that Solves Mysteries 27:01 - The Appeal by Janice Hallett 27:28 - Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson  28:00 - And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie  28:22 - 11/22/63 by Stephen King  The Family That Doesn't Mind Breaking Their Brains 29:26 - The Anomaly by Herve Le Tellier 30:07 - Upgrade by Blake Crouch 30:23 - Dark Matter by Blake Crouch The Family That Cooks Together 431:07 - Taste by Stanley Tucci 31:24 - A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg 31:42 - Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl 32:13 - Save me the Plums by Ruth Reichl 32:17 - Love and Saffron by Kim Fay The Family that Learns Together 32:59 - The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron 33:21 - Gumption by Nick Offerman 33:54 - Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson 34:23 - Kaytee's book recs for “The Family that learns stuff together” The Body by Bill Bryson Stiff by Mary Roach Packing for Mars by Mary Roach  The Family That Wants to Include the Younger Generation 34:39 - Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend 35:22 - The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 35:32 - The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera The Family That Fancies Themselves Oprah's Book Club 36:27 - The Sentence by Louise Erdrich 36:51 - Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin 38:27 - Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow 38:43 - Don't Cry for Me by Daniel Black The Family That Goes to the Woods 39:28 - A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson 39:47 - Where the Deer and the Antelope Play by Nick Offerman 40:05 - Upstream by Mary Oliver 40:39 - Devolution by Max Brooks 40:43 - A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw The Couples that Read Together 41:05 - The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams 41:10 - The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren 42:18  - Books We'd Like to Press Into Your Hands 42:38 - All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (Mary) 44:01 - Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir 45:23 - The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson (Kaytee) 47:01 - The Hearts and Daggers Podcast Episode 11 47:06 - Holly's Instagram @birdbrainbooks Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram Roxanna is @roxannatheplanner on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast and www.zazzle.com/store/currentlyreading

On this week's episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: too busy to read and leaning into non-fiction Current Reads: When Meredith finished edits on this episode, she called it a spicy meatball, and that's certainly true for our current reads. Deep Dive: What we do about backlist books that don't have the same standards as our modern sensibilities. Book Presses: a few middle grade gems that you don't want to miss As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!  New: we are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site). These are generated by AI, so they may not be perfectly accurate, but we want to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon, you can still do so here through our main storefront. Anything you buy there (even your dishwasher detergent!) kicks a small amount back to us. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . 1:36 - Bookish Moment of the Week 4:26 - My Life in France by Julia Child 5:29 - Current Reads 5:45  - Isaiah Dunn is my Hero by Kelly J. Baptist (Kaytee) 5:55 - Novel Neighbor Bookstore 6:57 - My Storied Year by Katie Proctor 7:42 - Anthem by Noah Hawley (Meredith) 7:54 - Before the Fall by Noah Hawley 8:08 - An Unlikely Story Bookstore 12:49 - Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam 15:15 - The Library At Mount Char by Scott Hawkins 19:06 - Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (Kaytee) 23:02 - The Fine Print (amazon link) by Lauren Asher (Meredith) 28:41 - The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb (Kaytee) 28:57 - Fabled bookshop 32:50 - Rewind by Catherine Ryan Howard (Meredith) 33:00 - The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard 33:01 - 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard 36:18 - Deep Dive: When Backlist Gets “Cringey” 36:26 - Holli's Instagram @shelfsisters 37:14 - Birds, Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell 39:06 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 39:42 - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain 41:13 - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 44:02 - Forever by Judy Blume 44:35 - Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume 45:44 - Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben 52:28 - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 52:58 - Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson 53:18 - Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene 55:42 - email us at currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com 55:51  - Books We'd Like to Press Into Your Hands 56:05 - My Storied Year by Katie Proctor (Kaytee) 56:21 - Isaiah Dunn is my Hero by Kelly J. Baptist 57:28 - The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty (Meredith) 1:00:31 - The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast