How the Government Creates Panic [Guest: Jessica Lepler] [Coffee with Chris]

Hosts David and Chris discuss media coverage of Gabby Petito's murder. What responsibility do journalists and media corporations have to investigate and publicize crimes against people from traditionally under-represented groups? How do we, as media consumers, counteract the bias in who makes headlines?   Read More

The era of lightweight, check-the-box discussions about racism is history. Dr. Chris Thurber (clinical psychologist) and Mr. David Conley (communications consultant) use candor and empathy to fuel waves of change. This introduction to Season 1 lays the groundwork for the candid conversations in Episodes 2 through 15, featuring fascinating guests on the forefront of social justice.   Read More

Special guest, Rev. James Winfrey, discusses the good work that he and his wife do with formerly incarcerated and formerly homeless persons. How do race and a history of incarceration or homelessness affect their experiences on Skid Row, the obstacles to accessing education, and their challenges finding work? What role does Urban Alchemy play in helping people learn social and emotional skills, tap into their character strengths, and live a better life? A profound look... Read More

Guest—Bonnie Harris—author of When Your Kids Push Your Buttons—and What You Can Do About It, discusses what's really going on when parents flip out. It happens to all adults who work with children or who have their own kids—some minor misbehavior gets under your skin and inflames an old psychological wound or hidden sensitivity. In refreshingly plain language, Harris outlines her original, powerful method for gaining control over explosive emotional reactions.   Read More

Special guest, Barbara Rimkunas, Co-Executive Director of the Exeter Historical Society, unveils stunning evidence of white New Hampshire residence owning Black slaves both before and after the Emancipation Proclamation. Hear why "Southerners owned slaves, but Northerners didn't" is an overgeneralization we need to confront and understand. Read More

Phillips Exeter Academy teacher and coach, Brandon Thomas, joins co-hosts David M. Conley and Dr. Chris Thurber to explain how race is perceived differently in China vs. the US and how classrooms can be crucibles for anti-black racism. Are international exchange programs part of the solution?   Read More

Guests John Leggette, St. Louis Metro Police Department, and Montague Simmons, human rights activist, debate the merits and practical considerations of #defundthepolice​. How can the US peacefully undo 30+ years of addressing social strife with a forceful police presence and mass incarceration? As Legette and Simmons explain, we need to commit to eliminating the root causes of crime, including unemployment, racism, lack of affordable housing, and low-quality education.   Read More

Teacher, Andy Bigelow, and his husband, Brian Lighty, discuss the joys and complications of being a gay, mixed-race couple. How do public perceptions affect their private experiences? What social conventions are more "white," whereas others are more "Black"? How does this professional power duo navigate multiple stereotypes and prejudices while still maintaining a sense of humor? And how do they decide when to speak up about microaggressions and when to let them ride?   Read More

Guests Jacob Conley, student at Boston Conservatory of Fine Arts, and Dacha Thurber, Phillips Exeter Academy ’20 discuss what systemic racism looks like on campus today. What’s with @blackat[____] Instagram accounts? Can one person represent an entire race? Will music and theater communicate better than posts and protests?   Read More

Guest Dr. Michael Bieze, Fine Arts Chair at Marist School, discusses the peril of public statues and monuments, when art is a political statement, designing an anti-racist curriculum, and why freedom of expression matters. Listen and decide whether a white educator really knows what a Black person experiences outside their local courthouse.   Read More