Episode Eight: The Taboo of Swearing with Leslie Ehm

This week I'm chatting with Leslie Ehm about the taboo of swearing.  Leslie is a speaker, author, founder and chief fire starter of Combustion Training.  I know, I know.  You're probably thinking, is this really a hot button issue?  However, like all good conversations, this conversation about swearing was really a discussion about authenticity, respect, judgement and communication.  Even if you don't think you have strong opinions about swearing, I think this conversation could spark some thought on these bigger topics.  And if you do have strong opinions about swearing, I encourage you to keep an open mind and listen to what Leslie has to say.

You can find info about Leslie here.  Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.  

Discussed in this conversation:

The Night Circus  by Erin Morgenstern

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

The Magicians Lev Grossman

The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey

House of Cards

Altered Carbon

The OA

Episode Seven: Gender Equality with Melissa Agnes

February 13th marked one of my personal favorite holidays, Galentine's Day.  (God Bless Leslie Knope)  In honor of this hallowed holiday I'm chatting Gender Equality with Melissa Agnes.  Melissa is a renowned crisis management expert who's often been the only woman in the room. During our conversation we chatted about how she's overcome obstacles she's encountered in her career with regard to gender inequality and some ways we thing society can work towards changing the systems of inequality for good.  

You can find out more about Melissa at her website melissaagnes.com.  Follow her on facebook, twitter, and instagram.  And check out her new book!  Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World  It's available for pre-order today!!

Discussed in the Show:

Exactly What to Say by Phil M. Jones

We didn't discuss this video specifically in the episode, but this video of Ellen Pompeo discussing gender equality and the wage gap definitely pertains to our conversation.

Episode Six: The Refugee Ban with Daniel O'Rourke

This week I'm chatting with Daniel O'Rourke a member of the U.S. Foreign Service, currently serving in Pakistan, about the refugee ban, extreme vetting and the plight of refugees.  We chatted about Dan's experience working with refugees, why he thinks accepting refugees as a country is important and how his opinion has changed on more extreme vetting measures in the last year.  

This episode also includes a brief conversation with Anne Elliot who shares about her family's experience hosting a refugee family in her community.

Discussed in the show:

Six Against the Rock

World Relief

Refugee One

International Red Cross

Episode Five: The Opioid/Overdose Epidemic with Christopher Moraff

On today's episode I sat down with Christopher Moraff, a Philadelphia based reporter who has spent the past year immersion reporting on the opioid crisis.  Chris and I discussed our nation's approach to attacking the supply side of drug addiction at the cost of treating the demand side, the use of Medication Assisted Treatment programs as a counter to abstinence based rehab in treating opioid addiction and Philadelphia's ground breaking announcement last week regarding supervised injection sites.  We also talked about rethinking how we as a nation think about drugs.

Connect with Chris on Twitter @cmoraff.

Discussed on today's episode:

This is the article Chris wrote about supervised injection sites in Philly.

Short story author John Cheever

Short story author T.C. Boyle 

Short story author Paul Bowles

Episode Four: The Alabama Special Election and Evangelical Voting with Erin Moon

This week I chat with writer, director, producer, and Alabama resident Erin Moon about that special senatorial election that took place last month in Alabama.  We chatted about Roy Moore's problematic candidacy, Evangelical voting and why we need to turn off the 24 hour news cycle and start talking to each other.

Follow Erin on Instagram and Twitter @erinhmoon, I promise you'll be entertained.  Also, check out Erin's novels!  She and her co-author Megan Beam have written two books in their fantasy-adventure series called The Last Beholder.  More info here.

Discussed in today's episode:

The Daily Podcast (Look for Episodes from Tuesday, December 12, 2017 and Wednesday, December 13, 2017)

Lonesome Dove

Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Popcast

Episode Three: Talking about Race with Alicia and Jacob Ross

Jacob and Alicia and their adorable daughters.

Today I sat down with Alicia and Jacob Ross, an interracial couple, to talk about how they talk about race and issues surrounding the subject, challenges they've encountered as a couple and the ways they've learned to be better communicators and listeners to each other.  

Alicia and Jacob have been married for five years and have two beautiful girls.  They are a beautiful couple inside and out and I really enjoyed talking with them!

Discussed in this episode 

The Bible

The Shack

Dr. Dolittle 

Episode Two: The Supreme Court Case of the Cake Shop and the Same Sex Couple with Erin Beddall

My guest, Erin, is the beautiful bride on the right.  Her wife, Molly, is the beautiful bride on the left.

On today's episode I'm sitting down with Erin Beddall to talk about the Supreme Court Case between Masterpiece Cakeshop v Colorado Civil Rights Commission.  This is the case dealing with the cake baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same sex couple on the grounds of freedom of speech.  

Erin Beddall is a wife, sister, daughter, friend and auntie who currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA.  She loves reading, Pittsburgh sports, writing and travel.  She met her partner while teaching English in rural Japan and got married in the summer of 2017.

As a newly married woman whose same sex wedding took place just a few months ago, Erin has a unique and personal perspective on what this decision could mean for her and her family.  In this episode we talk about the implications of this case, whether it's a freedom of religion issue and whether just finding another cake shop is the solution or not.

Discussed in this episode:

The Daily Podcast (look for the Tuesday, December 5, 2017 episode)

The Supreme Court decision of Obergefell v. Hodges  (scroll down to page six to read Justice Kennedy's opinion of the court)

Episode One: Police Reform with Officer Lou Hayes

In this very first episode of A Year of Listening, Colleen sat down with her friend, police officer Lou Hayes.  

Lou Hayes has been a Chicago Area police officer for twenty years.  In their conversation Lou and Colleen talk about the challenges facing policing today, racial bias, police reform, and how we can support the police in their important work and also speak out against injustices at the hands of officers.

You can find Lou's writing and wisdom at his website The Illinois Model  and connect with him here on twitter @LouHayesJr