Episode Twelve: How to Have Polarizing Conversations Well with Phil M. Jones

This week's episode is a good one!  I sat down with author and speaker Phil M. Jones to talk about the how tos of having good conversations about polarizing topics.  What can we do and say to drive conversations that lead to openness and positive impact?  Phil had so much grace and insight and will leave you feeling able to tackle even the most polarized conversations in a way that keeps the relationship in tact.  For those of us who want to enter into discussions with friends and loved ones well, this episode is for you!

Find Phil's website here.  Follow Phil on Twitter, too!

Information on Phil's book Exactly What to Say.

Also discussed in the show:

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Episode Eleven: What We Learned (Episodes 1-10)

Kelly, Charity, me, and Lauren.  They've been making me a better person for years.

It's a recap episode!  Every 10 episodes we're going to pause and take stock in what we've learned from listening well to people's knowledge and opinions about these polarizing topics.  I'm going to sit down with some listeners to chat about their thoughts from each episode, what challenged them or changed their mind, and what surprised them.  

This week I chatted with a few of my nearest and dearest friends, Lauren Lindberg, Charity McClure and Kelly Phillips.  These smart, thoughtful women had interesting insights and thoughtful commentary on the conversations from episodes one through ten as well as on the greater issues themselves.

Episode 10: Mental Health and its Stigmas with Dom Gaskin

This week I'm chatting with Dom Gaskin about mental health, stigmas surrounding it and how to help loved ones who are struggling with mental health issues.  Dom works in the mental health field and has dealt with her own struggles when it comes to this issue.  She shares honestly and vulnerably.  We also talked about how the stigmas attached to mental health can be particularly strong in certain communities and how the health insurance system can get in the way of good services.

Discussed in this episode:

National Alliance on Mental Illness (nami.org)

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Episode Nine: Gun Control

On this week's episode I am talking with Mark Olson a formal naval officer and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran about the issue of gun control.  Mark is a gun owner whose perspective includes a good understanding of the history of the second amendment and gun control thus far, as well as the bigger picture of gun violence beyond the mass shootings that garner the most media attention.  

This conversation was recorded before the most recent deaths in Parkland, FL but will still be incredibly timely.  I really appreciated the way Mark gave insight into the mindset of law abiding gun owners as well as provided some ideas to advocate for real change surrounding gun control and gun violence.  After our conversation I include some thoughts from Mark in light of the recent events in Parkland, so listen to the end to hear what I think is incredibly applicable suggestions for people who want to move the ball forward on gun control as this discussion progresses post Parkland.

Connect with Mark on Instagram! And check out his podcast Port Calls and Politics!  (You can also follow the show on facebook or instagram.)

Also discussed in this episode:

Gun Fight by Adam Winkler

Blog post from Rage Against the Minivan regarding some mental health measures that can be taken with regards to gun control.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein

Freeway Crack in the System

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