The Connector

FromUs & Them

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The Connector

FromUs & Them

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Length:

23 minutes

Released:

Apr 8, 2020

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

In many cities and towns, there are people in charge, and there are people who get things done. Joe Slack is an instigator for community change in West Virginia’s Upper Kanawha Valley. He sees the needs in his region, one that’s been hit hard by one economic disappointment after another. But Slack is a self-described squeaky wheel. He connects people, helps identify realistic opportunities and then works to make things happen.

Released:

Apr 8, 2020

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

We tell stories from the fault lines that separate Americans. Peabody Award-winning public radio producer Trey Kay listens to people on both sides of the divide.

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Sex Ed for Grown-ups: The chair of the University of Minnesota's program for Sexual Health Education tells Trey most sexual health instruction focuses on adolescents and that maybe adults might also need some instruction. by Us & Them
17 min listen
The Talk: Despite all the fuss about sex education in America, students get precious little of it. Jonathan Zimmerman, an education historian, tells Trey how Americans spend more time arguing about what kids should learn about human sexuality in schools... by Us & Them
43 min listen
Trey & Alice: A blue state secular liberal and a red state conservative Christian have an unlikely friendship. And a slug burger. by Us & Them
32 min listen
The Changing Face of Heroin: Something has shifted in the way our society thinks and talks about heroin addicts these days. Could it be that smack users seem more like ‘us’ and less like ‘them’? by Us & Them
40 min listen
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Two men with strong opinions about evolution and climate change are willing to lay their money on the line. by Us & Them
38 min listen
Coming Out of the Closet: Where some Trump supporters have been loud and proud, others have remained in the shadows. With the new boss installed, it’s “olly olly in come free!” Trey speaks with Trump voters about their hopes, dreams and expectations. by Us & Them
30 min listen
Enemies: Jesus said, “Love your enemies." Today’s politicians ask God to bless America, but in the same breath, they call their political opponents "enemies." Labels help us organize the world along fault lines, but is this the best... by Us & Them
19 min listen
Gentrification: That Kumbayah Moment: When a neighborhood transforms, newcomers can feel unwelcome, while longtime residents feel threatened. But is there a sweet spot when everyone in the community lives in harmony? by Us & Them
36 min listen
Marrying Gays When It Wasn't Cool - Rev. Jim Lewis: Decades before same-sex marriage became legal, the Reverend Jim Lewis of Charleston, West Virginia sparked outrage by blessing the unions of gay men and lesbians in his church. by Us & Them
8 min listen
Revisiting the Grand Palace: Americans' attitudes toward gay relationships have changed dramatically in a short time. Trey Kay returns to his home state of West Virginia to see how this change is playing out in a state where 53 percent of residents believe the Bible is the literal w by Us & Them
38 min listen
The Refugee Trail with Scott Carrier: Veteran journalist – or “cultural anthropologist” – Scott Carrier speaks with people fleeing war-torn Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries as they seek refuge in Europe. by Us & Them
33 min listen
Strangers With Cameras In Appalachia: A recent photo essay depicting Appalachians has stirred controversy in that region. Some locals feel violated when outsiders come into their communities snapping photos. Are these shutterbugs depicting reality or reinforcing stereotypes?... by Us & Them
52 min listen
To Give or Not to Give: If you give money to panhandlers, are you helping them or hurting them? And do they really need help? People have strong opinions. We try to separate the facts from the ideology. by Us & Them
31 min listen
Islamophobia: With acts of terrorism in Paris and San Bernardino, some Americans are suspicious of Muslim neighbors and immigrants. Warranted fear or paranoia? by Us & Them
26 min listen
In Dixieland, I'll Take My Stand: The Condederate flag and the song "Dixie" -- two enduring Old South icons that make us wonder if the war ever ended. by Us & Them
38 min listen
The Great Textbook War: In 1974, Kanawha County West Virginia was an early battleground in the American culture wars. The fight focused on what children should learn in school. by Us & Them
58 min listen
A Confederate Reckoning: Can we reconcile different versions of history? Two American foreign correspondents of color fly from Kenya to Louisiana to report on an unfinished civil war back home. by Us & Them
53 min listen
Trapped on the Turnpike: How 27 hours of being snow-bound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike helps Trey file a report to the Keystone State’s “Office of Lessons Learned.” by Us & Them
29 min listen
New Math: When conservatives and liberals fight about school curriculum, the disagreements aren't just about science and history. Even math has been a battleground in the culture wars. Trey talks with historian Christopher Phillips. by Us & Them
33 min listen
Atheism: Would Americans vote for an atheist president? A recent poll says no way. In this episode, a social psychologist tells us why this might be. by Us & Them
20 min listen
Heroin I - N'ganga Dimitri: Dimitri Mugianis has an undying love for drug addicts. He's a former junkie who's been clean for a decade. Now he feels a calling to help other addicts -- "my people," he calls them -- by using unconventional “shamanistic” treatment... by Us & Them
37 min listen
Trapped on the Turnpike: Trey Kay: Jonas smothered me. I was held captive for 27-1/2 hours. by Us & Them
31 min listen
The Church Lady: The Supreme Court says you can't have organized prayer in public schools. But most Americans don't agree with that call -- and some people are still finding ways to make sure public school children have a chance to hear about God. by Us & Them
29 min listen
Textbook Watchdogs: Lots of American school districts have fierce fights over what kids should learn in school, but nobody fights like Texans. And no citizens have had a bigger impact on what goes into public school textbooks than Mel and Norma Gabler. by Us & Them
30 min listen
Femme Voice: Anne Kelly always felt like she was born into the wrong body. She began life as a man, but is now transitioning into a woman. She’s got the looking like a woman part down. It’s the sounding like a woman thing that’s harder than she... by Us & Them
46 min listen
Shack!: In 1969, James “Shack” Harris became the first African American quarterback to break the color line in the NFL. by Us & Them
33 min listen
Hillers & Creekers: Americans tend to sort themselves into tribes that share similar culture, ideas and values. Trey recalls kids at his West Virginia high school sorting themselves into different camps and how one dressed was a defining factor, right down to the shoes. by Us & Them
34 min listen
Locked Up For Sodomy: Not that long ago, you could get locked up for being gay. A West Virginia man tells Trey about being sent to a mental institution for violating the state’s sodomy laws. by Us & Them
29 min listen
The Elephant in the (Class) Room: How I Survived Iraq and Vassar College: After four years of commanding a tank in Iraq, David Carrell, a Republican from Texas, had the opportunity to study at a liberal college in the northeast. He tells Trey what he’s observed about Red and Blue America. by Us & Them
32 min listen
Confederate Reckoning: When Will The Civil War End?: The tragedy in Charlottesville, VA makes us wonder if it’s possible to reconcile different versions of history. This episode features two American foreign correspondents of color who’ve sought to answer this quandary. They fly from Kenya to New... by Us & Them
53 min listen

More Episodes from Us & Them

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Us & Them Encore: Can Childhood Trauma Limit The Future? by Us & Them
52 min listen
Us & Them Encore: Compassion Fatigue: Homelessness is not just an issue for big cities like San Francisco or New York City. Across America, communities large and small are struggling to provide shelter to people without housing. In Charleston, West Virginia, government and community approaches to help the unhoused have created more debate on an issue that is already divisive. Earlier this year, this episode received a second place award from the Virginias AP Broadcasters for Best Podcast. by Us & Them
55 min listen
Our Foster Care Crisis: Across the nation, more than 390-thousand children rely on foster care. However, a shortage of licensed foster homes is creating a national crisis. While official foster care cases are carefully tracked, many informal examples of kinship care aren’t part of the data. For this Us & Them episode, we hear the experiences of those who’ve been part of the foster care system. by Us & Them
52 min listen
Us & Them: Locked Out Of Voting?: Millions of people in the U.S. cannot vote because they’ve been convicted of a felony. A majority of those are not currently in prison, but on probation or parole. In this episode, we look at the nation’s patchwork of voting rights laws and the confusion they can create. by Us & Them
40 min listen
Us & Them: Another Small Town Paper Down: Across the nation, there are a growing number of local news deserts. Communities with no local newspaper, television or radio station to cover what’s going on. For generations, it’s been the local paper that kept track of things. When a small town paper, like The Welch News in McDowell County, WV, can’t compete and shuts down, losing those local eyes and ears can affect accountability. No one is there to watch over things. Local news also provides a sense of cohesion and identity for a community. What happens when it’s gone? by Us & Them
52 min listen
Us & Them Encore: Dicamba Woes: In February 2024, a federal judge in Arizona halts the spraying of the herbicide dicamba, but EPA says farmers are allowed to use it for this coming growing season. In this installment of Us & Them, we harken back to a story from our archives, exploring the heated conflict unraveling in agricultural communities. by Us & Them
54 min listen
Us & Them: Navigating Post-Pandemic Medicaid: Medicaid is undergoing a major review to determine the eligibility of millions, but not everyone is getting the notice. For this Us & Them, we look at changes to a health care safety net program that serves more than 90 million low income Americans. by Us & Them
52 min listen
Us & Them: The Geography of Abortion: State borders are now all important in determining access to abortion. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, West Virginia’s only abortion clinic has moved across the border to Maryland to continue providing abortions. by Us & Them
33 min listen
Us & Them: Expungement — Between Hope and Danger: For the hundreds of thousands of West Virginians with a criminal record, it’s tough to find a second chance. New state laws make some crimes eligible for expungement and can seal a person’s criminal record. But some say giving a clean slate to someone with a record is dangerous. by Us & Them
52 min listen
Us & Them: Caught Between Two Worlds: Our nation’s capital can make and break careers. In a very short period, Cassidy Hutchinson went from a complete outsider to traveling on Air Force One with the President of the United States. She tells Trey Kay about life on either side of the political divide. by Us & Them
34 min listen
Us & Them: 2023 Had Some Serious Trust Issues: As we close out 2023, we look ahead to a new year with a landscape partially defined by fear and mistrust. Many Americans say their confidence is shaken. They feel like every institution — from the government, to the banking system, to corporations, to religion, to the news media — are corrupt. What to do when so many of us can’t trust the institutions that hold our society together? by Us & Them
52 min listen
Us & Them: Bidding Farewell To My Unlikely Friend, Alice Moore: Sometimes friendships show up when we don’t expect them. That was true of Us & Them host Trey Kay’s friendship with Alice Moore — a conservative Christian county school board member, who sparked a turbulent textbook controversy in Kay’s home county back in the 1970s. Kay and Moore saw education, religion, homosexuality and Trump very differently, but were still dear friends. by Us & Them
34 min listen
Us & Them: Diminished Trust In Science: Science and research can lead to important breakthroughs. But in a divided America, not everyone trusts the results. On the next Us & Them, Trey Kay speaks with three expert guests before an audience full of curious people at Marshall University in Huntington, WV and asks: How shaken is our confidence in scientists and the scientific process? by Us & Them
52 min listen
Us & Them: Potluck & Politics: For the past four years, Trey Kay has gathered a group of West Virginians — four from the political right and four from the left — for the “Us & Them Dinner Party.” The discussion at this year’s gathering focused on former President Trump’s indictments, abortion laws, diminishing public trust and more. by Us & Them
48 min listen
Us & Them: Diminished Trust In The News Media: We used to trust the news but now some polls and surveys show that our confidence has eroded. Recently, the Us & Them team partnered with West Virginia University’s Reed College of Media for a conversation on diminished trust in journalism. Host Trey Kay spoke with Raney Aronson-Rath, editor-in-chief and executive producer of PBS Frontline, and June Cross, director of the documentary journalism program at the Columbia Journalism School. by Us & Them
52 min listen
To Friend or Unfriend? That Is The Question: Over the past few years, some people have severed their digital lifeline with friends and family because of political differences. With the click of a single button the social media connection is gone. Click - buh-bye! The decision can mean you're out of touch and cut off from that person’s life. But two childhood friends from Gallipolis, OH — who vote very differently — have committed to doing just the opposite. by Us & Them
35 min listen
Mental Health Crisis Behind Bars In West Virginia: America stopped institutionalizing people with mental illness decades ago. But now, many are caught up in a system not meant for them. On this episode of Us & Them, we’ll hear what it’s like to live with mental illness behind bars in the Mountain State. by Us & Them
52 min listen
Trust: East Palestinians Not On The Same Track: After a disaster, people look for help and answers. In East Palestine, Ohio some residents just want to go home. In this Us & Them episode, host Trey Kay hears from residents who still face daunting challenges. by Us & Them
52 min listen
Us & Them Encore: The Right To Compete: New laws in more than twenty states ban transgender girls and women from competing on girls and womens teams. Transgender athletes say they want to play a sport they love. Those supporting the new bans, say the laws are not anti-trans. Instead, they say the goal is to protect girls and women from competing against the biological advantages they believe transgender girls and women have. by Us & Them
52 min listen
Us & Them Encore: Leaving The White Bubble: Travel is one way to learn —Us & Them host Trey Kay followed a tour group traveling through southern U.S. states to learn some very Black and white lessons. by Us & Them
47 min listen
Us & Them Encore: Court of Second Chances?: In West Virginia and many other states, there’s a court of second chances. It’s a court-monitored drug treatment program designed to help people stay clean and out of jail. In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay asks: How do these treatment courts work for adults and juveniles? by Us & Them
52 min listen
Us & Them: SNAP — Do The Hungry Get More Policy Than Nutrician?: Hunger and poverty are universal challenges, but in the U.S. for more than 50 years, support programs like SNAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have provided help to those in need. On this Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with three people — a retiree, a mom and a lawmaker — who all say that nutritional support has made a difference in their lives. by Us & Them
46 min listen
Us & Them: Who Gets Stuck Behind Bars In West Virginia?: West VIrginia’s state prisons and jails are overcrowded and understaffed. About half of those incarcerated are there because they can’t make their bail. Many are poor and a disproportionate number are Black. by Us & Them
52 min listen
Us & Them: Larry Bellorín’s Unwritten Song: Larry Bellorín is a musician from Venezuela, who is seeking asylum in the U.S. He thought his musical career was in the past until he met Joe Troop, a GRAMMY-nominated musician and North Carolina native who introduced Larry to the folk music and traditions of Appalachia, which seemed quite similar to the joropo he played in Venezuela. Their duo, Larry & Joe, is the realization of a dream for both musicians. It’s also a reminder for Larry of what — and who — he had to leave behind. by Us & Them
33 min listen
Us & Them: The ‘Toxic Stew’ Of School Discipline: In schools across the nation, when students of color misbehave, they are disciplined at twice the rate of white students. That means Black and brown students are more likely to face suspension or expulsion. West Virginia lawmakers worry students are not facing the right consequences for their misbehavior. A new state law is designed to make schools safer. In this episode, Us & Them host Trey Kay looks at new approaches to school discipline. by Us & Them
52 min listen
A Fiddler Contemplates The Fate of the Mountain State: West Virginia-born fiddler Phillip Bowen writes songs that reflect love for the place he calls home. His descriptions of the people and places from his childhood touch the ear and heart like a sentimental postcard. But he’s also willing to share songs that remember those who’ve been marginalized or forgotten. by Us & Them
39 min listen
Us & Them Encore: The Gun Divide: At a time when an alarming number of mass shootings continue to happen all over America, the Us & Them team was recently honored with a first place award for best documentary from Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters. In this report, we explore the foundations of the Second Amendment and the cultural and historical beliefs and myths that contribute to our very American divide over guns. by Us & Them
52 min listen
Diminishing OB Care In Rural America: For struggling rural hospitals, obstetric and prenatal services tend to be some of the first on the chopping block. Over the past decade, 89 rural hospitals across the country closed their obstetric units. And when medical options shrink — families have to make hard decisions about how and where to get care. by Us & Them
31 min listen
Changing A State's Mind About Health: According to recent health rankings, West Virginia tops the charts for the rates of obesity and diabetes. More than a decade ago, West Virginia made headlines with the nation’s fattest city. Since then, some things have changed. by Us & Them
52 min listen
Compassion Fatigue: From coast to coast, communities large and small are struggling to provide shelter to people without housing. In Charleston, WV, approaches to address homelessness have created “us and them” divisions within divisions. by Us & Them
54 min listen

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The Connector

The Connector

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Us & Them

Related podcast episodes