Can I Have a Word? | Culture, Identity & the Power of Language

America's history has been shaped by countless movements that have attempted to guarantee full inclusion for all Americans regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT+) community was born out of a necessity to ensure their own survival and defend their right to live with the dignity and rights afforded to others. And yet, despite decades of marginalization, subjugation, and threats of erasure (which continue even today), the LGBT+ community has always managed to survive and grow stronger. Our guest this week is someone who knows first-hand how real these threats of erasure can be. As an active participant in the Stonewall Uprising in New York City on June 28th 1969, Mark Segal was a part of a landmark event that became the catalyst for a shape-shifting movement. In this candid discussion, Mark shares his journey as a lifelong activist and the importance of being visible at all costs.

Production Team 

Host/Creator - Carl James 

Lead Engineer - Josh Wilcox 

Mix Engineer/Technical Producer - Adam Goins 

Logo Design - Stephanie Cardenas 

Music - Yennaedo Balloo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all have insecurities but some of us may not be aware of them or how deep they actually run. And while it’s important to acknowledge our insecurities, we should work to overcome them in a way that doesn’t unfairly impact other people. So, what do you do if you are made to feel less than simply because of something you can’t consciously control? In this short episode, we explore the importance of calling out behavior that is rooted in insecurity and fear while standing up for our right to exist without judgment.

Production Team 

Host/Creator - Carl James 

Lead Engineer - Josh Wilcox 

Technical Producer - Adam Goins 

Logo Design - Stephanie Cardenas 

Music - Yennaedo Balloo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many of us have a conceptual idea of how "success" can be defined - financial independence, wealth, starting a family, career achievements, even having millions of fans on social media. Any of these markers can be indicative of success but should the criterion for success change as we age, learn more, and yes, achieve more? How does our framework of success evolve as we get older and what other attributes should we think about beyond the traditional elements that we already know of and aspire to? On this episode, we chat with career attorney and community advocate Peter Koffler, as we try to create a more expansive definition of success that goes beyond our own self-interests. 

Production Team 

Host/Creator - Carl James 

Lead Engineer - Josh Wilcox 

Technical Producer - Adam Goins 

Logo Design - Stephanie Cardenas 

Music - Yennaedo Balloo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this inaugural episode of “Can I Have a Word?”, we explore how this podcast came to be and why the intersection of language and identity should matter to all of us. We also get to learn a bit more about our host, Carl James, and examine why compliments aren’t always as complimentary as they might seem. 

Production Team

Host/Creator - Carl James 

Lead Engineer - Josh Wilcox 

Technical Producer - Adam Goins 

Logo Design - Stephanie Cardenas 

Music - Yennaedo Balloo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This trailer offers a sneak peak into the brand-new podcast, “Can I Have a Word?”

The “Can I Have a Word?” podcast explores the complex intersection between language and self-identity. Through a nuanced exploration of the words we use, this podcast examines how words inform who we are and how we subsequently navigate through the world as a result. By understanding our individual relationship to language, we will gain more insight into the depths of the human experience and simultaneously create more opportunities to better understand one another.

Join me for thought-provoking and insightful conversations around language and identity!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.