Curiosity Invited

Freeman's Challenge: The Murder That Shook America's Original Prison for Profit.

Robin Bernstein is a cultural historian who specializes in race and racism from the nineteenth century to the present. She teaches at Harvard, where she is the Dillon Professor of American History and Professor of African and African American Studies and of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. She also chairs Harvard’s doctoral program in American Studies. Bernstein wrote Freeman’s Challenge: The Murder that Shook America’s Original Prison for Profit with fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Her previous book, Racial Innocence: Performing American Childhood from Slavery to Civil Rights, won five awards. Other publications include a Jewish feminist children’s book, many prize-winning articles, and op-eds and essays in the New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and other venues. She recently received the Everett Mendelsohn Excellence in Mentoring Award.

https://www.robinbernsteinphd.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Freemans-Challenge-Murder-Americas-Original/dp/022674423X

https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/F/bo213968137.html

Dr. Daut graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a B.A. in English and French in 2002 and went on to teach in Rouen, France as an Assistante d’Anglais before enrolling at the University of Notre Dame, where she earned a Ph.D. in English in 2009. Since graduating, she has taught Haitian and French colonial history and culture at the University of Miami, the Claremont Graduate University, and the University of Virginia, where she also became series editor of New World Studies at UVA Press. In July 2022, she was appointed as Professor of French and African American Studies at Yale University.

In this conversation, host David Bryan speaks with Dr. Tracie Canada about her recent book, which explores the intersection of race, gender, and college football. They discuss the unique experiences of Black college football players, the implications of a Black feminist perspective, and the importance of community and care among players. The conversation highlights the exploitation faced by student-athletes and the broader societal issues impacting their lives. Canada discusses the intricate dynamics of college athletics, focusing on the bonds formed among players, the challenges they face in balancing education and sports, and the systemic issues within the NCAA. She emphasizes the importance of brotherhood among athletes, the complexities of their educational experiences, and potential solutions to improve their circumstances, including unionization and cost-sharing. The conversation also critiques the term 'student-athlete' and advocates for a more honest representation of their roles within the collegiate sports system. 

Big-time college football promises prestige, drama, media attention, and money. Yet most athletes in this unpaid, amateur system encounter a different reality, facing dangerous injuries, few pro-career opportunities, a free but devalued college education, and future financial instability. In one of the first ethnographies about Black college football players, anthropologist Tracie Canada reveals the ways young athletes strategically resist the exploitative systems that structure their everyday lives.

Tackling the Everyday shows how college football particularly harms the young Black men who are overrepresented on gridirons across the country. Although coaches and universities constantly invoke the misleading "football family" narrative, this book describes how a brotherhood among Black players operates alongside their caring mothers, who support them on and off the field. With a Black feminist approach—one that highlights often-overlooked voices—Canada exposes how race, gender, kinship, and care shape the lives of the young athletes who shoulder America's favorite game

In this conversation, David Bryan speaks with Shang Saavedra about the connection between mindset and financial health. Shang shares her personal journey from a frugal upbringing to achieving financial independence and starting her company, Save My Sense. They discuss the importance of mental health in managing finances, the impact of upbringing on money habits, and practical strategies for improving financial decision-making. The conversation emphasizes the need for a positive mindset, the role of risk-taking in financial growth, and the significance of self-forgiveness in the journey towards financial well-being.


https://savemycents.com/
  / savemycents 
   / @savemycents 
  / shangsaavedra 

In this conversation, David Bryan interviews Hilary Braseth, the executive director of OpenSecrets, discussing the organization's mission to promote transparency in political funding. They explore the implications of money in politics, the impact of the Citizens United ruling, the rise of dark money, and the importance of transparency for democracy. Hilary shares insights on how OpenSecrets collects and presents data, the public's interest in political information, and the challenges of measuring the organization's impact. In this conversation, Hilary from OpenSecrets discusses the organization's impact on political transparency, the investigative techniques used to uncover dark money in politics, and the future developments aimed at enhancing data accessibility. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of continuous political engagement and the challenges faced by organizations like OpenSecrets in navigating the political landscape.

Open Secrets is nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, organization whose mission is to serve as the trusted authority on money in American politics.They pursue their mission by providing comprehensive and reliable data, analysis, and tools for policymakers, storytellers and citizens. Their vision is for Americans to use data on money in politics to create a more vibrant, representative and responsive democracy.

Hilary Braseth is executive director of OpenSecrets. Her background spans the nexus of emerging technology and social change, spending several years at IDEO in Silicon Valley and more recently, serving as a Public Service Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Together with her experience as a Technology Policy Design Fellow at the Aspen Institute, Hilary has demonstrated a commitment to safeguarding the integrity and accessibility of elections. Hilary is co-founder of two organizations: Dare to Innovate, a youth entrepreneurship incubator in West Africa and Oze, Africa’s first mobile business insights platform. Hilary received her Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University, her Bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Marquette University, and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guinea (2011-2014).

Asha Wolf calls herself an animal communicator, a pet psychic, a healer, who works with vibrations and energy. Whether you are  or are not a believer, Asha has a track record of having successfully worked with animal owners, animal sanctuaries, and individuals with concerns about their animals and themselves. 

In this conversation, David and Asha Wolf explore the fascinating world of animal communication. Asha, an animal communicator, shares her insights on how she connects with animals, the significance of intuition, and the messages animals convey to humans. The discussion delves into Asha's journey from being a sensitive soul to a professional communicator, her experiences with various animals, and the integration of her background in physical therapy with her current work. Asha emphasizes the importance of understanding the bond between humans and animals and how this connection can lead to healing and personal growth. In this conversation, Asha Wolf discusses her journey into energetic healing for animals, emphasizing the effectiveness of remote healing and the importance of understanding animal behavior. She shares insights on developing intuitive abilities, the role of family in her spiritual exploration, and how her background in dance has influenced her approach to healing. Asha highlights the significance of deepening connections with animals and the transformative power of communication, both with living and deceased pets.

This was new territory for me. It turns out that so many of the things that so many of the things taught in business school and sales workshops throughout that industry had their origins in the innovations that Mike brought to the industry. Before Mike's work, sales was always seen as "pitching products." Mike simple yet profound  innovation flipped that approach onto its head - successful sellers don't move products, they solve industry problems by helping workers find solutions.

Mike Bosworth is well known throughout the business sales world as a trainer, speaker, and the author of best selling sales books Solution Selling: Creating Buyers in Difficult Selling Markets (McGraw-Hill, 1993), What Great Salespeople Do: The Science of Selling Through Emotional Connection and the Power of Story (McGraw-Hill, 2011) and co-author of CustomerCentric Selling (McGraw-Hill, 2003). 

Mike founded and grew one of the most successful virtual businesses in the B2B arena. After 10 years with Xerox Computer Services and one year with a software start-up, he founded Solution Selling® in 1983, began adding licensing his intellectual property to affiliates in 1988 and by the time he sold it in 1999, over 50 affiliates were contributing royalty income in excess of $2.8M annually. Mike began building Story Leaders™ as a framework for building emotional connection in 2008 and published a new book, What Great Salespeople Do, the Science of Selling Through Emotional Connection and the Power of Story in January, 2012. In January 2013, Mike founded Mike Bosworth Leadership. MBL currently has eight affiliates who sell and deliver his Story Seekers™ workshops.

Bosworth has a degree in Business Management and Marketing from California State Polytechnic University. In addition to his keynote speaking for professional associations and major corporations, he has been a featured lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, The Stanford Program on Market Strategy for Technology-Based Companies, The American Marketing Association Customer Message Management Forums, The Anderson School Of Management At UCLA, the Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine, The University of Connecticut and Rollins College to name a few. He is certified (CMC) by the Institute of Management Consultants. Michael T. Bosworth is a cofounder of CustomerCentric Systems®, LLC. He has assisted clients in improving sales effectiveness and shaping customer experience since 1983

Anne Abel is an author and storyteller. Her first memoir, published in 2024 , “Mattie, Milo, and Me,” about unwittingly rescuing an aggressive dog, was inspired by her Moth StorySLAM win in New York City.

Her second memoir, “High Hopes Bruce Springsteen and Me,” about fighting depression by following Bruce Springsteen’s Australia tour, at the age of 60, even though she hates to travel and hates to be alone, won a Moth StorySLAM in Chicago. It will be published September 23, 2025, Bruce Springsteen’s 76th birthday.

Her credentials include an MFA from The New School for Social Research, an MBA from the University of Chicago, and a BS in chemical engineering from Tufts University. She has published on topics ranging from dogs lovable and difficult, to coping with depression, family dysfunction, generational trauma, overcoming writer’s block and being a FaceTime grandmother.

She has freelanced for Lilith; Philadelphia Daily News; The Jewish Exponent; Philadelphia Weekly, Main Line Life and Main Line Today, and formerly wrote a weekly column, “The Homefront,” for Main Line Welcomat. She taught English and creative writing at the Community College of Philadelphia. Anne lives in New York City with her husband, Andy, their 15-year-old rescue bischon, Chase, and Wendell, a three-month old cavapoo. (They make their appearance in the background)


(Moth GrandSlam) Growing up:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBfXJ-c-LW8

(Moth StorySlam) Milo:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz1Z6bvwrZI

(Moth StorySlam) Love Hurts:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osLo5JWfinw

(Moth StorySlam) Bruce Springsteen: Australia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1BZPQuXvho

In this conversation, Mayor Karen Bass discusses the challenges faced by Los Angeles in the wake of recent wildfires, addressing misinformation, grief, and the city's recovery efforts. She highlights the importance of communication and community support in rebuilding, while also touching on the political landscape and upcoming events in the city.

https://lacity.gov/
https://lacity.gov/residents
https://emergency.lacity.gov/recovery

Jeff Schoep, a former leader of the National Socialist Movement, returns to Curiosity Invited to speak about his latest work and tireless effort to dismantle to seeds of extremism and undo the harm of his past. Jeff shares his experiences of being involved in hate groups for 27 years, the process of leaving that life behind, and the work he does now to help others escape similar paths. 

He emphasizes the importance of education in preventing radicalization and discusses the challenges faced by individuals trying to leave extremist groups. Jeff's story is one of transformation, highlighting the potential for change and the power of understanding and compassion in addressing hate. David and Jeff explore the complexities of youth engagement with social media, the impact of political polarization on society, and the dangers of dehumanizing rhetoric in political discourse. They discuss the importance of fostering understanding and dialogue, especially in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and reflect on the journey from hate to understanding, emphasizing the need for empathy and human connection in a divided world.

Who is Jeff Schoep?From leading America’s largest neo-Nazi group to becoming a beacon of hope, Jeff Schoep’s journey is a seismic shift that ignites conversations and reshapes lives. His voice, once a weapon of hate, now resounds with redemption, echoing in powerful keynote talks, workshops, and encounters that leave indelible marks.

For two decades, darkness consumed Jeff Schoep as he steered the National Socialist Movement. Yet beneath the shadows, a spark of doubt flickered, ignited by the unexpected kindness of a Black musician and the unwavering compassion of a Muslim filmmaker. Today, Jeff wields empathy and understanding, peeling back the layers of extremism he once championed. His firsthand journey exposes the nefarious underworld of hate, offering a chilling yet crucial glimpse into the extremist mindset.