In this episode of extremely, Oren Segal speaks with Erroll Southers, Professor at USC and Director of the Safe Communities Institute. Erroll explains his pathway from being stopped by law enforcement growing up in small town New Jersey to the Santa Monica Police Department, counterterrorism with the FBI, and then academia.

Erroll credits a “incredible mentor” for the tough love that helped him keep moving forward in his career. Erroll also explains how compartmentalizing has helped him cope with the heaviness of extremism work – and not talking with people about politics and religion.

More on Erroll’s work here: https://priceschool.usc.edu/people/erroll-g-southers/

Stay engaged and follow along for more on Twitter at @OrenSegal @ADL and @PERIL_AU

extremely is a podcast from the ADL Center on Extremism. Sign up for our weekly newsletter here.

extremely's Senior Producer is Russell Gragg.