My Racist Friend

Game developer Christian Telesmar, creator of 'Disparity Trap', joins Amy and Don Griffin, Jr. in a crossover episode with the "Cadre" podcast to discuss Christian's board game about the game of real life. Christian explains the origins of the game and joins Don in speculating about expansion rules.

Christian Telesmar attended college at the University of Washington (UW) with the intent of pursuing medical school but fell in love with theatre and knew that’s where he was meant to be. After graduating from the University of Washington’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Acting program, he relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he resides today. His performance work includes appearances on FOX’s Bones, 9-1-1: Lone Star, and The Young and the Restless. While in Los Angeles, Christian earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Purdue University Global and holds a Qualified Administrator license for the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI) from IDI, LLC. He is excited to be fusing his many passions, combining his love of art, business, and education in the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion space with his board game, Disparity Trap.

Christian will provide the keynote presentation on Friday, September 6 as part of the upcoming 2024 Relational Summit on Playful Connection. Don will be on a panel playing Disparity Trap during that session.

Some resources mentioned in this episode:

Disparity Trap board game

"Disparity Trap Board Game" (Kickstarter video)

Lizzie Magie and the History of Monopoly

Share the Flame consulting

What is the Neighborhood Revitalization and Land Banking Act?

Myths about physical racial differences were used to justify slavery — and are still believed by doctors today.

2024 Relational Summit

Donald Griffin Jr. is a Bloomington native, former Deputy Mayor for Bloomington, and a real estate broker, proudly serving his community for the past three decades. Since opening Griffin Realty in 2003, Don's dedication to excellence has helped to guide his company to be among the top producers in Indiana with nearly a half billion in individual lifetime sales.

Amy Makice, founder of Bloomington Center for Connection, is a licensed psychotherapist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Her professional journey is rooted in her passion for Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT), and her commitment to RCT extends into community building initiatives to promote the power of connection. Amy helps to bring the Relational Summits to Bloomington, featuring distinguished guests like Maureen Walker, Amy Banks, and Isaac Knapper. 

In this episode, hosts Don and Amy discuss the MOVE bombing in Philadelphia, a tragic and often overlooked part of American history. They delve into the background of the MOVE organization, the events leading up to the bombing, and the aftermath, including the impact on the surrounding neighborhood. The conversation also touches on broader themes of racism, police brutality, and the challenges of fostering meaningful dialogue about these critical issues.

• "The Africas VS. America: Remembering one of the deadliest instances of police violence in U.S. history" (podcast)

• "MOVE: Philadelphia's forgotten bombing" by Charles Abraham (PDF)

• "The Outsize Role of Immigrants in US Innovation" (article)

Donald Griffin Jr. is a Bloomington native, former Deputy Mayor for Bloomington, and a real estate broker, proudly serving his community for the past three decades. Since opening Griffin Realty in 2003, Don's dedication to excellence has helped to guide his company to be among the top producers in Indiana with nearly a half billion in individual lifetime sales.

Amy Makice, founder of Bloomington Center for Connection, is a licensed psychotherapist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Her professional journey is rooted in her passion for Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT), and her commitment to RCT extends into community building initiatives to promote the power of connection. Amy helps to bring the Relational Summits to Bloomington, featuring distinguished guests like Maureen Walker, Amy Banks, and Isaac Knapper. 

Amy and Don discuss the loss of a dear friend and colleague, Dr. Dolores Finger Wright, by reflecting on their brief experiences with her and her impact in how she lived.

This podcast includes excerpts from Dr. Wright's appearance on this podcast in 2019 (season 1, episode 8) and clips from her appearance in the 2017 documentary "Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities" which highlight her experiences organizing the 1960 Greensboro Sit-In.

We dearly miss you, Dr. Wright.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Clip of "Tell Them We Are Rising" (Facebook video)

• "Suburbanization and the Color Line along Grandview Drive" (article)

• "Feb. 1, 1960: The Greensboro Sit-in Begins" (article)

• Nice White Parents (podcast)

• "One Year After Pulse" (article)

• "The Charleston Church Massacre (2015)" (article)

My Racist Friend is a podcast about the messy parts of relationships that help us grow together. Long-time friends Don Griffin, Jr. and Amy Makice, LCSW, enter into a transparent and ongoing conversation about complicated and difficult topics such as racism, gender, and social justice. Through the authentic lens of their strong mutual relationship, their goal is to model difficult conversations that can promote understanding and connection in a world that needs both. In this relationship, Amy is the inherently racist friend, who is working to change and better understand how racism impacts her relationship with people she loves.

Donald Griffin Jr. is a Bloomington native, former Deputy Mayor for Bloomington, and a real estate broker, proudly serving his community for the past three decades. Since opening Griffin Realty in 2003, Don's dedication to excellence has helped to guide his company to be among the top producers in Indiana with nearly a half billion in individual lifetime sales.

Amy Makice, founder of Bloomington Center for Connection, is a licensed psychotherapist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Her professional journey is rooted in her passion for Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT), and her commitment to RCT extends into community building initiatives to promote the power of connection. Amy helps to bring the Relational Summits to Bloomington, featuring distinguished guests like Maureen Walker, Amy Banks, and Isaac Knapper. 

Don and Amy play with the RCT Toybox cards, focusing on a discussion around three concepts: relational movement, guilt, and calm. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• "Wired to Connect" (book)

• "The Jenks Presents Wired To Connect with Amy Banks, M D" (video)

My Racist Friend is a podcast about the messy parts of relationships that help us grow together. Long-time friends Don Griffin, Jr. and Amy Makice, LCSW, enter into a transparent and ongoing conversation about complicated and difficult topics such as racism, gender, and social justice. Through the authentic lens of their strong mutual relationship, their goal is to model difficult conversations that can promote understanding and connection in a world that needs both. In this relationship, Amy is the inherently racist friend, who is working to change and better understand how racism impacts her relationship with people she loves.

Donald Griffin Jr. is a Bloomington native, former Deputy Mayor for Bloomington, and a real estate broker, proudly serving his community for the past three decades. Since opening Griffin Realty in 2003, Don's dedication to excellence has helped to guide his company to be among the top producers in Indiana with nearly a half billion in individual lifetime sales.

Amy Makice, founder of Bloomington Center for Connection, is a licensed psychotherapist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Her professional journey is rooted in her passion for Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT), and her commitment to RCT extends into community building initiatives to promote the power of connection. Amy helps to bring the Relational Summits to Bloomington, featuring distinguished guests like Maureen Walker, Amy Banks, and Isaac Knapper. 

Amy and Don dive into the intricacies of popular music and the persistent racism evident in how we react to it. They react to Beyoncé's new hit "Texas Hold'em" and her venture into the country genre, looking at the resistance from certain factions of society and questioning the inherent racial prejudice within it.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• "Beyoncé - TEXAS HOLD 'EM (Music Video)" posted by rauhlren

• "Beyoncé Fan’s Radio Request Reignites Country Music Debate" (NY Times, February 14, 2024, by Emily Schmall)

• "Dolly Parton congratulates Beyoncé for hitting No. 1 on Billboard Hot Country Chart" (CNN, February 23, 2024, by Marianne Garvey)

• Black Opry playlists (Spotify)

• "Beyoncé Makes History as First Black Woman Atop Hot Country Songs Chart" (Billboard, February 20, 2024, by Jim Asker, Gary Trust)

• "The Black Origins of Country Music" (JME)

• "Yup, Lionel Richie Totally Wrote the Second Verse of Kenny Rogers’ ‘Lady’ In the Men’s Room" (Billboard, March 31, 2023, by Gil Kaufman)

• "What If Brock Purdy Were Black?" (First and Pen, October 30, 2023, by Yussuf Khan)

• "New evidence shows how badly NFL teams discriminate against Black QBs in the draft" (SF Gate, September 11, 2023, by Marc Delucchi)

• "NFL Network graphic insinuating Brock Purdy is smarter than Dak Prescott is a bad look" (Deadpan, January 19 2023, by Stephen Knox)

• "Serena Williams became the greatest tennis player of all-time even as she endured racist and sexist attacks in the media" (Business Insiders, August 13, 2022, by Scott Davis, Trisha Gopal)

• "The Evolution of Taylor Swift From Country Star to Pop Icon" (Country Living, October 28, 2021, by Charlotte Chilton)

• "‘DUKES OF HAZZARD’ ACTOR JOHN SCHNEIDER UNDER FIRE FOR ‘RACIST’ REMARKS ABOUT BEYONCÉ SINGING COUNTRY MUSIC: ‘EVERY DOG MUST MARK EVERY TREE, RIGHT?’" (Black Enterprise)

• "Blaming President Donald Trump Is Too Easy: This Is Us. | Deadline | MSNBC" (YouTube, August 5, 2019, by MSNBC)

• "Chris Stapleton & Justin Timberlake 's Epic Performance | Tennessee Whiskey & Drink You Away" (YouTube, August 18, 2023, by Dennis Mellon)

• "Billboard removes rapper Lil Nas X from country chart" (AP, March 28, 2019, by Kristin M. Hall)

• "Watch LUKE COMBS & TRACY CHAPMAN Perform "FAST CAR" at the 2024 GRAMMYs" (YouTube, February 15, 2024, by Recording Academy / GRAMMYs)

• "https://www.tiktok.com/@mygayfabulousfarm/video/7335886049572310318" (TikTok, February 17, 2024, by mygayfabulousfarm)

• "Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" (YouTube, by Concord Records)

Donald Griffin Jr. is a Bloomington native, former Deputy Mayor for Bloomington, and a real estate broker, proudly serving his community for the past three decades. Since opening Griffin Realty in 2003, Don's dedication to excellence has helped to guide his company to be among the top producers in Indiana with nearly a half billion in individual lifetime sales.

Amy Makice, founder of Bloomington Center for Connection, is a licensed psychotherapist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Her professional journey is rooted in her passion for Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT), and her commitment to RCT extends into community building initiatives to promote the power of connection. Amy helps to bring the Relational Summits to Bloomington, featuring distinguished guests like Maureen Walker, Amy Banks, and Isaac Knapper.

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

Don and Amy contemplate Paul Simon lyrics to prompt a discussion of shared suffering and challenges of staying engaged to work toward better things. Other topics along the way include finding a purpose for persisting, news of the death of Nex Benedict, being authentic about your own pain, and love's powerful role in driving life.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• "The Cool, Cool River" lyrics by Paul Simon

• "A Federal Investigation Has Been Launched Into Nex Benedict's School District" (Them, March 4, 2024, by James Factor)

Donald Griffin Jr. is a Bloomington native, former Deputy Mayor for Bloomington, and a real estate broker, proudly serving his community for the past three decades. Since opening Griffin Realty in 2003, Don's dedication to excellence has helped to guide his company to be among the top producers in Indiana with nearly a half billion in individual lifetime sales.

Amy Makice, founder of Bloomington Center for Connection, is a licensed psychotherapist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Her professional journey is rooted in her passion for Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT), and her commitment to RCT extends into community building initiatives to promote the power of connection. Amy helps to bring the Relational Summits to Bloomington, featuring distinguished guests like Maureen Walker, Amy Banks, and Isaac Knapper. 

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

In this episode, Don and Amy are discuss two RCT concepts: Model Me and Relational Images, those unconscious expectations that shape our interactions. Along the way, the pair talk about self-perceived flaws, binge-watching habits, societal pressures, and negativity fueling success.

My Racist Friend is a podcast about the messy parts of relationships that help us grow together. Long-time friends Don Griffin, Jr. and Amy Makice, LCSW, enter into a transparent and ongoing conversation about complicated and difficult topics such as racism, gender, and social justice. Through the authentic lens of their strong mutual relationship, their goal is to model difficult conversations that can promote understanding and connection in a world that needs both. In this relationship, Amy is the inherently racist friend, who is working to change and better understand how racism impacts her relationship with people she loves.

Donald Griffin Jr. is a Bloomington native, former Deputy Mayor for Bloomington, and a real estate broker, proudly serving his community for the past three decades. Since opening Griffin Realty in 2003, Don's dedication to excellence has helped to guide his company to be among the top producers in Indiana with nearly a half billion in individual lifetime sales.

Amy Makice, founder of Bloomington Center for Connection, is a licensed psychotherapist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Her professional journey is rooted in her passion for Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT), and her commitment to RCT extends into community building initiatives to promote the power of connection. Amy helps to bring the Relational Summits to Bloomington, featuring distinguished guests like Maureen Walker, Amy Banks, and Isaac Knapper. 

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

Don and Amy are joined by Jay Filer, a therapist-in-training at the Bloomington Center for Connection, to take a tour of Black Joy (specifically, their Black joy) found on social media. The conversation covers struggles with and benefits of use of social media, as well as some examples of what makes Jay laugh.

After this conversation, TikTok removed sound from many videos due to a copyright dispute with Universal. It is unclear when or if the soundtracks of some of Jay's video links will be restored, but if there is no sound, that is likely why.

"Katt Williams Scorches the Earth and Every Comedian on It" (Vulture, 2024)

"The Original Renegade" (The New York Times, 2020)

"On its 40th anniversary, a look at how 'The Wiz' forever changed Black culture" (Los Angeles Times, 2028)

"Millions of videos have been muted on TikTok in 2024 – here’s why" (Push, 2024)

Peach Cobbler (OldCountryCooking5)

Doing my hair to favorite yt people songs (being.lexiekay)

#2006 what year next? (vibin.wit.tay)

Stick figures violently eating mangoes (1_._panda_._1)

Additional links from Jay:

• Drummers: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8VRnhF7/ 

Donald Griffin Jr. is a Bloomington native and real estate broker, proudly serving his community for the past three decades. Since opening Griffin Realty in 2003, Don's dedication to excellence has helped to guide his company to be among the top producers in Indiana with nearly a half billion in individual lifetime sales.

Amy Makice, founder of Bloomington Center for Connection, is a parent educator and licensed psychotherapist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Amy offers individual therapy and parent support for people in the Bloomington area, workshops for parents and caregivers, and training on Relational Cultural theory.

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

In this episode, hosts Amy Makice and Don Griffin Jr. delve into a thought-provoking conversation about the media's role in shaping perspectives and in turn, dividing society. The discussion ventures into the RCT concepts of "Model Me" and "Not Me" by Dr. Maureen Walker, exploring how extreme identification and fear can obstruct empathy, leading to conflicts.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

"Admit Something" (Hafiz)

"A Few Notes on Love" (The Irreverent Psychologist, 2011)

Donald Griffin Jr. is a Bloomington native and real estate broker, proudly serving his community for the past three decades. Since opening Griffin Realty in 2003, Don's dedication to excellence has helped to guide his company to be among the top producers in Indiana with nearly a half billion in individual lifetime sales.

Amy Makice, founder of Bloomington Center for Connection, is a parent educator and licensed psychotherapist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Amy offers individual therapy and parent support for people in the Bloomington area, workshops for parents and caregivers, and training on Relational Cultural theory.

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

Don and Amy resume their conversation together with a discussion about needing to feel smart, the ignorance of believing you know everything, and being around people who are willing to work through mistakes.

• Tyriq Memorial Fund (GoFundMe)
  

Donald Griffin Jr. is a Bloomington native and real estate broker, proudly serving his community for the past three decades. Since opening Griffin Realty in 2003, Don's dedication to excellence has helped to guide his company to be among the top producers in Indiana with nearly a half billion in individual lifetime sales.

Amy Makice, founder of Bloomington Center for Connection, is a parent educator and licensed psychotherapist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Amy offers individual therapy and parent support for people in the Bloomington area, workshops for parents and caregivers, and training on Relational Cultural theory.

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes