In the 10th episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Anyabwile (Anya) Love.  The two discuss how growing up in the Jehovahs Witness faith in North Philadelphia impacted his childhood and young adulthood, his 14-year journey from enrolling in community college as a young father to earning his PhD and returning to teach there, how his experience with depression shapes his pedagogy, when he remembers hearing John Coltrane for the first time and how it changed his life forever, opening a bookshop and resource center in his neighborhood, and much more.  If you hang around long enough you'll hear Alec and Anya reflect on their journey as fathers over the last 2+ decades and about how Anya once performed at his high school talent show with the best rapper alive.  Stay connected with Anya and his brilliant work via @coltrane_symposium and @baileystreetbooks.

In the 9th episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guests are David and Tamara Vanie.  The two discuss their rollercoaster life together as partners.  They tell us about how they met as middle school students in Fort Knox, Kentucky, saying their first "I Love Yous" through glass during a jail visit, navigating the military as young newlyweds and new parents, divorcing during a toxic chapter in their marriage, their path to getting remarried, trials and tribulations of finding their church community, raising 5 kids, and much much more.  

In the 8th special edition episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is his mom, Judy Greenwald.  The two discuss her experiences growing up in NJ post WWII, migrating to CA just shy of her 13th birthday, coming of age in Southern California during the early 1960's, attending San Francisco State University during the height of the anti-war protests, her diverse professional career as a community health practitioner, and more.  

In the 6th episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is SABA (and Shawna).  SABA is an Arrow Soul artist who lives at the intersection of hip-hop and his indigenous cultural birth rite.  The two discuss the trauma associated with his early boarding school memories and the colonization of his native lands, and how those experiences shaped his love for different resistance movements.  Listen to how SABA and his family have influenced a cultural revolution across the country armed with a spray paint can and a screen printer.  Buy his dope art at Sabahut.com.  

In the fifth episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Rubens Amedee.  Rubens is the co-founder of Bati School and Papa Roziers Farm.  The two discuss Rubens inspiring story of beginning a career in investment banking coming out of college, and how the 2010 earthquake in Haiti profoundly altered his life trajectory.  Rubens and Alec reflect on old college shenanigans, the power of education, how to gracefully (or not so gracefully) age as a former athlete, and more.  Check out his amazing work at www.paparozierfarms.com and www.batischool.org/donate

In the fourth episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Luis "Nacho" Quiñones.  Nacho is the founding author of the "31st Annual Raza Peace and Historical Calendar," a critical historian, folklorist, educator, proud Chicano, and much more.  The two discuss his experience growing up in a mining camp along the borderlands of Mexico and the US, initiating the first Chicano/Chicana Studies high school (or university) curriculum in Southern New Mexico, his reflections on being a father and grandfather, and more.  If you stick around long enough, you'll hear a couple of Nacho's original corridos.  

In the third edition of the "One a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Anca Stefan.  The two discuss her growing up in Romania during the collapse of the Soviet Union, immigrating to the United States as a teenager, attending an HBCU, what fuels her revolutionary spirit, and more.

In the second special edition episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is his partner and soon-to-be wife, Sachelle Ford.  The two discuss her religious upbringing, her Jamaican-Chinese racial and national identify growing up in Kingston and Atlanta, her decision not to have her own biological children, preparing to get married in less than a week, and more.  @sachelleford

On the inaugural episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Amber Burgin.  Amber is the owner of "Elijah's Farm," a mental health practitioner, theologian, mother, vocalist, and much more.  The two discuss her history and relationship with agriculture, parenting in the 21st century, welcoming a new partner into her parenting journey, stories of missing nipples, and more.  If you stick around long enough, you might hear Amber's beautiful voice;) @Elijahs_farm @futurerevdr_aeb 

Learn a little about the origin story for "Once a Stranger".