It’s been called the “velvet rope” economy — a dividing line between those experiencing a friction-free life of privileged access and those enduring a less well-financed reality. Behavioral economist Peter Atwater says the divide has grown more pronounced since the pandemic, in what he calls a “K-shaped” recovery, with some moving steadily up the economic ladder and others headed straight down. We ask Atwater how uncertainty and lack of control affects not just our economic confidence but also our human interactions, for better or worse.

Guest:

• Peter Atwater, adjunct lecturer in economics at William & Mary, author of The Confidence Map: Charting a Path from Chaos to Clarity. 

Then, as hate and misperceptions about different groups become increasingly prevalent online and in social media echo chambers, a Jacksonville content creator is trying to use division as a means to better understand one another. John Filson believes that hate and harm can be avoided if we broaden our own world and perspective. We ask him about his digital strategy and how curiosity about our differences can preserve our humanity.

Guest:

• John Filson, content creator and social bridge-builder.

And, the legacy of late folk great Gamble Rogers has been celebrated at an annual Folk Festival since 1995. This year, organizers created a monthly series of concerts in his name, featuring a range of performers from Richie Havens sideman Walter Parks to acclaimed folk punk musician Sunny War. We caught up with bluegrass singer/songwriter Jordan Tice. In addition to performing alongside comedian and accomplished banjo player Steve Martin (with the Steep Canyon Rangers) and being a member of bluegrass supergroup Hawtail, Tice has churned out progressive bluegrass and folk solo work for the past two decades. He will perform at The Waterworks in St. Augustine on Saturday.

Guest:

• Jordan Tice, singer/songwriter.