Race, Violence & Medicine

What is it like to read President Obama's mail? Areesa Somani describes her experience doing just that as a White House intern to now working in the One America Movement where she facilitates bridge-building conversations in communities across the country.

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For Men's Health Month we visit with Dallas Cowboys veteran Timmy Newsome. One of six kids who grew up on a farm he tells how he had zero aspirations to play in the NFL when he went to college, but an unexpected storied collegiate career landed him with the Dallas Cowboys. 

I had the opportunity to hear him share words of wisdom with a group of men in South Dallas and convinced him to share his journey with you. Listen to how his life changed course while standing in line to register for classes at college, leading him to where he is now a business owner, public speaker, and men's health advocate. 

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What do the right to bear arms, judicial abdication, and the Cato Institute have in common? Clark M. Neily III - author of "Terms of Engagement: How Our Courts Should Enforce The Constitution's Promise Of Limited Government." He explains why protecting your rights is not the same as restricting governmental overreach. Hear why he would grade the Judiciary a C- at best, and learn how his role in District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008 definitively established your right to own firearms.

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Do you know how 'structural' violence combined with 'cultural' violence results in 'direct' violence? We visit with trauma surgeon and public health expert Dr. Tanya Zakrison who shares her expertise. During our interview, she deconstructs these topics and more while taking us on a fascinating journey of social justice in America - one that includes riding shotgun with the Black Panther Party. But I can't write that story as well as she tells it, so hit play and listen.

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On Episode #3 of our gun violence series we visit with trauma surgeon Dr. Joseph Sakran. He shares how a life-threatening gunshot wound to the neck at age 17 propelled him on a journey to where he is now a national figure advocating to reduce firearm related injuries and death in America. Tune in to learn what Dr. Sakran means when he says his life is about "pursuing purpose over position."

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Documentary photographer Kathy Shorr shares her journey from experiencing a home invasion at gunpoint to photographing 101 survivors of gunshots, most of whom were filmed at the location of their shootings. Join us as we discuss her book "Shot: 101 Survivors of Gun Violence in America." 

This is Episode #2 in our weeklong series examining gun violence.

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"Let's talk about the root causes of gun violence, not just the guns themselves." The words of trauma surgeon Dr. Rob Winfield who kicks off our week-long series covering firearm violence. Dr. Winfield describes a unique approach to combatting urban gun violence - actually collaborate with the victims to determine sustainable solutions. Learn how he leverages his role at the University of Kansas Medical Center to do just that. Also, he shares the innovative way the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society - yes, horticulture - reduced violent crime in Philadelphia.

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What challenges do women of color face in the profession of marketing? Veleisa Burrell, President of Narrative Evolution, shares her journey from corporate America to founding her own communications company, and her passion for amplifying the voices of women of color. 

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Dr. Seema Yasmin is an Emmy-award winning journalist, author, medical doctor and professor. In this episode she discusses her book, "The Impatient Dr. Lange: One Man's Fight to End the Global HIV Epidemic." It chronicles the story of her mentor who was killed on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, and charts the course of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the life of a scientist who fought to end the outbreak.

Stereotype bias, imposter syndrome, and authenticity. What does it all really mean?

The interplay of social versus self identity informs our daily interactions. Kamilah Collins, an equity and inclusion consultant, explains how malalignment of these two identities can impact you as an individual, and impair organizational dynamics.