Sociologists Talking Real Sh*t

I kick it with my partner Dr. Rebecca Romo and two of my colleagues from our History Department, Citlali Sosa-Riddell and Brian Walsh.  We joke, laugh, and get deadly serious about the upcoming election.  A little levity to try to lighten up these stressful times.  

This week I sit down with three of my Armenian colleagues Garineh Avakian, Yeprem Davoodian, and Eddie Tchertchian, to discuss the history of the Armenia, the Armenian genocide, resistance, resilience, and the current conflict in Armenia and Azerbaijan.  

Dr. Cid Martinez drops by to discuss his book "The Neighborhood Has Its Own Rules: Latinos and African Americans in South Los Angeles." Join us as we talk about "alternative governance," violence's role in shaping identity, and Black/Brown relations.  Forget your preconceived notions on the topic, its a pretty positive episode. 

Sociologists Talking Real Shit goes international as we take a trip across the Atlantic to chop it up with Dr. Steve Garner. We discuss Brexit, COVID19, race, and how England and the US were both trippin, ending up with Boris and Trump.

This is as real as shit gets.  My sister, Marilynn McKeever, and I share our experiences growing up in a highly dysfunctional family.  Issues of race, gender, gang banging, abuse, violence, alcoholism, drugs and more are all on the table. Believe it or not this is the PG 13 version, but it may be difficult to listen to for some. These type of family secrets are far too common and this story needed to be told.  

Jake Alimahomed-Wilson and I discuss Ellen Reese and his new book "The Cost of Free Shipping: Amazon in the Global Economy." We talk about Amazon Capitalism, surveillance capitalism, workers rights, the environment, and the possibilities for change.  This is a book literally by the people and for the people, with contributions from academics, workers, and activists letting us all know the real "cost of free shipping."

Juan Battle and I discuss the intersections of race and sexuality, LGBTQIA+ and BLM, intersectional approaches to battle oppression and Juan's must read list.  

Dr Glenda Flores and I talk about her growing up a working class Latina from Santa Ana, the added difficulties for graduate students of color, and her research on Latina teachers. 

Special Labor Day Edition! Dr. Shigueru Julio Tsuha and I talk about the portion of the economy that really matters...your paycheck.  While we are about to have our first trillionaire, others are getting evicted from their homes.  Does it have to be this way? We discuss how can the worker get paid what they deserve, universal basic income, a thirty hour work week and how we can pay for it.  Hint: tax the hell out of the rich. 

Heather Dalmage and I talk about Whiteness and more Whiteness.  Will most Whites continue to support the Black Lives Movement? What is "bounded empathy" and "strategic ignorance" and how do Whites use them to maintain their privilege.  We also talk about the "politics of respectability," Jacob Blake, White Identity and displays of Black death, and the real cost of the juvenile injustice system.  Yeah we had a lot to say...hope you get a chance to listen.