What Do I Know? with Bill Shakos

A Candid Conversation About Racism in Suburbia
In this powerful episode of What Do I Know? host Bill Shakos speaks with Richard Anderson, a Black resident of Westport, about his family’s experiences with racism in the community. The Andersons repeatedly encounter racially motivated roadblocks. Together, Bill and Richard explore the complexities of race, privilege, and friendship in suburban neighborhoods. 

In This Episode:

• How they became friends: How Bill and Richard became fast friends and were open about race.
• Microaggressions & Bias: Everyday racial comments and how Richard’s house was undervalued due to implicit bias. 
• Triggering Incident: How a racist text exchange targeted Richard’s daughter.
• Community Response & Action: Organizing a rally, confronting the Board of Education, and the need for systemic change.
• Hope and Progress: Why open conversations and allyship are crucial for building a more inclusive community.

Why Listen?
This episode is an honest look at the reality of racism in suburban America, balanced with moments of levity and genuine friendship. It challenges listeners to reflect on the idea that having bias, whether by nature or nurture, it is what you make of it.    

Stay Connected

• Follow What Do I Know? on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠TikTok⁠
• Not on social media? ⁠Sign-up for the bi-weekly newsletter⁠ for new episodes, recaps, and resources
• ⁠Podcast Website⁠ (episodes and supplemental content)
• ⁠YouTube Channel⁠ with supplemental content (no episodes)
• Bill's Voice Over Website (coming soon)

Host Bill Shakos reflects on turning 50 and navigating life after the pandemic in the pilot episode of What Do I Know?. Joined by his friend of 30 years, Jesse Shafer, they explore what the “new normal after COVID” means for them. One made good choices, the other went down a rabbit hole of escapism.

In This Episode:

• Learn about your host, Bill Shakos, from childhood, character traits, and the impact of his father’s death.
• Jesse’s journey from NYC to Weston, CT, and the unexpected positive changes it brought.
• Bill’s rediscovery of childhood passions that spiraled into poor decisions impacting his health.
• How Bill ‘course corrected’ to build guardrails for positive behavior and channel his enthusiasm. 

Why Listen? A candid conversation on escapism vs. balance and breaking bad habits. This episode dives deep into reflection, change, and the pursuit of balance in a post-pandemic world. If you’ve ever felt the need to reset or reconnect, this conversation is for you.

Stay Connected:

• Follow What Do I Know? on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠TikTok⁠
• Not on social media? ⁠Sign-up for the bi-weekly newsletter⁠ for new episodes, recaps, and resources
• ⁠Podcast Website⁠ (episodes and supplemental content)
• ⁠YouTube Channel⁠ with supplemental content (no episodes)
• Bill's Voice Over Website (coming soon)