Making Contact

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

2016 marks 50 years since the founding of the Black Panther Party-a group that’s took the world by the storm, but is still widely misunderstood.  There’s a new documentary film that’s trying to set the record straight. On this edition of Making Contact, journalist Eric Arnold talks with Stanley Nelson, director of The Black Panthers, … Continued


This is a special encore edition. They say a smart athlete will use their head. But what if using your head cost you everything? That’s a question being asked in locker rooms the world over. Whether it’s boxing, hockey, or soccer, it seems that head injuries are finally being taken seriously. In the United States, … Continued


Making Contact

WOMEN RISING RADIO XXVIII: Global Community

Ever since the presidential campaign of 2008, there’s been a lot of interest in what community organizers do… Women Rising Radio 28 profiles global community organizers  –  whose work is based in their compassion and common sense, and whose organizing is making a worldwide impact. Featuring Ruth Messinger, American Jewish World Service (USA); Amber Khan, … Continued


Making Contact

Guns: An American Tradition

Love em or hate em, they’re an ever present part of American culture. And they’re not going away anytime soon. On this edition, we talk guns…from the shooting range, to the black panthers, to red state America. The people behind the trigger are probably not who you’d assume. Featuring: Matt Knox, gun owner; Ed & … Continued


Making Contact

Bipolarized: Rethinking Mental Illness

Ross McKenzie was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but after 15 years on Lithium, he wasn’t getting any better. He decided to take matters into his own hands, get off the drug, and find out why so many people are being told they have mental illnesses.  This week on Making Contact, we bring you an abridged … Continued


Making Contact

Getting Out

Nationally, American prisons release more than 650,000 people into society every year. That’s equivalent to the entire population of Memphis or Boston. On this edition, producer Aaron Mendelson followed ex-prisoner Kevin Tindall on his journey out of prison. Special thanks to Claire Schoen and the University of California Berkeley, School of Journalism. Featuring: Gordon Brown, ex-prisoner; Monta … Continued