CourageousRI: A Podcast Series

February 16, 2023

Episode 1: Introducing Courageous RI featuring Renee Hobbs and Pam Steager

Welcome to the first episode of the Courageous RI podcast, the show that finds common ground, builds media literacy skills, and encourages curiosity, for the people of Rhode Island. Join us, at www.CourageousRI.com.

In this episode, Renee Hobbs and Pam Steager of the Media Education Lab explore, discuss, and answer the following questions:

What is Courageous RI?

Why is media literacy a promising practice for addressing violence prevention?

February 23, 2023

Episode 2: Resisting Polarization and Stereotypes featuring Katie Langford

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Courageous RI podcast, the show that finds common ground, builds media literacy skills, and encourages curiosity, for the people of Rhode Island. Join us, at www.CourageousRI.com.

In this episode, our host Renee Hobbs talks with Katie Langford about polarization and stereotypes. Langford serves as Associate Director and Fellow of the Pell Center here in Rhode Island. Throughout their conversation, you can expect them to define affective polarization, talk about how it is related to identity, how it contributes to anti-democratic behavior, what consequences follow, and what possible solutions look like.

To learn more about Langford's report and the Pell Center's events, click here.

March 16, 2023

Episode 3: Citizenship Education and Media Literacy featuring Kent Lenci

Welcome to Episode 3 of the Courageous RI podcast, the show that finds common ground, builds media literacy skills, and encourages curiosity, for the people of Rhode Island.

In this episode, our host Renee Hobbs talks with author and teacher Kent Lenci. Lenci wrote the book "Learning to Depolarize," which connects classroom learning to navigating a polarized society.

In this episode, you'll hear Lenci explore:

• What citizenship means to him

• Why media literacy is a fundamental citizenship skill

• How teachers and students can help depolarize our communities

March 29, 2023

Episode 4: High Conflict with Amanda Ripley

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Courageous RI Podcast, the show that finds common ground, builds media literacy skills, and encourages curiosity, for the people of Rhode Island.

In this episode, our host Renee Hobbs talks with journalist and author Amanda Ripley, who wrote the book “High Conflict.” Ripley talks about the difference between healthy conflict and high conflict, strategies for diffusing high conflict, and how listening strategies can be part of the solution.

Join a Courageous Conversation! Register to join a Courageous Conversation on Tuesday, April 4th where we learn more about high conflict and work in mall groups to discuss strategies to reduce conflict: https://www.courageousri.com/high-conflict

Learn more about Amanda Ripley's work:

• High Conflict -- Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out

• Slate Podcast -- How To!

• Good Conflict, LLC

• AmandaRipley.com

• Twitter: @amandaripley

April 7, 2023

Episode 5: Reducing the Hate that Leads to Violence: A Law Enforcement Perspective featuring Michael Jagoda

Welcome to Episode 5 of the Courageous RI podcast, the show that finds common ground, builds media literacy skills, and encourages curiosity, for the people of Rhode Island.

In this Episode, our host Renee Hobbs talks to Michael Jagoda, who serves as URI’s Director of Public Safety as well as Chief of Police. He also served as Commander of the Connecticut State Police at the time of the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012. Jagoda talks about current challenges facing law enforcement, the relationship between hate speech and hate crimes, and law enforcement’s involvement in violence prevention.

April 12, 2023

Episode 6: Rising Anti-Semitism and the Importance of Holocaust Education featuring JoAnna Wasserman

Welcome to Episode 6 of the Courageous RI podcast, the show that finds common ground, builds media literacy skills, and encourages curiosity, for the people of Rhode Island.

In this Episode, our host Renee Hobbs talks to JoAnna Wasserman, who serves as the education initiatives manager at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Today, you’ll hear Wasserman talk about what holocaust education looks like in today’s classrooms, why history education is so crucial in making the future different from the past, and the role propaganda plays in all of this.

Resources from JoAnna Wasserman and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum:

Resources on antisemitism

• Short explainer videos on YouTube "What is antisemitism?" and "Antisemitism throughout time"

• Lesson plan on the History of Antisemitism and the Holocaust

• Teaching materials on antisemitism and racism

Information about Nazi Symbols

• History of the Swastika

• Lesson on Understanding Nazi Symbols

• Glossary on the Origins of Neo-Nazi and White Supremacist Terms and Symbols

Materials on Propaganda

• Online exhibition for State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda and Teacher Resources

April 19, 2023

Episode 7: A Whole Society Approach to Violence Prevention featuring Robert Mahoney

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Courageous RI Podcast, the show that finds common ground, builds media literacy skills, and encourages curiosity, for the people of Rhode Island.

In this episode, our host Pam Steager talks to Robert Mahoney, who works as the New England Regional Prevention Coordinator for CP3, which is the Center of Prevention Programs and Partnerships at the Department of Homeland Security. Today, you'll hear Mahoney talk about what a ‘whole society’ approach to violence prevention means, some observable indicators of potential violence, and advice for responding to those indicators before a person commits an act of violence.

April 28, 2023

Episode 8: What it Means to be a Courageous Activist featuring Jennifer Lima

Jennifer Lima is courageous. In this episode, she talk about her work as the Head of TANK: Towards an Anti-Racist North Kingstown. She is also a member of the North Kingstown school committee. Lima talks about what being “courageous” means to her, her identity and experience as an activist, and how to embrace fear and take courageous action.

Learn more about TANK: Toward a Anti-Racist North Kingstown

TANK Events in May: Let's Talk about Race with Pilar McCloud

May 27, 2023

Episode 9: A Congressman's Perspective on Media and Democracy featuring Congressman David Cicilline

Welcome to Episode 9 of the Courageous RI podcast, the show that finds common ground, builds media literacy skills, and encourages curiosity, for the people of Rhode Island.

In this Episode, our host Pam Steager talks to Congressman David Cicilline, who has served as a U.S. House Representative for Rhode Island’s first congressional district since 2011. This year, he will begin a new role as President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation. Today, you’ll hear him talk about the role of government in technology regulation, the importance of media literacy for democracy, and how both politicians and community members can attempt to decrease political polarization.

Read the House Judiciary Committee's Final Report on Competition in the Digital Marketplace. The Committee Report details how dominant platforms abuse their monopoly power to destroy competition, exploit other businesses, harm consumers, and impede disruptive innovation. Better laws could promote competition, rein in the gatekeeper power of dominant platforms, and ensure that antitrust enforcers have the tools and resources they need to vigorously enforce the law.

June 11, 2023

Episode 10: The Role of Nonviolent Communication in Depolarization featuring Elizaveta Friesem

Welcome to Episode 10 of the Courageous RI podcast, the show that finds common ground, builds media literacy skills, and encourages curiosity for the people of Rhode Island.

In this episode, our host Renee Hobbs talks to Elizaveta Friesem, who is an independent scholar of communication, an editor, and a writer. She’s also been contributing to Courageous RI as a blog writer and a conversation facilitator. You’ll hear her talk about "nonviolent communication" (what it is, why it's important, and how it can help us find common ground) as well as the role that media literacy plays in communication.

To learn more about Elizaveta's work, visit her website, and to read the blog posts she's written for Courageous RI, visit our stories page.

June 21, 2023

Episode 11: Civic Engagement, Mass Media, and Propaganda in the Latinx Community featuring Hugo Balta

Welcome to Episode 11 of the Courageous RI podcast, the show that finds common ground, builds media literacy skills, and encourages curiosity, for the people of Rhode Island.

In this episode, our host Renee Hobbs talks to Hugo Balta, who is a journalist, communications executive, and educator. Balta talks about the Latino News Network and its importance in today’s media landscape, the way that Latinx voters are targeted by propaganda, and some applicable practices for avoiding the harms of disinformation.

Join a Courageous Conversation! Register to join a Courageous Conversation, every other Tuesday at 12pm and 7pm (EST). ⁠https://www.courageousri.com/events-1

July 4, 2023

Episode 12: Civics Education and Generation Citizen featuring Kristina Pires

Welcome to Episode 12 of the Courageous RI podcast, the show that finds common ground, builds media literacy skills, and encourages curiosity, for the people of Rhode Island.

In this episode, our host Renee Hobbs talks to Kristina Pires, who is executive director of Generation Citizen, an organization working toward engaging students in their own communities. Today, you’ll hear her talk about how educational practices help students develop citizenship competencies, the impact of project-based learning in civic action, and the challenges facing civic educators.

Learn more about civics education in Rhode Island.