We’re both struggling with grief, anger, and shame this week. Are you? Our country is showing it's deep fracture lines and the pain is real. Creating justice through thoughtful, individual, and collective action is only goal that matters  

We know it’s not easy, but let’s spend some time together getting to the bottom of our feelings and beliefs and then moving toward some useful action.

We had planned this week to talk about creativity, but the police killings (George Floyd, Tony McDade, Sean Reed and Breonna Taylor), the unequal way COVID 19 is infecting and killing black and brown people, and the long-term affect the economic crisis is going to have on already marginalized people won’t let us talk about anything other than race today. And really, these issues directly relate to the pillars of this podcast, particularly community and masculinity.

We’ll be talking about our own personal experiences, knowing that white experience so often drowns out the experiences of others. But it’s what we have to work with and from.  We live in a VERY white area, but we feel strongly that we are also part of national and global communities, and we’ll do what we can to facilitate conversations that serve all.

We’re going to do our best to create an open space for one another and you, our beloved audience. We’re going to bring our usual blend of curiosity, warmth, and empathy to this episode. But, you all should know, there is pain and anger here… Please, if it shows up in my voice or if it shows up in your head, please breath and lean in. If we pull back, we’re done for. We need you.
​
Anti-racist activists are making it very clear. We live in an unjust and violent system and it is up to us - middling white folks - to get off the fence and off the couch and fix it. We hope this exploration will take us in the right direction.

SHOW NOTES: 
References:

• Jane Elliot -  former third-grade school teacher, anti-racism activist, and educator 
  
• Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson joins protesters as they walk for George Floyd 
  
• Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields talking and listening to protesters 
  
• Washington Post Reports - Audio Story about Christian Cooper, the African American Birder 
  
• Teri Kanefield Blog 
  
• Teatime for the Firefly - Shona Patel - A novel about a young girl growing up in India.
  

Resources:

• Anti-racism resources for white people 
  
• Check out Charles’ Blog 
  
• Zokni nomination 
  
• A guide to how you can support marginalized communities - CNN
  

Music Credits: Metamorphosis - Phillip Glass

When Bill Konigsberg was a teen, there were no novels featuring young gay men.  Thanks to him, gay teens today can’t say the same. In his latest novel, though, the sexual preference of his protagonists is almost incidental. Max and Jordan are in the middle becoming adults, and their struggle to integrate pain, joy, capacity, and weakness into their wholeness makes this book totally relevant for those of us who are still growing… that is - everybody.

Bill Konigsberg is the award-winning author of six young adult novels. THE PORCUPINE OF TRUTH won the PEN Center USA Literary Award and the Stonewall Book Award in 2016. OPENLY STRAIGHT won the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor, was a finalist for the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award and Lambda Literary Award in 2014 and has been translated into five languages. His debut novel, OUT OF THE POCKET, won the Lambda Literary Award in 2009. THE MUSIC OF WHAT HAPPENS, was released in February of 2019, received two starred reviews, and has been optioned for a film. His next novel, THE BRIDGE, will be released in the fall of 2020. In 2018, The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)’s Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN) established the Bill Konigsberg Award for Acts and Activism for Equity and Inclusion through Young Adult Literature.

Before Bill wrote for young adults, he was a sports writer and editor for ESPN and the Associated Press. Charles met and got to know Bill through their shared work helping create initiations for men - the Mankind Project - and boys at Boys to Men. Charles was immediately drawn to Bill’s intelligence, vulnerability, and attentiveness. 

Bill lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with his husband, Chuck and their two Australian Labradoodles, Mabel and Buford, who complete him.  Mabel and Buford have professional glamour shots on Bill’s website. I fell hard for Buford - you might, too.  
Bill’s books - the one we read, anyway - are filled with real people of all stripes, not token stereotypes or caricatures.  They are dealing with real and relatable problems and struggles, and being gay isn’t the most notable thing about them.  They are regular people who just happen to be gay.  Bill creates a world that is familiar for some of us - especially those of us who grew up in the arts or in places like Jerome, AZ - where being gay and out is unremarkable. We found it refreshing and a relief to spend time there and we really loved getting to know Jordan and Max and their friends and family.  We definitely want to read the rest of Bill’s books, especially the new book: The Bridge that is available for pre-order now.  

SHOW NOTES: 
References:

• Bill Konigsberg
• Bill’s Books 

Resources:

• The ManKind Project
• Mental Health Helpline
• Crisis Hotline 

Is the masked man a hero or a villain?  
These days we’re seeing some very emotional division around the decision to wear a mask in public and whether staying home is cowardly or going out is reckless. Today we are going to dig into that and see what’s under the mask.

In this episode, we’ll be looking at the value of freedom, definitions of masculinity, ideas of strength, and how our society is structured as well as experimenting with empathy, framing, and connection.  Charles will have a rant and Kelly will play devil’s advocate.

So stay tuned if you want support around doing the right thing, even when it’s unpopular [with fringe elements]. We want to know what you think about how to balance freedom with responsibility so we hope you’ll comment in the Rocket Feather Community Lab Group or by leaving a phone message at www.Anchor.fm/rocketfeather

References:​

• Charles's Blog Post "New Strength vs. Old Strength and The Great Mask Debate"
  Charles's TEDx Talk "Redefining Strength for the 21st Century"
• Vanity Fair Article by Ed Yong Why the Pandemic is So Confusing
• Stasia Rivera’s Website  
• Daryl Davis: Crossing Boundaries with Respect 
•           NPR Story
•           TEDx Talk 
• Earl Hipp, Man Making
• Bill Konigsberg Website 

Music Credits: Bensounds

Are you missing live music and the sense of community you feel when out on the town? Are you craving connection with the creative energy of your favorite musicians and artists? 

This week we’ve got the certified biggest voice in town plus our favorite guitar genius - in the HOUSE!  Literally, in our house - don’t worry we stayed in our own corners. 
Grammy-nominated singer Candace Devine and local rock god Drew Hall join us for a no holds barred talk about creativity, re-invention, and community, as well as playing some music to lift your spirits. We used several of the fan-submitted questions to pry into the life and history and thoughts of our passionately creative guests.
 
Candace has been a professional singer since her early 20s, working with Christina Aguilera, Styx, the Four Tops and many others in the recording studio and out on the road touring.  In this episode, we find out that she is both a champion equestrian coach AND a cat enchantress. Also, she swears like a sailor, so proceed at your own risk #totally worth it. 

Drew is a former banker who defied the 9-5 life at his earliest opportunity, going on to be in every kind of band, teach guitar to young and old musicians alike, and curate exceptional music shows here in Prescott.  In pre-Covid times, Drew could be spotted playing with the Cheektones, Summa Totius, THiS Trio with Slim Gamble of Lady Antebellum fame, Drew & Anton, and many many more!

This podcast episode hits a lot of the superlative buttons: longest, loudest, biggest recording challenge, most cat input, most social media engagement, and definitely the most musical. Candace and Drew played two songs for us live, and we play you the recording of “Don’t Worry Child (Rosalyn)” their newest collaboration and entry into the NPR Tiny Desk Concert. “Don’t Worry Child is ostensibly about Drew’s daughter, but in our view, it’s really for and about all of us living through these stressful times.

Show Notes: 

• Raven Productions website
• Candace Devine Website
• Bon Jovi -Livin’ on a Prayer 
• Raven Productions Friday Feature 
• Drew’s Favorite Guitarist - Richie Kotzen covering Sara Smiles

Music Credits: 
Drew & Candace songs 

• Under the episode intro and featured in the podcast - Don’t Worry Child (Roslyn) 
• "Givin it Up/Medly"
• "You Got Me"
• Under the episode outro - While My Guitar Gently Weeps George Harrison Cover by Candace Devine, Dylan Ludwig and Drew Hall