What would it be like if we thought about the current situation as if it were a fable, told to us by an elder?  What would we learn?  How would it end? What if we could tell a story that could help us create the safe, sustainable, equitable future that we want for ourselves and our children?

Our friend and fellow traveler on the path, Rowdy Duncan returns to help us unpack the pandemic, the protests, and the times we’re currently navigating.  He shares an indigenous and earth-based perspective he’s been exploring to make sense of what he’s witnessing and experiencing, and that he’s using as a tool to blaze his trail through this complex environment. 
Rowdy is on the communications faculty at Phoenix College.  He teaches Intercultural Communication, Diversity & Inclusion studies, he’s active in youth leadership development, AND he’s a huge advocate for community and restorative modes of justice.  
Rowdy is also the Writer, Producer, and Host of The Inclusive Activism Podcast, which you will definitely want to check out. 
All this makes Rowdy the perfect person for us to have on the show to dive into the deep end with us and see what we find there.

References: 

• Colby Martin TEDx Talk
  
• Katie Hess Website
  
• Inclusive Activism Podcast
  

 Resources:

• Rowdy Duncan Consulting
  
• Harvard Implicit Bias Tests​
  

Music Credits: Peder B. Helland

How does a kind young man get involved with a hate group and how does he get out and build a life of compassion and empathy?

Our guest this week is Hayden Gebler.  A “normal kid” growing up in Northern AZ, Hayden had a huge need for connection and belonging. His journey toward that belonging took a dark turn that resulted in Hayden spending several years in a white supremicist gang.  Now at 26, his life is radically different and his heart is filled with love and understanding instead of hate and bigotry.
In this episode, Hayden talks very frankly and openly about what caused him to veer off and what brought him back.
​
Trigger warning: In this episode we talk about drug use, self-harm, suicide attempts, and violence. We don’t dwell on any of it, nor glorify it, but you might want to choose the right time to listen to this podcast.

References:

• The Harvard Implicit Bias Study 
  

Resources:

• White Supremacist Prison Gangs in the United States
  
• Suicide Prevention Resources
  
• Find a local AA Meeting

Music Credits: Royalty Free Music and Creative Commons Music from Kevin MacLeod.

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What happens when an old college friend has his novel adapted by Jordan Peele and JJ Abrams for an HBO series? 

You invite him on your podcast, that’s what. Our guest this week is the writer Matt Ruff, author of seven, very different books. We talk about the craft of writing great characters, the luck involved in getting published, and how to become an overnight success in only 35 years. We dive deep into the creation of characters who are experiencing very different lives and challenges than we are. And we talk about how critical it is now to live with those kinds of characters and learn from them. 

Matt's books span the gamut, from speculative fiction, literary fantasy, alternative history and gothic horror. His third book, Set this House in Order, won the James Tiptree, Jr. Award for it's incredibly unique exploration of gender. Matt's sixth book, Lovecraft Country, raises the pitch of the horror of racism with a nasty dose of Lovecraftian supernatural horror. That's the book that caught the eye of Jordan Peele. 
​
​Set This House in Order changed Charles's notion of the self and, not to put to fine a point on it, this episode completely changed our understanding of racism. We're really curious what you think about it. 

References:

• Matt’s Ruff’s Website
• Risley Hall at Cornell
• Matt’s Ruff’s Books @ IndieBound
• Matt Ruff’s Books @Amazon​

 Resources:

• 8cantwait - a campaign to bring immediate change to police departments
• Anti-racism resources for white people

What makes Prescott (and the rest of the Quad Cities) strong? What makes us unique and successful when things get tough? Our first episode attempts to answer those questions. 
This week we are really, stupendously pleased to share with you the first episode of a whole new podcast series. A couple months ago, after interviewing Breeanya Hinkel on this podcast and then partnering with her and her posse of engaged business leaders on the Women in Science episode, we hatched this new project, a new, separate podcast that will feature some of the same stories and interviews from the Prescott Woman print magazine. 
For the June/July issue, the writers and staff at Prescott Woman Magazine started collecting stories of resilience and creativity in the face of Covid 19. They called the resulting cover story “Prescott Strong.”
This first episode of the Prescott Woman Podcast is an expanded audio version of that story. We trust that you will find it inspiring and meaningful because the voices are those of your neighbors and friends.

Show Notes: 
The following women and men contributed quotes: 

• Deputy Police Chief Amy Bonney
• Claire Louge - executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Arizona
• Deputy Fire Chief Cory Moser
• Kerry Johnson - Special Education Teacher
• Tina Rose - Parent  
• Jim Cabral - Owner of Gabby’s Grill
• Rachel Whisenand, Emergency Department Nurse, Yavapai Regional Medical Center
• Ariana Bennett - Parent 

The following people shared their trials and triumphs with us in extended interviews.   

• Kaia Kordossky-Herrera, Physicians Assistant and owner of Prescott Complete Care
• Sasha Naasz, owner of The Movement Studio
• Carissa Johnson - English and Language Arts Teacher at Bradshaw Mountain Middle School 

The following local musicians provided the music you heard throughout the episode. Follow these links to more of their music:

• Drew Hall & Anton Teschner on Facebook
• Candace Devine on Spotify
• Rachel Plays Guitar on Spotify
• Sugar and the Mint on the web.
• Kaileena Martin on Spotify

Subscribe to the monthly Prescott Women Podcast. 

Get ready for next week’s episode: 

• Check out Matt Ruff here. 
• Watch the trailer for the HBO Series.