Recovering Blazak

We're back! This episode we talk to Seemab Hussaini, of CAIR-Oregon about what it's like to be a Muslim in America, especially in the wake of a brutal hate crime in Portland. His story will inspire you and motivate you. Find out more at: www.cair.com

We sit down with Donna Maxey, founder and host of Race Talks, to discuss why it's so hard to talk to white people about race. Episode 19: Race Talking in Portland

For a very powerful Recovering Asshole we talk to Grant Miller about ableism, disability rights and what is "normal" in our future. Episode 18 - Ableism and Action. The transcript of this podcast is available at https://watchingthewheelsdad.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/rarecovering_privilege_-_ableism_and_action.pdf and https://watchingthewheelsdad.net/recovering-asshole-podcast/

After my interview with Cameron Whitten in Episode 7, we were on a Race Talks panel together to discuss being a white ally. It went a bit sideways for me. Fortunately, some more skilled white allies, Jess Thompson, James Lopez Ericksen, and Priscilla Wagner reached out to for a conversation about white fragility and performative allyship. I learned a whole hell of a lot. I hope you will too! Episode 17 Recovering Privilege - Stop Acting Like an Ally

I got the great opportunity to interview the guy who turned ,me on to sociology in the first place, Oxford College's Dr. Mike McQuaide. We had a chat about the sociological imagination in a Mexican restaurant in Covington, Georgia. But before that, we stop by Greenwich Village to talk to Phast Phreddie Patterson about the music of New York cabs. EP 16 Recovering Privilege - Sociolical Imagination on the Road

This week we talk to Dr. Carmen Thompson, a professor in the Black Studies program at Portland State. She earned her PhD in History at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her interest is in the historical roots of white supremacy that will be included her upcoming book, American Whiteness. We had a great talk about the structural roots of racism over tea. Recovering Privilege Episode 15 - The Historical Roots of White Supremacy Note: The ideas expressed in the podcast by Dr. Carmen Thompson represent her intellectually property and may not be reproduced without her permission.

It still seems acceptable to stereotype larger people. Fat shaming flows out of our mouths and fingers with little question. For lucky 13, we sit down with the president of the Tualatin City Council, Joelle Davis, to get her take on our state our body consciousness. Recovering Privilege 13 - Large and in Charge,

Ed Washington, like a wise old owl, has a powerful longview of race in America. Born in the Jm Crow south, his family moved to Vanport, Oregon in 1944 for war work. Vanport was destroyed by a massive flood in 1948. We chat about Jim Crow, the flood, gentrification, and Charlottesville. Ed offers some insight on how to move forward. Recovering Privilege 12 - After the Flood

While in LA, we stopped in to talk to Delia Rae Saldivar about gender in entertainment industry. Delia works at Disney Studios now but was something of a radio star in the 1990s. We get the some honest stories about breaking into the boys club of rack radio. Recovering Privilege EP 11 - Delia Rae on the Rock.

Scott Dillinger invites us into the the world of gay parents and some of the obstacles they face that straight parents never think of. We find out that a parents love of their kids doesn't know the difference. Also, we premier the theme of Sharknado 5, because we can. Recovering Privilege Episode 10 - It's Gay Parenting!

President Trump's recent tweet claiming to ban transgender people from military service has put trans rights back on the front page. We invite Kristy Carangi in to the studio (aka, the library) to discuss her transgender journey and where we are as a nation on this thing. Recovering Privilege Episode 9 - Transgender in Trump's America

George Nakata was a 9-year-old boy in Portland, Oregon in 1942 when FDR signed Executive Order 9066, ordering the rounding up of 120,000 west coast Japanese immigrants and citizens. They were placed in camps for the duration of World War 2. George sits down with me on a relatively quiet bench in Oregon's Japanese Garden to discuss his experience and how we are dangerously close to that moment again. Recovering Privilege EP 8 - George Nakata's Internment

Young activist Cameron Whitten has been a voice for racial and social justice in Portland since the Occupy Movement in 2011. He stops by to help us dive into the issues of race and privilege in Portland. Recovering Privilege Episode 7 - Know Your White City.

Atlanta rocker Michelle Malone comes down to the Alberta Vinyl Den do discuss gender, sexuality and rock & roll. We also get a live performance of her Drag the River classic, "Battle Him Republican." Episode 6 of Recovering Privilege - Michelle Malone Rocks! And we announce our first RA listener contest!

Sterling McKay joins us to talk about being a gay kid on a ranch, coming out, and coming into Portland. We discuss Mississippi riverboats, Garth Brooks, and gay uncles all while drinking tequila. Recovering Privilege Episode 5 - Pray the Gay Away.