Here to Help

This week’s guest is Johnson Cheng, a Chinese American writer/director from the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles. A member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), his films have screened in competition at international festivals such as Tribeca, AFI FEST, and Toronto.  Johnson is a recipient of the HBO APA Visionaries Award, the Princess Grace Award (Cary Grant Film Award), and fellowships such as Film Independent’s Project Involve (Writer/Director Fellow). Johnson is also one of the directors chosen for the very first class of Indeed’s Rising Voices and “Only the Moon Stands Still’ is an incredibly moving film about the complexities of intergenerational families and work. It’s a slice-of-life tale of three generations of Chinese women confronting the realities of having to shut down their family’s ballroom dance studio and bid farewell to a life that has defined them for so long. This episode discusses tradition, community, work and the power of story to create opportunity for people. 

This week’s guest is Dr Safiya Noble. Dr. Noble is an internet studies scholar and Professor of Gender Studies and African American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she serves as the Faculty Director of the Center on Race & Digital Justice. In her book ‘Algorithms of Oppression’ Safiya explores the ways in which search engines perpetuate systemic racism and discrimination. Noble argues that these search engines are not neutral, but rather are designed and operated by people with their own biases and values, which are often shaped by broader social and cultural forces. Noble examines the ways in which search algorithms can reinforce and amplify existing biases and stereotypes, particularly against marginalized groups such as women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. This episode discusses how these biases can have real-world consequences, such as limiting opportunities for employment or housing.

This week’s guest is Dr Safiya Noble. Dr. Noble is an internet studies scholar and Professor of Gender Studies and African American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she serves as the Faculty Director of the Center on Race & Digital Justice. In her book ‘Algorithms of Oppression’ Safiya explores the ways in which search engines perpetuate systemic racism and discrimination. Noble argues that these search engines are not neutral, but rather are designed and operated by people with their own biases and values, which are often shaped by broader social and cultural forces. Noble examines the ways in which search algorithms can reinforce and amplify existing biases and stereotypes, particularly against marginalized groups such as women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. This episode discusses how these biases can have real-world consequences, such as limiting opportunities for employment or housing.

In this best of episode, Chris Hyams talks to social psychologist Dr. Devon Price, about his life, work and latest book "Laziness Does Not Exist" that examines the “laziness lie”—which falsely tells us we are not working or learning hard enough.  Price's research has appeared in Slate, Business Insider, Financial Times, HuffPost, Psychology Today, and on NPR and PBS. Like many Americans, Dr. Devon Price believed that productivity was the best way to measure self-worth. Price was an overachiever from the start, graduating from both college and graduate school early, but that success came at a cost. After Price was diagnosed with a severe case of anemia and heart complications from overexertion, he was forced to examine the darker side of all this productivity.  Using in-depth research, Price explains that people today do far more work than nearly any other humans in history yet most of us often still feel we are not doing enough. If you are looking for advice to overcome society’s pressure to do more and understand the psychological underpinnings of the “laziness lie" this episode is not to be missed.

In this best of episode, Chris Hyams talks to social psychologist Dr. Devon Price, about his life, work and latest book "Laziness Does Not Exist" that examines the “laziness lie”—which falsely tells us we are not working or learning hard enough.  Price's research has appeared in Slate, Business Insider, Financial Times, HuffPost, Psychology Today, and on NPR and PBS. Like many Americans, Dr. Devon Price believed that productivity was the best way to measure self-worth. Price was an overachiever from the start, graduating from both college and graduate school early, but that success came at a cost. After Price was diagnosed with a severe case of anemia and heart complications from overexertion, he was forced to examine the darker side of all this productivity.  Using in-depth research, Price explains that people today do far more work than nearly any other humans in history yet most of us often still feel we are not doing enough. If you are looking for advice to overcome society’s pressure to do more and understand the psychological underpinnings of the “laziness lie" this episode is not to be missed.

This week's guest is Julia Hatton, the CEO of Rising Sun. Rising Sun is a non-profit organization that works to create green jobs and provide sustainable energy solutions in underserved communities in California. Under her leadership, Rising Sun has trained over 3,500 individuals in energy efficiency, solar installation, and other green job skills. 

In this episode, we'll be discussing the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions in marginalized communities, and the challenges and opportunities of building a more equitable green economy. We'll also explore Julia's personal journey and what drives her commitment to social and environmental justice.

This week's guest is Julia Hatton, the CEO of Rising Sun. Rising Sun is a non-profit organization that works to create green jobs and provide sustainable energy solutions in underserved communities in California. Under her leadership, Rising Sun has trained over 3,500 individuals in energy efficiency, solar installation, and other green job skills. 

In this episode, we'll be discussing the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions in marginalized communities, and the challenges and opportunities of building a more equitable green economy. We'll also explore Julia's personal journey and what drives her commitment to social and environmental justice.

This week’s guest is the remarkable social scientist and author, Reuben Jonathan Miller. His book, "Halfway Home," is a powerful and insightful examination of the American criminal justice system. Drawing on his own experiences as a researcher and advocate for criminal justice reform, Miller brings a unique perspective to the conversation about the complexities of incarceration and re-entry. His writing is engaging, thought-provoking, and, above all, deeply human, reminding us that those who have been incarcerated are more than just statistics or labels; they are individuals with their own stories, struggles, and aspirations.

This week’s guest is the remarkable social scientist and author, Reuben Jonathan Miller. His book, "Halfway Home," is a powerful and insightful examination of the American criminal justice system. Drawing on his own experiences as a researcher and advocate for criminal justice reform, Miller brings a unique perspective to the conversation about the complexities of incarceration and re-entry. His writing is engaging, thought-provoking, and, above all, deeply human, reminding us that those who have been incarcerated are more than just statistics or labels; they are individuals with their own stories, struggles, and aspirations.

April is Second Chance Month, so for this weeks' best of episode and  we revisit a conversation with the incredible Vincent Bragg. After being sentenced to several years in prison, Vincent Bragg quickly learned that some of the most outside-of-the-box thinking happens inside the box. During his incarceration he watched as his fellow convicts were able to make something from nothing—books, music, entire meals—all created between four barren concrete walls. Still inspired by the sheer amount of talent he saw in prison, he founded ConCreates, a creative agency that crowdsources ideas from incarcerated and formerly-incarcerated men and women. Chris and Vincent talk about his mission - to challenge the stigma of how society views people with a criminal history, as well as how people with a criminal history view themselves.  An episode not to be missed.