Courageous RI

Welcome to Episode 13 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 Yamaya Jean talks to Carlton Solomon, otherwise known as the Great Doc P, who is the founder and co-producer of SM Enlightenment Radio Station. He talks about the impact that media consumption can have on our mindsets, the importance of being intentional with our media consumption, and characteristics of impactful audio storytelling from the perspective of a judge with Courageous Rhode Island’s youth media contest.

Learn more about the Youth Media Contest! Middle school, high school, and college students from across Rhode Island, the nation, and the world are welcome to participate. The Youth Media Contest accepts creative work in print, graphic design, video, or audio formats. 

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.

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

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.

Join a Courageous Conversation! Register to join a Courageous Conversation, every other Tuesday at 12pm and 7pm (EST). Register here.

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. 

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

Welcome to Episode 8 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 Jennifer Lima, who serves as the Head of TANK: Towards an Anti-Racist North Kingstown and is 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.

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

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 (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.

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

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.

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

Resources from JoAnna Wasserman and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum:

Resources on antisemitism

Information about Nazi Symbols

Materials on Propaganda

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.

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

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 us, at www.courageousri.com and check out our upcoming events: https://www.courageousri.com/events-1.

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:

Join us, at www.courageousri.com and check out our upcoming events: https://www.courageousri.com/events-1.

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. 

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?

Professor Hobbs is an internationally-recognized authority on digital and media literacy education. Through community and global service and as a researcher, teacher, advocate and media professional, Hobbs has worked to advance the quality of digital and media literacy education in the United States and around the world. She is Founder and Director of the Media Education Lab, whose mission is to improve the quality of media literacy education through research and community service.

Pam is an expert in media literacy education. Her thirty-year career in the education and human service fields included directing substance abuse and violence prevention programs in school systems, prisons and communities in RI and MA, which led to her interest in media literacy. She authored a newspaper column for the Providence Phoenix for 15 years, has produced videos and community access television, contributed to blogs and podcasts, and has performed as an actress, storyteller, and stand-up comedian. With co-authors Renee Hobbs and Liz Deslauriers, she wrote The Library Screen Scene, a book on film and media programs in school and public libraries, published by Oxford University Press in 2019.