Mitchell Galligan. When Denver native and Oberlin Conservatory graduate Mitchell Galligan sits down behind a Hammond B3, people take notice. One of the best young piano and organ players to cross our path in quite some time, Mitchell has performed alongside some of the legends of jazz including Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson and Jamey Haddad. This sold out trio performance features Mitchell on Hammond B3 alongside Tim Picard on Guitar and Ori Jossel on drums. From an April 26th, 2024 performance, Daniel Peck is your host for the Mitchell Galligan Trio – Live at the Bop Stop.

An episode in loving memory of three gospel greats who passed away this month: Dr. Lou Della Evans-Reid, Stephen "Puff" Jones, and Mosie "Mama" Burks, with selections from the Fellowship MBC Choir, National Baptist Convention Mass Choir, Mississippi Mass Choir, and Chicago Mass Choir.

Why Policing Our Schools Backfires. School resource officers are often called upon in middle and high schools to help with routine discipline. But for many children, especially those with disabilities, a law enforcement response to their behavior can lead to the school-to-prison pipeline. This week on Making Contact, we hear a story from our podcast partner 70 Million about the relationship between students with special needs and school resource officers and the changes some would like to see in an edited version of “Why Policing Our Schools Backfires.”

Dr. Martha Hodes, Part 1. Dr. Hodes is the author of the award-winning publication, White Women, Black Men: Illicit Sex in the 19th Century South. This is part one of a two-part series.

Economics of Happiness. Helena Norberg Hodge envisions a future where communities thrive through collaboration and a return to nature. She tells of how her years spent in Tibet, witnessing firsthand the effects of globalization, shaped her worldview. She argues economic globalization is a threat to the environment, to local communities, and is at the root of young people’s unhappiness in modern society. ● Helena’s latest book, Local Is Our Future, Steps to Economics of Happiness, traces many of modern society’s problems to the globalized economy, advocating for a shift to the local. ● She emphasizes the human need for connection and the power of localized systems to foster well-being and resilience. ● Empowering women is essential for creating sustainable communities, the majority of local initiatives are started by women. ● Local systems can be the foundations for larger systems that emphasize connection, cooperation, and community well-being over profit.

Theron Brown Trio. From his work as Artistic Director with the I Promise School to his role overseeing the annual Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival, Theron Brown is intimately involved with making Northeast Ohio a magnet for musical talent. For this performance, Theron brings the Fender Rhodes Mk II to life with his trio. This sold out trio performance, features Zaire Darden on Drums, Jordan McBride on Bass and Theron Brown on Piano and Fender Rhodes From an April 26th, 2024 performance, Daniel Peck is your host for the Theron Brown Trio – Live at the Bop Stop.

This episode includes the first "Give me my flowers" set saluting Missionary Essie Moss (pictured) of Detroit, MI; plus, music from the Sensational Six, Voices of Cosmopolitan, Sensational Nightingales, Daniels Singers, Church of Our Prayer Choir, and more.

Michael Thanos is the co-founder and owner of Forbidden Island, Alameda’s beloved Tiki Bar. Not just a local hangout, Forbidden Island is well known in the Tiki Bar Scene, and features one of the deepest Rum menus in the Bay Area. An Alameda fixture since 2006, Forbidden Island is literally keeping the tiki torch burning.

Dr. Martha Hodes, Part 2. Dr. Hodes is a History Professor at New York University and winner of the Lincoln Prize. Our conversation continues on this week’s program on her book, White Women, Black Men: Illicit Sex in the 19th Century South. This is part two of our two-part series.

Media Landscapes. Henry Jenkins discusses our evolving media landscape, the challenges that come with it, and the onus it puts on us to engage with and share media responsibly. He discusses the role of social media in shaping public discourse, emphasizing the need for credible sources and a critical eye. He addresses the need for cultivating imagination on a societal level, in order for us to be able to envisage a better future. ● The breakdown of legacy media has allowed for a plurality of information sources to flourish, but has also made it harder to separate disinformation from reality. ● We are all very good at self-confirming and accepting as true those things that serve our existing biases, implicit or otherwise. ● Social media algorithms are biased towards divisive communication because that is what keeps people engaged with those platforms. ● Active listening is essential for understanding differing perspectives, look for cultural common ground. ● Imagine how the world might ideally look in 2060. What are the steps towards making that ideal 2060?