Well, That Went Sideways!

In this episode we talked with Michelle Chalmers about white people challenging racism. Michelle Chalmers is an author and a racial Justice educator inspired by Peggy McIntosh's book White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack. Her work focuses on how and why white folks walk the world differently. Michelle Chalmers investigates the liabilities that the whiteness system has justified in her. She shared those thoughts with us at the 2026 White Privilege Conference in Seattle.

In this episode we talk with Monique Clark about many different facets of accessibility and about her experience as a CODA, a child of deaf adults. She's a speaker, a consultant and the chief operating officer of SignGlasses, a remote interpretive service for Deaf and hard of hearing people. We spoke with Monique Clark at the 2026 White Privilege Conference. 

Dr. Claudia Fox Tree discusses the importance of Indigenous perspectives in education and culture, explaining the Mi'kmaq concept of Two‑Eyed Seeing, the history of land dispossession, and the need to include Indigenous knowledge across K–12 and higher education. The conversation covers practical steps for allies and educators, stewardship of land and water, ethical research practices, language resurgence, and how making Indigenous histories visible can shape a more truthful and sustainable future.

In this episode, we talk with Glenda Russell about the importance of inclusive history and the impact of erasing or marginalizing people in the historical record. She's a retired psychologist who's still active as a researcher, writer, and activist. Glenda Russell writes a blog called Tools for Troubled Times.

In this episode, we talk with Cody Nielsen about the role of white Christian nationalism in the United States. He's the founder and executive director of Convergence Strategies, which addresses issues of religious, secular, and spiritual culture and identity in society. He's also an assistant professor of higher education at Western Michigan University.

In this episode, we talk with Abby Ferber about her work teaching students about privilege. She's a professor in sociology and women's and ethnic studies at the University of Colorado. She's also director of The Matrix Center for the Advancement of Social Equity and Inclusion which is home to the Knapsack Institute, a public effort to transform, teaching and learning.

In this episode we talk with Reverend Jen Bailey about faith, transformation and engaging across differences. She founded the Faith Matters Network and co-founded the People's Supper which brings diverse groups of people together to break bread and engage on community issues. Reverend Jen Bailey is also the executive director of the Maddox Fund, a philanthropic foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. 

In this episode, we talk with Paul Quinn about how volunteerism and activism have changed his life. He describes learning about and practicing nonviolent communication, as well as his volunteer work with incarcerated men in Washington State. He also shares what he learned as a board member of The Sophia Way, a Seattle area nonprofit that works with women experiencing homelessness.

 In this episode, we talk with Rohan Bliss and Jen Sarche about the role media plays in our understanding of conflict and conflict resolution. And we'll hear about their plan to use reality TV to depolarize the country and help people find common ground. Jen Sarche is a media and research consultant. Rohan Bliss directs the Democracy Innovations Program at the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation. They provide resources, facilitation, and training for people involved in public engagement and conflict resolution work. 

 In this episode, we talk with Parker McMullen Bushman about environmental justice and building a more inclusive environmental movement. They're the CEO of Eco Inclusive Strategies, which serves environmental organizations and other nonprofit and education groups.