The Radical Bureaucrat

Sam and Abram talk about their inability to articulate, the role of art, and they make room for some other voices as we unpack 200 days of atrocities in Palestine. Here are the other voices: Steven Stills and Buffalo Springfield, creators of the musical theme for our episode, "For What it's Worth" Amy Goodman, Anchor on Democracy Now Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health Naledi Pandor, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor Emeritus of Linguistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Beth Miller, Political Director, Jewish Voice for Peace Eva Borgwardt, National Spokesperson, IfNotNow Naomi Klein, Journalist, Author, and Activist Jose Andrés, Founder and Exec Director/Chef, World Central Kitchen

Sam and Abram unpack what they have been carrying about Palestine, the hopelessness and confusion of it all, and what we are feeling as we face each day's new cycle

We begin a four part series about breaking silence without damaging relationships and striving to create productive dialogue about current events (like the occupation of Palestine). This episode focuses on the core values we try to sustain while creating these conversations: Humility, Community, and Justice.

We talk about the historic transition happening at the very top of the largest public school system in the nation. Chancellor Carranza has been a controversial figure at a pivotal moment in the history of NYC, and Sadye Campoamor and Zakiyah Ansari help us to make sense of this moment.

Renato Rosaldo is a world-renown anthropologist and the author of four books of poetry. He is also Sam's dad! On this episode he discusses grief and grieving, in the time of COVID-19 and after the death of his wife, and Sam's mother, in 1981. He ends by reading from his book, "The Day of Shelly's Death."

S2:E19—Tema Okun, @TemaOkun by Abram Guerra and Sam Rosaldo

S2:E18--Colin Seale, @ColinESeale by Abram Guerra and Sam Rosaldo

We talk with Jose Luis Vilson, Nationally recognized Harlem educator and all around good guy. He helps us make sense of this moment, and highlights the importance of "grace."

Sam and Abram make space to talk about some of the loss that we are all facing, from the death of dear loved ones, to the more trivial losses of work, momentum, or just routine. What does it look like to intentionally dig in on an emotion that we pretty much avoid unless we absolutely have to?

We talk with Sam's wife about healthcare, the hospital industrial complex, the importance of asking for help, planning, and preparing for birthing, and how things have changes since the COVID shut us down.

We have a sprawling conversation with Dan Honig, who helps us understand what's happening in West Africa and at his temporary Comfy COVID Country Cottage in Madison, Virginia. What does it take to not only make space for bureaucrats to want to rock the boat for the sake of the people, but to also reform and reimagine institution that keep the boat headed on the right course: justice.

Abram and Sam chat about two stories of folks who Rocked the Boat and fell out. Who went 'all in' to use a phrase from the Texas Hold-em fad, and lost their job in order to better serve the people that were counting on them.

S1:E12--Janelle Scott, UC Berkeley by Abram Guerra and Sam Rosaldo

We talk with Harlem educator Ruben Brosbe, on Twitter @brosbe, about the impact of the pandemic, remote learning, tired pedagogies of test prep and 'business as usual,' and the real work of holding space with communities striving to learn and grow together.

Sam and Abram share media (books, articles, music) that has been giving them life over the last few weeks. Happy Friday!

Dr. Rebecca Tarlou shares with us how life has changed for her at Penn State, how she is working locally to organize her neighbors to respond to the crisis, and what we might reimagine in our education and social systems given the current disruption.

We hear from David Kirkland (@davidekirkland), who leads a community of education justice innovators and movement builders at NYU's "Metro Center" (@metronyu): The Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools.

S2:E7--Brian Salter, Seattle by Abram Guerra and Sam Rosaldo

We talk with Jaekun Cho in Seoul about living day by day through the coronavirus pandemic. We appreciated Jaekun's willingness to share his reflections, and how he is understanding his part in the interconnected global whole.

We hear from Tassika Lloyd, who shares with us some of the ways her heart is heavy reckoning with (and calling people to reckon with) the ways that they are modeling things right now that are teaching our kids what it means to cope in a crisis. Takissa blew us away with her visionary call for collectivism in this critical chapter of human history.