In the closing episode of 2025, [un]phased unedited holds up the mirror to a year of reckoning. The doctors unpack cultural flashpoints—from executive orders galore, through trans (kids) rights and immigration policy to Jan 6 pardons—that forced us to confront our values around equity and justice. We trace how language shifted: “belonging,” “resilience,” and even “DEI” itself took on new meanings, revealing both fatigue and transformation. Corporate accountability is on trial, as boycotts and quiet retreats continue to expose the difference between performative commitments and true change. Amid disruption, grassroots movements and micro-communities modeled resilience and care, reminding us that resistance often begins at the local level. And we invite listeners into personal reckoning: What did you unlearn, reclaim, or reimagine in your own equity journey this year? As we move toward 2026, we ask: What threats loom largest—and what possibilities remain if we act together, even (and ESPECIALLY) when tired?

As usual...it's not as simple as you think! This week, we pull back the layered concept of transparency in organizations. Leaders navigate the tension between disclosure and discretion, knowing that transparency is never as simple as a binary choice. We also revisit the ongoing assault of transgender people’s rights – the federal pressure continues to erase their existence. Word of the Week [1:18]: Transparency: How timing, context, and leadership choices shape perceptions of openness. Phase 1 [8:30]: UVA: A deep dive into the University of Virginia’s dismantling of DEI initiatives, the resignation of President Emeritus Jim Ryan, and the broader implications for governance and equity. Phase 2 [28:26]: Trans Kids: Drawing parallels to the recent attempts to create a database of children with autism, the DOJ subpoenas asking for private details of children provided puberty blockers and other gender affirming care -- including children's names, addresses, care, SSN, and meds were blocked by three judges. Even the attempt is frightening.

This week's conversation maps three currents: a new organizational model that favors distributed intelligence, recent U.S. visa guidance that expands restrictions to common health considerations, and a cultural critique of individualism. Word of the Week [1:32]: Octopus Organization: We can't figure out if we should use "octopuses" or "octopi" but either way, two HBR authors coin the phrase in their book to provide a nimbler framework for organizations. Phase 1 [9:39]: Health & Immigration: Did you know that foreigners who want to come to the U.S. may be flagged for visa denials due to perceived obesity, diabetes, and mental health concerns? Visa officers are unlikely to provide equitable application of the new rule...keeping more folks out of a country built on immigrant experiences. Phase 2 [26:49]: Village Care: Minna Lee Jamison calls her IG followers out in the best of ways. She poignantly asks us to consider the "weaponization of boundaries" as we seem to want a village, but rarely want to be a villager.

This episode spots the sludge -- every day fictions that block help and information. Recent reports of U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats require us to questions the legal, ethical, and political justifications. The pressure points around Thanksgiving travel, retail spin, and who pays the price during holiday logistics cannot be ignored this week, either. Word of the Week [2:29]: Sludge: Ever get so frustrated by endless phone menus, dropped calls, and that "unusually high call volume" refrain? Welp, that sludge is by design. Phase 1 [12:39]: Boat Strikes: Reports of at least 20 strikes across the Caribbean and Pacific waters mention ~80 individuals k*lled and 2 known survivors. The justification of "non-international armed conflict" should all raise a brow given its parameters and how abnormal this is in the realm of human rights and lethal force at sea. Phase 2 [27:08]: Thanks is Giving...Spin: Air traffic controller strains continue, which then lead to other transportation systems being taxed. Retail is being spun as a win, instead of a loss, given that Thanksgiving meals are NOT cheaper in comparison to last year. This holiday season will shift more burdens on households that are already stretched thin.

In this episode, we explore the concept of Surplus Powerlessness -- the internalized belief that we are more powerless than we truly are. Drawing from Michael Lerner's 1991 book of the same name, we focus on how narratives, society, and personal trauma convince people they lack agency. Phase 1 – No ICE, Please: The Drs discuss the ongoing court cases against !CE and National Guard deployment following the OBBBA which made them the largest and most well-funded federal law enforcement agency in U.S. history. Phase 2 – Getting Things Done: Dr. Gold has been noticing the doers of society on social media. Folks like Kiki Rough, Perfecto Pat, Genny Mack and Danny Clarke take us back to our roots (literally and figuratively) as we remember -- and sometimes learn for the first time -- how to survive. Cooking cheap meals, baking from scratch for neighbors and the community, and gardening -- even down to creating healing tinctures out of corn silks highlight how we can reclaim our productive power in challenging times.

This week, despite the hosts’ denial that summer is over, they dive into a discussion of safe parking programs in California to provide overnight housing options to unhoused students, which is especially important in winter. And, it couldn’t be avoided, they also unpack the effects of the (now longest in U.S. history) government shutdown. The Haves don’t seem to care all that much for the Have Nots. Word of the Week [1:24]: Hopium is a combination of hope and opium signifying how addictive hope can be, especially in bad situations where you really want to believe things will get better. For some, a hopium attitude signals Pollyanna thinking, and for others, it is a necessity when times are rough. Phase 1 – Addressing Vehicular Homelessness [4:44]: For several years, west coast locations including California colleges and universities as well as cities across the U.S. have created “Safe Parking Programs.” These programs utilize unused parking lots to offer safe places to sleep for unhoused people with access to a vehicle. Sometimes, these programs include toilets, washing, and laundry facilities. Are they an innovative way to address a growing problem or not? Phase 2 – Government Shutdown [20:14]: The Drs couldn’t leave the shutdown unaddressed on the pod. They discuss (at the time of recording) the pending cuts to SNAP and WIC, the loss of the Affordable Care Act premium subsidies and how these losses are juxtaposed against the demolition of the East Wing to make way for a $300 million dollar gilded and gaudy gold ballroom.

This week, The Drs discuss the growing use of AI to produce distorted and offensive depictions of important historical figures. It raises ethical questions of who is responsible for managing representations of person’s likeness and what can be done when those representations cross a line. The hosts also ponder how federalizing the National Guard for pretextual reasons such as managing crime is putting us one step closer to authoritarianism. Word of the Week [00:59] – Microshifting: Have you been doing this for some time and not had a name for it? Learn with us about how we manage can time more effectively and push back on U.S. work culture of 8-5. Phase 1 [8:11] – AI Historical Distortion: OpenAI’s product Sora, an AI video generator, has recently come under criticism for allowing users to create disrespectful videos of famous historical figures, such as Dr. Martin Luther King. The videos span mildly inappropriate representations all the way to extremely offensive representations including one where Dr. King is depicted along with two other historical figures making a joke about assassinations. The King family and estate are pushing back, leading to OpenAI blocking AI depictions of Dr. King. What kind of guardrails are needed to protect the legacies of important historical figures as AI continues to evolve? And who is responsible for monitoring the usage of a person’s likeness online? Phase 2 [26:37] – The U.S. National Guard: The last several months have seen multiple National Guard deployments in to U.S. cities. The Guard, usually under state control, has been federalized by the President and sent into Democratic cities to “manage” violent crime and to “protect” ICE officers as they abuse and abduct people from the streets and their homes. The Drs discuss the structure of the National Guard and how likely it is the average person knows its current usage is abnormal. To understand the threat to democracy, we must understand what is and is not appropriate usage of this reserve branch of the military.

This week, the Drs discuss [ridiculous] reactions to the NFL’s announcement that Bad Bunny will be performing at its 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show and recap a few cases recently argued in front of SCOTUS. The cases at issue could have profound effects for LGBTQIA minors and the voting rights of racial minority groups in the U.S. Word of the Week [02:25] Anocracy: The inbetween space governments occupy as they transition from democracy to authoritarianism or autocracy. Sometimes called semi-democracy, it is generally not a good sign we are describing the U.S.A. this way. Phase 1 [06:37] Bad Bunny: The NFL announced that Bad Bunny would be the Superbowl Halftime Show performed next year. Despite Bad Bunny’s global fame and his U.S. citizenship, many influencers and pundits on the right took umbrage to the NFL’s choice. Apparently, a significant number of these commentators did not know that Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. Phase 2 [24:00] LGBTQIA rights are for Suckers: The Supreme Court of the United States recently heard arguments in two cases that will cause profound harm to marginalized communities in the U.S. if they go the way the hosts fear. The Court seems poised to invalidate state laws banning conversion therapy for minors and to enact the death blow to the Voting Rights Act as it turns 60 years old this year.

In this episode, the Drs trace the legacy of Black education from secret learning spaces during enslavement to the bold vision of Freedmen's schools during Reconstruction. They explore how paragons of education like Hampton Institute and Fisk University emerged as beacon of self-determination -- and how today's literacy crisis echoes in modern day gaps. Word of the Week [3:30]: Freedmen's School - If you've never heard of it, don't be ashamed. Just remember, it hasn't always been legal for everyone to be educated. Phase 1 [12:16]: Karen Attiah: An award-winning journalist and professor -- the last African American at The Washington Post Opinions section, was fired abruptly via email. Lack of free journalism and race is a case study in forced alternatives and creative defiance. Phase 2 [30:37]: Lapses in Literacy: Several U.S. literacy stats should shake us all -- and we wonder why misinformation moves so quickly. Considerations around literacy, socioeconomic status, and access to information -- which leads to the right to read, write, and resist.

In this week’s single phase, the hosts take on the recent health recommendations coming out of the Department of Health and Human Services. They discuss the recent announcement of a (non-)connection between acetaminophen usage while pregnant and autism, the damage such misinformation can do to people’s trust of healthcare, and other concerning issues that will likely harm not help Americans. Word of the Week: Acetaminophen [1:41]: The safety of the fever-reducing drug that millions of people, including pregnant women, use to reduce muscle aches, fevers, and headaches was called into question by the President, who it turns out, cannot even pronounce it. Phase 1: Bad Science Foolishness [4:48]: There are just so many reasons to be worried about the pseudoscience coming out of the Department of Health and Human Services under the leadership of one RFK Jr. The most recent debacle included blaming women for their child’s autism if they took acetaminophen while pregnant. This claim, for which there is zero causal scientific evidence, was announced loudly from the White House under a self-imposed September deadline for identifying the cause(s) of autism. Decades of research, changes in diagnostic criteria, and an increase in medical provider awareness be damned. “Don’t Take Tylenol,” the President chanted [note: acetaminophen appears in many other brand name drugs you might know]. This announcement, plus the recommendation that infant vaccinations put “too much liquid” into babies, and the MMR vaccine should be broken up are an assault on public health. These assertions are not making Americans healthier, in fact, the consequences could be just the opposite.

Over 400 celebrities signed an ACLU letter in support of Jimmy Kimmel's return to the air after being silenced by cronies of the current presidential administration. While public opposition to threats to free speech grew, we simultaneously had to navigate being presented with unwanted videos of recent public violence in the social media public square. Word of the Week [1:46]: Otrovert: Just like most topics on this podcast -- this one challenges the binary of introverted and extroverted ways of being. Phase 1 [7:05]: Ethical Reporting: How do journalists navigate the razor's edge between truth-telling and harm reduction, especially when covering violence? This episode explores trauma-informed reporting, the ethics of true crime, and the remnants of Mamie Till-Mobley's radical decision to "let the world see." Phase 2 [29:54]: Free Speech in Crisis: What does "free speech" really mean when media consolidation, executive orders, and political pressure reshape the public square? From Jimmy Kimmel's blackout and subsequent return to censorship threats, we look at the tension between constitutional rights and corporate control.

Everyone from kiddos to adults should be back in school by now, so in this episode we explore two angles of education: relevant skill development and the future of tuition and student loans. Word of the Week [0:52]: Evidential Currency: Credentialing and assessment of skills in real time is a moment by moment lived experience for marginalized folks whose skills are doubted by default. Phase 1 [6:38]: FOBO: When it comes to career skills, education, and lifelong learning, the 2025 ETS Human Progress Report provides five major findings that can serve as a guide for today's skills-driven economy. Gen Z seems to be the most bothered with the Fear of Being Obsolete. Phase 2 [25:31]: Tufts Tuition: In a recent pact, the University will provide free tuition for U.S. families earning under $150K starting fall 2026. Demonstrating need, eliminating the Grad PLUS loan, and caps for professional students and parents through the OBBB Act will have immense effects on lower and middle income students in an already unstable higher education environment.

In this episode, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Shaunna unpack two big stories shaping business and society. First, we look at Harvard Business School research on why leading companies are endorsing purpose as a strategic driver of performance and profit, yet they aren't employing it. Then we look at the Supreme Court's 6 -3 decision that lifts restrictions on roving ICE patrols in Los Angeles, allowing factors like race, accent, and language to inform stops, sparking yet another debate over constitutional rights. Word of the Week [2:25]: Xenophobia: Fear of people seen as foreign or "strange" can be systematized. Phase 1 [7:48]: The Business Case for Purpose: A global report of 474 executives says that 90% recognize the importance of a clear purpose, but only 46% say purpose informs their strategic and operational decisions. Why the gap? Phase 2 [25:48]: ICE Heats Up Profiling: Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo, a case on the shadow docket, lifted a temporary restraining order barring ICE agents from making roving patrol stops based solely on apparent race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish or accented English, presence at day-labor pick up sites, and the type of work performed. The court’s conservative majority approved racial profiling, providing no reasoning save Kavanaugh’s ‘detached from reality’ concurrence.

Although paint and public history may not have an obvious connection, they DO. Listen in to this week's podcast where the Drs illuminate public history from various angles: two examples of wh*te male public historians who are making an impact and a venue for such work -- the Smithsonian Institute and all her holdings. Word of the Week [5:50]: Public Historian: The halls of academia are often inaccessible and locked for many. Public historians intentionally ensure that history is both relevant and useful to the public. Phase 1 [10:14]: Smithsonian: In an August letter from the White House, the president demanded that its exhibits "reflect the unity, progress, and enduring values that define the American story." Mkay - remove and replace is the name of the game. The hosts examine exactly how US history is expeditiously being painted over with all manner of privilege. Phase 2 [27:31]: Tad and Loki: If you've never heard these two names, you should. Tad Stoermer continues to provide hope and blueprints for disruption at the best moment. Loki Mulholland also serves up truth-telling in ways that don't require you to be grad student to understand it.

In this week's packed episode, the Drs provide even more than what you asked for! From gerrymandering to empty churches, to deploying state National Guards to DC to ending Housing First funding -- there are more than enough test balloons flying over the U.S. to see what Americans allow to stay afloat. Words of the Week [1:25]: Gerrymandering and Test Balloons: Gerrymandering is only the latest test of American resistance. Phase 1 [7:35]: Repurposing: Given the most recent landslide of church closures, the Boston Globe highlights the possibilities for such buildings. Beyond the body and the people, how might houses of worship that no longer have enough people to sustain them turn into viable housing for those who need it most. Phase 2 [25:10]: Deployment: As we land on Day 30, the deployment of three red states' National Guards to DC to fight (feigned) crime has us wondering how this may be a test balloon for much bigger issues. Meanwhile, such "law enforcement" (imagine Dr. Shaunna rolling her eyes here) are displacing the unhoused, which creates even more strain on underfunded resources.

On the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we revisit the storm that devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast—killing over 1,392 people, displacing thousands, and exposing the catastrophic failure of infrastructure, governance, and media accountability. Dr. Lisa and Dr. Shaunna discuss: • The flawed engineering behind the levee breaches at 17th Street, London Avenue, and Inner Harbor canals. • The environmental neglect that weakened natural buffers like the cypress swamps of St. Bernard Parish. • The legal immunity shielding the Army Corps of Engineers despite being found responsible. • The racist media narratives that shaped public perception. • The long tail of policy rollbacks and climate denial that continue to threaten our future. We also spotlight powerful cultural responses—from Spike Lee’s Come Hell and High Water to Katrina Babies, Trouble the Water, and Five Days at Memorial—and ask: What does accountability look like now? Tune in for reflection, resistance, and a call to action: • Demand climate-conscious leadership • Connect with local emergency services • Educate yourself and others • Hold media accountable This isn’t just history—it’s a blueprint for what we must refuse to repeat.

So, what's wrong with naming a "Man of the House"? A LOT. During this week's episode, the hosts specifically call out instances of men minimizing women, the erasure of human rights violations against women, and the small but effective efforts to interrupt them. Word of the Week [0:45]: Credibility Discounting: If you're paying attention, the Drs are sure that you've witnessed a time when a woman's knowledge, skills, or abilities were doubted, questioned, or dismissed -- only due to her womanhood. We'll give you some examples that you will no longer be able to overlook. Phase 1 [8:59]: Scrubbing the Human Rights Report: Although not surprising, there were several sections related to violence against women, children, LGBTQIA people, and disabled people removed from the U.S.’s annual global human rights report. El Salvador has no credible reports of human rights violations, but the U.K.’s restrictions on hate speech are of concern... The new version of this report even had well-versed activists stunned by its omissions. Phase 2 [28:48] Micro-Feminism: As a woman, do you take the time to correct someone by telling them to use your title rather than Ms., Miss, or Mrs.? Or do you solely use women professionals for your needs (doctor, attorney, gardener)? Maybe you challenge small traditions like calling Dad first (rather than Mom in a hetero relationship) when a child is sick, simply because the inequities seem clear. The Drs discuss these small ways of resisting sexism and their cumulative effect.

During this week's episode, there is a curious meeting of the minds, both new and old. If you have never heard of Black August, well, don't fret. It's new to us, too. We'll share notes about the month-long commemoration...and then we dig up the old. Stephen Colbert made a statement in 2006 that sounds like he said it yesterday. Listen in. Word of the Week [1:48]: Ideology: Unfortunately, this word has gotten a bad rap, so we've attempted to reclaim, remind, and rejuvenate its fundamental definition. Phase 1 [10:17]: Black August: Distinct from Black History Month and Juneteenth, the month honors Black excellence specifically in the context of resistance. We heavily name-drop freedom fighters that you certainly need to know. Phase 2 [29:52]: Colbert and Rather Truth Telling: It was once said, that "Reality has a liberal bias." Welp, authoritarianism and fascism run amok again. When facts and data do not align with 45/47s opinions, they are silenced or removed. Dan Rather has something to say about this.

On this week's episode, the Drs delve into two unrelated but curious topics. Given the recent passing of the gentleman who played our childhood "big brother" Theo, we felt it was crucial to name our grief and his impact. Then we make a sharp turn to think about AI use in education during this back-to-school season. Word of the Week [1:30]: Algorithmic Bias: It makes sense that if AI is built upon biased human intelligence that it will replicate bias in a myriad of ways. Phase 1 [6:05]: Malcolm Jamal-Warner and Parasocial Grief: If you've ever taken time to mourn a celebrity that you never met, this is the place for you. Dr. Shaunna leads the discussion on MJW's impact as a childhood actor, and later multihyphenate artist. Phase 2 [26:50]: AI, ChatGPT, and Education: A recent MIT study showing AI’s effects on the brain is not great news for AI users, but how does it also affect formal educational environments? Students AND faculty are making use of it, but there seems to be little structure or guidance, making its power all the more dangerous.

This week, Dr. Shaunna and Dr. Lisa discuss an important online forum where Black men can shine, debunking negative stereotypes, particularly about Black fathers. Additionally, there’s a new attack on LGBTQIA rights coming out of Colorado, which seems destined for resolution at SCOTUS…and we all know how that will go… Word of the Week: Groyper [1:10]: Dr. Lisa leads a discussion about yet another wh*te nationalist organization of which we all should be aware. A little green frog (not Kermit!) is involved. Phase 1 [7:00]: Den of Kings: The disinformation and misinformation about Black men (especially Black fathers) rages on. However, Dr. Shaunna discusses Kirk Franklin's new YouTube show that dispels myths while providing much needed community and insight into the diverse Black male experience. Phase 2 [25:25]: Born Again, Kinda?: In yet another anti-LGBTQIA move, a couple who owns a Christian bookstore in Colorado argues that new state law protecting chosen name under gender expression in Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Statute is a violation of their first amendment rights. (Insert eye roll as Dr. Lisa tells us more.)