On Second Thought

A panel discussion with storytellers, activists and scholars on the power of the women’s vote throughout history, and the importance of representation and empowerment; Otis Reddings’ widow and daughter remember the legendary musician and reflect on carrying his legacy forward through a new picture book, ‘Respect’

A frontline doctor and advocate for Georgia's immigrant and refugee populations on supporting and encouraging some of the people most vulnerable to COVID-19; historian and author Grace Elizabeth Hale on her new book, "Cool Town: How Athens, Georgia, Launched Alternative Music and Changed American Culture"

Julian Zelizer's new book, "Burning Down The House: Newt Gingrich, the Fall of a Speaker, and the Rise of the New Republican Party" offers one explanation for today's divisive political atmosphere; examining the history behind "The Tree That Owns Itself" in Athens

With experts concerned about a surge in evictions amid the ongoing pandemic, we explore implications and potential mitigating factors of the coming eviction crisis; former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey on her new memoir, "Memorial Drive"

Taking stock of the U.S. Postal Service's ability to process parcels — and ballots — amid financial struggles; renowned Southern pastry chef Lisa Donovan on her new memoir, "Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger"; author Lara Prescott on her debut novel, "The Secrets We Kept"

For this special edition of "On Second Thought," we invited a panel to discuss one central question: are Georgia schools prepared to support youth mental health in the coming school year?

To mark this Saturday's annual Moore’s Ford lynchings reenactment, we revisit an interview with Jacqueline Olive, director of the film ‘Always in Season’; John Lewis on the redemption of the South; author Bruce Feiler on his novel "Life is in the Transitions."

A primer on QAnon and how it intersects with Georgia politics; how the Atlanta Community Kitchen Project is firing up underused kitchens to address food insecurity; author Lisa Napoli on her new book, "Up All Night"

A new film reflects on the life, legacy and lessons of longtime Georgia Congressman John Lewis; how a recent SCAD film graduate is trying to "create diverse, untold stories and provide a voice to the voiceless" Show Notes: John Lewis: Good Trouble: https://www.johnlewisgoodtrouble.com/ Mahalia Latortue's 'The Struggle is Reel' podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-struggle-is-reel/id1394949640

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson on leading the city through a global pandemic, a contracted economy, and protests against systemic racism; men across Georgia describe their experiences with “The Talk,” including Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter; a community-based plan to combat the spread of COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness in Savannah

What it means when corporations declare support for Black Lives Matter, and how their statements stack up against internal policies and attitudes; two Atlanta artists share how their work functions as a radical act of rebellion against racial injustice, and how uncomfortable conversations are necessary to move forward

Making sense of calls to reform, defund and abolish the police; one reporter looks into the lack of COVID-19 protections in Irwin County's ICE detention facility; remembering George Floyd in the neighborhood that made him

Outrage and protests over the death of George Floyd show no sign of letting up. A diverse group of demonstrators in Georgia and worldwide say they’re fed up with racial discrimination and police violence. We speak to Georgians on the ground and get context for the history of resistance in the “city too busy to hate.” Show Notes: The New York Times: “Thousands of Complaints Do Little to Change Police Ways” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/us/derek-chauvin-george-floyd.html The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “6 Atlanta officers charged after confrontation with college students” https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-news/live-fulton-announces-findings-atlanta-police-excessive-force-case/IwWL0tioOHNAtC29Ad2xGL/ The New York Times: “Many Claim Extremists Are Sparking Protest Violence. But Which Extremists?” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/george-floyd-protests-white-supremacists-antifa.html CBS46: “APD Police Chief: “You’re a real cold son of a b---h”: https://www.cbs46.com/apd-police-chief-youre-a-real-cold-son-of-a-b---h/video_19031aa5-3e51-5b69-9a51-98403fb458a3.html

AJC Reporter Joshua Sharpe gives us the backstory on how his reporting about a 1985 murder case from southeast Georgia unveiled new DNA evidence and prompted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to reopen the case; author Mary Beth Keane on her New York Times best-selling novel, “Ask Again, Yes”

The last 35 seconds of Ahmaud Arbery’s life have been viewed, studied, dissected and discussed all over the world. We sat down with some of the people who knew Ahmaud best — including his mother, friends, and neighbors — and heard about the nearly 26 years of life before he was shot on a shady street in Satilla Shores, Georgia. Learn who Ahmaud was, how his loved ones are remembering him, and how being thrust into the national spotlight is both compounding their grief and offering an opportunity to demand justice for his death.

How the justice system operates during a pandemic; Alan Walden remembers musical legend Little Richard; Bettye Kearse’s new book, “The Other Madisons: The Lost History of a President’s Black Family”

The considerations behind — and U.S. political reactions to — Sweden's coronavirus strategy; the ways COVID-19 is affecting our dreams; author Sue Monk Kidd on her latest novel, “The Book of Longings”

The impact of coronavirus on Atlanta's arts ecosystem — economically, culturally and artistically; poetry, politics and punk rock with Billy Bragg; author Julia Alvarez on her latest novel, “Afterlife”

How coronavirus isolation is changing people's beauty and self-care behaviors; one Milledgeville farmer shares how he’s turning the coronavirus crisis into an opportunity for service; Helping Mamas works through new challenges to meet high demand for childcare supplies; Jennifer Steinhauer on her new book, “The Firsts: The Inside Story of the Women Reshaping Congress”

The ethical considerations and emotional impact of triage decisions on medical staff; how people in substance abuse recovery are staying sober and connected under lockdown; Chef Vivian Howard on her PBS series, “Somewhere South,” and how she’s addressing challenges brought on by coronavirus; and how local theaters in Georgia are innovating during quarantine

Kathy Gunst on the power of "Rage Baking"; how Wahida Clark transformed a federal prison sentence into a successful writing career; how a writer, high schooler and pastor are getting creative and staying connected during quarantine

The impact of coronavirus on victims and survivors of domestic abuse; how Indigo Girls are using the power of music to uplift the vulnerable and find connection across social distance; stories of resilience from everyday Georgians who are finding creative ways to support restaurant workers, entertain children, and make at-home activities.

New hacking and privacy concerns during the coronavirus pandemic; stories of makeshift weddings and hand-washing stations for the homeless; what to stream if you're in quarantine

What internet humor reveals about how we process anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic; an upcoming PBS documentary explores the policies — and community — behind one of Atlanta's most notorious public housing projects

Addressing inequities during the coronavirus pandemic; Avoiding an 'Election Meltdown' with Richard Hasen

Erik Larson's 'The Splendid And The Vile' illustrates Winston Churchill's leadership during the London Blitz; ATL Collective and the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival 'relive' the soul of music producer Jerry Wexler

The music, story, and racial dilemmas presented by George Gershwin's opera, "Porgy and Bess"; A roundtable discussion on the ideals, realities and new definitions of beauty in the black community.

Reflections from poet Nikki Giovanni; Documentary film 'Always In Season' addresses generational trauma of lynching; Binders Art Supply's New "Splatter Room"; Soul Food Cypher's founders on the power of freestyle to sharpen minds and communities.

Love Stories of Oakland Cemetery; A Modern Arranged Marriage; New Edition of 'Joy of Cooking'; 2020 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival; Jean Sibelius' 'Finlandia' At Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

With news of the new coronavirus circulating around the world, there’s also been another viral threat: misinformation. // Actor, writer, and producer, Naomi McDougall Jones' new book, 'The Wrong Kind of Women: Inside Our Revolution to Dismantle the Gods of Hollywood,' unpacks the discrimination women face in Hollywood. // Hear a sample from the Atlanta Ballet's 'Heart/Beat: Gospel, Brubeck and Rhythms of the City.' // Investigative reporter Jerry Mitchell's new book, 'Race Against Time: A Reporter Reopens the Unsolved Murder Cases of the Civil Rights Era,' gives the inside scoop on how he brought four Ku Klux Klan members to justice after they nearly got away with murder. // The new film 'Always in Season' explores the lasting impact of more than a century of lynching African-Americans. Hear about an upcoming panel discussion about the movie.

Georgia is one of four states that does not have a law specifying penalties for hate crimes, but that could change with a bill being considered in the Georgia legislature. We speak with ProPublica reporter Rachel Glickhouse about how these laws work and what this bill, if passed, could mean for Georgia’s legal landscape. Then, host Virginia Prescott talks with NPR's Steve Inskeep about his new book, "Imperfect Union: How Jessie and John Frémont Mapped the West, Invented Celebrity, and Helped Cause the Civil War." Their conversation was recorded in front of a live audience in Atlanta. Finally, "On Second Thought" looks into the love story behind the new book "Old School Love and Why It Works," by Joseph "Rev Run" and Justine Simmons. The two bring their hard-earned relationship advice with them to an upcoming event in Atlanta.

Pitbulls: they’re the dog that “America loves to hate,” and Jason Flatt is devoted to saving them. We learn how tragedy and depression transformed Flatt, and how a puppy saved his life. Now, he spends his time saving the most neglected — and least wanted — dogs that come across his foundation, Friends to the Forlorn. Three north Georgia men were arrested last week in connection to a white supremacist group called "The Base." We’ll unpack the details of the arrests and how extremism has grown in Georgia as well as in the nation. Are your music playlists still cycling through last year’s hits? We asked Atlanta’s Paste Magazine to help keep us up to date with fresh tunes. We hear about both highly anticipated and under-the-radar record releases to expect in early 2020. Since late 2016, a group of young Latinx people have been throwing a monthly dance party. It’s called La Choloteca, an effort to reclaim a slur used against people of indigenous origin. It bills itself as “a party with a mission”: to create a safe and inclusive space for all identities and anyone who wants to jam out to Latin tracks. Producer Pria Mahadevan went to a “Choloteca” and brought back this audio postcard.

As 2019 drew to a close, protests spilled into cities from Hong Kong to Santiago, Paris to Tehran, and Khartoum to La Paz. People around the world flocked to the streets, often with handmade signs, addressing their objections to policy changes, power grabs and cutbacks. The power of images to communicate disagreement is the subject of an exhibition now on view at the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA).

For the last five years, we’ve heard cries of “fake news” from media critics on both sides of the political aisle. This year, Emory University offered first-year students the opportunity to enroll in a course about fake news. It’s one of Emory’s “evidence-focused seminars” intended to prepare students for college-level research. We speak to Dr. Judith Miller, who teaches the course, and Natalia Thomas, one of the students who took the class last semester.

Spreading lies is not new in politics. However, slickly packaged fictions can move faster, wider and deeper in the digital age. After the election of President Trump in 2016, concepts like “alternative facts” and “post-truth” became buzzwords. Increasingly, calling something “fake news” became a blunt instrument for discrediting stories, whether based in fact or not. The term is also being used to educate students at Emory University. History 190: Fake News is one of dozens of “evidence-focused seminars” intended to prepare first-year students for college-level research.

He was a civil rights icon, beloved father and husband, who would be 91 years old this year. On Monday, the nation celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Georgia native was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee a day after delivering one of his most memorable speeches, “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop.”

It made headlines when Queen Elizabeth II agreed to grant Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle their wish for a more independent life, allowing them to move part-time to Canada while remaining firmly in the House of Windsor. We speak with Emory history professor Dr. Patrick Allit and CNN senior writer Lisa Respers France to analyze the historical context and current implications of their move to this side of the pond.

Last September, President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring state and local governments to consent, in writing, to allow refugee resettlement inside their borders. The deadline for officials to opt in was originally Jan. 21. That order was struck down in a U.S. district court earlier this week.

The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is coming up on Monday. The King Center announced this year’s theme is “The Beloved Community: The Fierce Urgency Of Now.” The Reverend Dr. Bernice King, CEO of The King Center, says her father’s message of the ‘beloved community’ operates out of unconditional love, adding, "it’s not about who deserves anything...it’s about all human beings having this inherent worth and value.” Xernona Clayton embodies those values. She worked with Dr. King and Coretta Scott King at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the late 60s. In 1967 she became the first African American in the southeast to have her own television program. She served 30 years as an executive at Turner Broadcasting System and founded the Trumpet Awards to recognizes accomplishments of African Americans.

There is a lot of important news going on. Yet, this last week so many headlines were dominated by the news in Britain — not about Brexit, but “Megxit.” More accurately, the response to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s surprise decision to step back from their duties as “senior” royals. The move has revealed a range of opinions about monarchy, race, class and media — not just in Britain, but also here in the U.S.

Nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards were announced Monday. The list, which skews heavily white and male, has faced fierce criticism in the last few days. The discussion is all too familiar for many, resurrecting conversations about #OscarsSoWhite and the lack of representation for both women and people of color in the esteemed awards.

Rock n’ Roll hits the page in Ian Port’s The Birth of Loud . Hear him tone it down to speaking volume when he stops by On Second Thought .

Cars are an integral part of portraying time and place in film, with some leaving a lasting impact on our cultural references. There’s James Bond’s Aston Martin, Marty McFly’s time-traveling DeLorean, Thelma and Louise’s 1966 Thunderbird and countless other examples. With Georgia now a go-to filming location for projects like Baby Driver and Stranger Things , the demand for automobiles, current and vintage, is growing. Y’allywood Film Cars aims to fill that demand and keep the industry fair in the process. Run by Beth Aylward, Jeana Lopeman and Stacy Frasure, Y’allywood Film Cars connects the car collectors of Georgia with the productions looking for a specific model.

Nearly 4.6 million people live with developmental disabilities in the U.S. — a reality that hits home to about 600,000 living in Georgia. Oftentimes, individual voices and experiences get lost in those numbers. That's why FRQNCY Media , a Georgia-based production company collaborated with the Georgia Counil on Developmental Disabilities to create Hidden Voices, a podcast designed to highlight the stories of people with disorders and their families.

Whether you're searching something on Google, assessing a mortgage rate, or applying for a job, much of our lives today is informed by artificial intelligence. Or, the less scary term: intelligent algorithms. While AI helps systems operate quickly, it's not perfect. Like humans, these technologies are only as good as the information they get.

By 1970, Muhammad Ali’s boxing career was in decline. Convicted for draft evasion in 1967, Ali lost his license to fight in all 50 states and had become a polarizing figure across the country. That was before a group of key players managed to jump through a legal loophole and stage a comeback fight — in Atlanta.

Technology and artificial intelligence are making leaps and bounds, but that doesn’t mean the technology is infallible. "Algorithm bias" does exist, largely because of the datasets from which these systems learn. Dr. Ayanna Howard of Georgia Tech joined On Second Thought to explain the concerns of trusting this technology completely, as well as ways we can make it better.

Every ten years, the Census gets distributed to every household around the United States. The constitutionally-mandated questionnaire tells a story about who we are as a country, along with some more practical implications. Thousands of people, from door-to-door census takers to state governments, prepare years in advance to execute the massive push behind the Census. The results determine how much power individuals across the country have in their local and national political process, as well as how resources are allocated in communities across the country.

GPB will be hosting a film screening of Black 47 , an action-adventure drama that takes place during the Irish potato famine of the late 1840s. Shane Stevens, consul general of the Irish Consulate, will be at GBP in Atlanta on Wednesday for a screening of the film alongside GPB CEO Teya Ryan and the film’s star James Frecheville. Some 800,000 Georgians claim Irish heritage. The first shipload of immigrants from Ireland docked on the coast of what became the colony of Georgia and 1734. Thousands were escaping the potato famine of 1845 to 1849, when nearly a million Irish nationals died. Black 47 examines the horrors of the famine and the resilience of the Irish people.

For more than a decade, the primetime reality series Shark Tank has given entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of wealthy business titans. These “sharks” then decide whether to invest in the idea or company. Last year, Atlanta’s First Presbyterian Church started their own “shark tank.” It’s a social entrepreneurship venture called Epiphany . Much like the show, the church’s Epiphany program puts out a call for budding business ideas and offers support to select entrepreneurs through business development “navigator” groups, which then help them refine their final pitch to be selected for a grant from Epiphany’s pool of money.