Once a Stranger

In the sixth episode of the “Once a Stranger” podcast, Alec’s guests, Desmin Daniels, Tim Hull, Miles Magbie and Idris Stovall, are part of the sacred Father’s Day Camping Crew.  The crew reflects on the father figures in their lives, the generational differences between how they were raised and how they are raising their children, the insecurities and vulnerabilities that come with fatherhood, and the community of fathers they’ve built.  The crew describes their 13-year old tradition of convening annually for a two-day camping trip during Father’s Day weekend with their children.  They discuss how much growth they witness in their kids over the years, some of their favorite stories from the tradition, and the lessons that they’ve learn from and with each other as they redefine fatherhood together.

In the fifth episode of the “Once a Stranger” podcast, Alec’s guest is Angelica Salazar.  A self-described (know)mad, popular educator, and proud Chicana.  Angelica describes her early childhood growing up in Northern New Mexico, Germany, Florida, and the Bay Area, CA.  The two discuss the history of her ancestral ‘genízara’ grounded homelands, her racialized experiences growing up in predominantly white and affluent Marin County, CA,  continuing her post-high school education as a community college transfer to UC Berkeley, as an ethnic studies major, being heavily influenced by two parents who modeled radical political activism and immersive travel, her nearly 3-decade-long relationship with Cuba as a political advocate and cross-cultural ambassador,  She also shares about continuing her knowledge-building on global indigenous practices for sustainable agriculture, and much more. Angélica is the founding principal of Knowmadica Consulting, a multi- faceted communications and educational exchange consulting agency. www.knowmadica.com 

In the fourth special edition episode of the “Once a Stranger” podcast, Alec’s guest is his daughter, Siboney (Sibo) Cisneros Greenwald.  Born in Philadelphia, Sibo describes her early childhood growing up in Belize, New Mexico, and North Carolina.  The two discuss her racial and religious identity growing up in the south, how travel has shaped who she is and what she wants to pursue after high school, being the oldest of three siblings, how social media has shaped popular culture and political activism for her generation, navigating the world as a young woman, and much more.  

In the third episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is India Pierce.  Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, India describes her coming out and coming of age story as a Black Queer Christian girl and the complex truths that her and her family wrestled with.  The two discuss her experience attending a performing arts high school, navigating her adolescence and the journey that led her to embarking upon a PhD; a dissertation that has ended up being a love letter to her younger self.  The two also discuss her commitment to boldly chasing joy, how that has impacted her work, reflections on her life as a newlywed, and much more.

In the second episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Arturo Uribe.  Born in El Paso and raised in Mesquite, NM, Arturo describes moving between CA and NM for much of his childhood due to his parents divorce and losing his mother in a car accident when he was 9 years old.  The two discuss his early organizing experiences through the "Skateboarding Is Not A Crime" campaigns of the 1980's, founding the "Puro Chile" skateboarding team and contest series, surviving a heart attack during the midst of Covid, suing the local chemical company for environmental contamination of his neighborhood, and much more.  -Tune in on Spotify or at https://onceastranger.buzzsprout.com-Follow on Instagram @Once_a_stranger_podcast

In the second season of the “Once a Stranger” podcast, Alec’s first guest is gary broderick. The two discuss his mixed faith background being kept a secret from his mother’s orthodox Jewish family early in life and how he was affected by conditional love. They discuss him growing up in Highland Park, New Jersey, and being voted “most likely to succeed” by his peers after being kicked out of high school. gary unpacks his role as a lifelong organizer and what he’s come to learn about the value in organizing as opposed to mobilizing or advocacy. He shares some of his proudest moments organizing fellow hotel workers at the Hyatt in Philly, co-founding Richmond For All in the aftermath of a failed school board campaign, standing off - and WINNING - against Dominion Energy, Virginia’s oligarchal behemoth. gary shares how professional wrestling offered him his first emotional experience of solidarity. If you stick around long enough, you’ll also hear his analysis of the 2024 presidential election. The “Once a Stranger” podcast does not condone his highly questionable top 5 list, but suffering through it is brief.

In the 14th and final episode of season #1 of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's gues is Michelle Qiou (they/she).  The two discuss Michelle's experience growing up as a first generation Chinese-American and navigating young adulthood during and after college.  Working first in management consulting and then in charter school operations, Michelle shares how they transitioned out of those jobs and faced feelings of shame and self-discovery, uncertainty and freedom.  They share how they reflect and grow through journaling, how they found community through volunteering with @wordupbooks and working part-time, and how they decided to become a public school teacher.Check out their beautiful blog at https://michellepq.substack.com/ 

In the 13th episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart.  The two discuss her childhood growing up with her mother and grandparents in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Lexington, NC, the different migration patterns that make up her hometown, working inside the world of big time college athletics, launching a local news outlet for Davidson County, her family accepting a Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of her grandfather who was one of the first Black men inducted into the Marine Corps, and more.  If you stick around long enough, you'll learn how to properly order BBQ when in Lexington-you need this advice in your life.Learn more about the work Kassaundra is leading @davidsonlocal and "Our America: Mission Montfort Point" (on Hulu)

In the 12th episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Amin Aliabadi.  The two discuss his childhood growing up as a first generation Iranian-American in Jersey City, how he first learned about Harlem and what the neighborhood means to him, his journey as an amateur director and filmmaker, how his cultural and religious background set the foundation for his musical curiosity, our shared critique of men and masculinity, and much more.

In the 11th episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Rasaan Moshesh.  The two discuss his parent's respective journeys to the Bay Area and his unique childhood growing up as a mixed-race kid in Berkeley, CA during the 70's and 80's, how he almost lost one of his nine lives after being shot at a house party in West Oakland, attending college in his hometown, graduating as the second Black student ever from the statistics department at UC Berkeley, reflections on where his intrinsic motivation comes from, his chapter as a stand-up comedian, and much more.  

In the 10th episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Anyabwile (Anya) Love.  The two discuss how growing up in the Jehovahs Witness faith in North Philadelphia impacted his childhood and young adulthood, his 14-year journey from enrolling in community college as a young father to earning his PhD and returning to teach there, how his experience with depression shapes his pedagogy, when he remembers hearing John Coltrane for the first time and how it changed his life forever, opening a bookshop and resource center in his neighborhood, and much more.  If you hang around long enough you'll hear Alec and Anya reflect on their journey as fathers over the last 2+ decades and about how Anya once performed at his high school talent show with the best rapper alive.  Stay connected with Anya and his brilliant work via @coltrane_symposium and @baileystreetbooks.

In the 9th episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guests are David and Tamara Vanie.  The two discuss their rollercoaster life together as partners.  They tell us about how they met as middle school students in Fort Knox, Kentucky, saying their first "I Love Yous" through glass during a jail visit, navigating the military as young newlyweds and new parents, divorcing during a toxic chapter in their marriage, their path to getting remarried, trials and tribulations of finding their church community, raising 5 kids, and much much more.  

In the 8th special edition episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is his mom, Judy Greenwald.  The two discuss her experiences growing up in NJ post WWII, migrating to CA just shy of her 13th birthday, coming of age in Southern California during the early 1960's, attending San Francisco State University during the height of the anti-war protests, her diverse professional career as a community health practitioner, and more.  

In the 6th episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is SABA (and Shawna).  SABA is an Arrow Soul artist who lives at the intersection of hip-hop and his indigenous cultural birth rite.  The two discuss the trauma associated with his early boarding school memories and the colonization of his native lands, and how those experiences shaped his love for different resistance movements.  Listen to how SABA and his family have influenced a cultural revolution across the country armed with a spray paint can and a screen printer.  Buy his dope art at Sabahut.com.  

In the fifth episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Rubens Amedee.  Rubens is the co-founder of Bati School and Papa Roziers Farm.  The two discuss Rubens inspiring story of beginning a career in investment banking coming out of college, and how the 2010 earthquake in Haiti profoundly altered his life trajectory.  Rubens and Alec reflect on old college shenanigans, the power of education, how to gracefully (or not so gracefully) age as a former athlete, and more.  Check out his amazing work at www.paparozierfarms.com and www.batischool.org/donate

In the fourth episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Luis "Nacho" Quiñones.  Nacho is the founding author of the "31st Annual Raza Peace and Historical Calendar," a critical historian, folklorist, educator, proud Chicano, and much more.  The two discuss his experience growing up in a mining camp along the borderlands of Mexico and the US, initiating the first Chicano/Chicana Studies high school (or university) curriculum in Southern New Mexico, his reflections on being a father and grandfather, and more.  If you stick around long enough, you'll hear a couple of Nacho's original corridos.  

In the third edition of the "One a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Anca Stefan.  The two discuss her growing up in Romania during the collapse of the Soviet Union, immigrating to the United States as a teenager, attending an HBCU, what fuels her revolutionary spirit, and more.

In the second special edition episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is his partner and soon-to-be wife, Sachelle Ford.  The two discuss her religious upbringing, her Jamaican-Chinese racial and national identify growing up in Kingston and Atlanta, her decision not to have her own biological children, preparing to get married in less than a week, and more.  @sachelleford

On the inaugural episode of the "Once a Stranger" podcast, Alec's guest is Amber Burgin.  Amber is the owner of "Elijah's Farm," a mental health practitioner, theologian, mother, vocalist, and much more.  The two discuss her history and relationship with agriculture, parenting in the 21st century, welcoming a new partner into her parenting journey, stories of missing nipples, and more.  If you stick around long enough, you might hear Amber's beautiful voice;) @Elijahs_farm @futurerevdr_aeb 

Learn a little about the origin story for "Once a Stranger".