Behind The Curtain – Details, episodes & analysis

The rise of racism, bigotry, antisemitism, and nazism is a call to action for each of us. I invite you to answer that call by listening to one of the most important voices of our time, TIM WISE. Host Kathy Barrett interviews Tim Wise about his latest book, Dispatches From The Race War. Tim is among the nation’s most prominent antiracist essayists and educators and has spent the past 25 years speaking to audiences in all 50 states, on over 1000 college and high school campuses, at hundreds of professional and academic conferences, and to community groups across the nation. He has served as an adjunct professor at the Smith College School of Social Work, in Northampton, MA., and from 1999-2003 was an advisor to the Fisk University Race Relations Institute in Nashville, TN. Wise was featured in several documentaries, including “The Great White Hoax: Donald Trump and the Politics of Race and Class in America,” and “White Like Me: Race, Racism and White Privilege in America.” Media presence includes dozens of appearances on CNN, MSNBC, and NPR among others. Videos posted on social media platforms have received over 20 million views. His podcast, “Speak Out with Tim Wise,” features weekly interviews with activists, scholars, and artists about movement building and strategies for social change. TUNE IN TO BE INSPIRED           TUNE IN TO BE INFORMED

Addison Caruso was a young high-school student when his mother introduced him to the power of voting. As Mrs. Caruso knocked on doors to help elect former President Barack Obama, Addison accompanied her and became an intern for President Obama's campaign when he ran for re-election four years later. At an early age, Addison recognized the power that each of us holds to create positive change and he set his career sites on being of service to those marginalized by society as a lawyer working for the Legal Aid Society. As Republicans monopolized power at the state level, Addison witnessed a steady decline in the quality of life for Ohioans.  Addison is dedicated and passionate about solving the problems that extremist Republican rule have created. Addison is running as the Democratic candidate for District 36 against Republican incumbent Andrea White who does not believe in the rights of woman or girls to make autonomous decisions about their own body and reproductive functions. Tune in to meet Addison Caruso and listen to his plans to lead Ohioans into a future filled with unlimited possibilities and equality for all. We are two elections away from losing our democracy if Democrats do not hold on to the house majority and win more of a majority in the Senate. Vote. Vote Blue. Vote in large numbers like your life depends on it because it does. Vote Blue to Save Our Democracy. Vote Blue To Save America.

HELP SAVE DOGMANITY This four-part series aims to raise awareness about the plight of homeless dogs in America. We can help save thousands of these homeless dogs from being euthanized each day around the country so stay tuned to the series and may it inspire you to become involved and take action to help these animals. Our first show will highlight Volunteer KELLY AMBROSE of MOUNTAIN ROTTIE RESCUE a nonprofit organization run by volunteer fosters located in The Capital District of New York, Central New York, and Catskill Mountain areas dedicated to re-homing homeless dogs of all breeds. Some dogs are owner surrendered, but most come from kill shelters. KELLY AMBROSE and her staff of compassionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated volunteers open their hearts and their homes to nurture these abused, frightened, abandoned dogs so that they may find a forever home. Mountain Rottie Rescue is known for its due diligence in reviewing applications of potential adopters and they work tirelessly to match each canine client with the right person/family environment.   MOUNTAIN ROTTIE RESCUE INSTAGRAM  TWITTER: @MountainRottie  MOUNTAIN ROTTIE RESCUE   NEXT WEEK SHOW #2  TUNE IN TO MEET  Valerie Ellsworth - Founder of the NOTHING BUT LOVE CANINE FOUNDATION which provides financial support for spay & neuter services and heart-worm treatment for rescue dogs in need all over the United States.  

HOST KATHY BARRETT interviews DR. KITTY OLIVER about how we can survive and thrive during one of America's most divisive times in our history. Dr. Kitty Oliver is a journalist, an author, oral historian, and media producer with a Ph.D. that focuses on race and ethnic communications. Dr. Oliver is the founder of the Race and Change Oral Histories Archive, the largest in size and scope of its kind. Her Race & Change television documentaries are utilized in schools and libraries around the country. “Voices of Race and Change: The Younger Generation: is also now a popular Apple podcast. Dr. Oliver was chosen as one of this year’s Encore Public Voices Fellows. Go to gobehindthecurtain.com for more information about Dr. Oliver, links to her website, books and music.  You can also go to kittyoliveronline.com

What is Spiritual Intelligence? Do we have to be religious to achieve it or is it something innate that we can tap into at any time? Betty Steinhauer, the author of "My Way," and "In Search of Spiritual Intelligence," speaks with Kathy Barrett Host of Behind The Curtainabout how one pivotal moment during the summer of 2013 led her to live as a Nomadic Intern on a global journey to clarify her spiritual beliefs.  Betty Steinhauer was born in England and raised in Toronto, Canada where she became a wife and mother before founding  Betty Steinhauer & Associates, her consulting firm in 1993. For twenty-five years, Betty used her unique talents to act as a catalyst, facilitator, and advisor to both the private and public sectors, by forging relationships between organizations and/or individuals for mutually advantageous outcomes. Betty also founded "The People Bridge," a  charity that was based in Canada that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for other charities in need around the world.  Betty Steinhauer continues to lead an extraordinary life as a Nomadic Intern. After selling and giving away her personal belongings she set out to travel the world in search of her own spiritual identity.  "In Search of Spiritual Intelligence," published by Fisher King will inspire you to search for your own answers. If we don't have peace within, there can be no peace in the world.  TUNE IN TO BE INSPIRED - http://gobehindthecurtain.com

Grace Israel McKinnon was on her way to work one morning when she came upon a frightening scene. Police standing with weapons drawn were pointed at the head of a young homeless man living with mental health issues. Pulling out her phone, Grace begins to talk the young man into cooperating with the police as she records the action.  The police officers instruct her to get out of harms way but Grace is determined to make sure that another black man does not loose his life during a confrontation with police.  Tune in to hear this amazing story and meet Grace Israel McKinnon who was determined to see that Anthony's outcome would not be that of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin and Stehon Clarke who all died unnecessarily. Grace shares her personal story about growing up homeless herself, surviving her own thoughts of suicide and surviving the suicide of her older brother which propell her on a journey of self-discovery where she learns to turn her fear and heartbreak into love and compassion. Grace transforms her personal pain into a driving force to help others. Recognizing her purpose in the obstacles she was challenged to overcome she now sees it as her mission to share the knowledge of what healed her with the world. TUNE IN TO BE INSPIRED                                                 TUNE IN TO BE INFORMED

BTC HOST KATHY BARRETT TALKS with JUAN FIGUEROA ABOUT WHY ITS TIME FOR NEW LEADERSHIP IN ULSTER COUNTY JUAN FIGUEROA considers himself to be "a big picture" guy, and he is ready to introduce a new kind of policing if he is elected Ulster County Sheriff.  But first, this Marine Veteran of Desert Storm who has served his country for twenty-three years must beat the present incumbent in the primary scheduled for September 13th.  As a State Trooper and investigator for the Bureau of Criminal Investiagations, Juan's work helped to take down drug cartels, seizing over sixty million in cash, 400 plus kilos of drugs and the arrest of key dealers in the drug trade. His twenty-five years of experience in law enforcement in addition to his years of military service in the Marines makes him a unique and exceptionally qualified candidate. The incumbent sheriff Paul van Blarcum politicizes the office and has cost Ulster County taxpayers close to a half-million dollars due to multiple lawsuites filed which claim gender and racial discrimination as well as sexual harrassment.   If elected Juan will institute training that instills respect and discipline within the organization. Juan has experience dealing with federal, state, county and local agencies.   Juan's visionary leadership style comes at a time when our country is so diversive. We need to elect leaders now who aim to unite and not divide us.  

Jacob Dunne was a 19-year-old high school dropout serving a 13-month sentence for manslaughter after throwing one unsolicited punch which took the life of 28-year-old James Hodgkinson, a paramedic trainee. The parents of James Hodgkinson (Joan Scourfield and David Hodgkinson) were devastated. How could Jacob receive such a light sentence committing manslaughter? What  lead Jacob to take the life of their precious son and what was preventing Jacob from repeating such a heinous act in the future?  Remedi UK, a charitable organization in the U.K. specializing in restorative justice, stepped in and facilitated a meeting between the two parties. BTC HOST KATHY BARRETT interviews NICOLA BANCROFT - Assistant Director of Remedi UK, Joan Scourfield and David Hodgkinson (parents of deceased James Hodgkinson) and Jacob Dunne, about how restorative justice is transforming lives in the United Kingdom. TUNE IN TO BE INSPIRED TUNE IN TO BE INFORMED. BTC Announcer - Mitchell Geller Night and The Music - Written and performed by Barbara Thies & Andy Barrett

Christian scholar, Author of the Fun Series and Liberating Jesus, Roberta Grimes shares how a crisis of faith led her to realize that following the Gospell of Jesus, as seen through afterlife evidence of his teachings assures us that spiritual growth is the entire purpose of human life. Roberta shares how these Gospel teachings can be easily applied to our modern daily lives while sharing compelling evidence of how it can help to transform the world from its present disordered state into a place of love and light. Roberta says, "No religion makes spiritual growth a priority, but throughout human history revered teachers have shared their wisdom with us, the greatest of which spiritual teachings are the words of Jesus in the Gospels." TUNE IN TO BE INSPIRED.  TUNE IN TO BE INFORMED.          

Omkari Williams is a speaker, author, activist, and coach whose years of experience as a professional actor, inspired her fascination with story.  Wanting to understand and deepen her own understanding of life and self she moved into a meditation ashram for several years to reflect on the larger issues of life that shaped her views on story and its central importance in our lives. While working with executives at Fortune 500 companies and politicians helping them to improve their public speaking,  she found evidence for her belief that story underpins everything in business as well as in life. Story is the foundation of our human experience and the bridge that connects us to others. Now Omkari writes, speaks and coaches people on the importance of story, on how to share it, and about how sharing our stories can build bridges that can help heal our deeply fractured world.  Her new book The Playbook: Creating The Life You Want is helping people to do just that.  Tune in to be Inspired.  Tune in to be Informed.