NASW Social Work Talks

Michael H. Eversman, PhD, MSW, is the author of "Identifying Moral Panic: The Discourse of Fear in Social Policy" from NASW Press. This book uses historic and contemporary moral panic episodes — periods of exaggerated public fear triggered by high-profile incidents linked to feared social groups — to show how political discourse and stereotyping lead to policies that maintain social inequalities. Eversman emphasizes social work's social justice mission and the need to stay vigilant amid structural inequalities rooted in labeling and otherism, enabling readers to recognize the patterns of moral panic discourse in our culture. Dr. Eversman is associate professor in the Department of Social Work at Rutgers University–Newark. You can purchase "Identifying Moral Panic" at https://naswpress.org/product/53667/identifying-moral-panic.

Deborah M. Figart, PhD, and Ellen Mutari, PhD, are the authors of "Economic Well-Being: An Introduction" from NASW Press. In this episode, we discuss this groundbreaking book, which makes the study of economic life accessible, applicable, and exciting. NASW member Elisabeth Joy LaMotte, LICSW, hosts this episode. Visit the show notes for related resources. You can also watch this interview and leave your comments on YouTube.

Dr. Kyla Liggett-Creel talks with us about her work to support young people who squeegee car windshields at intersections in Baltimore. She outlines why squeegee workers have been a divisive topic in the city, and discusses her work to get their voices heard. Dr. Liggett-Creel is an associate clinical professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She leads The Collaborative: A Healing Centered Community, which partners with community groups, grassroots organizations, governmental organizations, universities, and non-profits to address equity and violence prevention in Baltimore City. Read the show notes to learn more and find related resources. Thanks for listening! Please subscribe to Social Work Talks podcast so you'll get new episodes delivered right to your podcatcher. And take a moment to leave us a lovely review in Apple Podcasts.

Ann Steiner, PhD, is a certified group psychotherapist, licensed marriage and family therapist and consultant in private practice for 30 years. She is creator of "Therapist's Professional Will™: Guidelines for Managing Planned and Unplanned Absence." She pioneered the creation of the therapist's professional will and has published over 20 articles on the subject. Dr. Steiner talks about why you need a professional will, and how to create an emergency response team to manage your practice in case something happens to you. Our host for this episode is NASW member Elisabeth Joy LaMotte, LICSW, founder of the DC Counseling and Psychotherapy Center and author of "Overcoming Your Parents' Divorce." Visit the show notes for related resources.

In February 2021, the Myanmar military staged a coup that overthrew the democratically elected government. Since then, the killing of civilians in Myanmar has increased. In response, Jue Jue Min Thu, a licensed social worker from Myanmar now based in Hawai'i, created Jue Jue's Safe Space, to support mental health for the Myanmar community. Visit the show notes page for related resources.

Yvonne M. Chase, PhD, LCSW, ACSW, will begin her three-year term as NASW president on July 1, 2023. Dr. Chase is an Associate Professor at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She's also an NASW Social Work Pioneer, and a long-time champion of NASW. We talk about some of her experiences as a social worker; why she's passionate about social work and about NASW; how the organization has changed over time; and what she envisions for her tenure as NASW's President. Visit the show notes to learn more about Dr. Chase's work.

Kristen Lee, Ed.D., LICSW, is an accomplished author and clinician specializing in resilience and mental health. In this engaging discussion, she empowers listeners to embrace risk as a tool for personal and social change. Kristen redefines risk as small, value-driven actions tied to courage and resilience. She shares practical strategies like novelty, gradual exposure, and humor to combat fear and burnout. This thought-provoking chat encourages everyone to prioritize self-care while navigating life's uncertainties.

Monique Bingham, MSW, is NASW's 2022 Emerging Social Work Leader. She works as a mental health therapist at the Anti Recidivism Coalition, which works to end mass incarceration in California. Ms. Bingham's own father was incarcerated when she was a child and released when she was an adult. She has produced a documentary, "Unchained Scholars," about formerly incarcerated social workers. Read the show notes for resources.

Social worker Caitlin Ryan, is founder and executive director of the Family Acceptance Project. She talks with us about how her organization has worked for 20 years to help families support their children who are LGBTQIA2S+ and how social workers can also do this work.

We speak with Will Frances, Executive Director of NASW's Texas chapter about the aftermath of the horrific mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Schools should be safe, supportive havens for students and staff. What can be done to stop the epidemic of mass shootings across the country? Visit the show notes page for related stories