Deep Dive with Shawn

I’ve had a hard time characterizing this past year – has it been uniformly dire? No – there have been some promising signs. The midterms were a disaster for Republicans. They took the House, but by a vanishingly small margin and they were unable to flip the Senate. Election deniers up and down the ticket lost their elections (although some did win), and abortion-rights movements had a strong showing across the country after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Additionally, the Respect for Marriage Act, enshrining the right to marriage for same-sex and bi-racial couples, was recently signed into law by President Biden. There are increasing signs that ex-President Trump might actually be held to account for his numerous misdeeds and crimes. And, it appears as if Congress is set to clarify and protect the electoral count process – perhaps, hopefully, shielding it from any future mischief on the part of Trump or his political offspring. So, was it a bad year? Kinda. Was it a good year? Kinda. I need some clarity, so for this episode I’m relying on some Deep Dive alum to weigh in. I’ve invited back some previous guests to give me their thoughts about the past year, their feelings going into the new year, and also if they celebrate any seasonal holidays and, if so, what some of their traditions are.  I’ll be talking to Dr. James Hawdon of Virginia Tech about far-right extremism and political violence and Dr. Sara Benesh of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee about the Supreme Court and what the past year suggests for its legitimacy. I’m also talking to some friends of mine about travel in the new year and some other friends about being queer in this increasingly confrontational anti-LGBTQ+ environment in the United States. But, first, I’m talking to Dr. David Faris, Associate Professor of Political Science at Roosevelt University. If you’ll remember from the episode we did together in July – we discussed some tools, legislation, and actions that Democrats can employ to ensure that our elections fairly represent the popular will and popular vote for Democrats, but also defangs the Republican Party from continuing to twist norms and procedures to anti-democratic, authoritarian ends. A lot of Dr. Faris’ suggestions hinge on a Democratic majority in Congress and holding the presidency – which we have had for the past two years, but it’s set to expire in January. Following the midterm elections, while Democrats did better than expected, they did lose the House.Recommended:It's Time to Fight Dirty - David FarisThe US Court of Appeals and the Law of Confessions - Sara BeneshDovi DesignSoda Canter - Instagram-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

Last season, I did an episode with Dr. Peter LaChapelle about the history of country music and how/when, and why it transitioned from being the music of the working class and poor to being the music of right-wing conservatism. In that episode, we also talked about the history of African influence in country music – which made me wonder why there are so few voices in country music. he told me about Black Opry – an outfit aimed at lifting up and spotlighting black artists in the country music industry. When I think of black musicians in contemporary country music – folks like Charley Pride, Aaron Neville to some degree, and more recently Darius Rucker and Mickey Guyton come to mind. And, that’s almost it. When you think of what a juggernaut the country music industry is, how much money it generates, and how many musicians represent the genre – the sheer absence of black artists (and corporate leaders) is kinda shocking. And, especially so, when you consider the fact that country music has roots in Africa and the African American experience.  But, it turns out, this state of affairs is not for lack of black country artists or folks telling their stories or people making space for black voices to be heard at all levels of the country music industry. One of the the projects that Dr. LaChapelle brought to my attention is Black Opry – an outfit aimed at lifting up, spotlighting, and supporting black artists in the country music industry.  So, today, I actually have three guests – and I’m super excited about all of them. I’m talking to the founder and co-director of Black Opry – Holly G. And, I’m also talking to two Black Opry affiliated musicians – Julie Williams and Tae Lewis, both traveling with the Black Opry Revue and both musicians that I’m really into. We talk about how and why Black Opry came to be, some barriers that black performers encounter in the country music industry, how Black Opry provides a space for black country artists to flourish, some projects Black Opry is creating and supporting, and what comes next for Black Opry and for the musicians. Mentioned:Rissi PalmerEmily Scott RobinsonRecommended:Black OpryTae Lewis Julie Williams-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my evolution as a human being, generally, but more specifically as a gay man – where I come from, how it influenced the trajectory of my life, how I fit into the community, how I’ve changed, and also how the world has changed (for good and bad) – and what does that mean for my future as a gay man, as a queer person.And, I thought it would be interesting to talk to some friends of mine who might be in the same boat –gay men in our 40s. And, I thought it might be even MORE interesting to record that conversation and share it with you all – because I doubt that we’re alone in our reflection and our thoughts. So, today, I’m talking to Soda Canter – who you might remember from an earlier episode of Deep Dive, when we talked about his artistry and his music. And, I’m also talking to Justin Hentges, a new guest of Deep Dive, and a longtime friend of mine. This conversation is very heavy at times, and very silly at times. This is a wide-ranging conversation. We talk about Mathew Sheppard, and the influence his torture and death had on our young queer lives, our coming out stories, racism, misogyny, and transphobia in the queer community, where some of our greatest support from the queer community has come from, who our first crushes were, the utility of caftans, and whatever happened to Amy Grant?  Mentioned: Nellie’s Sport Bar JRs Bar Tell Me Lies After the Ecstasy, the Laundry - Jack Kornfield The ExpanseMartina McBrideReba McEntireMatchbox TwentyFaith HillBobbie GentryAmy GrantRecommended:Morgantown Blues-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

In 2013, Russia adopted a federal law criminalizing the distribution to children of any material that depicts any non-traditional sexual relationships as normal and positive. Despite the language, this was targeting how queer folks and queer relationships are portrayed in Russia. Since then, anti-gay violence and anti-gay hate crimes have grown exponentially. And, as I speak, an update to that law – referred to as the gay propaganda law – is working its way through the Duma (or the Russian Parliament) extending that criminalization to any positive depiction of queer folks or queer relationships to anyone in Russia. Essentially, it will become illegal to promote or praise homosexuality or non-traditional sexual relationships in any form.  Today, I’m talking to Dr. Alexander Kondakov – a sociologist and assistant professor in the School of Sociology at University College Dublin in Ireland. His work has focused on law and sexuality studies – specifically queer sexualities. His work appears in numerous journals and recently he published the book Violent Affections: Queer Sexuality, Techniques of Power, and Law in Russia. This book takes a sociological approach to violence committed against the queer community and queer folks, or folks perceived to be queer, to help us understand how the crafting, implementation, and enforcement of law and policy can prime potential perpetrators of violence, and how feelings of anger and insecurity can manifest in violence against the queer community. This book takes a microscope to incidents of violence against queer people in Russia, discussing them in extremely vivid detail. But there’s a reason for that, which we discuss. We also talk about how easy it is to transform feelings of disenfranchisement, powerlessness, and loss into hate – how politicians have leveraged it, how incidents of violence, especially hate-motivated violence, can be linked to violent rhetoric on the part of politicians and other elites, and how violence is almost exclusively a male problem.  Mentioned:The Banshees of InisherinRecommended:Violent Affections: Queer Sexuality, Techniques of Power, and Law in Russia - Alexander Kondakov-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

Travel, to me, is something life-affirming, inspiring, and fulfilling; something almost necessary. It represents, in part, the ability to make those words and those images in guidebooks, on billboards, on Instagram - come to life – give them dimension. Not just the sight or description of a place, but also the smells, the sounds, the flavors, the energy. And, it makes anything seem possible – each trip I take reminds me that the confines of my life are often self-imposed – and that should I choose, I could change any aspect of my life – my scenery, my house, the people I interact with (or don’t), the food I eat, etc. I have only been traveling extensively for about eight years. And, one of the books that I read in my earlier years of travel, and continue to read is The Wayfarer’s Handbook – A Field Guide for The Independent Traveler by Evan Rice. This book is really unique – kind of in a category of its own. Part memoir, part guidebook, part travel hacks, and part utility – there’s just good useful information in this book that you don’t know you need until you’re trying to speak to a waiter in sub-saharan Africa in a regional dialect while mentally doing the currency conversion. This book, literally, helps with that. You also learn how to spot scams, what gestures are best avoided in certain countries, the history of cartography, photo etiquette, how to travel with pets, minimum safe ice thickness for various activities, and much much more – including travel-related quotes and thoughts from well-known, and sometimes not so well known, authors and poets. It’s a lot – AND it’s highly readable. I go back to this book on a regular basis – it’s both functional and inspiring.  So, today, my guest is Evan Rice – the author of The Wayfarer’s Handbook. In his 20s, Evan left for Africa on a one-way ticket, unsure if he’d back in three days or three years. Suffice to say, it wasn’t three days. We talk about that nomad life, how he did it, why he did it, what travel means to him, some hacks he picked up along the way, some of his favorite places, what motivated him to write such a quirky book, and what the future of travel looks like for him. Mentioned: Oh I Wept - Free Recommended:The Wayfarer's Handbook: A Field Guide for the Independent Traveler - Evan S. Rice-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

On November 8th, American voters did something relatively remarkable for a midterm election. We now know that Democrats will keep the Senate (perhaps even expand it by a seat) and that Republicans will narrowly take the House. This is a massive underperformance for Republicans.Along with a lot of other people, I’m interested in understanding what happened – and specifically, how the Dobbs decision and the abortion question might have influenced this election – if at all. So, my guest today is a former colleague of mine, Dr. Joshua Wilson – Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at the University of Denver and Associate Editor of the Law & Policy academic journal. Dr. Wilson has written and published extensively about abortion politics – and other things – including the books The New States of Abortion Politics, The Street Politics of Abortion, and most recently, Separate but Faithful: The Christian Right’s Radical Struggle to Transform Law and Legal Culture with co-author Amanda Hollis-Brusky. His research has also been published in numerous academic journals and appeared in mass media outlets, such as Newsweek, Christian Science Monitor, Washington Post, and Politico – to name just a few. We talk about how anti-abortion activists manipulated the legal landscape on abortion issues over the decades in such a way that they primed an entirely new political debate and pursued strategies that culminated in the overturning of Roe. We talk about what this might look like moving forward, if the national Republican Party has an appetite for a nationwide abortion ban, and if the Dobbs decision cost Republicans what – by all accounts – should have been an overwhelming retaking of Congress. We also talk about the state of American politics and why Donald Trump leaving the political arena won’t solve the problem of political violence in the United States. Mentioned:Whole Women's Health v. HellerstedtJune Medical Services LLC v. RussoThe Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre DumasRecommended: In Cold Blood - Truman CapoteThe Executioner's Song - Normal Mailer-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

In the first season of Deep Dive, I interviewed Dr. Peter La Chapelle about the history of country music and how it evolved into such a conservative space that is aggressively exclusive of queer folks, folks of color, and also women. And, that conversation sparked a personal interest to dive a bit deeper into this topic, to talk to some of these folks that don’t fit into the dominant country music culture that are, nonetheless, playing in that sandbox. To hear their stories from their perspective – not JUST their experiences making country music and working in the industry as outsiders (challenges and rewards), but also where they came from, what their formative years were like, and what motivates them to do what they do – make music in an industry that can be hostile to them, based on who they are. This episode is one product of that venture, adventure. Today, Veterans Day,  I’m talking to Soda Canter – veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a gay country musician and writer out of Wilmington, North Carolina. He’s currently working on a short story series about a small river community called Morgantown Blues (which he mentions in our conversation) and on a debut country music album with guitarist Josh Youse.  The first half of our conversation is really focused on Soda’s formative years – the backdrop to his life –his surroundings, his town, family, his education, and some trauma. In the second half, we talk about how this has all contributed to his artistry – his music and his writing. And, we talk about the country music industry – where it fails to live up to the values of its own origin – a music for all people, created by all kinds of people from all kinds of places; and also where it really shines and how supportive it can be.Mentioned:Bobbie GentryTerry AllenHailey WhittersRecommended:Soda Canter - InstagramSara TrunzoTiffany Williams Adobe and Teardrops PodcastRainbow Rodeo Magazine-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

Regardless of whether someone agrees with the policy positions of the Republican Party (of which, frankly, it’s difficult to ascertain), you have to ask yourself, in this election, when you cast your vote, if you can support a Party that poses such a threat to your country. And, I mean this, today’s Republican Party is an existential threat to the United States and its people. This is a party that advocates overthrowing the government, that openly states that America is not a democracy and actively takes measures to strip democratic governance from our society, and targets traditionally underreppresented groups for, not just derision, but violence – queer folks, folks of color, women, immigrants. The polls are all over the place, but a few things suggest that Republicans may be in good shape to take Congress. First, history tells us that the president’s party loses seats in the first midterm after taking office. Additionally, the economy is lagging – with high gas prices, high inflation, slowing home sales. While this is all related to external factors outside the direct control of president (and here I’m talking about Putin’s war in Ukraine driving up the prices of food, oil, and gas; remnants of the botched response to the pandemic that is still dragging on the economy), people still hold the party in power accountable. So, this suggests that Republicans should do well. But, this is muddied by a few things this year – one, Republicans have chosen a uniquely awful – unqualified, Mega MAGA, conspiracy-driven slate of candidates up, down, and across tickets nationwide; two, the overturning of Roe v. Wade animated people against Republicans and their anti-choice agenda in a way that a court opinion hasn’t done in recent memory; and three, polls have been really poor at gauging voter intent when anything related to Donald Trump is involved.So, first I make a closing argument, not just for for Democrats, but for democracy and the United States, and also against political violence that is becoming a hallmark of the Republican Party.And, I’m also talking to Natalie Kenoyer – president of the College Democrats of Washington about what she’s hearing from the people she’s engaging – college Democrats AND folks she’s working to convince to turn out for Democrats. And we talk about what issues seem to matter to voters on the ground, the threat that Republicans pose to the country, how she and her friends think about going to red states after Roe was overturned, what a Republican win this year might mean for the future of the country and, especially, her generation, how young Democrats feel about an aging Democratic leadership, and how people can register and vote in Washington state. Resources: College Democrats of America Voter Registration Information More Voter Registration Information Washington State Registration and Election Information Washington State Voter Protection Hotline Protect the Vote-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

Post-pandemic travel poses unique challenges. Prices for vacation and car rentals have soared. Flights have been delayed and canceled as airlines have struggled with demand. And cruises started leaving port again after more than a year off the water. In this new travel landscape, I thought it would be a good idea to talk to an expert about consumer rights and expectations as the industry warms up again. So, today I’m talking to Christopher Elliott – founder and chief advocacy officer of Elliott Advocacy, a consumer rights organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and help those who can’t, as well as the author of numerous travel books (including How to be the World's Smartest Traveler and Save Time, Money and Hassle, and Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals). Christopher also writes numerous regular columns for outlets such as Washington Post, Seattle Times, USA Today, National Geographic, and Forbes. He is also a contributor to NPR, Smithsonian, and Travel and Leisure. And, because he’s not busy enough, he also publishes the Elliott Report, which is a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a subscription newsletter that contains travel news and customer service. In this conversation, we talk about the challenges consumers face, and the rights consumers enjoy, related to flights, vacation rentals, cruises, car rentals, and travel insurance. Things like:When and how to get your money back for a delayed or canceled flightWarning words to look for in vacation rental ads.How to find the location of a vacation rental even when you don’t have the addressWhen you can get a refund from Airbnb or VRBOIf cruises are safeIf you should get travel insuranceHow to avoid surprise post-facto car rental chargesAnd, the best approach to take when appealing for a refund or an apologyMentioned:  Hichee.com The VergeRecommended: Elliott Advocacy-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

On September 16th of this year, Mahsa Amini, a 22 year old Iranian woman died in Tehran after being arrested by the Guidance Patrol, effectively the morality police, for bad hijab – which means that she wasn’t wearing the hijab, or veil, correctly. The official government line is that Mahsa suffered a heart attack in custody and subsequently died. However, eyewitnesses to the arrest, coupled with official autopsy findings, suggest otherwise – that Mahsa was beaten to death. This story, as horrific as it is, is not unique. These things happen in Iran regularly, as the Ayatollah and his theocracy has absolute control over social, political, and cultural life in Iran – and their interpretation of Islam is oppressive, violent, and inelastic. So, the mass protests that have materialized and swept the country following Amini’s death aren’t necessarily reflective of anger at this one situation. But, it is an inflection point for a movement, particularly among young people, that has grown legs of its own and has paralyzed Iran and threatened the existing regime, exposing a vulnerability that has maybe not existed since the toppling of the Shah and the Iranian Revolution in 1979. The government’s response, under the direction of Ayatollah Khamenei, is not surprising, but it has been devastating. Law enforcement has responded with extreme force – arresting people, beating people, and shooting to kill (often indiscriminately). And, it has not been limited to the protests or the protestors. Law enforcement has stormed children’s schools and fired on places of worship – attacking their citizens while they are at their most vulnerable. The most recent estimates by human rights organizations puts citizen deaths at the hands of Iranian authorities in response to the protests at 233 – 32 of which, were children.The Iranian regime has also employed other well-worn, familiar strongman tactics to quell the protests – limiting Internet access, fully disconnecting the internet for long periods of time each day, disappearing people from the streets and their homes, and committing protesters to psychiatric institutions. But, what happens when the arsenal runs dry and fails, and the people you cut down are replaced by another front line, more angry and more determined– when nothing works to silence, placate, and subordinate a people wielding the only weapon that cannot be exhausted – a collective and communal voice agitating and demanding liberty, dignity, and freedom.Today I’m talking to Alex Vatanka, the founding director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute, Senior Fellow at Frontier Europe Initiative, and the author of the book The Battle of the Ayatollahs in Iran. I’ve asked Alex to Deep Dive to talk not just about the protests, but also to put this all into some historical context – to help us understand how Iran got here and where Iran might be going. Recommended:The Battle of the Ayatollahs in Iran: The United States, Foreign Powers, and Political Rivalry Since 1979 - Alex Vatanka-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock