Chicken Soup for the White Boy's Soul

Shifting gears, Denver spends this episode talking to himself and to whoever is here to listen. A little bit of music, a little bit of poetry, and a whole lot of unpacking what's been going on behind the scenes are what you can look forward to hearing in this 30 minute episode.

Denver speaks with his childhood best friend, Olivia Mullen. There's something in the air. Is it him? Is it her? Is it the whiteness between them? What do you think it may be? In this episode, we manage to scratch the surface of American military life, white supremacist systems, communism, and even Avatar: The Last Airbender.

My guest on the podcast today is Jay Cobián. Most recently seen in the new play “Richard & Jane & Dick & Sally” written by Noah Diaz at Baltimore Center Stage. Our conversation dives into the learned racism of our childhoods, what privileges and challenges come with being “white-passing,” and diversity in the arts among other topics. This episode was recorded on June 30^th, 2020.

Lovingly known as Dr. T, Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates brings her lifetime of experiences to the table in this first installment of Chicken Soup for the White Boy's Soul. She is the founder of The Conciliation Project, a social justice theatre company whose mission is "To promote, through active and challenging dramatic work, open and honest dialogue about racism and oppression in America." She has been a mentor to Denver ever since he met her during his studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.