1.24. I Don't Expect Normalcy (with Liz Warren)

Explicit content warning

06/09/20 • 31 min

Today's episode is an early interview with Summer and Liz Warren. Liz and Summer collaborate regularly at South Mountain Community College. Listen to them talk through the initial shock of the rapid move to online teaching and telecommuting.
Liz Warren is the founding director of the Storytelling Institute, the first program in the country to offer an academic certificate in Storytelling. She is a co-founder of the South Phoenix Oral History Project.
This is an early interview, one that is a conversation between two women who are first starting to talk through the realities of teaching and meeting online, while missing each other and their communities. They discuss their personal and professional worries along with little victories. They also think through the logistics of the upcoming interviews and the potential for a nationally-reaching podcast.
The title of this episode nods to Liz's critique of our question about "normalcy." It's a thoughtful and meaningful consideration of how we regard routines, and how we view a future return to life as normal. Her point has stuck with us since the conversation in March.
Show notes:

Liz Warren performs often with the Arizona Storytellers Project. In March, the Storytellers Project launched a national live from home showcase, featuring Liz. See her tell here.
Follow Liz's blog at Tell Me Something Good.
Liz is the author of The Oral Tradition Today.
Liz quotes "London Rain" by Louis MacNeice.
Connect with Liz at [email protected].
Follow the Storytelling Institute on Facebook.

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Why is it called More and More Every Day? Click here to read our first More and More post. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @smcchistory
Interview Date: 3/26/20

Liz Warren performs often with the Arizona Storytellers Project. In March, the Storytellers Project launched a national live from home showcase, featuring Liz. See her tell here.
Follow Liz's blog at Tell Me Something Good.
Liz is the author of The Oral Tradition Today.
Liz quotes "London Rain" by Louis MacNeice.
Connect with Liz at [email protected].
Follow the Storytelling Institute on Facebook.

Previous Episode

1.23. It's Not the Great Equalizer (with Dr. Jean Beaman)

Dr. Jean Beaman called in to talk about the realities of living through history and societal change. She discusses the racial and social realities of COVID19, and dispels the notion that the pandemic is the "great equalizer." She also considers the spring 2020 protests regarding the death of George Floyd, and how they are connected to the coronavirus.
Dr. Beaman is Assistant Professor of Sociology at University of California, Santa Barbara. She is the author of Citizen Outsider: Children of North African Immigrants in France.
To read Dr. Beaman's profile, take a look at our daily blog at https://southphoenixoralhistory.com/more-and-more-every-day/
Show notes:

Drs. Beaman and Cherland discuss the writing of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jacquelyn Dowd Hall.
In her mention of "Radical Empathy," Dr. Beaman makes use of Nicole Van Cleve's theories.
Take a look at Dr. Beaman's mini-lecture, "Why Black America" for MonitorRacism Magazine.
Connect with Dr. Beaman on Twitter @Jean23Bean

Next Episode

1.25. A Better Normal (with Chandra)

Today's episode is a conversation with Chandra, a recent graduate from South Mountain Community College. After a lot of hard work, Chandra was gearing up for a well-deserved commencement celebration. But when the graduation ceremony was cancelled in Spring 2020, Chandra was disappointed.
During the quarantine, however, Chandra is maintaining high spirits by focusing on her faith. She's a mom of three kids, two who are learning online, just like her. She's found a lot of joy in spending time with her children, and deepening her relationship with God.
Show notes:

Chandra quoted scripture: Psalm 46:1: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Chandra's essay, "My Children Will See Me Walk" was published at southphoenixoralhistory.com on June 16, 2020.
Chandra "walked" in our virtual graduation episode on June 13th, 2020! Way to go, Chandra! She's the first in her family to graduate with an A.A.