In this episode of If Not Us, we sit down with Philip Rutherford of Faces & Voices of Recovery. Faces & Voices is dedicated to organizing and mobilizing the over 23 million Americans in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, families, friends, and allies into recovery community organizations and networks to promote the right and resources to recover through advocacy, education and demonstrating the power and proof of long-term recovery. We talk about what recovery looks like in the US and who gets it right.

In this episode of Uniquely American Problems we’re covering the topic of medical debt. Who has it, why is it an issue, and what can we do about it? Folks in the US owe around $195 billion in medical debt. 16 million people have over $1,000 in medical debt and 3 million people owe over $10,000 in medical debt. I know that’s a lot of numbers - just know it’s a big group of people that owe a decent chunk of change. While we hear in the episode this kind of debt is treated differently than say an overdue credit card, it still is a burden that can negatively impact a variety of other financial decisions. In this episode, we chat with Jack Daily, Attorney for the Legal Aid Society of San Diego to see how he and his team tackle the issue day in and day out.

In this episode of Uniquely American Problems we’re covering the hot topic of Misinformation with John Silva, Senior Director of Professional and Community Learning, from the News Literacy Project. The News Literacy Project, is a nonpartisan education nonprofit, is building a national movement to advance the practice of news literacy throughout American society, creating better informed, more engaged and more empowered individuals — and ultimately a stronger democracy. We talked about the goals of misinformation, how it hooks you and how just about everyone is susceptible in falling for a false claim. We also talked about how to navigate the holidays if you’re spending time with someone who regularly shares false narratives on social media - and fun fact - that plan doesn’t include confronting them at the dinner table.

In our second episode of Uniquely American Problems, we’ll share a chat with Lily Milwit, Attorney for the Housing Not Handcuffs initiative from the National Homelessness Law Center. The National Homelessness Law Center is dedicated to using the power of the law to end and prevent homelessness and to protect the rights of people experiencing homelessness. We talked about the assumptions people have about being unhoused and what’s at risk when you don’t have permanent shelter. We also talk about the cost to the taxpayers when someone is unhoused - not to spoil the episode, but housing folks actually saves taxpayers money - and not just a few bucks, but tens of thousands of dollars year over year.

In the first episode of our new season, Uniquely American Problem, we’re talking to Laura Hartley, Founder and CEO of Public Love Enterprises on how yoga, a mug of tea, and a mid-day walk won’t dismantle the internalized capitalism we’re all fighting against day in and day out. Laura is an activist, writer and coach. She’s also the founder of Public Love Enterprises and Public LovEd, a school committed to helping changemakers unlearn and dismantle systems that inhibit our thriving, while visioning and seeding a more just, regenerative and loving world. Website: https://www.laurahartley.com

After a small break, we are back! We will be bringing you our next season of episodes, Uniquely American. 

In this episode, Sarah chats with Tuere Butler, Director of Operations at Plywood People about her time working with the late Representative John Lewis, and how to balance a life of service.

In this episode, Sarah chats with Adam Podowitz-Thomas, Senior Legal Strategist for the Princeton Gerrymandering Project about the 2020 Census, the new maps it lead to and who counts in this upcoming election cycle.

Eve Crevoshay joined Take This as Executive Director in 2018. She is a 15-year veteran of the nonprofit sector, with a focus on fundraising and executing strategy. Her background spans education, social services, and the arts, and she is committed to identifying and enabling systemic change. Eve is a member of the advisory boards for GDC (in the advocacy track), the Fair Play Alliance, The Games and Online Harassment Hotline (gameshotline.org), and The International Game Summit on Mental Health (TIGS.ca); and is the recipient of the inaugural GamesBeat Up and Comer award (2020). She’s also a yogini, avid gardener and cook, and gamer. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband, daughter, and dog.

In this episode, Sarah chats with the team behind the show Intersection about gentrification - the good, the bad, and the ugly and how the team made it all come together in a wonderful dark comedy.