Across America today it is impossible to escape our current, often times very heated, discussion about the police. In some communities there are protests against and calls to defund the police. Other communities offer overwhelming support of their police and are pleased with their local police departments. Often, we do not have the opportunity to have a real conversation with a police officer about their views and opinions. Even rarer, I would guess, would be the opportunity to discuss policing with a 33 year veteran of law enforcement who offers a unique prospective. Today we are having a conversation with, Major David Hughes the Professional Standards Bureau Chief for The Newport News VA Sheriff’s Office since 2014.

In today’s polarized world the welcome mat has turned into a worn out welcome for too many. Right now it seems it is very important to recalibrate and remind ourselves of our common humanity and bonds. To do so with humility and humor is an added benefit, and to translate our common humanity into music we can enjoy, relate to, and understand well that is an incredible talent. The warmth of welcoming is needed today more than ever, a conversation with country artist Jenny Tolman – Welcome to the Purple Conversation!

Scientific studies have shown that music can provide a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, stress, anxiety and depression reduction, positive boost to energy & self-esteem, elevation of mood and improvement in quality of life. We really do not need scientific studies to prove the power of music, do we? Today we talk with professional violinist Kimberly Hope and she surprises us with playing one of her original songs “Shine”. Join us in having a Purple Conversation!

In this episode we explore a recent letter appeared on Harpers online website July 7, titled "A Letter on Justice and Open Debate." Our nation is indeed in a moment of intense debate and dialogue expressing itself in a variety of ways, with a needed focus on racial justice, police reform and inclusion. This heated moment has sharpened the trend toward silencing, shaming and canceling. Join us in having a conversation about the free expression of ideas.

The Emancipation Memorial – should it stay, be taken down, or can history and Fredrick Douglass provide a path forward? A conversation with Dr. Jonathan White. When considering statues, memorials, and history itself there are typically multiple layers of meaning or interpretation. As we continue our national conversation on statues, and even the core history and founders of our country, it is important to give consideration to the time and culture when those moments occurred. Today on The Purple Conversation we have a conversation with Dr. Jonathan White. Dr. Jonathan White is associate professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University. He is the author or editor of 10 books, including Emancipation, the Union Army, and the Reelection of Abraham Lincoln. He serves as vice chair of The Lincoln Forum, and on the boards of the Abraham Lincoln Association & the Abraham Lincoln Institute. His most recent books include Midnight in America: Darkness, Sleep, and Dreams during the Civil War, and “Our Little Monitor”: The Greatest Invention of the Civil War, which he co-authored with Anna Gibson Holloway. – Together let's have a Purple Conversation.

According to 2019 data there were around 3.9 million students that graduated with a college degree in the United States. Among the degrees earned, around 989,000 were associate’s degrees and 1.9 million were bachelor's degrees. The transition from college graduate, to job seeking candidate is interesting to say the least...the joy of a diploma and a major accomplishment soon gives way to writing a resume, networking and all the excitement that job interviews offer. 3.9 million stories and here is an inspiring one!

Echo chambers…are you in one and can you break out – An Interview with Dr. Patrick Casey.

Urban flight is taking place for various reasons and the result may have a major impact.

Bipartisanship actually occurs with the Great American Outdoors Act, which will provide billions for national parks - welcome to The Purple Conversation!

On the surface a tweet about somebody liking a type of pizza would be trivial at best and not demand any of our attention. However, the twitter exchange we are about to discuss provides some daylight on the ridiculous state of our political discourse and an all-too-familiar tactic that’s becoming to commonplace.