In the summer of 2020, Beacon experienced protests down Main Street in the name of Black lives for several weekends in a row, followed by educational experiences, usually in Memorial Park. Supported by businesses down Main Street with signs in windows and staff and owners standing outside with fists raised, a young Beaconite Justice McCray led a drumbeat to break the silent segregation that has blanketed this nation since the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Justice is not alone - an organic grouping of people called Beacon4Black Lives formed, grew, spread out, and defined their purpose in changing the community to be safer and more comfortable for Black and Brown's people living with white neighbors who historically have made the rules. This episode explores what inspires Justice and where he sees his work going. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/waitwhatisthat/message

Police reform and reflection is on the minds of everyone, including children. One example of confronting police influence is in children’s programming. For a minute, the long-loved cartoon Paw Patrol, which is a show that follows a boy named Ryder and a crew of pups who go on rescue missions in the community, was rumored to be canceled when police programming such as “Cops” was actually deemed to go off the air. The rumor was so strong, that even President Trump himself thought Paw Patrol was going off the air, and had his press secretary Kayleigh McEnany lament it at a press conference (USA Today had to correct her and his false statements). Hearing the mis-information back in Beacon, 8-year-old Cole Martin fact checked the White House, and found that USA Today and many other newspapers also fact checked the president to correct him and Kayleigh, proving that Paw Patrol was in fact on the air, and thriving. Brandon and Katie sit down with Cole Mitchell Martin, who is Katie’s son, to discover: Why he loves Paw Patrol. Cole’s true feelings about Optimum now that the cable and WIFI go out all the time. Cole’s true feelings about Remote Learning, that he felt “pain” when Optimum kept going out, and how he hopes to return to the classroom. What Cole notices about YouTube shows he follows. Get into the mind of an 8-year-old these days, to see how this one approaches everyday things. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/waitwhatisthat/message

Ali T. Muhammad was born and raised in Beacon, NY, walking every day down a literal pathway between prison and public school, as his home was on the grounds. Brandon and Katie catch up with Ali to hear about his perspective and experience with Black Lives Matter protests and experience sessions throughout the Hudson Valley. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/waitwhatisthat/message

Segueing into a different city department now, we interview Reuben Simmons, who is involved in community outreach and programming in Beacon, and worked his way up to being promoted as Beacon’s Highway Superintendent, until he wasn’t. His is the only job demotion you might see in LinkedIn. We look into why, what happened, and what is currently happening. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/waitwhatisthat/message

BAM. Our next interview was with current Mayor Lee Kyriacou. During Randy’s interview, and during the 1st biggest BLM protest in Beacon, we learned that Lee spearheaded the look-see into Beacon’s Police Department in the early 2000s, which resulted in a federal investigation. We wanted to learn more about that. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/waitwhatisthat/message

Well HELLO. Our first interview is with the former Mayor of Beacon for 2 terms: Randy Casale. A born and bred Beaconite who knows everything about everything Beacon. Everything. Go Listen --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/waitwhatisthat/message

Have you ever noticed that house on the corner of Cross Street that is a storefront window? Brandon remembers when it was a deli and he went there daily on his way to and from the old Beacon High School. This picture is unrelated but will do for now. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/waitwhatisthat/message

Brandon and Katie record their first podcast. Not sure what they were going to talk about. And then Brandon brought the Brooklyn Donuts. Which are from Connecticut. And go… --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/waitwhatisthat/message