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This week, America passed the grisly milestone of 300,000 dead from COVID-19. With the first vaccines being televised as being given to VP Mike Pence and others, only 50% of Americans and just 25% of African American males are committed to getting the jab. Dr DeHart gives us some insights into why so many Americans - particularly minorities - are against getting the vaccine, and the grim truth of trying to protect her community from a rampaging virus. We discuss: The Tuskegee Experiment and why African Americans have a legitimate fear of government injections ICE detainees being forced to have hysterectomies . We are immensely grateful to Dr DeHart for not only her huge contribution and sacrifice in helping people in her community, but also for her time in joining us on Greenland and sharing her candid feelings about what is happening. It's grim but with people like Dr DeHart on the frontline, there is hope! 

We are delighted to welcome Madam Secretary and former Secretary of Labor in Kansas, Delia Garcia to Greenland. Madam Secretary is in Texas on the eve of the US Presidential Election, where voters are lining up for up to 11 hours to cast their vote in an election that is already breaking records for voter participation.The Latino vote is shaping up to be a critical factor in this election and we get the lowdown on why that is, and how you keep people wanting to keep lining up for more than 11 hours! We also take audience questions - thanks to listener Jensen for the great ones! 

Donald and Diana are joined by special guest, Judge Phillip Journey, a Republican  running for re-election for the Division 1 judge of the Kansas Eighteenth Judicial District. Phil is also a board member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), which boasts 5 million members and is arguably the most potent activist organisation in the US. In this episode, we chat to Phil about:- the politicisation of judicial appointments in the US - why Americans won't lay down their guns as Australians did after the Port Arthur massacre- his view of the nation's priorities in the wake of the 2020 Presidential Election, no matter who wins.We're incredibly grateful to have Phil share his candid insights with us on Greenland (and some tips for buddying sports gun enthusiasts). Links to some of the things we discussed: Hacking Your Mind TV series FiveThirtyEight 270toWinReal Clear Politics Further reading: Politicization of the Federal Judicial Selection article by P. Journey   

It's been a hectic week in the US, with the grisly milestone of 200,000 American deaths from COVID-19, the Great Debate that wasn't between Trump and Biden, and finally news that the President himself, together with the First Lady and members of the Republican campaign inner circle tested positive to the virus. Donald and Diana tiptoe through the mud to try to make some sense of it (and offer a controversial, unfounded but maybe possibly true theory about that awks exchange between Melania Trump and her husband at the end of the debate. 

Over the last two weeks, we've borne witness to two very different conventions  - the Democratic National Convention - heavy on the heart strings, celebrities and motherhood statements in place of specific policies. Next up, the Republication Convention - loads of Trumps, 'don't mention The War/aka virus' and animated pitches from Trump's offspring and their sometimes outlandish partners. And the RNC happened right in the midst of yet another brutal assault by police on an unarmed African American man, Jacob Blake, shot seven times in the back, in front of his children. We talk about Donald and Diana's reactions to watching the first ever virtual conventions, and what's at stake. 

Joe Biden is keeping us all in suspense about his choice of running mate, ahead of the Democratic National Convention on 17-20 August 2020. This episode we look at the mooted frontrunners and hear Donald's wildcard tip for who it may be.  

On 25 May 2020, 46-year-old George Floyd died while in police custody. He was handcuffed, pinned down by three police officers, one of whom used his knee to restrain George Floyd face down on the ground. Struggling to breathe, George told the officer he couldn't breathe. His pleas, together with those of bystanders went ignored by the officer, who callously kept his knee pressed on George Floyd until (and beyond) he took his last breath. The footage is abhorrent. What's worse is that this is not the first time such as act has been perpetrated by police officers - those who have sworn to preserve and protect life.   Donald and Diana reflect on George Floyd's death and why we can't look away from it. 

When Trump moved into the White House in 2016, he replaced  one of the great orators in American modern history, Barack Obama. Trump communicates like no other President ever has, or ever will again. We talk to a 25-year veteran of the speechwriting profession and director of the Professional Speechwriters Association, David Murray, about  what's changed for speechwriters now, why the way we talk to each other - at work, at home and in politics - needs to change.  David is a highly respected veteran of the speechwriting profession. He's the founder of Pro Rhetoric, an organisation that publishes Vital Speeches of the Day Magazine, oversees the Cicero Speechwriting Awards and convenes the Professional Speechwriters Association and the Executive Communication Council. As well as the World Conference of the PSA held annually in Washington, David convened the inaugural Asia-Pacific PSA Conference in Sydney 2019, with another scheduled for 2022 (was supposed to be 2021, but...virus).  If you'd like to join or want to learn more about it, check it out. It's a fantastic network of professional communicators from all over the globe, with lots of great tools and content to access. Some of the things we chat about in the episode: Death of 25-year-old African American Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia on 23 February 2020 Bobby Kennedy's speech informing an African American audience about the death of Martin Luther King Fred Rogers' speech during an appearance before the US Senate seeking funding for national public TV for children. Australian speechwriter and author, Lucinda Holdforth An American Prayer: In conversation with my dead father by David Murray  More about our guest, David Murray David co-wrote the New York Times-bestselling memoir Tell My Sons (Random House, 2013) and Raised By Mad Men, a memoir about his parents' careers in 1960s advertising business. He’s written for The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, the Chicago Tribune to name just a few. His new book, An Effort to Understand will be published in early 2021. It's a non fiction book about how to hear more clearly and speak more truly to rebuild relationships in your family, your workplace, your community and your society. 

Is life in America what we dream it to be sometimes here in Australia? In this episode, Donald and Diana invite special guest, Inna Tysrlin to share her perspectives after eight years living in the US.  Inna spent her first four years living and working in New York City, and the rest of the time living and studying in rural Appalachia. She's worked in corporate America and recently finished graduate school in Ohio, studying playwriting. She's gone from the New York hustle to living in one of the most economically challenged parts of the country.  What a ride! Inna takes us on a realistic look at life in rural America and how she feels being back in Australia during a global pandemic. About Inna TsyrlinInna is a highly talented dramatist and content creator who followed her dreams to the US and returned to Australia on advice of the Australian Government during Convid-19 (and pretty much because if she got sick in the US without healthcare, she'd be in a rather precarious position). She has written numerous plays and you can check out her work here. We're thrilled to have her on as our guest and to welcome her to the Greenland family!  

In this episode, we're delighted to be joined by Ryan Mickler, who gives us the goss on Bernie Sanders' campaign, why he hasn't yet dropped out of the race and how his chances are being impacted by the Coronavirus. Thanks to Ryan for being a good sport about being asked if he's a 'Bernie Bro". And we're excited to take our first 'call' from a Greenland listener in our audience segment! Here's some links to things we talked about in this episode: Article in The Age 6 March 2020, Meet the MelBerniens spruiking Bernie Sanders from half a world awayPat McAfee watches AFL (Australian Rules  Football) for the first time and we love his reaction! Sadly, he only got to watch Round 1 before the Coronavirus kicked in.  You can follow him here @PatMcAfeeShow.

As the whole world grapples with the Convid-19/Coronavirus pandemic, Donald and Diana bunker down in separate locations to bring you our Greenland-by-remote-location episode! We talk how our lives have been impacted by the shutdowns necessary to contain the virus and discuss the US response briefly. We have an informal chat about what's going on in these crazy times. Forgive us for our less-than-pristine audio - like all of us, we're adapting to a new environment and quickly learning how to play with our new podcasting toys, away from the sanctuary of our previous recording studio! Gonna take a little while to perfect things, but thanks for sticking with us. We'd love for you to get in touch with us and let us know how you're finding it (the podcast, the world, anything!).   

About Paul Cenoz, President, NAALAPaul is a practising lawyer admitted in California and Victoria, and focuses on matters concerning technology and media. Prior to practicing in Australia, he co-founded a digital market research and media company in Washington, DC.About Cindy Bors, Vice President, NAALACindy is an insurance and product liability lawyer at DLA Piper. She also provides pro bono legal assistance to Youthlaw’s Legal Pod Program and the Northern Community Legal Centre. Prior to commencing her legal career, Cindy was a Proprietary Equity Trader in New York.About NAALA NAALA is an organisation that exists to facilitate professional activities that advance the law, education, business and society. It promotes cultural harmony and diversity through community, mentorship and the exchange of ideas. Contrary to what its name may suggest, you don't have to be from North America or Australia to join as a member and you don't even need to be a lawyer! If you're interested in joining a thriving community that is motivated to use its collective brain power to positively impact society, come along to one of the sessions or consider joining. Read all about it here and find out what's involved.     

As a member of Democrats Abroad, Donald Betts Jr is appearing on a panel, Melbourne Global Presidential Primary 2020 on 7 March. If you're in Melbourne and would like to cast your vote (if you're American) in the Democratic Primary, this is your chance! Get along to listen to a lively debate from all corners of the political spectrum - all welcome. Event details here: https://www.democratsabroad.org/kristenjane11/melbourne_global_presidential_primary_2020_tw1dqh_ag18khkydofu9ma 

In the aftermath of the devastating bushfires in Australia in the 2019/20 summer, there's been a lot of finger-pointing and hand-wringing about the cause of the fires and how best to manage the land to avoid such a horrific loss of life, livestock, land and wildlife in the future. Climate change, land management and hazard reduction practices are in the spotlight. We're delighted to have as our special guest, Victor Steffensen, an Indigenous land management expert who has studied and recorded the cultural and ecological knowledge of his people. Victor has a hopeful message and seeks a collaborative approach from all members of the community to heal the land and learn from the mistakes of the past.  About our guest, Victor Steffensen Victor has just published a book, Fire Country.He also appeared on SBS's Insight program and the ABC's Q&A in February 2020 calling on the Australian Government to listen to Indigenous fire practitioners. About Fire Country Delving deep into the Australian landscape and the environmental challenges we face, Fire Country is a powerful account from Indigenous land management expert Victor Steffensen on how the revival of cultural burning practices, and improved 'reading' of country, could help to restore our land.From a young age, Victor has had a passion for traditional cultural and ecological knowledge. This was further developed after meeting two Elders, who were to become his mentors and teach him the importance of cultural burning. Developed over many generations, this knowledge shows clearly that Australia actually needs fire. Moreover, fire is an important part of a wholistic approach to the environment, and when burning is done in a carefully considered manner, this ensures proper land care and healing.Victor's story is unassuming and honest, while demonstrating the incredibly sophisticated and complex cultural knowledge that has been passed down to him, which he wants to share with others. Fire Country is written in a way that reflects the nature of yarning, and while some of the knowledge shared in this book may not align with Western views, there is much evidence that, if adopted, it could greatly benefit all Australians.For every copy sold, Hardie Grant will donate $1 to Firesticks, which empowers Indigenous fire management practitioners to revive cultural burning.  

It's been a big couple of weeks in politics in the US. There's beenTrump's State of the Union address and his 'Oprah Moment' as Donald puts it. He's survived an Impeachment and emerged triumphant from the ordeal. And there was the shamozzle that was the Iowa Caucus, where an app that appears to be Shadow by name and shady by naturepretty much screwed any chance of a victor being crowned in time to take advantage of the news cycle. Depending on if you're a glass half full or empty person, it was either the Bernie Blackout machine in full spin cycle, or simply a display of a quaint but outdated and unrepresentative caucus process in a blindingly white state that no-one really pays much attention to in terms of results. Hmmm... Our special guest is Kevin Myles from the NAACP -  the biggest civil rights organisation in the US, which has a history of supporting people of all colours and creeds to overcome oppression at the local level for more than 100 years. Kevin doesn't hold back on giving us his take on the current state of play in American politics and the moment and why the work of committed volunteers staffing his organisation in every community across the country is more important than ever. Despite Donald's valiant attempts, he won't give up his preferred candidate for the Democratic Party, but he's on a mission to ensure that votes of all colours and persuasions are motivated and mobilised to participate in this year's election. In an exciting twist, his Mensa membership (exceptionally high IQ) bestows Greenland with its first-ever 'cuss' word, which is both absolutely thrilling and also mildly terrifying, as in, do we need to tick the 'explicit content' warning box for this episode? Goshdarnit Kevin! Jim from the States also wrote in with a question for our 'Mail segment'. It's one for Diana this time, wanting to know what the hell 'freelance writer' means, which is something Diana has been trying to work out herself for approximately 15 years...Diana’s published articles in The Australian, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC online can mostly be found here.She also founded and is director of Resonance Communications, which provides strategic and creative communication services to clients in the government, corporate and non-profit sectors.About our special guest, Kevin Myles Kevin currently serves as the Southeast Regional Field Director for the NAACP, providing training, guidance, and assistance to more than 600 active units throughout the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. During his tenure on the National Staff, Kevin has also served as the Mid-Western Regional Field Director, and a term as the Interim National Field Director. As a member of the National Field Team, Kevin has played an integral role in the development and execution of several National campaigns for justice, including the campaigns for Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, National and State level ‘Stand Your Ground’ Legislative reform efforts, the March on Washington, and the 1,002 mile America’s Journey for Justice march for Voting Rights, to name a few. Prior to joining the National Staff, Kevin served as President of the Kansas State Conference of the NAACP, and served 9 years as the President of the Wichita Branch NAACP where he was the recipient of 8 National Thalheimer Awards for outstanding NAACP unit activity. He has also served as a member of the NAACP’s National Leadership 500 Planning Committee, and as a member of the NAACP’s National Political and Legislative Action Committee.In addition to his work with the NAACP, Kevin is an active member of the American Mensa high IQ society. Kevin served 5 terms as President of the Wichita Kansas Chapter of Mensa, served as a Regional Director for American Mensa, and as a member of the American Mensa National Board of Directors.Described by the late Dr. Ron Walters as “one of the finest of minds and the worthiest of efforts to continue the struggle for justice in ways that are consistent with the challenges, the demands, and the tools of this century”, Kevin has spoken nationally and internationally on the issues of leadership and civil/human rights advocacy.As mentioned in the episode, Kevin Myles is THE go-to person for civil rights advocacy and a skilled grassroots campaign strategist. He is available for international consulting for any organisations seeking to improve their capability in these areas. Get in touch with him via LinkedIn or Twitter @kevinmyles for more information. Or contact us and we'll put you in touch. 

Each February marks Black History Month in the US. Other countries, including Canada, the Netherlands and Ireland now also observe it. In essence, the month is about celebrating and recognising the contributions of African Americans throughout history. In schools and other learning institutions, students participate in a range of essay and oration competitions, put on plays and otherwise take part in activities designed to illuminate the advances made in society due to the contribution of black Americans.Some dissenters (including high profile people such as Morgan Freeman) argue that why should black history be confined to a month? They contend that black history is American history. A full transcript of the episode is available (check the 'transcript' link).Although we don't officially observe Black History Month in Australia, Mark gives us some great ideas for how we can all learn more about African American history and culture, and why it's so important that we do.About our guest, Mark McCormickMark McCormick is executive director of the Kansas African American Museum in Wichita and a New York Times best-selling author with 20 years of journalism experience as a reporter, editor and columnist. He serves as a trustee on the William Allen White Foundation at KU School of Journalism and has been a professional in residence at the University of Oklahoma.In 2015, he co-wrote African Americans of Wichita with Arcadia publishing. In 2017, Mark published Some Were Paupers, Some Were Kings: Dispatches from Kansas.In April 2018, Mark joined the ACLU of Kansas as the Director of Strategic Communications. Previously, he served as the Executive Director of the Kansas African American Museum in Wichita, Kansas.He is the proud recipient of over 20 industry and community awards, including three gold medals from the Kansas City Press Club.Links to resources talked about in this episode (good to start with these if you want to bone up on your African American history):The 1619 Project by The New York Times Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W Loewen Dissent in Witchita by Dr Gretchen Eick Autobiography of Malcolm XThe African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality by Cheikh Anta Diop, Mercer Cook  Parting the Waters: Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement 1954-63 by Taylor Branch The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks (good family read) A Hungry Heart (a Memoir) by Gordon Parks A Choice of Weapons by Gordon Parks 

To an outsider, the Democratic caucus process seems pretty foreign. Donald gives us the inside scoop on what actually happens (hint: it's very similar to being in elementary/primary school and choosing a team to be on!).  If you have any questions about the process (or anything Greenland-related) get in touch with us at hello@greenlandthepodcast.com. We'd love to hear from you!  

Everything Diana knows about American football (aka gridiron) she learnt from watching Friday Night Lights and highlights of Tom Brady playing in the Super Bowl. Ok just Tom Brady generally let's be honest. But in the spirit of our cross-cultural knowledge odyssey, we spend time chatting with Coach Phil Keys - a man who Donald regards as family for the integral part he played in mentoring, guiding and teaching Donald the finer points of the game and more importantly, what it means to share triumphs, losses and overcoming challenges with a team. Coach Keys is an esteemed teacher and former head coach at Friends University and a Kansas City Chiefs fan to the core. He chats about the origins of Super Bowl, the 54th Super Bowl between his beloved Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers,  how Americans like to mark it (hint: it's more than a one-day affair) and why football brings people together. 

The eloquent and encyclopaedic Gideon Haigh joins Diana and Donald to chat all things cricket. We learn about when and why cricket started in Australia, its greasy foothold in America and its unabating grip within the Indian sub continent.Gideon reads a passage from his profile on Shane Warne featured in The Monthly in September 2005 ('Beach Boy'), which preceded a legendary Test match that summer and Gideon's book, On Warne.We cover a lot of ground (sorry) in this special Christmas edition of Greenland, in which we zero in on one of the great Australian pastimes - playing or watching cricket. The Boxing Day Test is one of the fixtures on our national sporting calendar, played on the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).Links to some stuff we refer to/further reading:The enduring legacy of Phillip Hughes, article in The Australian by Gideon Haigh, 27 November 2019. This is a stunning reflection on a post-Hughes cricket world.Gideon Haigh's most recent book, This is How I Will Strangle You is out now. It examines the tortuous experience of Natasa Christidou who was sexually abused by her father.If (like Diana) you can't get enough of Gideon's writing, here's a link to all of his published work and website so you can devour it there.  A word about our cover art Australia is currently experiencing raging bushfires across New South Wales and Queensland. Our fire brigades and volunteers have been absolutely stretched to the hilt and our whole community is trying to support them. A small way we're helping out at Greenland is to use this epic photo taken by John Donegan as our promo artwork for this episode on social channels. All proceeds of the sale of the photo are being donated to the NSW Rural Fire Service. It's a beautiful photo that captures the spirit of our firefighters and the role of cricket in Australian life - in good and tough times. If you'd to purchase the photo (and support the NSW Rural Fire Service)  you can do so here for A$55.        

We give you the goss on who's hot and who's not in the current race to be the Democratic nominee for the 2020 US Presidential Election. It's a Game of Thrones-esque adventure as the largest and most diverse candidate pool in US election history is whittled down to a still large contender race. What will it take to come out victorious? What is the appeal of each of the main candidates, and why have some, like Kamala Harris, dropped out? There's quite a few to get through and a lot of names, so we've given each of the main ones a moniker to help you remember which one's which: 'Mayor' Pete Buttigieg - because he is one (of South Bend Indiana) Joe Biden Mr Dependable with Baggage - seen it, done it, got the T-shirt from the Obama years (and tried to be President a few times previously). Elizabeth 'I've Gotta Plan' Warren - got a plan for everything - from selfie line-ups at her Conventions (think Ellen on steroids) to healthcare 'everyone gets a prize' reform Bernie Sanders The Guy the Young People Love' aka 'The Democratic Socialist - he's a 40-year veteran of politics who's wants to dismantle capitalist America  Amy Klobachar - Smart Chick Who Gets Stuff Done But Nobody Sort of Cares - once voted the most likely to be the first female US President, but starting to fade Tulsi Gabbard ' The Military Woman'- shaking off some of her controversies (once voting down same-sex marriage, going to meet Syrian 'bad guy' Bashar al-Assad which was almost universally frowned upon). She's polling low but got more than her share of the limelight thanks to Hilary Clinton referring to her as a Russian plant. Isn't everyone these days?  Andrew Yang - The Tech Guy. Hasn't got a hope in hell but raises some quirky and throught-provoking ideas. May be confusing the Democratic primaries with a TED Talk pitch, but we kinda dig him. Corey Booker The Righteous Man/'He's dead to me'. Diana thought he was alright, but then Donald told a story about how he pretty much dissed his chances of running for Congress, so he's Not Worthy. Links to some of the stuff we talk about: 'Mayor Pete's' book, The Shortest Way Home - Diana hasn't finished it yet, but it's a good read so far. The controversy (which is swirling through the current Trump Impeachment circus) around Joe Biden's cocaine-sniffing son Hunter getting $50k/month to be on the board of a Ukrainian company, Burisma. Andrew Yang's book, The War on Normal People, in which he talks about disruptive technology (AI, automation etc) being the biggest threat to our society. The Jimmy Dore Show - the episode featuring Tulsi Gabbard. Jimmy Dore has a YouTube and podcast show from American comedian Jimmy Dore. It's funny and thought-provoking. The 'phone calls' (from famous people but impersonated by incredibly good comedians) are often absolutely hilarious and worth the price of admission alone.