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Jessica and Kyler spending an evening chatting about what they’ve learned and heard from their friends and colleagues regarding impeachment.

Please help Jessica fundraise for her new podcast Electoral Elementary.  It is a narrative kids podcast that explores simple civics lessons through storytelling and song.  Starting Feb 2020, listeners will be able to follow Gloria Martinez, a proactive and meticulous 5th grader, as she runs and takes hold of her new leadership role in the tangled world of student government.  Please spread the word and fund us here, www.indiegogo.com (search Electoral Elementary)  or https://igg.me/at/ee-civcsed/x/14583658#/

Kyler and Jessica wrap-up their discussion on the state of education.  They debate the struggle public education has with funding and privatization.  The two educator’s they spoke to came from very different schools, but it seems the obstacles in front of them were all too similar.

Jessica meets up with Aurora Mireles, an elementary school teacher in East Los Angeles.  She reflects on that rainy week in January when over 30,000 LAUSD teachers went on strike.  Ms. Mireles explains the bigger systemic problems hurting public education beyond teacher’s salaries: segregation, poverty, safety and lack of funding for fundamental services.

We are back with Season 2!  This series of episodes will look into some of the topics that the Democratic Primary candidates have brought up while stumping around the country.  First up, education and teacher pay. Kyler discusses the state of education with the Principal Ronna Cochran of Sargent High School north of Monte Vista, Colorado.  Ms. Cochran shares her experience teaching in a small school system for more than 20 years.  Although she acknowledges their resources are limited, she works hard to provide new ways to enhance her students’ school experience.

Kyler and Jessica discuss the anxieties and higher calling both their interviewees invoked when they spoke of their positions within the federal government.  Did the president learn anything about using these positions as bargaining chips in his border wall negotiation?  And will they have to talk about this all over again if he decides it is worth another shutdown?

Jessica sits down with a friend who works for the coast guard.  He talks about life during the government shutdown and how missing a few paychecks affected him and his colleagues.  Together they debate whether using federal workers as a bargaining chip paid off politically for the leadership or just damaged the country’s faith in it.

The government is shut down, so Kyler talks with a friend in the parks service about her experience being a furloughed federal worker.  They explore how the shutdown is bigger than just the 800,000 not getting a paycheck.  And if there are any signs the government will reopen soon.

Jessica and Kyler review what they learned from their discussions on race in the US.  They conclude that the more people leave themselves open to uncomfortable moments the more progress our culture could find when it comes to bias and discrimination.  This most likely won’t be the last time this topic comes up on the pod and that’s perhaps a good thing.  Hopefully, the news will continue to push us to have more conversations about race/ethnicity and what it means to be a citizen of the United States.

Kyler sits down with Luis and Samantha Escobedo to talk about their experience as a mixed-race married couple.  Luis was born in Mexico and came to Colorado with his family at eight years old.  Sam was born and raised in southern Colorado.  They explain how their cultural differences have informed them as adults and what they teach their children.

Kyler and Jessica chat about the 2018 mid-term election results and those still being tallied.

A wonderful group of women, from varying backgrounds, sit down with Jessica to discuss what it is like being a person of color in Los Angeles and how they plan to talk to their children about race in the US.  Please join Raniyah Copeland, Maria Alex Cobian Alvarado, Shima Razavi Gacek, and Elizabeth Ito talk honestly about their worries regarding divisive speech that now litters the news and political rhetoric. The second part of this series will include Kyler's discussion with folks in rural Colorado.

Kyler and Jessica sit and discuss Trump's rallying cries, political ads, coverage, and late breaking news could affect the election.  They will be back after all the results are in to rehash takeaways and surprises from the "most" important election of our time.

Jessica and Kyler recap his interview with Jim Ehrlich and discuss the impending 200 billion dollar tariff Trump adds on Chinese goods. They wonder if there will be any winners when the war comes to a close. Kyler also throws in some new observations from his fellow farmers after a trip to Washington, DC. where he joined them to lobby for changes to the new Farm Bill.

Kyler shares a thoughtful discussion with Jim Ehrlich, Executive Director, of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee about the new tariffs being imposed on our trade partners by the Trump administration.  They speak at length about the purpose of tariffs and how the tricks of trade have rippling effects throughout the world.  Mr. Ehrlich does a wonderful job of breaking down a topic that can be only described as confusing to the average American.

Jessica and Kyler welcome a special guest to recap their interviews regarding mental health. Their mother, Beth Brown, had a long career in the mental health field and offered a valued take on the topic.  Beth helped establish a rehab facility in Saint Louis, MO for adults with severe mental illness named Independence Center.  The conversation is a nice overview of an issue that doesn't get a lot of money or discussion although mental illness does touch most American families today.

Kyler interviews Clay Hamilton, a local machinist, whose family owns a farm in southern Colorado.  Clay's father, a farmer, took his own life after suffering from depression for many years. Unfortunately, statistics are showing that this is a common story in rural America.  Kyler and Clay hit on a few reasons why suicide rates are highest amongst farmers than any other occupation.    

Jessica starts off the series on Mental Illness with an interview with, Lauren Turner, a psychiatric social worker for the Department of Mental Health in Los Angeles County.  The two discuss services available for youth suffering from severe mental health issues and what obstacles they encounter coming out of a system that provides more assistance for kids than young adults. They also speak on how an urban environment can directly affect one's mental health. The interview was conducted on the phone so we apologize for the poor quality. Kyler picks up the next episode after investigating how rural Colorado is looking to help an increase of farmers looking for mental health services.

The interviewer becomes the interviewee.  Kyler askes Jessica what life is like in a big metropolitan area, especially one as spread out as Los Angeles.  They discuss a variety of topics; from raising kids to safety and diversity. Jessica follows up with Kyler about a couple of things regarding technology and WiFi. Next month, we'll be back talking about a current topic.

Jessica and Kyler turn on each other... well to interview.  This month we try something different.  Kyler's busy schedule has opened an opportunity for the siblings to interview each other about their respective lifestyles.  In part one, Jessica asks Kyler what is like to live in the country?  Where do you buy clothes? How do your kids trick-r-treat?  What are the benefits and challenges of living in a small community? Next time the tables will turn and Jessica will speak on living in a large city.