Ryan and guest Emma read the self-published children's book "Healthy Holly: A Healthy Start for Herbie" and discuss how this deranged, unreadable, and sometimes offensive book led to the resignation and imprisonment of the Mayor of Baltimore. Picture evidence here: https://bit.ly/2X1IOPt --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

Ryan and Mississippi-native Caroline talk about misconceptions about the South, Debutante culture, losing her home in Hurricane Katrina, and changing her accent while living in the North, then discuss an interview with a Northerner-turned-Southerner and Dean of the Ole Miss Law School. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

Ryan and travel companion Michael rehash the story of how they were nearly drugged, kidnapped, and murdered in the town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico by serial killer accomplices and discuss the nefarious local Toy Box Killer who murdered 69 people and whose legacy lives on. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

Ryan and Penny Rosfjord - fmr. chair of the Woodbury County Democratic Party and Iowa State Central Committee member -  discuss the importance of the Iowa Caucus to train both candidates and organizers, then listen to interviews with a community organizer protesting the construction of a polluting insulation factory in Jefferson County and the Mayor of Wheeling, Glenn Elliott. Learn more about the fight against Rockwool here: https://bit.ly/2VIVxWy --- Send in a voice message:...

Ryan talks with actress Maddie Weinstein about how COVID will change theatre/film, The Bachelor, and our own political narratives, then discuss interviews with Harrison Center for the Arts founder Joanna Taft, Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, and Anne Surak from Exhibit Columbus. You can check out Maddie's work in "Beach Rats" on Hulu and "Alex Strangelove" on Netflix. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

Ryan and guest Juan talk about the crisis in Juan's home country of Venezuela, the corruption of the government, and the political implications of the word socialism, then listen to interviews with a 2016 presidential candidate and the former Inspector General of the Dept. of the Interior.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

Ryan and writer/comedian Alex Heller discuss her American/Norweigan marriage, the cultural/economic differences between the two countries, and the merits and failings of higher education, then listen to interviews with residents of the Earthhaven mountain commune, the president of High Point University, and the Mayor of Winston-Salem. Follow Alex's hilarious meme page: @thementallytrillest  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

Samantha Allen - author of "Real Queer America: LGBT Stories From Red States" - joins to discuss her road trip to visit queer communities in conservative towns across America, Trump's transgender military ban, and her relationship with the Mormon Church, then we listen to an interview about the state of LGBTQ rights at Ouachita Baptist University. You Should See the Other Guy: https://open.spotify.com/show/7wraGTXGhRKrcDk3Ns0Y4C --- Send in a voice message:...

With 13 days before the Iowa Caucus, Ryan drives to Lamoni, Iowa (pop. 2,324) and knocks on doors to ask residents everything you've ever wanted to know about the caucus process, who they're supporting, and who might prevail in the 2020 Iowa Caucuses.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

From Oxford, Ryan and Nacho a.k.a. "Doctor of Penguins" talk about life in Antarctica, stories of expeditions gone wrong, how climate change is hurting penguins, and how our consumer culture is negatively affecting our environment.  Check out the VERY therapeutic penguin-labeling here: Penguinwatch.org. Ready to jumpstart your business with a new teammate? Get $10 off your first apprentice with GenM at this link: https://genm.grsm.io/ryanbernsten9274 --- Send in a voice message:...

In a special episode, hear about the upcoming "50 States of Mind" book that inspired the podcast and listen to the prologue chapter about a Hillary rally gone wrong 13 days before the 2016 election.  Ready to jumpstart your business with a new teammate? Get $10 off your first apprentice with GenM at this link: https://genm.grsm.io/ryanbernsten9274 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

From Kansas City, Ryan talks to presidential candidate Seth Mouton about his role as the only combat veteran in the Democratic primary, what's driving him crazy about the 2020 race so far, and his work co-hosting a TV program talking to Iraqi people on the ground during his four tours overseas. Ready to jumpstart your business with a new teammate? Get $10 off of your first apprentice with GenM at this link: https://genm.grsm.io/ryanbernsten9274 --- Send in a voice message:...

From Oxford, Ryan and guest Nancy talk about Nancy's hometown of Glasgow, gun violence in America versus "a doin'" in Scotland, how Nancy charmed a man who threatened to shoot her tires on a visit to Detroit, and whether Trump will be reelected in 2020,  before listening to interviews with a waitress from the Upper Peninsula, a performing arts teacher/talent developer in East Lansing, and the first Muslim-American candidate for Governor Abdul El-Sayed in Ann Arbor. Ready to jumpstart your...

From Oxford, Ryan and guest Alex talk about Alex's work with the Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda, the need to view local knowledge as expert knowledge, and ISIS in East Africa, before listening to an interview with a former maximum security prisoner turned community organizer in Racine and learning about Appleton City Hall's unusual way of communicating with the community. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

From Oxford, Ryan and guests Christina and Esame discuss their respective homes of Greece and Nigeria, talk a little about American accents, and debate the grey areas of global climate change politics, before listening to an interview with former New Jersey Governor and E.P.A. Head Christine Todd Whitman about current Republican politics.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

Ryan speaks to a panel of Oxford students and faculty about major takeaways from traveling through all 50 states and steps we can take to increase listening in our own communities.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

From Oxford, Ryan and guest Logan discuss Logan's childhood in South Africa, how America can learn from the aftermath of a populist president, and one Delaware community's struggle for a new library, before listening to an interview with the head librarian of the Dover Public Library about the changing purpose of libraries from book institutions to community centers.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/50-states-of-mind/message

From Oxford, Ryan and guest Maddie discuss Maddie's move from Cameroon to Brighton, Cameroon's language civil war, "good woke" versus "bad woke", and a Christian interpretation of choice before listening to interviews in Erie with two McDonald's workers about voting rights and a fisherman about the word "deplorable", before traveling to Philly to listen to an Uber driver witnessing the opioid crisis and a tour guide at a "living" cemetery. --- Send in a voice message:...