The Night Light with Joshua Johnson

Turn on the TV, and you’ll find plenty of signs that our democracy may be pulling apart. This week I see a very different sign of that: not on the channels, but in the lineup. Football season started this weekend, but a lot of folks cannot watch ESPN right now. It’s the latest sign that our complex lineup of apps and services might be falling apart. I’ll share my thoughts on what that might tell u...

I believe that we can shape democracy for the better. But this week, I had a deep crisis of faith. Democracy is about finding common ground to solve common problems. That’s hard to do when we view each other as a problem, and ourselves as the solution. I vented about this in a (https://www.nightlightshow.com/p/from-the-heart-im-worried-as-hell?r=2b74t6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web)recent artic...

It’s going to take everyone to fight climate change, but they’re not showing up if all they hear is doom and gloom. Fortunately, there are better ways of discussing climate... and everything else. Meet an expert who empowers climate scientists with an unlikely skill – improv. OUR GUEST: Josh Rice (https://aldacenter.org/about/_bios-faculty/rice.php), Lecturer, Alan Alda Center for Communicating Sc...

It’s going to take everyone to fight climate change, but they’re not showing up if all they hear is doom and gloom. Fortunately, there are better ways of discussing climate... and everything else. Meet an expert who empowers climate scientists with an unlikely skill – improv. OUR GUEST: Josh Rice (https://aldacenter.org/about/_bios-faculty/rice.php), Lecturer, Alan Alda Center for Communicating Sc...

A viral video shows a group of white men in Montgomery, AL attacking a Black dock worker. Then, the men got beaten up by Black onlookers. A phrase kept coming up in the online comments – “try THAT in a small town!”. That's the name of country star Jason Aldean’s latest hit. Critics call the tune xenophobic and threatening. We’ll get some context on the song from Ole Miss Prof. Adam Gussow, a schol...

This week I’m breaking down the "Barbie" movie (WITH SPOILERS!). Surprisingly, there’s much more to it than most of us expected. Barbie is about a children’s toy, but it’s not really a children’s movie. No wonder a lot of critics didn’t get it (https://www.wsj.com/articles/barbie-review-margot-robbie-greta-gerwig-ryan-gosling-mattel-256b6688), or want it (https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/barbie-revie...

In this episode we answer your questions about the US Supreme Court with Linda Sheryl Greene (https://www.law.msu.edu/faculty_staff/profile.php?prof=1140), dean of the Michigan State University College of Law. We talk about a number of big cases involving turning down LGBTQ business for religious reasons, factoring race into college admissions, canceling student loan debt and keeping federal water...

I recently got hit on by a straight guy online. That was surprising enough, since I’m gay… but on top of that, he was offering me money to make a sex tape with him for an OnlyFans site. Obviously I turned him down, but believe it or not the encounter dovetailed with a recent ruling from the US Supreme Court… and with a controversy affecting Bud Light. Liked this episode? Show your support as A PAI...

The recent Joe Rogan controversy sparked debates on the value of debating, especially when conspiracy theories are involved. Rogan and Spotify have faced criticism for hosting problematic guests like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Their conversation included claims about vaccines that were fact-checked by vaccine scientist Dr. Peter Hotez. Rogan challenged Hotez to a debate, offering $100,000 as an incent...

Things may look dark in America, but a new day will come. Until it does, let's defy the darkness and shine wherever we are. Joshua Johnson hosts a new show for anyone who's ready to help light the way.