Perspectives with Condace Pressley

As America marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, there’s celebration, reflection, and for many people, some difficult questions. Who gets included in the American story? Have we lived up to the promises written into our founding documents? And is patriotism something to reclaim, redefine or reject? My guest today says the American Revolution isn’t just history ... i...

We have two very special conversations to share. First, as we move toward Independence Day and America’s 250th birthday celebration, we’re revisiting one of the most quoted—and perhaps least understood—documents in our nation’s history. You know the words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident…” But what did the authors of the Declaration of Independence actually mean? What promises did the doc...

Summer is supposed to be the season of escape — vacations, family road trips, reunions and making memories. But for many people, getting away can bring something unexpected: stress, overwhelm and anxiety. From crowded airports and delayed flights to fear of flying, overpacked itineraries and financial pressure, travel can trigger emotions that make it hard to relax at all. Today we’re talking abou...

A wedding lasts a day. A marriage, if we’re fortunate, lasts a lifetime. But somewhere between the flowers, the first dance, the seating charts and the perfectly posed photos… there are stories guests never see. Quiet moments. Big emotions. Family dynamics. Last-minute saves. Unexpected tears. And sometimes, lessons about love that have nothing to do with centerpieces. My guest today is Jade Lason...

There are movies we watch… and then there are stories that stay with us. For more than two decades, audiences have laughed with them, argued about them, rooted for them, and maybe even seen pieces of themselves in them. The friendships, the romance, the ambition, the mistakes, and the complicated, beautiful work of growing up and growing older. From the original film to television and now into a b...

Today we’re talking about food, culture, community, and a creative new way to experience Atlanta. Two sisters have turned a love for storytelling and dining into something interactive and intentional. Their company, Clues & Culture, takes guests on a self-guided culinary journey through Atlanta neighborhoods, using curated clues to lead people to Black-owned restaurants and hidden gems across the...

Imagine walking away from a marriage with less than twenty dollars in your pocket and somehow finding the courage to rebuild not just your finances, but your entire identity. My guest today did exactly that. Lainika E. Johnson turned one of the lowest moments of her life into the foundation for a thriving business in an industry where few expected her to succeed. Today, she’s recognized as a leade...

It’s a decision that takes just minutes, but has the power to save and transform lives for years to come. Across Georgia, thousands of people are waiting for a second chance, for healing, for hope. And that hope often begins with a simple “yes” to organ, tissue, and eye donation. But for many, questions remain. What does it really mean to be a donor? Who does it help? And why is the need so urgent...

Sometimes the most powerful stories begin with a simple question: Who are you, and where have you been? For journalist Melanie D.G. Kaplan, that question came after adopting her beagle, Hammy a gentle dog who had spent nearly four years inside a research laboratory. What started as curiosity about one dog’s past quickly opened the door to a much larger and more complicated world one where millions...

It’s decision season for thousands of students and families across our community. The acceptance letters are in… the choices are narrowing… and now comes the question that can feel just as overwhelming as getting in—how do we pay for college? For many families, the process is filled with emotion, pressure, and uncertainty. Do you choose the dream school? The affordable one? And is there a way to d...

A growing number of Americans are turning to artificial intelligence for health advice some for convenience, others because they feel they have no better option. But a new national poll reveals many are relying on these tools without ever seeking professional care. Today, we’re talking with board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Teejay Tripp about the promise, the risks, and what you need to know to pro...

There are some stories that entertain and then there are stories that ask something of us. What happens when faith is tested by unimaginable loss? When identity is reshaped by survival? And when two communities each marked by deep historical pain find connection in the most unexpected way? Today, we’re talking about a novel that lives in those questions. The Last Dekrepitzer by Howard Langer. This...

Think back for a moment to middle school that in-between space where you’re trying to figure out who you are, where you belong, and why it can sometimes feel like everyone else got a guidebook you didn’t. For many of us, those feelings don’t just disappear—they grow up with us. My guest has taken those tender, awkward, and deeply human moments and turned them into something both funny and profound...

You know, some of the most powerful leadership training in this country didn’t happen in a boardroom… it happened in the Black church. From leading choirs to organizing communities, from speaking in front of a congregation to learning how to bring people together — generations of leaders have been shaped in those spaces, often long before they ever held a formal title. Well, my guest today has wri...

American higher education is at a crossroads. Colleges and universities are facing enormous pressures from shifting demographics and rising costs to political scrutiny, artificial intelligence, and questions about the real value of a degree. So what happens next? My guest today says the moment we’re in is not just a crisis it’s an opportunity. Arthur Levine, president of Brandeis University and co...

Today on Perspectives, we’re exploring a quiet but profound shift happening in American life. Nearly one in four U.S. adults — more than 50 million people — do not have children. Yet our financial systems, estate laws, and even our expectations around aging still assume that adult children will eventually step in to help make decisions or provide care. So what happens when that assumption doesn’t...

Dementia is a word that touches more families than many of us realize. Behind the diagnosis are real people — parents, spouses, friends — and caregivers trying to navigate an often overwhelming journey. Next week in Roswell, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring dignity and purpose for older adults is bringing together national experts and local leaders for an important conversation about care, innov...

March is National Nutrition Month, and with spring break right around the corner, many of us are thinking about resetting our routines—maybe getting a little more rest, getting outside more, and hopefully making healthier choices when it comes to what we eat. But here’s a statistic that may surprise you. According to the UnitedHealth Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings Report, only 7.4 percent...

You’ve probably heard the phrase “your health is your wealth.” But for many people in the Black community, achieving and maintaining good health can come with unique challenges. From higher rates of chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, to disparities in access to care and preventative screenings, the reality is that health outcomes are not always equal. That’s why conversations aroun...

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Perspectives highlights a powerful gathering of women leaders working to uplift and empower communities across DeKalb County. Host Condace Pressley sits down with Carla Morrison, CEO of Chit Chat Communications and producer of the 15th Annual Women’s History Month Celebration; wellness expert Rev. Theresa Waters-Dunston; and Clarkston Mayor Beverly Burks. T...

It is a fund raising event and tons of fun for Atlanta and the Georgia State University Community. Go Dancing with the Panthers on Monday, March 2, 2026, 6:30pm at the Rialto Center for the Arts. The event will bring together the schools most beloved faculty, staff, alumni, students and athletic leaders for a dazzling dance competition. There are even local celebrities and community leaders acting...

On the program today, an introduction to a new author. This is a gripping story about secrets, loyalty and consequences. Lori Miller Kase joins Perspectives to discuss her debut novel, The Accident. It is a psychological thriller set in a seemingly quiet Connecticut town. The story unravels after a popular high school football player is killed in a hit and run accident. What follows is a suspensef...

The Black Health Matters Expo and Summit returns to Atlanta on Saturday, February 21, 2026. The event moves this year to Atlanta's Friendship Baptist Church. It is a day of health education, free screenings, movement and connection. Rosalyn Young Daniels, the expo's founder and CEO joins Perspectives to talk about what attendees can expect and experience.

Few artistic institutions carry the weight of history, excellence, and cultural truth quite like the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. For more than six decades, Ailey has told our stories—stories of struggle and triumph, sorrow and joy—through movement that speaks when words fall short. Today, I’m joined by a woman who understands that legacy not just as a scholar and leader, but as a steward o...

If you made a New Year’s resolution to eat better, feel better, or take better care of yourself—and you’ve already slipped—you’re not alone. In fact, January 9th has earned the nickname “Quitter’s Day,” when many people quietly give up on the goals they set just days earlier. But what if the problem isn’t discipline—what if it’s trying to change everything at once? My guest today believes better h...