[Un]phased Unedited Podcast

In this week's episode, the Drs explore the idea of "sampling" original ideas but using them to make a point out of context. This can be used as a weapon or an effective political tool, and the ethics of intent continue to be queried. Next up, they discuss social media use as an accountability tool. This includes public callouts — cheaters, rac*sts, other -ists — white men’s provocation...

This week, we discuss Suzan-Lori Park's play-within-a-play, “Sally & Tom” before we segue into the latest regarding SCOTUS decisions on immigration, asylum, and green card protections. We start with the Word of the Week, micro-boycotting, which is a great way to have agency when it feels that there are no options for you as a consumer. Then we move into the stage play that queries the complex...

In today’s episode, Shaunna and Lisa reflect on the weight of June anniversaries — Pulse Nightclub (6/12) and the Emanuel 9 (6/17) — as well as the meaning of Juneteenth (6/19) in a moment that also saw the opening of the Obama Presidential Center (OPC).  Then, the green algae of the Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC is more than just a chemistry project gone wrong. They discuss the politics...

The Drs. open this week's episode hot and unapologetic: a gender-reveal smoke bomb turned into a months-long inferno, a firefighter lost his life, and three companies suddenly write checks for more than $4 million. Then they pivot to the political tightrope -- authenticity vs. electability -- and ask whether moderates who vote with the sketchy are doing the right thing in the moment. Listen in for...

In this episode, Dr. Shaunna and Dr. Lisa examine language in a new way. First, they look at Elsa Mehary's provocative Instagram reel regarding what it means to be a polymath —someone with a wide range of knowledge or learning—and ask a provocative question: Are you a polymath, or just Black? It's always a good time to examine what’s celebrated as “genius” in one space that may be dismissed as “su...

Before your listen, take your SAT... S poiler Alert: If you plan to see  The Odyssey this podcast has spoilers. A lert: This episode mentions how control manifests in faith communities T hink: Hopefully, this episode will make you think!   This week, we have a thoughtful, sometimes funny, but always honest conversation about why we believe what we believe — and who gets to tell us what’s...

Before your listen, take your SAT... S poiler Alert: If you plan to see  Michael,  the movie, this podcast has several spoilers. A lert: This episode mentions a high-profile legal case. All acts are alleged while the case is pending.  conten T Warning: We also discuss various forms of abuse.  Although several movies and mini-series have come before, we were excit...

In this week's episode, the hosts touch on the notion of jawboning as a means of political coercion and the Obama Presidential Center - the 8-story, 225-foot-tall museum tower designed for community in ways that the other presidential centers have not accomplished. Lastly, the Drs deep dive into the theory of colorblindness using the Voting Rights Act as a backdrop. It can make intuitive sense to...

In yet another week of U.S. damage reporting, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Shaunna discuss the recent gutting of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. First, we talk about the appropriately timed colloquialism, "86". Then Justice Kagan gives a scathing dissent to the 6-3 SCOTUS decision in Louisiana v. Callais that effectively signs off on the disenfranchisement of Black citizens through recent nationwide battl...

In this episode, we explore the concept of "collective effervescence" -- the shared emotional release people feel during major moments -- using the splashdown of Artemis II, religious worship, and sports as examples. Then we turn to youth sports and the growing cost barriers. Despite the collective cheers, dads have holes in their shoes and moms are wearing the same bras they wore during the first...

As a prelude to National Small Business Week, Dr. Lisa puts Dr. Shaunna in the hot seat. We know that U.S. entrepreneurs and small business owners make major contributions to local economy and beyond, yet we rarely take stock of the additional challenges for women and people of color as entrepreneurs. In this unique episode, we take the time to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Gold Enterpris...

This week, we have a tight, candid conversation about the Superwoman Syndrome, the Strong Black Woman Schema and Actively Black, as well as medical speech and the Supreme Court. Ahhh, some Black women are not here for the perennial weight of being superwomen, strong, or magical! We discuss the wildly popular athleisure clothing brand "Actively Black" and address a split opinion for...

In this episode, we start with the Word of the Week: Toxic Productivity and how it fuels (see what we did there?) workplace burnout through the American grind culture. Then we discuss the Artemis II mission, especially how it's equally awe-inspiring and anxiety-inducing. (Challenger kids, unite!). Finally, we discuss System 1 and System 2 thinking, including who's most vulnerable to scam...

In this episode, we explore how attempting to quell some voices simply amplifies them. We start from Amanda Montell's book,  Cultish (2021)  and the world of thought‑terminating clichés. T hese are catchy, seemingly harmless phrases that shut down curiosity, silence, dissent, and discourage deeper critical thinking. We also investigate the role of satire as...

This week, the Drs review major "a ha" moments from the Mather Institute's Gen X report -- what it reveals about workplace loneliness, generational expectations, and AI usage. Then, they pivot to the ongoing culture war fallout: DOGE bros deposition, the growing precarity of violence against women services, and the U.S. withholding a U.N. vote to support women.   Mentioned in the show TH...

Many call for us to meet in the middle, but that's a tough ask. In this week's episode, the Drs. tackle the distinction between Persian vs. Arab and the problematic "Middle East" phrasing. They then move on to the Target boycott that rages on despite a male declaration that accomplishing 3 of 4 goals is enough. Lastly, a recent NYT Op Ed queries whether American politics can ever meet in the...

This episode reviews the legal fight between Anthropic and the Pentagon. Then we take a quick detour through the LA Marathon controversy -- all against the backdrop of the war, conflict, military exercises (or whatever you want to call it) that rages on. Anthropic's insistence on red lines forced a confrontation that blends legal, ethical, commercial, and national-security stakes. The juxtapo...

Ambiguous grief is the quiet ache that has no funeral, no casserole, no tidy closure—missing someone who’s still breathing but feels like a stranger at the Thanksgiving table. But how does it show up when you miss an entire country's past or potential? In this episode, the Drs hold this grief with care, and then they pivot to lighter, sharper cultural critique with a retro recap of...

Channeling the spirit of Mr. Rogers, this episode discusses three moments that reveal how we show up as neighbors. We start with Adam Serwer’s new framing of “neighborism,” the Twin Cities’ ethic of protecting neighbors regardless of origin, and what that stance teaches organizers about solidarity and civic courage. Then we turn to a fraught media moment at the BAFTAs where an audible racial...

This episode explores what it means to refuse compliance -- from a Ukrainian Olympian disqualified for honoring fallen compatriots to America's growing unease with #AI. The Drs. look at the IOC's crackdown on athlete expression, the politics of memory, and why conscientious objection still matters far beyond the battlefield. Then, they discuss AI's rapid expansion, the lack of guardrails (pun inte...

Disgust isn't a strong enough word to describe what we saw come out of the White House during the first week of Black History Month. This week, the Drs provide the history of ape imagery and how this adds to the list of rac*st behavior by 45/47. They also circle back to the SAVE Act which grapples AGAIN with voter access and rules regarding ID that affect Americans on the margins. Oh, and they WON...

This week is a sharp look at the rise of the "reactionary centrist" -- folks who drift from the left toward the political center while loudly critiquing the left and quietly validating right-wing narratives. As we attempt to avoid the echo chambers that all forms of media help to create, how often do we intentionally engage with ideas that challenge our values regardless of one's political leaning...

Tuck the kids away and listen to this one with adults only! Ahhh, it is p*rn, but it isn't exactly what you think. This week, we have a sharp, curious conversation about beauty standards through looksmaxxing, self-designed learning through personal curricula, and competency p*rn as a reprieve from the real world. Watch The Pitt, The Diplomat, Abbott Elementary, or the new Matlock? There may b...

Referring back to Havel's 1978 essay, "The Power of the Powerless," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's World Economic Forum remarks explore how individual integrity and institutional honesty shape global power in the face of hegemons. (Don't worry, we'll define hegemons for you!). Carney used a surgical approach in advocating for moral courage. Small acts of non-participation in false rituals c...

Processing the loss of Renee Good was so important that we settled on a one-phase episode. From the *cold* impact on immigration policy (read between the lines, ya'll!) to the true cost of allyship, Renee's story overlaps with this year's MLK Week, leaving us with important lessons on grace and kindness, even in her last moments. Word of the Week: Humanophile Phase 1: Renee Good in Minneapolis Res...