San Jose's Skateboarding Scene

Gun Violence, Advocacy, and You

"We shouldn't have to live like this, and we don't have to die like this." On the show's longest episode to date, Rahul is joined by Mariya Hodge, a volunteer from Moms Demand Action, to discuss the show's most serious topic yet: gun violence in our communities. The two provide an emotional and data-driven breakdown of the problems facing the American public, from mass shootings and suicides to federal assault weapon bans and the problematic gun lobby in our government. Everytown: www.everytown.org [https://www.everytown.org/?source=ggnp_br&refcode=ggnp_br_donate_broad&utm_medium=p&utm_campaign=br&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23017859488&gclid=CjwKCAjwmNLHBhA4EiwA3ts3mcTmBfVt8souThisTjc_8VPyHM_WCaFdQZgZBtl45Z53HWFczlNFLhoCvNIQAvD_BwE] Moms Demand Action: https://momsdemandaction.org [https://momsdemandaction.org] Students Demand Action: https://studentsdemandaction.org [https://studentsdemandaction.org] If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a related crisis, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 now.

San Jose's Skateboarding Scene

In part two of his interview with Wheelbite Skateshop owner Andy Alvarez and local skateboarder Jonny Baker, Rahul dives deeper into the politics of the San Jose skateboarding scene, breaking down the persisting cultural significance of San Jose and California as a whole to a culture that is rapidly globalizing, as well as analyzing the city's response to skateboarders and their exploits throughout San Jose's famous skate spots.

Skateboarding, Stigmas, and Small Businesses

"We're human beings, just like everyone else." In the first half of this two-part interview, Rahul dives into the San Jose skateboarding scene, talking with Andy Alvarez, the owner of Wheelbite Skateshop in Downtown SJ, and LA film student Jonny Baker, a local skater from East Side San Jose. The three delve into the passion many locals have for their sport and the ins and outs of running a skateshop. Poser culture, harmful stereotypes, psychological and social benefits for at-risk youth, and local policies are all topics of discussion this week, showing that for some, skateboarding is more than just four wheels and a wooden plank.

Tackling the Homelessness Crisis

Exploring the prevalence of homelessness here in the Bay Area and the rampant criminalization of poverty, Rahul is joined by Kelly Vazquez, the Chief Operating Officer at HomeFirst, a local nonprofit dedicated to fighting homelessness by providing service and aid to families in crisis across Santa Clara and Sonoma County. In the episode, the two discuss the work HomeFirst does for the community, the root causes of homelessness, the history of policies impacting social work, and the unfair legal frameworks many homeless people face today.

Feminism and Pop Culture

On this week's episode, Rahul is joined by Santa Clara University's Dr. Mukta Sharangpani, a feminist scholar, for a discussion on the impact of feminism on today's media. From literature to video games, the two analyze how women are portrayed in both Western and South Asian media, breaking down the debate over "woke" characters, the evolution of female archetypes, and the writing of inclusive stories in the modern world.