Caitlin Clark, a rising star in women's basketball, embodies the fierce determination and talent that define the sport. Caitlin represents the pinnacle of athletic achievement as a standout player for the Iowa Hawkeyes and the top pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. In the context of race, Caitlin's success shines a light on the systemic inequalities that persist in sports, with many black athletes lamenting the unprecedented praise and attention being heaped upon her. Despite her undeniable skill, she faces barriers rooted in gender and race that impact opportunities and recognition. These disparities extend to the pay gap in women's sports, where WNBA players earn significantly less than their male counterparts in the NBA. Caitlin's emergence underscores the urgent need for change, not only in leveling the playing field for female athletes but also in addressing broader societal inequities that affect women of all backgrounds. Tune in today as we discuss Caitlin Clark, race, and pay equity on NEXT2.0.

Dr. Michelle LeBaron is bringing together insights from Neuroscience, the Arts, and Conflict Resolution studies to create new ways of helping individuals and communities to work toward reconciliation and building better lives and communities. On this episode of Next 2.0 Dr. LeBaron will share some of those insights. Chuck Cammarata interviewed Dr. LeBaron while at an inspiring conference in Asheville NC in March 2024. Michelle LeBaron is a Law Professor at the University of British Columbia and is an internationally recognized interdisciplinary scholar on conflict transformation, the arts, and resilience. Her current research is on two main areas: conflict across religious and worldview differences, and the role of the arts in developing stories and practices that promote reconciliation. She has written a bunch of books – “The Choreography of Resolution” (a great title BTW!) is the latest I think it is fair to call her a cultural bridge builder and I was enlightened and inspired by my conversation with her. If you want to contact her you can email her at the university. Her email is lebaron@allard.ubc.ca . And you can find her books on Amazon.com

In today's episode, we're taking a journey through the highlights of past episodes, revisiting the most intriguing discussions, groundbreaking insights, and memorable moments that stood out to us.

In recent months, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs has faced several legal battles, with lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and trafficking. As a result of the "alleged" activity, homes belonging to Sean "Diddy" Combs in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by officials from US Homeland Security on Monday, 25 March. The raids were reportedly tied to sex-trafficking allegations leveled by different plaintiffs, the Associated Press reported, citing law enforcement sources. Months ago, NEXT discussed the legal complaint filed by R&B artist Cassie and wondered aloud if this would turn into a criminal complaint. This episode continues that conversation with an analysis of the raid. Tap in!

For the past decade, Dr. Julia Robinson Moore has been researching and uncovering the truth about burial grounds for enslaved people in churches and communities in and around here home in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Moore is an ordained Presbyterian pastor and as she traveled around preaching at various churches she noticed something about the cemeteries that are on the church grounds of so many churches. What she noticed was that the cemeteries had two distinct sections, one that was manicured and well maintained with beautiful stones and gardens where the white people were buried, and the other, which was largely unmaintained, overgrown and had fallen into disuse. These were the graves of slaves. As a tactic for reclaiming dignity and bringing together those whose ancestors were slave owners and those who were slaves she has begun working with churches to restore the slave cemeteries. She says that this work of hers is about building communities committed to truth telling and healing and racial justice and reconciliation. Julia is an ordained Presbyterian minister and an Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at UNC Charlotte where she teaches courses in African American religion and racial violence in America among other things. She is the author of "Race, Religion, and the Pulpit... You will find her to be a gracious and gentle soul who is doing important work. It is rare to find a person who embodies as much beauty and dignity as Dr. Moore. If you want to find out more about her work you can contact her at through the University at email: https://religiousstudies.charlotte.edu/directory/julia-robinson-moore-dr-rob

Life is heavy these days – complicated and contentious and lots of us are struggling with simple things like – how do we talk to people – often people we love – who are on the other side of some of the most important issues of our time. Author and activist Gareth Higgins is our guest today. Gareth was born in Belfast in 1975, grew up during a time of violent conflict in northern Ireland. He writes and speaks about the power of storytelling to shape our lives and world, to bring peace and make justice, and how to take life seriously without believing your own propaganda. He has been involved in peace-building and violence reduction in northern Ireland by helping the residents of Northern Ireland address the legacy of conflict that drove the violence. Gareth owns a Ph.D. in Sociology from Queen’s University Belfast, and helped teach the world’s first graduate course in Reconciliation Studies at Trinity College Dublin. He also helped found the Wild Goose, New Story and Movies & Meaning festivals. He leads retreats in North America and Ireland; and he founded The Porch Magazine. To learn more about Gareth and his work go to https://www.garethhiggins.net/about

Donald Trump's history of offensive language toward Black people is deeply troubling and has sparked widespread condemnation. From referring to African nations as "s***hole countries" to repeatedly attacking Black public figures with derogatory terms, such as calling Congresswoman Maxine Waters "low IQ" and labeling athletes who protested racial injustice as "sons of B’s," Trump's rhetoric has been divisive and harmful. His recent language on the campaign trail has particularly troubled many voters. Marcus uses some of these comments as a prelude to next week’s Trump-Biden rhetorical analysis. Tune in for a humorous yet cautionary commentary on some of these comments.

The Katt Williams interview with Shannon Sharpe garnered widespread attention and a large viewership for several compelling reasons. Katt Williams is known for his unfiltered and outspoken nature, making the interview highly anticipated by fans eager to hear his unapologetic insights about the industry and some of its most successful comedians. The interview became a must-watch due to the fusion of two distinct personalities, the promise of candid discussions, and the potential for unexpected revelations. Was it journalism did Sharp simply provide a platform for Katt to “Spill the tea?” You be the judge. Marcus and guest host Marc Blount unpack the interview on today’s episode of NEXT 2.0.

Christian nationalism poses significant dangers as it intertwines religious fervor with political ideology, potentially undermining the principles of religious freedom, pluralism, and democratic governance. By conflating religious beliefs with national identity and policy objectives, it can lead to the marginalization of minority groups, the erosion of civil liberties, and the exclusion of diverse voices within society. Moreover, it often promotes an exclusivist worldview, fostering intolerance towards those who do not adhere to the brand of Christianity espoused by its proponents. In this episode, we’re joined by Chuck Nelson, Pastor at The Cross in Erie, and member of Erie City Council, and Drew Himes, Pastor at COTC, Adjunct Prof at Gannon U, Psychotherapist & EMS Instructor at Butler County Community College. Co-host Chuck Cammarata leads this fascinating discussion on what this is and where it’s headed.

When we talk about black history, one of the things that we forget is we are all living history, so we want to highlight those people that are laboring in our community. They are serving the community, especially with our young people and with our economic circumstances. The work continues and we want to shine the light on that a little bit today, so to that we’ve got three very special guests that are doing their fair share to leave Erie better than how they found it. Joining Marcus Atkinson in this episode of NEXT 2.0 is Bishop Frank Quinn, Mr. Jason Roberts, and Mr. Edison Nicholson.