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Upstream Downstream

Upstream Downstream

By Stubblefield Institute

A Lively, Civil Discussion About Today’s Politics, presented by the Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications at Shepherd University in cooperation with WSHC-FM (89.7) The Stubblefield Institute, on behalf of its “ListenLearnEngage Initiative,” will produce a podcast program devoted to the discussion of critical political, policy, and cultural topics that often divide our nation.
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Social Media and Politics

Upstream DownstreamOct 23, 2021

00:00
29:55
The Opioid Crisis

The Opioid Crisis

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 26 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with Bianca Ison is Dr. Emily Einstein. Emily Einstein, the Branch Chief of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Science Policy branch. The two discuss when the opioid crisis started, why the cases of overdoses rise, and what is being done to help combat this crisis.

We would like to thank our guest Emily Einstein for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Apr 09, 202219:58
News Literacy Project

News Literacy Project

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 25 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with Bianca Ison is Elizabeth Price. Elizabeth Price, who is the Manager of Professional Learning at The News Literacy Project. for the News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan national education nonprofit based out of Washington, DC, that provides resources for educators and the public to teach, learn and share the abilities needed to be smart, active consumers of news and information and engaged participants in a democracy.

We would like to thank our guest Elizabeth Price for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Apr 02, 202229:59
Women in Politics

Women in Politics

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 24 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with  Bianca Ison is Daryl Glenny. Daryl is a seasoned public affairs consultant who has provided strategic advice and persuasive communication materials to more than 400 candidate and referendum campaigns for the past 47 years. Since the 1970s, she has designed and facilitated political education programs for women through organizations that included the National Women’s Education Fund, the YWCA of the USA, Business and Professional Women USA, the Women’s Campaign Fund and the Association of Junior Leagues. She’ll also be teaching a class here at Shepherd University, Putting Women in Their Place:  Politics and Power.

We would like to thank our guest Daryl Glenny for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Mar 12, 202229:13
Engaging in Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Styles

Engaging in Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Styles

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 23 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with Bianca Ison is Amy Hampton. Amy is an associate professor of social work at Shepherd University and has a background in psychology, criminal justice, and social work. The two sit down to discuss emotional intelligence and how we can create and navigate conflict through understanding what conflict style we may have. 

We would like to thank our guest Amy Hampton for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Mar 05, 202229:15
Statehood for DC

Statehood for DC

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 22 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with  Bianca Ison is Patrice Snow. Patrice serves as the Director of Communications for DC Vote, an organization working to bring equality and representation to the near seven-hundred-thousand people who call Washington, DC home.

We would like to thank our guest Patrice Snow for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Feb 26, 202224:28
The Housing Crisis

The Housing Crisis

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 21 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with Bianca Ison is Natalia Siniavskaia. She is the Assistant Vice President for Housing Policy Research for the National Association of Homebuilders. Before being promoted to Assistant Vice President, she worked at NAHB as a Senior Housing Policy Economist.

We would like to thank our guest Natalia Siniavskaia for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Feb 19, 202220:53
Teaching American History

Teaching American History

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 20 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with Bianca Ison is Jonathan Butcher and Chris Doyle. Jonathan is the Will Skillman Fellow of Education at The Heritage Foundation, and author of the book Splintered: Critical Race Theory and the Progressive War on Truth. Chris teaches history at Avon Old Farm School in Avon, Connecticut. Before that, he served as the Director of Global Studies at the Watkinson School in Hartford and as an adjunct history professor at Trinity College.

We would like to thank our guests Jonathan Butcher and Chris Doyle for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Feb 05, 202228:37
The Case Against COVID Relief Funding

The Case Against COVID Relief Funding

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 19 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with  Bianca Ison is Rachel Greszler. She is a Research Fellow in Economics, Budget, and Entitlements at The Heritage Foundation. The two sit down to discuss the negative implications of COVID relief funding and the economical outcomes from these types of funds. 

We would like to thank our guest Rachel Greszler for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Jan 29, 202223:32
Omicron

Omicron

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 18 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with  Bianca Ison is Dr. Clay Marsh. He is the vice president and executive dean for health sciences at West Virginia University, a member of the board of WVU Medicine, and has served under Governor Jim Justice as the West Virginia COVID Czar. Today he and Bianca will be discussing the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, the state of hospitals today, and the potential future of this pandemic.

We would like to thank our guest Dr. Clay Marsh for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Jan 22, 202229:44
Democrats for Life of America

Democrats for Life of America

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 17 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with Bianca Ison is Jessica Meeth. She is the National Communications Director with the Democrats for Life of America, “the pro-life voice and wing of the Democratic Party.” Today she and Bianca will be discussing how pro-life views are not limited to Republicans and how Democrats for Life of America also focus on the death penalty and other topics that are surrounded by life and death choices.

We would like to thank our guest Jessica Meeth for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Jan 15, 202222:22
I81: The Road to Safer Highways

I81: The Road to Safer Highways

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 16  of Upstream Downstream. This week Bianca Ison recaps the Community Engagement Committee's most recent event entitled I81: The Road to Safer Highways. The panel discusses the challenges and potential solutions to the continual crashes and construction that have plagued I81, especially in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

We would like to thank the panel and the Community Engagement Committee for an engaging discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Jan 08, 202229:49
Battle Buddy
Dec 25, 202125:58
The First Step

The First Step

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 14 of Upstream Downstream. This week Bianca Ison recaps our previous American Conversation Series event: The First Step Documentary and Panel Discussion. Listen as the panel discusses how they overcame the challenges of talking across the aisle, gaining the trust of each other, and how important the issues of the drug epidemic and incarceration are within the film.

 We would like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Dec 18, 202126:28
The New West Virginia and IRCs

The New West Virginia and IRCs

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 13 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with Bianca Ison is Dr. Kenneth Martis. Ken is a Professor Emeritus of Geography at West Virginia University, where he teaches courses on the geography of elections, the geographical aspects of American political culture, and Legislative redistricting and gerrymandering. For those of you who keep up with the Stubblefield Institute, Ken was a  guest panelist earlier this year at the American Conversation Series forum on what redistricting would possibly look like for West Virginia.

We would like to thank our guest Dr. Kenneth Martis for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Dec 11, 202128:24
Nurtured Heart Approach

Nurtured Heart Approach

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 12 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with Bianca Ison is Wendy Baracka. Wendy is the Director of Counseling at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. She also has twenty years of experience in the counseling landscape studying and using many methodologies through training and workshops. Today she and Bianca will be discussing an approach, titled Nurtured Heart Approach, she's found helpful in her line of work and even in parenting.

We would like to thank our guest Wendy Baracka for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah  Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Dec 04, 202129:51
Surveillance and Privacy

Surveillance and Privacy

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 11 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with Bianca Ison is Elizabeth Goitein. Liza is the co-director for the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty & National Security Program. She is a nationally recognized expert on presidential emergency powers, government surveillance, and government secrecy. Her writing has been featured in outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal. She has made appearances on MSNBC, CNN, and NPR, and has testified before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees.

We would like to thank our guest Elizabeth Goitein for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah  Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.



Nov 13, 202129:60
Coordination Watch

Coordination Watch

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 10 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with Bianca  Ison is Michael Beckel. Michael was an award-winning journalist at the Center for Public Integrity and Center for Responsive Politics, and now serves as the Research Director of Coordination Watch, a project by the organization Issue One, which works to promote fiscal transparency in politics.

We would like to thank our guest Michael Beckel for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah  Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Nov 06, 202129:54
Trauma and Resiliency

Trauma and Resiliency

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 9 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with Bianca Ison is Dr. Allison Sampson Jackson, a social worker who has devoted her career to understanding trauma and adverse childhood experiences, and is the President and founder of Integrative Minds, Inc.  A non-profit organization that seeks to support individuals, families,  friends, and other organizations in bouncing back from adversity. The two discuss how trauma can affect adulthood and one's thinking as they attempt to get a diagnosis and work through their trauma.

We would like to thank our guest Dr. Allison Sampson Jackson for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Oct 30, 202129:57
Social Media and Politics

Social Media and Politics

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 8 of Upstream Downstream. Bianca Ison recaps our previous American Conversation Series event: Social Media and Politics. Listen as the panel discusses the use of social media, social media and politics, and how the social media companies use data. 

We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Oct 23, 202129:55
The Village Square

The Village Square

Please note: This episode was recorded before the separation of the previous host with the show.

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 7 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with Bianca Ison is the Founder and CEO of The Village Square, Liz Joyne. The two discuss how we can have civil conversations with others and the goal that The Village Square is attempting to reach with these civil conversations.

We would like to thank our guest Liz Joyne for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Oct 16, 202130:00
The Fight for Bipartisan Climate Solutions

The Fight for Bipartisan Climate Solutions

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 6 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with our host David Welch about the need for bipartisanship in the talk on climate solutions is Nathan Abercrombie. Nate is the Conservative Outreach Coordinator for the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a bipartisan advocacy group that works towards getting our representatives to pass legislature for climate solutions that both sides of the aisle can agree to.

We would like to thank our guest Nathan Abercrombie for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Oct 09, 202128:49
A Lesson in Redistricting

A Lesson in Redistricting

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 5  of Upstream Downstream. This week our host David Welch is looking back to our Community Engagement Committee's event that centered around redistricting. Tune in as we learn what redistricting is and what the state of West Virginia could see as a result of redistricting with Dr. Kenneth Martis, Professor Emeritus of Geography at West Virginia University. 

We would also like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Oct 02, 202129:47
Wellness in the Workplace

Wellness in the Workplace

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 4 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with our host David Welch about what wellness in the workplace looks like and the impact it has on individuals in and out of the workplace is Dr. Jennifer Flora and Jessica Graham. Dr. Jenny Flora is the Director of the Shepherd University Wellness Center and Jessica Graham is the Director of the Human Performance Lab at Shepherd University. Jenny has a doctorate in leadership and Jessica is currently pursuing a doctorate in workplace wellness programs. 

We would like to thank our guests Dr. Jenny Flora and Jessica Graham for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our host, David  Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Sep 25, 202127:45
Next Generation of Leaders

Next Generation of Leaders

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 3 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with our host David Welch about what student leadership is, the types of leadership styles, and the journey of leadership is Elana Gutmann and Jaelyn Wratchford. Elana Gutmann is a student at Shepherd University and Shepherd University's student body President. Jaelyn Wratchford is a student at Shepherd University and 2021 Miss West Virginia. 

We would like to thank our guests Elana Gutmann and Jaelyn Wratchford for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Sep 18, 202129:10
Creating Leaders of Tomorrow

Creating Leaders of Tomorrow

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 2 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with our host David Welch about programming to help develop new leaders and what makes students make the effort to develop leadership skills is Rachael Meads. She is the director of Student Activities, Leadership, and Fraternity and Sorority Life at Shepherd University in  West Virginia. Rachael and David discuss some of the benefits and challenges that can arise from developing leadership skills in students and universities.

We would like to thank our guest Rachael Meads for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our host, David  Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca  Ison.

Sep 11, 202129:12
Welcome Back with Holly Frye

Welcome Back with Holly Frye

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 1 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with our host David  Welch about opening up a university after lockdowns and still in a pandemic is Holly Frye. She is the Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Community Relations at Shepherd University in West Virginia. Holly and David discuss some of the challenges that universities and colleges face as students return to in-person learning and the delta variant begins to become more rampant. 

We would like to thank our guest Holly Frye for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our host, David  Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Sep 04, 202129:13
Science in Government

Science in Government

Welcome to Episode 23 of Upstream Downstream. Here to talk with our host David Welch about the role of science in government is  Craig McLean. He is the acting chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, headquartered in Silver Spring,  Maryland. The mission of NOAA is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts; to share that knowledge and information, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

We would like to thank our guest Craig McLean for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our host, David  Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor,  Bianca Ison. 

May 08, 202128:35
The Next Generation

The Next Generation

Welcome to Episode 22. Our host, David Welch, is joined by two students, Jordan Jalil and Alyssa Nazarok,  to discuss their views on current issues. Jordan is a Shepherd  University senior double majoring in political science and economics. She serves as captain of Shepherds debate and forensics team. Jordan also serves as the inaugural student member of the board of advisors for the Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications and was a  2020 Truman Scholarship finalist. Following graduation, Jordan plans on attending law school.

Alyssa Nazarok also attends Shepherd  University, majoring in Political Science and Global Studies. She serves as president of the Young Democrats Club, and in 2020 was inducted into the National Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi and was a 2021 Truman  Scholarship finalist. Alyssa is also the Captain of the Shepherd soccer team, and Vice President of the Stubblefield Student Advisory Council.  Following graduation, Aly plans to pursue her master’s degree in public policy.

We would like to thank our guests Alyssa Nazarok and Jordan Jalil for joining this discussion. We would also like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

May 01, 202127:57
Let's Get Civil

Let's Get Civil

Welcome to Episode 21 of Upstream Downstream. This week our host David Welch recaps a workshop our Student Advisory Council put on titled, "Let's Get Civil". The  Student Advisory Council is the Stubblefield Institute’s  extra-curricular campus link to students of all majors. They hosted Dr. Lindsey Levitan, an associate professor at Shepherd University who specializes in political psychology. In this workshop, Dr. Levitan discusses the barriers and biases involved in political discussion and offers suggestions on how to tackle difficult topics with loved ones. We would like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison. 

Apr 24, 202129:60
Recapping the ISMs
Apr 17, 202129:46
Leading the Way for Vaccines

Leading the Way for Vaccines

Welcome  to Episode 19! Our host, David Welch, is here with Michele Goldman. Michele Goldman is a registered nurse and volunteer coordinator for the Jefferson County Community Organizations Active in  Disaster, or COAD. The Jefferson County COAD is a collective group of organizations committed to making their community become more prepared,  resilient, and self-sufficient. The two discuss how West Virginia became first in the vaccine rollout and how the public is reacting to vaccinations. We would like to thank Michele Goldman for joining us this week. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Apr 10, 202129:05
The Rise of Food Insecurity

The Rise of Food Insecurity

Welcome to Episode 18! Our host, David Welch, is here with Gabriela Bonazzo, from the Mountaineer Foodbank, to talk to us more about the rising food insecurity. Located in Gassaway, West Virginia, Mountaineer Foodbank works to provide food and other items in 48 counties throughout the state. Their network includes food pantries, mobile pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, Backpack programs, and senior programs. We would like to thank Gabri Bonazzo for joining us this week. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Apr 03, 202126:47
Practitioner in the Class with Doug Usher

Practitioner in the Class with Doug Usher

Welcome to this week's episode of Upstream Downstream. Bianca Ison is our host this week as she recaps a recent Practitioner in the Classroom program. This program brings highly respected political and policy experts into the classrooms to work with various departments like Nursing, Social Work, Business, and Communications, to inspire students to leadership and advocacy roles in their professions. On March 15th, 2021, the program hosted Dr. Doug Usher, an expert on public opinion, political polling, and issues related to polling. He is currently a partner and head of insights at Forbes Tate Partners, a leading lobbying and public affairs firm in Washington.

Mar 27, 202129:50
The Ethics of Food

The Ethics of Food

Welcome to Episode 16! Our host, David Welch, is out this week so assistant producer Bianca Ison is taking the reins. Bianca is joined by Lauren Ornelas, the founder of the Food Empowerment Project which  promotes ethical veganism and discusses various issues relating to food production. The two discuss child labor is cocoa production, the stickers on food in the grocery stores, and what it means to eat ethically. We would like to thank Lauren Ornelas for joining us this week. We would also like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Mar 13, 202119:02
Confessions of a Free Speech Lawyer

Confessions of a Free Speech Lawyer

Welcome to Episode 15! Our host, David Welch, is joined by Rodney  Smolla, the Dean and Professor of Law at the Delaware Law  School of Widener University, in Wilmington, Delaware. Smolla is an  active litigator, well-known for his representation on matters relating to defamation and invasion of privacy. He has participated as counsel or co-counsel in state and federal courts throughout the nation, including the Supreme Court where he was lead attorney in the free speech case,  Virginia v. Black, a case that would change freedom of speech in America. While Smolla has authored several books, today we are here to  discuss his book published just last year; Confessions of a Free Speech  Lawyer: Charlottesville and the Politics of Hate. We would like to thank  Rodney Smolla for joining us this week. We would also like to thank our host, David Welch, our  producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison. 

Mar 06, 202128:27
Enacting Change

Enacting Change

Welcome to Episode 14! Our host, David Welch, is joined by Dr. Michael Clemons to discuss racism, racial abuse, and how we can help make a change through social movements. Dr. Michael Clemons is the founding editor of The Journal of Race and Policy, Executive Director for the Consortium for Research on Race, Diversity, and the Interim Chair of the Department of Political Science and Geography at Old Dominion University where he is a professor of political science and African American studies. We would like to thank Dr. Michael Clemons for joining us this week. We would also like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Feb 27, 202128:22
Meet the Author with Paul Kendrick

Meet the Author with Paul Kendrick

Welcome to Episode 13! This week features a recap of our latest event Meet the Author with Paul Kendrick. Paul Kendrick, the co-author of Nine Days: The Race Save Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life and Win the 1960 Election and “Douglass and Lincoln: How a Revolutionary Black Leader & a Reluctant Liberator Struggled to End Slavery & Save the Union” is joined in discussion with the program host, Peter Loge. Peter Loge is a professor at the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs and Director of the Project on Ethics in Political Communication. We would like to thank Peter Loge and Paul Kendrick for a great program. We would like to thank our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Feb 20, 202129:44
Making History

Making History

Welcome to Episode 12! This week our host, David Welch, talks with Delegate Caleb Hannah, the youngest African American Delegate to be elected across the country. Delegate Hannah discusses the importance of younger people in politics, race, and the Black Lives Matter Movement. We would like to thank Delegate Caleb Hannah for speaking with us. We would like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison.

Feb 13, 202127:38
Leadership in a Divergent World

Leadership in a Divergent World

Welcome to Episode 11! Our host, David Welch, is joined by Dr. Chiquita Howard-Bostic, Chair and Associate Professor Of Sociology and
Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity. They discuss how to be a leader in a diverse world and what it means to be a leader. We would like to Dr. Chiquita Howard-Bostic for joining us this week. We would also like to thank our host, David Welch,  our producer,  Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor,  Bianca  Ison, and  89.7 WSHC FM.

Feb 06, 202129:27
COVID in Rural Education

COVID in Rural Education

Welcome to Episode 10! This week host, David Welch, is joined to shed some light on how COVID is impacting the state of rural education in the US by the executive director of The Rural School  and Community Trust, Robert Mahaffey. They discuss the impact COVID has on how we teach, students' mental health, and how some students are still receiving food from school systems during COVID. We would like to Robert Mahaffey for joining us this week. We would also like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer,  Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca  Ison, and  89.7 WSHC FM.

Jan 30, 202127:17
Part Two- Clean Sweep and What It Means

Part Two- Clean Sweep and What It Means

Welcome to Episode 9! This week is part two of a two-part topic focused on the Georgia run-off elections, the charge on Congress, and outlooks for 2021 and the future. Our host, David Welch, is joined this week with  Kelly Johnston, the 28th Secretary of the United States Senate, having served under Majority Leader Bob Dole. He is a member of the Stubblefield Institute Board of Advisors. Kelly discusses the future of the democratic and republican parties and how January 6th has affected the country. He also discusses his hopes for the country's future during these difficult times.  We would like to thank Kelly Johnston for joining us on part two of this topic. We would also like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca  Ison, and 89.7 WSHC FM.

Jan 23, 202127:15
Clean Sweep and What It Means- Part One

Clean Sweep and What It Means- Part One

Welcome to Episode 8! This week is part one of a two part topic focused on the Georgia run off elections, the charge on Congress and outlooks for 2021 and the future. Our host, David Welch, is joined this week with Scott Widmeyer, founding partner of Finn Partners and public relations expert. Scott discusses the future of the democratic and republican parties and how January 6th has effected the country. He also discusses his hopes for the country's future during these difficult times.  We would like to thank Scott Widmeyer for joining us on this part one of this topic. We would also like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor, Bianca Ison and 89.7 WSHC FM.

Jan 16, 202125:56
Ethics in Political Communication

Ethics in Political Communication

Welcome to Episode 7. This week our host, David Welch, interviews Peter Loge, associate professor and director of external relations at the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. He continually promotes the study, practice, and teaching of ethics in political communication. Our guest discusses the importance of ethics and defining civility and ethics. We would like to thank our guest for joining us. We would  like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our  assistant producer and editor Bianca Ison for all their hard work.

Jan 09, 202128:32
Homeless at Christmas

Homeless at Christmas

Welcome to Episode 6. This week host, David Welch, interviews Tony Russo, a former social worker in the Baltimore area, and Pastor Tim Guerino, superintendent for the Martinsburg Rescue Mission. Our guests discuss what homelessness is, the difficulty that some face overcoming being homeless and some testimonies of individuals overcoming homelessness. We would like to thank our guests for joining us. We would like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor Bianca Ison for all their hard work.

Dec 19, 202029:22
American Politics in a COVID-19 World

American Politics in a COVID-19 World

Welcome to Episode 5. Join us this week as our host, David Welch, recaps a previous American Conversation Series Event, American Politics in a COVID-19 World. Panelists for this event included Amy Walter, Susan Glassner, and Ray Suarez. We would like to thank each of them for spending time with us. We would also like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor Bianca Ison.

Dec 12, 202029:58
Fixing Congress

Fixing Congress

Welcome to Episode 4. Join us this week as our host, David Welch, recaps a previous American Conversation Series Event, Fixing Congress: a Conversation with Derek Kilmer and Tom Graves, Chair and Co-Chair of the Select Committee to Modernize Congress. Representative Kilmer and Representative Graves highlight the push for bipartisanship within Congress and other political leaders and what they've done to bridge that divide. We would like to thank Representative Kilmer and Representative Graves for spending time with us. We would also like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and our assistant producer and editor Bianca Ison.

Dec 05, 202029:06
A Republican and Democrat Get Married: Wait What?

A Republican and Democrat Get Married: Wait What?

*Note: This episode was recorded before Delegate Barrett switched parties.* Welcome to episode 3! In this episode, our host David Welch sits down with Delegate Jason Barrett and his wife Summer Barrett to discuss what marriage is like for a couple on opposite sides of the aisle. The couple discusses civility, political arguments, and how they handle backlash from their parties for marrying someone on the opposite side of the political aisle. We would like to thank the Barretts for spending some time discussing politics in the world we live in today and the challenges they face in this climate. We would like to thank our host, David Welch, our producer, Sarah Burke, and assistant producer, Bianca Ison.

Nov 28, 202029:34
Healthcare: An Issue of Our Time

Healthcare: An Issue of Our Time

Welcome back to Upstream Downstream! This week host, David Welch, recaps the American Conversation Series Event, Healthcare: An Issue of Our Time with panelists Len Nichols, Grace-Marie Turner, and Wendell Potter. The original event was moderated by Susan Dentzer. As always we'd like to thank our host David Welch our producer Sarah Burke and our assistant producer Bianca Ison for their hard work in creating this episode. 

Nov 21, 202025:11
Why An Institute

Why An Institute

An institute founded on the premise of advocating civility in everyday life as well as politics. Who created this institute and why would they donate a million dollars to create this institute. Catch up with David Welch as he talks with Shepherd University President Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix and Drs. Bonnie and Bill Stubblefield as they explore the creation of the Stubblefield Institute.

Nov 14, 202028:24