As American school children, we learned it by heart, and recited it every day. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America..." But how often did we then, and do we now, think about the meaning behind the words? "...one nation. Under God. Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Indivisible What does it mean to be indivisible? It's a question Denise Hamilton explores with intelligence, empathy and disarming approachability in her groundbreaking debut as an author. "Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future" grabs you by the throat on page one o ..read more

What is driving the recent conflict on college campuses? One obvious factor is reaction to the Israel-Hamas War. But my guest this week isn’t sure it’s quite that simple.  As CEO of the non-profit, BridgeUSA, 25 year-old Manu Meel is in constant contact with students on more than 70 campuses across the country. The organization helps facilitate conversations among college and high school students with idealogical differences. In the days and weeks following the October 7th massacre of Israelis by Hamas, Bridge USA heard plenty from its student members. “There was a lot of pain, there was ..read more

It’s been inspiring to see our friends in the LGBTQ+ community celebrate and be celebrated during Pride Month. Though, I must say I long for the day when we don’t need a specific month to acknowledge the humanity of those who are marginalized. No matter who we love, what our race, how we pray or how we identify, we matter. We are human. We belong. But until that day, I am grateful for each month that shines a spotlight on stories too often overlooked. Stories that teach us and show us the full, beautiful complexity of what makes us human. An Unlikely Story Unfolds As Pride Month 2023 wrap ..read more

I can hear my dad saying it now: “I have to laugh to keep from crying.” As a little girl, I didn’t quite get it. But now I do. And it’s safe to say, these days, that’s how most of us feel. Up is down. Fake is real. Fact is fiction. The world has gone mad. And we’re all choosing sides — scared to death of what this chaos means for our future. So. How to cope with it all?… My guest this week chooses laughter over tears. And he’s talented enough to bring us along for the ride. Storied History This week, our nation made history with the arrest and arraignment of the 45th President of the Uni ..read more

“We cannot coexist if we cannot talk to each other — it’s that simple.” And that complicated. Yet the leaders of BridgeUSA are determined to meet the challenge. This 7 year-old non-profit is “building a student movement to bring the country together”, led by a dynamic CEO and return guest to Our Voices Matter, Manu Meel. Lessons Learned When we first spoke with Manu over a year ago, he was about to embark upon a nationwide campaign across college campuses, aptly called “Let’s F*#king Talk to Each Other“. I was eager to find out how it went, what lessons were learned, and how the organizati ..read more

Talking with Jordan Seaberry is like wrapping up in a warm blanket on a frigid, winter night. You still feel the cold, but the softness enveloping you takes the edge off. Our chaotic world churns constantly, spewing more mayhem, but somehow, we still have hope. Jordan and others of his generation give me the sense that ultimately, we’ll be ok. What is an Artist? But not without doing the work, and Jordan is among many, spectacular millennials leading the way. He wears numerous hats. Painter, educator and legislative advocate with a law degree. Director of the U.S. Department of Arts and Cultur ..read more

“When your story is being told, make sure you are the one holding the pen.” It’s one of Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton’s favorite quotes. And one that has particular resonance in 2023 as powerful, political forces are literally trying to erase parts of American history. Black history. But Mouton is holding the pen. Multi-Genre Literary Artist A self-described multi-genre literary artist, she is a master at guiding us along her journey, forging a path that leads straight to the core of our humanity. Who are we? Who do we want to be? And how does our present connect to our past? From opera to poe ..read more

The message comes from Millennial recording artist, Kam Franklin, and her band, The Suffers. Kam, the Houston band’s lead singer, lives her life leading with love — and the truth, even when it isn’t pretty. I became a Kam super fan after sitting down with her for the podcast in November of 2020. Her talent, intellect and empathy toward others on full display. Surviving the Pandemic Still in full-blown pandemic mode at that time, Kam and The Suffers did everything in their power to keep the band and their music alive. Fast forward to June of 2022 and the release of “It Starts With Love“, their ..read more

When you were 18, what were you concerned about? If you’re of a certain age, my guess is that the demise of our planet and Artificial Intelligence taking over weren’t at the top of your list. But for today’s youth, those are real concerns. And it impacts how they think about and prepare for the future. In Part 2 of our series, Across the Generations, I sit down with a mother and daughter who are grappling in real time with these questions and more. Amplify and Connect 18 year old Alex Jennings is a freshman at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She’s pursuing a degree in Visual Design ..read more

It’s no secret that sometimes we just don’t “get” each other. There’s a disconnect between the generations. That in itself certainly isn’t new. But what seems, or at least feels different, is the fragility of the systems on which we depend — and the urgency of figuring out how to save ourselves…from ourselves… So that a livable world with a thriving society will still be here for Millennials, Gen Z and future generations. Boomers, it’s time for us to listen. And that’s exactly what we’ll do in this new OVM series, “Across the Generations.” Kitchen Table Talk The idea came to me while hav ..read more