S2E9: A Conversation About Public Safety with Award-Winning Filmmaker and Best-Selling Author, Matthew Solomon
Release Date: 06/19/2024
S2E24: How Climate Change Impacts Mental Health in Africa & Beyond w/ Svetlana Onye
Brian J Matos
Brian speaks with Svetlana Chigozie Onye, a climate justice advocate, writer, journalist, and researcher. In this conversation, Svetlana and Brian discuss the critical intersection of mental health and climate change, particularly in the context of African nations. She highlights the unique challenges faced by African countries, including the disproportionate impact of climate change despite low emissions, the role of transnational companies in resource extraction, and the need for better media coverage of these issues. Svetlana emphasizes the importance of integrating mental health into...
info_outline
S2E23: Pathways to an Environmentally Sustainable Future w/ Demitri Fierro
Brian J Matos
Brian is joined by Demitri Fierro, a writer and a Sustainability and Stakeholder Strategist. He has published more than 100 articles to date on , where he is an avid contributor on subjects like electric vehicle adoption, wildlife conservation and climate tech. Demitri recently earned an MBA in Sustainable Solutions from Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco. For the last two years, he has served as Program Manager for the Consultancy Shadowing Program, as well as sustainability consultant for a variety of clients. Determined to apply his background to bring sustainable solutions to...
info_outline
S2E22: A Conversation About Unaccompanied Migrant Children w/ Stephanie L. Canizales, PhD
Brian J Matos
Brian interviews Stephanie L. Canizales, PhD, a researcher, author, and professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is Faculty Director of the . She earned her PhD in Sociology from the University of Southern California (2018). Stephanie specializes in the study of international migration and immigrant integration, with particular interest in the experiences of Latin American-origin immigrants and their descendants in the United States. Over the last decade, Stephanie has focused her work on the migration and coming-of-age of unaccompanied...
info_outline
S2E21: The Existential Threat of Advanced AI w/ Prof. Demetrius Floudas
Brian J Matos
Brian is joined by Professor Demetrius Floudas for a conversation on the risks and potential dangers of advanced artificial intelligence if not thoughtfully regulated. Demetrius A. Floudas is a transnational lawyer, a legal adviser specializing in tech and an AI regulatory & policy theorist. With extensive experience, he has counseled governments, corporations, and start-ups on regulatory aspects of policy and technology. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Law Faculty of , where he lectures on Artificial Intelligence Regulation. Additionally, he is a Fellow of the Hellenic...
info_outline
S2E20: Israel, Palestine, the Arab World and the Prospects for a Two-State Solution as of late 2024
Brian J Matos
Brian interviews Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the . He is also a weekly columnist for (UAE) and , and a monthly contributing writer for The . Ibish is also a regular contributor to many other American and Middle Eastern publications. In this episode, we explore the history of the Isreali-Palestinian conflict, the barriers to a two-state solution, the roles of major state and non-state actors in the region and discuss the most likely scenarios for this conflict in the coming months and years. This conversation is meant to help the audience...
info_outline
S2E19: The State of Religion in the United States and the Future of Faith with Jake Meador
Brian J Matos
Brian interviews Jake Meador, editor-in-chief of and author of two books, I and . Jake also serves as a contributing editor with and as a board member with the . The conversation explores the topic of church attendance as a proxy for religious activity in the United States. Jake discusses the "de-churching" movement, which refers to the significant decline in church attendance rates over the past 25 years. The conversation delves into the impact of de-churching on society, the reasons behind it, and the potential for a resurgence in church attendance. The conversation...
info_outline
S2E18: Exploring Declining Fertility Rates w/ Demographer, Lyman Stone
Brian J Matos
Brian interviews Lyman Stone, a demographer who discusses the global decline in fertility rates and the relationship between fertility and religion. Lyman explains that religious people tend to have more children and provide more support to other parents in their community. However, he also notes that fertility rates are declining among both religious and secular people. Stone emphasizes the importance of community and social support in influencing fertility decisions. He suggests that religious institutions can play a role in supporting higher fertility rates by encouraging and assisting...
info_outline
S2E17: Brazilian Foreign Policy Perspectives with Gustavo Ribeiro (Part 2)
Brian J Matos
Brian is joined by Gustavo Ribeiro, award-winning journalist and Founder/Editor-in-Chief of , an independent, English language news website covering Brazilian politics, economics and social issues. This episode features part 2 of the conversation where Gustavo discusses Brazil's foreign policy and its unique position as the largest country in Latin America. Brian and Gustavo explore the Brazilian government's and society's perspective on regional and international issues, including Venezuela, Latin American integration, Brazil-US relations, the BRICS alliance, national security, and...
info_outline
S2E16: A Conversation on Brazilian Politics, Society, and Economics with Gustavo Ribeiro (Part 1)
Brian J Matos
Brian is joined by Gustavo Ribeiro, award-winning journalist and Founder/Editor-in-Chief of , an independent, English language news website covering Brazilian politics, economics and social issues. This episode features part 1 of the conversation where Gustavo explains the current political landscape in Brazil, including the major players and the current government under President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva. Ribeiro highlights the polarization in Brazilian society and the impact of politics on personal relationships. He also discusses the economic challenges faced by middle-income and...
info_outline
S2E15: Latin American Foreign Policy: U.S.A., E.U., China, Russia, Israel & more
Brian J Matos
Part 2 of Brian's conversation with Fulton Armstrong explores the global geopolitical perspective of Latin American nations. Fulton discusses the impact of Chinese influence in the region and the perception that the United States has stepped back from regional leadership. The conversation also touches on the internal political situation in Venezuela and the role of neighboring countries in finding a long-term solution. The discussion includes a segment on how Latin American nations think about the concept of "The Global South" and the changing dynamics in the global political, security,...
info_outlineMatthew Solomon, a filmmaker and conflict resolution expert, joins Brian for a conversation about his documentary, Reimagining Safety, and the growing demands for new approaches to ensure public safety. Matthew shares his personal experiences growing up in a diverse community and witnessing differences in how local police interacted with his friend groups. He explains how his background in sociology and anthropology, as well as the events of the Rodney King beating and the LA riots, shaped his passion for social justice and eventuall led to his decision to make the documentary.
In addition to previewing the content of the film, Brian and Matthew delve into the concept of public safety, including what the term means to different individuals, neighborhoods and towns.
Matthew highlights the importance of a holistic public safety definition, which includes access to resources, mental health support, and deep community engagement. He also emphasizes the need to address the systemic and societal challenges of reforming the criminal justice system in the United States as well as other, similar justice systems around the world. Matthew and Brian discuss the role of mental health care and social services in public safety and debates over how to increase funding and resources in these areas. He encourages individuals to get involved in their communities and build connections with others as a way to promote public safety.
To learn more about Matthew Solomon, his film and his work:
- Consulting website: https://www.matthewsolomonconsulting.com/
- Reimaging Safety Movie Site: https://www.reimaginingsafetymovie.com/
- Twitter: @mattytheglue and https://x.com/ReimagSafety
- Facebook: Reimagining Safety Movie
- Instagram: @mattytheglue and @reimaginingsafetymovie
Find more episodes like this at http://www.brianjmatos.com/
Question for Brian? Email: [email protected] or DM on Twitter @BrianJMatos