Why is voting in America difficult, and what’s behind the recent efforts by Republican controlled state legislatures to make it even more difficult? Barriers to voting and the common perception that voting results in little change create frustration and cause many to feel disenfranchised. Listen to our conversation with Jocelyn Armstrong, a Columbus lawyer who works to promote diversity and inclusion and produces the podcast “Inscribing Inclusion.” 

Why is voting in America difficult, and what’s behind the recent efforts by Republican controlled state legislatures to make it even more difficult? Barriers to voting and the common perception that voting results in little change create frustration and cause many to feel disenfranchised. Listen to our conversation with Jocelyn Armstrong, a Columbus lawyer who works to promote diversity and inclusion and produces the podcast “Inscribing Inclusion.”

50 The new political strategy—voter suppression

What does the law say about a police officer’s obligations when stopping and questioning someone for possible criminal conduct? What does a police officer have to consider before making the stop? Does racial bias enter the equation? Are citizens required to comply? How is it that sometimes these stops end with violence, sometimes a shooting? Listen to our conversation with Robert Meader, a former career police officer and commander of the Police Academy for the city of Columbus, Ohio. 

What does the law say about a police officer’s obligations when stopping and questioning someone for possible criminal conduct? What does a police officer have to consider before making the stop? Does racial bias enter the equation? Are citizens required to comply? How is it that sometimes these stops end with violence, sometimes a shooting? Listen to our conversation with Robert Meader, a former career police officer and commander of the Police Academy for the city of Columbus, Ohio.

49. The problem with police investigative stops—police abuse or citizen non-compliance?

The U.S. Supreme Court is taking on the trappings of being a political body. By carefully appointing justices, a president and the senate can accomplish things they can't make happen through the legislative process. Recent decisions from the court reflect too closely what the Republican party wants. And the public is losing confidence in the court. Its approval rating has decreased from 62 percent to 40 percent in the last 20 years. Listen to Jack and Gonzo talk about how things are changing with the court. 

The U.S. Supreme Court is taking on the trappings of being a political body. By carefully appointing justices, a president and the senate can accomplish things they can't make happen through the legislative process. Recent decisions from the court reflect too closely what the Republican party wants. And the public is losing confidence in the court. Its approval rating has decreased from 62 percent to 40 percent in the last 20 years. Listen to Jack and Gonzo talk about how things are changing with the court.

48.  The U.S. Supreme Court has become an extension of politics

We want to believe the criminal justice system convicts the right person and allows the innocent to go free. It’s a nice thought, but it doesn’t always work that way. Memories are malleable, eyewitness identification is often unreliable, witnesses and suspects can be manipulated, and sometimes the prosecution withholds important evidence. And judges and prosecutors are often blind to these problems.  Listen to our conversation with Mark Godsey, a former federal prosecutor and now a law professor and author of “Blind Injustice.” Mark co-founded the Ohio Innocence Project in 2003, which has won the release of 34 men and women, who had been incarcerated for 665 years for crimes they didn't commit.

We want to believe the criminal justice system convicts the right person and allows the innocent to go free. It’s a nice thought, but it doesn’t always work that way. Memories are malleable, eyewitness identification is often unreliable, witnesses and suspects can be manipulated, and sometimes the prosecution withholds important evidence. And judges and prosecutors are often blind to these problems.  Listen to our conversation with Mark Godsey, a former federal prosecutor and now a law professor and author of “Blind Injustice.” Mark co-founded the Ohio Innocence Project in 2003, which has won the release of 34 men and women, who had been incarcerated for 665 years for crimes they didn't commit.

47. The blind injustice of America's criminal justice system

Ever thought about what it’s like to be homeless? It’s not just a matter of having no place to call your own. It’s a state of crisis where your whole world is turned upside down. There’s no certainty in your life, no sense of security or well-being. You have virtually no control over your life. And being homeless likely means you had no one in your life to whom you could reach out for help before you became homeless. You’re alone in more than one way. Listen to our conversation with Michelle Heritage, Executive Director of the Community Shelter Board. 

Ever thought about what it’s like to be homeless? It’s not just a matter of having no place to call your own. It’s a state of crisis where your whole world is turned upside down. There’s no certainty in your life, no sense of security or well-being. You have virtually no control over your life. And being homeless likely means you had no one in your life to whom you could reach out for help before you became homeless. You’re alone in more than one way. Listen to our conversation with Michelle Heritage, Executive Director of the Community Shelter Board.

46.  The crisis that comes with being homeless

Something’s not right in America. The democracy we should all cherish and want to protect is under attack. State legislatures, guided only by partisan politics, control the maps for congressional and state voter maps, meaning representatives pick their voters, instead of voters their picking representatives. States are passing laws to restrict voting access under the false premise that voting security is at risk. When confirming justices for the U.S. Supreme Court, senators are more concerned about a candidate’s political views than qualifications. And now, state legislatures are passing laws restricting what can be taught in schools. Is democracy at risk? Podcast hosts Jack and Gonzo give their assessment.  

Something’s not right in America. The democracy we should all cherish and want to protect is under attack. State legislatures, guided only by partisan politics, control the maps for congressional and state voter maps, meaning representatives pick their voters, instead of voters their picking representatives. States are passing laws to restrict voting access under the false premise that voting security is at risk. When confirming justices for the U.S. Supreme Court, senators are more concerned about a candidate’s political views than qualifications. And now, state legislatures are passing laws restricting what can be taught in schools. Is democracy at risk? Podcast hosts Jack and Gonzo give their assessment.

45. Democracy at Risk

After you finish your prison sentence and pay your debt to society, you should be eligible for work, right? Not exactly. If you want to work in a field where a license is required, you’ll likely hit a brick wall, as many licenses are not available to felony offenders. On top of that is the matter of company policy. As it turns out, paying your debt to society doesn’t mean you can get through the employment door. Listen to what William Perry has endured.

After you finish your prison sentence and pay your debt to society, you should be eligible for work, right? Not exactly. If you want to work in a field where a license is required, you’ll likely hit a brick wall, as many licenses are not available to felony offenders. On top of that is the matter of company policy. As it turns out, paying your debt to society doesn’t mean you can get through the employment door. Listen to what William Perry has endured.

44. The barriers to employment ex-offenders face

Often seen as a threat, Black youths are denied healthy adolescent development. They’re subject to suspicion and arrest for the most ordinary adolescent activities—shopping for prom clothes, playing in the park, listening to music, wearing the latest fashion trend. While research shows Black youths are no more dangerous or impulsive than their white counterparts, but there’s a tremendous difference in how Black youths are treated by school officials, the police and the criminal justice system. As a consequence, Black youth fear and resent the police and don’t have faith in the system. Law school professor and author of “The Rage of Innocence,” Kris Henning explains what’s going on.

Often seen as a threat, Black youths are denied healthy adolescent development. They’re subject to suspicion and arrest for the most ordinary adolescent activities—shopping for prom clothes, playing in the park, listening to music, wearing the latest fashion trend. While research shows Black youths are no more dangerous or impulsive than their white counterparts, but there’s a tremendous difference in how Black youths are treated by school officials, the police and the criminal justice system. As a consequence, Black youth fear and resent the police and don’t have faith in the system. Law school professor and author of “The Rage of Innocence,” Kris Henning explains what’s going on.

43. How America Criminalizes Black Youth

Why are employers reluctant to hire ex-offenders? Is that reluctance always justified? Can employing ex-offenders work out well for both sides? Turns out, ex-offenders are often good employees, have a good work ethic and a strong sense of loyalty. Find out what Evan Williams, president of Franklin International, and Joe DeLoss, president of Hot Chick Takeover have to say about the ex-offenders they hire.

Why are employers reluctant to hire ex-offenders? Is that reluctance always justified? Can employing ex-offenders work out well for both sides? Turns out, ex-offenders are often good employees, have a good work ethic and a strong sense of loyalty. Find out what Evan Williams, president of Franklin International, and Joe DeLoss, president of Hot Chick Takeover have to say about the ex-offenders they hire.

42. Should you hire ex-offenders?

If you don’t know what critical race theory (CRT) is, don’t feel bad. Neither do the folks in charge of K-12 education in Ohio. In October 2021, the state board of education put the brakes on implicit bias training and, apparently guided by nationwide misconceptions, determined that CRT has “no place in K-12 education.” The board also condemned programs that promote “collective guilt, moral deficiency” to a “whole race or group of people.” As if this type of instruction is part of any curriculum. We talked with former board president Laura Kohler about how politics are getting involved in education. And it’s not for the better.

If you don’t know what critical race theory (CRT) is, don’t feel bad. Neither do the folks in charge of K-12 education in Ohio. In October 2021, the state board of education put the brakes on implicit bias training and, apparently guided by nationwide misconceptions, determined that CRT has “no place in K-12 education.” The board also condemned programs that promote “collective guilt, moral deficiency” to a “whole race or group of people.” As if this type of instruction is part of any curriculum. We talked with former board president Laura Kohler about how politics are getting involved in education. And it’s not for the better.

41. Politics are getting involved in public education. And it's not for the better.

Social justice means applying the law equally to all people. But in practice, that doesn’t always happen. We’re business and trial lawyers with over 60 years experience of practice.Together, we practice law, we seek social justice, and we reveal the conflict between the two. And in this podcast, we bring together guests from a variety of backgrounds to discuss the current issues surrounding social justice and the inequity between these issues and their relation to the legal system.Join with us, so that it’s not Just Us.

Author and lawyer Bryan Stephenson says, “It’s better to be rich and guilty than poor and innocent.” A nice of saying the system is rigged. Find out what Stevenson means by listening to Tim Young, Ohio’s Public Defender, who has focused his career on protecting the rights of the indigent. 

Author and lawyer Bryan Stephenson says, “It’s better to be rich and guilty than poor and innocent.” A nice of saying the system is rigged. Find out what Stevenson means by listening to Tim Young, Ohio’s Public Defender, who has focused his career on protecting the rights of the indigent.

40. The Criminal justice system is rigged

The new Texas abortion law is controversial because it bans abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy, a time limit that is unprecedented. But the new law is controversial for another reason as well. It appears to have been purposefully designed to thwart a constitutional challenge. Listen to what constitutional lawyer Mark Brown has to say. 

The new Texas abortion law is controversial because it bans abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy, a time limit that is unprecedented. But the new law is controversial for another reason as well. It appears to have been purposefully designed to thwart a constitutional challenge. Listen to what constitutional lawyer Mark Brown has to say.

39. The Texas abortion  Law—restrictive and cleverly drafted

Gerrymandering was supposed to end in 2021 for Ohio’s congressional and general assembly maps, by virtue of constitutional amendments approved by over 70 percent of Ohioans. But a Republican controlled general assembly has drafted maps the Ohio Supreme Court has held to be unconstitutional. Are the amendments unworkable, as Republicans argue, or are Republicans simply refusing to do what the law requires? Listen to what Jen Miller, executive director of the Ohio League of Women Voters, has to say. 

Gerrymandering was supposed to end in 2021 for Ohio’s congressional and general assembly maps, by virtue of constitutional amendments approved by over 70 percent of Ohioans. But a Republican controlled general assembly has drafted maps the Ohio Supreme Court has held to be unconstitutional. Are the amendments unworkable, as Republicans argue, or are Republicans simply refusing to do what the law requires? Listen to what Jen Miller, executive director of the Ohio League of Women Voters, has to say.

38. The gerrymandering battle in Ohio

Columbus suffers from a lack of housing, and especially affordable housing, a problem that hits low income neighborhoods the hardest. Those same neighborhoods also lack resources–think libraries, YMCAs and community centers. How do we engage the residents of those communities to consolidate their voices to gain access to more resources, and how we get those in more affluent neighborhoods to be empathetic and get involved? Duane Casares, CEO of Directions for Youth &amp; Families, and Michael Wilkos, Vice President of Community Impact at the United Way of Franklin County, talk about these challenges. Listen to the conversation.We’re running a brief survey for our listeners, and we’d love to hear from you.  Go to lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey and give us your input. It takes just two minutes–literally.

Columbus suffers from a lack of housing, and especially affordable housing, a problem that hits low income neighborhoods the hardest. Those same neighborhoods also lack resources–think libraries, YMCAs and community centers. How do we engage the residents of those communities to consolidate their voices to gain access to more resources, and how we get those in more affluent neighborhoods to be empathetic and get involved? Duane Casares, CEO of Directions for Youth &amp; Families, and Michael Wilkos, Vice President of Community Impact at the United Way of Franklin County, talk about these challenges. Listen to the conversation.We’re running a brief survey for our listeners, and we’d love to hear from you.  Go to <a href="https://lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey</a> and give us your input. It takes just two minutes–literally.

37. Not all neighborhoods are equal

The majority of Americans who are behind bars are not serving a sentence; they’re awaiting trial. Many of these people were arrested for minor drug possession or driving with a suspended license and couldn’t afford bail. Micah Derry of Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy that seeks to minimize social injustices, talks with us about people spending an average of 28 days in jail while awaiting trial on minor misdemeanor charges. And while these people sit in jail, they lose their jobs, face eviction and confront other hardships. Proposed legislation, S.B. 182, would drastically the change the system for the better.We’re running a brief audience survey for listeners of the podcast, as the show continues to evolve and expand. If you’ve been listening to Lawyer Up for a year, a month, or even just the latest episode, we’d love to hear from you. Head to lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey to share your thoughts on the podcast. Thank you.

The majority of Americans who are behind bars are not serving a sentence; they’re awaiting trial. Many of these people were arrested for minor drug possession or driving with a suspended license and couldn’t afford bail. Micah Derry of Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy that seeks to minimize social injustices, talks with us about people spending an average of 28 days in jail while awaiting trial on minor misdemeanor charges. And while these people sit in jail, they lose their jobs, face eviction and confront other hardships. Proposed legislation, S.B. 182, would drastically the change the system for the better.We’re running a brief audience survey for listeners of the podcast, as the show continues to evolve and expand. If you’ve been listening to Lawyer Up for a year, a month, or even just the latest episode, we’d love to hear from you. Head to <a href="https://www.lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey</a> to share your thoughts on the podcast. Thank you.

36. Reforming a failed bail system

Ohio State University Associate Professor Joni Acuff talks with us about what critical race theory actually is—as opposed to how it’s described by its critics—and gives examples of racial inequality being imbedded in society. The three of us discuss legislative efforts to ban critical race theory. Legislators say they want students to be presented with the facts and make their own decisions, but that’s not what’s really going on. Opponents of critical theory race actually want to suppress what teachers can present in the classroom and don’t want any discussion about racial bias being baked into the system.We’re running a brief survey for our listeners, and we’d love to hear from you.  Go to lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey and give us your input. It takes just two minutes–literally.

Ohio State University Associate Professor Joni Acuff talks with us about what critical race theory actually is—as opposed to how it’s described by its critics—and gives examples of racial inequality being imbedded in society. The three of us discuss legislative efforts to ban critical race theory. Legislators say they want students to be presented with the facts and make their own decisions, but that’s not what’s really going on. Opponents of critical theory race actually want to suppress what teachers can present in the classroom and don’t want any discussion about racial bias being baked into the system.We’re running a brief survey for our listeners, and we’d love to hear from you.  Go to <a href="https://lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey</a> and give us your input. It takes just two minutes–literally.

35. Critical race theory–a subject of controversy and misinformation

Sara Denny, M.D., a pediatrician, talks with us about why teenagers and adults in their early 20s make bad decisions. It’s simple–their brains aren’t fully developed. As a consequence, they’re more vulnerable to pressure and stress and not thinking things through. If teens and very young adults are not wired to think maturely, what does that mean for how we should treat them in the criminal justice system? Listen to the conversation.We’re running a brief survey for our listeners, and we’d love to hear from you.  Go to lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey and give us your input. It takes just two minutes–literally.

Sara Denny, M.D., a pediatrician, talks with us about why teenagers and adults in their early 20s make bad decisions. It’s simple–their brains aren’t fully developed. As a consequence, they’re more vulnerable to pressure and stress and not thinking things through. If teens and very young adults are not wired to think maturely, what does that mean for how we should treat them in the criminal justice system? Listen to the conversation.We’re running a brief survey for our listeners, and we’d love to hear from you.  Go to <a href="https://lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey</a> and give us your input. It takes just two minutes–literally.

34. The adolescent mind and bad decision making

A  prior guest on our podcast, Jonathan Groner is a pediatric surgeon and the medical director of the Center for Pediatric Trauma Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital who regularly treats Columbus children for gunshot wounds. For Groner, gun violence isn’t some distant problem to debate from the comfort of his home. For him, it’s very personal. Listen to him describe the prevalence of gun violence in low-income neighborhoods, the racial disparities associated with gun violence, accidental shootings in the home, and our state legislature’s indifference to the problem.We’re running a brief survey for our listeners, and we’d love to hear from you.  Go to lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey and give us your input. It takes just two minutes–literally.

A  prior guest on our podcast, Jonathan Groner is a pediatric surgeon and the medical director of the Center for Pediatric Trauma Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital who regularly treats Columbus children for gunshot wounds. For Groner, gun violence isn’t some distant problem to debate from the comfort of his home. For him, it’s very personal. Listen to him describe the prevalence of gun violence in low-income neighborhoods, the racial disparities associated with gun violence, accidental shootings in the home, and our state legislature’s indifference to the problem.We’re running a brief survey for our listeners, and we’d love to hear from you.  Go to <a href="https://lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey</a> and give us your input. It takes just two minutes–literally.

33. Gun violence–a pediatric surgeon’s point of view

As a state representative, Jim Petro helped draft Ohio’s death penalty law in 1981. During his watch as attorney general from 2003 to 2007, the state of Ohio executed 18 men. But now, Petro thinks it’s time to repeal the death penalty. Listen and find out why.We’re running a brief survey for our listeners, and we’d love to hear from you.  Go to lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey and give us your input. It takes just two minutes–literally.

As a state representative, Jim Petro helped draft Ohio’s death penalty law in 1981. During his watch as attorney general from 2003 to 2007, the state of Ohio executed 18 men. But now, Petro thinks it’s time to repeal the death penalty. Listen and find out why.We’re running a brief survey for our listeners, and we’d love to hear from you.  Go to <a href="https://lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey</a> and give us your input. It takes just two minutes–literally.

32. Former attorney general Jim Petro: repeal the death penalty

Why is it that some number of people want to deprive members of the LGBTQ community of the fundamental rights that everyone else enjoys? What’s so hard about recognizing the humanity of the LGBTQ community? Listen to Densil Porteous, executive director of Stonewall Columbus, talk about how he uses grace and patience to help people move beyond the social constructs they’ve learned and his efforts to change the hearts of those who think the LGBTQ community should be treated differently.We’re running a brief survey for our listeners, and we’d love to hear from you.  Go to lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey and give us your input. It takes just two minutes–literally.

Why is it that some number of people want to deprive members of the LGBTQ community of the fundamental rights that everyone else enjoys? What’s so hard about recognizing the humanity of the LGBTQ community? Listen to Densil Porteous, executive director of Stonewall Columbus, talk about how he uses grace and patience to help people move beyond the social constructs they’ve learned and his efforts to change the hearts of those who think the LGBTQ community should be treated differently.We’re running a brief survey for our listeners, and we’d love to hear from you.  Go to <a href="https://lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">lawyerupcolumbus.com/survey</a> and give us your input. It takes just two minutes–literally.

31. Recognizing the humanity within the LGBTQ community

Social justice means applying the law equally to all people. But in practice, that doesn’t always happen. We’re business and trial lawyers with over 60 years experience of practice. Together, we practice law, we seek social justice, and we reveal the conflict between the two. And in this podcast, we bring together guests from a variety of backgrounds to discuss the current issues surrounding social justice and the inequity between these issues and their relation to the legal system. Join with us, so that it’s not Just Us.

JUSTUS with Jack & Gonzo

The best podcast episodes on Startups. For anyone working in a startup, or anyone interested in the incredible stories behind how people built companies like Instagram, and Facebook. Offering both practical advice and insights, as well as the stories for how many of the biggest startups got to where they are today. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

OwlTail

Best Startups Podcasts

The best podcast episodes on romantic relationships. Episodes talk about the 5 love languages, intimacy, and the taboo topics of sexual desires and infidelity. This topic is a deep dive into the science and complexities that face us in our relationships with others. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!