CJ Suitt is a young black poet living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. And he has a simple and frightening question, "Would I be shot if I called the police?" CJ uses his poetry to combat stereotypes and to build bridges of understanding. But he admits, in the wake of yet another series of high profile killings of black men by the police, something has changed. CJ no longer feels safe walking at night. This week on Stories with a Heartbeat, CJ Suitt shares his thoughts and poetry on the fear of police violence. Download This Week’s Episode CJ is not afraid of being robbed or assaulted. He is afraid of being perceived as a threat. "It's night time, I'm a black male, a dark skinned black male. I'm walking in the street. People don't see nothing but a shadow. And because there is no understanding. Or a willingness to understand. There is just a jump to a reaction," he said. But CJ is not only afraid of being perceived as a threat. He is also afraid because there is no one he can call for

As athletes from around the world compete for gold in Rio this summer, poets from across the U.S. are facing off in a different kind of competition. It is called a poetry slam. On this episode of Stories with a Heartbeat , we talk to poetry slam champion Dasan Ahanu to figure out what this poetic conflict is all about, and how to win. Download Episode 11 Now In 2010, Dasan Ahanu and host Will McInerney were on a slam team together. They were competing in the Southern Fried Poetry Slam . Southern Fried is one of the the largest and longest running poetry slams in the world. Their team from Durham, North Carolina made it all the way to finals that year. Dasan recalls what it felt like to be in a big-time poetry slam like Southern Fried. "It's one of the most amazing feelings ever, everything moves in slow motion, you feel like there is this aura around you, you are totally conscious of everything you are doing in terms of body motion, you are hearing each word as it comes out," he said.

Graduation speeches tend to be predictable and repetitive. They rarely leave a lasting impression. But a couple months ago, Harvard Graduate School of Education student Donovan Livingston's voice echoed around the world as his poetic commencement speech went viral .

Rafeef Ziadah is a Palestinian poet and human rights activist living in London. Her poem, “We Teach Life, Sir,” is powerful and poignant reminder of the human condition in conflict. On this bonus episode of Stories with a Heartbeat, host Will McInerney reflects on some of the stories from our past episodes covering the Chapel Hill Shooting in season 1. Rafeef's beautiful and moving poetry is emblematic of the legacy and the lasting message of life that Deah Barakat , Yusor Abu Salha , and Razan Abu Salha left behind. Listen to Rafeef's poem with the link below. Download the Bonus Episode Now Season 1 of the Stories with a Heartbeat podcast is over, but you can still download all the episodes today! Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast produced by North Carolina Public Radio and hosted by poet Will McInerney that uses poetry and storytelling to help us understand conflict. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes , Google Play , or your podcast platform of choice. Check out

Amin Drew Law is a Palestinian-American poet and educator based in Washington D.C. In his poem, "The Secret Weapon of Chubby Boys," Amin taps into a classic schoolyard conflict and provides a hilarious and heartwarming solution. On this bonus episode of Stories with a Heartbeat, we reflect on some of the classroom conflicts we covered in season 1 of the podcast. From the first days of elementary to college graduation, we explored the spectrum of friction at school. This week we hear from poet Amin Drew Law with a new, potent, and poetic reminder of school conflict. Download the Bonus Episode Now Season 1 of the Stories with a Heartbeat podcast is over, but you can still download all the episodes today! Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast produced by North Carolina Public Radio and hosted by poet Will McInerney that uses poetry and storytelling to help us understand conflict. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes , Google Play , or your podcast platform of choice. Follow

North Carolina is one of only two states in the US where 16 and 17 years old kids are routinely charged as adults for even the most minor offenses. This policy has serious consequences for the youth involved. In this bonus podcast episode, poet Kane Smego shares a gripping poem called, “Oh Carolina” about justice and conflict in North Carolina. Download the Bonus Episode Now Season 1 of the Stories with a Heartbeat podcast is over, but you can still download all the episodes today! Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast produced by North Carolina Public Radio and hosted by poet Will McInerney that uses poetry and storytelling to help us understand conflict. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes , Google Play , or your podcast platform of choice. Check out Kane's website to learn more about his poetry. Thanks to Torian Ugworji, Robalu Gibsun, and the VCU Ram Slam for the audio from Kane’s poem. Subscribe To This Podcast

Kieve and Margaret, mom and indie, middle grade and romance author, discuss Kruger’s We Are Not What We Seem. They talk about second wave feminism’s connections to modernism and Lacanian Psychology, collage, and language. Kieve discusses parallels between the SUPREME brand and Kruger’s aesthetic. Buckle up, for an informative, jam packed episode!

During the WCBE spring fund drive the staff was so inspired by your responses that we promised to each do five random acts of kindness in your honor. Coming up with ideas wasn’t hard, and putting them into action was even easier. In fact, I realized there were different categories of RAK. Some of the things I did in your name were not-so-random; every week when I do my grocery shopping now, I spend $5-10 on food for the free Little Pantry in my neighborhood, to provide a snack or an extra meal for someone who needs it. Some were practical, like taking cat litter and a dozen cans of prescription food to the folks at Cat Welfare. Some were more… whimsical. I used scraps of old sweaters to make a dozen or so little monsters – then scattered them around the children’s sections of two different libraries. Some of the best RAKs, the ones that make people smile, are small, spontaneous gestures. In the course of this challenge to myself, I realized how many opportunities there are in a day for

A few of us had the opportunity to visit with a lovely woman who may be WCBE's longest-living listener. Anne Smith has lived in Columbus since 1957, a year after 90.5 began broadcasting. Anne loves to listen to 90.5 with her son Roger and especially enjoys the music. Caitlin Farkas, Maggie Brennan, and Mike Foley visited with Anne during her special birthday celebration this past weekend. We arrived just in time to join her family and friends in singing " Happy Birthday." Can you believe this beautiful woman is 102 years old? Anne's smile and kindness truly inspired us. We're so grateful to have shared a small part of her special day. WCBE staff have been dedicated to bringing the Central Ohio community Random Acts of Kindness since our spring fundraiser. Be sure to spread the kindness and let us know which random act of kindness you performed today by sending us an email!

Kieve and Camille, a veterinarian and cancer researcher, discuss Kahlo’s Broken Column. The pair blaze through topics like chronic pain, colonialism, race, Catholic symbolism, and Lacanian Psychology, and Feminism. Once again this is a packed episode! I hope you’re excited! Links to art: Music: Fed up with Hunger by Saintsenenca : Patron Saint Regina Spektor Flying Away from Fun Home Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori

The WonderBus Music Festival takes place in Columbus this weekend featuring more than 20 musicians and bands including Ben Harper, Trombone Shorty and Walk The Moon.

Actor Peter Fonda, best-known for his iconic role as a free-spirited motorcycle rider in the 1969 counterculture classic Easy Rider , died Friday at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 79. The cause of his death was respiratory failure due to lung cancer, according to a family statement released to People magazine. "In one of the saddest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our hearts. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy," the Fonda family wrote. "And, while we mourn the loss of this sweet and gracious man, we also wish for all to celebrate his indomitable spirit and love of life," they added. "In honor of Peter, please raise a glass to freedom." Peter Fonda was the only son of Hollywood legend Henry Fonda and socialite Frances Seymour Brokaw. He was also the brother of actress Jane Fonda. Peter Fonda had a brief film career in the mid-1960s before his breakout performance as Wyatt in Easy Rider, costarring Dennis

Kim Manley Ort shares her approach to contemplative photography including exercises you can try using your camera or smartphone. We also discuss the challenges of sharing photos on social media and why they’re worth navigating. Excerpt from her book Adventures in Seeing: How the Camera Teaches You to Pause, Focus, and Connect with Life : “Learn to trust and honor your unique way of seeing and share it with the world. Our world needs people who pause before reacting, who focus on what’s really happening, see the possibilities, and then act from this place. It needs people who don’t feel helpless, who don’t rush to judgment or dismiss people or situations as unworthy of attention. The world needs you to see this way and your camera or smartphone can lead the way.” Follow Kim: KimManleyOrt.com Workshops, on-demand email courses, and retreats Monthly newsletter Instagram Resources that came up in our conversation: Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World ( library ) by

Cheryl Leutjen cares deeply about the future of our planet. But like the rest of us, she often feels overwhelmed by the scope of our environmental challenges and a sense of powerless in the face of so much uncertainty. In her book, Love Earth Now: The Power of Doing One Thing Every Day , she uses humor and candor to inspire others to steer toward personal engagement and sustainable hope. In this conversation, Cheryl shares some of the ways she’s found to approach the challenges of "eco-madness" more mindfully — not to prescribe how others should respond, but to invite each of us to find immediately doable ways to contribute to the sustainable wellbeing of the earth for future generations. Follow Cheryl: CherylLeutjen.com Love Earth Now ( first chapter ) Mango Publishing Author Profile Newsletter Facebook Instagram Twitter Etsy Related: Greta Thunberg: TIME's Person of the Year 2019 Please consider leaving a review , following us on Twitter , and sharing your reflections on Facebook .

Carl Coleman has worked in law enforcement and protection for 30 years. He has provided security for professional sports teams, politicians, and public figures such as Les Wexner, James Caan, and Shaquille O’Neal. He is a lifelong learner who leverages his time to assess his life, come up with ideas, and develop projects. He started to learn how to play the piano as an adult and has been taking lessons for eleven years. Carl and Daron talk about situational awareness, sustaining attention over extended periods of time, and the importance of challenging yourself throughout your life. Carl recommends: Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Rac e by Margot Lee Shetterly and the 2016 movie based on it Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins Additional information related to topics we discussed: "Attentional Fitness Exercises for Musicians" by Daron Larson The Gift of Fear and Other

Cardiologists in Columbus are the first in the nation to test new technology for patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. Doctors say it's a safer and more effective alternative.

The Columbus Board of Health today declared a local public health emergency giving the city extra safety measures to respond to COVID-19 cases. The declaration allows for the quarantine and isolation of individuals with the virus and as a last resort law enforcement involvement for any instances of non-compliance.

This month is a special one for people of many faiths, and not being able to gather has been a concern for those who find fellowship to be comforting, and even necessary in tough times. So faith leaders are finding unique ways to reach out to their congregations.

Social distancing and the stay-at-home order have caused a lot of people to change their plans. But some tenacious Ohioans aren’t letting the pandemic get in their way. And they are getting creative about finding alternatives.

Arden Kaywin is a singer, voice teacher, and vocal producer based in Los Angeles. She incorporates mindful awareness into her holistic approach to helping singers get out of their heads and realize their full potential for artistic expression. 
 Arden and Daron discuss the kinds of obstacles professional singers run into and how navigating them invariably supports showing up for more fully in their personal lives. Resources related to this conversation: FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real The DEN Mediation studio in Los Angeles Mindfulness teachers: Heather Prete and Chandresh Bhardwaj (author of Break the Norms ) "For Singers Who Have Ever Felt Stuck In Your Head" A blog post Arden wrote in response to Daron's TEDxColumbus Talk Don't Try to Be Mindful "Attentional Fitness Training for Musicians" A blog post Daron wrote about bringing mindful awareness to musical practice and performance Follow Arden: Arden Kaywin Vocal Studio ( www.ardenkaywinvocalstudio.com ) Facebook Group: The Pro

Production on season 10 of the hit series has been axed because of the coronavirus crisis, but the actor playing Negan could not help but be excited for the upcoming special episode.

Created by 'American Vandal' showrunner Dan Lagana, this eight-part series is said to revolve around the life of Joe Schreibvogel, an eccentric zookeeper in Oklahoma, who fights to keep his park open.

In the new episode of the spin-off series of ABC's 'The Bachelor', the remaining six couples will be paired with someone from another couple to test their relationships.

Because of the travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the former Destiny's Child member and the 'Everything I Own' singer will be moved into the role of mentors.

In related news, Eva allegedly 'felt disrespected' during a heated fight at 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' season 12 reunion, which will air on Sunday, May 10.

The upcoming 'Battlestar Galactica' series is moving ahead as the show secures Michael Lesslie who previously penned the script for the 'Assassin's Creed' movie.

Both Robert Rodriguez and Payton Reed have been confirmed to sit behind the lens for the upcoming second installment of Disney's hit 'Star Wars' spin-off.

The 'Lose You to Love Me' singer is announced to front an online cooking series and show off her skills in the kitchen amid the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.

In the video, Tyra advises contestant Danielle Evans to close the gap in her front teeth, saying, 'Do you really think you can a have a covergirl contract with a gap in your mouth?'

Prior to this, it was said that the Bravo honchos decided to fire Cynthia and fellow 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Eva Marcille because their 'storylines were the weakest.'

Starring in the skit for 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon', The Rolling Stones frontman gets onboard to support a non-profit providing for children in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

During a recent SAG Foundation Conversations at Home interview, the Oscar winner talks about the main differences between what happens to her Jeanne Crandall character and herself in real life.

Weeks after COVID-19 shut down productions worldwide, Ryan Murphy admits that he has been contemplating between pushing production back by a year or changing theme.

The two late-night show hosts respond to Donald Trump's ridicule, saying the president should focus on the coronavirus pandemic instead of television ratings.

The 'Seinfeld' actor reveals to his former co-star that he was offered a huge bribe to spill the beans ahead of the highly-anticipated finale of their TV show.

The comedy show 'Man with a Plan' gets the axe on CBS after four seasons while the drama series 'Tommy' is canceled by the TV network after airing the first season.

Reinhart is joined by 'Riverdale' castmates Camila Mendes and Madelaine Petsch to lend their voice to 'snooty rich girls' in an upcoming episode of the animated comedy series.

In the new episode of the hit FOX singing competition, Jeff Dye is tapped to be the guest panelist, joining Ken Jeong, Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy and Nicole Scherzinger.

'The Hangover' star Ed Helms, in the meantime, is on board as an executive producer for the planned project that will chronicle the rise and fall of the former Mayor of Toronto.

In a newly released statement, VH1 announces that it has 'forcibly shut down' production of upcoming seasons of several spin-off series amid the global pandemic which has claimed many people's lives.

Denise's eyebrow-raising action seems to have something to do with hookup rumors, which started to spark in late November 2019, involving her and former 'RHOBH' star Brandi Glanville.

The 'White Collar' main actor and the creator Jeff Eastin confirm discussions to bring back the drama series which originally ended in 2014 after six seasons.

Cast members, including Pete Davidson and Kate McKinnon, have been entertaining fans with skits and musical numbers from their self-isolation since mid-April.

Series creator Ryan Murphy reveals in a new interview that he has done writing the scripts for the new installment of the series, though the production has yet to start due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

A judge has ruled in favor of the 'Seinfeld' actor after he was sued by writer/director Christian Charles over who came up with the idea for the 'Comedians in Cars' show.

The 'Community' cast members are going to reunite for a virtual table read without Chevy Chase who was fired from the show due to his increasingly aggressive and racist antics.

The creator/host of the long-running modeling competition finds herself under fire after a clip from a past episode in which she confronted Dani Evans about the gap in her teeth came out online again.

The actor playing Neal Caffrey in the crime drama series has reconnected with castmates, including Tim DeKay, Hilarie Burton, Willie Garson and Tiffani Thiessen, and creator Jeff Eastin, in a livestream.

While the long and anxious wait for news engulfed loved ones in Southampton, rescue attempts continued mid-Atlantic in the wake of Titanic’s demise.

Faces of the relatives gathered outside the White Star Line’s Southampton offices were etched with anguish and despair. Dan Kerins retells the story of when the tragic Titanic news broke