Making Contact

Frequencies of Change Media
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"Making Contact" digs into the story beneath the story—contextualizing the narratives that shape our culture. Produced by Frequencies of Change Media (FoC Media), the award-winning radio show and podcast examines the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground, building a more just world through narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the environment, labor, economics, health, governance, and arts and culture.

  1. 2 HRS AGO

    Remembering Fred Hampton (Encore)

    Our radio adaptation of the film, The Murder of Fred Hampton, produced by filmmakers Mike Gray and Howard Alk, provides a glimpse into the life of Hampton and the Illinois Black Panther Party.  On December 4th, 1969, exactly 50 years ago, Black Panthers Fred Hampton, age 21, and Mark Clark, age 22, were shot to death by Chicago police. In an infamous moment in Chicago's history and politics, over a dozen policemen burst into Hampton's apartment while its occupants were sleeping, killing Hampton and fellow Panther Mark Clark, and brutalizing the other occupants. As Deputy Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, Hampton built a solid reputation as a community organizer and brilliant speaker. The FBI, threatened by the activities of the BPP and its dynamic youth leaders, set on a course to neutralize the organization and anyone they deemed a threat to the agenda of white supremacy. "You can jail the revolutionary, but you can't jail the revolution…You might murder a freedom fighter like Bobby Hutton, but you can't murder freedom fighting." – Fred Hampton. Featuring: Fred Hampton Bobby Rush Rennie Davis Edward Hanrahan Credits: Special thanks to Facets DVD and Filmmakers Mike Gray and Howard Alk Host: Anita Johnson Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonorain Music:  "Grand Caravan", Blue Dot Sessions elling Easements Viola Trio Long", Barbara Bernstein  "Long Cory", Cory Learn More:  The Murder of Fred Hampton A Facets Cine-Notes Booklet The Assassination of Fred Hampton Freedom Archives: Fred Hampton Audio Samples Freedom Archives: Honoring Fred Hampton on the 50th Anniversary of his Murder Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

    29 min

  2. FEB 11

    Giving Bayard Rustin His Flowers (Encore)

    On today's show, we take a look at the life and legacy of a central organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, Bayard Rustin. Rustin was an openly gay civil rights leader and a trusted advisor to labor leader A. Phillip Randolph and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This show first aired in June 2021. Special Thank You to Nancy Kates and Bennett Singer the producers/directors of Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin and Sam Pollard, the executive director.  And to the Pacifica Radio Archives for use of the Bayard Rustin archival materials. Featuring: Bayard Rustin –  the architect of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Ashon Crawley – University of Virginia Associate Professor of Religious Studies and African-American and African Studies Nancy Kates – filmmaker and producer of Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin Bill Sutherland – Fellowship of Reconciliation Reverend A.J. Muste – pacifist and mentor of Rustin George Houser – Fellowship of Reconciliation Louis John – nephew of Bayard Rustin Devi Prasad – pacifist  Making Contact Team Episode host: Anita Johnson Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music Credits Cory Gray – "Medieval Tension" Ketsa – "This Way Joyous"  Blue Dot Sessions – "Rally" Blue Dot Sessions – "Rayling" Dee Yan-Key – "Hold On" Dee Yan-Key – "Go Down Moses" Blue Dot Sessions – "3rd Chair" Andy G. Cohen – "Our Young Guts" Learn More Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin by John D'Emilio Bayard Rustin Fund Troublemaker for Justice: The Story of Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the March on Washington by Jacqueline Houtman, Michael G. Long, Walter Naegle I Must Resist: Bayard Rustin's Life in Letters by Bayard Rustin, edited by Michael G. Long Bayard Rustin: Troubles I've Seen Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers PBS History AFL-CIO Washington Post NYTimes Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

    29 min

  3. FEB 4

    A Dream Remembered? Martin Luther King Jr and the Grassroots Civil Rights Movement (Encore)

    On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28th 1963, at the March on Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered one of the most famous speeches of all time. But it nearly didn't happen. On this special edition of Making Contact, Gary Younge, author of The Speech: The Story Behind Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream, talks about Martin Luther King Junior's "Dream" and the story behind it. Special thanks to the New School for the recording. Featuring: Gary Younge, author and journalist Making Contact Team: Episode Host: George Lavender Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonorain Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

    29 min

  4. JAN 28

    Origin Story: Making Contact | 30th Anniversary Capsule

    From its birthplace in an Oakland cafe in 1994 to the Battle in Seattle, international reporting projects, and a deep commitment to social justice journalism, Making Contact has been an important part of the media landscape for more than thirty years. Guest host Jessica Partnow guides us through some of the key moments in Making Contact's history in conversation with founders Peggy Law and Norman Solomon. This episode is part of the Making Contact Anniversary Capsule: celebrating 30 years of social justice journalism. The miniseries takes us from protests on the streets of Seattle to an Indiana family fighting for their daughter's gender affirming care. It explores a racial reckoning in the world of romance writers, and tells the story of border walls from Gaza to Arizona. These shows embody how Making Contact has been digging into the story beneath the story since 1994. Featuring: Peggy Law Norman Solomon Jeff Emtman Credits: Making Contact Team Guest Host: Jessica Partnow Executive Director: Jina Chung Editor: Adwoa Gyimah Brempong Interviews: Salima Hamirani Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonorain Music: "Bullethead," Charlie Hunter Trio Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

    29 min

  5. JAN 21

    The Cost of Deportations | 30th Anniversary Capsule

    About two million Guatemalans live in the US. But, half of those here lack legal status, and tens of thousands of Guatemalans are deported back to their country each year. Are the countries these migrants left prepared for an influx of returnees?  This episode, originally released in 2018, is part of the Making Contact Anniversary Capsule: celebrating 30 years of social justice journalism. The miniseries takes us from protests on the streets of Seattle to an Indiana family fighting for their daughter's gender affirming care. It explores a racial reckoning in the world of romance writers, and tells the story of border walls from Gaza to Arizona. These shows embody how Making Contact has been digging into the story beneath the story since 1994. Featuring: Carlos Lopez, Casa del Migrante Guatemala Martin, Juan Sebastian, Rodolfo, and Hicer – Guatemalans who have migrated and been deported, or who have attempted to migrate to the US Lisbeth Gramajo, Anthropologist at Rafael Landivar University Willie Barreno, Chef and Founder of Cafe Red Kat Fredy Lopez, San Pedro Credit Cooperative Don Julio, Q'anjobal Maya Elder Don Sebastian Gaspar, Business Owner Father Mauro Verzeletti, Director Casa del Migrante Guatemala and El Salvador Father Dionisio, Pastor of San Pedro Catholic Church Marvin Otzcoy, Guatemalan Fraternity of Northern Nevada Credits: Reporting made possible by a grant from FIJ— the Fund for Investigative Journalism. Voice Overs by Miguel Estrada, Claude Marks, Jesús Hermosillo, Joel Ulloa, Max Ferrin, Glenn Ontiveros, Ruxandra Guidi, Jonathan Lawson, and Chris Stehlik. Making Contact Team Host: Monica Lopez Episode Producer & Reporter: Maria Martin Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonorain Music: "Assobio", Z Trigueiros "Saez", Z Trigueiros "Phased", Z Trigueiros "Fater Lee", Black Ant  (open) "Rise", Meydan (credits) Learn More:  Casa del Migrante – Guatemala La Cafe Red Kat La Cafe Red Kat II 'Nothing for us here': Deported Guatemalans plan to return to U.S. U.S. embassy cables warned against expelling 300,000 immigrants. Trump officials did it anyway. 'Claudia was a good girl. Why did they kill her?' From a Guatemalan village to death in Texas San Juan Ostuncalco llora a Claudia Patricia Gómez

    29 min

  6. JAN 14

    In the Shadow of the Wall: From Gaza to Arizona | 30th Anniversary Capsule

    In dozens of countries around the world, millions of people live beside border walls. These heavily militarized and closely watched areas can be dangerous places to be. On this edition, from Palestinian farmers struggling to make a living next to the Israeli wall, to shootings at the fence that divides the US and Mexico. This episode, originally produced in 2013, is presented as part of the Making Contact Anniversary Capsule: celebrating 30 years of social justice journalism. The miniseries takes us from protests on the streets of Seattle to an Indiana family fighting for their daughter's gender affirming care. It explores a racial reckoning in the world of romance writers, and tells the story of border walls from Gaza to Arizona. These shows embody how Making Contact has been digging into the story beneath the story since 1994. Featuring: Alex Soto, MC Shining Soul, Hannah Hafter, No More Deaths, Isabel Garcia, Derechos Humanos co-chair, Majed Wahdan, Gazan farmer; Mohammed Qudaih, drone strike victim; Dr Nabil Abu Sahammalla, Gazan Agricultural Ministry Director General for Planning; Zahra Abu Daqqa, Gazan farmer; Saber Za'aneen, non-violent activist Making Contact Credits: Host: George Lavender Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonorain Learn More: No More Deaths Coalición de Derechos Humanos International Solidarity Movement Palestinian Solidarity Project Electronic Intifada Oodham Solidarity Gila River Against Loop 202 Stop CanaMex No South Mountain Freeway Shining Soul Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

    29 min

  7. JAN 7

    Trade Shifts: Reflections on the Seattle WTO Protests | 30th Anniversary Capsule

    On November 30th, 1999, tens of thousands of people shook the streets of Seattle, Washington, in protest of the World Trade Organization. The WTO symbolized the corporate takeover of human needs and the environment. On this edition, we revisit the voices from that week.  This episode, originally released in 2009, is part of the Making Contact Anniversary Capsule: celebrating 30 years of social justice journalism. The miniseries takes us from protests on the streets of Seattle to an Indiana family fighting for their daughter's gender affirming care. It explores a racial reckoning in the world of romance writers, and tells the story of border walls from Gaza to Arizona. These shows embody how Making Contact has been digging into the story beneath the story since 1994. Featuring: Gopal Dayaneni, organizer with Movement Generation; Mohau Pheko, representative of the Africa Trade Network at the 1999 Seattle WTO meeting; Anuradha Mittal, Executive Director, Oakland Institute; Chuck Collins, co-founder of United for a Fair Economy and Wealth for the Common Good. Making Contact Team: Producer: Andrew Stelzer Episode Host: Tena Rubio Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonorain   Music: Infernal Noise Brigade The Platform Learn More: Focus on the Global South Bangkok, Thailand | Inequality and the Common Good Boston, MA | Institute for Policy Studies Washington, DC | International Forum on Globalization San Francisco, CA | Jubilee USA Network Washington, DC | Movement Generation Oakland, CA | Oakland Institute Oakland, CA | Ruckus Society Oakland, CA | United for a Fair Economy Boston, MA | Wealth for the Common Good Boston, MA Books and Films: Five Days That Shook the World: The Battle for Seattle and Beyond By Alexander Cockburn, Jeffrey St. Clair and Allan Sekula The Battle in Seattle - The Story Behind and Beyond the WTO Demonstrations By Janet Thomas This is What Democracy Looks Like (film) Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

    29 min

  8. 2025-12-31

    The Agony and the Ecstasy: Race and the Future of the Love Story | 30th Anniversary Capsule

    In 2019 a well known romance writer began tweeting about other writers in her community and concerns about racism. It led to a huge reckoning within an organization called the Romance Writers of America. And although the online debate seemed to be isolated to a specific community of romance writers and their fans, it was really a microcosm of what's been happening all over the US. In this episode we learn all about romance novels and how newer writers are changing the norms of the genre, and giving it a political power it's never had before. And, we talk about what it means for organizations to change as they grapple with questions of race. This episode, originally released in June 2022, is part of the Making Contact Anniversary Capsule: celebrating 30 years of social justice journalism. The miniseries takes us from protests on the streets of Seattle to an Indiana family fighting for their daughter's gender affirming care. It explores a racial reckoning in the world of romance writers, and tells the story of border walls from Gaza to Arizona. These shows embody how Making Contact has been digging into the story beneath the story since 1994. Featuring: - Jayashree Kamble; professor of English Literature at La Guardia Community College - Reagan Jackson; co-executive director, Young Women Empowered, also a romance reader and fan - Contance Grady; Senior Culture Reporter for Vox - Elise Staples, member of a romance reading book club through meetup.com  Credits: **Making Contact Team** - Episode Host: Salima Hamirani - Producers: Salima Hamirani, Anita Johnson, Lucy Kang, Amy Gastelum - Executive Director: Jina Chung - Engineer: [Jeff Emtman](https://jeffemtman.com/) - Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonorain   **Music**: - Johnny Ripper - Overout - Johnny Ripper - Sfhk (mental breakdown) - Johnny Ripper - Untitled (waking up) - Johnny Ripper - In a Dream - Dance of the Seahorse - Gideon Freudman - Pictures of the Floating World - Waves - Bio Unit - Subterannean - Ketsa - you asked Learn More:  Constance Grady's Article for Vox The Romance Writers of America International Association for the Study of Popular Romance Making Meaning in Popular Romance Fiction: An Epistemología Recommended Reading list Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

    29 min
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About

"Making Contact" digs into the story beneath the story—contextualizing the narratives that shape our culture. Produced by Frequencies of Change Media (FoC Media), the award-winning radio show and podcast examines the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground, building a more just world through narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the environment, labor, economics, health, governance, and arts and culture.

Information

  • Creator
    Frequencies of Change Media
  • Years Active
    2005 - 2026
  • Episodes
    840
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Frequencies of Change Media
  • Show Website
    Making Contact

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