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. 4d ago

    Cruelty for Profit: How Private Companies Built the Immigrant Prison Industrial Complex

    This week we're discussing private ownership of immigration detention facilities. The same companies that run private, for-profit prisons are holding detainees for ICE. Our guests consider how a profit motive influences the treatment of people being held, share what they know about the conditions inside, and discuss the ways their communities are coming together to fight for detainees' rights. Recorded in part at an ICE vigil in downtown Los Angeles, August 2026. This episode includes discussion of detention conditions, self-harm and suicide. Featuring: Kevin Foster, independent journalist who has reported on immigration for Mother Jones Stacy Tolchin, immigration attorney, Pasadena, California Michelle Arkin, founding member, No Camps California Nicole Edry, Democracy Action Network Archival audio: Thomas Beasley, then Chairman, Corrections Corporation of America — C-SPAN, 1987 Perla Trevizo, ProPublica — C-SPAN "Washington Journal," June 9, 2026 Rob Bonta, California Attorney General — press conference, May 15, 2026 Eduardo Delgado, Migrant Equity Southeast — from Sonali Kolhatkar's "Breaking ICE" Credits: * Host and Producer: Mel Buer * Senior Producer: Dan Pavlish * Producer: Vanessa Kolb * Editor: Andrew Stelzer * Executive Producer and Audio Editor: Ace Estwick * Engineer: Mark Maxwell Music: * [MUSIC SOURCE] Thanks: Archival audio of Thomas Beasley and Perla Trevizo courtesy C-SPAN. Special thanks to Sonali Kolhatkar for permission to air an excerpt from her book "Breaking ICE: Community Defense Against State Terror and MAGA Fascism." Learn More: * https://nocampsca.com/ * https://unitedwedream.org/ * https://immigrantjustice.org/ * https://www.sevenstories.com/books/4889-breaking-ice 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.

  2. Aug 19

    Nobody Told Them: Veterans and the Broken Handoff

    Veterans leave the military having earned health care, education benefits, and job training. What almost nobody tells them is that none of it is automatic. You have to show up with your DD-214 and enroll yourself, and if you don't, no one follows up. On this episode, six veterans across four decades and four branches of service describe the same gap. A Marine who got out in 1989 and didn't learn what the VA was until 2019. An Army mechanic who called 211 out of desperation and found housing. A combat veteran who lost her home during COVID and was told she earned too much to qualify for help. Recorded at the U.S.VETS facility in Inglewood, California, with interviews from the Center on Conscience and War and 50501 Veterans. We requested an interview with the Department of Defense and did not receive a response. Featuring: Mike Prysner, Executive Director, Center on Conscience and War Zue Jernstedt, U.S. Army veteran Katie Chorbak, President, 50501 Veterans Sam Corbett, U.S. Marines veteran, U.S.VETS client Shalimar Cabrera, National Director of Executive Leadership, U.S.VETS Charles Gonzales, U.S. Army veteran, U.S.VETS client Thomas "Brother" Woods, U.S. Navy veteran, U.S.VETS volunteer veteran coordinator Jimmy Perez, U.S. Army veteran Archival audio: "Service to Those Who Served" (1945), U.S. Veterans Administration. Public domain. Credits: * Host: Casey J. Adler * Senior Producer: Dan Pavlish * Engineers: Ace Estwick and Mark Maxwell * Editor: Andrew Stelzer Music: * Pixabay Content License Learn More: * https://www.211.org * https://www.va.gov/health-care/apply * https://usvets.org * https://centeronconscience.org * https://www.veteranscrisisline.net 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.

  3. Aug 12

    Passing the Torch to Pacifica

    For over 30 years, Making Contact has been bringing you grassroots voices and context, to better understand the world and the people who are struggling to make it better. As Pacifica radio takes over production of the show, media critic and Making Contact co-founder Norman Solomon joins us this week, to understand the crucial role of independent media, and how we've navigated change—from the Bill Clinton era, to the second term of Donald Trump. Featuring: Norman Solomon, Executive Director of the Institute for Public Accuracy and Making Contact co-founder Archival audio: Bill Clinton, President of the United States; Deborah Toller, political economy analyst; Naomi Perez, former American Apparel employee; Roberto Surro, professor at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at USC; Elie Mystal, Justice Correspondent at The Nation   Credits: * Host: Mark Maxwell * Reporters: Andrew Stelzer, Phillip Babich, Julie Light, Reese Erlich, Patrick Burke, Lucy Kang, Rami Almeghari * Executive Director: Ace Estwick * Staff Producer: Dan Pavlish * Engineer: Mark Maxwell * Editor: Jessica Partnow

  4. Aug 5

    Kev Choice: Love, Growth, and the Power of Music (Encore)

    We sit down with Kev Choice, a classically trained pianist, rapper, composer, and educator, who has reshaped the Bay Area music scene. Raised in Oakland with San Francisco roots, Kev blends hip-hop, jazz, soul, and classical music into a unique sound. His latest EP, _All My Love_, explores themes of love, vulnerability, and human connection, with soulful melodies and reflective lyrics capturing the complexities of relationships. This episode first aired in November 2024. Featuring: Kev Choice Credits: Episode host: Anita Johnson Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman  Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music: Kev Choice "All This Love" Kev Choice "Congratulations" Kev Choice "Searching for a Feeling Kev Choice "Fresh Fade" Kev Choice "International Blvd" Kev Choice "God" Kev Choice "Feel What I Feel" Learn More: https://kevchoice.wordpress.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kevchoice/?hl=en https://westcoaststyles.com/interviews/2024/04/kev-choice-love-liberation/ https://www.oaklandsymphony.org/artist/kev-choice/ 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.

  5. Jul 29

    The Ethical Dilemma of Geoengineering & Global Warming (Encore)

    As we head into an ever warming world, some experts and politicians are embracing a possible solution to climate change called geoengineering. Theoretically geoengineering could slow down climate change, stop it, and maybe even remove carbon from the air. It sounds like the perfect answer for a global political system that just can't stop burning fossil fuels even if it kills us all. But it might not be the easy fix we're hoping for. We talk to scientists and activists about what geoengineering is and why it could actually be a dangerous way to tackle climate change. We also dive into the moral and ethical questions of testing geoengineering technology on Indigenous lands. This episode first aired in 2023. Featuring: Basav Sen, Climate Justice Project Director at the Institute for Policy Studies Dr. Steven Zornetzer, Vice-Chair, Governing Board of Arctic Ice Project Panganga Pungowiyi, organizer for the nonprofit Indigenous Environmental Network in Alaska  Making Contact Team Episode hosts: Salima Hamirani and Jessica Partnow Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music Credits Chris Zabriskie – Air Hockey Salon Bio Unit – Industrial Zone Chris Zabriskie – Take Off and Shoot a Zero Doctor Turtle – Leap Second Monplaisir – Ridiculous Monplaisir – Juan Garcia Madero  Learn More: Indigenous Environmental Network Arctic Ice Project Institute for Policy Studies 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.

  6. Jul 22

    Powerlands (Encore)

    On this week's Making Contact, we feature an extended interview with Ivey Camille Manybeads Tso, a queer Diné filmmaker and director of the award-winning documentary Powerlands. Powerlands traces how multinational energy corporations extract resources and profits while displacing and harming Indigenous communities around the world. The film follows Indigenous activists in Navajo Nation, Colombia, Mexico and the Philippines who are fighting back against corporations like Peabody Energy, Glencore and BHP.  This show first aired in June 2023. Featuring: Ivey Camille Manybeads Tso, an award-winning queer Diné filmmaker and director of Powerlands  Music: Documentary by Music\_Unlimited  Credits Host: Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain This episode includes excerpts from the documentary film Powerlands. Learn More:  Powerlands Documentary website: www.powerlands.org

  7. Jul 15

    The Coast Miwok Peoples, Colonization, and the Preservation of Indigenous History (Encore)

    Dive into the history of Point Reyes National Seashore, one of the most iconic parks in northern California, with us. Known for rugged sweeping beaches and the famous tule elk, we'll recount the waves of colonization that violently upended the lives of the Coast Miwok peoples who lived there – and one Indigenous woman's struggle to preserve her family history.  The story of Point Reyes is a story about how the forces of colonialism continue to shape the fate of public lands in the United States, and the campaigns waged to fight back and protect Indigenous land.  Featuring: Theresa Harlan (Kewa Pueblo/Jemez Pueblo), adopted daughter of Elizabeth Campigli Harlan (Coast Miwok), founder and executive director of The Alliance for Felix Cove Credits: Host: Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Editor: Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong Engineer: Jeff Emtman  Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain "Whose Point Reyes?: A Battle for the Future of Public Lands" Parts 1 and 2 Credits: Reporter and producer: Sam Anderson Editor: Lucy Kang First aired on KPFA Learn More: Whose Point Reyes on Apple Podcasts Alliance for Felix Cove Coast Miwok Tribal Council of Marin 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.

  8. Jul 8

    Mexicans Confronting Racism: Aztec Myths to Modern Stereotypes (Encore)

    There's an idea in Mexico that racism doesn't exist, that all Mexicans are "mestizo" – a homogenous blend of Spanish and indigenous. But cultural worker José Antonio Aguilar says racism is lived by Black and brown Mexicans in many ways. He founded Racismo MX, an organization which seeks to dismantle racism, after coming to terms with his own racial reality as a "prieto" – a brown man. We also hear from anthropologist Ismael Rivera and Aztec expert Camilla Townsend as they unravel lies the Spanish colonizers told about ancient Aztecs that still feed racist tropes today.  This episode first aired in 2023. Featuring José Antonio Aguilar – Racismo MX, Founder and Director Ismael Rivera – Anthropologist, Historian, Cultural Guide Dr. Camilla Townsend, P.h.D. – Rutgers University, Professor  Making Contact Host: Amy Gastelum Freelance Producer: Anthony Wallace Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music Nahuales Negros – Chinampa, Cempasúchil, Barcos A Lo Lejos, Mixquic, Teponaztli, Danza A Pakal Learn More Racismo MX  FB: https://www.facebook.com/raciclasismomx IG: racismomx X: @Racismo_MX Ismael Rivera Tours  FB: https://www.facebook.com/riveratrips Rutgers University FB: https://www.facebook.com/RutgersU X: @RutgersU IG: rutgersu Anthony Wallace X: @anthonyjwallace 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.

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4.9
out of 5
63 Ratings

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
    867
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Frequencies of Change Media
  • Show Website
    Making Contact

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