Making Contact

Frequencies of Change Media
  • 4.9 (61)
  • News
  • Updated Weekly

"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. 3d ago

    Staying in the Fight with Ijeoma Oluo, from In the Meanwhile

    In this special guest episode from the podcast In the Meanwhile, co-hosts Marcus Harrison Green and Nora Kenworthy sit down with author and activist Ijeoma Oluo (So You Want to Talk About Race; Mediocre: the Dangerous Legacy of White Male America; Be a Revolution) for a searching conversation about movement work, harm, belonging, and the radical choice to stay. Together, they explore the personal cost of speaking truth, the wounds movements can inflict on their own, and what it means to build the world we long for now—not after revolution, but through the way we live, love, and struggle every day. It's a deeply honest conversation about survival, accountability, joy, and choosing community even when it hurts. Featuring: Ijeoma Oluo Credits: Making Contact Team Episode host and producer: Jessica Partnow Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman  Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain   In the Meanwhile Co-hosts: Marcus Harrison Green, Nora Kenworthy Music: No Tears for a Wolf · Ahamefule J. Oluo · Okanomodé. Logo by Nikki Barron. Producer: Jessica Partnow Learn More: If You Decide To Stay |  Behind the Book | Be a Revolution | So You Want to Talk About Race | Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America | In the Meanwhile Podcast | 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. May 20

    Mabuhay: Welcome to Little Manila in Queens (Encore)

    For AAPI Heritage Month, we bring you an encore of our 2023 episode "Seeing Signs." With help from the Queens Memory Podcast, we'll learn about "Little Manila," a Filipino neighborhood dating back to the 1970s that still struggles to find its political footing. We also hear from Filipino care workers about their experiences battling COVID 19. This episode first aired on Making Contact in May 2023. Featuring: - Potri Ranka Manis: Nurse, Activist and Artist - Joey Golja: Community Member - Mary Jane de Leon: Community Member - John Bahia: Community Member - Steven Raga: Assemblymember for District 30, Queens, NY - Jaclyn Reyes: Artist, Designer, and Cultural Organizer - Gemma Balagtas: Community Member, Nurse - Zenaida (Ida) Castillo: Community Member and Owner of PhilAm Food Mart  Credits: Making Contact Episode host and producer: Amy Gastelum Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman  Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Queens Memory Podcast Team Producers: Rosalind Tordesillas, Melody Cao, Anna Williams, and Natalie Milbrodt Mixing and editing by Cory Choy Music composed by Elias Ravin Voiceover work by Arianne Arreglado Learn More:  Making Contact homepage: https://focmedia.org/ Listen to Season 3 of the Queens Memory Podcast: https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1826 https://open.spotify.com/show/2cnAhpl3RDOQTC0HXOQnPd https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/queens-memory-our-major-minor-voices/id1617641711 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. May 13

    Self Care as Selfless Act: Mental Health at the Root of Activism (encore)

    Activists in the Latinx immigrant community of Los Angeles share what they do to take care of their mental health. The issues these activists work on often impact their personal lives, and people who work in the service of others are particularly at risk of burnout and compassion fatigue. Self-care becomes a "selfless act" when it allows activists to stay healthy and do their work in a sustainable way. This show first aired in August 2020. Featuring: **Paulina Velasco's** reporting on Self Care as Selfless Act: Mental Health at the Root of Activism was undertaken as a USC Center for Health Journalism 2020 California Fellow.  Credits: Writer, Producer, Host: Paulina Velasco Editor: Monica Lopez Voice Over Actor: Mariana Carstens Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Transcription Volunteer: Mickey Ellinger Special thanks to USC Senior Fellow, Catherine Stifter. Music " Elmore Heights", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle " Kid Kodi", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle " The Yards", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle " Copley Beat", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle " Greylock", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle " Boston Landing", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle " Pedalrider", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle Learn More: AltaMed Behavioral Health Services Plascencia Consulting Power California – Organize, Vote, Lead Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California Central American Resource Center Los Angeles 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. May 6

    Radical Therapy (Encore)

    In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we bring you a story at the intersection of therapy, healing and social justice. We'll hear about one therapist's work to bring the lens of radical therapy and community care into her practice. This piece was produced by the podcast Re:Work from the UCLA Labor Center. Featuring: Claudia Morales, therapist at Social Justice Healing Credits: Making Contact Episode host and producer: Lucy Kang Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman  Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music credit: "Documentary" by Coma-Media via Pixabay Re:Work Episode "Radical Therapy" Credits: Hosted and produced by Veena Hampapur and Saba Waheed Sound design and editing by Veena Hampapur Mixing by Aaron Dalton Learn More:  Making Contact homepage: https://focmedia.org Re:Work from the UCLA Labor Center: https://reworkradio.labor.ucla.edu 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. Apr 29

    A History of Traditional Root Healing (Encore)

    In some parts of the world, traditional herbal remedies are the norm. When we think of natural remedies we tend to think of older generations living in remote areas, in far away countries, with little access to modern healthcare. We rarely think about the ancient medicinal plants that might exist in our very own cities. On today's episode we look at plant and herb medicines through the lens of Michele Elizabeth Lee the author of Working The Roots: Over 400 Years of Traditional African-American Healing. Featuring: Michele Elizabeth Lee, Traditional Healing Practitioner, Educator, Visual Artist and the Author of Working The Roots: Over 400 Years of Traditional African American Healing Brandi Mack, Holistic Health Educator, Therapeutic Massage Therapist, Trauma-Informed Youth developer, Powerful Presenter, and Permaculture Designer Estrella Davina, Holistic Practitioner Making Contact Team: Executive Director: Jina Chung Staff Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum and Lucy Kang Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Engineer: Jeff Emtman Music Credits: Blue Dot Session - Bedroll Blue Dot Session - 3rd Chair Lobo Loco - Alright in Louisiana Lobo Loco - Inside Your Body Audiobinger - The Garden State Learn More: Working The Roots Instagram Working The Roots: Over 400 Years of Traditional African American Healing Brandi Mack LA Times: Black Herbalist Black Women Herbalists Black Healers NY Times: Some Lessons from Herbalists Mojo Workin' African American Slave Medicine Sticks Stones Roots Bones 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

  6. Apr 22

    How the Legacy of Colonialism Keeps Puerto Rico's Healthcare System in Shambles (Encore)

    Almost half of Puerto Rico's doctors have fled the island over the past decade, leading to a lack of specialists and treatment and incredibly long wait times. And this isn't just an inconvenience. People are dying from lack of care. Why is Puerto Rico's health care system collapsing, and why are doctors fleeing the island? We take a look at its deeply dysfunctional private medical system and why attempts to fix it, and create a universal health care plan on the island, are being hindered by Puerto Rico's status as a US colony. Its massive unpayable debt, held by investors in the US, means that it cannot make its own economic decisions, even when it affects the livelihood of poor Puerto Ricans living there. But there might be a fix, getting rid of Puerto Rico's debt and rethinking its colonial relationship to the US. This episode first aired in October 2024. Credits: Making Contact: Episode Host: Salima Hamirani Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Editor: Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Marketing Manager: Lissa Deonarain Music Credits: Daniel Birch – Indigo Strokes Axletree – Goldfinch- Flight to the North Mindseye – Spores Soft and Furious – So What Learn More: Boricuas Unidos en la Diaspora The Nation Magazine Puerto Rico's Unnatural Disaster 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. Apr 15

    Well Nourished: How Mutual Aid is Transforming Food Security for Single Moms in Ohio (Encore)

    Federal food programs, like WIC, face big changes coming out of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. Meanwhile, a single moms collective in Ohio holds it down for the single pregnant and parenting people in their community. Motherful's resource pantry serves their 325-strong membership out of a garage three times a week. We talk to members and founders to learn what's it's like to participate, how it all started and where food justice is headed for them now and in their wildest dreams.   Featuring: Kay Riley- college student and Mom to baby Wisdom, Motherful Member Rugi Ngaide - Ohio supreme court translator, Mom, Motherful member Lisa Woodrow - Co-Founder and Co-Director of Motherful, Mom Heidi Howes - Co-Founder and Co-Director of Motherful, Mom Rebecca Piazza: Senior Advisor for Delivery, Food and Nutrition Service, Mom  Making Contact Team Host: Amy Gastelum Staff Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Engineer: Jeff Emtman Music HoliznaCC0, Sky Scraper Learn More: Motherful Changes to WIC 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. Apr 8

    The Calling (Encore)

    For Black Maternal Health Week, we celebrate the important work that Black midwives do in their communities. In this week's show, we'll hear a conversation about how one woman followed her calling to midwifery in a story brought to us by the podcast _Re:Work_ from the UCLA Labor Center. Featuring: Kimberly Durdin, licensed midwife and co-founder of Kindred Space LA and the Birthing People Foundation Credits: Making Contact Episode host and producer: Lucy Kang Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman  Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music credit: "Documentary" by The_Mountain via Pixabay Re:Work Episode "The Calling" Credits: Hosted and produced by Veena Hampapur and Saba Waheed Learn More: Making Contact homepage: www.focmedia.org Re:Work from the UCLA Labor Center: https://reworkradio.labor.ucla.edu 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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4.9
out of 5
61 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
    854
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Frequencies of Change Media
  • Show Website
    Making Contact

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