This week's podcast guest is Dr. Hector Garcia. He is a clinical, and evolutionary psychologist. He spent his early career as a frontline PTSD-treatment specialty provider working primarily with combat veterans, and has worked treating patients with anxiety disorders and depression. His prior research has focused on masculine psychology and treatment utilization, the evolutionary psychology of warfare and reintegration, and occupational burnout among mental health providers.

His research program is focused on evolutionary psychology. One of his current projects is investigating the evolutionary roots of occupational burnout. In particular, his lab is examining how our ancient social instincts misalign with the modern-day workplace to produce burnout.

Dr. Garcia is also the author of two books in the field of evolutionary psychology--Alpha God: The Psychology of Religious Violence and Oppression. His second book, which we will discuss today is titled Sex, Power, and Partisanship: How Evolutionary Science Makes Sense of Our Political Divide. His work has been featured on CPAN, PBS and he has an excellent Ted Talk dealing with Veterans & PTSD. His Ted Talk promotes the idea that we train our soldiers for war. Let's train them to come home.

Michael Collins is an author and assistant professor of English at Texas A&M University. His latest book is titled "The Anti-Civil Rights Movement: Affirmative Action as wedge & weapon." His book pulls back the curtain on the networks of power and influence that are pulling the strings to undo progress toward a more just and equitable society. The efforts of this anti-civil rights movement, as Collins calls it, most recently came to a head on June 23, 2023, when the US Supreme Court effectively ended affirmative action in higher education and opened the door to even more regressive policies, laws, and bans. The ruling was the fulfillment of a decades-long battle by right-wing activists and their networks to divide the country.
Key Words: Affirmative Actions, The Heritage Foundation, Edward Blum, Supreme Court, Christopher Rufo, Shelby County v. Holder, & Students for Fair Admissions

This week, we welcome Kim Palermo to the podcast. Kim is an anti-racism educator. She also works in the DEI space. Kim takes us on her journey to educate herself and others on the history of racism in America.