The With Jay Burke Show

27. The Debt Sentence II: Demagogues, Proletariats & The Reagan Devolution of Student Loans

In the wake of the tumultuous 1970s, marked by scandal, economic troubles, and societal upheaval, the 1980s saw a seismic shift towards conservatism under President Reagan. Deregulation and tax cuts fueled a period of economic growth, resulting in the rise of corporate power and wealth, and the impact of globalization. As the Cold War came to a close and cultural changes such as the emergence of MTV and the AIDS epidemic took hold, America seemed to be on a path to prosperity. But hidden beneath the veneer of progress was the twisted tale of Uncle Sam's Federal Student Loan Program, a seemingly noble venture that would ultimately become a beast of burden, ensnaring countless innocent borrowers in insurmountable debt. Sallie Mae and other big banks have since profited from this ill-gotten gain, while the feds have turned a blind eye to the carnage they have caused.
 
Explore Further:
How the Threat of an ‘Educated Proletariat’ Created the Student Debt Crisis - Genevieve Carlton, Ph.D., BestColleges.com, 09/18/2022
Universities Are Becoming Billion-Dollar Hedge Funds With Schools Attached - ASTRA TAYLOR, The Nation, MARCH 8, 2016
From Master Plan to No Plan: The Slow Death of Public Higher Education - Aaron Bady and Mike Konczal, Dissent Magazine  Fall 2012
The Sandia Report On Education: A Perfect Lesson In Censorship -  Projectcensored.org 
What 'A Nation At Risk' Got Wrong, And Right, About U.S. Schools - Anya Kamenetz,  NPR, April 29, 2018
REAGAN WILL SPEED COLLECTION OF DEBTS ON FEDERAL LOANS By Howell Raines,  New York Times, Feb. 27, 1981
Senators urge repeal of tax reform 'mistake' on student loans - GEORGE LOBSENZ, United Press International, MARCH 15, 1988
The Debt Trap: How Student Loans Became a National Catastrophe - Josh Mitchell, Simon & Schuster
Indentured Students: How Government-Guaranteed Loans Left Generations Drowning in College Debt - Elizabeth Tandy Shermer, Bellknap Press
 
 

Episode 26: Hey Tech, Where’s My Flying Car? with Bob LeMent

As technology continues to advance, it's become increasingly apparent that society isn't taking full advantage of the opportunities these advancements present. Homelessness, low voter turnout, and inefficient energy production are just a few of the many issues that could be solved through the proper application of existing technologies.
On this episode of Static Radio, Bob LeMent and I delve into the question of why we're not doing more to capitalize on the incredible progress that technology is providing. We'll also take a look back at some of the outdated tech from previous eras, illustrating just how much our relationship with technology has changed in recent years.
Please check out Bob's podcast here.

Episode 25: The Alternative Christmas Movie Extravaganza with Shaun McGann and Blumes

In the consumerist wasteland of an era defined by corporate Christmas, a debate has been born over what qualifies as a legitimate "Christmas movie." From your classic holiday favorites to that one uncle who wants to queue up a Shane Black action flick or the adolescent loner looking for an excuse to watch Tim Burton's morbid vision of the holidays, everyone has a different sense of what constitutes the perfect Christmas movie.
The world is a confusing place these days, so it only makes sense that Shaun McGann and Andrew "Blumes" Blumetti from the Off-Topic Podcast join me in looking for a holiday movie that doesn't hit you too hard with the saccharine sweet this holiday season.
 
Links To Explore Further:
Off-Topic Podcast
The Seven to Ten on WFDU
Shaun McGann's Author page
 
 

Episode 24: Concerning the Fate of Human Civilization with Dr. Andrew Schmookler

Dr. Andrew Bard Schmookler had a profound insight in the late 1960s that prompted him to explore why humans inflict destruction upon each other, and how this aggression could be overcome. His mission has been to uncover an integral vision of civilization from its origin up until today, seeking to understand if our behavior is shaped by power or circumstance. Given the wide range of societies throughout history, humanity has attained great power yet this comes with the unsettling possibility that our society could be headed toward destruction unless it learns to master its own behavior.
The Discussion is based of of Dr. Schmookler's 3Quarks Daily article: The Fate of Human Civilization
 
For more information: http://abetterhumanstory.org/
Twitter: @andyschmookler
Amazon Book Store: Dr. Andrew Bard Schmookler
3 Quarks Daily Dr. Schmookler's Author page

Episode 23: A Conversation with Dr. Susan Landers about Burnout in the Healthcare Industry

The high level of burnout among clinicians in the U.S. is leading many to consider leaving the healthcare field entirely. This is having a negative impact on the quality of care patients receive. The healthcare industry needs help to protect and retain its workforce, which in turn will improve the quality of care patients receive.
Dr. Landers has a unique perspective, having practiced academic neonatology for fourteen years and serving on the faculty of two medical schools while raising three children with her husband. 
In her book So Many Babies, Dr. Landers shares her experience with burnout and what we can do to prevent it. She provides insights into the causes of burnout and how to address them before they become a problem. Although the episode focuses on the healthcare industry, it is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand more about burnout and how to avoid it in their own life.
Links to Explore Further
Dr. Susan Landers Website
So Many Babies: My Life Balancing a Busy Medical Career and Motherhood
Dr. Susan Landers on LinkedIn
Dr. Susan Landers on Twitter

22: The Debt Sentence - Part 1: Sputnik, Spending, Economic Voodoo and the Seeds of a Student Loan Empire

In the 1950s, the United States made a monumental achievement in education with the transformation of its system from one that was inaccessible to those of lower and middle incomes into one that allowed anyone with the drive and determination to succeed. This incredible change culminated in the monumental achievement of Neil Armstrong's giant leap for mankind, just a decade after it had begun.
However, since then, Higher Education has been repurposed as a debtor's prison, weighing down not just the young but their parents, and saddling all living generations with debt until they die.
Take a trip from the beginning and through the Seventies to understand the promise of student loans and the mechanisms put in place to create an American saga that begins with good intentions and ends, as so many stories do in this country, with the federal government holding a trillion-dollar bag of other people's money.
 
Further information and sources:
Blame student loans on Sputnik: How the 1957 launch of a Soviet rocket inspired the government to overhaul education - Ayelet Sheffey
Student Loan History - New America
A Look Into the History of Student Loans - Jeff Gitlen
The Debt Trap: How Student Loans Became a National Catastrophe - Josh Mitchell
 History of American Higher Education - Josh R. Thelin
 
 
 
 

Episode 21: The Wild, Crazy Ride to Invent the Jeep (And Win the War) with Paul R. Bruno

Paul R. Bruno was watching the History Channel one night when they mentioned an off-hand reference that a little-known car manufacturer called Bantam had designed and specified the Jeep for the military in a last-ditch effort to stave off bankruptcy.
What started as a curiosity has turned into more than twenty years of studying and writing about the early history of Jeep for Paul. He uncovered an origin story about the Jeep that narrative unfolds as a soap opera of sorts.
Bantam, the small company with the least resources, scrambled to win the rights to the Army contract and survive as a company. Battling it out with Willys-Overland, and later The Ford Motor Company and still being the first did design the first Jeep, which would later be called the MA model, and be instrumental to the Allies winning the war.
Paul is the author of three award-winning books called Project Management in History: The First Jeep, The Original Jeeps, and The Original Jeeps in Pictures.
Click here and can get yourself a copy of Paul's book THE ORIGINAL JEEPS 
 
 

Episode 20: Gen Z and the New Employee Contract with Anthony Onesto

It's no secret that young people today care deeply about the world around them. And, if there's one thing that unites Generation Z, it's a desire for positive change.
Whether it's in the workplace or out in the world at large, this generation is looking for employers and brands who share their values. From sustainability to diversity and inclusion, Gen Z is looking for companies that are making a difference.
This so-called "digital native" generation has grown up with technology at their fingertips, and they expect companies to deliver on their expectations almost instantaneously. In his new book, The New Employee Contract: How to Find, Keep, and Elevate Gen Z Talent, author Anthony Onesto provides an in-depth analysis of this unique generation - who they are, what they want, and how businesses can give it to them.
Onesto argues that understanding the needs and wants of Generation Z is essential for any company that wants to succeed in the future. 
Our discussion encompasses the generational differences in employment, automation, technology, and so much more.
 
Links to Explore Further
The New Employee Contract: How to Find, Keep, and Elevate Gen Z Talent
Suzy is an on-demand consumer research software platform used to deliver insights for concept testing, creative research, package testing, and UX testing.
The Ella Project
Anthony's Twitter
 
 

Episode 19: American History’s Identity Problem with Danny Smith

Every day, we're debating new aspects of America's history. The Left will debate things like whether American figures and events should be venerated, given some of the negative aspects of our actions. Critics on the Right will argue that this is "cancel culture" and evidence of an erased history that's hostile toward America.
We ought to be able to develop a reasonable consensus about the creation and history of America, but it's become increasingly difficult to do so. Our country and those who forged it throughout our short time merit our celebration and deep appreciation, albeit with open eyes. 
American History Teacher and host of The Story of... Podcast, Danny Smith argues that in order to be critical, we need to stop heroizing and demonizing our history and its players. He contends that once we label someone a hero or antihero, we limit our understanding of them. In other words, our labels become shackles.
This episode is for true American history and current events buffs. We also sprinkle in a little ghost hunting talk at the end.
Click the link and check out Danny's podcast: The Story Of...

Episode 18: Erasing the Stigma of Addiction with Sam Perez

Sam Perez is an up-and-coming local journalist who recently moved to Columbia, South Carolina. But before her move, Sam was raised in Kentucky by parents in the restaurant industry. Already successful in this space, her parents decided to give back to the community. In 2017, they opened DV8 Kitchen in Lexington - a restaurant that exclusively hires people in recovery. Through interactions with those employed by the restaurant and in recovery, Sam saw how addiction could touch anyone, regardless of their background or circumstances; it didn't discriminate. But it didn't have to be a lifelong sentence either. Thanks to her parents, Sam knows there is hope for those struggling with addiction. 
Sam has written a book, which I link in the show notes along with her website, titled Deviate From Denial: Erasing the Stigma of Addiction and Recovery Through Inspirational Stories. It's broken up into three parts: history of the opioid epidemic, first-hand experiences and how it has shaped her views on addiction and recovery, and possible solutions to change how we think about addictions.
Sam hopes sharing her story will help others understand the importance of second chances, shake the stigma surrounding addiction, and start the conversation we need to have.
Links to Explore Further
Pre-order Deviate From Denial: Erasing the Stigma of Addiction and Recovery Through Inspirational Stories
Sam Perez Website
Sam's Instagram 
Sam's Twitter