Unsafe Space

Latest Episodes:

Trade War feat. Ramsay Badawi, Jimmy O. Yang, Jonathan Aronson, Ian Henderson and Brian Peck May 05, 2018

Show notes

We trade takes on a trade war with comedians Ramsay Badawi (KPCC), Jimmy O. Yang (HBO’s Silicon Valley) and panelists Jonathan Aronson (USC International Relations), Ian Henderson (writer for American Greatness), and Brian Peck (USC Law Center for Transnational Law and Business)! Hosted by Toby Muresianu and Faith Choyce.

Conspiracies feat. Adam Tod Brown, Tom Goss, Gar Culbert, Richard Fox and Nigel Raab May 05, 2018

Show notes

We get to the bottom of what’s *really* going on with Adam Tod Brown (host of Conspiracy! the show), Tom Goss (of the Mean Boys podcast), and professors Gar Culbert (Cal State LA professor of Political Science), Richard Fox (author of iPolitics: Citizens, Elections, and Governing in the New Media Era), and Nigel Raab (Professor of Russian History at Loyola Marymount University). Hosted by Toby Muresianu and Faith Choyce.

Capitalism feat. Mitch Burrow, Helen Hong, Kevan Harris, Elham Saeidinezhad and Sameer Suri Mar 25, 2018

Show notes

Is capitalism the future, past its prime, or what? Our live episode on it features stand-up from favorites Helen Hong and Mitch Burrow, insight from experts Elham Saeidinezhad of the Milken Institute and Kevan Harris, UCLA sociology professor and author of “A Social Revolution: Politics and the Welfare State in Iran,” plus comedy and hosting by Toby Muresianu and Sameer Suri!

Gentrification feat. Joe Dosch, Chris Estrada, Paul Ong, Mott Smith and Faith Choyce Feb 08, 2018

Show notes

Comedians Joe Dosch and Chris Estrada join Paul Ong, Urban Planning professor at UCLA, and Mott Smith, founder of Civic Enterprise Development for stand-up and discussion on gentrification at the Hollywood Improv Comedy Club! Hosted by Toby Muresianu and Faith Choyce.

Climate Change feat. Jon Christensen, Willie Soon, Bryan Dey and Lori Weiss Jan 22, 2018

Show notes

We talk about climate change science and policy with panelists Dr. Willie Soon and Dr. Jon Christensen and comedians Bryan Dey and Lori Weiss.

Both panelists provided a few links and encouraged people to look into the science themselves.

Jon Christensen:

The “Climate Lab” video series with Vox and the University of California: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/climate-lab
The book “Why We Disagree About Climate Change: Understanding Controversy, Inaction and Opportunity” by Mike Hulme (Cambridge University Press, 2009): https://www.amazon.com/Disagree-about-Climate-Change-Understanding/dp/0521727324/
The reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: http://www.ipcc.ch/

Willie Soon:

Sexual Harassment feat. Ashley Cullins, Casey Ley, Faith Choyce and Pamela Georgette Dec 14, 2017

Show notes

What needs to change? Who should resign? Is there another side to the story? We talk sexual harassment and the current cultural moment with The Hollywood Reporter’s Ashley Cullins, therapist Pamela Georgette, and comedians Casey Ley and Faith Choyce!

North Korea with Joel Wit, Rorry Daniels, Benari Poulten and Sachi Ezura Nov 19, 2017

Show notes

We get the inside scoop on the mysterious kingdom with former diplomat and editor of 38North.org Joel S. Wit, Rorry Daniels of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, producer of The Rundown with Robin Thede Sachi Ezura, and former senior producer of the Nightly Show Benari Poulten!

Video clips: http://bit.ly/unsafespacenorthkorea

Chapters:
2:25 Toby Muresianu Standup
5:12 Sachi Ezura Standup
8:13 Benari Poulten Standup
13:31 Panel Discussion

Unsafe Studio feat. Mike Schmidt and Johnny Mitchell! Sep 13, 2017

Show notes

Comedian + former convict Johnny Mitchell and comedian + former defense attorney Mike Schmidt join Toby and Lou to talk prison and criminal justice. See video on YouTube: http://bit.ly/UnsafeStudioIncarceration

Topics:

1:54 What’s prison like and does it work?
6:00 Religion in Prison
8:47 Are fewer laws the answer? Is the Prison industry driving incarceration?
10:49 Breakdown of drug offenders in federal and state prison.
12:34 Is the damage incarceration and for-profit policing are doing to society greater than crime itself?
16:29 What’s the difference between jail and prison?
17:24 The bail system
20:45 Violent vs. Nonviolent crimes in prison, and why America has higher incarceration rates than other countries.
22:30 Caning, and how to make punishment swift and certain.
25:35 What’s the practical alternative to prison?
32:35 Does keeping criminals off the streets reduce crime?
33:55 Taking away the parole system
36:04 Prison workers
42:67 Programs that reduce sentence length
50:35 Treating teens who are sexting as sex offenders.
53:25 English common law as the basis of our law.
57:40 Withholding evidence and false accusations.
1:01:45 The role of race in criminal justice

Sources:

https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2016.html
https://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/releasing-drug-offenders-wont-end-mass-incarceration/
https://www.ncjrs.gov/ondcppubs/publications/pdf/whos_in_prison_for_marij.pdf

Read co-host Toby Muresianu’s thoughts on the topic: https://medium.com/@tobymuresianu/afterthoughts-on-unsafe-space-incarceration-fb982beafb6d

Incarceration feat. Heather Mac Donald, Thaddeus Russell, Petey DeAbreau and J-L Cauvin Jun 03, 2017

Show notes

We return to NYC to tackle incarceration with vocal advocate for police Heather Mac Donald of the Manhattan Institute, libertarian and founder of Renegade University Thaddeus Russell, former criminal and comedian Petey DeAbreau, and former prosecutor and comedian JL Cauvin. What do you think? Go to our facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/UnsafeSpaceShow) to discuss this episode!

Table of Contents:

1:08 Show begins.

2:54 Toby Muresianu Standup

7:35 JL Cauvin Standup

14:10 Petey DeAbreu Standup

22:32 What causes America’s high incarceration rates?

32:35 Why don’t other countries that prohibit the same things have similar rates of incarceration?

41:39 Is a racial conspiracy to blame for incarceration, a la Michelle Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow”?

43:53 What led you to crime?

45:58 What would the effect of legalizing drugs be on poor communities?

52:28 What was the experience of a prosecutor like?

59:20 Evidentiary requirements and the constitution.

1:06:20 Stop and Frisk.

1:14:30 Growing up in the hood.

1:18:51 Audience member: It’s not an honest discussion with out addressing racism.

Russia feat. Kira Soltanovich, Sofiya Alexandra, Peter Savodnik and Benjamin Graham May 02, 2017

Show notes

Standup and discussion on the original international bad boy: Russia. With journalist Peter Savodnik (journalist and founder of Stateless Media), Benjamin Graham (USC International Relations professor) and comedians Kira Soltanovich (Showtime) and Sofiya Alexandra (Amazon’s Danger and Eggs).

2:20 Toby Muresianu Standup

6:40 Sofiya Alexandra Standup

16:00 Kira Soltanovich Standup

24:40 Panel Intros

25:47 What are people getting right and wrong about Russia?

31:05 Does Russia want to get caught in places like Uk

36:26 What is the Syria conflict about?

39:00 Do the Russians have a compromising tape of Trump?

41:55 How can people say Russia isn’t powerful?

46:18 How do you make jokes in a time of political danger?

53:02 Understanding Russian History

55:20 What is the story that the Russian government tells itself?