An educational outreach project of 91.7 WVXU
Democracy and Z
Claim This Podcastby Democracy and Me
5.0(4 reviews)
20 episodes
Updated Weekly
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
9
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality5
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Engagement32
Podcast Overview
An educational outreach project of 91.7 WVXU
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/10/2021
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9
Podcast Authority
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Engagement32
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11 episodes over 3.4 years
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Recent Episodes
April 29, 2026
Sports, speech, and the Olympics: the real story is how we cover it
Kathrine Nero The Olympics are supposed to be the world’s easiest storyline. A flag and a uniform. A start line and a finish. A medal – and a moment. So when Team USA athletes showed up in Milan wearing the red, white and blue while also saying, out loud, that they’re wrestling with what’s happening back home, it short-circuited the script. Suddenly the story is not just the performance. It’s the symbolism. It’s the timing. It’s the tension between representing a country and questioning it in the same breath. And then comes the second storyline, the one we rarely name as clearly: the newsroom storyline. Because the most interesting question here is not “Should they have said it?” The more revealing question is: What do we do with it once they do? In the last few weeks, US skier Hunter Hess described having “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S. right now, referencing what he called turmoil tied to immigration enforcement back home. He also drew sharp backlash that became part of the story itself. Figure skater Amber Glenn, asked about how the political climate is affecting LGBTQ Americans, said she would not be quiet about issues that affect daily life, then later shared that she received what she described as a “scary amount” of hate and threats after speaking out. Here’s the point from 30,000 feet: the Olympics didn’t suddenly become political. They’ve always been political. What’s changed is that athletes now have direct-to-audience platforms and newsrooms now have to decide, in real time, how to package the collision. The assignment desk problem: sports story or civic story? This is the tightrope for editors and producers. If an athlete says, “I’m proud to compete for Team USA, and I’m heartbroken about what I’m seeing in America,” you can cover it at least four different ways: As a sports story: athlete mindset, distractions, pressure, “can they stay focused?” As a civic story: policy context, impact, public debate, what’s happening back home As a culture story: identity, patriotism, protest, belonging, backlash As a media story: what happens when the athlete becomes the headline and the performance becomes the second paragraph None of those frames are automatically “right.” But they are not neutral. Framing is editorial. Framing is meaning. A quick sports hit can treat the quote as a sidebar, a quick mention before highlights. A civic frame can make the athlete the entry point to a bigger national conversation. A culture frame can turn it into a referendum on patriotism. A media frame can ask why the backlash is so predictable and why the algorithm loves conflict more than context. And that choice changes what the audience walks away believing happened. What audiences want vs. what journalism requires A lot of fans genuinely want sports to be an escape. The world is heavy and sports has always offered relief and routine. But journalists can’t always honor the escape if the moment is telling a bigger truth. When athletes talk about torn allegiances, they’re not “bringing politics into sports” as much as they’re acknowledging that sports is already one of the most visible mirrors of our society. The question for journalism is whether we cover that mirror responsibly or treat it like a funhouse. It’s easy to clip a controversial soundbite, post it and talk it to death. It’s harder to explain, provide context, and to make room for complexity - without losing the audience. That’s the job now. And it’s harder than people think. The Olympics hand us powerful moments. Athletes sometimes hand us complicated ones. And newsrooms decide whether the public gets clarity or heat. So the headline isn’t really “athlete sparks controversy.” The headline should be: how do we cover a national symbol when the person wearing it is telling their truth about living inside it? That’s not a sports question. That’s a journalism question. And the a
November 20, 2025
Ready to talk turkey? Tips for tackling tough holiday conversations when politics shows up before the pie
Kathrine Nero In this episode, Kathrine Nero and Lauryn Howery discuss ways to talk turkey, not politics, this Thanksgiving! There’s a chill in the air, a pie in the oven, and an uncle somewhere warming up his favorite political rant. Welcome to misinformation season. It’s that time of year when your cousin’s cranberry sauce might come with a side of controversy, and as we gather in gratitude, the real goal isn’t steering the conversation — it’s staying at the table. If you’ve ever found yourself sitting at the family table wondering how the conversation went from mashed potatoes to misinformation, you’re not alone. The holidays are basically democracy in the dining room: everyone has a voice, everyone’s talking at once, and occasionally someone walks away mid-sentence. Journalists deal with this every day - separating opinion from evidence, listening to people they disagree with, and trying to get to the truth without losing their cool. Borrowing a few of their habits might make this year’s gathering a little more bearable. Start with curiosity, not combat. The best reporters don’t start with an agenda; they start with questions. Instead of jumping in with “That’s not true,” try, “Where did you hear that?” or “Can you tell me more about that?” Or “What makes you say that?” You’re not trying to win an argument (yet!) - you’re trying to understand a perspective. And sometimes, just asking how someone knows what they know, or why they believe certain things reveals that they’re not entirely sure themselves. Verify before you amplify. Journalists are trained skeptics. Before they publish, they confirm. Before you forward that post, do the same. Look up the original source. Check whether it’s been reported elsewhere. Read past the headline. Some reliable, quick fact-checkers include PolitiFact, Snopes, and AP Fact Check. Or just check against other similar outlets. If a meme, video, or “breaking news” update seems too wild to be true, there’s a good chance it is. Find common ground — and if you can’t, find common values. Most people agree that communities should be safe, schools should work and the truth should matter. Find a way to get back to those greatest hits. When you start from what unites rather than what divides, conversations tend to soften. The goal isn’t to change someone’s mind in one meal; it’s to remind each other that respectful disagreement still exists. Know when to take a pass the potatoes. Even journalists hit “pause” when an interview turns unproductive. You can, too. Not every debate has to end in resolution. Sometimes the best choice is to move on - or to shift the topic back to football, dessert, or literally anything less heated. Democracy thrives on engagement, but it also depends on civility. The church I went to for years had a saying that still sticks with me: “We agree to disagree - agreeably.” The dinner table, or the football game that follows, isn’t the place to change every mind or solve every problem. But taking time to understand another person’s perspective might be the start of something better - a little empathy, a little patience, maybe even a little peace.
September 16, 2025
The Constitution: Rights, Responsibilities, and Why It Still Matters
The Cincinnatus Association You may have heard people say “I know my rights.” But how often do we hear, “I know my responsibilities”? Constitution Day — officially Constitution and Citizenship Day — is about both. It’s a reminder that the freedoms we enjoy come with duties, too. And that’s what this episode of Democracy & Z is all about. What Even Is Constitution Day? Quick history lesson. On September 17, 1787, delegates signed the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia. Fast forward more than 200 years, and Congress decided we should mark that day every year. Not just to celebrate the signing, but to think about what citizenship really means. In 2004, Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia led the effort to create a law requiring all federally funded schools to hold programs on the Constitution every September 17. That’s why, if you’re in school, you might get a lesson, assembly, or activity tied to the day. It’s not just a history class footnote. It’s about making sure every generation understands the framework of our government — and the role we play in it. Why This Conversation, and Why Now? For Constitution Day, special, we brought together a panel to discuss the importance of this founding document in our lives today: Angela, Aiken New Tech High School student in the Agriculture Career Tech Pathways program. Dr. David Childs, historian, educator, filmmaker, and longtime friend of Democracy and Me. Alice Schneider, civic leader and President of The Cincinnatus Association, a local civic organization working to improve the quality of life for all citizens They talked about rights, responsibilities, and the question every citizen should ask: What does democracy need from me? The Role of the Public: Don’t Just Celebrate — Participate Here’s the catch: The Constitution doesn’t work if only a few people take part. So ask yourself: What do you think is the most important thing about democracy? What can we do as citizens to get involved? What might happen to a democracy if only a few people participate? How can we make people comfortable approaching leaders and making change? Democracy isn’t just about what’s fair or unfair. It’s about whether enough of us care enough to keep it going. Bottom Line The Constitution gave us the blueprint. It’s up to us to build on it. Celebrate Constitution Day with more than just a history lesson. Think about what kind of citizen you want to be, because that’s the real legacy of September 17.
20 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Democracy and Z?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates weekly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 8 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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