Best Steven B Ward Podcasts (2025)

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How to Make Heterosexuality Less "Tragic" with Dr. Jane Ward 53:34

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2M ago53:34

53:34

Send us a text This episode features Dr. Jane Ward, professor and chair of Feminist Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of the recent book, The Tragedy of Heterosexuality. In this conversation, we explore the complexities of heterosexuality, its historical context, and the implications of gender dynamics in relationsh…

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How Healing Changes our Future, Present, and Past with Prentis Hemphill 1:16:21

2M ago1:16:21

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Send us a text This episode features a live-recorded critical conversation between Abbie and Prentice Hemphill, a therapist, somatic educator, political organizer, founder of the Embodiment Institute, and writer of the recent book, What It Takes To Heal. In this conversation, we explore the intricate relationship between healing, justice, and the b…

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Step Ten: Being Open to Change with Dr. Steven Windisch 1:05:36

1y ago1:05:36

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Send us a text This episode is step ten in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations featuring Steven Windisch, the Director of the Crime and Security Data Analytics Lab in the Terrorism Research Center at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Windisch's research breaks away from approaches limited to specific phases of the extremist’s life co…

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Step Nine: Developing Empathy with Dr. Barret Michalec 1:12:33

1y ago1:12:33

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Send us a text This episode is step nine in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations featuring Barret Michalec, director of the Center for Advancing Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research (CAIPER), and an associate professor in the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation. Michalec’s research examines humility, empathy…

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Step Eight: Releasing Defenses with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks 55:46

1y ago55:46

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Send us a text This episode is step eight in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations featuring Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, a Professor of Business Administration and Hellman Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School who was recently named a Best 40-Under-40 Business School Professor by Poets & Quants. Her book TALK: The Science of Conv…

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Step Seven: Encouraging Vulnerability with Dr. Mariel Buqué 1:08:52

1y ago1:08:52

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Send us a text This episode is step seven in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations featuring Dr. Mariel Buqué, an Afro-Latina psychologist and author of the best-selling book, Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma. She earned her doctoral degree in psychology at Columbia University, where she trained as a holis…

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Step Six: Learning to Listen with Julian Treasure 1:00:49

1y ago1:00:49

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Send us a text This episode is step six in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations and features Julian Treasure, a top-rated international speaker and award-winning author on the power of sound and the skills of speaking and listening for both individuals and organizations. Julian’s five TED talks have been viewed more than 150 million…

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Step Five: Mastering the Power of Inquiry with Dr. Natalie Nixon 53:55

1y ago53:55

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Send us a text This episode is step five in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations and features Dr. Natalie Nixon, a creativity strategist and keynote speaker. She is valued for her accessible expertise in creativity, the future of work, and innovation. Natalie has been named among the top women keynote speakers by Real Leaders and Bi…

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Step Four: Creating Safety in Conflict with Dr. Peter T. Coleman 1:03:43

1y ago1:03:43

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Send us a text This episode is step four in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations and features Dr. Peter T Coleman, a professor of psychology and education at Columbia University and a renowned expert on constructive conflict resolution, intractable conflict, and sustaining peace. Dr. Coleman has authored or edited a dozen books, wel…

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Step Three: Cultivating Curiosity with Dr. Todd Kashdan 59:30

1y ago59:30

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Send us a text This episode is step three in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations and features Dr. Todd B. Kashdan, a Professor of Psychology at George Mason University, and a leading authority on well-being, curiosity, courage, and resilience. He has published over 200 scientific articles, his work has been cited over 35,000 times,…

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Step Two: Recognizing Personal Biases with Dr. Mendoza-Denton 51:13

1y ago51:13

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Send us a text This episode is step two in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations and features Dr. Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, with expertise in stereotyping and prejudice from the perspective of both target and perceiver, intergroup relations, and how these processes in…

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Step One: Becoming Self-Aware with Dr. Rick Hanson 59:03

1y ago59:03

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Send us a text This episode is step one in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations and features Dr. Rick Hanson, a psychologist, senior fellow at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times bestselling author. His seven books have been published in 31 languages and include Making Great Relationships, Neurodharma, Hard…

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What Happened to You? with Dr. Bruce Perry 56:13

2y ago56:13

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Send us a text Today's episode features New York Times best-selling author, neuroscientist, and developmental psychiatrist, Dr. Bruce Perry. In this episode we discuss: why we need to start asking "What happened to you?" rather than "What's wrong with you? how relationships and connection can counterbalance the negative health impacts of trauma how…

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Can Self-Care Prevent Police Shootings? with Iya Affo 52:06

2+ y ago52:06

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Send us a text Today's episode features Iya Affo, the founder of Heal Historical Trauma Culture Wellness Academy, and the International Historical Trauma Association. In this episode we discuss: how trauma creates neurological dysregulation how self-care can be used as a stress-prevention tool why it's important to teach police about historical tra…

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Are Credit Scores Racist? with Ashley Bell 39:32

2+ y ago39:32

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Send us a text Today's episode features Ashley Bell, CEO of Readylife, a new Black-owned bank that is making homeownership more achievable for those often left out of the global economy. In this episode we discuss: the racist history of the American banking system the truth behind how credit scores are created how homeownership is a key component f…

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Can Prisons be Humane? with Dr. Jordan Hyatt 46:10

2+ y ago46:10

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Send us a text Today's episode features Dr. Jordan Hyatt, an associate professor in the Department of Criminology and Justice Studies at Drexel University, where he also sits as director of the Center for Public Policy. In this episode we discuss: a pilot program in a Pennsylvania prison that is attempting to emulate the Scandinavian prison model h…

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Should We Abolish Prisons? with Are Hoidal 38:42

2+ y ago38:42

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Send us a text Today's episode features Are Hoidal, Senior Advisor for the Norwegian Correctional Service and recent author of The Norweigan Prison System: Halden Prison and Beyond. For 14 years, Are served as the prison warden at Halden prison, known to be the most humane prison in the world. In this episode we discuss: the importance of rehabilit…

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Can We Cure Violence? with Dr. Fredrick Echols 48:31

2+ y ago48:31

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Send us a text Today's episode features Dr. Fredrick Echols, Chief Executive Officer of Cure Violence Global, a violence prevention organization. Prior to becoming CEO of CVG, Dr. Echols served as the Director of Health and Health Commissioner for the City of St. Louis and was a physician in the U.S. Navy. In this episode we discuss: the reason for…

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Should We Legalize All Drugs? with Dr. Carl Hart 48:49

2+ y ago48:49

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Send us a text Dr. Carl Hart is a neuroscientist and professor of Psychology at Columbia University and is also the author of Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear. In this episode we: uncover the benefits of drug use debunk several myths including that (1) drugs destroy the brain, and (2) drugs cause violence and crime discus…

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Can We Actually Abolish the Police? with Dr. Alex Vitale 59:32

2+ y ago59:32

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Send us a text Dr. Alex Vitale is the author of End of Policing, a Sociology professor at Brooklyn College, and the coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project. He has spent the last 25 years writing about policing and consults both police departments and human rights organizations internationally. In this episode we: unpack the differen…

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Getting Healthy Through Healing with Dr. Wright 53:25

4y ago53:25

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Send us a text This episode features a critical conversation with Dr. H. Jean Wright, the Deputy Commissioner for Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and the Director of the Behavioral Health and Justice division. In this episode, we discuss social determinants of health and specifically how the criminal justice system impacts the health…

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Dying to Live in Prison with Stacey Torrance 43:05

4y ago43:05

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Send us a text In this episode, I’m joined by Stacey Torrance. Stacey was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole at the age of 14. Upon the supreme court ruling that sentencing children to life without parole was unconstitutional, Stacey was released after 30 years in prison. In this episode, we speak about how he maintained hope throu…

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How Prison Impacts the Mind, Body, and Soul with Abd'Allah Lateef 48:05

4y ago48:05

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Send us a text This critical conversation features Abd’allah Lateef, the Senior Strategic Advisor and Racial Equity Specialist at the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth. Sentenced to life without the possibility of parole as a child, Abd’allah was resentenced and released in 2017 after spending over 30 years in prison. In this episode, Abd’a…

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Locked In During Lockdown with Michael A. 43:22

4y ago43:22

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Send us a text This episode features Michael A., a teaching assistant at the University of Kent in England and motivational speaker. Michael was incarcerated at the age of 16 and spent 12 years in the UK prison system and was released in the summer of 2020. In this episode, we speak on how police action can instigate criminal engagement, what it wa…

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Tangible Solutions to America's Policing Crisis with Dr. Rashawn Ray 1:04:24

4y ago1:04:24

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Send us a text This critical conversation features Dr. Rashawn Ray, a fellow at The Brookings Institution, and a Sociology Professor and the Executive Director of the Lab for Applied Social Science Research at the University of Maryland. In this episode, we discuss some of the public health issues stemming from racism. Dr. Ray also presents some ta…

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Women's Unique Paths to Prison with Kamilah Newton 46:07

4y ago46:07

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Send us a text This episode features Kamilah Newton, a writer, advocate, and previous participant of Justice Home, an alternative to incarceration program hosted by the Women’s Prison Association. This episode exposes the unique gendered experience of the criminal justice system, highlighting the cycle of victimization and the pervasiveness of trau…

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Thinking Beyond the Binary of "Violent" and "Nonviolent" Offenders with Michael Fischer 55:57

4y ago55:57

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Send us a text This week's critical conversation features Michael Fischer, a writer, activist, and advocate. Michael was incarcerated for 2 years in upstate New York and in this conversation, we speak about how social connections significantly impacted his opportunities upon re-entry, how his whiteness and the location of his arrest impacted his ex…

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Reducing Harm through Anti-Segregation Policing and Community Racism Response Funds with Dr. Monica Bell 1:02:46

4y ago1:02:46

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Send us a text This episode features a critical conversation with Dr. Monica Bell. Dr. Bell is an Associate Professor of Law as well as an Associate Professor of Sociology at Yale University. In our conversation, we speak about some of Dr. Bell's proposals for reducing harm until we abolish racist systems, including anti-segregation policing and co…

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Fighting for Freedom Following a Wrongful Conviction with Carl Williams 1:00:32

4y ago1:00:32

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Send us a text This episode features Carl Williams, a man who, at the age of 17, was arrested for a murder he did not commit. After waiting in jail for 3 years pre-trial, Carl was ultimately sentenced to life without parole. For 23 years, Carl maintained his innocence in prison and fought for his life. Finally, in August of 2020 , Carl was released…

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The Profound Harms of Prison with Dr. Reuben Jonathan Miller 53:04

4y ago53:04

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Send us a text This episode features a critical conversation with Dr. Reuben Jonathan Miller, assistant professor in the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice at the University of Chicago and author of the new book, Halfway Home: Race, Punishment, and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration. Dr. Miller’s book tells the story of prison…

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Bonus Episode: A Reflection on the Last 10 Episodes 19:24

4y ago19:24

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Send us a text There has been A LOT of critical content delivered over these last 10 episodes- here is your cheat sheet. In this episode, Abbie highlights the main takeaways and over-arching themes throughout and draws attention to possible solutions for a more just society. Support the showBy Dr. Abigail Henson

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It's Not About Right and Wrong When It's About Survival with Maleek Jackson 49:47

4+ y ago49:47

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Send us a text In this episode, I speak with Maleek Jackson, owner of Maleek Jackson Fitness Boxing Gym in Philadelphia. Maleek spent 10 years in prison from ages 16-26 and in our conversation, we contextualize criminal behavior, interrogating how, for those in the streets, it is not about “right” or “wrong” but about doing what you need to do to s…

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Street Hustling as a Site of Resilience with Dr. Yasser Payne 1:10:19

4+ y ago1:10:19

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Send us a text This episode challenges pretty much everything we know and think about the concept of resilience. Dr. Payne explains how resilience is traditionally a value-laden construct that is seen as synonymous with “goodness” or “morality.” Dr. Payne makes the argument that resilience is simply action that serves to perpetuate an individuals s…

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Policing Blackness in Suburban Spaces and Beyond with Dr. Andrea Boyles 55:25

4+ y ago55:25

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Send us a text This episode features a critical conversation with Dr. Andrea Boyles, visiting professor of Sociology and Africana Studies at Tulane University. Dr. Boyles is also the author of two books: You Can’t Stop the Revolution: Community Disorder and Social Ties in Post-Ferguson America and Race, Place, and Suburban Policing: Too Close for C…

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Empowering the Community from Within with Gregory Coachman 49:46

4+ y ago49:46

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Send us a text In this episode, I am joined by Gregrory Coachman, a Philadelphia-based social entrepreneur and the founder of the lifestyle brand, Urban Recreation. The original audio draws from a webinar that took place during the height of the summer 2020 protests and highlights how the kinds of contentious interactions with police that we saw du…

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The Borderwall, Prisons, and Other False Symbols of Safety with Laiken Jordahl 42:01

4+ y ago42:01

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Send us a text In this episode, I speak with Laiken Jordahl, a Borderlands Campaigner with the Center for Biological Diversity. In our conversation, Laiken describes the devastation that the border wall is wreaking on the land, wildlife, and indigenous communities. We speak about how, like prisons, the border wall serves as a false symbol of safety…

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Mass Incarceration and The Missing Men with Dawan Williams 41:25

4+ y ago41:25

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Send us a text During his 10 years in prison, Dawan Williams was able to meet some of society's "Missing Men." These men served as mentors and guided Dawan into a process of change. Since returning home 6 years ago, Dawan has dedicated his life to mentorship and serves as the coordinator for Mural Art's Restorative Justice Guild program and as the …

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Redemption, Change, and the Importance of Building Community Capacity with Dr. Nikki Jones 59:23

4+ y ago59:23

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Send us a text Dr. Nikki Jones is a professor in the Department of African American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of two books, Between Good and Ghetto: African American Girls and Inner-City Violence and The Chosen Ones: Black Men and the Politics of Redemption. In this episode, we speak about the differences bet…

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Abolition, the Purpose of Punishment, and Defining Justice in America with Juwan Bennett 52:17

4+ y ago52:17

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Send us a text In this episode, I am joined by co-creator of Whatsjust, co-founder of the Urban Youth Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, and Criminal Justice Ph.D. candidate, Juwan Bennett. Juwan and I attended graduate school together and were both mentored by a pioneering prison abolitionist, Kay Harris. Together, we unpack the concept of abolit…

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Parents in Prison, Positive Trauma Responses, and the Implicit Racism of "Resilience" with Dr. Whitney Hollins 54:17

4+ y ago54:17

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Send us a text We’re back with the next Critical Conversation! In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Whitney Hollins, educator, advocate, researcher, and justice-impacted individual. Dr. Hollins’s father was in prison for 25 years of her life. According to the common narratives about children of incarcerated parents, Dr. Hollins was *at-risk* for bei…

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Getting Out of Prison through Expanders and Positive Delusions with Chris Wilson 52:51

4+ y ago52:51

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Send us a text Chris is a social entrepreneur, storyteller, artist, social justice advocate, and author of The Master Plan: My Journey from Life in Prison to a Life with Purpose. After spending 16 years in prison, Chris has spent the last 8 years in the Baltimore community dedicated to easing the reentry process for others and immersing himself in …

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Why You're Single 17:54

6+ y ago17:54

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There are many reasons why you could be single. Maybe it's where you live, or your schedule, family or friends. Perhaps its by choice or maybe you were dumped. No matter what the explanation is, you're going to have to own it and explain it in a way that the person sitting across from you would completely understand. This episode was recorded in fe…

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Welcome to Love Lab® 5:00

6+ y ago5:00

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I'm your Host, Steve Ward. Not only am I a Master Matchmaker®, I was the Host and Executive Producer of Vh1's Tough Love for 6 seasons. Our book, Crash Course in Love was our first mass market guidebook for struggling singles. This podcast will provide a raw, real, inside look on love in the digital age of dating and relationship.…