Ed Dean and Claire Goforth

00:00 I'm recording. My name is Claire Goforth. I'm 39 years old. Today is July 7th 2025 at my home in Jacksonville, Florida. My partner has Ed Dean and he is going to talk to me or these storycorps. What's the last bit?

00:23 OMFG Nye Mage 42 and then I'm here with one small step in this shit is today's date. Of course is the seventh believe it out of July and my location is like will they will Claire's at in Jacksonville and Claire Goforth is the name of my partner. You want to go ahead and start ask the first question and go ahead and answer it yourself something and then Claire if you want to

00:49 Claire how would you sum up your life story? He can do it in three minutes or less. How would you sum it up a very small rural town in the Appalachian Mountains. I then went to college in North Carolina a small private school Methodist Affiliated where I majored in pre-law after that. I moved to Jacksonville, Florida to attend law school, Florida Coastal School of Law, a Florida attorney a couple of years after I graduated from law school. I was very unhappy in my career and my life really just wasn't going very well. I had always wanted to be a writer. I just didn't know how to go about doing it. So when my sister passed away very suddenly in 2009 from H1, N1. I reached a Crossroads in my life and I decided to take a leap of faith and become a writer.

01:49 No idea what I was doing. I ended up first writing for a folio weekly witches and alternative weekly here in Jacksonville, Florida. And from there. My career has completely shifted from lawsuit journalism today. I'm a political reporter for the daily. I also write for the center for sustainable journalism, and I'm hopeful to start a new webcam with a certain someone in coming weeks. I'm married. I have a cute little furry babies as we say, I love gardening and running and being outside swimming Greeley outdoorsy kind of person. I love hanging out with my friends and cooking. Yeah, that's me. That's basically mean I'm not sure. I don't know if that was 3 minutes, but I felt so stupid.

02:40 What about you been born and raised and born and raised in Florida around the Melbourne Brevard County area with the space shuttle goes up went to school for economics in journalism and before getting the degree. I got hired by a local newspaper in a radio station at the same time talk about the best remix of foot that the Both Worlds out there and then became a radio talk show host went number 1 in Florida for the last 6 years and then I was always have been and he can almost reporter covering for print and radio. I got to get a boy's work for a newspaper in a radio station at the same time and editor for one of the big news Publications here in Florida offer to buy him out. They said yes, and then they all came back on a date partner to go. Would you mind keeping all the partners on it? But no, I don't want to have all these extras on here. So does two and a half years ago start of the Florida Daily., just turn it on the biggest news publication in the state and the week of

03:40 Water economically Carolina cornerback lot of politics that is a huge publication. I'm very blessed. God gets all the credit and we originated vote for radio show out of Jacksonville, but it's another markets do iHeartRadio on things like that Claire has been on with this as well as she's always a great extra and to have I'm yelling extracts. I mean, she's like great Cohoes because she always brings a different perspective. It was in a good way. That's entertaining but that pretty much sums it up. It's if that's the Reader's Digest version of that like there is politically

04:18 That's going to be interesting. I was very liberal believe it or not. I became work. This is the opposite. Let me just say this the best editors or lawyers and believe me cuz I'm not saying if you do kiss Claire's rear end, they just make great Elders. The problem is if I needed 30 minutes, they're so good at what they do. They need an hour and 30 minutes and that's because you're Perfection star like Virgos and I get that put on be the son of a minister. I've never been ashamed of being the son of a minister. I'm at the private school shooting with the public and private school as they say it was always a deacon kids preacher kids just got caught under was ashamed of it whatsoever. But I was very believe it or not. I was a little bit more liberal. I was like, hey these rich people can afford more taxes. This can be these people can afford more spending and I'll take what it was clear was when I was a local news reporter, you know, you had to go cover there's a reason or anything sexy to cover at a you don't like a County Commission zoning, you know this and then I will go cover it and you got

05:18 People trying to open up a company. It is a matter what they were Democrats and Republicans got already their budgets and now they got to spend another $75,000 deal with a code enforcement Planning and Zoning the fire and it is better and it was like my good or some of your regulations. How can people afford this and I guess because cover me to get Alex I was a little bit more liberal and I became more conservative just because I covered it. From a political view browser my gosh man now and you know this it takes a lot of money to run a company out there and you know, I wish we had Coke money. I wish we had store as well that kind of stuff but I just became a little bit more because I just felt what people had to go through they had to open up a company and they wanted to employ people and just you thought they had a bad enough to get the big goal and there and then had to go to local government regulation. I'm sitting here going my gosh. I'm here in a small County like you would expect to see in DC or something like that so that the minister think it is never bother me again the son of a minister

06:18 You know me Claire. I'm also very won the biggest critics of those in the face the TV evangelist proud of it. Just I just think that sometimes people get used and abused and people can't afford it are the ones get used and abused and I see that happen a lot of the TV evangelists and there's a stark difference between what you like, you know, when you cover things but one person may be compared to the people try to glorify the system. So I just remember Bobby kritical of those that try to use scripture and stuff for their own domain what it doesn't even say

06:53 So Claire as a lawyer, I've seen your writings you do a good job as an editor. What is more fun and tell me because there's so many there's so many lawyers out there, but now in the world of Journalism

07:10 Things have changed everything is more online. There's been things that you've covered and Ivor. I read a lot of yourself as well where it's and I'm with you. I I would prefer small local newspapers the big Club rates. Are you I both come from that and I love that. But if you are we going with the world of Journalism how it's being reported today. What do you think that I'm thinking about? I mean anybody in the media today with all of the abuse that we Face regularly wear social media, I think of what we are we know what we're doing and being bias and things like that, you know at the same time it's also because we are so connected. We are constantly sharing our our observations, but another word for observation is opinion. So, you know, there has been a lot of criticism that the media has become by us.

08:06 That basically we all operate Nassar media silos and it is true. I mean there is definitely a true that you know, there's an honor amongst people journalism. We don't want to criticize one another but I do think and decide I'm guilty of it. Oh my gosh. I'm so guilty of it. Like sometimes we mistake social media interaction with doing her job as journal and you know, they're not the same that certainly is valuable to have a large following on social media but is that the work you know, is that the work of digging through the public records? I mean is saying something critical about the way that a public official addresses everybody? Is that the work really I mean, you know, it's like we've ever seen this earlier. It's a social media for The Newsroom these conversations we used to have

09:06 Material out there and so many talented reporters like that. It's very humbling today and maybe it's because we consume so much media and I think the general public is consuming more media than they probably ever have in the past. Is that good? Yes, I do think so it's good to have to rein it in and have a little bit perspective that sometimes the public officials that were recording on there just human beings to we certainly need to be very Vigilant and think critically about what they're doing but they're just there's a there is a nastiness to social media that it rewards and we as human beings are definitely subject to that influence. So I really would like to see people in the media and I'm doing this myself cuz I am definitely not innocent trying to re-evaluate how I communicate in these public like that.

10:07 What about you at? What do you think? Where's the media gone good place bad place for our publication even know some you know me your recent Publications and they try to tell you they may be left of center center. Right? I think I like a good news story and it happens just as well, to be honest. It happened just as much as those as you may see us a quote conservative that I need to get a new story cover both side, which is grade. I go to change something. I wish journalist to me the follow-up question. You don't know how you like when you interview. Hey, I got a question. I like okay. I want you questions. I want the one let him answer to me is always the follow-up question. And I and I think you're right. Sometimes it comes a little bit of a Joshua thing sometimes and I wonder if we give our pilot electric officials too much slack, you know, where there's a local Mayer on this issue or whatever the other things may be and because they say one thing and let's be honest depending on the me to something depending on who

11:07 Well, let me get a free ride and I think because they can perpetuate a bunch of nonsense out there. And if I don't get called out for it and I doubt you your right is that come across as that? Agenda? I think like you and I would I watch how you doing. You never come at your tone is like a poker face, which is which is good. They don't know where you're at. And how should they know where you're at and you're told us was what about this? And what about that? And I think maybe the question is this is how we act sometimes I think that that would be something on that but clearly me ask you this. When when when you look at political ideas like things being shaped. When would you say what moment of your lifestyle like when you talk about your sister and I can talk about it before but if something changed were let's say there was a belief

12:01 That you had like I certainly adapted no evolved on some beliefs out there. Maybe maybe come a little bit more. I don't know that the more moderate maybe this morning agreement with his I like a good conversation. What time are we choose a life you set back and do you know I used to think this way but there was a certain situation that I covered or family to that then my life will be changed on this issue or that perspective.

12:25 You know, I mean I have one moment that I remember very clearly where my political views changed sharply on one particular issue that I have never thought of it and this other way and it was when I was an undergrad at Pfeiffer University. I was taking some kind of I don't remember what the course was but we were assigned to write this will essay like two pages, you know college papers, you know used to complain about that was kind of funny and it was to examine an issue from the other perspective and the issue that I chose. It was just like a sheet and you picked one was Israel. And so I had grown up with just a very limited ideas about the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinian people and I had always thought very much so that the Palestinians were terrorists and that they were Lawless and the Israelis were in the right 100%

13:25 I swear I believe I was 19 years old and as I wrote this essay about this from thinking trying to think critically about it. I started to think about my own my own home, right West Virginia clearly people who look like me did not always reside on that property and I tried to imagine how it would feel if someone else came in and took that from me and gave it back to people who used to belong to the Native American people who used to live there. And while there is a moral rightness to that. There's also the very real fact that I was not present to take this property from those people and my family has roots there too. And while it's very easy to say, yes, but they were first in time and that would there were at rossities committed in this we should write this wrong.

14:24 I have such a hard time saying that I would just feel so simply like okay, we'll take it if it were I was in that position and I just I came away from a perspective that was you know, it's this is a such a very large issue and I don't know enough but that it's not so simple just to say well one side is right and one side is wrong on that issue it really even though it was such a small Simon. I'll never forget my just how much that changed my thinking about it.

14:55 So, how about you add? I've just drove into some controversial Waters. But what are you tell me something that you show me the most important issues to you?

15:09 Politically

15:11 It's

15:12 Tamia's an individual's a journalist. I love having a conversation. I don't listen people can trouble. I have a friend. You have to be a certain race. Well, do you know be able to look at my Facebook and say hey Ed man. Holy God. She had like when when I was married in divorce yet that guy he was in my you know at Lido Key, he could have been CEO he was black though. We don't do that to make our street crack. Its I like having a conversation. I don't care what I mean. There were times where I don't want to talk politics all the time. I mean really I want to go out and tell me what's going on or Lindsay or some friends that he made. How did how is work going to tell me? What are like, Jordan Coban like is are they talking about laying you off at a time? I give you Hazard pay movies. Are they say kitchen table issues for family, even though I'm not married no kids but like bees are coming to lay you off or or is it coming to give you bonuses or is it coming to give you a fertile of these are more important?

16:13 Into me I like having a conversation where in your right things are even people that I would agree with I sit back and go to stop being so 1 close-minded have a conversation like a little sit-down. What's the reason something about a balance will unfortunately, I don't know what it is always a winner like Lucy there's a bill for children's education School balanced meal for funding of education schools going to get more some schools are going to get last it stinks just the way it is. There's always going to be in winter in somebody may not always obtain the amount they want to come you lose her. He's just the way it is. It's unfortunate. You want to create a balanced I agree. But at least you coming to go to act like a marriage, you know, I want to go see this. I want to go see that you compromising and given taken as a hundred percent together. So I like an issue where it's like talk about for example of

17:13 You cannot believe he not doing well, that's a top issue. Why is it that they feel that their children's education is not doing well. Everybody's always wants to blame teachers. I have to tell you something. I don't always blame the parents always one playing the teachers. He was one of the parents and we never seem to have a conversation about this and sometimes we go in so close-minded. Where am I know I kind of get it out there besides I sit back and I'm having a difference of opinion, but I'm like, hey, I understand were some people can see that and this is what I think we're lacking in journalism today. Sometimes we show up going like we are going to go ahead and take the winter. I might now let's have a conversation. Nobody got enough money on this is not an MMA fight know what's playing the tap out we're going to do all 12 rounds or five rounds and let's do it. Let's do it where we sit back and hey, let's go get a cup of coffee afterwards. I think that's what's lacking today when you look at beliefs it something like with you when that

18:13 Give me something about but your beliefs that or maybe some believes that you hear out there. Maybe not so much On The Fringe, but maybe more mainstream I guess. Is there something about your beliefs about my beliefs or others that you may have covered or you you it's Thanksgiving day where you know, you got to go to go see the in-laws that may not agree with yo-yo. They give U pro Trump anti Trump probe I dance I buy what is it about that a belief that maybe you don't understand about how some people could come to the conclusion that you sit back and not just the polar opposite of

18:48 You can you have an economic background and economics is something that you focus on quite a lot and your work. I think that we all do that. The thing that gets me about the economic argument always seems to be focused on the job creators and the fact that this is heralded as really the number one priority and when it comes to economic policy that we really need to make sure that these people are able to contribute to the economy. So that that money can benefit the rest of us. I mean, but it always seems to me as though they don't take it to the fact that the environment impact of some of these things that we allow developers to do the human impact of not allowing not having a tax base so that we can pay for these different things that we need in society are roads are bridges are Social Services mental health issues drug addiction. I mean all these things are seen as secondary to the almighty dollar and well

19:48 No agree that the economy is an essential part of what makes the American way of life the way it is good or bad but an economic Prosperity does benefit all people ideally, but in reality it doesn't there are so many people in our society who do not get to see benefit of the strong economy and part of the reason why I don't get that benefit is because there has been lost put in place that make it even harder for these people to make a living wage to send their kids to these good schools. And at the same time we're staying well so sad too bad for you that your kid is going to a d school and you have to use public transportation. That's extremely inefficient and work a minimum wage job when your dollar isn't going anywhere near as far as it would been in 1970, but you know, what the Koch brothers

20:41 They're billionaires and that's more important than you. It's like we think that just because you are wealthy Jeff Bezos as wealthy that he shouldn't have to pay any taxes and it blows me away that we're just so Cavalier about the suffering of people when we are saying that these Mega billionaires should just keep all of their money cuz on the idea that maybe it will benefit the rest of us when we know that that's actually not happening.

21:12 What do you what do you think? What do you think about the economic? How do we address economic policy and social issues at the same time?

21:22 B

21:24 Nobody will you'll never come to a perfect Society. Like I said, it's always a balance like a tax policy or up help your policy. It just it just the way it is always going to be winter. So I'm going to lose and so I think sometimes it's it's worth sample went when we get asked this as a news reporter on radio. He will always have to what's the difference between this and I always do what do you agree with certain groups are not in some of them got some crazy ideas on both sides to damage their hard for me to talk about gun control or the Second Amendment or the minimum wage or Pro or against or at a zoning meeting. I'm just like white opportunity give them credit. They don't stop and see if I can know what's going on. I mean, sometimes I could just to look at me just because you just entertainment but

22:20 BB should we conomic I think that when you look at 85% of all small business owners a member. You know, you don't like what I get. I was very liberal, but I'm trying to employ five or ten people. Listen to I think if you if you if you made the argument we want to jack up the minimum wage to 15 bucks an hour. Will I'm just saying this is when you talk to people the Coke can afford that Walmart in 1/4 at Target, but the small business guide for the most part. I mean it's not prophets profit margin and profit. What's the profit? Margin the guy that the gal who employs for people part-time who likes doing it cuz they want to do some for the local community can't afford the 15th I'm saying if if if those that I can give you an exemption and said I think that would be you would have argued. That's all I'm saying. I'm not saying you have to bring it on the merits. I'm just saying it's the one-size-fits-all. You don't think we do that a lot for temple what may be good one state is a good another thing we talked about while it's tax people 250,000 amor.

23:20 Play The Great South Florida. That may be great in New York that's middle class for some of those people but I'm saying pee like in West Virginia. That is a boatload of money. I mean, they're rich and it just may not apply. So I'm just saying I just think sometimes if the one-size-fits-all if you want to talk about going out to the coax or somebody out. Okay, what's have that that's all that's fine. But I'm just saying how do you say back and tell them you're going to pay $15 you play 505 wouldn't make you pay 1512. If you said I can go. Hey, you know it like like Bill Clinton did back in the nineties Bill Clinton raise the minimum wage, but he also said it and the back end with some small tax breaks like a swash. So I guess I would been a little bit more of a balance. I think we have more of a conversation like that instead of saying no what's morally wrong and blah blah blah and a lot of companies. He's been at the old Walmart guys are moving towards 250 bucks an hour. They're making money. It's good. You can sit back and say it's it's good that you need to protesting or it's good that they have more money or two because it's it's better to retain people. I think I'm all.

24:20 Flat argument there. I just like you act like you said before I think sometimes we just were already coming in making up our minds but you look for something for like like you when you look at a social issue comics issue and I think you said and I think you would be something you can separate but you put social economics may be together when somebody has to work two jobs. And by the way, we're so we're all of us are still very young. Remember when if we were to part time job, I mean go back 20 years ago my high school teacher in public high schools still weren't apart just because which is extra money, you know, so I don't fall people my question. I guess I was going to ask you is when I see people work in one or two three jobs, or I don't sit back and I'm going to ask if you look at them going batty people hurting or is it because he I want that extra thing for my wife or my my husband or I want to pay off my debt. What is probably to you the biggest if you haven't looked

25:19 Economic issue is it the minimum wage or as a social issue is we don't allow enough opportunity for people to make more money guaranteed College. Where do you draw the line to sit back and behave baby? It's a trade school. You look at maybe college is not for everybody. What advice do you give to somebody who's been successful as a lawyer and an editor doubt? What do you sit back and say hey may not be for everybody. But what do you tell them to sit back and say this is what you got to be prepared for like making a correction, you know, based on the way the Eagan events are today as some would say it is fair or somebody say, it's not as Fair.

26:04 Well, I mean we can look at the numbers in the numbers tell us it's not a spare. It's interesting to be my age the elderly Millennial as I like to say because when I was growing up, it was just drilled into our heads that if we wanted to have a good successful life we went to college and then that was it like you were going to make a good wage and you are going to continue to advance in your career financially and professionally and all of those promises were for naught My Generation has unbelievable student loan debts myself included. We many of us were in the job market during the Great Recession at a time when professional jobs were almost unheard of I was practicing law and bartending and making more money bartending.

26:53 I'm at that time. And you know, if you had told me when I was 18 years old that ten years later, I would be making you know more money selling a dream that I was writing briefs. I would have said you were crazy. And so it's like I don't even know where to begin to tell the younger generation advice except maybe like recent College if you think it might not be for you maybe a trade school is a good way to do it. But it the same time like yes, we need to hold the individual responsible, which I think is kind of what you're saying. Like that's that's a big part of it. But it's also how is the system structure and we know that wages are stagnant. We know that these top Executives there and their salaries keep going up and up and up workers are making less and less dollar-for-dollar and spending power year after year. And you know, we need to hold them accountable in more ways than just through lip service. I mean, we certainly

27:53 Start to look at these policies and to start to maybe make judgments about whether or not we want to support companies that aren't doing this. I mean that are letting their top five workers are the top five Executives make like 50% of all of the payroll, you know, I mean, how is that something that we believe contribute to the American way of life as a purple. That's it! If

28:22 If you with the way things are today, you got the Salat of protest of the George Floyd where you got a lot of companies coming out to hey, we need to invest more Walmart's doing it Bank of America black eyed peas are jumping on board to invest more into more of the witch is you know for years and you've known me on this radio. So I've always sat back and said his recorder those in the black midi of always been a member of the hurricane came through in 2004. I was asking why is it always the black community? I mean, why is it always has done by purpose by your local power company, but they're always the last one to get turned on when we have a the money needs to be distributed them. By the way. This could have been black represent Azure white represent is it was always the black community where the money I mean with all the buildings we spent you think would would push up people and it's either they haven't done or are elected officials haven't properly spent the money which I would go I would tend to agree more with that instead of blaming a group or certain neighborhood, but if you hadn't

29:22 If you could only pick one out of three where you wanted this is kind of interesting cuz I hear this was going to ask you would it be more of the social justice for companies to donate more to help out those in the black community or if I'm not saying to Camp you both something or should companies do more to pay their employees more. What does it depend on the did the time of the month? What would be some times more important right there? Because there are those that say Hey, we got a problem on this and we got a problem bad and that we need to spend more money to help out those again tonight. He's going to do more but then again, what about trying to help out those who need a helping hand and make more of a as you would say a living wage what takes precedence over one or the other? I mean, I don't think you can put one should be paying their employees a living wage. And I know that some of these companies that make in the textile industry they are I mean, they have factories overseas where it's just a Bismol.

30:22 It's great that companies donate and it's nice to see them trying to do something good with their profits. But you know would those donations be necessary if we had created this incredible systemic racism racism that is just baked into the systems in the United States have created these issues just like the why the black community has worst flooding during Hurricane why you look at the health outcomes in the criminal justice outcomes in the economic outcomes in so many different metrics. I'm in again and again and again, you see the same thing, you know, if this is something that is centuries in the making and it will take decades for us to change so I don't really think that we can come easy to be choosing. Well do I do these feel good PR donations that you do so good. I mean, I think that's their goal or do I pay my workers a salary that they can live and Thrive and race.

31:22 You know, if we look back at the most successful periods of time United States it was when the average workers were making more money and that benefited everybody. So I mean, you know, I think that's

31:40 That's where I where I stand on that so so

31:45 I want you to tell me.

31:47 When I've been on your shell, right and you you do a really good job of holding people of either political persuasion accountable, you know in a lot of people would maybe expect that you would be more one-sided. Why is it important to you too sexy and you put the people's feet to the fire who other people may think naturally that you would agree with her percent. You've been it you do. It seems to me that you work very hard to try to think of things quickly. So what is it? What is there a time that you felt like you weren't doing that and that you serve change your perspective of your interviewing Style.

32:33 They're called age. That's what it is becoming more. I mean it you sit back and try to make a you know, when a person like that you sit back and go wouldn't when do I make that change? How do I what do I do if something's got to hit me. How do we become a like? I have no children like how to become a better parent and something hit you with a curve in your second or third child or how do I do this? Consistency? What am I? What am I old bosses from South Florida John Harper dear friend of mine to this day John goes what? He consistently left who we consistently inconsistent wrong just be consistent and I think that's what it is. I think we you know you ever see this weird like you got to meet with in-laws for the holidays and your just ready cuz they may like this or you know what I just you know, what suck it up. Just have a great conversation.

33:26 It stinks it sound like you know, you got to go get the shot. You know, you're you're you're a vaccine shot for the flu to go to take whatever or you got to go in and get that physical do it get it done with and I think the person things I just like a good conversation. I like your people stories 40 minutes to pay attention to I like hearing how did the how did this come about and you know, I don't I think people can change I certainly changed a lot but I'm more than for the conversation and for the ideas of having the conversation because you learn a lot and yeah, it's it's one of those like with you is like you're very fair to me like, you know folio. I like to people with purple you are good to me. I want to talk about this business. You know, I like you when you have your personal views and when you talk about your personal story,

34:26 A successful as a lawyer. You've you've done well as an editor, do you sit back and go is your person like you said I can go help me. I'm happy with this or even you're in you're still young in your thirties. Just about to go, you know, I wouldn't mind if you have a sit back and be able to watch you know, you mentioned about being a bartender. Hey, let me tell you something. I tell my nephew's they forget about getting a college degree. If you can make Claire my six figures a year as a bartender people eat this all to me about how much money do you say that how much money you make and the lawyer I like being an editor. What do you do you say back? If you can change nose editor it mean when you have your personality you looking person like you said back and go what would be the next episode on 40 or do you sit back and say I want to continue what I'm doing now? What's the 5-year plan on my dude? I'm doing how do you think what do you think?

35:26 But you know to we were thinking about this for trimming Windows Direct of how we got to where we are politically and abused go to town for 500 people graduated with a 19 people on a public school. My hometown is very poor and very white and very isolated. And now that I am getting older and I go when I go home, I'm going home next week, right and you know, it's a beautiful place. I love it. But I know when I go home, I'm going to see people that I grew up with and some of them are probably will not recognize and a lot of the reason for that is because my hometown has been ravished by the opioid epidemic. I mean, I couldn't even tell you how many people has found that small I know who have overdosed and many who have died in the past few years, you know, they are many of them are on public assistance there.

36:26 I mean, I know people who have had Strokes in their 30s people who have had some very serious health issues early onset diabetes and stuff like that. And a lot of it is because I mean they are stuck in a cycle of poverty and you know, I think about those people a lot when I you know start to think about the American system and you know, I mean when I was a kid, none of them were thinking I'm about to be Cavalier, but almost nobody I knew was planning to go to college at the wood Hometown. Call Paul, West, Virginia.

37:04 Here's the here's that he was with people here. They say Claire we talked about if you know people's personalized income disparity out there and inequalities and you have said, hey man where I come from its it's not the the most wealthiest every my parents want. Well, they got me believe me, but I was in a bunch of rich kids.

37:25 Things have become so bad in certain neighborhoods to your personal. How did you I mean if you have to do and Readers Digest, how did you become successful getting out of the place where you're at to Cheney where you are now, both of my parents valued education. They neither of them had college degrees, but they both have professional jobs and they instilled the importance of Education in me and I was just like my personality. I've always been a book extra person, but it's not my story is not a story of someone who overcame property because that is not what happened my story of someone who grew up in the midst of harvest party and saw what it does to people and

38:09 Continue to my life carrying those lessons with me as I became an adult and moved into my professional career. That's part of the reason why a lot of my work has focused. So heavily on people who are in poverty people who are suffering because I grew up surrounded by it. And I just, you know, I do hold like just like a Christians right that we're all equal and we all deserve a chance so

38:40 Yeah Paw Paw West Virginia is a wonderful place to be from and I'm really proud to be have grown up there. I love going home beautiful place, but it's also it's heartbreaking to see what has happened there.

38:55 Also, add one of you tell me something.

38:59 Tell me something we don't know about, you know.

39:04 When you see all the protests going on right now, you see what's what people are clamoring for in the streets. What do you think?

39:13 In what way are the protest people are the black lives matter protest the protest against police brutality the calls to maybe alter the funding structure for police reduce funding for police move some of the services they perform to other agencies and just the continued cryostat police have long been too brutal with population. Particularly the black population. What do you think?

39:38 You know when I for years, I when I've always look as a reporter. I've always as a personal thing. I've always wondered why when we run PSA charging quite I'm get to a point. What is why is it that when we we talked about financial peace? Hey, we want to help out those that you wanted to get a better rate of return on your money. But why is a we've never gone into a black communities and done education with them. I'm just being totally serious. You know what they have or we want to teach you. Claire, like for example, we want to teach how to balance the checkbook at a public high school memory and we talked about that. I think we should you know, some people say what about teaching? What about to teach me maybe even Alex that way people won't go into debt. I love you know, you think he does a class in high school. I like seeing group that focus more on poor income areas, and we don't do that cuz we go to the pool or black.

40:38 The talk more about how to uplift them all and I'd like to see more of that when it when I when I look at what's going on. I mean, you know, I always say no one cares about my public opinion, but if it is painful because I look at poll numbers and you depend will you grieve them or not? There is a lot that needs to be discussed it that hasn't been discussed. I mean to be critical big companies are they doing this? Because it's the right thing to do to help out. Those aren't we talked about a few moms go to social injustice, or are they doing it? Because it's good PR and they're doing it for the money that you know, I think that's a fair discussion. I doubted, you know, whatever views, you know, whatever has about that. But but he is probably one of most painful things. I would like being the son of a minister was done for the military and they won't fill it with the military. They were most of his role in the black community.

41:30 Heck I never met an interracial couple when I was 20. No met him when I was ten. And guess what black and white they come to church didn't care about the race cuz we would do teen activities. We play ball. We just wasn't something a tennis in there were never any type of foul language that was used just never came to us cuz we never thought about it never saw the systemic racism there and it was always done to help out those like I said was with at the military but I like seeing it because I like to see more done in the black communities the economics more be here unless over here. It's always the same conversation every two years me more money, but the money's never properly spent and I think when I look at some of the did the black lives matter and Tifa, if you want to remove monuments put them in a museum a I got no problem.

42:31 Show the reason why that we didn't need these if you support or do you don't support statute? It's a great history this personally you can you can sit back and listen to something where we don't want to go back or what the pros and cons how the conversation don't delete history talk about it and have a little fun about it. You know, you sit back and listen statue. Do you have a little joke about it? The question is is taken out of statue going to change your life is going to put more money in your back pocket. He's going to make you a better husband or you could change you personally don't like to make more money protest knock you too. I love to see you but without having an unfortunate incident if you believe you're not getting enough share with your child's education enough money is being spent man. You don't stop you. Don't go Pasco. You always continue the fight and it just whether it's it's those it didn't like the lockdowns or shutdowns, you know, a few of them showed up, but what you know,

43:27 And I was like, well, what's the point either this thing's going to pass along some sooner or later, but I understand why people put music. What is what is tearing? I guess I'd ask a question. What is Frederick Douglass for crying? A lot of Abraham Lincoln help free the slaves have what is that do in the favorability the recognition of what should be done in the honor of of of George boy, I guess that would be my my question. That's all it's not as a board down to just have and then I just have a great discussion. What is personally affecting you and sometimes on both sides you just get just get the ramp and I looking like you I like hearing a good personal story on that. You know, when you look at it if you had to say something to hear clear, like what is it that people say about you man? You said his early this is a great question. What is the app that I came up with her? Anyway, what do you say?

44:20 That would people read your stuff agree or disagree. What is it that people say about you that is painful or are you like Superman you like? Hey, man, I used to it. It's like bullets the strategist. Yeah. I mean I had an out weekly so I have taken some abuse and you get a thicker skin naturally doing that kind of thing. I remember when I first started a week late like my heart would pound when I would open my email inbox after we published particularly spicy story cuz I just knew it was coming and it would be like that 3 times. I've been sitting in my office just over like breathing heavy like trying to calm down because I just felt sole attack, even if it was something I didn't write.

45:20 Give me the big thing is like I want to get everything right like, okay, maybe I may not focus heavily on the fact that you think is more important, but you know what? It's my decision my editors. They know we work together to figure out what is the most relevant stuff.

45:39 It doesn't really hurt my feelings anymore. When people say whatever it is they say about me. I mean, some of it actually is quite amusing and I think that maybe we do what we all do a little better if we could just laugh at these jokes that people make about us, I mean it because I know what it feels like to have my feelings hurt. I know what it feels like to have people that I that I admire and respect to criticize me and that it can be really humbling and it can be, you know, it can really lower you.

46:22 So, you know, I mean like on one hand. Yeah, my feelings don't get hurt so much anymore, but on the other hand, my feelings have been hurt a lot. And that's why I guess they're they're covered under armour at this point. So did you agree? I don't rely on a letter to the editor just because everybody's got an opinion but I think Facebook and they're getting beat up by both sides. By the way. I think your Twitter is one thing but I think Facebook is the sterical of people's responses. I mean just people will tirade on I just go off at like really guys. It's just a like on a Facebook post that you believe that the things is just you get a gauge on both sides don't like people chili just it's just Facebook. I wonder if you think we

47:17 You think we'll get you serious about some of their swords. It's just people begging cuz I got nowhere else to go to bed, even though it may not hurt my feelings because I wrote something if there's someone that I spoke to who's the source of mine to see people abuse them in Facebook comments are on social media other platforms that that really stinks because when somebody opens up to you and talk to you about their life and maybe their experiences some that are quite quite painful and then to see just strangers come tearing at them. That is well that that really bothers me some of the things that people will say about each other strangers the butt

48:09 You know what maybe social is it anti social media? I don't know. Do you think your views are different because you're in the media then if they would be a few just like work. You know, I'm not into fiber.

48:26 That's a great question something that

48:31 Is

48:33 I'm a Defender than you believe it or not beat. That was my background. Even though I would sometimes I just sit back and go. Oh my gosh weather at is not based on a a question of my beliefs is like the follow-up question is always the greatest question to ask because they just think that well ain't a big of a certain perspective on how to get a free ride. I can't stand up by the way you just gets to me but because I tell people I got to tell you something. I'm not like I like my view represent everybody my poison. I just want to represent people at least ask a question which type of you agree to differ just give them a chance to respond. And that's all I ask it in and I want you to be respectful that but

49:13 I'm also be credited the media as well. Listen, I will be the first one to make when I used to cover those on the conservative all that couldn't wait for something to happen bad for the other side of my Mike manno. I couldn't wait for the car before the Great Recession. What do you breed with the present or not? I want a fun conversation. That was always good to entertain cuz it was entertaining but I think my attitude has changed as member of the meeting cuz you get to cover more and I can't I think the the thing that I love like what this conversation with me and you is that I'm just surprised that that I wish we had more of this type of a dialogue.

49:59 Twin with a foregone conclusion now during this conversation.

50:05 Has anything surprised you?

50:08 Topic or maybe sit back and go. Hey, you know Ed maybe you don't like when you talk with this and other people do you look for an outcome and sit back and I want to be pleasantly surprised it had a good conversation or did somebody just put on a good face now then go behind my back and go what a load of garbage. Did I waste my 45 minutes?

50:32 You know, we know each other I've been on your show and we don't go way back we go back a little bit. You know, what a conversation like this. I think that it's surprising to people that two individuals to come from very different backgrounds. You know, you were Son of a Preacher Florida native me West Virginia girl middle of nowheresville lawyer, you know, obviously were both in the media. Would you share that in common but we're able to talk about some very difficult issues without getting combative with one another or feeling a friend because I may not agree with everything that you said, you know, if it's possible for people to have a conversation and you're someone else's perspective that they do not agree with and do their best to share their perspective and maybe maybe make other person think differently, but I probably not we do work hard to make people change their minds.

51:32 I see something not to interrupt you may see something that I find very surprising ease act like for example some of the Publications you written for maybe a little bit more Mortal center-left but it's amazing how the conservatives that will read it. You don't say it like like we're going black when you come on it's amazing all that Claire blows up the phones man that they just did it just like it's like I don't mean to be rude as you can handle this like it's amazing how many of these conservice just can't wait to talk to a liberal even though I can't see or vice a versa's what I'm saying? It's just amazing. They'll never admit it and put them in therapy filament that you know, I'm kind of watching this amazing as a report. He's back the man I was a guess what they're reading it and that's the part of them wants to own the libs as you say, but I think just really is hungry for somebody to engage with who doesn't share exactly they're fused someone who will hear. What the heck

52:32 Say and you no answer their questions and I find that people agree so much more than we disagree. We think that we don't but we just have different priorities on most issues with off are really similar, but we are prioritized other some things over others and you know, we're just so accustomed to like this like conversation style all checks that the two sides just cannot come together and I would say that there are some outlets on both sides that are not helping that too much one that may have three letters that rhymes with Ox that does a really interesting people. But you know when we actually come together and we have our conversation we find that you know what you're not some big bad evil guy because you may not check all the same views as me. I mean, we're just human beings and you know conversations like this I think would bring us.

53:32 Turn some national healing that we made we may need it this time to remind me the movie The Matrix those the red pill take the blue pill now, like like they'd never realize that the machines actually ran it away from you couldn't believe how they're like you to all the blue crowd. There are red states red states are blue States out there. They do exist. If I taking the pill, you're not going to go to wash it away forget about you got to deal with it. What's going on? However, you may I just it's just amazing how people adjust to a lot of this and and honestly, so but I got to tell you something. It's been I've never seen nothing like this for years, you know, what people's personalized. It's just it's so interesting and like I said, I just alike with you as I was doing personalized for you that you have a good conversation with this because I understand exactly where you're coming from and you want to keep it that level, like a good first day and I'm saying where you don't want to go off and talk about something.

54:32 Could you think the second day will be successful and would you may say something that may give them reservations out there and it should be totally where it's just I know sometimes we say what I want to be like a horse with blinders on we want to know which way sometimes I like to have a conversation on the horse with blinders on let's stay focused a good phone conversation personal church. If a ethnicity sexual orientation have a conversation cuz that's what it should and make it as we say clear across kitchen table or coffee table. That's what it should be about.

55:05 How does it look like that anyway, but this is it is always been good. And I just I'd like to see people more it in an invite people do these. Please make it exciting for those that watch this. I'm not saying I'm excited. I'm just saying people want to be engaged and sometimes it's it's like you tell a story and some people relate a how the animation is sometimes I sit back and let you know what I don't want to waste much the animation like professional wrestling is worth everything free rein. I can relate more to the story the spiked with the animation may or may not be and that's how you know, we look at things a little excited about some things and a little too overexcited. Sometimes they put their higher priority like some people take well,

55:55 Is face mask too much those of the other want to know what do not wish you were face mask. Is that more important than black lives matter hate job, and I'm going to try to get the last word and everything else out there. So no face masks. I was there a short hair grow out the wreck. I just want to go out to hear what people say and the people just agreed with on both sides didn't bother me all that's what I liked about. It was just kind of laid back and they weren't there to pick a fight it on both sides. And I was you. I'm like, oh can we stop this? And that's what I like. I mean, I just wish you could have it. I just I just wonder even on both sides. Like I say this we talked about having a conversation.

56:56 Why don't you just come to a what is the word? I guess we looked harmless ground until you got this territory. You got a neutral Brown Excuse me, and let's do it a fortune. I think some on cage on both sides. I'm able to difference on which side but I think some to it's just they just want to come sit with her. I cannot support the conclusion. I want to come to a common ground or neutral Ratliff have the conversation really do it. Let's do it. But to me it let's do it 24/7. Wait for an unfortunate incident to happen on this end or that that's awesome.

57:34 Now and by the way, I really enjoyed the discussion. It was good. I I wish we had more of these weather personal substrate and I really enjoyed it and that the people again with with with with the group here with story corpse just phenomenal went well beyond. I mean, I'm like What's Next if they bringing me coffee get an Uber ride. That was so great and you and I mean that they were so great. I'm doing all this. This is a great idea and why many people take advantage of this

58:04 Fathoms me a platform and they'll be a lot more this should happen. So they may not agree Weston, you know, I think storycorps is doing a great job trying to Foster those kind of dialogues for people not just here watching the people in their own life. So thanks very much going out of the way. Because they feel they have because if there's a gill to know they're really all they want to do it. Don't say it when I open the door or when I do my my daily run her daily gaga, baby black we know each other. I'm not reaching out because I feel that I have to they know it's and see her because why we always have a conversation and we always talk and they're not feel that there's that there's something for that like me and you this is a great story chords to the great job near visit. This is why I'm not reaching out that I feel I have to I don't

58:58 We do cuz we want to

59:03 And I just want to say thanks the story corpse. This is been great and anytime anywhere.

59:13 All right, let me