Dan Barach is a licensed Social Worker who specializes in Veteran assistance. In 2012, Dan worked at the Cuyahoga Jail in Cleveland, OH for 3.5 years and helped clients connect to the outside world. Dan is also a writer who illuminates the realities of life in jail. You can find his work on Medium under the username @SirKrinkly. Our discussion covers everything from child abuse and trauma, to the emotional thick skin social workers need to develop in order to stay grounded in their jobs. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

Woke Fu

The Privilege of Watching Someone Rebuild Their Life

On today's episode of Woke Fu, I spoke with Ashley Jones, a youth behavioral specialist at a Residential Treatment facility, author of "I work with Fucking Monsters," and a long-time member of the LLAG community. Our discussion covered everything from the emotional baggage of social work and clients who call in the middle of the night, to the lack of Diversity within the social work industry. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

Social Work Has a Diversity Problem

I am and will always consider myself a leftist, but I can't help but notice how rigid some people are when it comes to their definition of leftists. You might share 80% of the same values as another leftist, but does that 20% variance disqualify you from being considered a "valid" lefty? --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

Can You Still Be A Leftist If Your Opinions Change?

What does it mean to "figure yourself out"? I've spent the last few years trying to understand my mental health and time and time again, I end up in the past. I know who did what to me, and how it affects me today, but I'm now faced with a bigger question: what do I do with all these answers? A big focus of mine is to figure out who I am when I'm not depressed, and who I was before my trauma. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

What Were You Like Before Depression?

A professor at Duke University is in hot water after exposing the rampant racism in one of their graduate programs. Megan Neely, the director of graduate studies for the Duke University’s Master of Biostatistics program, passed around an email discouraging Chinese-speaking students from speaking their native language. The emails revealed a plot within the faculty to deny specific Chinese students from opportunities on the basis of them speaking a foreign language in the break room. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

Why Is Duke University Openly Discriminating Against Chinese-Speaking Students?

Many moons ago, I wanted to become a fashion designer. Unfortunately for me and my mom's account balance, we couldn't afford the tuition cost of $100k for the San Francisco Art Institute. So instead, I went to community college and on a whim, picked Business Administration. Then I changed it to Communication Studies and never looked back. But did this decision help me out in the end? Now that I'm five years removed from graduating college, I have a better appreciation for the decision I made in my earlier years because it's definitely paid off -- kinda. Here's a quick story about my college life, the classes I took, and the skills I developed and continue to use today. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

I Majored in Communication Studies Because I Get Bored Easily. That Decision Paid Off (Kinda)

Gillette is one of the oldest companies in America. Founded in 1901, they've been making razor blades since before women and people of color started gaining any damn rights in this country. Forged in the past, Gillette came out this weekend with a viral commercial addressing the #MeToo movement, sexual harassment, and toxic masculinity, a move very much in-tune with 2019. The commercial was endearing and honest without feeling too sensational. It wasn't a call-out so much as a call-in. While a handful of men enjoyed the commercial, a disturbing amount saw this harmless ad as some bizarre "war on men." I'm here today to explain briefly why that's full of shit, why the war on men doesn't exist, and why the arguments used against Gillette's commercial carry zero weight. Oh yeah. And there's ONE talking point that I actually agree with that was brought up by Fox News. Listen till the end to find out! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

No, Gillette Isn't Waging War on Men, You're Just A Snowflake

A lot of men get upset when women order expensive items on the menu, even if both parties agreed on the same restaurant in the first place. I think the root cause of this issue has to do with men not being honest with their finances. Today we'll discuss a post shared on our Facebook group (LLAG +Fam) about a man upset because he thought his first date would cost $25 but it came out to $65. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

If You Can't Pay For Your First Date, Tell Her. Or You Can Try This.

It's easy to dismiss cultural appropriation as a whine-fest for annoying SJWs that don't have anything better to do. But there is utility in policing culture, especially when there's money involved. Here are my quick thoughts on the importance of calling out cultural appropriation. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

Why I Still Support Activists Who Fight Against Cultural Appropriation

POC News: Quick recap of last week's top stories posted on LLAG with extra commentary from me and feedback from you. Topics from December 30, 2018 - January 5, 2019 1.) Vietnamese Salon Owner Killed Over $35 Manicure Bill 2.) Man Assaults Black McDonalds Associate 3.) Leaked Audio of Louis CK's New Stand-Up Routine Features Anti-Asian Jokes 4.) Andrew Zimmern's Shows Have Been Cancelled After His Comments About Chinese Restaurants --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

POC News: Vietnamese Salon Owner Killed By 21yo White Lady

I was told back in college that Sessue Hayakawa was the first Asian male to appear as a sex symbol in Holywood for his role in "The Cheat," a 1915 silent film. I just watched "The Cheat" and holy fucking shit, it's racist. It might not appear that way explicitly, but if you read between the VERY well established lines, it's hard to miss the blatant racism, sexism, and dog whistling. I was told that "The Cheat" was supposed to be some landmark film that broke barriers and made Asians look good. Instead, it did the complete opposite. I was wrong all along. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

I Watched An Asian Male + White Female "Interracial" Movie From 1915 and It's Racist AF

I feel like I've been in a daze for the last few years. My writing chops seem weakened and I just don't sound like the writer I used to know, or the writer I want to become. Something needs to happen, and that something is blogging. Good ole angsty blogging. The same shit that made me who I am today. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

I Need To Start Blogging Again

It's easy to talk about all the nice, sweet things that motivate you, but sometimes you need to tap into a darker force to give you fuel. Yes, I'm talking about revenge. When you feel the need to prove someone wrong, if you do it right, it could serve as a springboard to get you to start moving. It can inspire you to be different, and relentless in your hustle. This is my story from high school, back when I was determined to become a fashion designer lol --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

Motivated by High School Assholes

What happens when your talents start to diminish and you can't find a way to recover from too many blows to your confidence? Whether you're a practitioner of Muay Thai or a skilled graphic novelist, there are times when you're on fire and times when you feel like your skills just can't pay the bills. Here's some advice on how to overcome this frustrating plateau. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

How to Bounce Back When Your Confidence Is Low

I developed a system to help me escape my deepest, darkest bouts with depression. It's my emergency plan that I call "How to Get Home" and it's an ongoing list of activities that have the power to lift my spirits, even if it's only for five minutes. Here are the first three: 1.) Consume new media. Old shit = old ideas. The more new content I consume, the more new ideas I produce. 2.) Do physical art. The act of transferring ideas into motion, and motion into physical art is incredibly therapeutic. I love finishing art pieces because it gives me a huge rush of satisfaction. 3.) Listen to full albums. Despite my severe case of "music ADD," I gain a ton of value from listening to entire albums as opposed to picking and choosing tracks that I like. When I force myself to listen to the whole package, I walk away with a greater understanding of the artist and their story. I vibe with that. Instagram/IGTV: @WokeFu --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

Outsmarting Your Depression

I've been a Civil Rights Writer for the last 3+ years and I've developed a keen eye for social, political, and cultural issues. Woke Fu is recorded live on Facebook and hosted by Filipino-American Activist Ranier Maningding. Follow me on Facebook and Youtube! Youtube: www.youtube.com/WokeFuPodcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/WokeFu Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/WokeFu/support

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Woke Fu

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