On this episode, Professor Mirya Holman and I discuss the powerful role of the Sheriff in U.S. culture and politics. We talk about immigration, constraints on police administrators, the future of elected law enforcement officials, and the role of sheriffs in managing Covid-19 and ending mass incarceration.

On this episode, Professor Don Kurtz and I discuss the role of storytelling in law enforcement. How do the gendered stories officers tell influence police culture and the rest of society? We also discuss the uncertainty of post-Coronavirus higher education and the utility of gallows humor.

On this episode, World Class Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor and police trainer Evandro Nunes tells us about the state of police defensive tactics training in the United States. We also talk about the importance managing time and distance in a fight and how to improve public trust in policing.

On this episode, Whitney Tchoula and I discuss her work using photographs to explore methamphetamine consumption in the rural south. We talk about agency, ethics, the power of images, and Whitney walks us through some amazing photographs.

On this episode, Bobby Boxerman and I discuss the role race and class play in shaping cannabis laws. What role did these forces play in making the plant illegal, in enforcing the laws, and in the current wave of legalization? We also talk about Bobby’s engineering background and the future of academia in the age of coronavirus. To help guide the discussion, Bobby requested I read a law journal article by Steven Bender ahead of time. Follow the link below for a free copy of the article.

On this episode, Professor Tony Jefferson and I discuss his research on Iron Mike Tyson. What can someone like Tyson tell us about masculinity, race, violence, and policing?

On this episode, Professor Sierra-Arévalo and I discuss one of his most recent publications: “The Commemoration of Death, Organizational Memory, and Police Culture” — When a police officer is killed on duty, their fellow officers memorialize that person in a variety of ways. We talk about how these memorials influence police culture and why it matter for the rest of society. We also talk about what drew Professor Sierra-Arévalo to study policing and even chat a little bit about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

On this episode, Professor Richard Rosenfeld and I discuss his most recent publication: Are College-Educated Officers Different? — Many people assume hiring officers with college degrees will improve policing. Are they right? We also discuss the importance of public trust in policing and the implications of the coronavirus (Covid-19).