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Systemic

Colorado Public Radio

Systemic is an award-winning podcast that uses audio diaries and interviews to document the lives of people working to create change.

In Season 3, the series dives deep into the lives of teenagers at risk of being incarcerated and the steps community leaders, police and legislators are taking to reduce youth gun crime.

In Season 2, the show follows a diverse group of educators, students and parents during a school year in which debates around race and equity in public education reached a fever pitch.

Season 1, produced in the wake of George Floyd's death and the ensuing protests, follows Black Americans working to reform policing from inside and outside the system.

Colorado Public Radio

Systemic is an award-winning podcast that uses audio diaries and interviews to document the lives of people working to create change.

In Season 3, the series dives deep into the lives of teenagers at risk of being incarcerated and the steps community leaders, police and legislators are taking to reduce youth gun crime.

In Season 2, the show follows a diverse group of educators, students and parents during a school year in which debates around race and equity in public education reached a fever pitch.

Season 1, produced in the wake of George Floyd's death and the ensuing protests, follows Black Americans working to reform policing from inside and outside the system.

Colorado Public Radio
6hr 34min
Thumbnail for "Introducing Systemic: A Show About Reform".
Launching May 19: Since the death of George Floyd in 2020, America has been searching its soul over questions of racial injustice. To capture this defining moment, we followed a group of people across the U.S., working to change police departments from the outside and within.
May 3, 20213min 3sec4.43 MB
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Jason McBride partners with Aurora Police and other Black and brown community leaders to try to keep kids from turning to violence.
August 18, 202524min 35sec35.44 MB
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Meet two Black police officers — a young officer in the Minneapolis suburbs and a veteran sheriff's deputy in Colorado Springs — working to protect their communities at a pivotal moment.
May 19, 202133min 14sec48 MB
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The death of a Black man in Colorado Springs left a grieving family searching for answers in a complicated and frustrating legal system.
May 26, 202137min 14sec53.73 MB
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On this episode, we follow an officer in leadership who’s working to reform policing from the top down.
June 2, 202136min 35sec52.84 MB
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In this year when rethinking law enforcement is at the center of a global conversation, we follow and activist working to hold those in power accountable for change.
June 9, 202135min 3sec50.7 MB
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This season, teachers, parents, students and administrators are asking hard questions about the American education system.
December 27, 20223min 2sec4.4 MB
Thumbnail for "No Equity, No Voice".
We follow Melissa Hall, a Black parent, as she feels the full impact of withholding equity policies as a school volunteer and a mother of four kids.
January 10, 202332min 26sec46.72 MB
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We follow Naomi Lopez as she tries to steer her local school board toward equity policies while addressing her concerns that her gender-fluid child is a target because of some board members' anti-LGBTQ comments.
January 17, 202342min 59sec62.09 MB
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We follow Denver Public School teacher, Kevin Adams, as he navigates a stream of microaggressions.
January 24, 202334min 30sec49.87 MB
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We follow educator Paulina Lerma as she attempts to break the glass ceiling to become a Latina principal.
January 31, 202336min 47sec52.99 MB
Thumbnail for "Overcoming Hate".
In this bonus episode, we look at how Melissa Hall tested Colorado's bias-motivated crimes statute in court.
February 6, 202423min 15sec33.57 MB
Thumbnail for "Season 3 Preview: Teens and guns".
Systemic, hosted and reported by Jo Erickson, is back for Season 3, to tell the stories of those who fight injustice as they attempt to dismantle the status quo.
August 5, 20252min 42sec3.92 MB
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August 11, 202521min 28sec30.93 MB
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How do we stop guns from getting into the hands of teenagers?
August 25, 202526min 55sec38.81 MB

Bridge

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August 18, 202524min 35sec

Aurora Police have a new strategy to help reduce youth gun crime. It partners a police force that’s been under the microscope for its treatment of Black and brown communities with leaders in those same communities to try to keep kids from turning to violence.

SAVE, Standing Against Violence Everyday, is different from other policing methods. The intent is to keep individuals alive, safe and free. Aurora Police believe the old way of arresting and incarcerating teens wasn’t changing anything. It didn’t stop youths from joining gangs, nor stop innocent young people from being killed. Something needed to change. But does the Black community really believe the police can change? Jason McBride is left in a position where he straddles both sides of the fence.

Host, reporter and producer: Jo Erickson

Producers: Stephanie Wolf and Shane Rumsey

Editor: Rachel Estabrook

Music: Daniel Mescher

Executive producer: Kevin Dale

Art: Jodi Gersh

Thanks also to Hart van Denburg, Kevin J. Beaty, Shelby Filangi and Jon Pinnow

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Bridge
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