Skyzoo has made a name for himself as a renowned rapper who's maintained his artistic independence, giving him even greater autonomy to pursue his other passions. On this episode, he talks about his life as a storyteller, entrepreneur, and what inspired his latest album, "The Mind of a Saint." Photograph: Robert Adam Mayer

Cammie Rice is an advocate, philanthropist, and author. Her son Christopher Wolf, died in 2016 at the age of 32 from an opioid overdose after struggling for years suffering from addiction. Since then, Cammie has made it her mission to raise awareness about the opioid epidemic and alternative ways to manage pain. She is author of “The Flight” about her work, and her son’s struggle and founder of the Christopher Wolf Crusade.

Dayton’s Democratic Mayor, Nan Whaley wants to be Ohio’s next governor. But Whaley faces an uphill battle in her race against opponent, GOP Gov. Mike DeWine.  In our conversation, the Dayton leader talks about her concerns for the future of Ohio, extremism among its citizenry, and more.

John Austin wears a lot of hats. He’s the director of the Michigan Economic Center, a nonresident senior fellow with the Brookings Institution and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. However in all of these roles Austin’s working toward one goal: reimagining once highly industrialized communities into something else in a Postindustrial economy. You won't want to miss this one — listen in, then subscribe!

In this episode, we hear from longtime political strategist and author Rick Wilson. He's co-founder of The Lincoln Project, a PAC dedicated to "defeating Trumpism." Wilson WAS a Republican until Donald Trump ascended to the presidency — he became an independent in 2017. Hear Rick's take on the populist movement throughout the country, especially in the Rust Belt and Appalachia.  Wilson is the author of the New York Times bestseller, "Everything Trump Touches Dies."

On this episode, hear from Gary Abernathy, a contributing columnist for The Washington Post. Gary is also a freelance writer, based in southwestern Ohio with a long newspaper career in Postindustrial America. After spending 13 years as an editor at three Ohio newspapers, Abernathy worked in Republican Party politics in Ohio and West Virginia. He returned to journalism in 2011, serving until 2018 as publisher and editor of the (Hillsboro, Ohio) Times-Gazette, one of the few newspapers to endorse Donald Trump for president in 2016. His newsletter on politics and current affairs is available at Substack.

Damon Young is a writer, humorist and satirist. His debut memoir, "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker," won a Thurber Prize, among other awards. The book explores the angsts and anxieties "of existing while Black in America." Damon is also cofounder of VerySmartBrothas, which was sold to Univision. His writing has been featured in the Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Guardian, among others.

Gisele Fetterman believes in “blooming where you live.” In this episode to kick off Season 5, Pennsylvania’s Second Lady talks about improving her community, what she learned growing up as an undocumented immigrant, and more. Fetterman is a native of Brazil. She became a U.S. citizen in 2009. She’s the founder of Free Store 15014 in her community of Braddock, just outside of Pittsburgh. She’s also the co-founder of 412 Food Rescue, a nonprofit that focuses on reducing food insecurity.

What can we learn from the way West Virginia is handling its COVID-19 vaccination program? Plenty. Listen to the state's "coronavirus czar," Dr. Clay Marsh, discuss how a state known for its poor health outcomes, has become a leader in vaccinating its citizens.

Nan Whaley discovered her love of politics years ago while studying chemistry at the University of Dayton. The former mayor of Ohio’s sixth-largest city clinched the Democratic gubernatorial nomination for Ohio. She proved so popular during her first term as Dayton mayor that she was unopposed in her second term.  How did she meet some of this Postindustrial city’s toughest challenges?

What can other Postindustrial regions learn from the ups and downs in Ohio? Bertram de Souza is a former columnist and editor for The Youngstown Vindicator, a daily staple in the Mahoning Valley for more than a century. He wrote more than 1,600 columns for the newspaper over 40 years — from politics to public corruption in an area that once boomed, and now struggles with job loss and population decline. What might it take to get Ohio and the Valley to build prosperity? Listen in for more and as de Souza discusses his recent book:  “No Holds Barred – More Than Three Decades of Delving into the Mahoning Valley's Underbelly."

We hoped that following the inauguration of Joe Biden divisions in our region might become less stark...but it appears not so much. On this week's Postindustrial Podcast, host Carmen Gentile talks to Kim Palmiero, CEO & editor-in-chief about political and social divisions in our region, the importance of local news, how we select our stories, and more!

Journalist Heath Druzin covers anti-government movements and recently finished a stint as the Idaho reporter for the public radio project Guns & America. So what's next for a movement that attempted a coup at the nation's Capitol on Jan. 6? Listen in.

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman's political career started as mayor of Braddock just outside of Pittsburgh and now he's considering a run for the U.S. Senate. Hear him talk legal weed, jobs, and more!

What's it like serving in federal government at a time of great change in the U.S.? In this episode, hear from Lt. Col. David Eastburn, director of marketing and outreach for the U.S. Army, located in New York City. He helps to develop public support for the Army and its soldiers through community outreach and support to veterans and military support organizations from Maine to Washington D.C. He hails from Columbus, Ohio.

Why is media literacy so important? With more information at our disposal, shouldn't we be a more informed society? (that's a trick question). Kim Palmiero, CEO & editor-in-chief of Postindustrial, talks to host Carmen Gentile, founder of the company about media literacy. They both spent time at media outlets where fact-checking was required, and the stakes were high for errors. The public should always be able to choose what they read, listen to, or watch. And competition is good. But how do you know what's true — and what's not?

Why is local news so vital? Hear from Ben Lando, who covered stories abroad but returned to his native Kalamazoo, Mich. and launched an online news startup, NowKalamazoo.com, covering vital community issues. He's also the founder of the Iraq Oil Report, which specializes in covering developments in the energy sector, politics, and security in Iraq.

sarah huny young is an award-winning visual artist primarily documenting and exalting Black womanhood and queer communities through portraiture and video, often shooting in locations across the country. She's the artist behind Postindustrial's Fall magazine cover.

Access to health care is essential to our freedom, but it's freedom that eludes many, writes bestselling author Timothy Snyder in his newest book, "Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary." Snyder fell gravely ill late last year, and as he clung to life he began to reflect upon the notion that without good health, all other freedoms and liberties have no meaning. It urges a rethinking of how we deliver health care in America. Snyder, a professor at Yale and scholar on authoritarianism, is also the author of the New York Times bestseller, "On Tyranny."

In Season 3, Episode 1 of the Postindustrial Podcast, author and expert Seth G. Jones says that the U.S. faces an escalating threat of violence in the next year — from within. Extremist groups fueled by the disinformation, political rhetoric, and a populace suffering added stresses of surging unemployment and the pandemic only adds to the growing threat of violence from within. Don't miss this important conversation. Jones is a senior adviser to the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He specializes in counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, unconventional warfare, and covert action.