The Rick Smith Show

Ryan Eckes Stand Up for all Workers

Ryan Eckes, Adjunct Professor at Temple University joins Rick to talk about how the US Supreme Court case Friedrich vs. California Teachers Association will affect higher education, especially adjunct professors.

Scott Paul Sounds the Alarm of Potential National Emergency in Manufacturing

Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing joins Rick to discuss the need for a manufacturing policy and why focusing on Made in America is important for the US economy and its stability and security.

Carol Burris Stand up to Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson

Carol Burris, Executive Director of the Network for Public Education, retired Principal, author of an open letter to Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson published in the Washington Post joins Rick to push back against the corporatization of education and the notion that schools are simply training workers.

Steven Singer Proudly Declares "My Daughter is Not a Widget"

Steven Singer, husband, father, teacher, blogger, and education advocate joins Rick to discuss his recent blog post on Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson's Fortune Magazine comments and what parents need to be doing to reclaim public education.   

Full Three Hour Show for January 8, 2016

Former Congressman Admiral Joe Sestak joins Rick to talk about his latest statewide tour to layout his Plan for Restoring the American Dream for Working Families and how this plan differs from incumbent Senator Pat Toomey’s record.

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to dissect the latest jobs numbers and explain the good, the bad, and the reality found in the recent data. 

Isaiah Poole, Director of Online Communications at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to talk poverty and the Grand Old Party’s (GOP) apparent disdain for the less fortunate.

John Neurohr, Principal Consultant at Clear Point Strategies joins Rick to discuss the rise of extremism in the Republican ranks and how the vitriolic rhetoric being thrown around by politicians is emboldening the radical right toward armed occupation.  

Admiral Joe Sestak talks Restoring the American Dream

Former Congressman Admiral Joe Sestak joins Rick to talk about his latest statewide tour to layout his Plan for Restoring the American Dream for Working Families and how this plan differs from incumbent Senator Pat Toomey’s record.

 

Matias Vernengo on Jobs Numbers

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to dissect the latest jobs numbers and explain the good, the bad, and the reality found in the recent data. 

Isaiah Poole Talks Poverty & GOP plot to make it worse

Isaiah Poole, Director of Online Communications at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to talk poverty and the Grand Old Party’s (GOP) apparent disdain for the less fortunate.

John Neurohr talks American Extremism

John Neurohr, Principal Consultant at Clear Point Strategies joins Rick to discuss the rise of extremism in the Republican ranks and how the vitriolic rhetoric being thrown around by politicians is emboldening the radical right toward armed occupation.   

The News of the Day with Talk Media News Service

Full Three Hour Show for January 7, 2016

Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research joins Rick to discuss his recent article on the looming pension crisis and expose those attempting to sugar coat the harsh realities bought on by the ongoing war on workers. 

Pennsylvania State Representative Eddie Day Pashinski joins Rick to talk about the current 2015 budget impasse and preview the coming 2016 budget impasse and why GOP obstructionism is destructive.

Abe Amoros, Pennsylvania Legislative Director for LIUNA joins Rick to talk about the latest information on the budget and discuss rumors of possibly a minimal fix for the state’s Unemployment Compensation Insurance system. 

Robert Weiner, Democratic Strategist and former Director of Public Affairs during the Clinton and Bush administrations joins Rick to talk Guns and Hillary. 

Dean Baker answers if 19k affords a Middle Class Retirement

Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research joins Rick to discuss his recent article on the looming pension crisis and expose those attempting to sugar coat the harsh realities bought on by the ongoing war on workers. 

PA Rep Pashinski on Destructive GOP Budget Crisis

Pennsylvania State Representative Eddie Day Pashinski joins Rick to talk about the current 2015 budget impasse and preview the coming 2016 budget impasse and why GOP obstructionism is destructive.

Abe Amoros Talks Lack of Work Ethic in PA General Assembly

Abe Amoros, Pennsylvania Legislative Director for LIUNA joins Rick to talk about the latest information on the budget and discuss rumors of possibly a minimal fix for the state’s Unemployment Compensation Insurance system. 

Robert Weiner talks Guns and Hillary

Robert Weiner, Democratic Strategist and former Director of Public Affairs during the Clinton and Bush administrations joins Rick to talk Guns and Hillary. 

Civil Right Tour Holiday Encore Full Three Hour Show for New Years Day

Happy New Year!!!!!!  Today we're looking back at the best of the People's Tour with some of our favorite interviews and why.  Hope you enjoy and we look forward to an amazing 2016.

Claude Barnes, Researcher at the Jubilee Institute in Greensboro, North Carolina joins Rick to talk about his being elected to student body president as a write-in candidate and how that event turned into he and his classmates being tear gassed and some arrested.

Lewis Brandon, Grassroots History Coordinator at the Beloved Community Center sits down with Rick to share his story of being a part of history joining four fellow North Carolina A & T sit in of the lunch counter in Greensboro.

William Saunders was an organizer of the famous 1969 SEIU 1199B Healthcare Workers Strike at the Medical University of South Carolina.  He explains how the organizing process that happened in the two years leading up to the strike. 

Kerry Taylor is a local labor historian from The Citadel and on the fast part of our tour through Charleston, Kerry recalls the city's early history, Denmark Vesey's planned slave rebellion, how Hampton Park was used during the Civil War and the liberation of Beaufort, South Carolina

In our second interview with Kerry Taylor, a historian from The Citadel, we dive into Charleston's rich labor history.  Besides the 1969 healthcare workers strike at the Medical University of South Carolina, Kerry talks about some of Charleston's other important labor actions, especially the 1944-1945 American Tobacco Cigar Factory Strike, which was the origin for the famous "I Shall Overcome" protest song  

Stephanie Cobert, Managing Director of Historic Stagville takes time to sit down with Rick to talk about the largest plantation in North Carolina history and their mission to keep the history alive.

Hezekiah Watkins is a life long Jackson, Mississippi resident and civil rights activist.  At 13, he was arrested and placed on death row for watching the arrival of Freedom Riders in Jackson, Mississippi. 

Fate Morris Shares His Heartbreaking Story on Losing His Sister Cynthia Morris in the Bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church 

Civil Right Tour Holiday Encore Full Three Hour Show for December 31, 2015

Fate Morris is the brother of Cynthia Morris, who lost her life in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.  

Myrna Carter Jackson was a school student who walked out of school in 1963, and she talked about her 120 prison sentence for participating in the Children's Crusade  

Gwendolyn Webb was a student marcher in 1963 and one of the first African American police officers in Birmingham's history

Dr. Charles Whatley grew up in Birmingham in the 1950's and he shares his experiences of being in the military during the 1960's