As schools reopen across the country, parents are facing another round of pandemic fear and uncertainty: How safe will their kids be and for how long? And can life—and work—finally take on some semblance of normalcy? Tommy Orange, the bestselling author of There There, asks a more salient and troubling question: What are the kids thinking?

Narrated by Forrest Goodluck. Hosted by Ashley C. Ford.

This is the final episode of Season 1. Thanks for listening! You can keep reading stories at chronicles.fm.

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As protests erupted across the nation this summer, heavily armed militias stood off against Black Lives Matter supporters in some cities. In July, a Florida sheriff even threatened to deputize all civilian gun owners to protect Jacksonville from protesters. Dantiel W. Moniz, the author of the upcoming story collection Milk Blood Heat, takes this trend to its chilling conclusion: an America in which every citizen is either the hunter or hunted, and every small decision—where to walk, what to say, what mask to wear—could end your life.

Narrated by N’Jameh Camara. Hosted by Ashley C. Ford.

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Now that Joe Biden has selected a female VP and finally claimed the nomination, can we talk about his long, weird, handsy history with women? Laura van den Berg, the author of the new story collection I Hold a Wolf by the Ears, explores why some women risked all in coming forward with stories about Biden. And more importantly, what we can learn from them today.

Narrated by Cindy Katz. Hosted by Ashley C. Ford.

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