Mic Check

BLACK AUGUST MIXTAPE 2026 - VOLUME 2{Originally broadcast on WPKN on August 27, 2026}On the August 3, 2026 episode of Mic Check, Mike Merli interviewed Shaenna Taylor. During the discussion, they spoke about the Bridgeport Police murder of Dyshan Best last March, as well as the subsequent prosecution of, not the officers involved, but Dyshan’s friend Joseph Thompson aka Joe Grits. Joe is a beloved community activist, and a close friend of Shaenna's and Dyshan's. Joe's grief was criminalized, and he became a political prisoner, sentenced to 7 years suspended after 3.Letters of solidarity for Joe can be se...

BLACK AUGUST MIXTAPE 2026 - VOLUME 1{Originally broadcast on WPKN on August 18, 2026}On the August 3, 2026 episode of Mic Check, Mike Merli interviewed Shaenna Taylor. During the discussion, they spoke about the Bridgeport Police murder of Dyshan Best last March, as well as the subsequent prosecution of, not the officers involved, but Dyshan’s friend Joseph Thompson aka Joe Grits. Joe is a beloved community activist, and a close friend of Shaenna's and Dyshan's. Joe's grief was criminalized, and he became a political prisoner, sentenced to 7 years suspended after 3. Letters of solidarity for Joe can be se...

Isabelle speaks with Jill Garvey, the Director of States at the Core (STAC), about how we protect Democracy in the United States of America. Jill has considerable expertise in authoritarianism and community organizing. STAC has provided support to many communities in the US as they organize against threats to human rights and democracy. STAC is currently providing election protection trainings. Learn more at statesatthecore.substack.com.

On the August 4, 2026 episode of Mic Check, host Mike Merli sat down with Bridgeport native, Shaenna Taylor.Shaenna Taylor is an award-winning educator, mentor, community advocate, and entrepreneur from Bridgeport, Connecticut. With more than 10 years of experience in the Bridgeport Public School system, she has been recognized with multiple Staff Member of the Year awards for her dedication to students and education.Beyond the classroom, Shaenna serves as the Mentor Lead and Director of #100GirlsLeading, empowering girls age 9-18 through mentorship, leadership, and personal development. She is also the co-founder of Bridgeport Stronger Together, where...

On the Tuesday June 9, 2026 episode of Mic Check, host Mike Merli sits down with Joe Grits, Bridgeport-based community activist and musician. Joe takes time to remember his friend Dyshan Best, who was shot and killed by Bridgeport Police on March 31, 2025. Joe also speaks about his ongoing legal battle, stemming from his grief and pain being criminalized by the state in the aftermath of Dyshan's murder.

Sandra Levinson, executive director of the Center For Cuban Studies (www.centerorcubanstudies.org), reports on her recent trip to Cuba, focusing on the island nation's struggle survival under the yoke of the Trump regime's total oil embargo.Interview by Richard Hill

On the February 10, 2026 episode of Mic Check, host Mike Merli sat down with James Jeter, Co-Founder and Director of Full Citizens Coalition, a non-profit organization here in Connecticut. James was incarcerated at the age of 17 and served 19.5 years in prison before being released in 2016. James is dedicated to the cause of prison education and has sought opportunities to apply his own experience to benefit those still incarcerated or returning home.James and Full Citizens Coalition are part of the Coalition for Community Healing Through Justice Reform, which has been working hard to pass an important piece of...

Stephen Zunes, a foreign policy scholar and professor in Middle Eastern studies at the University of San Francisco, analyzes and contextualizes the Jan. 3 US military strike on Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Adela Flores.Interview by Richard Hill

In this episode of Mic Check, host Tyler Nelson speaks with Terri Eickel, Executive Director of the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network (IREJN), Connecticut’s only faith-based environmental non-profit organization. Committed to justice and grounded in hope, IREJN seeks to inspire and equip Connecticut’s religious communities and their spiritual allies to protect our planet through education, engagement, and advocacy.Topics covered in their conversation include:IREJN's origin story and how Terri came into this workthe meaning and opportunity of interreligious coalition buildingdistinctions between eco-justice (a.k.a. environmental justice) and environmentalismbarriers to participation prev...

On the November 18, 2025 episode of Mic Check, host Mike Merli sat down with Debbie Gray, founder of Women Aligned With Abundance (WAWA), a Waterbury-based non-profit focused on women's empowerment.Debbie spoke about her personal journey, and the motivation and inspiration behind her founding WAWA, and engaging in the women's empowerment work she's doing.WAWA meets every fourth Wednesday at the North End Recreation Center at 268 North Main Street in Waterbury, Connecticut.For more information, Debbie and WAWA can be reached at 203-514-2144, via email at wawainc24@gmail.com, or on Facebook at...

On the September 21, 2025 episode of Mic Check, host Mike Merli sat down with Derrell Soulds. Derrell was born in Waterbury, Connecticut to a single mother, and has two siblings. He has served over twenty years in and out of prison here in Connecticut, and is currently home and on a positive path. Derrell’s prized possessions are his family members. He has worked hard to earn certifications that include ServeSafe, OSHA 30, Flagging, and a Human Services Certificate via Asnuntuck Community College, with employment tenures at Valvoline Instant Oil Change, Global Steering Company, and as a Support Specialist for Entry Po...

On the October 19, 2025 episode of Mic Check, host Mike Merli sits down with Jason Claye. Born in Jamaica and raised in Bridgeport, Claye discusses his journey, his community work in Bridgeport, as well as his media production work in the areas of music, film, and photography.Jason Claye is founder of Maroon Worldwide, and 60 Minute Mentorship, which is a new non-profit organization that will be providing mentorship to youth in Bridgeport, Connecticut.He can be reached via email at marooneverything@gmail.com and clayebourne@gmail.com, and his website is https://www.maroonworldwide...

Isabelle interviews Shannon Downey, aka Badass Cross Stitch, a nationally recognized activist, artist, author and educator. Shannon lives in Chicago and has been organizing community members and resisting the violence of federal agents deployed as part of the Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz. Since its start in September of 2025 -- this federal invasion of an American city -- has grown in both size and brutality. But something that should not get lost in this narrative is the love, bravery and ferocity that Chicagoans are exhibiting as they defend their communities and their city. Their organizing and tactics provide a...

The upcoming holiday season is known as a time for gathering with friends and family over food. But November 1st marked the cut-off of SNAP benefits and the rapid increase of food insecurity across the nation as part of the Trump administration's continued campaign against immigrants, the working class, and the federal assistance programs which tens of millions depend upon.In this episode of Mic Check, host Tyler Nelson speaks with Maggie Mitchell Salem, Executive Director of IRIS (Integrated Refugee and Immigration Services), a resettlement agency located in New Haven, Connecticut. Maggie provides an update on IRIS’s...

Laura Modlin interviews Melissa McDowell on how she cured herself with food. "I have met a lot of people in the local food movement who were set on their path to championing better food after curing themselves with what they ate. So, I am pleased to be able to interview one very special lady on WPKN who did just that." ~ LauraPhoto courtesy of Melissa McDowell.

On the August 17, 2025 episode of Mic Check, host Mike Merli sat down with Barbara Fair.Born and raised in New Haven, Barbara graduated with an MSW (Master’s in Social Work) from Southern Connecticut State University, who presented her in 2022 with a Presidential Gold Medal naming her as a woman of distinction for her many years fighting for prison reform. Barbara is currently Director of Stop Solitary CT, and has spent much of her life in the struggle for racial and social justice in Connecticut and across the nation. Barbara’s most rewarding role in life is as a...

After the US election in 2024, American’s were flooded with what they could expect from the incoming administration in the first 100 Days. The news was filled with the horrors to come, Isabelle Barbour initiated her own 100 Days from January 20th to April 29th of 2025. She set out to connect, hold space, and listen to people across the country about what they were feeling, doing, what they feared and what they loved. This is part 2 of of the 100 Days Project story and features the five people that Isabelle recorded with -- in the last 50 days.

 After the US election in 2024, American’s were flooded with what they could expect from the incoming administration in the first 100 Days. The news was filled of the horrors to come, Isabelle Barbour initiated her own 100 Days from January 20th to April 29th of 2025. She set out to connect, hold space, and listen to people across the country about what they were feeling, doing, what they feared and what they loved. This is part 1 and features eight people that Isabelle recorded with in the first 50 days.

On the July 20, 2025 episode of Mic Check, host Mike Merli sits down with José Sandoval aka Abu-Reza, Bridgeport resident and member of the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center (BICC) community. The program features Mike and José discussing the life of Percy Berry, as well as reflections from James Shaham, Hamza Seyal, Fernando Gonzalez, Zain Seyal, and Bisher Hiba, who all knew Percy and are heard here honoring and celebrating his life.Percy was a beloved member of Bridgeport's Muslim community, as well as a Justice Adviser for the Connecticut Justice Alliance, which works to keep children an...

Laura Modlin interviews Annie Hornish, Connecticut state director and lobbyist for Humane World for Animals, on 2025 Connecticut bill outcomes in Hartford, how to keep your pets safe in summer heat & tips on living with bears.Photo by Laura Modlin.