Hey everyone, it's Forrest. As you might be able to tell, this isn't a normal episode. I wanted to take a moment to share a few thoughts and let you know about our content over the next little while.

I've wrestled with how to talk about what's been going on in the country for a while.

This podcast doesn't generally focus on current events, social issues, politics,

anything like that. There are many fantastic outlets aimed at those topics

that do great work, and neither Rick nor I have any professional expertise really

in those areas, or in race relations police brutality or really any of the other areas of expertise that would be particularly valuable here and talking about those subjects with authority on a platform that we've

built where we present ourselves as experts regularly would be disingenuous at best and

actively deceptive at worst. This is piled on top at the obvious point

that we are two white privileged men. Just by virtue of that fact our voices get

heard all the time. Given what's happening in America right now, it feels

appropriate for us to spend a lot more time listening than talking. But at the same time, the ability to remain both silent and comfortable is a privilege.

It always has been.

If you've considered speaking up over the past weeks or months or years and chosen not to, I'd encourage you to examine

the structures that have allowed you to do so and remain comfortable.

It's antithetical to the ethos of this show to not offer whatever support we can to those who are pursuing the cause of social justice.

There's this wonderful quote from Lila Watson. If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time. But if you have come

because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together. Health and

happiness is a collective pursuit. If we're truly seeking

liberation from our suffering, we achieve it together. Racism is a public health crisis in this country.

Last week we collectively witnessed the murder of George

Floyd at the hands of police. This alongside the murders of Brianna Taylor and

Ahmad Arbury have added more to a long list of names.

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