Show Notes
Director Sylvia Ryerson discusses her film Calls From Home after a live screening hosted by Just City on April 13, 2024. The film follows a weekly radio broadcast that serves as an important communication tool for the families of incarcerated people in rural Appalachia.
More from The Permanent Record
In early August of 2026, Just City launched a campaign to remember and honor the 68 people who died in the Shelby County Jail since 2018. We wanted to tell their stories and make them known to the community. So, we went to one of the finest storytellers we know - Scott Hechinger, former public defender and principle of Zealous, an award winning advocacy, media, and education initiative. With Zealous' help, we launched Make Them Known, a living memorial to those we lost. We wanted to go deeper with Scott, so our Communications and Advocacy Manager Laramie Wheeler talked to him about the importance of good storytelling, why he wanted to work with Just City, and, of course, Paw Patrol.
Judge David Pool is a fifth generation Memphian, but his pathway to becoming a state criminal court judge was a little out of the ordinary. As a touring musician, he took to the highways of America, and as beloved music teacher, he roamed the hallways of a local high school, inspiring another generation of musicians. In his latest chapter, he presides over Shelby County Criminal Court, Division VI, where, perhaps unsurprisingly given his past, his demeanor and courtroom presence set him apart. This interview will help you understand why. Oh, and you can still catch him playing live music with his band, Risky Whiskey Boys!
Emily Galvin Almanza is a former public defender and the co-founder and executive director of Partners for Justice and the author of the new book The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender's Search for Justice in America. She was in Memphis recently to promote her book and meet with our local public defenders. We spoke to Emily as part of a book talk at Novel, the East Memphis bookstore.
In advance of the upcoming county elections, we sat down with each of the seven candidates for Shelby County Sheriff to ask questions about the jail, immigration enforcement, and public safety. Here is our final episode in that series, a conversation with Anthony Buckner. Be sure to listen to the other candidate interviews and then vote. Early voting ends April 30th and Election Day is May 5th!
In advance of the upcoming county elections, we sat down with each of the seven candidates for Shelby County Sheriff to ask questions about the jail, immigration enforcement, and public safety. Here is our sixth episode in that series, a conversation with Ricky Pollard. Be sure and check this feed before you vote; we'll post all seven interviews in the coming days. Early voting ends April 30th and Election Day is May 5th!