In this episode, I share the mic with filmmaker and director Matthew Solomon to discuss his recent documentary, 'Reimagining Safety,' which explores systemic issues in policing and law enforcement in America. Matthew shares his journey from wanting to be a rock star to becoming a filmmaker focused on social justice. The conversation dives deep into the concept of abolition, the importance of community, and the need to recognize humanity in one another. Matthew highlights the impact of social justice movements like Black Lives Matter and the importance of conflict resolution and empathy. They also touch on the influence of capitalism, systemic issues, and the critical need for community-based responses to policing. This episode aims to activate listeners to connect with local organizations and foster community engagement to promote social change.

🎧 Episode Chapters

00:00 Introducing Matthew Solomon: A Journey into Filmmaking and Social Justice

02:13 The Unexpected Path to Documentary Filmmaking

07:09 Exploring the Roots of Social Justice and Empathy

19:42 The Complex Journey of Making a Documentary on Policing and Abolition

31:35 Personal Reflections and the Impact of Community Engagement

37:31 The Human Cost of Conflict and Personal Loss

38:14 Navigating Personal Opinions and Social Media Dynamics

40:50 Reflecting on Loss and the COVID-19 Pandemic

43:50 Challenges of Vaccine Hesitancy and Misinformation

46:47 The Power of Progress and the Importance of Change

56:27 Exploring Law Enforcement and Community Safety

01:04:15 Vision for a More Empathetic and United Future

📺 Watch Reimagining Safety: https://www.reimaginingsafetymovie.com/ 

📧 Connect with Matthew to set up a screening of Reimagining Safety:

reimaginingsafetymovie@gmail.com

👉 Follow Matthew:

https://instagram.com/mattytheglue 

🎙️ Check out more interviews with Matthew:

https://linktr.ee/mattytheglue 

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