{"podcast":{"title":"Mic Check","slug":"mic-check-7094205","podcast_index_feed_id":7094205,"rss_url":"https://feeds.transistor.fm/mic-check","website_url":null,"image_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/rZDjbJVFXB6KSrMQvoxtJcGAYSAhCrpbCIRXTiXQVLg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS82ZDJk/ODBmMzA4MmMwM2Uy/YWQ2MDIyODRjYjkz/MGE4My5wbmc.jpg","author":"WPKN","episode_count":33,"summary":"WPKN’s ½-hour weekly public affairs and community discussion program. Our diverse roster of hosts presents a wide range of topics for discussion: focusing on global, national, and regional issues and their effect on the local Connecticut community. Just as the phrase “Mic Check” was used to mobilize people to create a human microphone during the Occupy Movement, this weekly program will amplify our local community’s many concerns and voices and bring them to the air-waves.","last_synced_at":"2026-09-27T04:21:16.268291+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mic-check-7094205"},"episode":{"title":"Black August Mixtape 2026 - Volume 2","slug":"black-august-mixtape-2026-volume-2","published_at":"2026-09-04T02:14:41+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mic-check-7094205/black-august-mixtape-2026-volume-2","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mic-check-7094205","url":"https://share.transistor.fm/s/17cece01","audio_url":"https://media.transistor.fm/17cece01/e32aa6e1.mp3","summary":"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 sent to: Joseph Thompson #322513 Corrigan CI 986 Norwich-New London Turnpike Uncasville, CT 06382 Throughout the second half of August, host Mike Merli used two Mic Check episodes to honor Black August, which is an annual month-long observance that is rooted in the recognition of those who made profound sacrifices in the lineage and struggle for Black liberation. Black August was launched in 1979 by incarcerated members of the Black Guerrilla Family in San Quentin Prison, as a way to honor the lives of brothers Jonathan Jackson and George Jackson, both murdered by the state, in August of 1970 and 1971, respectively. There are many individuals within the Black liberation movement who have been honored during Black August observances over the past several decades. Many were killed by police or other government agents. Many were incarcerated and spent decades behind bars as political prisoners. The annual observance is a means to honor the sacrifices of those who came before, while re-committing to supporting those who are behind bars today (both political and social prisoners). During this program, we hear Black August Mixtape 2026 - Volume 2 , dedicated to Joe Grits, wh…","meta_description":"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…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1651,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/mic-check-7094205/episodes/black-august-mixtape-2026-volume-2/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mic-check-7094205/black-august-mixtape-2026-volume-2.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}