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, who is sitting in prison right now a political prisoner. In the first half of the program, we hear a segment from host Mike Merli's June 9, 2026 interview with Joe, before his sentencing hearing took place. Joe speaks about his journey, his music and activism, and the unthinkable and tragic murder of his friend Dyshan Best by Bridgeport Police Officers on March 31, 2025. The second half of the program features an interview that Shaenna Taylor conducted over the phone with Joe, after his prison sentence began. Speaking from Corrigan Correctional Institution in Uncasville, Connecticut, Joe meditates on the conditions he has experienced and observed in Connecticut’s prison system. And he reflects on his hopes and dreams for himself and his loved ones, Bridgeport, and Dyshan Best’s family. This program is a collaboration between host Mike Merli and Abolition Ummah, a Muslim-led grassroots organization that organizes in solidarity with incarcerated folks here in Connecticut. The music featured in Black August Mixtape 2026 was produced by Captain Pharo, and provided for this purpose by Alyssa Hughes.

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 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 1, which features reports from two incarcerated Muslim brothers here in Connecticut: Brother Jabbar and Brother Jamil. Letters of solidarity for Jabbar can be sent to: Kenneth Brown #326008 Cheshire CI 900 Highland Avenue Cheshire, CT 06410 Letters of solidarity for Jamil can be sent to: Jamil Khidr #143853 Bridgeport CC 1106 North Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06604 This program is a collaboration between host Mike Merli and Abolition Ummah, a Muslim-led grassroots organization that organizes in solidarity with incarcerated folks here in Connecticut. The music featured in Black August Mixtape 2026 was produced by Captain Pharo, and provided for this purpose by Alyssa Hughes.

The Doors may have sung "...summer's almost gone..." and people are already mourning. But I say no! Let's flip that on its head! In his poem, Suddenly, Summer, Alex Dimitrov brings in some tulips. "They merely filled the room/their purpose being to be loved/for what they were, entirely/by how I saw them....And so I did. I loved them." Let's love these days and enjoy today's Miniature World. With Gabriel Yared (my theme song), Ane Brun (new single out now), Annabel Lamb, Stevie Nicks, Pink Floyd (with the synthesized voice of Stephen Hawking, Miniature Words collage by BK, REM, Dana Gavanski (King Crimson cover), Eli & Fur, Sternpost (intriguing band from Sweden and new), Tadzio, Jordan Eller, Julia Holter (goddess), Agnes Obel (another goddess, new work out soon), Courtney Barnet, L CON, Masahiro Takahashi (Japanese artist based in Toronto, using rotating ensemble of 10 guest artists--LOVE THIS), Boards of Canada, Sneaker Pimps (a classic), Angus & Julia Stone, Lolo Zouai, Spacemoth ("producer, engineer & noisemaker"), Ex Colorado (with self-coined "dreamykraut"), Constant Smiles, Adam Howell, Alex Serra, Ivy (1st album in 14 yrs), Jordana and the TV Girl, Quilt, Grace Ives, Big Thief, Lana Del Rey, Neon Indian, Kitty Hoff & Foret-Noire, Neil Halstead (Tim Buckley cover!), WONDER OF BIRDS feature (An R-rated, non-binary edition about the white-throated sparrow; the bird with four "sexes"), Parov Stelar, Kitty Solaris, GaiaGram (climate change news from Kevin Gallagher), Andrew Bird, The Participant, Ofir Ganon, NEXT SHOW is SEPTEMBER 17, 2026!!!!!

Interview with Nick Parker-Smith, Starbucks barista and member of Starbucks Workers United, conducted by Melinda Tuhus. Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Nick Parker-Smith, a barista who’s worked at several Starbucks locations in Missouri for three years.  Here he discusses the current situation for Starbucks workers and the goal of the nationwide boycott.

Interview with Linda Pentz Gunter, author, founder and executive director of Beyond Nuclear, conducted by Scott Harris. Linda Gunter discusses her work advocating for a phaseout of nuclear power and to educate the public about the links between nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons. Gunter will be speaking about her book at the Unitarian Church in Hamden, CT on Friday, Sept. 11. Gunter is editor of the news site Beyond Nuclear International and author of No To Nuclear: Why Nuclear Power Destroys Lives, Derails Climate Progress and Provokes War.