As I was doomscrolling TikTok one day, I came across an intriguing, fast-paced storyteller who described the experience of Tom and Michelle with a ouija board they found in their backyard. Essentially, Michelle became obsessed with using the ouija board, and eventually fell into a psychotic state. I had been warned off of ouija boards before, but my experience with them was largely as a game to play at slumber parties. The only thing our ouija board summoned was uncontrollable giggling from sugar-infused girls. Ouija boards are quite mysterious, though, since there are many anecdotal tales of the board summoning demons or spirits. There are also scientific explanations as to how it works, and how the planchette seems to move by itself.

In this podcast episode, I talk to Ashleeinc, who is a TikTok, Instagram and YouTube content creator with nearly 2 million followers. Ashlee tells Spooky Scary Stories that range from creepy roommates, Appalachia rules, time travelers, and of course, ouija boards. Ashlee and I talk about having skepticism about ouija boards, while also acknowledging perhaps we can't always have an explanation for spiritual things, or someone else's experience. I also talk about the history of ouija boards, which have roots in the spiritualism movement of the late 1800s and early 1900s. While today many people believe ouija boards summon demons, this notion is only from the past 50 years, and is mostly due to a popular horror movie. Which one? You'll have to listen to this episode!

#OuijaBoard #SpookyStories #TikTok #AshleyInc #Spiritualism #TheExorcist #Paranormal #PodcastInterview #IdiomotorEffect #CulturalHistory

• (00:00:32) - Introduction
• (00:06:24) - Ashleeinc Interview
• (00:38:06) - History of Ouija Boards
• (00:46:14) - What's In A Name?
• (00:48:40) - The Movie
• (00:55:50) - The Science
• (01:00:26) - Conclusion

With each new term, Presidents must establish their stance on illegal immigration. Will they work with neighboring countries to process prospective immigrants? Will they work with Congress to reform convoluted immigration laws? Will they treat every immigrant as a criminal who must be prosecuted? President Donald Trump took office on January 20th and immediately shut down legal ways for immigrants to seek asylum at the U.S. southern border. He also ordered dozens of "raids" to track down illegal immigrants. His stance on immigration is clear, but will it stick?

In this episode, host Darisse Smith discusses the broken immigration system, the pseudo-courts that process undocumented individuals, and the language of immigration law with immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford of the Sharma-Crawford Law Firm, based in Kansas City, Missouri. Rekha has 25 years of experience, serves on the Executive Board of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of Kansas School of Law as well as Washburn University School of Law.

Rekha and Darisse have a lively discussion about how words like “raid” and “invaders” are designed to evoke anger and panic toward immigrants, while the reality of the law is much less dramatic.

If you have ever wondered about the realities of immigration law in the U.S., this episode is for you.

The Journalism of Everything Podcast is a new show covering every topic you’ve ever been curious about. Host Darisse Smith is a seasoned journalist who brings obsessive research, expert interviews, and a unique spin to every topic.

#ImmigrationLaw #JournalismOfEverything #PodcastEpisode #USImmigration #ImmigrationReform #ICERaids #ImmigrationRights #ImmigrationAttorney #ImmigrationPolicy

Episode Summary – The A1 Education: Inside the War on the Department of Education

In this pertinent and topical episode, journalist and host Darisse Smith delves into the political storm surrounding the U.S. Department of Education. With sharp historical context and a personal lens, Darisse traces the department’s controversial origin story—from post-Reconstruction roots to Cold War-fueled investment, all the way to the present-day push for its elimination by the Trump administration.

Featuring a compelling interview with Barbara Hoblitzell, who was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education within the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs at the Department of Education, the episode explores what the Department of Education actually does, including its critical role in civil rights enforcement, student financial aid, and support for special education. Together, they unpack the consequences of the recent 50% staffing cuts, the ideological battles over Title VI and IX, and the growing threat to educational equity across states.

With candid personal reflections on navigating special education as a parent, Darisse also raises an urgent question: What is the plan if the Department of Education disappears? Who Will Be Left Behind?

#DepartmentOfEducation#PublicEducation
#EducationMatters
#JournalismOfEverythingPodcast
#EducationalEquity #SpecialEducationRights #IEPAdvocacy #CivilRightsInSchools #AccessToEducation #TitleIX #FederalVsState #EducationCuts #EdFundingCrisis