Sound of Ideas

Cleveland is known as the birthplace of rock and roll, as in the 1950s DJ Alan Freed coined the phrase. The city is stands at the center of iconic rock moments, from The Beatles' first concert in 1964 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, to David Bowie's 1972 Ziggy Stardust U.S. debut. The region is home to rockers like The James Gang, Devo, The Black Keys, Nine Inch Nails, and more. But with all that history, the live music ecosystem continues to face challenges. Rising costs for artists, venues, and consumers have stretched budgets across the board. Reporting from last show shows that only 25% of independent music venues were able to turn a profit. Tuesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we bring you a recent City Club of Cleveland conversation the looks back at the history of music in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, as well as asks what the future holds for our region. Guests: - Greg Harris, President and CEO, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum - Sean Watterson, Co-Owner, The Happy Dog; President, Ohio Chapter, Independent Venue Association - Annie Zaleski, Music Journalist

The cities of Cleveland and Brook Park settled a long-standing disagreement this week that will clear the way for the Cleveland to redevelop the I-X Center. For decades, the two cities had been involved in a dispute over land involving a never-built runway at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Cuyahoga County and the city's pro sports teams want to ask voters to increase the current "sin tax" to help pay for the ever-growing list of repairs at sports arenas and stadiums. Currently, Cuyahoga County taxes liquor and cigarettes to pay for that upkeep but the amount generated is insufficient to keep up with the needs. A coalition calling itself "Flock No" is demanding that the city cut ties with Flock Safety, a surveillance company that contracts to provide automatic license plate readers to cities and towns. Cleveland currently has a contract with Flock that is up for renewal. Akron Mayor Shammas Malik says his administration will roll out legislation soon to improve housing in the city. Additional housing initiatives will be presented by the city’s first-ever civic assembly, Unify Akron, according to Malik. The topic was a focus of Malik's State of the City speech on Tuesday. And a proposed Cleveland City Council ordinance may increase the penalties for threatening behaviors toward healthcare workers in the city's hospital systems. The legislation would make it a first-degree misdemeanor to menace a hospital worker and requires at least a three-day jail sentence if the menacing occurs while on the job. These stories and more will be part of this week’s discussion on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” Guests: - Kabir Bhatia, Sr. Reporter, Arts & Culture, Ideastream Public Media - Michelle Jarboe, Reporter, News 5 Cleveland, WEWS - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

"Dangerous" and "vicious" dog law impacts animals, owners, rescue groups, dog wardens and humane officers A new Ohio law took effect in March, aiming to deal with "dangerous" and "vicious" dogs. It was inspired by a brutal attack on an 11-year-old girl named Avery Russell while she was on a playdate, and so the law is being called "Avery's Law." Avery was so badly injured that she was put into an induced coma for one week and spent several more weeks in the hospital, coming out on the other side with disfigurement to her face. The dog owner was convicted of failing to confine her dogs, sentenced to four days in jail, and required to pay a $450 fine. On Thursday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll walk through the Ohio legislature's unanimous response to this result with the passing of "Avery's Law." The new law codifies requirements related to dogs that attack people and other animals, while also impacting the work of dog wardens, humane officers and animal rescue groups. "Sound of Ideas" coordinating producer Drew Maziasz hosts this episode, filling in for Stephanie Haney. Guests: - Ken Clarke, Executive Director, Rescue Village Animal Shelter, and Geauga County Humane Officer - Jen Book, President, Cause for Canines animal rescue group - Larry Williams, Licking County Chief Dog Warden and Southwest Director, Ohio County Dog Wardens Association "Shuffle" music podcast One of Cleveland's most beloved landmarks is coming back to life through music. On this week's "Shuffle," Ideastream Public Media's Amanda Rabinowitz talked with composer and pianist Chris Neiner about "Tales of Euclid Beach Park", a work capturing the spirit of the historic amusement park. Guests: - Chris Neiner, Composer and Pianist - Amanda Rabinowitz, Host and Producer, "Shuffle" and "All Things Considered"

Ask a Gardener Temperatures have topped out in the upper 80s this week, and with that many have begun spending more time outside in their gardens. But how should a novice green thumb approach these wild temperature swings that we've been experiencing here in Northeast Ohio? Is it too late to put seedlings in the ground? Or too early to clear away leaf cover and other debris from your beds? Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas" we once again invite several Northeast Ohio expert gardeners into the studio to answer your questions, as well as give suggestions on how to improve your outside spaces. We'll learn more about what native plants will thrive in sun or shade, how to support pollinators that call Northeast Ohio home and how to get the most out of the fruit and vegetable crops this year. Guests: - Dave Tomashefski, Co-owner, Meadow City Native Plant Nursery - Richard Rouser, Co-owner, Gales Garden Center - Kim Hawkins, Volunteer, Ohio State University Master Gardener Program - Ibrahim Jones, Garden Manager, Cleveland Roots

West Side Market updates Cleveland's historic, 114-year-old West Side Market has been undergoing major change in recent years. First, it went through structural change, moving from longtime city management to nonprofit management back in 2024, something that residents and vendors had been calling for for years to improve conditions at the market. Now it's going through a major revitalization, as once the nonprofit team called the Cleveland Public Market Corporation began, it launched a years-long, $70 million transformation project funded in part by the city of Cleveland and City Council, as well as philanthropy and other government sources. But there's still some millions left to raise to complete the vision, and many months left to go until residents see completion of the project. In the meantime, there will be a lot of construction to wade through as you get your groceries and support local vendors. We'll discuss these updates on Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas" and learn what you can expect when you visit the market. Guests: - Rosemary Mudry, Executive Director, Cleveland Public Market Corporation - Don Whitaker, Owner, DW Whitaker Meats & Former President, United West Side Market Tenants Association - Jessy Harb, Co-owner of Harb's Produce What to know about hantavirus More than a dozen American cruise passengers are currently under a 42-day quarantine in Nebraska in a specialized medical facility after spending weeks aboard a ship hit with a deadly hantavirus outbreak that infected at least 11 people, including three who died. Hantavirus is a pathogen that some rodents carry that can sometimes infect humans. The passengers under quarantine are asymptomatic. This incident is harkening memories of another virus that caused a global pandemic six years ago. But health experts say hantavirus is not the same as COVID-19. We'll learn why by talking to a local epidemiologist. Guest: - Tara Smith, Ph.D., Professor of Epidemiology, Kent State University

The Class of 2025 was the largest graduating class in U.S. history, as more than 3.8 million high school seniors and 2.1 million college seniors walked across their respective commencement stages, ready to start their next adventure. For the Class of 2026, that next adventure will take place against an uncertain backdrop. Expectations are being shaped by a tough job market with high unemployment, high cost of living and the threat of artificial intelligence disrupting what previously might have been exciting entry-level opportunities. Monday on the "Sound of Ideas," we will talk with two new graduates about their hopes, dreams and concerns for this next chapter in life. We also talk with with people who have spent some time out in the workforce, who can share insight and perspective that is hard-earned out in the real world. Guests: - Ivory Kendrick, College Graduate, Kent State University - David Margolius, M.D., Director of Public Health, City of Cleveland - Sophie Frissore, High School Graduate, Aurora High School - Jessica Tracy, Music Therapist, Cleveland Clinic Children’s - Cecilia Conrad, Ph.D., Founder, Lever for Change

Can hundreds of acres of abandoned industrial land on a neglected section of Cleveland's East Side become an economic engine, providing accessible jobs where employees can walk or bike to work on new multipurpose trails. That's the strategy behind the Midline, an ambitious redevelopment project announced this week. From aspirational development to unwanted development, namely a data center in Slavic Village. Cleveland denied a permit for what would have been the largest hyperscale data center in the city, on 35 acres in the Slavic Village neighborhood. Cleveland joins a number of communities where data centers are being protested or rejected. It's an issue state lawmakers are paying attention to. A new bi-partisan committee of the legislature will focus on data centers as public concerns grow around the mega sites' use of energy, and the data industry pushes back. Cleveland's Planning Commission will get a look Friday at a new plan for University Circle that looks to make the area known as Cleveland "second Downtown" more accessible and safer for pedestrians and motorists alike. Sherwin-Williams finally cut the ribbon this week on its towering new headquarters in Downtown Cleveland. The building is the fourth-tallest building in the city and the sixth tallest in Ohio. The company announced plans for a new headquarters in 2019 and for a brief time considered moving out of state. The opening was slowed by construction delays. The Tenth District Court of Appeals in Columbus will decide whether using public education money for private school vouchers violates the state constitution. A three-judge panel heard arguments this week in a lawsuit filed in 2022 by a coalition representing more than half of the state's school districts. The monitor overseeing the U.S. Justice Department's consent decree with Cleveland meant to improve policing offered an 11-point plan to get Cleveland in compliance with the federal decree. Last week, just after we finished this show, a federal judge rejected the city's bid to exit the 11-year-old consent decree, saying more work was needed to reach compliance. These stories and more will be part of this week’s discussion the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable. Guests: -Abbey Marshall, Local Government Reporter, Ideastream Public Media -Matt Richmond, Criminal Justice Reporter, Ideastream Public Media -Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

"Law of the Land: Changes for Marijuana" Since 1996, when California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana, there's existed a complicated legal gray area around the drug. Some states have gradually made medical and eventually recreational marijuana legal, all while the federal government still had it classified as a Schedule I drug. That's the federal classification for drugs that are seen as having no accepted medical use, such as heroin. But late last month, the U.S. Department of Justice moved state-licensed medical marijuana to a Schedule III drug, which has accepted medical uses. What might that do to marijuana at a state level? Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll examine the changing legal landscape around marijuana. We'll touch on that federal reclassifying, as well as the reaction to Ohio's State Bill 56, which outlawed THC-infused beverages, among other things. Guests: - Tom Haren, Attorney, Frantz Ward LLC - Megan Henry, Reporter, Ohio Capital Journal "The Menu" Historians say the first Greek families began immigrating to Northeast Ohio in the 1880s and 1890s, building communities that helped shape neighborhoods, churches, businesses and the local food scene. In Cleveland, that history is reflected in landmarks like the Greek Cultural Garden and in traditions like the Tremont Greek Festival, which has drawn crowds for more than 50 years. In Akron, Greek heritage is celebrated each fall during the Annunciation Greek Festival, where visitors gather for traditional music, dancing and dishes passed down through generations. For this installment of The Menu in collaboration with Cleveland Magazine, we're turning our attention to the Canton Greek Festival coming up this June. Guests: - Georgia Paxos, Marketing Coordinator, Canton Greek Festival

Skin cancer prevention methods As we head into the warmer months, more of us are spending time outdoors — whether it's at the pool, on a hike or simply walking around the neighborhood. But with that sunshine comes a risk that often gets overlooked. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., and experts say many cases are preventable with simple, consistent habits. Still, there's a lot of confusion out there about sunscreen safety, how much protection we really need, and who's actually at risk. Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll clear up some common misconceptions and learn practical tips to help protect your skin. Guest:- David Crowe, M.D., Chair, Department of Dermatology, MetroHealth Building Northeast Ohio's workforce When Team NEO, the region's economic development organization, put together it's projection for the region's economy and workforce over the next four years it found a mixed picture. On one hand, the output of goods and services produced by the businesses and workers is expected to grow 20% by the year 2030. But over the same time, the actual number of workers in the region is expected to grow just 3%. How can Northeast Ohio's economic and workforce organizations help bring those numbers in better alignment so that Cleveland and Northeast Ohio can keep up with the economic pace of both the state and nation? That's a key question that those who assembled the report are trying to answer. Guests:- Jacob Duritsky, Vice President, Strategy, Research and Talent, Team NEO- Michelle Rose, CEO, Greater Cleveland Works

Northeast Ohio's Bike Culture National Bike Week happens to fall at a time when many people are paying close to $5 per gallon at the gas pump. Perhaps that's a good reason to hop on two wheels and bike to work or the grocery store. Tuesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll explore the cycling landscape across Northeast Ohio. We'll learn about some of Cleveland's newest bike-related infrastructure projects and some of the multi-modal safety measures that the city is implementing. Zooming out, there are also new trails and bike lanes being built in cities like Lakewood and Cleveland Heights, part of the Cuyahoga County's Greenways plan. We'll also explore the unique business model of the Ohio City Bike Co-op, which focuses on low-cost services for customers. And we'll touch on bike advocacy efforts underway from Bike Cleveland. Guests: - Erik Anderson, Executive Director, Ohio City Bike Co-op - Jacob VanSickle, Executive Director, Bike Cleveland

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but for parents who don't already have a built-in community, it can be an isolating experience. New parenthood comes with a huge shift in a person's social life, from staying at home more, to less time talking to other adults, exhaustion from caring for an infant and possibly feelings of postpartum anxiety or depression. Establishing friendships with other parents going through similar experiences is frequently cited as vital to combat feelings of loneliness in this new life stage. So how do parents find community? What resources are there in Northeast Ohio? And as the saying goes: If you build it yourself, will they come? On Monday's "Sound of Ideas," we're going to talk to parents about their journeys to finding community, and we'll meet some people who have built their own villages of support. Guests: - Sarah Andrecheck, Owner & Instructor, FIT4MOM Beachwood Shaker Heights - Naveed Kiyani, Co-host, "Chief Dad Officers" podcast - Kate Sorokas, PhD, Village Builder, Author, “Through Her Eyes,” & Owner, Heartland Homestead - Tricia Kachmyers, Building a Village Facilitator, LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost will not finish his term through the end of this year. Instead, he is joining the Alliance Defending Freedom as vice president for strategic research and innovation. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed a crowd at The City Club of Cleveland last night while protesters lined the Euclid Avenue sidewalk outside. An independent review of the Akron Police Department recommends 58 action steps to improve policing. The recommendations include expanded training focused on crisis intervention and alternatives to force during encounters involving people experiencing mental health crises. And Cleveland has launched a trapping program to help residents deal with nuisance critters. For years, City Council has received complaints about groundhogs, raccoons and skunks. These stories and other news of the week are included in Friday's Reporters Roundtable. Guests: - Glenn Forbes, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media - Zaria Johnson, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Travel Woes The price of gas in the US has seen a 50% increase since the war in Iran began back in March, with the national average sitting around $4.53/gal. That's causing headaches for Americans who are making plans for summer travel. Jet fuel prices have also been on the rise, which is leading to increased costs of airfare. Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll dig into these price increases and how they are impacting the consumer. Will travelers delay trips in hopes of fuel prices coming down? Or will they cancel trips altogether? Along with the increased fuel costs, Spirit Airlines shuttered recently, which will lead to even more complications in the airline industry. Guests: - Zach Wichter, Consumer Travel Reporter, USA Today - Michael Goldberg, Executive Director, Veale Institute; Professor, Design and Innovation, Case Western Reserve University - Patrick DeHaan, Petroleum Analyst, GasBuddy "Shuffle: Jade Ring" After decades in Cleveland's punk scene, a longtime musician has a new sound and a new persona, performing from behind a mask. On this week's "Shuffle," Ideastream Public Media's Amanda Rabinowitz talked with the artist known as Jade Ring. Guests: - Amanda Rabinowitz, Host and Producer, "Shuffle" and "All Things Considered" - Jade Ring, Musician

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost will not finish his term through the end of this year. Instead, he is joining the Alliance Defending Freedom as vice president for strategic research and innovation. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed a crowd at The City Club of Cleveland last night while protesters lined the Euclid Avenue sidewalk outside. An independent review of the Akron Police Department recommends 58 action steps to improve policing. The recommendations include expanded training focused on crisis intervention and alternatives to force during encounters involving people experiencing mental health crises. And Cleveland has launched a trapping program to help residents deal with nuisance critters. For years, City Council has received complaints about groundhogs, raccoons and skunks. These stories and other news of the week are included in Friday's Reporters Roundtable. Guests: - Glenn Forbes, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media - Zaria Johnson, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Why is local journalism on the decline and what can be done about it? Local journalism is on the decline across the country. Recent analysis by the nonpartisan, nonprofit group Rebuild Local News showed that the U.S. has lost three-fourths of its local journalists over the course of the past few decades. The study showed that nationwide in 2002, there were about 40 journalists for every 100,000 residents on average. By 2025, that had dropped to just over 8, with Ohio a little under that average. Why is this happening, and what's being done about it? These questions are the focus of Rick Goldsmith's documentary, "Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink," a film which sheds light on a hedge fund buying up local newspapers and then dismantling them and selling off their real estate for profit. The documentary is being screened on Monday at Oberlin College in the Science Center's Nancy Schrom Dye Lecture Hall starting at 7 P.M. There will be a panel discussion after the screening featuring the filmmaker alongside national and local journalists. On Monday's edition of the "Sound of Ideas," we talk with several of the panelists about the current state of local journalism. Guests:- Rick Goldsmith, Filmmaker, "Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink"- Julie Reynolds, Featured Journalist, co-founder of "Voices of Monterey Bay" in California and associate editor at "The Imprint" which covers nationwide youth and family news- David Jackson, Featured Journalist, senior reporter at "Injustice Watch," a non-profit journalism organization that examines issues of equity and justice in the court system- Rachel Dissell, Northeast Ohio Journalist, Signal Cleveland "The Rolling Stones: The Biography" Bob Spitz, a writer who has published books on Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin now has a wide-ranging biography out about The Rolling Stones. He says that band is the last of "the rock and roll titans" to write about. Monday on the "Sound of Ideas," Spitz discusses the new book ahead of an appearance at the Brooklyn branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library. From their earliest days as a blues band at London's Marquee Club, to the death of founding member and drummer Charlie Watts in 2021, Spitz covers the highs and lows of the band's more than 60 years of making music together. The book spends a lot of time in the Stones' "golden era" when albums like "Let It Bleed" and "Exile on Main Street" were released. He also doesn't shy away from the dysfunctions the band suffered through, including failed marriages, bad record deals and lots and lots of drug busts. Details for the event with Bob Spitz at CCPL can be found here. Guests:- Bob Spitz, Author, "The Rolling Stones the Biography"

The Browns officially broke ground on a new Brook Park football complex this week. The event drew some high-profile guests, including Gov. Mike DeWine and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. On the same day, planners hired a new consultant to determine how to develop the Cleveland lakefront without a stadium. Akron City Council appointed a new at-large councilmember this week to fill a vacancy left by longtime councilmember Jeff Fusco. Mark Greer, former director of the nonprofit that organized Akron's bicentennial, will take the seat. Cleveland Public Schools officials contend hundreds of layoffs are necessary as part of a consolidation plan called "Building Brighter Futures." Teachers and parents disagreed loudly at a board meeting this week at Max S. Hayes High School, saying the loss of teachers and staff imperil students' futures. Ward 15 Cleveland City Councilmember Charles Slife said data centers suck up power and water. He's proposed a city ordinance that would put a one-year moratorium on new data centers while zoning is addressed. These stories and other news of the week are included in Friday's Reporters Roundtable. Guests:- Glenn Forbes, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media- Michelle Jarboe, Reporter, News 5 Cleveland, WEWS- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

"Bite Into Books" The National Endowment for the Art's "Big Read" is an opportunity for an entire literary community to read a selected title and pair that reading with programming and events tied to the themes of the book. This year, dozens of branches across the Cuyahoga County Public Library as well as the Cleveland Public Library systems read "Bite By Bite: Nourishments and Jambourees" by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, which examines how food and culture are intertwined. Libraries across the region also planned food events, gardening classes and art exhibits to coincide with the community reading program. Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas," we speak to Nezhukumatathil about the book, as well as event organizers from Cleveland Public Library and Heights Libraries. Guests: - Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Author, "Bite By Bite: Nourishments and Jambourees" - Erica Marks, Senior Director of Outreach & Programing Services, Cleveland Public Library - Gale Koritansky, Executive Director, Heights Libraries "The Menu" - Best Restaurants From smashburgers to soup dumplings, from Turkish fried eggs to punk rock chicken, one could argue that Northeast Ohio punches above its weight in terms of culinary delights. That argument is strengthened by Cleveland Magzine's list of "50 Best Restaurants in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio" which was released this week. And this year's list was expanded from 25 to 50. Along with that list, the magazine also released its "Silver Spoon Awards," which are the favorite restaurants as voted by readers. We’ll close Thursday's show digging into Cleveland' Magazine's guide. Guests: - Dillon Stewart, Editor, Cleveland Magazine - Christina Rufo, Editorial Assistant, Cleveland Magazine

Social groups help people find community and connection Nearly one in six people globally are lonely, and every year about 871,000 deaths are linked to loneliness, according to the World Health Organization. But making friends as an adult can be difficult. Social isolation spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, and even when communities reopened, many people never fully rebuilt their social circles. In 2023, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that a lack of social connection can be as harmful as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, citing increased risks of heart disease, depression and premature death. Higher rates of loneliness were also found in communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community and in migrants. Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we're talking about how people are pushing back against that trend by finding creative, unconventional ways to build community and make meaningful connections here in Northeast Ohio. Guests:- Brittany Marchetti, Founder, First Round Cleveland- Abigail Thomas, Creator and Co-Leader, Yap Out Yonder- Eileen Callahan, Member, Cle Gals Book Club- Rebecca Maxwell, Founder, She's Company "Godmother of Fashion" honored at Kent State University Twice a year, fashion designers converge in Manhattan for a weeklong display of what's new in wardrobe. But it was not always this way. We have the woman who has been dubbed the “godmother of fashion” to thank for this, Fern Mallis, who is being inducted into the Kent State University School of Fashion Hall of Fame this week. Mallis is famous for creating New York Fashion Week, with its predecessor event, "7th on Sixth," and getting fashion designers to collaborate and show up in the same space at a time when that was unheard of. Mallis was the Executive Director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America from 1991 to 2001, later serving as Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion. She has interviewed the greats as host of the "Fashion Icons" series at the 92nd Street Y such as Calvin Klein, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Betsey Johnson, Valentino and Diane von Fürstenberg. Now, the “Sound of Ideas” gets to ask her the questions. Mallis will be speaking about her career and the fashion industry in general at the KSU School of Fashion's annual Hall of Fame lecture on Friday, May 1 at 11 A.M in the university's Rockwell Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public. Guest:- Fern Mallis, 2026 Inductee, Kent State University School of Fashion Hall of Fame

Preeclampsia Awareness Rates of the serious and sometimes deadly pregnancy condition, preeclampsia, have climbed 25% over the past two decades, yet there is little research on its cause, and no cure besides giving birth, which can lead to a difficult situation when the complication is discovered weeks or even months before the baby's due date. Preeclampsia, which causes high blood pressure, affects about 1 in every 12 pregnancies in the U.S., with certain groups at increased risk, including women over 35 and Black women. On Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas," we're going to talk to mothers who have survived preeclampsia, and we'll talk to healthcare workers and advocates who are working to improve the outcomes for mothers and babies. Guests:- Kelly Gibson, M.D., Division Director, Maternal Fetal Medicine, MetroHealth- Tonae Bolton, Senior Director, Strategy and Engagement, Birthing Beautiful Communities & Full Spectrum Doula & Certified Diversity Practitioner- Victoria McGinnis, Mother- Liz McCrea, Mother

Concerns over affordability are top of mind for many Americans. A recent New York Times/Sienna University poll gives some context to what this means, suggesting that "affordability" is about, "the rising price of entry for a middle-class life: buying a home; paying for child care, college and health care; saving for retirement, and so on." As prices for things like food, gas and utilities swing wildly, those concerns don't appear to be dissipating. In years past, when the cost of living outpaced a rise in wages, a higher percentage of the population had the option of banding together to negotiate pay increases through their labor unions. Union membership peaked in 1954, with nearly 35% of all U.S. wage and salary workers belonging to unions, according to the Congressional Research Service. But with overall union membership at just 10% today, and at an all time low of 5.9% in the private sector, what recourse do workers have amid rising costs? And what about concerns other than the size of your paycheck compared to the cost of living? For example, many workers are also worried about the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and how that will impact the labor market. Could pushing back against AI unite both blue and white collar workers? Will this current generation of political leaders come up with solutions for the benefit of the working class? We'll look at the labor landscape for the first part of Monday's "Sound of Ideas" in the latest installment of our "Law of The Land" series where we look at how the law affects our everyday lives. Guests: - Noam Scheiber, Labor Reporter, New York Times; Author, "Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class" - Grace Heffernan, Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Worker Center - Yanela Sims, Ohio State Director, SEIU Local 1