Episode 180 Notes and Links to Jennifer Dawn Carlson’s Work
On Episode 180 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Jennifer Dawn Carlson, and the two discuss, among other things, her unique schooling and relationship with her father which led her to reading widely and doggedly, her formative times at UC Berkeley, her views on writing for different audiences and in the arenas of sociology and journalism, and pertinent issues from her latest book: the roles of gun sellers, an evolving customer base for guns since the pandemic started, partisanship as fleshed out during the last few years, especially 2020, guns sellers and political views, and political divisiveness with regard to gun culture.
Jennifer Carlson is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Government & Public Policy at the University of Arizona. Prior to coming to University of Arizona, she was an assistant professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto. A graduate of Dartmouth College, she received her Ph.D. in Sociology in 2013 from University of California, Berkeley. Her research examines American gun culture, policing and public law enforcement, and conservative politics. She is the author of the book Citizen-Protectors: The Everyday Politics of Guns in an Age of Decline (2015; Oxford University Press) as well as articles appearing in Social Problems, British Journal of Criminology, Contexts, Theoretical Criminology, Law & Contemporary Problems, Gender & Society, Feminist Criminology, and Violence Against Women. Her research has won awards from the American Sociological Association Sex and Gender Section and Race, Gender & Class Section as well as from the American Society of Criminology Division on Women & Crime and Division on Critical Criminology. In addition to scholarly writing, her work has been featured in popular venues such as NPR, Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, BBC, and Detroit News.
Her latest book, Merchants of the Right: Gun Sellers and the Crisis of American Democracy, is out as of May 2, 2023.
Buy Merchants of the Right: Gun Sellers and the Crisis of American Democracy
Jennifer Dawn Carlson's Website
Jennifer Carlson at The MacArthur Foundation Website
At about 6:40, Jennifer speaks on the importance of her childhood and the “valu[ing] of education” in her household, including the impact her father had on her
At about 8:25, Pete asks about the connections between Catholicism and conservatism, especially in Jennifer’s household
At about 11:20, Indiana Academy is shouted out and Jennifer discusses her “super amazing” experience there and the ways in which it informed her reading and learning
At about 14:00, Pete and Jennifer discuss UC Berkeley and her formative time there, and Jennifer gives background on how interview subjects for her first book viewed the school
At about 16:30, Jennifer responds to Pete’s questions about distinctions and connections between journalism and sociology
At about 17:45, Jennifer discusses works, writers, and programs that have informed her own writing, such as The Op-Ed Project, as well as how she approaches writing for different audiences
At about 22:50, Jennifer talks about having her new book out in the world, and how “it was a fundamentally different process” than her previously-published work; she also shouts out The National Science Foundation and U of A grad student helpers
At about 27:10, Jennifer expands upon wondering about ideas of timeliness with the book and all writing
At about 30:50, Jennifer reflects on the initial months of the pandemic, and the uncertainty that informed a lot of the subject matter of her interviews for the book
At about 32:20, Pete wonders about what Jennifer learned about race and racism in gun culture through her interviews with gun sellers; she muses about the ways in which gun sellers reference the “great equalizer” of gun sales, especially since 2020
At about 37:30, Jennifer expands on the connections between ideas of “democracy” and gun sales, and who is “fit” to buy guns
At about 38:55, Jennifer continues with her explanation of ideas of democracy, especially post-January 6
At about 40:10, Jennifer references her second book as she and Pete discuss Philando Castile as an example of a Black man not dealt with in the same way by the NRA as white men have been; Jennifer argues that the NRA backed down from defending him as part of a fear of being seen as anti-police
At about 42:10, Partisanship is discussed with regard to the ways the gun sellers see liberals-”Awake but not Woke”
At about 44:10, “The great run on guns” and some stats and facts of 2020’s gun sales are discussed; “conservative gun culture” and a great paradox of gun sales and laws is brought up by Jennifer
At about 47:15, Pete outlines the book’s structure and its chapters; “experience versus expertise” is discussed as a big part of many gun sellers’ mindsets
At about 49:00, Conspiracy and skepticism and individualism are analyzed with regards to gun culture
At about 52:20, “Doing your research” is discussed, and an important quote creates conversation about “knowledge-making process”
At about 54:00, Pete points out an interesting explanation from Chapter Three of the connection between Protestant Christianity and political divisiveness; Jennifer highlights important work by Francesca Tripodi
At about 56:35, The two discuss dark and sobering statistics and opinions as seen in some research questions that sum up the political divide
At about 58:40, Jennifer highlights the book’s last chapter and lessons that can be built on about “building bridges”
At about 1:02:35, Pete compliments the book’s last chapter and its “call to action,” as well as the skillful rendering of the pre-politicization of the NRA
You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!
NEW MERCH! You can browse and buy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChillsatWillPodcast
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 181 with Ramona Reeves. She is author of the linked short story collection It Falls Gently All Around and Other Stories, which won the 2022 Drue Heinz Literature Prize and The Sergio Troncoso Award for Best First Fiction from the Texas Institute of Letters. Her stories and essays have appeared in The Southampton Review, Pembroke, Bayou Magazine, New South, Superstition Review, Texas Highways and other publications.
The episode will air on May 5.
Episode 232 with Kate Brody, Author of Rabbit Hole and Master of Writing Intriguing and Flawed Characters and Crackling Plotlines
Episode 231-April 13, 2024 Live Event to Launch Jose Vadi's Chipped, a reflective, creative, subtly brilliant essay collection
Episode 230 with Chelsea T. Hicks, Author of the Story Collection, A Calm & Normal Heart, Revitalizer and Student of the Osage Language, and Crafter of Poetic, Timely, and Timeless Stories
Episode 229 with Will Sommer, Author of Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Reshaped America, and Keen and Thorough Chronicler of the QAnon Movement Through The Washington Post
Episode 228 with Jennifer Croft, Author of The Extinction of Irena Rey and Award-Winning Translator, and Master of Worldbuilding, Highly-Allegorical Yet Masterfully-Plotted Fiction, and Nuance
Episode 227 with Gina Chung, Author of Green Frog, a Dazzling Collection of Poignant, Offbeat, Chillingly-Realistic and Fantastical Stories
Episode 226 with Priscilla Gilman, Author of The Critic's Daughter and Skilled and Thoughtful Chronicler of the Universal and the Intimately Personal
Episode 225 with Andrés N Ordorica, Author of How We Named the Stars and Generous Creator of Poignant, Resonant "Love and Loss" Scenes and Utterly Memorable Characters
Episode 224 with Peter Coviello, Enthusiastic and Deeply Knowledgeable Critic and Celebrator of Moving Art, and Author of the Essay Collection, Is There God After Prince
Episode 223 with Sarah Rose Etter, Master Balancer of Surrealism, Realism, Dark Humor, and Themes of Grief and Anxiety that are Timely and Timeless
Episode 222 with Andrew Leland, Author of The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight, and Masterful Chronicler of His and Other Journeys with Blindness and its Intersections with our World
Episode 221 with Martha Anne Toll, Renaissance Woman, Book Reviewer, Creative, and Award-Winning Writer of the Moving, Contemplative Three Muses
Episode 220 with Aniefiok Epoudom: Keen Chronicler of Hip-Hop, Football Culture and Pop Culture in the UK, and Savvy and Nuanced Master of Telling Personal Stories; Author of
Episode 219 with Roxanna Asgarian, Principled and Dogged Reporter, Caring and Clear-Eyed Journalist and Author of We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America
Episode 218 with Melissa Rivero, Author of Flores and Miss Paula, Keen Observer of Modern Corporate Life and Nuanced Chronicler of Grief’s Many Permutations
Episode 217 with Jeff Sharlet, Author of The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War, and Sharp-Eyed Chronicler of Impending Fascism and Previous Fighters in The Movements
Episode 216 with Kate Maruyama: Author of Bleak Houses, Master Worldbuilder, and Skilled Observer and Chronicler of Family Traumas, Class and Privilege, and Psychological Horrors Modern and Timeless
Episode 215 with Nick Fuller Googins, Reflective and Dynamic Worldbuilder, Educator, and Creator of the ”Hopeful” Climate Crisis Novel, The Great Transition
Episode 214 with Leah Myers, Chronicler of the Heartfelt, the Specific, the Universal, and the Myth and Proud History of the Jamestown S’Klallam in the Memoir, Thinning Blood
Episode 213 with Andrew Porter, Reflective and Genius of the Understated and Resonant, Creator of Unforgettable Characters, and Author of the Story Collection, The Disappeared
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Lit Society: Books and Drama
Ex Libris
Write The Book: Conversations on Craft
Anne of Green Gables
Gulliver’s Travels
Fresh Air
Myths and Legends