CHRISTEL BEST PRESENTS
Law and Culture
Are you interested in the intricacies of the law and how they impact your community and our society? Join Christel Best on Law and Culture as she delves into important legal issues concerning the environment, social justice, discrimination, and more.
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Episode 34: The French Paradox
Clues to Blissful Eating
In this episode, my friend Sandy Forster and I discuss the "French Paradox." How is it possible that many French people enjoy delectable sweets, rich, savory, creamy sauces, satisfying cheeses, and good wine, yet maintain relatively low rates of high blood pressure, elevated glucose, and high cholesterol? Join the conversation.
MAY 20, 2025 | 44 MIN 35 SEC
Episode 33: The Youngest Among Us
How Teenager Melba Pattillo Beals Battled to Integrate Little Rock's Central High School
This week, I read an excerpt from the memoir of Melba Pattillo Beals, the Congressional Gold Medal recipient who chronicled her experience as one of the "Little Rock Nine" integrating Central High School in 1957. The passage comes from her powerful book, Warriors Don’t Cry, which offers a firsthand account of the courage and resilience she and her peers demonstrated. Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the young activists who boldly challenged the nation to uphold the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling declaring that "separate but equal" is inherently unequal.
MAY 13, 2025 | 20 MIN 27 SEC
Episode 32: Mahmoud v. Taylor
The US Supreme Court, Public Education, and Religious Freedom
In Mahmoud v. Taylor, the U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments on whether students can opt out of classes that include books with LGBTQ+ themes. In this week’s episode, I walk through the facts of the Mahmoud case and analyze them in light of past Supreme Court rulings on public school education and constitutional protections.
MAY 6, 2025 | 30 MIN 45 MIN
Episode 31: Kidfluencing -A Look at the Shocking Netflix Series
In this episode, I’m joined by Sandy Foster as we dive into the Netflix documentary Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing. Together, we explore what would drive a mother to transform her pre-teen daughter into a YouTube sensation—and the disturbing consequences that followed. From cruel pranks to criminal investigations and civil lawsuits, the film raises urgent questions about exploitation in the digital age. Most importantly, it forces us to confront how we might better protect children in an era where "child YouTube stars" have become the new norm.
APRIL 29, 2025 | 34 MIN 11 SEC
Episode 30: Unsilencing Their Stories
In this episode, we meet the five winners of the 2025 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, the nation’s only juried prize focused on books that contribute to our understanding of race and diversity. What sets their works apart? Tune in and decide for yourself.
APRIL 22, 2025 | 16 MIN 40 SEC
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