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The Social Work Experience

The Social Work Experience

SJSU School of Social Work 26 Episodes Jul 2, 2026

The San Jose State University School of Social Work presents a podcast for students, staff, faculty, professionals, and supporters to build a community. Within this space, they provide authentic conversations driven by the community for the community. The podcast covers topics relevant to social work and aims to connect listeners with resources and insights from the field.

Episodes

"Refugees on Our Own Land": A Conversation on Indigenous Erasure and Reclamation with the Muwekma Ohlone Jul 2, 2026 01:54:34 In this episode, we have a raw, honest conversation with two members of the Muwekma Ohlone tribe — Julie Dominguez, who holds the role of Community Education Chair for the tribe, and Joey Torres, who holds the role of Culture Bearer.Julie and Joey speak to the tribe's quest for federal recognition, what sovereignty means to them, the lingering repercussions of colonialism, what social workers and
Reimagining Child Welfare: It takes a village, and youth deserve the loudest seat at the table. May 8, 2026 01:13:23 In this episode, we interview two guests—Karen Mestizo and Wendy Kinnear-Rausch—working in child welfare in Santa Clara County. We discuss the successes and challenges that folx working in child welfare face and discuss the lenses from which Karen and Wendy approach their work. While their perspectives differ, both guests amplify the importance of working in partnership with children, youth, and f
Connection as Medicine: A Humanistic Discussion on In-patient Care & Schizophrenic Disorders Mar 3, 2026 01:13:13 In this episode, co-hosts Ana, Britt, and Roberto speak with Stephen Burke about his experience treating individuals with Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders in his role as the Director of 7th Avenue Center, an in-patient care organization in Santa Cruz, CA. Stephen has been doing incredible work in the field of mental health care and discusses the human-centered way he goes about treating both clien
Now What? Creating Our Own Solutions to Community Needs Dec 14, 2025 01:33:22 In this episode, hosts Ana, Roberto, and Britt interview SJSU social work professor and Executive Director of Ujima Adult and Family Services, Yvonne Maxwell, to talk about how social workers can move from discussion to action by building our own solutions to real community needs.The hosts also reflect on the first step of the Native Governance Center’s Beyond Land Acknowledgment Guide. You can fo
Disrupting White Supremacy & Anti-Blackness Nov 10, 2025 01:15:39 In this episode, hosts Ana, Roberto, and Britt interview SJSU's newest social work professor, Dr. Babe Kawaii-Bogue, and discuss how social workers can begin to disrupt white supremacy and anti-blackness in both our personal and professional lives. In an effort to move from discussion to action, hosts will begin following this Beyond Land Acknowledgement Guide from the Native Governance Center
We’re Back: Kicking Off Season 4! Oct 6, 2025 01:21:11 In this episode, new hosts Roberto, Britt, and Ana launch season 4 with an introduction to this year’s season and a look ahead at what’s to come. They sit down with Dr. Peter Allen Lee, Director of the School of Social Work at San José State University, who reflects on his journey in social work, the evolution of the field, and offers thoughtful advice for new social workers entering the field.
Season 3 Finale: Goodbyes and Graduations May 2, 2025 00:24:15 In this episode, Jessica, Maddy, and Luna will be signing off as hosts. This time, we'll start off with the transcultural corner to learn about Josefa Llanes Escoda, who was an influential social worker from the AAPI community. We'll then dive into a conversation where we reflect on the past year and discuss our next steps after graduation.It was great being your hosts for this school year
Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month Apr 9, 2025 01:15:53 Happy Arab American Heritage Month! In this episode, we dive into important parts of Arab American heritage, covering the sociopolitical context of how Arab Americans have come to be recognized as a distinct community, exploring how to best serve and support Arab Americans, and learning about the dabke, a folk dance that is enjoyed across the Levant.Special thanks to Parisa and Michael for their i
Happy National Social Work Month! Mar 7, 2025 00:50:19 March is National Social Work month, and in this episode, we'll be highlighting the amazing contributions that social workers across the field make in their areas of work. This month's episode features a positive news section highlighting the heroic efforts of an incredible social worker, an expert discussion with medical social work student Kat Alvarado, and a look into the importance of
Celebrating Black History and Queering Love Feb 7, 2025 00:39:47 It’s February, and love is in the air! For this episode, we’ll be celebrating Black History Month, uplifting Black joy, challenging mainstream notions of love, discussing how to queer the idea of love, and honoring the historical figures that have shaped Black History. For any questions or comments, feel free to email us at swgsa.podcastchair@gmail.com or reach out to Luna, Jessica, or Maddy! Link
Celebrating the Winter Holidays Dec 13, 2024 00:24:48 As the days get darker and winter draws near, there is nothing more comforting than a steaming mug of hot cocoa. Winter is a time to reflect, recharge, and begin looking forward to a new year. In this short and sweet episode, we highlight some positive news and share different holiday traditions from a multicultural lens. The royalty free music used in this episode comes from Uppbeat and Adobe P
Social Workers in Policy and Voting Advocacy: Making Everyone's Voices Heard Nov 1, 2024 01:04:55 For Episode 3 of Season 3, we'll be discussing how to get involved in macro level social work, highlighting political advocacy, exploring the idea of encouraging voter engagement as an act of social work, providing nonpartisan summaries of the California Propositions on the ballot for the 2024 election cycle, and speaking with an honorable veteran social worker. To learn more about voting advoca

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