This week I’m happy to speak with my friend Mark Stephens. Mark has been a police officer for 13 years, first in Phoenix and now in Nashville. 

Mark explains how he first became aware of systemic racism in American society and law, and the process of becoming more educated about it. He tells stories from his years on the job that demonstrate the power of empathy and treating all people with dignity and respect. 

I also ask him about gun culture, deescalation tactics, and mediation—which he’s recently taken up. He’s currently writing a memoir tentatively titled “Lessons Learned from Tragedy: A Misfit Cop’s Journey to Awakening.”  

Here’s a link to the books of Tim Wise, which Mark recommends: amazon.com/Tim-J-Wise/e/B001ITVYTI 

This ad-free podcast is supported by Sam’s Torode’s books, including “Living from the Soul: The 7 Spiritual Principles of Ralph Waldo Emerson,” available at samtorode.com.