HeyJaredMic Check
WPKN’s ½-hour weekly public affairs and community discussion program. Our diverse roster of hosts presents a wide range of topics for discussion: focusing on global, national, and regional issues and their effect on the local Connecticut community.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 5
- Latest publication
- Sep 12, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Aug 6, 2026
Latest episodes
Jon Phillips and Bethel Defends Democracy (opens the original)
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On the September 8, 2026 episode of Mic Check, host Mike Merli sat down live in the studio with Jon Phillips. Jon is a Bethel resident, father, and longtime technology executive. He is a volunteer with Bethel Defends Democracy, a grassroots progressive group that has brought neighbors together for 80 consecutive weeks of peaceful rallies in the center of Bethel. Jon believes democracy depends on ordinary people showing up, speaking out, and staying engaged in their communities, and that even in
Black August Mixtape 2026 - Volume 2 (opens the original)
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BLACK AUGUST MIXTAPE 2026 - VOLUME 2 {Originally broadcast on WPKN on August 27, 2026} On the August 3, 2026 episode of Mic Check, Mike Merli interviewed Shaenna Taylor. During the discussion, they spoke about the Bridgeport Police murder of Dyshan Best last March, as well as the subsequent prosecution of, not the officers involved, but Dyshan’s friend Joseph Thompson aka Joe Grits. Joe is a beloved community activist, and a close friend of Shaenna's and Dyshan's. Joe's grief was criminalized, a
Black August Mixtape 2026 - Volume 1 (opens the original)
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BLACK AUGUST MIXTAPE 2026 - VOLUME 1 {Originally broadcast on WPKN on August 18, 2026} On the August 3, 2026 episode of Mic Check, Mike Merli interviewed Shaenna Taylor. During the discussion, they spoke about the Bridgeport Police murder of Dyshan Best last March, as well as the subsequent prosecution of, not the officers involved, but Dyshan’s friend Joseph Thompson aka Joe Grits. Joe is a beloved community activist, and a close friend of Shaenna's and Dyshan's. Joe's grief was criminalized, a
Countering Authoritarianism and Protecting the Midterm Elections: A Conversation with Jill Garvey (opens the original)
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Isabelle speaks with Jill Garvey, the Director of States at the Core (STAC), about how we protect Democracy in the United States of America. Jill has considerable expertise in authoritarianism and community organizing. STAC has provided support to many communities in the US as they organize against threats to human rights and democracy. STAC is currently providing election protection trainings. Learn more at statesatthecore.substack.com .
Shaenna Taylor Turns Adversity into Advocacy and Action (opens the original)
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On the August 4, 2026 episode of Mic Check, host Mike Merli sat down with Bridgeport native, Shaenna Taylor. Shaenna Taylor is an award-winning educator, mentor, community advocate, and entrepreneur from Bridgeport, Connecticut. With more than 10 years of experience in the Bridgeport Public School system, she has been recognized with multiple Staff Member of the Year awards for her dedication to students and education. Beyond the classroom, Shaenna serves as the Mentor Lead and Director of #100G
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