Guns Unpacked
Society & Culture
About
Hosted by Jennifer Carlson, sociologist, MacArthur Fellow and Director of Arizona State University's BRIDGS Initiative: Bringing Research & Innovation into the Debate on Guns in Society. This podcast features the latest, cutting-edge social science research on all things gun-related--from gun culture to gun trauma.
Episodes
- Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson On the Politics of Force in Black Resistance
In this episode, Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson discusses her book, "We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance." The conversation covers the role of firearms in the civil rights struggle and Black Americans' relationship to US gun cultu…
- Dr. Nora Gross On Black Boys and the Hidden Toll of Gun Violence
Dr. Jennifer Carlson interviews Dr. Nora Gross, who discusses her book, "Brothers in Grief: The Hidden Toll of Firearm Violence on Black Boys and Their Schools." The conversation focuses on how grief associated with firearm violence affect…
- Dr. Toni Jensen On Indigenous Survival under US Gun Culture
In this episode of Guns Unpacked, Dr. Toni Jensen discusses Indigenous survival under US gun culture. She details how her identity and experiences with violence have shaped her perception of gun identity in America, exploring the shift fro…
- Dr. Payne, Dr. Hitchens, and Darryl Chambers On Gun Violence in Wilmington, Delaware and Participatory Gun Violence Research
This episode is a live recording of a panel discussion from the BRIDGS Initiative’s Guns in Society symposium. The discussion features Dr. Yasser Arafat Payne, Dr. Brooklynn K. Hitchens, and Darryl L. Chambers, authors of "Murder Town, USA…
- Special Episode: Guns Unpacked...Unwrapped!
In this special episode, co-hosts Jennifer Carlson and Alex Trimble Young discuss the highlights and lowlights of their work at the BRIDGS Initiative in 2025. They cover topics including the algorithmic censorship of gun-related content on…
- Dr. Cedric Dark On US Gun Violence from the Perspective of an Emergency Room Doctor
Guns Unpacked features Dr. Cedric Dark, an emergency medicine physician, discussing his perspective on US gun violence, public health related to firearms, and policy suggestions. Dr. Dark also shares advice for those interested in his fiel…
- Dr. Emily Farris and Dr. Mirya Holman On County Sheriffs and US Gun Culture
Drs. Emily Farris and Mirya Holman discuss the significant role of county sheriffs in the American justice system, their political influence, and how this shapes US gun culture. The episode covers sheriffs' duty, accountability, elections,…
- Cameron McWhirter and Zusha Elinson On the History and Politics of the AR-15
Host Alex Trimble Young speaks with Cameron McWhirter and Zusha Elinson about their book on the AR-15. The discussion covers the rifle's invention, military history, cultural significance, and political debates surrounding its regulation.
- Dr. Michelle Phelps on Lessons from Minneapolis on Policing and Community Violence Intervention
This episode features Dr. Michelle Phelps discussing her book 'The Minneapolis Reckoning: Race, Violence, and the Politics of Policing in America.' The conversation covers her research on policing, criminal justice reform, and the impact o…
- Dr. Jan Dizard on The Cultural History of Hunting in the United States and Beyond
Guns Unpacked features an interview with Jan Dizard, Professor Emeritus, discussing his work on the cultural history of hunting, the environmental impact of human actions, and the intersection of gun culture and conservation. This intervie…
- Dr. Gerald Higginbotham on Gun Rights and Race
Guns Unpacked features Dr. Gerald Higginbotham discussing firearm psychology and its connection to racism and collective power. The episode explores the racialization of gun rights and perceptions of safety, drawing on historical perspecti…
- Guns Unpacked Season 2 - Teaser Trailer
Guns Unpacked season 2 is announced, with its launch date set for September 8th.
- Guns Unpacked Season 2 - Extended Trailer
Guns Unpacked Season 2 is launching on September 8th. This extended trailer previews the upcoming season.
- Dr. Jonathan Metzl on Rethinking the Public Health Paradigm in Gun Violence Research
This episode features Dr. Jonathan Metzl, a psychiatrist and sociologist, discussing his work on gun violence and mental health. They cover his book 'What We’ve Become,' the Waffle House shooting, the Dickey Line, and public health respons…
- Dr. Emine Fidan Elcioglu on Guns Politics & Migration at the Arizona-Sonora Border
Dr. Emine Fidan Elcioglu, a sociologist at the University of Toronto, joins Guns Unpacked to discuss her ethnographic research on migration politics at the Arizona-Sonora border. Her work explores the connection between gun politics and th…
- Dr. Michael Sierra-Arévalo on Guns, Policing & the Danger Imperative
Assistant professor Dr. Michael Sierra-Arévalo discusses his book, The Danger Imperative: Violence, Death, and the Soul of Policing, which examines how police culture and violence are shaped by the danger imperative in the United States.
- Dr. Ieva Jusionyte on Beyond Borders: Gun Culture & Gun Violence
In this episode of Guns Unpacked, Dr. Ieva Jusionyte discusses her book 'Exit Wounds,' examining the flow of guns from the US to Mexico and its effects on border violence and culture.
- Dr. Jesenia Pizarro on New Frontiers in Gun Homicide Research
Guns Unpacked features Dr. Jesenia Pizarro discussing new research on gun homicide and intimate partner violence, drawing on her expertise in criminology and firearm violence prevention.
- Dr. Samantha Simon on Police Academies and the Politics of Force
Dr. Samantha Simon discusses her book Before the Badge: How Academy Training Shapes Police Violence, detailing her ethnographic research on police training's impact on officers.
- Dr. David Yamane on Bridging Gun Divides
Dr. David Yamane, a sociology professor, joins Guns Unpacked to discuss his book "Gun Curious." He shares his personal journey into gun studies and ownership as a liberal, the evolution of gun culture, and thoughts on bridging divides in g…
- Dr. Alexandra Filindra on Guns, Citizenship & Democracy
Dr. Alexandra Filindra discusses her book "Race, Rights, and Rifles," examining the NRA's origins and how ideologies of citizenship intersect with gun support. The conversation explores historical links between militia service, political r…
- Dr. Kendell Coker on Guns, Trauma & Inequality
Dr. Kendell Coker joins Guns Unpacked to discuss his research on the links between mental health, gun violence, and community trauma in African American youth. The conversation highlights the need to address root causes and improve univers…
- Dr. Andrew McKevitt on Thinking Globally about American Gun Markets & Gun Politics
Dr. Andrew McKevitt joins Guns Unpacked to discuss his book "Gun Country: Gun Capitalism, Culture and Control in Cold War America." The episode explores connections between gun culture, capitalism, and post-WWII geopolitics, examining thei…
- Dr. Amy Cooter on the American Militia Movement
Dr. Amy Cooter joins Guns Unpacked to discuss her book on the American militia movement, covering its political significance, firearms training, and the connections between conspiracism, white supremacy, nostalgia, and masculinity within t…
- Dr. Curtis Austin on the Politics of Self-Defense and the Black Panther Party
Dr. Curtis Austin discusses his book examining the Black Panther Party's legacy, focusing on race, violence, and self-defense. The conversation covers the COINTELPRO program and its impact.
- Guns Unpacked Trailer
A trailer for the podcast Guns Unpacked, announcing its launch date of August 30.