Today's episode explores the prison in school pipeline as well as zero tolerance system with our guests Alex Kannan & Dr. Ricky Pope.

Dr. Ricky J. Pope received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University in 2018. He earned an Associate’s degree in transfer studies and transferred to San Diego State University (SDSU), where he graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. He now provides therapeutic services at Counseling and Psychological Services to SDSU college students. Dr. Pope takes pleasure in assisting first-generation college students to persist toward degree completion as he knows that college can be a path toward upward mobility. His general clinical interests involve addressing racial and ethnic identity concerns, depression and anxiety, and concerns related to masculinity. His research interests involve critical considerations of racism and equity in education, service delivery to underrepresented populations, and the study of organizational structures and participant outcomes in the justice setting.

Alex Kannan is a Spanish-speaking licensed attorney and owner of Kannan Law Firm, Inc., a law firm in San Diego focusing on immigration, criminal defense and auto accident injury cases. Alex prides himself on providing personalized service to ordinary people caught under extraordinary pressure and helping them navigate the confusing and intimidating legal system. Apart from his trade, Alex is passionate about film and makes documentaries that seek to tell stories yet also focus on social issues. Alex believes art is a necessary component of expression.