CUNY TV's One to One: Recent Episodes
CUNY TV
Distinguished Lecturer in journalism at Queens College and long-time New York Newsday columnist Sheryl McCarthy speaks with accomplished individuals from all walks of life in this engaging half-hour series.
In this One to One interview, poet and educator Roya Marsh reflects on her experiences as a black, queer woman from the Bronx. She discusses the complexities of her identity, growing up without queer representation but finding support through her brothers, community, and the arts. Marsh shares how her poetry serves as a "love letter" to her queerness and addresses the struggles of being both black and queer in a world that often marginalizes these identities.
Marsh also talks about her unexpected introduction to poetry slams, which introduced her to performance poetry and expanded her writing from personal experiences to broader societal issues.
Marsh highlights her work with young writers, emphasizing how their poetry provides a safe space for self-expression and healing. She advocates for community action in the current political climate, especially for marginalized queer individuals. The interview ends with a discussion of her book Savings Time, praised for its powerful impact.
As a bonus, in this episode of One to One, Marsh performs two powerful poems from her book Savings Time: “This One” and “QTNA.”
Sheryl McCarthy sits down with Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of the New York Historical, to discuss the museum's evolution. Founded in 1804, the museum is updating its name, dropping the hyphen and the word "Society" to become more inclusive. Mirrer shares insights into the museum’s cultural updates, including the addition of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass statues, and plans for a 2026 expansion featuring the American LGBTQ+ Museum. The museum's exhibits, like its Tiffany lamps collection, continue to engage visitors with new discoveries, emphasizing the importance of accessible and inclusive history.
Sheryl McCarthy interviews Dr. Indira Etwaroo, CEO and Artistic Director of Harlem Stage, an influential arts institution in Harlem that has supported artists of color for over 40 years. Dr. Etwaroo discusses Harlem Stage's commitment to providing a platform for artists of the Global Majority, especially in light of historical funding challenges. The current season, "When We Are Heard," explores social issues like immigration, equity, and the environment, with performances by choreographers such as Bebe Miller and Eiko Otake, and Freedom Riders, multi-state theatrical readings of contemporary first-person accounts of racial profiling, that culminates in a global livestreamed performance on Sunday May 25, 2025, marking the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder."
Sylvia Waters discusses Alvin Ailey's legacy, his impact on dance, and the importance of the Edges of Ailey exhibit. She highlights Ailey’s contributions to African-American culture, Ailey II's role, and AILEY's educational programs.
Sheryl McCarthy talks to Nicole Gelinas about NYC's shift from car dominance to mass transit, highlighting how activism is challenging the city's historical focus on cars and pushing for better public transportation.
In this conversation Sheryl McCarthy talks to Reverend Billy and Savitri D, co-founders of the Church of Stop Shopping and the Earth Church. The Earth Church in New York’s Lower East Side, combines performance art with activism. Initially a critique of consumerism, it now focuses on environmental justice, climate change, gentrification, and social issues. The church's services blend music, theater, and preaching to inspire direct action and community engagement. It also provides support to marginalized groups, including migrants, and promotes social change through local activism.
In a conversation with Dr. Shirley Leyro, associate professor of criminal justice at Borough of Manhattan Community College, host Sheryl McCarthy explores anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S. Professor Leyro notes that while it seems to be rising, such feelings have always existed and are often exploited by politicians. She outlines the historical discrimination faced by various immigrant groups and discusses changes in immigration policy, particularly during the Trump administration, which increased enforcement and deportations.
Professor Leyro emphasizes immigrants' positive economic contributions and talks about the concept of "crimmigration," a term describing the intersection of immigration and criminal law, highlighting how minor infractions can lead to deportations. The discussion ends with a call for comprehensive immigration reform that addresses root causes and the complexities of legal processes, advocating for a path to citizenship and better support for immigrants. Leyro highlights the importance of a compassionate and informed dialogue on immigration, especially as elections approach.
In a discussion with Anna Law, associate professor of political science at Brooklyn College, Sheryl examines the complexities of the U.S. immigration system amid the intensifying presidential race. Law emphasizes that immigration isn't a primary concern for most voters compared to economic issues, though it's heavily featured in conservative media. She critiques the bureaucratic inefficiencies in the legal immigration process and suggests that both parties navigate a complex political landscape—Republicans exploit the situation, while Democrats struggle to propose effective reforms. Law advocates for a proactive immigration strategy to shift the narrative away from restriction.
In this episode, Sheryl sits down with Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley. They discuss her groundbreaking journey as the first Black woman president of the college, delve into Mount Holyoke's role in nurturing empowered leaders and fostering a community dedicated to academic excellence and social change, and highlight the college's unique identity as a women’s institution that champions gender diversity, underlining its commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all students. The conversation also emphasizes the significant role of historically Black colleges and universities today.
In this conversation, Sheryl speaks with Lisa Goree, the newly elected leader of the Shinnecock Indian Nation on Eastern Long Island, making her the tribe’s first female leader in over 200 years. They explore the history of the Shinnecock reservation, the tribe’s future plans, and their relationship with the affluent residents of the neighboring town.
Ronnie Eldridge joins Sheryl to discuss recent political developments and emerging trends, drawing from her rich career as a journalist, advocate, and former public official, now hosting "Keeping Relevant."
Host Sheryl McCarthy interviews Vince Warren, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. They discuss the 10th anniversary of Eric Garner's death, its impact on police abuse, racial injustice, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Host Sheryl McCarthy discusses Venture Access NYC, a program that is working to build an inclusive tech ecosystem for founders and funders in New York City.
In this special episode of One to One, host Sheryl McCarthy and guests focus on the pressing issue of accessibility for aging populations and those with disabilities; groups expected to comprise a significant portion of the global population by 2050.
For decades, NYC sketch artist Christine Cornell has captured the likenesses of high-profile figures in US courts: Martha Stewart, Bill Cosby, the World Trade Center bombers, Donald Trump. Cornell explains her work documenting these historic legal events.
This week, we discuss the alarming rise in mental health issues among young people, a crisis documented by Politico, the Centers for Disease Control, The New York Times, and others. Dr. Suzanne Button is a clinical psychologist with over two decades of experience working directly with adolescents, children, their families, and the education systems that serve them. Joining her is Ryan Camire, Director of Mental Health and Wellness at the CUNY Central Office of Student Affairs, overseeing resources and initiatives across all 25 campuses of The City University of New York.
Sheryl takes a deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. Is AI a technological marvel that will revolutionize our lives or a potential threat that we should approach with more caution?
Acclaimed author Brooke Kroeger joins host Sheryl McCarthy for an enlightening half-hour discussion celebrating often-overlooked women of American journalism, the subject of Brooke's latest book, "Undaunted: How Women Changed American Journalism."
Writer and activist Esther Cohen joins host Sheryl McCarthy to discuss her latest book, "All of Us: Stories and Poems Along Route 17," as well as her lifelong dedication to amplifying the voices of the overlooked.
John Mogulescu's new memoir, "The Dean of New Things: Bringing Change to CUNY and New York City," recounts his illustrious 50-year career at CUNY and the challenges he faced driving meaningful change in higher education.
Education Journalist Cara Fitzpatrick sits down with host Sheryl McCarthy to discuss her book, "The Death of Public School: How Conservatives Won the War Over Education in America."
Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with filmmakers Greta Schiller and Andrea Weiss about their new documentary “The Five Demands”, which tells the story of the 1969 Black and Puerto Rican student takeover of City College, changing the face of higher education.
Host Sheryl McCarthy is joined by attorney, journalist, tv commentator, and former soap opera extra Raul A. Reyes for a look back at the once-dominant daytime television genre. Raul shares his experiences acting as Cedars Hospital Orderly #1.
George Santos biographer/CUNY City Tech lecturer Mark Chiusano sits down with host Sheryl McCarthy to discuss his book, "The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos."
The Riverside Church has been a catalyst for social, political and religious activism.
Host Sheryl Williams talks with its new dynamic Senior Minister, Rev. Adriene Thorne, about the mission of the church and the role of women in the Protestant Church.
Host Sheryl McCarthy sits down with the prolific Motown author Peter Benjaminson to discuss his newest book: the first-ever complete biography of female empowerment icon Betty Boop.
'Oppenheimer" is a box office hit this season. Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with Kai Bird, co-author of “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer,” the book on which the movie is based. The story offers a lesson for our time.
Theater-goers know to go to the TKTS booths in Times Square to buy Broadway tickets at prices they can afford. TKTS is now celebrating it's 50th anniversary, and Sheryl McCarthy talks with Michael Naumann, it's Managing Director about how they do it.
Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with Philip Dray, author of A Lynching at Port Jervis" which examines the 1892 lynching of Robert Lewis and the white mob who got off scot-free. Dray connects this brutal history to racialized violence today.
Minority and women-owned small businesses in NYS struggle to survive and grow. Host Sheryl McCarthy talks to Hector Batista, CUNY Vice Chancellor about how the university is reversing this trend, connecting businesses to opportunities to sell to CUNY.
Without doubt, Rosa Parks is one of the heroes of our time. A new documentary, "The Rebellious Life of Rosa Parks", on Peacock TV reveals that she led a life dedicated to activism. Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with its co-director, Yoruba Richen.
Two years ago, NYS legalized the recreational sale of marijuana, leading to CUNY introducing its first cannabis education program. We talk with Prof. Alicia Reid and Vikiana Reyes-Clement from Medgar Evers College about what students are being taught.
Few subjects have occupied as much space in American political discourse as Israel. Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with Eric Alterman, CUNY Professor, about this relationship in his new book "We Are Not One: A History of America's Fight Over Israel".
Do Ivy League colleges and universities champion social equality or do they help the privileged maintain their status? Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with Evan Mandery, the author of "Poison Ivy" and department chair at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
There are tons of guidebooks to NYC, but there's a new one which is unusual. "The People's Guide to New York City" shares the stories and places of social action in NYC history. Host Sheryl McCarthy speaks with its co-author, Carolina Bank Muñoz.
What are the factors at play, turning the city's housing developments into a pipeline to prison? Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with Van C. Tran, a CUNY Graduate Center professor and author of new study on "the public housing to prison pipeline."
Is a law degree worth it? With the annual cost of law school topping $100K at some places, and with student loan debt at an all-time high, many are asking that question. Host Sheryl Williams speaks with Sudha Setty, the new Dean of the CUNY Law School.
Why has there been a legislative assault on transgender identity? Host Sheryl McCarthy speaks with Paisley Currah, the author of "Sex Is As Sex Does" and a CUNY professor of Political Science and Women's and Gender studies.
Are labor unions making a comeback? What does it mean for the future of workers? Host Sheryl McCarthy speaks with Stephanie Luce, a leading expert on labor movements from the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies.
Has the "broken windows" approach to policing lowered crime in disadvantaged communities? A new CUNY Graduate Center study says it has created more problems. Host Sheryl McCarthy speaks with Gaurav Jashnani, a co-author of the study
What happens to young people who age out of foster care? Host Sheryl McCarthy sits down with Saroya Friedman-Gonzalez, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Children, and Demetrius Napolitano, a New York University graduate and meditation instructor.
Mayor Eric Adams recently broke up homeless encampments. Is there a better solution to the homeless problem in NYC? Host Sheryl McCarthy sits down with Henry Love, a Developmental Psychologist with a specialty in homelessness and racism.
Since February, the world has watched in horror the consequences of Russia invading Ukraine. So why is Putin doing this? Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with Brigid O'Keeffe, author of "The Multiethnic Soviet Union and its Demise".
Do toys give children a distorted view of history? Host Sheryl McCarthy sits down with Molly Rosner, author of "Playing with History: American Identities and Children’s Consumer Culture".
Host Sheryl McCarthy sits down with author Grace Cho about her memoir "Tastes Like War", a 2021 National Book Award Finalist. Cho searches for the story behind her immigrant mother's descent into schizophrenia.
Can a writing group transform the lives of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women? Host Sheryl McCarthy speaks with Roslyn Smith, the co-founder of "Right/Write to Heal" and Esther Cohen, teacher. What stories do these women have to tell?
What role do community colleges play in the nation's higher education system? Host Sheryl McCarthy sits down with Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis who is in her first year as President of Hostos Community College in the Bronx.
Many people complained about the flawed portrayal of Puerto Ricans in 1961 "West Side Story" film. Does the new Spielberg remake right these wrongs? Host Sheryl McCarthy sits down with two Brooklyn College professors involved in the remake.
According to a Gallup poll, fewer than half of Americans have a great deal of confidence in the police. Host Sheryl McCarthy talks about the state of policing with Dr. Alfred S. Titus, Jr., a retired NYPD hostage negotiator and homicide detective.
Thousands of Afghans are trying to leave Taliban controlled Afghanistan. Host Sheryl McCarthy speaks with CUNY Distinguished Lecturer Zohra Saed and immigration lawyer Mayha Ghouri about their efforts to rescue a writer and his family.
Every wonder how short stories are written? Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with Lara Stapleton, author of new short story collection "The Ruin of Everthing". Says the New York Times,“Stapleton’s irrepressible approach to narrative structure,"
Host Sheryl McCarthy interviews author Glenn Lewis about his new book "Sparring with Smokin’ Joe: Joe Frazier’s Epic Battles and Rivalry with Ali". Learn about how his rivalry with Muhammed Ali held the world spellbound and impacted Frazier's life.
What is Latinx? Different from Hispanic and Latino? Its impact on the balance of power in this country? Host Sheryl McCarthy speaks with author and journalist Ed Morales about his book, "Latinx: The New Force in American Politics and Culture".
Since COVID, overall crime rate has gone down. But, gun violence has increased primarily in neighborhoods that are impoverished and black. Why have Americans bought 3 million more guns at the beginning of lockdown than the year before? What are the possible causes and solutions to this development? Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with Candace McCoy, Professor of Criminal Justice at CUNY Graduate Center and John Jay College.
Host Sheryl McCarthy interviews Francois Pierre-Louis, Professor of Political Science at Queens College about the current crisis in Haiti due to the president's assassination in July.
Host Sheryl McCarthy discusses a hot topic today -- Critical Race Theory -- with Terry Watson, Associate Professor from City College. What IS critical race theory? Why is it getting so much attention now? And what will be the result of banning it?
Carrying a bundle of newspapers and shouting out the day’s headlines on city streets, the newsboy is an American icon. Featured in photographs, paintings, comic strips and public statues, he’s touted as someone who is quintessentially American. Who is—or was-- he? Why does he loom so large in the public imagination? And is he even always a boy? Vincent DiGirolamo, associate professor of history at Baruch College, answers these questions in his engaging book,“Crying the News: A History of American’s Newsboys.
Medgar Evers College is one of eleven four-year colleges in the City University system. Located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, it was named after the late civil rights activist Medgar Evers, and was created with the mission of empowering and providing educational opportunities to the city’s educationally underserved black communities.
Since last year, Asian-Americans have experienced a 150% increase in violent attacks, according to some estimates.
What has caused this surge in anti Asian feelings? How does prejudice against Asians and the stereotyping of people of Asian ancestry play out every day? And how do all of us lose out as a result?
Should Puerto Rico become a state? Over the last 50 years Washington lawmakers have introduced more than 100 bills to resolve Puerto Rico’s status, but none of them have gone anywhere. Now, there are two bills before the House of Representatives that could decide the island’s status once and for all.
Is Congress finally ready to make Puerto Rico a state? And if so, how would that benefit the island?
Shonna Trinch, sociolinguist and Edward Snajdr, cultural anthropologist, both faculty members in the Department of Anthropology at John Jay College, and authors of “What the Signs Say: Language, Gentrification and Place-making in Brooklyn.
Robert Jones Jr. takes an intimate look at homosexual love between two teen-aged slaves on a Mississippi cotton plantation
The British Royal family has renewed discussions of the centuries old issue of Colorism @onetoone discuss the topic with City College Prof. Vanessa Valdes
“Remains to be Seen,”offers a rare perspective on former industrial, commercial, residential and natural sites across the U.S.
Learn why CUNY's Graduate Center is one of the top places for a graduate education in the country. A conversation with Dr. Robin Garrell, the new President of the Graduate Center.
Host Sheryl McCarthy speaks with Tamara Payne, co-author of "The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X" which just won the National Book Award.
Can Stoicism, an ancient Roman/Greek philosophy, help us live a modern life today? A talk with Massimo Pigliucci about new book "A Field Guide to a Happy Life: 53 Brief Lessons for Living."
Author Margot Mifflin talks about her new acclaimed book, "Looking for Miss America: A Pageant's 100 year Old Quest to Define Womanhood". She chronicles the history of an American institution that held generations of girls and woman in thrall.
Host Sheryl Mccarthy talks with filmmaker Yoruba Richen about new New York Times documentary "The Killing of Breonna Taylor", now streaming on Hulu. It delves into the background of the shooting and whether justice was served for Breonna Taylor.
Why do we need the ERA amendment today? Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with CUNY Prof. Julie Suk about her new book, "We the Woman:The Unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment".
Host Sheryl McCarthy interviews CUNY Professor Eileen Markey, author of "Without Compromise" about the Village Voice investigative reporter Wayne Barrett. Find out how he changed investigative journalism.
Host Sheryl McCarthy interviews Johanna Fernández, author of "The Young Lords: A Radical History", one of the most influential political and social activist groups of the 60's and 70's in NYC.
CUNY Law Professor Frank Deale talks about the history of voter suppression and the risks of it in the upcoming Presidential elections on "One to One with Sheryl McCarthy".
Host Sheryl McCarthy welcomes Harold Holzer, Abraham Lincoln and Civil War leading authority, to talk about the removal of Confederate statues and his new book "The President's vs. the Press". CUNY TV, September 15, 9:00PM.
Did you know there is no Federal anti-lynching law even with the Black Lives Matter protests and murder of George Floyd? Find out why on "One to One" from Gloria Brown-Marshall, Professor of Constitutional Law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
The new Queens College President Frank H. Wu sits down with host Sheryl McCarthy to discuss his plans for this ethnically diverse college and his thoughts about today's racial justice issues. Wu is the first Asian-American at the helm of QC.
Author and poet Honor Moore talks to host Sheryl McCarthy about “Our Revolution”, her new memoir of her mother, Jenny McKean Moore, mother of 9 and wife of Episcopal Bishop Paul Moore Jr., who battled to become a more modern woman.
Black communities have been heavily targeted by police during COVID-19. Writer and journalist Jill Nelson shares her own personal story about being arrested for writing an anti-Trump message in chalk on a boarded-up building.
Back in March, the 2020 Census forms were sent to most American households, asking them to fill out the surveys and return them by April 1. But COVID-19 has set back a lot of things.
We all know that dogs are smart. They can guide a blind person through a boisterous crowd; tell us when they’re ready for a walk; and sometimes differentiate between objects. But just how smart are our canine friends?
Host Sheryl McCarthy welcomes André Aciman, the author of the new novel “Find Me”, a follow-up to “Call Me By Your Name”. Aciman writes about sudden, all-encompassing love which, once it is lost, haunts the rest of one’s life.
Do Trump's anti-immigration policies mirror past US history? Host Sheryl McCarthy speaks with immigration history expert Nancy Foner, Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Hunter College/The Graduate Center.
Did you know CUNY has it's own medical school? Host Sheryl McCarthy welcomes Erica Friedman, M.D., the school’s Interim Dean, and Gabriela Santiago, a member of the first graduating class.
Do you speak with New York-isms? Host Sheryl McCarthy welcomes Cecelia Cutler, Professor of Linguistics at Lehman College, to talk about the hallmarks of the New York accent.
Brooklyn College's Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema is featured in this episode. Host Sheryl McCarthy welcomes Charles Haine, Acting Program Director, and Khaula Malik, alum and filmmaker, to talk about what's special about this new film school.
Corey Robin, author of one of the top books of 2019 "The Enigma of Clarence Thomas", is interviewed by host Sheryl McCarthy. Mr. Robin is Professor of Political Science at The CUNY Graduate Center and Brooklyn College.
Sheryl McCarthy has a conversation with the Hon. H. Carl McCall about his 50 years in distinguished public service, looking at career, life and his recent appointment as Leader in Residence at Hunter College's Roosevelt House.
Interracial marriages today? Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with Prof. Erica Chito Childs at CUNY and an expert on interracial marriages and how communities respond to their relationships.
Closing of Rikers? Prison Reform? Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with top prison expert, John Jay College Distinguished Lecturer in Corrections and former NYC Commissioner of Correction.
How can NYC spread the benefits of its elite high schools to a more racially diverse group of students? Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with David Bloomfield, Professor of Education Leadership, Law & Policy at CUNY's Brooklyn College & Graduate Center.
Interview with Téa Obreht, author of new critically acclaimed novel "Inland". Talks w/ host Sheryl McCarthy about the meaning & characters of this epic journey in Wild West.
It's now the 2nd anniversary of Hurricane Maria. Is Puerto Rico recovering? Host Sheryl McCarthy talks with Dr. Edwin Meléndez, Director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies (Centro) at Hunter College.
On One to One - National Parks of New York Harbor Commissioner Joshua Laird talks to Sheryl about the abundance of nationally recognized historical sires around NYC. 7/22 @8:30pm