On today’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” it’s our annual live broadcast from Dragon Con! We mark 40 years of the epic pop culture event and 250 years of America by asking how creative storytelling. imagined characters and worlds have helped shape our world today. We’re joined for this fun, fascinating, and unpredictable conversation by:

 

TODAY’S GUESTS:

Yaya Han, cosplay designer and author

Pat Henry, co-founder of Dragon Con

Jo Garland, Dragon Con spokesperson

Tawny Newsome, actor, writer and comedian who stars in “Star Trek: Lower Decks”

Adam Hawkins, Director of Outreach and Emergency Services at HOPE Atlanta

Ed Hall, science-fiction author

Dan Whisenhunt, journalist, Decaturish

On today&rsquo;s &ldquo;<a href="https://www.wabe.org/podcasts/closer-look/">Closer Look with Rose Scott</a>,&rdquo; it&rsquo;s our annual live broadcast from <a href="https://www.dragoncon.org/">Dragon Con</a>! We mark 40 years of the epic pop culture event and 250 years of America by asking how creative storytelling. imagined characters and worlds have helped shape our world today. We&rsquo;re joined for this fun, fascinating, and unpredictable conversation by:
&nbsp;
TODAY&rsquo;S GUESTS:
<a href="https://www.yayahan.com/">Yaya Han</a>, cosplay designer and author
Pat Henry, co-founder of Dragon Con
Jo Garland, Dragon Con spokesperson
<a href="https://www.tawnynewsome.com/">Tawny Newsome</a>, actor, writer and comedian who stars in &ldquo;Star Trek: Lower Decks&rdquo;
Adam Hawkins, Director of Outreach and Emergency Services at <a href="https://hopeatlanta.org/who-we-are/">HOPE Atlanta</a>
<a href="https://www.artpapers.org/people/ed-hall/">Ed Hall</a>, science-fiction author
<a href="https://www.decaturish.com/users/profile/dan%20whisenhunt/">Dan Whisenhunt</a>, journalist, Decaturish

"Closer Look with Rose Scott" brings you the issues that impact where we live, how we interact, and how we can all thrive. It’s not just about Atlanta; it’s a program for Atlanta. Rose connects with community leaders, CEOs, policymakers, and people who don't often get a platform, and she brings you in on the conversation.

"Closer Look with Rose Scott" brings you the issues that impact where we live, how we interact, and how we can all thrive. It’s not just about Atlanta; it’s a program for Atlanta. Rose connects with community leaders, CEOs, policymakers, and people who don't often get a platform, and she brings you in on the conversation.

Closer Look with Rose Scott

🔊 WABE Podcasts > News, Politics, Health

Closer Look at Dragon Con 2026: 40 Years of Fandom and America at 250

It was a discriminatory practice that was upheld by city ordinances. 

Racial zoning was common in a lot of American cities that used legislation to purposely designated where Black and white residents could live, not only by neighborhood but even by block.

Atlanta was one of the cities.

A recent episode of RE(Defining History: Racial Zoning: Divided By Design, traces racial zoning origins in Atlanta and explores the many ways it has evolved in the city’s landscape. After the screening, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens spoke with Closer Look host Rose Scott about Atlanta's history of racial zoning and what needs to ensure more modern types of familiar practices do not take place. 

It was a discriminatory practice that was upheld by city ordinances.&nbsp;
Racial zoning was common in a lot of American cities that used legislation to purposely designated where Black and white residents could live, not only by neighborhood but even by block.
Atlanta was one of the cities.
A recent episode of RE(Defining History: Racial Zoning: Divided By Design, traces racial zoning origins in Atlanta and explores the many ways it has evolved in the city&rsquo;s landscape. After the screening, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens spoke with Closer Look host Rose Scott about Atlanta's history of racial zoning and what needs to ensure more modern types of familiar practices do not take place.&nbsp;

Atlanta Mayor on past racial zoning to who gets to live where?

On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, a candid and informative conversation about prostate cancer. With high rates of prostate cancer diagnoses and deaths among Black men, we get expert insight from Dr. Leanne Woods-Burnham about the latest research, resources, free cancer screenings, and available treatments. We also learn about the Prostate Cancer Precision Prevention Program at the Morehouse School of Medicine and a weekend event to help men get tested and get information about prostate cancer. Then, we hear from a roundtable of guests about the importance of men having open conversations about their prostate health. We’re joined by Reggie Hicks (creator of If You Are My Brothers), David Moffett (recently re-diagnosed with prostate cancer), and Osei Kweku (founding partner and the director of communications and fundraising at A²ACES).

On today&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wabe.org/podcasts/closer-look/">Closer Look with Rose Scott</a>, a candid and informative conversation about <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353087">prostate cancer</a>. With high rates of prostate cancer diagnoses and deaths among Black men, we get expert insight from <a href="https://www.msm.edu/about_us/FacultyDirectory/Surgery/LeanneWoodsBurnham/index.php">Dr. Leanne Woods-Burnham</a> about the latest research, resources, free cancer screenings, and available treatments. We also learn about the <a href="https://www.msm.edu/prostatescreening/">Prostate Cancer Precision Prevention Program</a> at the Morehouse School of Medicine and a weekend event to help men get tested and get information about prostate cancer. Then, we hear from a roundtable of guests about the importance of men having open conversations about their prostate health. We&rsquo;re joined by Reggie Hicks (creator of <a href="https://ifyouaremybrothers.org/">If You Are My Brothers</a>), David Moffett (recently re-diagnosed with prostate cancer), and Osei Kweku (founding partner and the director of communications and fundraising at <a href="https://www.a2aces.org/">A&sup2;ACES</a>).

Health advocates urge men to know their numbers as prostate cancer remains high among Black patients

Studies have found “a devastating correlation between declining mental health of LGBTQ+ youth and the passage of these anti-LGBTQ+ laws.” On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, we speak with Cheryl Greene, the Vice President of School and Youth Programming for the Human Rights Campaign. Their new survey of 900 educators not only shows their struggle to support LGBTQ+ students, but it also reports how educators have been harassed for doing so. Plus, Greene explains what’s at stake for the midterm elections if laws that effect LGBTQ+ youth are not addressed.

 

Former DeKalb County District Attorney J. Tom Morgan returns to the WABE studios. In his new book, “A Rainy Night in Georgia,” he recounts investigating and prosecuting a local murder-for-hire case that made international headlines. In 2000, Derwin Brown was assassinated in his driveway days before he was to officially become DeKalb's sheriff. Morgan shares the little-known details of the case, including his reaction to discovering he was on the killer’s hit list.

Studies have found &ldquo;a devastating correlation between declining mental health of LGBTQ+ youth and the passage of these anti-LGBTQ+ laws.&rdquo; On today&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wabe.org/podcasts/closer-look/">Closer Look with Rose Scott</a>, we speak with <a href="https://www.hrc.org/about/author/cheryl-greene">Cheryl Greene</a>, the Vice President of School and Youth Programming for the <a href="https://www.hrc.org/">Human Rights Campaign</a>. Their <a href="https://reports.hrc.org/welcoming-schools-educators-survey">new survey</a> of 900 educators not only shows their struggle to support LGBTQ+ students, but it also reports how educators have been harassed for doing so. Plus, Greene explains what&rsquo;s at stake for the midterm elections if laws that effect LGBTQ+ youth are not addressed.
&nbsp;
Former DeKalb County District Attorney <a href="https://jtommorganlaw.com/">J. Tom Morgan</a> returns to the WABE studios. In his new book, &ldquo;A Rainy Night in Georgia,&rdquo; he recounts investigating and prosecuting a local murder-for-hire case that made international headlines. In 2000, Derwin Brown was assassinated in his driveway days before he was to officially become DeKalb's sheriff. Morgan shares the little-known details of the case, including his reaction to discovering he was on the killer&rsquo;s hit list.

Closer Look at Dragon Con 2026: 40 Years of Fandom and America at 250

In 1 playlist(s)

Closer Look with Rose Scott

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips