Episode 4.11: Disparity Trap

My Racist Friend

Game developer Christian Telesmar, creator of 'Disparity Trap', joins Amy and Don Griffin, Jr. in a crossover episode with the "Cadre" podcast to discuss Christian's board game about the game of real life. Christian explains the origins of the game and joins Don in speculating about expansion rules.

Christian Telesmar attended college at the University of Washington (UW) with the intent of pursuing medical school but fell in love with theatre and knew that’s where he was meant to be. After graduating from the University of Washington’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Acting program, he relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he resides today. His performance work includes appearances on FOX’s Bones, 9-1-1: Lone Star, and The Young and the Restless. While in Los Angeles, Christian earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Purdue University Global and holds a Qualified Administrator license for the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI) from IDI, LLC. He is excited to be fusing his many passions, combining his love of art, business, and education in the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion space with his board game, Disparity Trap.

Christian will provide the keynote presentation on Friday, September 6 as part of the upcoming 2024 Relational Summit on Playful Connection. Don will be on a panel playing Disparity Trap during that session.

Some resources mentioned in this episode:

Disparity Trap board game
https://disparitytrap.net/

"Disparity Trap Board Game" (Kickstarter video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOC8PB1aMS0

Lizzie Magie and the History of Monopoly
https://blogs.bl.uk/business/2023/03/lizzie-magie-and-the-history-of-monopoly-1.html

Share the Flame consulting
https://www.shareflame.com/ist-of-an-ism

What is the Neighborhood Revitalization and Land Banking Act?
https://communityprogress.org/blog/what-is-the-neighborhood-revitalization-and-land-banking-act/

Myths about physical racial differences were used to justify slavery — and are still believed by doctors today.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/racial-differences-doctors.html

2024 Relational Summit
https://www.bloomingtoncenterforconnection.org/2024-relational-summit/

My Racist Friend is a podcast about the messy parts of relationships that help us grow together. Long-time friends Don Griffin, Jr. and Amy Makice, LCSW, enter into a transparent and ongoing conversation about complicated and difficult topics such as racism, gender, and social justice. Through the authentic lens of their strong mutual relationship, their goal is to model difficult conversations that can promote understanding and connection in a world that needs both. In this relationship, Amy is the inherently racist friend, who is working to change and better understand how racism impacts her relationship with people she loves.

Donald Griffin Jr. is a Bloomington native, former Deputy Mayor for Bloomington, and a real estate broker, proudly serving his community for the past three decades. Since opening Griffin Realty in 2003, Don's dedication to excellence has helped to guide his company to be among the top producers in Indiana with nearly a half billion in individual lifetime sales.

Amy Makice, founder of Bloomington Center for Connection, is a licensed psychotherapist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Her professional journey is rooted in her passion for Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT), and her commitment to RCT extends into community building initiatives to promote the power of connection. Amy helps to bring the Relational Summits to Bloomington, featuring distinguished guests like Maureen Walker, Amy Banks, and Isaac Knapper.

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes