The Sunday Conversation

In the 1980's and 90's, crack cocaine ravaged the nation's capitol, helping to earn D.C. the moniker "the murder capital of the United States." For this week's Sunday Conversation, NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Ruben Castaneda, who was himself addicted to crack even while he reported on the crack epidemic for The Washington Post.

John Moffitt was an offensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks for two seasons, and then got traded to another powerhouse team, the Denver Broncos. Those two teams are playing in Super Bowl XLVIII, but Moffitt won't be on the field; he quit midway through this season. Moffitt joins NPR's Rachel Martin to talk about his decision to walk away from football.

William Wiley oversees a nonprofit charged with collecting evidence of atrocities committed by both sides in the Syrian war. It's dangerous work, and the group has suffered losses. Their sacrifices won't be in vain, Wiley says, but exactly how justice will come to the war's victims isn't yet clear.

Famous for a GoDaddy commercial that aired during Superbowl XLVII, Jesse Heiman says he's one of the hardest working extras in Hollywood. He's been credited in more than 70 movies since 2001. Heiman talks with NPR's Rachel Martin about trying to work his way up the call-sheet into larger, speaking roles.

Rachel Garlinghouse and her husband, both white, have adopted three African-American children. She tells NPR's Rachel Martin that her transracial family makes her look at discrimination "in a whole new way." Garlinghouse says she must be humble and realistic about the challenges.

Disillusioned by corporate greed and his life as a Wall Street financier, Chris Arnade quit his job and devoted his time to photographing drug addicts and prostitutes in the South Bronx. NPR's Jennifer Ludden speaks with him about his new mission among the street people he now counts as some of his best friends.

Jamison Manwaring says life is better since he came out to his family and friends in the Mormon community. Now you tell us: Have you had to reconcile a loved one's sexuality with your own beliefs?

Kimberly Motley is an American lawyer working in Afghanistan trying to make changes in the country's legal system. She initially moved there in 2008, when she took a job with the State Department to train Afghan lawyers. What she saw there shocked her.

Mental health is in the spotlight this week after former Virginia state Sen. Creigh Deeds was stabbed by his son, who then killed himself. In the Sunday Conversation, NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Gary Mihelish about caring for and advocating on the behalf of a child with a severe mental illness.

After 17 years as a priest, Thomas Groome decided that celibacy was "not life-giving" and left the priesthood to get married. He remains a devout Catholic and professor of theology and talks with host Rachel Martin about how having a family has enriched his faith.