The Most Dangerous Lie: “The Water Is Fine” - Phyllis R. Dixon & Cecilia Guillen

Phyllis R. Dixon is the author of Something in the Water, a gripping novel that blends political intrigue, environmental justice, and deeply human stakes.

Cecilia Guillen is today’s conversation partner, bringing a sharp, community-centered lens to stories that sit at the crossroads of culture, power, and lived experience.

Phyllis R. Dixon tells a story about contaminated water, political corruption, and the quiet violence of being ignored—themes that echo loudly in today’s headlines as communities across the country continue to face environmental neglect and unequal access to safety and accountability. Joined by Cecilia Guillen, this discussion moves beyond the page, connecting the novel’s characters and conflicts to real-world struggles over infrastructure, public trust, and who pays the price when systems fail. Together, Phyllis and Cecilia explore how fiction can illuminate truths that policy reports and news cycles often can’t—and why stories like this matter now more than ever.

This episode is part of the ongoing conversations hosted by Baldwin & Co., a Black-owned bookstore, café, and cultural institution based in New Orleans. Baldwin & Co. exists at the intersection of literature, ideas, and community—creating space for rigorous dialogue, storytelling, and intellectual exchange.

Through author talks, podcasts, live events, and community programming, Baldwin & Co. amplifies voices shaping how we understand culture, history, politics, faith, and the future.

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