Let's Give A Damn

On May 5, Let's Give A Damn co-sponsored an event in NYC called Palestine: The Moral Issue Of Our Time with Gabor Maté and Chris Hedges. It was a sold-out event with 800 attending in persons and hundreds more attended online via our livestream.Most importantly we raised tens of thousands of dollars for Middle East Children's Alliance! MECA works to protect the rights and improve the lives of children in the Middle East through aid, empowerment and education. In the Middle East, MECA provides humanitarian aid, partners with community organizations to run projects for children, and supports income-generation projects. In the US and internationally, MECA raises awareness about the lives of children in the region and encourages meaningful action.This is a unique podcast episode where I'm not interviewing anyone. It's just Gabor and Chris. Oh, and the wonderful Aaron Maté introducing these legends. Listen! Be inspired! Take action! Give A Damn!✅ Donate to MECA! They're incredible.✅ Follow Gabor Maté on Instagram.✅ Purchase Gabor's book, The Myth of Normal.✅ Follow Chris Hedges on Instagram.✅ Purchase Chris's new book, A Genocide Foretold.--------------------✊

It's Maggie Smith Day on the podcast! Maggie Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful; My Thoughts Have Wings, a picture book illustrated by SCBWI Portfolio grand prize winner Leanne Hatch; the national bestsellers Goldenrod and Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change; as well as Good Bones, named one of the Best Five Poetry Books of 2017 by the Washington Post and winner of the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal in Poetry; The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison, winner of the 2012 Dorset Prize and the 2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal in Poetry; and Lamp of the Body, winner of the 2003 Benjamin Saltman Award.In 2016 Maggie Smith's poem “Good Bones” went viral internationally, receiving coverage in the Washington Post, theGuardian, the Telegraph, Slate, Huffington Post Italia, and elsewhere. To date it has been translated into nearly a dozen languages; interpreted by a dance troupe in Chennai, India; and set to music by multiple composers. PRI (Public Radio International) called it “the official poem of 2016.” In 2017 the poem was featured on an episode of the CBS primetime drama Madam Secretary, also called “Good Bones,” and was read by Meryl Streep at Lincoln Center.In this conversation, we talk about how she became the incredible writer and poet that she is, why we must continue making art in the face of genocide, fascism, and climate change, and we talk about her brand new book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life. ✅ Buy a copy (or two) of her new book.✅ Subscribe to her Substack, For Dear Life. ✅ Follow Maggie on Instagram.✊

It's Ed Begley Jr. Day on the podcast!  Ed Begley, Jr. recently starred in Hallmark film, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, and was a fan favorite on the very popular series Young Sheldon and Better Call Saul and was recently a series regular on Netflix's Future Man.  On the environmental front, he is one of the foremost environmentalists in Hollywood, supporting and advocating for multiple eco-initiatives and charity organizations.  He is also the name and face behind the successful ⁠Begley's Earth Responsible Products⁠, a line of plant-based eco-friendly cleaning and pet supplies.     Begley is a Golden Globe and seven-time Emmy nominated actor who for decades, has been a champion and educator for causes dedicated to protecting the earth.  In support of this work, he starred opposite his lovely wife and daughter on the hit eco-reality shows Living With Ed and On Begley Street. Begley has appeared in the Christopher Guest films A Mighty Wind, Best In Show, and For Your Consideration. Other feature film credits include Pineapple Express, Batman Forever, The Inlaws, and countless more. On television, Begley has recurred on Arrested Development, Portlandia, Better Call Saul, Modern Family, Veronica Mars, and many others.  He received his seventh Emmy nomination for the streaming series CTRL ALT DELETE.   On the stage, he led the West Coast Premiere of David Mamet's Cryptogram at the Geffen Playhouse, in the role that he first performed in Boston and New York. He also starred in Mr. Mamet's production of Romance at the Mark Taper Forum.  Ed Begley Jr. wrote and directed the musical Cesar And Ruben, a play that won him a Nos Otros Award and four Valley Theater League Awards.   _____ ✅ ⁠Check out and purchase Ed's eco-friendly cleaning products⁠ ✅ Purchase Ed's memoir, ⁠To The Temple of Tranquility…And Step On It!⁠ ✅ ⁠Watch this fascinating tour⁠ of Ed's eco-friendly home ✅ ⁠Follow Ed on Instagram⁠ _____ ✊

It's Ed Begley Jr. Day on the podcast!  Ed Begley, Jr. recently starred in Hallmark film, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, and was a fan favorite on the very popular series Young Sheldon and Better Call Saul and was recently a series regular on Netflix's Future Man.  On the environmental front, he is one of the foremost environmentalists in Hollywood, supporting and advocating for multiple eco-initiatives and charity organizations.  He is also the name and face behind the successful Begley's Earth Responsible Products, a line of plant-based eco-friendly cleaning and pet supplies.     Begley is a Golden Globe and seven-time Emmy nominated actor who for decades, has been a champion and educator for causes dedicated to protecting the earth.  In support of this work, he starred opposite his lovely wife and daughter on the hit eco-reality shows Living With Ed and On Begley Street. Begley has appeared in the Christopher Guest films A Mighty Wind, Best In Show, and For Your Consideration. Other feature film credits include Pineapple Express, Batman Forever, The Inlaws, and countless more. On television, Begley has recurred on Arrested Development, Portlandia, Better Call Saul, Modern Family, Veronica Mars, and many others.  He received his seventh Emmy nomination for the streaming series CTRL ALT DELETE.   On the stage, he led the West Coast Premiere of David Mamet's Cryptogram at the Geffen Playhouse, in the role that he first performed in Boston and New York. He also starred in Mr. Mamet's production of Romance at the Mark Taper Forum.  Ed Begley Jr. wrote and directed the musical Cesar And Ruben, a play that won him a Nos Otros Award and four Valley Theater League Awards.   _____ ✅ Check out and purchase Ed's eco-friendly cleaning products ✅ Purchase Ed's memoir, To The Temple of Tranquility…And Step On It! ✅ Watch this fascinating tour of Ed's eco-friendly home ✅ Follow Ed on Instagram _____ ✊

It's Mara Kronenfeld Day on the podcast!  As the Executive Director of UNRWA USA, Mara Kronenfeld leads the strategic vision, operations, and fundraising efforts of the nonprofit organization that supports the humanitarian and human development work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Middle East. With over 20 years of experience in international development, Mara is a Fulbright Scholar and an expert in designing, implementing, and leading public private partnerships supporting youth development programming in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). UNRWA USA supports the humanitarian work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) through fundraising, advocacy, and community engagement in the United States. UNRWA USA lifts up the voices, experiences, and humanity of Palestine refugees to secure American support for resources essential to every human being, for the promise of a better life. ✅ Download UNRWA USA's digital advocacy toolkit ✅ Write to your reps ✅ Donate to UNRWA USA ✅ Follow UNRWA USA on Instagram ✅ Follow Mara Kronenfeld on Instagram  -------- ✊

It's Lauren Paul & Molly Thompson Day on the podcast!  Lauren Paul is the co-founder of Kind Campaign and Director, Writer and Producer of Kind Campaign's award-winning documentary, Finding Kind. Finding a way to start a conversation about bullying has been on Lauren's heart ever since her own life-altering experience in middle school. After studying film at Pepperdine University, Lauren joined forces with her friend and fellow filmmaker, Molly Thompson and founded Kind Campaign, a multi-platform movement that has changed and saved hundreds of thousands of lives, friendships, classrooms and communities around the world. Kind Campaign is the nation's premier anti-bullying movement for girls and has impacted millions through their school assemblies, documentary film, Kind Club Curriculum and global movement. Since 2009, Lauren and Molly have been on the forefront of this conversation, personally speaking in over 776 schools across 26 Founders Tours. Lauren has been awarded with the Public Education Award by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Open Heart Award by the Open Hearts Foundation. Molly hails from Texas where she lived for all of her life before moving to California to attend Pepperdine University where she met her “partner in KIND,” Lauren. During her time at the university, Molly studied acting and film/television production, joined Delta Gamma Fraternity, and studied abroad in Florence and London. This combination of experiences led her to understand even more that as girls, we weren't all that different from one another, and that bullying often comes from a place of self-doubt and insecurity. She has spent many years now working to change the status quo and encouraging girls to ban together rather than farther apart. Lauren Paul and Molly Thomson joined me to talk about how and why Kind Campaign started over 15 years ago, the thousands and thousands of lives that have been changed over the years because of their work, and so much more. ✅ Follow Lauren on Instagram. ✅ Follow Molly on Instagram. ✅ Follow Kind Campaign on Instagram. ✅ Visit Kind Campaign's website to get involved today! ________________________ ✊

Munther Isaac is a Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian. He now pastors the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem and the Lutheran Church in Beit Sahour. He is also the academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College, and is the director of the highly acclaimed and influential Christ at the Checkpoint conferences.  He speaks locally and internationally and has published numerous articles on issues related to the theology of the land, Palestinian Christians and Palestinian theology, holistic mission and reconciliation. He is the author of The Other Side of the Wall: A Palestinian Christian Narrative of Lament and Hope and the forthcoming Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and the Genocide in Gaza which will release in March of 2025. Munther originally studied civil engineering in Birzeit University in Palestine. He then obtained a Master in Biblical Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary and then a PhD from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. During our conversation, we discuss his childhood and family, why he chose pastoring over engineering, how they get through each and every horrific day in Palestine, what Americans should be doing right now to continue fighting for a Free Palestine, and so much more. ✅ Follow Munther on Instagram and Twitter. ✅ Preorder his new book coming out in March. --- ✊

Jess Natale is the creator of the Instagram account @so.informed. Her background is in marketing, journalism, political volunteering, and activism. She's dedicated the So page to educating millions of people around the world on topics ranging from politics and reproductive rights to criminal justice reform and more. She is actively involved in political protests and organizing, focusing on efforts on the ground to effect change. She also works with nonprofits and groups focused on prison abolition and criminal justice reform. During our conversation, we discuss what it was like growing up on the poor side of a Connecticut town, why she dropped out of high school, how she got involved in politics, why she started @so.informed, the genocide in Gaza, and so much more. ✅ Follow Jess on Instagram. ✅ Follow @so.informed on Instagram. ✅ Support her work by buying her a coffee (or two). --- ✊

It's Daniel Maté & Aaron Maté day on the podcast! Let's get this out of the way — yes, they are the sons of Dr. Gabor Maté.  Daniel is a composer, lyricist, and playwright for musical theatre. He is also a mental chiropractor. And he is one of the hosts of Bad Hasbara - The World's Most Moral Podcast. Lastly, he coauthored a book with his dad called The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture. Aaron is a terrific writer and journalist. He hosts the show Pushback with Aaron Maté on The Grayzone and is a cohost on the Useful Idiots Podcast. Watch Aaron in action on Piers Morgan Uncensored.  During our conversation, we discuss what it was like growing up with Gabor Maté as a father, going to Jewish summer camp, the genocide in Gaza, the fascinating work they do, and so much more.  Listen to their podcasts! Buy their books! Listen to their music! Read their newsletters! Support these incredible folks! ✅ Follow Daniel on Instagram and Twitter. ✅ Follow Aaron on Instagram and Twitter. ✅ Donate to Qusi's GoFundMe! --- ✊

It's Lily Greenberg Call day on the podcast! Remember a couple of months ago when we heard on social media that a Biden appointee had resigned over his atrocious handling of and his complicity in the genocide in Gaza? Lily is *that* staffer! Lily is a former Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff at the Department of Interior. She has nearly a decade of experience in politics, movement organizing, and domestic and international human rights work. She worked on President Biden's 2020 campaign and served in the administration until May 15, 2024, when she became the first Jewish political appointee to resign in protest of US policy in Gaza. Lily grew up doing pro-Israel advocacy with AIPAC and other organizations throughout high school and college, and later became invested in Palestinian rights and Jewish anti-occupation movements. She has appeared as a guest on MSNBC, CNN, NBC, and given commentary for the Washington Post, Politico, and the Associated Press. Lily holds a B.A. in Political Science and Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.  During our conversation, we discuss her Jewish upbringing, her work as a young person doing pro-Israel work, changing her mind as a result of meeting Palestinians, working for Kamala Harris and Joe Biden, resigning on May 15, and so much more.  ✅ Follow Lily on Instagram and Twitter. ✅ Donate to Qusi's GoFundMe! --- ✊

Genesis Be, a dynamic artist and activist, harnesses the power of music to amplify marginalized voices and advocate for social change. Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, her music blends elements of hip-hop, soul, and spoken word, creating a powerful platform for storytelling and empowerment.  With lyrics that confront systemic oppression and celebrate resilience, Be's artistry transcends entertainment, serving as a catalyst for dialogue and action. As an outspoken advocate for racial and gender equality, she was an outspoken creative who lobbied to have the Confederate flag removed from the design of the Mississippi state flag. Through her music and activism, Be continues to inspire and ignite conversations that resonate far beyond the stage. ✅ Order Genesis Be's latest book, People Not Things: Love Poems and Paintings for Humanity. ✅ Read more about The Philosophy and Practice of People Not Things. ✅ Visit Genesis Be's website to learn about all the things. ✅ Support Genesis Be on Patreon. --- ✊

Born and raised in the Bronx, Joél Leon is a performer, author, storyteller, and damn-giver extraordinaire.  “Joél's words are where I go when I need some inspiration. And he never lets me down.” — Lin-Manuel Miranda “In each generation, there are only a few authors who are gifted with the ability to fully capture the best parts of the human condition. Joél is one of those authors.” — Frederick Joseph I'm so glad we get to be alive at the same time as Joél Leon. Preorder his brand new book—Everything and Nothing At Once: A Black Man's Reimagined Soundtrack for the Future—right now from bookshop.org or buy it from your local bookstore. And make sure to ask your local library to buy a few copies, as well!  Subscribe to Joél's Subtack, The Politics of Love. And visit Joél's Linktree for links to all the rest of the good stuff! --- ✊

t's been a few weeks but we're back! My guest this week is the brilliant Katie Bogen. In her own words, Katie is a clinical psychology PhD student, a trauma therapist, a sex researcher, a rad Jewess, a queer activist, and a cottagecore rabble-rouser. Katie is truly a wonderful soul. Over the past few months, ever since this horrific genocide began, she has been one of the most helpful voices on social media. She has made loads of content to share the truth about Zionism at its goals, to give a clear headed picture about what's actually going on in Gaza, to debunk bullshit lies floating around on the internet, and so much more. And she does it with such clarity, intelligence, passion, and grace! If this is your first time encountering Katie and her work, I hope you'll begin following her on Instagram and TikTok immediately. Also, if you want to read more about her professional work and to read her dozens of published papers, click here. Katie is a certified badass.  ---

I know it's a bit late—hello 2024!—but I wanted you to experience some of my favorite moments and some of your favorite moments in 2023. I spoke with some incredible folks last year and I learned so much from them. Here's to many more incredible conversations in 2024! If you want to skip around this episode, here are the timestamps for each highlight: Simran Jeet Singh - 8:07  Rachelle Lefevre - 16:54 Megha Desai - 24:18 Rainn Wilson - 31:16 Patricia Velsaquez - 38:09 Noor Tagouri - 47:45 Listen to my full conversations with Simran Jeet Singh, Rachelle Lefevre, Megha Desai, Rainn Wilson, Patricia Velásquez, and Noor Tagouri. And if you've already listened to all of these conversations, check out the more than 250 other conversations on the pod! ---

Noor Tagouri's name literally  means “Guiding Light.” And a guiding light she is! Noor is back for a second time. Her first appearance was for episode 19 of the podcast in the summer of 2017!  At 29, Noor is an award-winning journalist and producer, a touring speaker for over 15 years, and has told stories in every medium from radio and print, to documentaries and brand campaigns. In 2019 Noor founded At Your Service Media, a consulting and production company telling representative stories as a form of service. In 2022 Noor launched her investigative series “REP”, in partnership with iHeartMedia. The series explores the concepts of representation and objectivity in media, and received a Webby Award Nomination: Best Limited Series. With a finger on the pulse of people's concerns, Noor's storytelling is recognized for her innovative approach to fostering relationships across lines of difference. Visit Noor's website to learn more about her work.  Listen to the REP investigative series. It's so good! Follow Noor on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  ---

Meike Ziervogel is a German-British novelist with five novels to her name. She is the founder of an award-winning publishing company in the UK and a fluent Arabic speaker. Since 2018 she has lived in Lebanon. From 2018 to 2019 she transformed a failing needle art workshop in the Shatila refugee camp into a sustainable independent business, providing a monthly income to 100 refugee women. In January 2020 she set up Alsama Project with Kadria Hussien, a Syrian refugee living in Shatila. Meike is now the CEO of Alsama Project and has shaped it into one of the most innovative and successful NGOs serving Syrian refugees in the Middle East. Follow Meike on Twitter! Make a donation to Alsama Project! Follow Alsama on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! ---

My guest this week is my friend and incredible human, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis. Jacqui is an author, activist, preacher, and public theologian toward creating an antiracist, just, gun violence free, fully welcoming, gender affirming society in which everyone has enough. Read the rest of her bio here.  Watch or listen to Jacqui's Listen, Learn, Lean Into Peace series. Learn more about Freedom Rising 2024! Follow Jacqui on Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube. ---

My guest this week is the esteemed Tim Wise. Tim is among the most prominent anti-racist educators and authors in the United States. He has spoken to audiences in all 50 states and internationally about systemic racism, inequality, and methods for dismantling racism in institutions from workplaces to schools to law enforcement.  He is the author of nine books including his most recent essay collection, Dispatches from the Race War, and his highly acclaimed memoir, White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son.  He tweets (or Xes, pardon how that sounds) here and posts regular commentary on Instagram here. During our chat, we talk about being a Jewish person raising in the South, how he got into anti-racist work, the horrific war happening in Palestine and Israel currently, Zionism, where we go from here, and so much more. ---

My guests this week are two truly remarkable women. I met Sophia and Patricia at the Clinton Global Initiative 2023 meetings a few weeks ago.  Read more about Sophia Kianni's work here. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter. And make sure to check out Climate Cardinals!  Follow Patricia Velásquez on Twitter and Instagram. Consider getting involved with the Wayuu Taya Foundation. ---

“All that the sun shines on is beautiful, so long as it is wild.” — John Muir Barbara Jo Jenkins co-authored The Walk West (William Morrow), which became an international bestseller and part of the permanent White House Library. A nonfiction blockbuster, it sold 15 million copies, became a Reader's Digest condensed book, and was chosen as one of the most influential bestsellers related to American culture in the last 100 years. Jenkins' three-year, 3,000-mile walk across America with her former husband became one of the most popular stories in the National Geographic Magazine, (Cover story, August, 1979).  She co-authored The Road Unseen, (Fawcett) a number one mass paperback bestseller and winner of The Gold Medallion Book Award. Jenkins wrote I Once Knew A Woman (Wolgemuth and Hyatt) and Wit and Wisdom for Women (Thomas Nelson). 40 years later, Barbara is ready to tell her side of the story. And, believe me, it's a damn good story. Her brand new book, So Long As It's Wild, is out today and you need to purchase a copy as soon as you possibly can!  Learn more about Barbara Jo (including upcoming book tour dates!) by visiting her website. Also, you should definitely follow her on Instagram. Lots and lots of wholesome words and photos. ---

From their website: “Rise & Shine TN believes every Tennessean should enjoy a free, safe, and vibrant life. Rise & Shine was started as a home for those who want to harness their hope, anger, sadness and fear and use it to build change. This is more than meetings with legislators who won't hear us. This is more than calls that won't be answered. This is more than business-as-usual. We draw from our training and experiences as parents, organizers, entrepreneurs, educators, healthcare providers, artists, non-profit experts, small business owners, corporate managers, musicians, native Tennesseans and new transplants who all agree that more must be done to protect our communities.” Donate online and follow them on Instagram and Twitter/X. ---

Flamy Grant is a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen from western North Carolina. Her 2022 debut record, Bible Belt Baby, was nominated for Best Pop Album at the San Diego Music Awards, and she is a winner of the 2023 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Competition. Both a powerhouse vocalist and an intrepid songwriter, Flamy blends the art of drag with her iconic folk/rock sound to create a memorable musical experience. Flamy has collaborated with Adeem the Artist, Jennifer Knapp, Semler, and Derek Webb. In addition to playing the New Folk winner's showcase at the 2023 Kerrville Folk Festival, she has played Wild Goose Festival in North Carolina, San Diego Pride's SheFest, and is headlining Blount County Pride in East Tennessee this September. Much of Flamy's music centers on the queer spiritual journey, telling stories of resilience and recovery from religious trauma in a world where LGBTQ+ people are frequently ignored by, harmed in, or ejected from religious spaces. NEXT STEPS: - Check out Flamy's website for tour dates and so much more! - Follow Flamy on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. - Listen to Flamy's music on Apple Music and Spotify. - Is Flamy doing a show near you? If so, go see her! ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

I met my Natalia Antelava about a month ago in Tbilisi, Georgia, at the storytelling festival she co-founded that I spoke at. At this festival, I spoke alongside Sean Penn, Armando Iannucci, Aaron Rasmussen, Joe Sabia, Sarah Natochenny, and 70 others. I was impressed by her then and I am much more impressed with her now! She's an incredible human that has gone through so much, been to so many places, and continues to give a damn in very beautiful and meaningful ways.  A co-founder of Coda, Natalia is an Emmy-nominee and award winning journalist. Originally from Tbilisi, Georgia she started her career freelancing in West Africa. Since then, she had been BBC's resident correspondent in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Middle East, Washington DC and India. She has covered the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008, the war in Eastern Ukraine and reported undercover from Burma, Yemen and Uzbekistan. Her investigations into human rights abuses in Central Asia, Iraq and the United States have won her a number of awards. In addition to a career in broadcast journalism, Natalia has also written for the Guardian, Forbes magazine and the New Yorker among others.  Over the past few years, Natalie co-founded two incredible organizations we talk about at length in today's conversation—Coda Story and ZEG Storytelling Festival.  NEXT STEPS: - Follow Natalia on Twitter. - Follow Coda Story on Instagram and Twitter and consider supporting them on a monthly basis. - Check out what happened at ZEG Storytelling Festival last month and consider joining us next year! You most definitely must add Tbilisi to your travel plans. ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

It's Megha Desai Day is on the podcast! Megha is a corporate advertising powerhouse turned President of The Desai Foundation. After years working at some of the top advertising agencies—like BBH, Anomaly, and Wieden & Kennedy—Megha decided to join her family's foundation to help them grow and increase their reach in meaningful ways. The Desai Foundation is an organization that empowers women and children through community programming to elevate health, livelihood and menstrual equity in rural India. They inspire women and children to dream beyond! NEXT STEPS: — Follow Megha on Instagram. — Follow The Desai Foundation on Instagram. — Learn more about The Desai Foundation on Youtube. — Watch the Heroes for Humanity Film. ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!1

If you don't already know who Matt Bernstein is, where the hell have you been? Living under a rock somewhere? Matt is a content creator, a makeup artist, and a self-described “queer jew with very long nails.” Matt uses a simple and unique design style to create infographics and other images that are meant to raise awareness around LGTBQ+ issues, antisemitism, bigotry, and so much more. Matt is also incredibly gracious and puts up with a tremendous amount of shit from trolls.  Matt doesn't like being called an activist (you'll hear more about this in our chat) but there is no doubt that Matt is an effective builder of community. We have so much to learn from Matt in this conversation and on social media.  NEXT STEPS: — Follow Matt on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. — Keep an eye out for Matt's brand new podcast, A Bit Fruity, which will release soon on all podcast platforms. ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

I don't need to tell you about Rainn Wilson. You know about Rainn Wilson. He's one of the best fucking humans out there. I'm so glad he's a friend of mine and a friend of the show. His words and wisdom are needed so badly right now and I'm pumped that we get to hear from him again right here on the podcast. Soul Boom! Spirituality! Happiness! And so much more! NEXT STEPS: — Follow Rainn on Instagram and Twitter. — Buy Soul Boom! — Watch The Geography of Bliss on Peacock! — Support Rainn and Holiday's nonprofit, Lidé Haiti! ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Benjamin Perry is a minister at Middle Church and an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in outlets like The Washington Post, Slate, Sojourners, and Bustle. With a degree in psychology from SUNY Geneseo and an MDiv from Union Theological Seminary, Perry has worked as an organizer with the New York chapter of the Poor People's Campaign and as an editor at Time, Inc. Perry has appeared on MSNBC, Al Jazeera, and NY1, and is the editor of the Queer Faith photojournalism series. He and his spouse, Erin Mayer, live with his best friend and brother in Maine, nurturing a small apple orchard. NEXT STEPS: — Follow Benjamin on Twitter and Instagram. — Check out Benjamin's website. — Order your copy of Cry Baby: Why Our Tears Matter today! ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

During this Black History Month, we're bringing you some snippets from conversations we have had over the past few years with incredible Black writers, speakers, professors, preachers, actors, and artists. “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” — Barack Obama After you listen to the incredible clips in this episode, make sure you listen to the full conversations: Episode 27 with Clint Smith Episode 143 with Lisa Sharon Harper Episode 163 with Eddie S. Glaude Jr. Episode 169 with Chloé Valdary Episode 182 with Colman Domingo Episode 210 with Joél Leon ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Simran Jeet Singh, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Religion & Society Program at the Aspen Institute and the author of the national bestseller The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life. Simran's thought leadership on bias, empathy, and justice extends across corporate, university, and government settings. He is an Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity with Columbia University and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, a Soros Equality Fellow with the Open Society Foundations, a Visiting Lecturer at Union Seminary, and a Senior Advisor on Equity and Inclusion for YSC Consulting, part of Accenture. Simran is the author of an award-winning children's book titled Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon (Kokila, Penguin Random House). He earned graduate degrees from Harvard University and Columbia University. Simran is a recipient of the Peter J. Gomes Memorial Award from Harvard University and, in 2020, TIME Magazine recognized him as one of sixteen people fighting for a more equal America. He writes regularly for major outlets, including The Washington Post, Harvard Business Review, CNN and TIME Magazine, and he writes a monthly column for Religion News Service. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Simran now lives in New York City with his wife and two daughters, where he enjoys running, writing and chasing his kids. NEXT STEPS: — Follow Simran on Twitter, Facebook, and Instragram. — Check out Simran's website. — Order your copy of The Light We Give today! ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Welcome to the first episode of 2023! We have an incredible year ahead for you. We're just getting started! This week's guest is the incredible Nazazin Ash. Nazanin is the CEO of Welcome.US—a new national initiative built to inspire, mobilize, and empower Americans from all corners of the country to welcome and support those seeking refuge here. This organization is led by a truly incredible team and is co-chaired by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, President Clinton and First Lady and Secretary Hillary Clinton, and President Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Welcome.US is only 16 months old but they have already accomplished so much: — 800 organizations and 221 leaders make up the welcome coalition and council — The Welcome Fund, in partnership with GoFundMe.org, has raised more than $20M, supporting resettlement agencies and 180 frontline organizations, nearly 70% of which are refugee, diaspora, veteran, or faith-led. — Welcome.US CEO Council members contributed $179,074,000 in goods, services and funds to resettlement efforts in the U.S. over the past year. — More than 58,000 Afghans and Ukrainians Welcomed by American Sponsors. Over 130,000 Americans have signed up to sponsor, and Welcome.US is powering Americans' desire to help. — 68,000 jobs posted by 224 companies on the Welcome.US Employment Exchange. Plus, nationwide hiring fairs for newcomers. — 29 organizations are on the Welcome Exchange, and $18.8M in-kind donations have been made to resettlement organizations. NEXT STEPS: — Follow Nazanin on Twitter. — Follow Welcome.US on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. — Become a sponsor! It's such an incredible opportunity. ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

I can't believe this is the last episode of the year! We hope you'll stick around and get more involved in what we're doing and building here at Let's Give A Damn in 2023. We have so much that we're planning on rolling out next year. This Best of 2022 episode features clips from some of our favorite moments during our conversations with the following incredible guests in 2022: — Episode 219 with Jacqui Lewis — Episode 222 with Rachelle Lefevre — Episode 225 with Tyler Merritt — Episode 227 with Hillary McBride — Episode 228 with Andy Grammer — Episode 232 with Frederick Joseph — Episode 233 with Alok Vaid-Menon — Episode 236 with Pádraig Ó Tuama — Episode 243 with Anand Giridharadas Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting our nonprofit foundation! We can't do this without you. Oh, and make sure to sign up for our weekly email. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Detra Denise is a woman determined to tell her heartbreaking and hopeful story to as many people as possible in as many ways as possible. NEXT STEPS: — Follow Detra on Instagram and Facebook. — Follow Detra's Story on Instagram. — Visit the brand new Detra's Story website. — Buy her limited edition, 5-pack cigar sampler! ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Tom Fishman is the CEO of Starts With Us. Starts With Us is a movement to foster curiosity, compassion, and courage as daily habits to overcome the polarization, blind tribalism, and dehumanization threatening the social fabric of our communities. NEXT STEPS: — Follow Starts With Us on Twitter and Instagram. — Visit their website and join the Starts With Us movement today! ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Good+Foundation is a leading national nonprofit that works to dismantle multi-generational poverty by pairing tangible goods with innovative services for low-income fathers, mothers and caregivers, creating an upward trajectory for the whole family. NEXT STEPS: — Follow Good+ Foundation on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. — Visit Good+ Foundation's website to learn more and to donate. — Follow Jessica Seinfeld on Instagram. ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Russell (aka Jolly Good Ginger) was raised by racist and bigoted parents and now educates white people to eradicate bigotry in all of its ugly forms. He shares his message with almost 2,000,000 people on social media. Russell is a damn good human and I can't wait for you to meet him and learn from him today! NEXT STEPS: — Follow Jolly Good Ginger on Tiktok, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitch. — Watch his TEDx talk on breaking the cycle of white supremacy. ___________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Anand Giridharadas is a writer. He is the author of The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy (2022), Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World (2018), The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas (2014), and India Calling: An Intimate Portrait of a Nation's Remaking (2011). A former foreign correspondent and columnist for The New York Times for more than a decade, he has also written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Time, and he is the publisher of the newsletter The Ink. He has spoken on stages around the world and taught narrative journalism at New York University. He is a regular on-air political analyst for MSNBC. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he was raised there, in Paris, France, and in Maryland, and educated at the University of Michigan, Oxford, and Harvard. He has received the Radcliffe Fellowship, the Porchlight Business Book of the Year Award, Harvard University's Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award for Humanism in Culture, and the New York Public Library's Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, Priya Parker, and their two children. NEXT STEPS: — Follow Anand on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. — Buy The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy. — Buy Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World. — Watch Anand's fantastic TEDx talk — A tale of two Americas. And the mini-mart where they collided. __________________________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything.

Early on, Josh Tetrick worked with the United Nations, President Clinton, and the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Throughout his career, he has always worked to help organizations to work in purposeful ways. In 2011, Josh Co-founded Eat Just, Inc., which makes JUST Egg and GOOD Meat. Since 2011, they have been working non-stop to change the way the world eats one cell and one bean at a time. NEXT STEPS: — Follow Josh on Twitter. — Learn more about JUST Egg and GOOD Meat. — Watch Josh's TEDx talk on The Future of Food. __________________________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

It's an honor to have Mosheh Oinounou join us on the podcast this week to discuss and navigate all things news and media. Mosheh Oinounou (Wah-Noo-Noo) is an Emmy, Murrow and Webby Award-winning Executive Producer. Mosheh was the youngest-ever executive producer of the “CBS Evening News” in 2018 and 2019, where he led more than 150 personnel and coverage of everything from the war on ISIS to natural disasters, mass shootings and presidential interviews. Before that, he worked at Fox News and Bloomberg TV. Presently, Mosheh is runs Mo Digital, Mo News, Mo News Newsletter, and Mo News Podcast. Learn more about Mosheh by clicking on the links below. NEXT STEPS: — Visit Mo Digital's website to learn more about Mosheh's work. — Follow Mosheh on Instagram and Twitter. — Use All Sides Media and Adfontes Media to help you navigate our media landscape __________________________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Buy Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the World by Frederick Joseph and Porsche Joseph Buy Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want by Ruha Benjamin Buy An American Martyr in Persia: The Epic Life and Tragic Death of Howard Baskerville by Reza Aslan Listen to or watch the sermon I gave at Middle Church on 10/2/22 on Youtube. Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Follow Chelsea Clinton on Twitter. Learn more about her work at the Clinton Foundation here. Follow Zainab Salbi on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Daughters For Earth on Twitter and learn more about Daughters For Earth on their website. Follow Alison Moore on Twitter. Follow Comic Relief US on Twitter and Instagram and learn more about Comic Relief US and Red Nose Day. Watch talks/panels from the 2022 Clinton Global Initiative Meeting on demand here! Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Shauna Siggelkow is a video producer working at the intersection of media production, research, and advocacy. Her credits include shows such as Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown, PBS's Mind of a Chef, Nickelodeon's Take Me to Your Mother, HGTV's House Hunters, and MTV's Emmy-Nominated White People. Her current role is Director of Digital Storytelling at Define American, a non-profit whose mission is to advocate for immigrant representation in the media. During this conversation, we talk about an original research report she worked on for 3 years called ‘Immigration Will Destroy Us' and Other Talking Points. This report examines the role of anti-immigration narratives on YouTube in shaping American views of migrants and refugees. NEXT STEPS: Visit Shauna's website to learn more about her work. Follow Shauna on Twitter. Read ‘Immigration Will Destroy Us' and Other Talking Points. Watch the SDG Media Summit on the United Nations' website. __________________________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

George McGraw is a leading expert on water and sanitation in the United States and around the world. He currently serves as the Founder & CEO of DigDeep, the only WaSH (water, sanitation and hygiene) organization solely focused on the USA. In 2019, he co-authored the ‘Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States' Report, an explosive study that revealed over 2.2 million Americans currently live without a tap or toilet at home, with race being the #1 predictor of water insecurity. In 2022, he was the lead author on ‘Draining: The Economic Impact of America's Hidden Water Crisis' which calculated this water access gap costs the US economy $8.58 billion each year it remains unsolved. The report also found that there is hope: for every $1 invested in closing the water gap, the US economy would see a nearly 5x return. George works with local government officials, policymakers and utility providers to innovate unique solutions to the problems of water and sanitation access in different areas of the nation, consciously avoiding a “one-size-fits-all” approach which fails to address the varied intersections of water poverty and environmental racism that plague the country's infrastructure. George is a leading queer voice in social change, entrepreneurship and environmental justice. He is an Ashoka Fellow, a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and former Social Entrepreneur in Residence at Stanford University. George holds an M.A. in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes from the United Nations University for Peace, where his thesis on the “minimum core” of human water rights quickly became an intellectual staple for human rights programs around the world. NEXT STEPS: — Visit George's website and follow him on Twitter. — Read the Draining: The Economic Impact of America's Hidden Water Crisis that was released on June 28! — Learn more about DigDeep and consider donating today! __________________________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

My guest today, Pádraig Ó Tuama, is brilliant and has done so many beautiful things in his life. I decided to share the bio from his website rather than type up my version of it. It's better this way, trust me. “Poet and theologian, Pádraig Ó Tuama's work centres around themes of language, power, conflict and religion. For Ó Tuama, religion, conflict, power and poetry all circle around language, that original sacrament. Working fluently on the page and in public, he is a compelling poet and skilled speaker, teacher and group worker. He presents Poetry Unbound with On Being Studios. When BBC journalist William Crawley introduced Pádraig on the stage to deliver a TEDx talk on Story, Crawley said, "He's probably the best public speaker I know." Ó Tuama's published work incorporates poetry (Readings from the Book of Exile [longlisted for the Polari Prize 2013]; Sorry for your Troubles, Feed the Beast), prose (In The Shelter) and theology (Daily Prayer; Borders & Belonging, with Glenn Jordan) and anthologies: Poetry Unbound; 50 Poems to Open Your World. Work is featured or forthcoming in Poetry Ireland Review, Academy of American Poets, Raidio Teilifís Éireann's Poem of the Week, Post Road, IMAGE, Dumbo Feather, Gutter, America, and New England Review. He has broadcasted, recited and been interviewed many times on RTÉ, BBC (Radio 4, Radios Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland) and Radio National (Australia). His work has been used in Medical Journals, quoted by Princes and used in Atlases and Liturgies. From 2014-2019 he was the leader of the Corrymeela Community, Ireland's oldest peace and reconciliation community. Pádraig is married to Paul Doran. Together, in 2011, they founded Tenx9, a storytelling event where nine people have up to ten minutes each to tell a true story from their lives. Begun in Belfast, this event now has satellite events in many other cities. He holds a BA Div validated by the Pontifical College of Maynooth, an MTh from Queen's University Belfast and is currently pursuing in a PhD in at the School of Critical Studies at the University of Glasgow exploring poetry, prayer and agnosticism. In addition to these qualifications, Ó Tuama has numerous professional accreditations in conflict, focusing particularly on dynamics of group conflicts.” This conversation moved in me in deeply meaningful ways. Pádraig is a trustworthy and wise leader and I hope you are by our conversation today.

Whitney Bauck is an incredible journalist. Here are just some of things the we found that she has done: She is a journalist using unique angles to bring new readers into the climate and environment conversation. She contributes to the Financial Times, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Grist, Atmos, New York Magazine, Vogue Business and more. She has covered a variety of beats, but the through line in her work is making the connection between seemingly disparate subjects to uncover unexpected and creative stories. In 2020, she was named an Environmental Reporting Fellow at the Metcalf Institute at the University of Rhode Island. Previously, she was the Senior Sustainability Reporter at Fashionista.com, a business news organization focused on the apparel sector. There, the company created a brand-new position to support her long-form investigations, as well as the stories she ideated and assigned to a roster of writers she managed and edited. Her work explored labor rights, environmental justice, race, politics and more. And that's why I invited her on the show to talk about the climate, tax, and healthcare package that just passed in the Senate. Additionally, we talk about her upbringing in the Philippines, her work in the ethical fashion space, why she is transitioning to a broader body of work in the climate space, and so much more. NEXT STEPS: Follow Whitney on Instagram and Twitter. Google her name and check out all the amazing stuff she has written about! Buy the book we referenced multiple times — Rebecca Solnit's Hope In The Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities. __________________________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Recently, we've had so many incredible conversations that have moved me in so many profound ways. Here are a few of the clips that have helped me as I continue to figure out how to give a damn well in a world gone mad. Enjoy! NEXT STEPS: Follow Jacqui Lewis on Instagram and Twitter Follow Jeffrey Marsh on Instagram and Twitter Follow Frederick Joseph on Instagram and Twitter Follow Hillary McBride on Instagram and Twitter Follow Janos Marton on Instagram and Twitter Follow ALOK on Instagram and Twitter __________________________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

ALOK (they/them) is an internationally acclaimed writer, performer, and public speaker. As a mixed-media artist their work explores themes of trauma, belonging, and the human condition. They are the author of Femme in Public (2017), Beyond the Gender Binary (2020), and Your Wound/My Garden (2021). They are the creator of #DeGenderFashion: a movement to degender fashion and beauty industries and have been honored as one of HuffPo's Culture Shifters, NBC's Pride 50, and Business Insider's Doers. NEXT STEPS: Follow ALOK on Instagram and Facebook. Read their incredible poetry. Purchase Beyond The Gender Binary. Check them out on Goodreads! Hundreds of great books and resources. __________________________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Frederick Joseph uses his writing and marketing skills to create change, help people grow, and foster learning and unlearning to lift marginalized people. Frederick is a two-time New York Times bestselling author of The Black Friend (2020) and Patriarchy Blues (2022), and the author of the upcoming book Better Than We Found It (2022). Frederick also writes about marketing, culture, and politics for the Huffington Post, USA Today, NowThisNews, The Independent, and Cosmopolitan amongst others. Fred is the sole creator of the largest GoFundMe campaign in history, the #BlackPantherChallenge, which ultimately generated over $43 million dollars in earned advertising and media for Disney and raised over $950K and allowed more than 75,000 children worldwide to see 'Black Panther' for free. NEXT STEPS: Follow Frederick on Instagram and Twitter. Check out what We Have Stories is doing and consider donating today. Buy each one of his books (linked above) and buy copies for your friends, too! __________________________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Naiara Tamminga is a 13-year-old damn-giver living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A little context for why this conversation is taking place. On May 17, Naiara got up at her local city commission meeting and spoke for 3 minutes. She called out the leaders in front of her and other leaders in her community for their gross inaction regarding the brutal murder of 26-year-old refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Patrick Lyoya, who was fatally shot in the back of the head by Officer Christopher Schurr of the Grand Rapids Police Department during a scuffle back in April. I saw a 30-40 second clip of her speaking, found the full 2 1/2 hour meeting, found her 3-minute speech, and posted it on my social media platforms on May 20. Since then, it has been shared by the likes of Viola Davis, Dan Levy, Leslie Jones, Jesse Williams, DL Hughley and others, and has garnered million views, thousands of shares, and thousands of comments. Naiara is wise beyond her years and I have no doubt that she will continue to be great and do great things with her life. NEXT STEPS: - Follow Naiara on Instagram. - Listen to the 3-minute speech from May 17 that went viral. - Listen her recite her recent Dear, You Must Wait and See… poem. - Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

Dr. Scott Ellsworth, who joined the DAAS faculty in 2007, teaches courses on African American history, Southern literature, race and sports, and crime and justice in contemporary U.S. society. Trained as a historian, he received his Ph.D from Duke University in 1982, where he was a member of the Duke Oral History Program. The author of Death in a Promised Land, the first-ever comprehensive history of the horrific 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, Dr. Ellsworth is helping to lead the ongoing effort to uncover the unmarked graves of massacre victims. Formerly a historian with the Smithsonian Institution, he has written about American history for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times, and has appeared on National Public Radio, the TODAY Show, PBS's The American Experience, the History Channel, the BBC, and in both film and broadcast documentaries. His book, The Secret Game, won a 2016 PEN Book Award, and was named by the Chicago Tribune as one of the Top Ten Books of the Year. His newest book, The Ground Breaking: An American City and Its Search for Justice, was released in May 2021. The Ground Breaking: An American City and Its Search for Justice description: More than 1,000 homes and businesses. Restaurants and movie theaters, churches and doctors' offices, a hospital, a public library, a post office. Looted, burned, and bombed from the air. Over the course of less than 24 hours in the spring of 1921, Tulsa's infamous “Black Wall Street” was wiped off the map - and erased from the history books. Official records were disappeared, researchers were threatened, and the worst single incident of racial violence in American history was kept hidden for more than 50 years. But there were some secrets that would not die. A riveting and essential new book, The Ground Breaking not only tells the long-suppressed story of the notorious Tulsa race massacre. It also unearths the lost history of how the massacre was covered up, and of the courageous individuals who fought to keep the story alive. Most important, it recounts the ongoing archaeological saga and the search for the unmarked graves of the victims of the massacre, and of the fight to win restitution for the survivors and their families. Both a forgotten chronicle from the nation's past and a story ripped from today's headlines, The Ground Breaking is a pause-resister reflection on how we, as Americans, must wrestle with the parts of our history that have been buried for far too long. NEXT STEPS: Follow Scott on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase The Ground Breaking: An American City and Its Search for Justice. __________________________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!