Pod for the Cause

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The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights launched “Pod for the Cause” podcast to expand the conversation on critical civil and human rights challenges of our day: census, justice reform, policing, education, fighting hate & bias, judicial nominations, fair courts, voting rights, media & t…

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights


    • May 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 37m AVG DURATION
    • 81 EPISODES

    4.6 from 202 ratings Listeners of Pod for the Cause that love the show mention: civil rights, ashley, make a difference, movement, country, issues, change, conversations, current, thoughtful, important, need, honest, voice, definitely, inspiring, host, thank, informative, world.


    Ivy Insights

    The Pod for the Cause podcast is an incredibly insightful and thought-provoking show that delves into the most pressing civil rights issues of our time. With host Ashley Allison at the helm, this podcast offers a platform for important conversations, real perspectives, and calls to action. Whether it's discussing the impact of systemic racism, advocating for voting rights, or highlighting the voices of marginalized communities, each episode provides a unique perspective on these issues and encourages listeners to take action.

    One of the best aspects of The Pod for the Cause is its ability to create an open and honest space for dialogue. Ashley Allison skillfully guides conversations with her guests, allowing them to share their personal experiences and insights. This approach humanizes these complex issues and helps listeners truly understand their impact on individuals and communities. Additionally, the podcast breaks down major issues in a digestible way, making it accessible to listeners who may be new to civil rights discussions.

    Another strength of this podcast is its emphasis on calls to action. Each episode provides tangible steps that listeners can take to make a difference in their own lives and communities. From contacting elected officials and demanding equality to mobilizing on important issues, The Pod for the Cause empowers its audience to be active participants in creating change.

    It's difficult to find any significant flaws with The Pod for the Cause podcast. However, one potential downside is that some episodes may feel overwhelming or emotionally heavy due to the weighty topics being discussed. While this is not necessarily a critique of the podcast itself since it aims to tackle these important issues head-on, it's worth mentioning that listeners should be prepared for potentially intense content.

    In conclusion, The Pod for the Cause is an exceptional podcast that effectively addresses civil rights issues while offering hope and actionable steps towards change. It creates a necessary platform for underrepresented voices and encourages listeners to become actively engaged in fighting for justice. With its powerful messages, thought-provoking discussions, and empowering call to action, The Pod for the Cause is a must-listen podcast for anyone seeking to stay informed and make a difference in the world.



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    Latest episodes from Pod for the Cause

    S08 E04: Law and Disorder: Immigration, Policing, and Community Distrust

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 53:20


    In this episode, we explore the harms of the Trump Administration's  “unleashing” of law enforcement and what that means for immigration enforcement and policing. As ICE raids and deportations increase, local police departments are being pressured to take on immigration enforcement duties. The lines between public safety and federal immigration policy are blurred, and entire communities are living in fear. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is rolling back key oversight mechanisms, like consent decrees— effectively ending efforts to hold police departments accountable for racial profiling, excessive force, and other civil rights violations. These shifts will only serve to deepen mistrust in law enforcement, particularly in immigrant and communities of color already subject to over-policing. This conversation examines how immigration enforcement and police accountability rollbacks are reshaping local law enforcement and threatening civil rights.

    S08 E03: Counting Chaos: The Fight for a Complete Census and Dependable Data

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 52:55


    April 1 was the commemoration of Census Day, but the numbers that shape our country are under attack. From erasing critical datasets on government websites to revoking the census practice of counting noncitizens, the Trump Administration's actions threaten democracy and economic stability. These changes to how we count people will impact everyday lives. Undercounts can mean federal funding losses for schools, hospitals, and other community resources; they can create congressional districts that deny voters political power. With the elimination of accurate or whole data, we erase people and communities from our society. But while some of the census and data harms from the Trump administration are unprecedented, these fights for fair and equitable counts are not new. And these fights have been won by the civil rights community. This episode will discuss how we protect and preserve the hard-fought gains for a census and data that reflect everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or citizenship status. 

    S08 E02: The Ballot & The Book: Access to Voting and Education Upon Selma's 60th

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 51:40


    On the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, we explore the deep connection between education and voting rights—two pillars of democracy that have long been intertwined. For decades, education determined one's access to the polls, as literacy tests and other barriers were used to disenfranchise Black voters. Today, attacks on curriculum, book bans, and misinformation continue to shape political participation, particularly for young and marginalized communities. And education itself is on the ballot, with school board races; policies on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; and funding for public schools directly impacting what future generations learn about history, democracy, and their civil rights. At the federal level, the effort to dismantle the Department of Education and roll back protections for marginalized students is underway, and will deepen disparities and weaken access to quality and equitable education. In this episode, we will unpack the legacy of Selma, the ongoing threats to both voting and education, and how we can honor those who marched by taking action today.

    S08 E01: Solidarity & Strategy: We the Majority Fighting Back

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 56:18


    In this episode we will tackle how to respond to the new administration's early attacks on civil rights. With a wave of executive actions already rolling back key protections—harming immigrants, undermining the federal workforce, and dismantling diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility—we will break down what this means for communities across the country and, more importantly, how we fight back. We will explore the role of grassroots mobilization as the first line of resistance, discuss how federal advocates can sharpen their strategy in Washington, and highlight the necessity of coalition-building to amplify our collective power. This is not a moment for isolation—it is a moment for solidarity, strategy, and sustained action.

    S07 E12: Building an America as Good as It's Ideals: A Year in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 47:12


    When season seven started in January of 2024, we set out to explore the progress and challenges in building a more equitable society. Anchored by milestone anniversaries -- Brown v. Board of Education (70th), Freedom Summer (60th), and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (60th) -- we discussed judicial diversity, justice reform, education, and voting rights, among other issues. Reflecting on these themes months later, we see glimmers of progress but are reminded that the work of building an America as good as its ideals is far from linear. This episode will consider what's been accomplished in about a year's time since our earlier podcast conversations this season. We will also discuss the work that remains with Leadership Conference advocates who work tirelessly to push the arc of the moral universe toward justice.

    S07 E11: We Are Still The Majority: A Post-Election Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 49:03


    In this episode, we dive into the post-election political and policy landscape, analyzing how recent election outcomes will impact the future of civil rights in America. Our guest experts will discuss anticipated agendas from the White House and 119th Congress. They will unpack the major policy shifts, exploring potential executive and legislative actions that may impact voting rights, reproductive rights, criminal legal reform, and other civil rights. Guests will consider the potential for new alliances, as well as emerging divisions within Congress and between the executive and legislative branches. As we discuss the challenges and opportunities facing civil rights advocates in this new era, this episode offers a comprehensive look at what lies ahead for the nation. 

    S07 E11: Protecting the Vote 2.0: "And Still I Vote"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 13:49


    In this episode, we sit down with Khalid Pitts, Executive Vice Preside of Campaigns and Programs at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, to discuss the "And Still I Vote" campaign. Just days out from presidential election, Pod for the Cause continues the conversation about protecting and preserving the right to vote. We discuss the origin story of "And Still I Vote", which is an effort to show up for our communities, claim our power, and realize the full promise of our democracy. We explore "And Still I Vote's" present-day efforts to fight against voting discrimination, empower disenfranchised communities, and protect the integrity of our democratic process. Ultimately, "And Still I Vote" plays a critical role in ensuring that every voice is heard in our political process and that civil rights, freedom, and democracy anchor our society.

    S07 E10: Protecting the Vote, Preserving Democracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 42:55


    With the historic and high stakes 2024 presidential election upon us, Americans must be vigilant in protecting their right to vote. Modern day voter suppression takes on various forms. It can look like voter roll purges, which often disenfranchise people of color and other marginalized groups. It can be the dangerous spread of misinformation and disinformation, which aims to confuse or deter voters from participating. This episode explores how these tactics have been used in recent elections and equips listeners with education and resources to recognize voter suppression campaigns. We sit down with voting rights and democracy experts one-on-one to get the latest. By staying informed and engaged, Americans will ensure that their vote counts in this critical election and that our democracy is preserved.

    S07 E09: Civil Rights Act at 60 and Project 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 44:55


    This episode commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, reflecting on its profound impact in dismantling legalized segregation, securing voting rights, and expanding protections against discrimination. It explores the victories it represented for marginalized communities and how it catalyzed further reforms in education, housing, and employment. As we celebrate this anniversary, however, we also dive into the ongoing challenges to civil rights. We examine new threats to a fair and equitable democracy from initiatives like Project 2025—an extremist agenda and wish list for a conservative administration that seeks to roll back vital civil rights protections. With attacks on affirmative action, voting rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and reproductive justice on the rise, we highlight the persistent inequalities and barriers to justice that remain. We discuss the history, the setbacks, and the continued urgency to defend and expand civil rights in today's politically polarized landscape.

    S07 E08: Freedom Summer at 60: The Fight for Voting Rights Continues

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 41:43


    In this episode commemorating the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer, we delve into the pivotal 1964 campaign that aimed to register African American voters in Mississippi and the Deep South and challenge systemic racial barriers. We will explore the courageous efforts of activists, the profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement, and the ongoing struggle for voting rights in America. Through conversation with advocates and activists, as well as historians and academics, we will reflect on the legacy of Freedom Summer and its relevance today in the fight for a more equitable democracy. This episode will honor the past and address the continuing quest for justice and equality through the ballot.

    S07 E07: Music and the Movement

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 38:49


    June has been designated a month of awareness for several civil rights causes and constituencies. From LGBTQ Pride and Stonewall to Caribbean American Heritage and Juneteenth, the month reminds us of our ongoing efforts to achieve an America as good as its ideals. And as June is also designated Black Music Appreciation Month, we know that whatever the civil rights fight, music has been the soundtrack and a catalyst for change. Gospel's freedom songs like "We Shall Overcome" gave voice to the struggle for racial equality in the 1950s and 60s, accompanying marches, rallies, and sit-ins. Today, hip hop music has become a powerful medium for championing the underserved and holding the powerful accountable on issues like police violence. This episode will explore music as a tool for resilience, solidarity, and activism as we advance all movements for justice and equality.

    S07 E06: Brown v. Board at 70: Still Separate, Still Unequal

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2024 48:50


    In recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, this podcast episode delves into the sobering reality that, sixty years later, American schools remain starkly separate and profoundly unequal. Despite the Supreme Court's historic declaration against racial segregation in 1954, data reveals a troubling trend: over half of the nation's students find themselves in racially concentrated districts, where segregation persists, and educational resources vary widely along racial and socioeconomic lines. Data also shows that as our Black and Brown students are denied educational opportunities, they are disproportionately represented within the criminal legal system, demonstrating a school to prison pipeline. As such, upon the anniversary of Brown, we must reckon with our separate and unequal history that continues to plague us today and determine how we reach the promise of educational equality. This episode serves as a critical reminder that the fight for equal education is far from over and urgent action is needed to address the ongoing legacy of segregation in our schools.

    S07 E05: Building a Diverse Judiciary

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024 32:52


    For our courts to work for all of us, our judges should reflect and represent the diversity of our society. Federal courts have been slow to include judges of color, women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and judges from varied legal backgrounds, including those with civil rights experience. However, recent judicial appointments are changing that. Newly confirmed judges have broken barriers and shattered glass ceilings by desegregating courts that have never had a judge of color or a judge from their background serve before. And nearly half of the lifetime confirmations during this administration have been former public defenders, civil rights lawyers, and others who have dedicated a significant portion of their careers to protecting civil and human rights. We must build upon this success. For example, we need more federal judges who are Latino/a, judges with known disabilities, judges who are LGBTQ+, judges who are Native American, and judges with experience in civil and human rights. This episode will consider how we achieve meaningful demographic and professional diversity among our nation's judges. It will explore how diversity on the bench leads to fairer decisions, increased confidence in our legal system, and a stronger democracy. 

    S07 E04: The State of Black Lives

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2024 49:00


    February is Black History Month and an opportunity to consider the state of the Movement for Black Lives. Last year, we observed the 10-year anniversary of Trayvon Martin's death, which compelled three Black women to turn a Black Lives Matter hashtag into a social movement. And this year marks the 10-year anniversary of the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, which renewed demands for police accountability and reform across the country. In the decade since, we have come to “say their names” and many more, including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. This episode will discuss the progress and evolution of the Movement For Black Lives, which is not only taking on police violence, but other inequities impacting Black lives, such as health disparities and economic insecurity.

    S07 E03: Centering Civil Rights in Technology

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 39:39


    Technology is an integral part of our everyday lives. Thanks to technological advances, there are increased connections and efficiencies around how we learn, work, and play. However, technology, like every other aspect of our society, can perpetuate harms and inequities if we are not intentional around its development and implementation. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the perfect example of technology that could benefit humankind but is causing great harm through discrimination and disinformation. As we witnessed in recent elections, AI has been used to continue election interference tactics. And certainly, there are significant concerns around the way that AI will be used in the high stakes 2024 presidential election. In response to these concerns, last fall, the Leadership Conference established the Center on Civil Rights and Technology to anchor emerging and existing technology in civil rights. This episode will explore the latest tech and civil rights happenings, focusing on AI and misinformation. We will also introduce the Center and its work to ensure civil rights and technology go hand in hand.

    S07 E02: Attacks on the Dream: Dr. King's Legacy Today

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 43:30


    As we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in January, we are provided with an opportunity to discuss the state of Dr. King's dream at this moment. Over the years, Dr. King's “I Have a Dream” speech has been weaponized to push for a colorblind society; and this year will be no exception. In fact, given the recent dismantling of affirmative action in higher education by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the constant legal and legislative attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, the opportunity and equality envisioned by Dr. King stands to be dismantled. This episode will discuss the attacks on civil rights that impact our communities in all areas of education, from K-12 to higher education, as well as the economy and employment for our communities of color.

    S07 E01: Angelic Troublemakers: The Legacy of Bayard Rustin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 36:41


    Welcome back to Pod for the Cause Season 7! On today's episode, our host, Kanya Bennett, managing director of government affairs at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, discusses the life and legacy of Bayard Rustin with President Clayola Brown, head of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, International Vice President of Workers United-SEIU, and Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnership and Racial Justice at the AFL-CIO; Dr. David Johns, the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition; and Author Michael G. Long, most recently, the editor of Bayard Rustin: A Legacy of Protest and Politics.

    S06 E12: 10 Years Since Shelby SCOTUS Decision: How Voting Rights Have Drastically Changed in a Decade

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023 22:41


    Join Kanya Bennett as she discusses the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder with Carolyn Shields, President of the Shelby County Branch of the NAACP, and Deuel Ross, Deputy Director of Litigation at NAACP Legal Defense Fund. This episode was recorded before the Court rendered its decision in Merrill v. Milligan.

    S06 E11: Honoring Juneteenth and the Need for Reparations for Black Americans

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2023 47:25


    Join Kanya Bennett as she discusses Juneteenth and reparations with Jeff Robinson of The Who We are Project, Kavon Ward of Where is My Land, and Keenan Keller of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. 

    S06 E10: Attacks on Black Political Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2023 36:08


    Join Kanya Bennett and cohost Jheanelle Wilkins, director of state and local government affairs at the Leadership Conference, as they discuss recent attacks on Black political power with District of Columbia Councilmember Robert White, Melissa Wasser of the ACLU-DC, Dr. Sekou Franklin of Middle Tennessee State University, and Patrice Willoughby of the NAACP.

    S06 E09: Banning Books, Queer People, and Black History Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2023 27:57


    Join our host, Kanya Bennett, as she continues the conversation around book bans and curriculum censorship with Maggie Tokuda-Hall.

    S06 E09 Banning Books, Queer People, and Black History Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2023 32:24


    Join our host, Kanya Bennett, as she discusses book bans and curriculum censorship with Karsonya "Kaye" Wise Whitehead and Khalil Gibran Muhammad.

    S06 E08: Talking Traffic Stops: The Urgent Need for Police Accountability and Transparency

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2023 39:57


    Join our host, Kanya Bennett, as she discusses police violence and reform with Chelsea Glass and Josh Adams of DeCarcerate Memphis and Krissy Roth, Senior Policy Associate at The NAACP Legal Defense Fund.  

    S06 E07: Until Justice Is Won: Civil Rights and Sports

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2023 29:32


    Join our host, Kanya Bennett, as she discusses the role of sports in the civil rights movement with Domonique Foxworth — former NFL defensive back, senior writer for Andscape, and host of The Domonique Foxworth Show, an ESPN podcast.

    S06 E06 Combatting Online Misinformation and Disinformation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 39:52


    Our host, Kanya Bennett, is joined by Joe Miller, President and CEO of The Washington Center for Technology Policy Inclusion (WashingTECH), and Dave Toomey, Voting Rights and Technology Fellow at The Leadership Conference to discuss the dangers of disinformation on social media and how we can advance the civil and human rights agenda online.

    S06 E05 : Now What?: Post-Election Accountability

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2022 43:57


    Our host, Kanya Bennett, is joined by Paige Fernandez, the National Organizing Manager at the Center for Popular Democracy, and Tanya Clay House, Executive Vice President of Campaigns and Advocacy at the Hip Hop Caucus to discuss what advocacy and accountability look like to keep advancing civil rights, post-election.

    S06 E04: Affirmative Action Means Opportunity for All

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 39:37


    On today's episode of Pod For the Cause, our host, Kanya Bennett, is joined by Star Wingate-Bey, a 2016 graduate of the University of North Carolina and a student intervenor who helped defend UNC's admissions policy in the affirmative action case involving the universtiy and Genize Bonadies Torres, Associate Director for the Educational Opportunities Project at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, to discuss affirmative action and the related cases before the Supreme Court - Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. University of North Carolina (UNC).

    S06 E03: Our Bodies are on the Ballot

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2022 38:10


    On today's episode of Pod for the Cause our host, Kanya Bennett discusses the intersectionality of abortion rights and voting and its impact on Black women with Marcela Howell, president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Agenda.

    S06 E02: Why Our Courts Matter

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 39:50


    On today's episode of Pod for the Cause our host, Kanya Bennett will discuss the importance of our courts with Kadida Kenner, chief executive officer of the New Pennsylvania Project and co-chair of Why Courts Matter – Pennsylvania, and Kim Tignor, executive director for the Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice and cofounder of #SheWillRise.

    Vote to Save Democracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2022 45:35


    Welcome back to Pod for the Cause Season 6! On today's episode our new host, Kanya Bennett, managing director of government affairs at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the Leadership Conference Education Fund, will discuss voting and civic engagement with Cece Huddleston, voting rights field coordinator for the Prepared to Vote and Voting Rights Defender projects at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities.

    S05 E08: Vote For Justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2022 47:49


    Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Sakira Cook, Senior Director of the Justice Program at The Leadership Conference and the The Education Fund, and Reginald Belle, Campaigns and Programs Fellow at The Leadership Conference and The Education Fund to discuss how we can transform the criminal-legal system through voting and other forms of civic participation.

    S05 E07: Local Organizing & the Legacy of Black-led Civil Rights Movements

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2022 46:51


    Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Arekia Bennett-Scott, executive director of Mississippi Votes, and Jordan Johnson, executive director of Georgia Shift, to discuss the legacy of Black-led civil rights organizing, the importance of youth in these movements, and how to evolve to meet the present moment. 

    S05 E06: Trans Rights are Civil Rights

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 44:53


    Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Diego Sanchez, Director of Advocacy, Policy & Partnerships at PFLAG and Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality to discuss the intersectionality of inequity and how it impacts the transgender community. They discuss dismantling systems of violence, among other topics.

    S05 E05: Winning the Narrative

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2021 67:28


    What is narrative and why should it matter to activists? Vanessa is joined by Ellen Buchman, President at The Opportunity Agenda, Dr. Jiggy Geronimo, a progressive research and messaging expert, and Tyler Lewis, Director of Messaging and Project Management at Third Sector to discuss how civil rights advocates can craft messaging that leverages the power of narratives.

    S05 E04: What are our Civil Rights on the Internet?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2021 39:41


    Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Sofia Ongele, Founder of ReDawn and Creative Advisor Intern at Kode with Klossy, and Laura Murphy, President of Laura Murphy & Associates, LLC and Author of The Rationale for and Key Elements of a Business Civil Rights Audit, to discuss the intersection of technology and civil rights.  

    S05 E03: Immigration and Race in America

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 38:24


    Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Lia Parada, Director of Legislative Advocacy at The Immigration Hub, and Abraham Paulos, Deputy Director at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, to discuss asylum, temporary protected status, and the state of immigration in the United States.

    S05 E02: The Biden Scorecard Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 44:19


    Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Lena Zwarensteyn, Senior Director of the Fair Courts Campaign at The Leadership Conference and The Education Fund, and Patricia Richman, National Sentencing Resource Counsel at Federal Public and Community Defenders, to discuss the promises President Biden made to voters, unpack his record on judicial nominations and criminal justice reform, and how else our communities need him to show up. 

    S05 E01: The Intersections of Abortion Bans

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2021 35:41


    Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Aimee Arrambide, Executive Director at Avow Texas; Leila Abolfazli, Director for Federal Reproductive Rights at National Women's Law Center; and Nancy Cardenas Pena, Texas Director of Policy and Advocacy at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice to discuss how recent abortion restrictions ​and laws that are chipping away at the right to vote are rooted in white supremacy and how to fight against them.

    Vision for Justice: Reimagining Public Safety

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2021 40:28


    On the finale of the Vision for Justice miniseries, our guest host, Monifa Bandele, Movement for Black Lives Leadership Team, reimagines public safety with Thea Sebastian, Director of Policy, Civil Rights Corps, Alphonso David, President of Human Rights Campaign, and Eunisses Hernandez, Executive Director and Co-founder of La Defensa.

    Vision for Justice: Pretrial Justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2021 65:12


    Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Congressman Ted. Lieu (D-Calif.) to discuss pretrial justice, its current framework, and the inequities that exist within it. Then, in a special Pod Squad segment, Sakira Cook, Senior Director, Justice Program, The Leadership Conference and The Education Fund, reimagines transforming the pretrial justice system with DeAnna Hoskins, President and CEO of JustLeadershipUSA; Katherine Hubbard, Senior Attorney at Civil Rights Corps; Chesa Boudin, the District Attorney of San Francisco; and Sharone Mitchell, Public Defender of Cook County, Illinois.

    Vision For Justice: The '94 Crime Bill

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2021 64:39


    On this second episode of our special series, Vision For Justice, our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Congressman Bobby Scott (D-Va.), to discuss the passing of the 1994 Crime Bill and its long-term implications on mass incarceration and Black and Brown communities. Then, in a special Pod Squad segment, Nkechi Taifa, Principal and CEO of The Taifa Group, reimagines public safety with Anand Subramanian, Managing Director at PolicyLink; and Kumar Rao, Senior Director of Policy & Strategy, New York Working Families Party.

    Vision For Justice: 50 Years of the War on Drugs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2021 48:32


    On this first episode of our special series, Vision For Justice, our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), to discuss the policies and ramifications of the War on Drugs. Then in a special Pod Squad segment, Kassandra Frederique, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance reimagines public safety with Andrea James, founder and executive director of The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls; Juan Cartagena, president & general counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF; and Kara Gotsch, deputy director of The Sentencing Project.

    S04 E08: School in the Time of COVID

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2021 26:13


    Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Sylvia Tanguma, president of the McAllen American Federation of Teachers and a teacher at James Bonham Elementary in McAllen, TX, to discuss how teachers heroically pivoted their curriculum and methods in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and what needs to be done to help students and teachers re-enter the classroom, as we emerge from the pandemic. 

    S04 E07: "Unmasking Reopening"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 30:36


    Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by mental health experts: Melvin Wilson (Senior Policy Advisor for Social Justice and Human Rights, at the National Association of Social Workers) and Sherod Haynes (MD/PhD Candidate ​at Emory University) to unpack mental health after over a year of quarantine, the social dichotomy of vaccinations, and reimagining care during reopening through an intersectional lens.

    S04 E06: We Must Keep Fighting Barriers to the Ballot

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2021 28:57


    Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by voting leaders: Bo Shuff (Executive Director at DC Vote), Lisa Cylar Barrett (Director of Policy at the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc.), and Kadeem Cooper (Policy Counsel at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law) to break down the latest in federal voting, DC statehood, and how we move forward after the 2021 election.

    127. Optimizing Your Sexual Health with Dr. Amy Killen- Anti-aging & Regenerative Medicine Physician

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2021 36:08


    On this episode of Health Gig we are excited to share another part of our Powered by Paragon series. Here, we dive into the world of sexual health and wellness and how it relates to our overall well being. Our guest is Dr. Amy Killen, an anti-aging and regenerative medicine physician who specializes in aesthetics and sexual medicine. Dr. Killen is board certified in Emergency Medicine, and has over ten years of direct patient care under her belt. She is fellowship trained in anti-aging and regenerative medicine through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and has done extensive training in platelet rich plasma, stem cells, hair restoration, bio-identical hormones, nutrition, and fitness. A huge thank you to Paragon Performance Evolution for making this episode possible.

    S04 E05: SHE-cession

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 31:39


    Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by Adrienne Lawrence (Attorney and Sr. Consultant at Jennifer Brown Consulting, Media and Legal Consultant at Bantam Impact, and the Author of Staying in the Game), Jess Morales Rocketto (Co-chair of Families Belong Together and Co-Founder at Care in Action, Supermajority, and She Se Puede), and Kate Bahn (Director of Labor Market Policy at Washington Center for Equitable Growth and EVP of the International Association for Feminist Economics) to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the issues women face today including the gender and race pay gap, reproductive justice, and harassment through an intersectional lens.  

    S04 E04: #AVLExpains Local Elections

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 30:06


    Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by amazing members of the All Voting is Local team: Peter Burress (Wisconsin Campaign Manager), Rosemary Avila (Arizona Campaign Manager), Ifeolu Claytor (Ohio Campaign Manager), and Ben Gardner (Michigan Campaign Manager) to break down voting at the local level and discuss the intersectionality of voter suppression.

    S04 E03: Black Justice is Our Justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2021 25:45


    Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by Claudia Flores (Senior Campaign Manager at the Center for American Progress), Abraham Paulos (Deputy Director of Policy and Communications at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration), and Jill Yu (Managing Director and Cofounder at Act to Change) to talk about immigration, white supremacy, and how we can activate our own communities to eradicate the anti-blackness within them.

    S04 E02: The First 100 Days of Biden-Harris

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2021 34:22


    Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by Monica Simpson (Executive Director of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective), Tina Tchen (President & CEO of TIME'S UP), and LaShawn Warren (Executive Vice President for Government Affairs at The Leadership Conference) to talk all about the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration, and what all the executive orders and COVID-19 relief actually mean for all of us.

    S04 E01: This is America

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021 25:35


    On the season 4 premiere of Pod for the Cause, Wade Henderson, civil rights lawyer, human rights activist, and interim president of The Leadership Conference, and Nelini Stamp, Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the Working Families Party, join host Vanessa Gonzalez to discuss where we've been as a country( and where we want to be) in the aftermath of the white supremacist insurrection at the Capitol.

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