Episodes
For far too long, the United States has put mental healthcare on the back burner. Through enormous advocacy and the initiation and rollout of the 988 hotline, a theoretical lifeline is now at the fingertips of every American. But in a country with a deep history of criminalizing mental health, will 988 live up to its potential? Today, Stephanie explores how 988 came to be, along with all the promise and peril it carries. Weekly special correspondent Zak Williams shares his personal mental...
Published 08/16/22
The producers of this series wanted to share another Lemonada Media series with you as a resource in the wake of the recent Supreme Court verdict.  In this special breaking-news edition of In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt, Andy helps you understand the impact of yesterday's Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade. As health clinics in several states halt abortion procedures due to the decision, Andy gets reaction and action items from Caitlin Cruz, a reporter from Jezebel who covers...
Published 06/25/22
The producers of this series wanted to share with you another Lemonada Media series that they know you’ll love. V Interesting is hosted by V Spehar - who is out from under the desk and into your ears! They're starting off by sharing some of the headlines you may have missed this week, including exactly who’s rewriting the national reading curriculum, how Biden may have actually started the U.S. student debt crisis, and how people feel about returning to the office after working remotely...
Published 06/10/22
With Season 2 coming to an end, Julián recalls some of his favorite Our America moments in this special episode put together by a new podcast app called Hark Audio. Julián will walk you through some of his favorite moments from conversations with top thinkers in politics and media, including MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan, Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke, and famed newsman Dan Rather. If you haven’t yet binge listened to every episode of Our America, here’s a little invitation of some...
Published 06/01/22
Julián addresses the devastating news out of Uvalde, Texas, where a young man on Tuesday gunned down at least 19 elementary school students and two adults. He and Sawyer then talk about this week’s state primaries, the latest on Title 42, and President Biden’s most-recent approval numbers ahead of the midterms. They’re later joined by Director Gustavo Velasquez of the California Department of Housing and Community Development to talk about the innovative ways in which his agency is tackling...
Published 05/25/22
Julián and Sawyer chat with Ruby Bolaria Shifrin, the head of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s housing affordability project, about the realities of modern-day home ownership and the lessons learned from the pandemic. Later they’re joined by Laurie Goodman of the Urban Institute to look into some of the statistics guiding housing experts.    Follow Laurie’s work at the Urban Institute online at @urbaninstitute or @MortgageLaurie. Ruby of @ChanZuckerberg can be found at @Ruby_Bee.   Keep...
Published 05/18/22
Julián and Sawyer ask Marguerite Casey Foundation President Dr. Carmen Rojas about her thoughts on how the leaked Supreme Court decision seemingly invalidating abortion rights will impact the state of organizing in the months to come. They also welcome MCF Freedom Scholar Dr. Alisa Bierria of UCLA’s Gender Studies Program to talk about the potential for mass criminalization following the end of Roe.    Follow Dr. Rojas online at @crojasphd and the Marguerite Casey Foundation at...
Published 05/11/22
Julián and Sawyer break down the devastating news out of DC in which a leaked draft opinion shows the Supreme Court’s decision to officially overturn abortion rights nationwide. They welcome reproductive rights activist and author Lauren Rankin to talk about the prospective end of Roe v. Wade and how it may set the scene for both a national abortion ban and other protection removals. Follow Lauren online at @laurenarankin.    Keep up with Julián on Twitter at @JulianCastro and Instagram...
Published 05/04/22
The producers of this series would like to share with you another show they know you’ll love. BEING is reality TV for your ears, an innovative new audio format like no other podcast you've ever heard. This season, it’s BEING Trans.  This week, we meet Sy, a nonbinary transgender legal assistant in Los Angeles. They transitioned after marrying their husband, Robert, and having a baby. While things seem great on the surface, Sy confesses they've been putting off having a tough conversation...
Published 05/03/22
Julián and guest co-host Maya Rupert speculate on Twitter’s future now that Elon Musk has officially bought the social media giant. They also dive into Trump’s new legal troubles and President Biden’s commitment to financially assist Ukraine in its ongoing fight against Russia. The two then welcome US senatorial candidate Charles Booker of Kentucky to talk about his exciting campaign and his newly-released memoir: From the Hood to the Holler.    Follow Charles online at @Booker4KY and Maya...
Published 04/27/22
Julián and Sawyer talk about the shocking, but unsurprising, news of the nearly dozen mass shootings that took place nationwide over the weekend and how it's an indication of continued inaction by our leaders on proper gun reform. They also unpack new polling numbers showing that only a third of respondents approve of President Biden’s performance. The two then tackle news of Elon Musk’s proposed acquisition of Twitter and the possible demise of InfoWars.    Keep up with Julián on Twitter...
Published 04/20/22
Julián and Sawyer talk about a shocking abortion case in Texas that plays into the GOP’s overall goal of ending reproductive rights in America. The two also discuss the empowering news of Amazon employees unionizing for the first time ever and the reverberations that’s caused for workers nationwide. Later they welcome trans activist and speaker Charlotte Clymer to talk about the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation following the passage of Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bil.    Follow Charlotte...
Published 04/13/22
In episode 1, our team travels to Montana, where cowboy culture reigns supreme, everyone is armed, and 86% of firearm deaths are suicides. There, we meet a couple that represents all the contradictions at the root of America’s gun debate: One is a suicide prevention advocate, and the other is the most adamant Second Amendment supporter we’ve ever met. Plus, our team tries out shooting some big-ass guns.  To hear the rest of this episode of Last Day, search for Last Day wherever you are...
Published 04/12/22
Julián and Sawyer discuss the Biden administration’s long-awaited removal of Trump’s Title 42 policy that paralyzed the asylum-seeking process at the height of COVID. They then unpack the latest from the Jan. 6th House committee’s investigation into Trump’s alleged involvement in the Capitol insurrection. Later the two welcome MSNBC contributor and The Nation’s justice correspondent Elie Mystal to talk about his new book and to offer his thoughts on Attorney General Merrick Garland’s...
Published 04/06/22
Sawyer and guest co-host Maya Rupert unpack the shocking Oscars moment that saw Best Actor winner Will Smith physically assault comedian Chris Rock over an insensitive joke. They then focus on the GOP’s treatment of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson at her Supreme Court nomination hearing as well as the deafening calls for Justice Clarence Thomas’s resignation over his wife’s alleged role on Jan. 6th. Slate senior writer and courts expert Mark Joseph Stern joins to provide additional thoughts on...
Published 03/30/22
Julián and Sawyer compare the first days of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic Supreme Court nomination hearing to those of Trump’s candidates, including Brett Kavanaugh. They then talk about the latest out of Ukraine amidst the ongoing Russian assault. Later they welcome Marguerite Casey Foundation CEO Dr. Carmen Rojas to talk about voting rights, police reform, and the power of Women’s History Month.    Follow Dr. Rojas online at @crojasphd and the Marguerite Casey Foundation at...
Published 03/23/22
Julián and Sawyer talk about the GOP’s misleading rhetoric regarding Russian sanctions and their effects on American gas prices, while also examining the Democratic Party’s messaging choices ahead of the 2022 midterms. They then welcome Majority 54 podcaster Jason Kander to chat about his advocacy work, especially when it comes to bipartisanship in a post-Trump society.    Follow Jason online at @JasonKander.    Keep up with Julián on Twitter at @JulianCastro and Instagram at...
Published 03/16/22
Julián and Sawyer condemn the anti-LGBTQ policies constructed by right-wing conservatives in both Texas and Florida, including the so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. They also welcome Michael McFaul, Stanford University professor and former US ambassador to Russia, to get an unvarnished take on the “young war” waging in Ukraine and to learn how its courageous residents are faring amidst the chaos.    Follow Prof. McFaul online at @McFaul.    Keep up with Julián on Twitter at @JulianCastro...
Published 03/09/22
Julián and Sawyer welcome US Rep. Joaquin Castro to talk about President Biden’s State of the Union address, the results of the Texas primary elections, and Gov. Greg Abbott’s assault on transgender children and their families. They also comment on Biden’s historic nomination of federal judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the US Supreme Court and the uphill battle she may face on Capitol Hill.    Follow Congressman Castro online at @JoaquinCastroTX.    Keep up with Julián on Twitter at...
Published 03/03/22
Julián and Sawyer give an update on the Russian conflict against Ukraine while also tackling domestic issues like President Biden’s most-recent polling numbers and the state of the Democratic Party, especially before next week’s Texas primaries. They also chat with housing advocate and All Home founder Tomiquia Moss about her organization’s fight to curb California’s homelessness problem.    Follow Tomiquia’s organization online at @allhomeca and at allhomeca.org.   Keep up with Julián on...
Published 02/23/22
Julián and Sawyer chat about mask mandate removals in cities and states nationwide, the Canadian trucker protest energizing North American right-wingers, and Texas early voting amidst new election restrictions. They also welcome Black News Channel host and former Obama State Department advisor Nayyera Haq to address the growing tension between Russia and Ukraine that’s worrying international diplomats.   Follow Nayyera online at @nayyeroar.    Keep up with Julián on Twitter at...
Published 02/16/22
Julián and Sawyer deride Republicans for trying to label the Capitol insurrection as “legitimate political discourse.” They also talk about the aftermath of yet another young Black American’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police. Later the two chat with Texas congressional candidate Jessica Cisneros about her much-discussed primary race against moderate Democrat Henry Cuellar. Follow Jessica and her campaign online at JCisnerosTX and jessicacisnerosforcongress.com   Keep up with...
Published 02/09/22
Julián and Sawyer marvel at Trump’s public admission of trying to use Mike Pence to help overturn the 2020 election results and comment extensively on President Biden’s quest to place a Black female judge on the US Supreme Court. They also sit down with healthcare advocate and ALS patient Ady Barkan to talk about the nation’s troubled healthcare system and his new documentary ‘Not Going Quietly.’    Follow Ady online at @AdyBarkan.    Keep up with Julián on Twitter at @JulianCastro and...
Published 02/02/22
Julián and Sawyer dig deep into Trump’s troubles, ranging from the January 6th Committee’s latest findings and New York State’s continued investigation into his seemingly shady business practices. The two also welcome ‘No One is Coming to Save Us’ host Gloria Riviera to talk about the difficulties of childcare during the recent omicron surge.    Follow Gloria online at @griviera.    Keep up with Julián on Twitter at @JulianCastro and Instagram at @JulianCastroTX. Sawyer can be found on...
Published 01/26/22