Politically Re-Active with W. Kamau Bell & Hari Kondabolu
86 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 3.5K ratingsW. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu are comedians who take politics seriously — and longtime friends, trying to help keep each other sane. Join them as they pull the alarm on the dumpster fire that is American politics, and talk to the creators, thinkers, and leaders doing the work to defend and reinvent our democracy.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
W. Kamau Bell on Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
March 28, 2022 14:31 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBWe're sharing an episode from our friends over at Talk Easy. Kamau sits down with host Sam Fragoso to discuss his four-part docuseries We Need to Talk About Cosby. They talk about Kamau's reluctance to talk about Bill Cosby, whose legacy became something he decided to publicly grapple with. You'll hear about Kamau's approach to the series, the integral women who helped create it, and a formative United Shades of America moment that transformed the way he encounters and tells painful stories...
Season Finale: MY BAD
April 08, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 76.3 MBHari and Kamau face up to their mistakes before it's too late. And we all learn so much. Rosa Clemente calls bullshit on Puerto Rican statehood—and gives a crash course on the Puerto Rican people’s historic struggle for self-determination. Yasmin Benoit unpacks the basics of asexuality and shares asexual perspectives on libido, attraction, romance, and kids. And Oren Nimni talks Cargill v. Doe and Nestle v. Doe—the Supreme Court cases about cocoa, corporate America, and child slavery we s...
Ilana Glazer + Sex Work Without Shame
April 01, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 69.4 MBLaLa B Holston-Zannell invites Hari and Kamau to let go of the shame and have a real conversation about sex work, white supremacy, and why decriminalization is a matter of life and death for trans Black women. Then Ilana Glazer talks about mobilizing young voters during a pandemic, the pros and cons of baby modeling, and how to make a horror movie about fertility treatments. And yeah, "Yas queen." Find our guests: LaLa B Holston-Zannell (@LaLaZannell) https://www.aclu.org/news/by/lala-b-ho...
Chase Strangio + Dr. Connie Wun + Derek DelGaudio
March 25, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 94.6 MBThree powerful, absolutely-nothing-like-one-another conversations on this week's jam-packed mega-episode: The ACLU's Chase Strangio blows open the absurdity and cruelty of state legislation targeting trans youth who want to play sports—and agrees with Hari about Rodney Dangerfield's relevance to the conversation. Dr. Connie Wun lifts up the humanity of the victims of the spa killings near Atlanta and connects their murders to America's long history of racist and colonial violence against A...
Soledad O'Brien + Desmond Meade
March 18, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 65.8 MBDesmond Meade, who led the campaign to restore voting rights to the formerly incarcerated in Florida, returns to talk about Gov. Ron DeSantis's decision to deny him a pardon and renewed threats to democratic participation in his state. But in spite of it all, Desmond's excitement about people exercising the franchise is infectious. Then, Emmy-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien is ready to Disrupt & Dismantle structural racism in her new BET series—and to call out cable news for its role in ...
Dr. Rhea Boyd + The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears
March 11, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 80.7 MBDo Black people have an attitude problem about the COVID-19 vaccine? Dr. Rhea Boyd says absolutely not—the problem is lack of access to the vaccine and to real information. So she's launched BetweenUsAboutUs, a national campaign with Black doctors, scientists, and health care professionals (and a certain podcast host), to give Black communities the resources they need to make informed choices and get vaccinated. Then Kamau and Hari have the conversation that every politically engaged basket...
Neal Katyal + Amber Ruffin + Lacey Lamar
March 04, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 75.8 MBAmber Ruffin's career is really taking off (FYI, The Amber Ruffin Show is now on NBC), and she and her sister Lacey Lamar are as close as ever, trading stories about the crazy everyday racist behavior Lacey encounters in their hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Their book You Won't Believe What Happened to Lacey is necessary reading for anyone who doesn't understand how enough microagressions and you'll want to flip a table. Hari and Kamau also talk to top litigator and former Acting Solicitor G...
Marc Lamont Hill + Kamau's Mom
February 25, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 82.8 MBCan we talk about Palestine? Dr. Marc Lamont Hill (who, admittedly, calls himself "a prisoner of hope") says we can, and that Americans are ready to even if our government isn't. He joins Hari and Kamau for a conversation that encompasses Michael Che, Bill Clinton, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and the Columbia House record club. Then Kamau's Mom, Janet Cheatham Bell, talks about structural racism in healthcare and her distrust of the pharmaceutical industry—and why none of that stopped her ...
Vijay Prashad + The Lucas Brothers
February 18, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 73.1 MBHistorian, journalist and hero-of-Hari Vijay Prashad analyzes the Farmers' Protest in India and makes a powerful case for why their struggle is our struggle. And while he's at it, he salutes Rihanna, defines Marxism, and makes quick work of Dinesh D'Souza. Comic duo The Lucas Brothers give the backstory for the new film Judas and the Black Messiah and their 15-year journey to making a movie about Black Panther leader Fred Hampton. Plus: How Kenny and Keith's stoner nihilism withered in the f...
adrienne maree brown + F the Filibuster
February 11, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 79 MBWhat does cancel culture have to do with defunding the police? How do we liberate our attention? Can better orgasms improve public policy? Hari and Kamau get answers—and Valentine's Day advice—from pleasure activist and abolitionist adrienne maree brown, author of We Will Not Cancel Us. Plus: Adam Jentleson lays out the Jim Crow roots of the filibuster and gives a Senate insider's view on why even Joe Manchin might be convinced to abandon it. His new book is Kill Switch: The Rise of the Mode...
Nikki Giovanni
February 04, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 59 MBHari and Kamau debate the morality of Super Bowl-watching before being joined by legendary poet Nikki Giovanni. She's out with a new collection called Make Me Rain, and ready to talk about everyone from Kwame Alexander to Tupac, James Baldwin to Colin Kaepernick. Hear why Nikki Giovanni is inspired by the women who launched Black Lives Matter—and the prospect of traveling to Mars. Find our guest: Nikki Giovanni https://nikki-giovanni.com Find us: Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) http://www....
Porsha Williams + the ACLU's ReNika Moore
January 28, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 68.7 MBPorsha Williams, star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta and granddaughter of civil rights legend Rev. Hosea Williams, talks about why she put her body on the line to demand justice for Breonna Taylor. ACLU Racial Justice Program Director ReNika Moore breaks down the immediate and long-term agenda for racial equity after Trump. And Kamau tries to explain Garth Brooks to Hari. Find our guests: ReNika Moore (@ReNikaMoore) https://www.aclu.org/news/by/renika-moore/ Porsha Williams (@Porsha4Real...
Donald Trump: White People's O.J.?
January 21, 2021 05:00 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBHari and Kamau explore the pressing questions: What would Martin Luther King Jr. have been like on Twitter? Can live-streaming a federal crime boost your real estate business? And how many ways can Donald Trump end up in jail? They're joined by CNN analyst and former FBI special agent Asha Rangappa. Plus: Listeners bid a fond farewell to our 45th President. Find our guests: Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) https://asharangappa.com Mentioned in the show: Justice for Oscar Grant https://www...
Defund the Police 2021 + Trump's Twitter
January 14, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 84.1 MBHari and Kamau can't help noticing that Blue Lives Matter, except when they try to defend the Capitol. Cat Brooks of the Anti Police-Terror Project and Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff of the Center for Policing Equity unpack what it means to "defund the police" — and why it's so damn hard. Plus, the ACLU's Kate Ruane is concerned about Twitter's Trump ban, even though she thinks he deserves much worse. Find our guests: Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff (@DrPhilGoff) https://www.policingequity.org Cat Brooks ...
Georgia! + What the hell?
January 07, 2021 01:59 - 1 hour - 59.5 MBJust when Kamau and Hari thought they could breathe and take in the Democratic victories in Georgia's Senate runoff, an armed right-wing mob storms the Capitol. Hear their reaction to the chaos in DC and their conversation with Nse Ufot of the New Georgia Project and The Intercept's Ryan Grim about how Democrats can make the most of their power (and not fuck it up this time). Find our guests: Nse Ufot (@NseUfot) https://newgeorgiaproject.org Ryan Grim (@RyanGrim) https://theintercept.com/...
Daveed Diggs
December 17, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 60.8 MBThe multitalented Daveed Diggs joins Hari and Kamau to talk about translating Blindspotting for TV, James McBride's liberating take on Frederick Douglass, and rich people loopholes in the time of COVID. Plus: Advanced-level Oakland shit, from Dope Era to Children's Fairyland. Find our guest: Daveed Diggs (@DaveedDiggs) And mentioned in the episode: Deconstructed: Inside Biden's Meeting With Civil Rights Leaders https://theintercept.com/2020/12/10/biden-audio-meeting-civil-rights-leaders/...
The Georgia Episode with LaTosha Brown
December 10, 2020 05:00 - 58 minutes - 53.3 MBHari and Kamau are ejected from their post-election malaise by LaTosha Brown, the unstoppable co-founder of Black Voters Matter. She's on fire to build electoral power in Black communities and has her sights set on Democrats winning both seats in the Georgia Senate runoff. She's also got a message for progressives: If you want to win, time to root out structural racism. Plus: Hari confronts the inconvenient truth about John Kerry. Find our guest: LaTosha Brown (@MsLaToshaBrown) https://bla...
Ijeoma Oluo + Sarah Silverman
December 03, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 68.5 MBIjeoma Oluo breaks down the costs of catering to underwhelming white guys in her new book Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America – and describes what it’s like to be a target for harassment from people who’ve never read a word she’s written. Sarah Silverman can’t wait for there to be a vaccine so she can get back to stand-up, but in the meantime she checks in about scumbag artists, relearning comedy for her new podcast, and the “Mostly Not Racist” t-shirt Kamau gave her. Plus: ...
Sarah Cooper + Dr. Peter Hotez
November 19, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBComedian Sarah Cooper shares the secrets she's learned lip-syncing to our most toxic president and making her Netflix special Everything's Fine. Then, Dr. Peter Hotez talks about surviving the COVID-19 spike, fighting anti-science propaganda, developing a dollar-a-dose coronavirus vaccine — and why Kamau should settle his beef with Surgeon General Jerome Adams. Find our guests: Sarah Cooper (@sarahcpr) https://sarahcpr.com Dr. Peter Hotez (@peterhotez) https://peterhotez.org Find us: Ha...
Phoebe Robinson + The Electoral College's Slaveholder Math
November 12, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 80 MBJesse Wegman dives into the extortionate history of the Electoral College. Indivisible's Meagan Hatcher-Mays outlines the prospects for the pro-democracy agenda without the blue wave. And Hari and Kamau kick back with Dope Queen Phoebe Robinson to talk publishing, Black Frasier, and texting with Michelle Obama. Find our guests: Jesse Wegman (@jessewegman) https://jessewegman.com Phoebe Robinson (@dopequeenpheebs) https://www.phoeberobinson.com Meagan Hatcher-Mays (@importantmeagan) https...
Election Re-Action with Alicia Garza
November 04, 2020 23:48 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBHari and Kamau check in with Alicia Garza of Black Futures Lab about the hope and confusion of Election 2020, what Joe Biden owes popular movements, and why this is no time for Democrats to follow the rules. Plus, Alicia's take on BLM going mainstream and becoming the target of all kinds of weird misinformation. Find our guest: Alicia Garza (@aliciagarza) https://blackfutureslab.org Find us: Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) http://www.harikondabolu.com/ W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) http:/...
Katie Porter! + Caroline Giuliani + Hari's Dad
October 29, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBHari and Kamau welcome Congresswoman Katie Porter, who wields her whiteboard against corrupt CEOs and regulators who don't do their jobs. Caroline Rose Giuliani talks about riding the Rudy rollercoaster and inspires Kamau to reveal his true identity. Plus, Hari's Dad Ravi Kondabolu on voting for the first time, citizenship and Hari's comedy. Find our guests: Katie Porter (@katieporteroc) https://katieporter.com Caroline Rose Giuliani (@CarolineRoseGiu) www.carolinerosegiuliani.com Find us:...
Maria Hinojosa + The Case for Court-Packing
October 22, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 65 MBHari and Kamau talk to Maria Hinojosa, anchor of Latino USA and co-host of In The Thick. She was the first Latina in the newsrooms at NPR, CNN, and PBS, and in her new memoir "Once I Was You," she connects the experiences of her Mexican immigrant family to her passion for defending the humanity of immigrants and refugees. She does her best to explain Latino Trump voters and discovers that she and Kamau went to the same high school in Chicago. But first, Hari has some QUESTIONS about court-pa...
Insiders + Insurgents with Jon Lovett and Cori Bush
October 15, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 60.7 MBHari and Kamau welcome insurgent Democrat Cori Bush, the nurse and Black Lives Matter activist who's poised to win election as Missouri's first Black congresswoman and join The Squad in Washington. Then, they rave on with Pod Save America co-host Jon Lovett about our traumatized democracy, the price Democrats have paid for Barack Obama's genius, the silliness of constitutional originalism, and Hari's time in Hillary Clinton's mailroom. Find our guests: Jon Lovett (@JonLovett) https://crook...
The Four-Letter Word for 2020? Hope
October 08, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBHari & Kamau relaunch Politically Re-Active by getting you oriented for Election 2020. Alexandra Rojas of Justice Democrats talks about inspiring progressive candidates, who has power in the Democratic Party, and why Hari can't get AOC to return his calls. Then, we go to the battleground state of Florida to talk to Desmond Meade, just named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People for his role in re-enfranchising 1.4 million Floridians with felony records, including himself. Baby turtles, s...
Catching up with Kamau & Hari
October 06, 2020 04:00 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBOn this special pre-launch edition, Kamau & Hari catch up after three years away and assess their responsibilities as hosts of the vital public institution that is Politically Re-Active. They talk about the pain of parenthood in San Diego, the horror of Indian Matchmaking, why Antonin Scalia was just batshit crazy — and how to save America. Find us: Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) http://www.harikondabolu.com/ W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) http://www.wkamaubell.com/ Find the show: Twitter (@...
Politically Re-Active Returns!
October 01, 2020 04:00 - 2 minutes - 2.07 MBElection 2020’s almost here — and Kamau & Hari are back, just in time! They’ll be your companions in these final weeks and help you survive whatever comes afterward by talking to the people doing the work to make democracy in America an actual thing. Why are they back after three years away? It just takes two minutes to find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing Deconstructed with Mehdi Hasan
April 02, 2018 21:00 - 1 minute - 1.3 MBWe'd like to introduce you to The Intercept’s newest podcast, Deconstructed. Every Friday, journalist Mehdi Hasan unpacks the most consequential news event of the week, challenging the mainstream media’s tired takes. As a Brit, a Muslim, and an immigrant based in Donald Trump's Washington, D.C., Mehdi gives a refreshingly provocative perspective on the ups and downs of American and global politics. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher More about the show: theintercept.com/de...
Introducing Kondabolu Brothers
March 08, 2018 08:00 - 2 minutes - 2.43 MBHari and his brother Ashok have a new podcast: Kondabolu Brothers. Check out the first episode in your podcast app right now. Witness two brothers occasionally acknowledging their live audience, find out why World War 1 is overrated, and learn why pizza should not be your favorite food. It’s fun. Subscribe here in Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/untitled-kondabolu-brothers-podcast/id594239207?mt=2 Listen in Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=176079 See omnystudio....
What did we learn? With Alicia Garza and Wyatt Cenac
October 05, 2017 08:45 - 1 hour - 97.7 MBIt’s the end of season 2 already? We close strong with messages from our listeners and conversations with #BlackLivesMatter co-founder Alicia Garza, and comedian Wyatt Cenac. Garza is an Oakland-based organizer who is currently the Special Projects Director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance. She describes her lasting impressions from the 2016 election cycle and gives advice for those hoping to be “allies.” Cenac opens up about his experiences on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and...
Writing for very smart brothas (including President Obama)
September 28, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 67 MBSeason 2 is almost over! This week Kamau and Hari are joined by Damon Young (Co-founder of VerySmartBrothas.theroot.com) and David Litt (author of "Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years") to discuss the power of the pen. Young explains Pittsburgh culture and headline structure. Litt lets us in on the challenges and triumphs of writing for President Barack Hussein Obama. If you’ve enjoyed the podcast, call in and tell us what YOU'VE learned this season by dialing 646-389-3721. Yo...
Neil deGrasse Tyson brings the universe down to Earth
September 21, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBAstrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson joins W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu to discuss the politics of space exploration, people's fear of artificial intelligence, and even tell some jokes. Tyson is Director of the Hayden Planetarium. In his latest book, “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry,” he breaks down the basics of the Big Bang theory and quantum mechanics, among other essentials we should understand about the universe. Follow Neil deGrasse Tyson! (@neiltyson) http://www.haydenplanetari...
Speaking with bell hooks & Talking DACA
September 14, 2017 09:52 - 1 hour - 73.9 MBW. Kamau Bell won an Emmy!!! And while he was on the red carpet, Hari was able to interview legendary feminist and author bell hooks about love, labels, and her views on the current administration. Kamau and Hari also gain understanding on DACA from Luis Fernando Macías (assistant professor in Chicano and Latin American Studies at Fresno State) and Elizabeth Perez (the first DREAMer to work for the City of Phoenix). Follow our guests! bell hooks (@bellhooks): http://www.bellhooksinstitute....
Disaster Capitalism and How To Fight It, with Dr. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and Mustafa Santiago Ali
September 07, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 64 MBKamau and Hari dive into the impact of structural and environmental racism with Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor (professor of African American Studies at Princeton University) and Mustafa Santiago Ali (environmental justice leader with Hip Hop Caucus). Taylor advocates for building a unified movement against racism and economic inequality. Ali explains how disasters such as Hurricane Harvey amplify injustices evident in our society. They both share what can be done about it. Listeners also tell us h...
Roy Wood Jr. and Franchesca Ramsey fighting trolls with truth and satire
August 31, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 72.1 MBHow do social commentary and comedy mix? W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu are joined with guests Roy Wood Jr. (The Daily Show with Trevor Noah) and Franchesca Ramsey (MTV’s Decoded) to explore the power of humor in today’s polarizing political era. Roy talks about the new sense of diversity on 'The Daily Show' and dissects a rising style of comedy where comedians get audiences to clap in agreement rather than laugh at jokes. Franchesca describes her balancing act with social media and how sh...
Smashing the Confederacy in the streets and on the screen
August 24, 2017 08:06 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBThe ACLU got a lot of heat last week when their neutral free speech stance had them defending the alt right in Charlottesville. We talk to ACLU Senior Staff Attorney Lee Rowland about the organization’s decision to change course and not defend groups that protest with firearms and the effect that will have on their methods going forward. Historian Mark Bray teaches Kamau and Hari how to pronounce Antifa and what the group is all about. And April Reign, a co-creator of trending hashtag #NoCon...
Bonus! Listeners respond to Charlottesville
August 19, 2017 15:06 - 14 minutes - 13 MBThis week on Politically Re-Active we dedicated a full episode to the events that stirred the nation last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia. We asked our listeners to call in and share their thoughts. And they sure did show up! We received more than 50 powerful messages centering on love, education, and perseverance. Thank you for inspiring us. For updates on us, follow Politically Re-Active on Facebook (@politicallyreactive) and Twitter (@PoliticReActive.) Send us your comments using t...
Charlottesville: Why did this happen and how do we move forward?
August 17, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 70.1 MBKamau and Hari dive deep into the events that stirred the nation this past weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia. One of the largest white supremacist demonstrations in recent US history led to the death of anti-racist protester Heather Heyer and injured many others. Journalist/activist Spencer Sunshine explains the historical background of white supremacy groups in America and how they organize themselves today. We also hear from Media Matters senior fellow Matthew Gertz, community organizer...
Is this what democracy looks like? Jake Tapper & Jessica Byrd give their take
August 10, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 68.6 MBThis week, Kamau and Hari cope with possible nuclear threat, learn how Jessica Byrd helps underrepresented communities engage in the political process, and “bravely” release the interview with Jake Tapper. How has the Trump administration affected Tapper’s reporting style? Why hasn’t Byrd given up all hope on the Democratic party? ALL OF THIS IS ANSWERED HERE. Find Jessica Byrd on Twitter at @JessicaLBYRD and at http://threepointstrategies.org Follow Jake Tapper on Twitter at @jaketapper ...
Lewis Black, legendary political comedian is so angry, he won’t even talk about ‘you know who’. Now THAT’S angry!
August 03, 2017 09:11 - 51 minutes - 47.7 MBThis week’s Politically Re-Active finds our hosts meeting up with legendary political comedian Lewis Black, and getting some important questions answered. How did he become “The King of Rant”? What’s making him rant right now? From his early days yelling at walls, to his current “fan rant” driven tour, Black let’s us in on his creative process. Black has been making regular appearances on The Daily Show since the show began over two decades ago, and he weighs in with a unique perspective o...
Killer Mike of Run the Jewels on Allyship, Equity, and Apocalypse Preparation
July 27, 2017 10:30 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBYou’re going to walk away from this week’s Politically Re-Active, happier and smarter after listening to our conversation with Killer Mike of Run the Jewels. From equity, to allyship and building political power, Killer Mike rallies us to think big and do better. This may take learning how to survive the zombie apocalypse, which Killer Mike shares some insights on too. And in this week’s episode we yet again gain a new term to add to our vocabulary, “the big three.” So get ready to learn and...
Hold Up, Wait a Minute: Twitter Feuds & Threat Models
July 20, 2017 08:10 - 1 hour - 64.4 MBWhat do you do when a Twitter beef disrupts your plans? That’s what happened to this week’s Politically Re-Active. But don’t you worry. We’re picking up the pieces and bringing you the good, bad, and ugly of today’s digital age. We’re speaking with Jessie Daniels about how anything can turn into a shitstorm in a matter of seconds on Twitter. She’s a Professor of Sociology at Hunter College and The Graduate Center, CUNY. She is also among the founders of the emerging field of digital sociolog...
Street Heat w/ Congresswoman Barbara Lee & Linda Sarsour
July 13, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 82.3 MBWe’re back with a powerhouse episode! California Congresswoman Barbara Lee and National Women’s March Co-Chair Linda Sarsour breakdown the reality of fighting for social, racial, and economic justice. We learn about how Congresswoman Lee’s political career was shaped by working with the Black Panthers and on Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm's historical presidential campaign. We learn about how Linda Sarsour fought to disband the NYPD’s unwarranted surveillance of the American Muslim community...
BONUS! Phoebe Robinson, Lindy West, Shane Bauer-Live at Clusterfest
July 06, 2017 07:30 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBComing to you LIVE from San Francisco, it’s Politically Re-Active at Comedy Central’s Clusterfest! Joining your favorite hosts on stage are comedian and podcast queen Phoebe Robinson, the brilliantly witty writer (and This American Life favorite) Lindy West, and our favorite undercover investigative journalist, Shane Bauer! We talk about white nationalists taking over Berkeley, the danger of buying into Ivanka Trump’s beauty, and of course, Bill Maher. And for the comedy nerds, a surprise gu...
Janet Mock on Surpassing Certainty
June 22, 2017 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBShe’s spoken at the Women’s March on Washington, hosted a show for MSNBC, edited for Allure and Marie Claire, and written a New York Times bestselling memoir – and that’s not even half of the revolutionary work that trans writer and activist Janet Mock has done in her young career. In this episode, we talk with Janet about the writing process for her latest memoir “Surpassing Certainty,” the strong history and community of trans people in her native Hawaii, why the term “passing” is problema...
Naomi Klein Says "No Is Not Enough"
June 15, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBIt usually takes Naomi Klein five years to write a book. This time, it took her less than five months. The journalist, author, and activist’s latest work _No Is Not Enough_ is all about Trump, the dark trends that have led to his presidency, and the urgent need for intersectional action right now – not later. In this episode of Politically Re-Active, we dig into the “capitalist burlesque” that has taken over the White House and explain how Trump’s scandals only reinforce his corporate brand (...
Comedy in the Trump Era: 3 Comedians, a Professor, and Kamau’s Mom
June 08, 2017 07:00 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBLive from Limestone! Professor Jeffrey C. Isaac, Karinda Dobbins, Arish Singh, Sophie Hughes, and Janet Cheatham Bell! For the first time ever, it’s Politically Re-Active LIVE! Kamau and Hari take the show on the road to Bloomington, Indiana, for the Limestone Comedy Festival (AKA, “THE GREATEST WEEKEND OF YOUR LIFE VOL V.”). Your favorite hosts talk with Indiana University Political Science Professor Jeffrey C. Isaac about rating Trump’s performance, the Paris Climate Agreement, and why Tr...
Jill Filipovic on the Feminist Pursuit of Happiness
June 01, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBWriter Jill Filipovic on the feminist pursuit of happiness Imagine a world in which women weren’t forced to struggle for equality in a system rigged against them. Imagine instead, the ideal world of journalist and author Jill Filipovic – one in which happiness for women is the driving force behind policies like fair pay and legal recognition of best friendships. In that world, Jill says, not only are women happier and healthier, but most everyone else (read: people who aren’t white men) are...
Rashad Robinson & Color of Change Cancels Bill O'Reilly
May 25, 2017 07:00 - 58 minutes - 54 MBRashad Robinson has done battle with Bill O’Reilly and won – twice. He’s taken on the shady, corporate-driven conservative operation ALEC and gotten companies like Coca Cola and Walmart to back down from supporting stand-your-ground laws. And now, after successfully campaigning to remove O’Reilly from Fox News - along with great work from UltraViolet, the Women's March, NOW-New York, CREDO, Sleeping Giants, and MoveOn - he’s taking on the prison-profiteering bail bond industry – and it’s not ...
Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl on Rad American Women
May 18, 2017 07:01 - 57 minutes - 53.2 MBListeners, you and your kids need a new alphabet – specifically, one that starts with “A is for Angela Davis”. In this episode of Politically Re-Active, we talk with writer Kate Schatz and artist Miriam Klein Stahl about their illustrated children’s books, "Rad American Women A-Z" and "Rad Women Worldwide." We also dive into ways that you – yes you! – can join the resistance in your local community through Solidarity Sundays, a network of feminist activist groups that meet each month to engag...