UNDISTRACTED With Brittany Packnett Cunningham

Nikole Hannah-Jones Explains It All: Reparations, Rage, and How we Have Hope Jul 02, 2026

What does reparations actually mean? And why is it important to talk about right now?

In this special live episode of Undistracted, Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with someone perfectly positioned to answer those questions: Pulitzer Prize-winning 1619 Project creator and New York Times journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones. Together, they get into why the economic practice of slavery requires an economic solution (yes, reparations is broader, but “frankly, I’m most interested in cash,” says Hannah-Jones); how reparations for Black Americans is different (and isn’t) from Germany’s reparations to Holocaust survivors; and why, most of all, our history shows that we have to have hope.

Plus, in the group chat, Brittany hears from Liberation Ventures’ co-founder and CEO Aria Florant and author and activist Preston Mitchum, for a conversation about their own personal relationships to reparations, and how imagining a different future is itself an act of resistance.

We want to thank Liberation Ventures for their support of this podcast. You can support their work by following @LiberationVenture, joining the #WeekOfRepair hashtag and/or signing up for their newsletter at: https://www.repair-is.org/take-action

And we’d like to thank these key reparations activist groups for joining the live event audience: The Braxton Institute, The Black-Eyed Susans for Repair, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, Why We Can’t Wait Coalition, DC Justice Lab, Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center and Get Free.

The Power of “I Deserve This,” with Jemele Hill Jun 25, 2026

It’s a magic moment for sports—and no, we’re not talking about the Knicks over in the MNBA, we’re talking the WNBA, where women just negotiated a huge, historic new collective bargaining agreement for themselves. What’s next, and what can the rest of us learn from this victory? Brittany Packnett Cunningham is joined by journalist, author, and media powerhouse Jemele Hill for a conversation about how these players fought for “dignity and respect,” and why they’re more activist than many male athletes. They also unpack how the Men's World Cup is influencing America's global reputation (maybe…for the better?), and the political power of the soccer stadium. Plus, Dr. Brittney Cooper joins the group chat to talk about Michelle Obama’s speech, her sorta-friendship with George W. Bush—and the four-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v Wade.

Juneteenth and the Debt We're Still Owed, with Adam Serwer Jun 18, 2026

As we get ready to celebrate Juneteenth and the nation's 250th anniversary, Brittany Packnett Cunningham is asking: What would it actually take to repair the worst of America’s history, and build the future we deserve? To talk about the idea of reparations, Brittany sits down with The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer to unpack why this idea matters now, why “we’re not just talking about slavery,” and what we should learn from other countries that have done it (successfully and not). Then, group chat bestie Dr. David Johns joins Brittany for an Untrending News conversation on what reparations would look like—and the joy they would unlock.

This episode launches a special Undistracted series on reparations in 2026. It was produced with support from Liberation Ventures and The Meteor Fund.

You can support Liberation Ventures’ work by following their page, @LiberationVentures, joining the #WeekOfRepair hashtag, and signing up for their newsletter: https://www.repair-is.org/take-action

Serena’s Back, Slush Fund Is Dead and…They Tried to Ban Roots? Jun 11, 2026

We’re talking Summer House and Freedom Summer in this episode! Because we love our reality TV and also we love our democracy. Our special guests? Attorney, activist, and Bravo alum Preston Mitchum, and group chat regular Dr. Brittney Cooper. Together with Brittany, they cover everything from Trump’s repeated tantrums before Black women reporters to why book bans continue to backfire. Plus, the group weighs in on Summer House reunion chaos, and why Serena Williams and Allyson Felix coming out of retirement feels bigger than sports. Because when institutions are under pressure, culture tells us just as much as politics.

To learn more about Freedom Schools and find one near you: https://freedomschoolpartners.org/

We Should All be Backtalkers, with Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw Jun 04, 2026

She’s the scholar behind the idea of intersectional feminism—and but those words aren’t just political to her, they’re personal. In her new memoir Backtalker, Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw traces her own life from childhood in Ohio to work on Anita Hill’s legal team to helping popularize ideas like critical race theory. Now she sits down with Brittany to talk about all of it, and how she’s learned to challenge systems that were never built to see Black women clearly.

Plus we’ve got a full and fearless UNtrending News for you, with group chat besties Dr. David Johns and Dr. Brittney Cooper joining Brittany to analyze what’s happening with Delaney Hall protests, voting-rights wins, and, wait for it, Jay-Z’s new Blue Ivy look.

Mentioned in this episode:

To join Kimberlé Crenshaw's Backtalkers Academy at https://www.aapf.org/backtalkers-academy

You can donate to support the Delaney Hall detainees and affected families at https://linktr.ee/supportourfamilies

To take action for voting rights this midterm election, visit FreedomSummer2026.com

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Girl, AI Is Not Unstoppable May 21, 2026

A lot of conversations about AI are either sales pitches (“the efficiency!”) or horror stories (“the extinction!”). This week, Bridget Todd, technologist and host of There Are No Girls on the Internet, joins us for something better—an informed, 100% human discussion of what it will take to make AI work for us, and whether there’s still time to do that. (Yes, but move fast.)

She, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham, and group-chat regular Dr. David Johns break it down in a wide-ranging conversation: Together, they unpack the rise of AI-generated Black identities, nude deepfakes, the risks to child safety, and what to do about “girlboss AI.” It’s an episode that challenges us to think critically about the systems shaping our lives…because nothing about this future is inevitable.

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Don’t Mansplain to Us, with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal May 14, 2026

In a world of Epstein files, voter suppression and mansplaining lawmakers, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is a breath of fearless fresh air. She sits down with Brittany Packnett Cunningham to talk about everything from why the files matter to why some politicians still refuse to grasp the urgency of this political moment. Plus, Brittany links up with David Johns for a group chat on this Saturday’s historic voting rights rallies in Selma and Montgomery, as well as why some people are confused about exactly where the South is.

For more information on how to join this Saturday’s All Roads Lead to the South National Day of Action for Voting Rights: https://blackpowerwarroom.com/dayofaction/

Have They Even Read the Constitution?, with Melissa Murray May 07, 2026

The Constitution: So revered! So important! So…really, who knows, because most of us haven’t read it. But law professor and Strict Scrutiny cohost Melissa Murray has, and she sits down with Brittany Packnett Cunningham to discuss her new, essential book on the subject. They get into why the Constitution is a “trauma-informed document,” why SCOTUS’s new voting-rights ruling is so scary and “bonkers,” and why the real secret of the Constitution is that we, the people, have more power than we think. Plus, Brittany is joined by Dr. Brittney Cooper and political strategist Atima Omara for this week’s group chat—on everything from billionaire culture to Devil Wears Prada 2 to Black joy during prom season.

Read LaTosha Brown’s article “We Are the Architects Now”: https://www.contrabandcamp.com/p/we-are-the-architects-now

Melissa Murray’s The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader is out now: https://bit.ly/42g0KGW

Atima Omara’s How Black Women Have Been Essential to American Democracy (And What We Can Learn From Them) https://bit.ly/3Rqswy3

For abortion access visit: INeedAnA.com

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Corporate America Is Not Your Homegirl, with Tiffany Cross Apr 30, 2026

After her MSNBC show The Cross Connection was canceled back in 2022, Tiffany Cross “felt like it was just me.” But now she sees her experiences of loss (of a job, and of a relationship at the same time) as connected to the broader pattern of Black women being pushed out of the workplace and denied what they deserve. Now, she has a new book out—and she sits down with Brittany Packnett Cunningham to talk about what it takes to rebuild. Plus, we’ve got your UNTrending News—with group chat fave Dr. Brittney Cooper joining Brittany to break down everything from deed theft to why Megan Thee Stallion should definitely date our producer Doug.

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“It’s Worse Than We Know”: Maria Hinojosa on Cesar Chavez Apr 23, 2026

It’s been a month of devastating violence against women and children—from femicide cases making headlines to the mass killing in Shreveport, Louisiana. To understand it, Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa for a powerful conversation about the shocking allegations against farmworkers leader César Chávez, and Maria’s interview with Chávez’s co-leader (and victim) Dolores Huerta. Plus, they get into covering politics in the age of Trump, and how Maria got her Mexican passport back.

And at the top of the show, group chat fave Dr. Brittney Cooper joins our UNtrending news segment on understanding all this violence—and, also, Beyoncé’s Lemonade turning 10!

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How to Take Down the Creeps of Capitol Hill, with Mrs. Frazzled Apr 16, 2026

Let’s be real: Capitol Hill has a creep crisis. In this episode, Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with creator Arielle Fodor—better known as Mrs. Frazzled—to unpack how a small group of women publicized the alleged sexual misconduct of former congressman and California gubernatorial hopeful Eric Swalwell. They get into the power of the whisper network, and why Democrats stay quiet when The Accused is one of their own. Plus, group chat bestie Dr. David Johns joins Brittany to break down this week’s UNtrending news—from Hungary to New Jersey.

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The Manosphere Could Never, With Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach Apr 09, 2026

UNDISTRACTED is back—and this is a fully loaded season premiere! First, Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down the group chat of Dr. Brittney Cooper and Dr. David Johns to unpack what’s happened, from the rise of Ms. Rachel to the decline of democracy. Then she hits the mic with Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach to talk about raising boys in the age of the manosphere, navigating social-media backlash, and why Dawn Staley should never be messed with. This conversation gets real about the work of showing up…with integrity and with each other. Plus, we’ve got a helping of your UNtrending news.

Oh Hi, It's Been A Minute Apr 02, 2026

We missed you, our sweet UNDISTRACTED gang…and look, this is no time to be apart. So we are BACK, with our biggest, juiciest season yet. Here’s a peek at what host Brittany Packnett Cunningham and her regular group chat—plus our newsmaking, rule-breaking guests—will be talking about all season long. In a world that’s trying to distract you from what really matters, she’ll keep you focused, informed, and making a difference.

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"Guard Your Joy, Siblings," with The Machetes Feb 06, 2025

For our Season 3 finale, Brittany had no choice but to call up Thee group chat–The Machetes, an unshakeable sisterhood of women who bonded during COVID and haven’t let go. This week Brittany sits down with five of them–community organizer LaTosha Brown, broadcast journalist Cari Champion, co-host of The View Sunny Hostin, sports journalist Jemele Hill, and TheReidOut host Joy Ann Reid for conversation about community, sisterhood, and of course—where they got their name. Listen in…and hold on tight to your own Machetes. We’re going to need each other this year.

For timely analysis, updates, and resources on actions from Trump-Vance administration, visit: https://www.democracy2025.org/response-center

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“Women are the Secret Sauce”: Talking Activism, with Shannon Watts Jan 30, 2025

It’s been 10 days since the inauguration—10 days full of executive orders, immigration crackdowns, dismantled DEI initiatives and general panic. This shock and overwhelm is intentional, but if we’re going to make it through the next four years…we can’t traffic in hopelessness. This week, Brittany speaks with activist Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, to talk about collective action, whether we’ll ever get gun reform, and how to build the “womansphere.” Plus: Brittany brings you this week’s UNtrending news.

For timely analysis, updates, and resources on actions from Trump-Vance administration, visit: https://www.democracy2025.org/response-center

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“We are the Evidence” MLK, Inauguration Day and The Road Ahead, with The Group Chat Jan 23, 2025

How do you make sense of a day that both honored Martin Luther King, Jr. and ushered in a president determined to demolish progress at warp speed? Brittany calls up two people equipped to do it: group chat members Dr. David J. Johns and Dr. Brittney Cooper. Together, they trace the origin of white obsession with “meritocracy,” the price the country has paid for the success of Barack Obama, the fact that more information does not equal more knowledge, and how we’ll survive this moment the way we would a storm. Plus: Brittany honors the life and legacy of her friend (and frequent UNDISTRACTED guest) Cecile Richards.

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“If We Ever Felt Like Fighters, Now’s The Time to Prove It,” with Cori Bush Jan 16, 2025

Cori Bush is just one week out of Congress—so who better to tell us exactly what to expect over these next four years? In this episode, Brittany sits down with the activist and former legislator for an “exit interview” like no other: all about what her Republican colleagues really told her behind the scenes, why she still thinks public service is worth it, and what the new “radical Cori” will do next. Plus: a special report from environmentalist Leah Thomas on evacuating her LA home.

Please consider donating to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, which supports the first responders working to quell the devastating California wildfires.

Keep an eye on Mutual Aid LA Network’s Fire & Storm Resource document for additional support opportunities.

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Does America Have a Man Problem? With Anand Giridharadas and Liz Plank Jan 09, 2025

What do the election results and mass violence have in common? Among other things: men—angry American men whose path to radicalization seems to be moving faster and faster. Why is it happening? What can we do about it, both in our politics and in our own lives? And whose responsibility actually is it to fix all this? In this episode, Brittany speaks with journalists Anand Giridharadas and Liz Plank about the manosphere, who profits from it, and what should take its place. Plus: Brittany breaks down the UNtrending news, from Bad Bunny to Biden.

Please consider donating to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, which supports the first responders working to quell the devastating California wildfires.

Keep an eye on Mutual Aid LA Network’s Fire & Storm Resource document for additional support opportunities.

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The Year of Our Power: The Group Chat and Rev. Neichelle Guidry Make Resolutions Jan 02, 2025

Happy New Year! To ring in 2025, Brittany calls up the group chat—Dr. David J. Johns and Dr. Brittney Cooper—to hear their resolutions (crafting, joy, and a little “intentional silence,” among other things). Then, she sits down with Rev. Neichelle Guidry, director of the Sisters Chapel at Spelman College. No matter what faith you practice, this is a conversation to tune into, about radical politics, the roar of conservative evangelical values, and the power of quiet conversations.

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“Staying Quiet is Not An Option”: Sitting Down with Women Who Have Accused Trump and Kennedy Dec 19, 2024

Donald Trump has made his cabinet nominations, and many have something in common: allegations of sexual misconduct. Has disrespect toward women somehow become an actual job qualification? To make sense of the moment, Brittany sits down with Natasha Stoynoff, who says Donald Trump assaulted her when she was a reporter for People, and Eliza Cooney, who claims that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. groped her when she was a part-time nanny for his family. They talk about what every Senator weighing in on these confirmations should do next—and the “strange sorority” of women with similar stories. Plus, Cooney has words for other women considering coming forward.

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“How Am I??”: Ilana Glazer Takes on Motherhood Dec 12, 2024

We all have mamas! And some of us are mamas. So why are onscreen mamas so often so…plastic? This week, Brittany invites actor and comedian Ilana Glazer over to talk about how they’re pushing back on binary ideas of motherhood in their own work. Together they get into Glazer’s forthcoming Hulu stand-up special “Human Magic,” their own parenting joys, and why onscreen fathers are always Homer Simpson or Tony Soprano. Plus: Brittany brings you this week’s UNtrending news on everything from the Black maternal health crisis to all the glory that is hip-hop starlet Doechii.

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“I Think the Best Advice Is Just to be Skeptical,” with Max Tani Dec 05, 2024

Everyone’s got an opinion about the media…and almost everyone has a complaint. But why, exactly? And what does the fractured nature of what we read and listen to cost us? This week, Brittany sits down with Semafor’s Max Tani, who breaks down how trust in the media has unraveled, what gender and race have to do with it, and the reason people are still fixating on why Kamala Harris didn’t go on Joe Rogan. Plus, this week’s UNtrending news: health benefits for sex workers!

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“Are We the People We Said We’d Be?” UNDISTRACTED #100, with Alicia Garza Nov 21, 2024

UNDISTRACTED celebrates its 100th episode! Brittany is joined by Alicia Garza, the activist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Organization, to reflect on the past four years, the state of our movements, and to discuss how we can chart a path forward. Plus: Brittany talks about post-election news, including the state of Ohio’s Haitian migrant community, victories for the Working Families Party. And: a new report on school segregation, and a glimmer of hope in the Washington Spirit soccer team.

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"Heartbreaking, Maddening and Ready to Fight”: Cecile Richards and Paola Ramos Nov 14, 2024

Who saw last week’s election results coming? Among others, this week’s guests—and they have a lot to say. As we approach the 100th episode of UNDISTRACTED, Brittany checks in with legendary abortion-rights activist Cecile Richards, who was our very first guest, about her new project Abortion in America, and what’s ahead for all our rights. Then, Brittany speaks with journalist Paola Ramos about the far-right shift of some Latino voters— and the future of multiracial coalitions.

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“We Did Not Consent to Chaos”: The Group Chat Talks Election Nov 08, 2024

Just 36 hours after Americans elected Donald Trump — again — Brittany sat down with the people she most wanted to process this with: group chat regulars Dr. Brittney Cooper and Dr. David J. Johns. This is a conversation of righteous rage, deep disappointment, and total honesty.

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We’re in Holy Sh*t Territory, with Sunny Hostin Oct 31, 2024

As co-host of The View, Sunny Hostin spends her time working with and speaking to a bipartisan audience. So how’s that going? With a week to go before the election, Brittany and Sunny talk about dividing lines, political surprises, and Sunny’s epic clapbacks on behalf of Puerto Rico and the people she cares about. Plus: Brittany decodes this week’s UNtrending News—and not all of it’s about the election!

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A Girl’s Girl Fights for Abortion, with Kaitlyn Joshua Oct 24, 2024

Two years ago, Kaitlyn Joshua was desperately trying to obtain abortion care in Louisiana, which had enacted a severe ban after Dobbs. Today, she’s telling her story to anyone who will listen, in an effort to help turn the election. She took a pit stop to hang with Brittany and talk about her fight for reproductive justice in the South and the challenges women of color face in healthcare. And she knows: This is so much bigger than Roe. Plus: Brittany brings you this week’s UNtrending news.

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Hip Hop's Promise and Pain, with Drew Dixon Oct 17, 2024

With new accusations against Diddy dominating the headlines, Brittany sits down with Drew Dixon—who has shared her own powerful story of surviving abuse in the music industry. Together they get into the emotional toll of speaking out, the specific pushback Black women survivors face, and how Drew stopped living in “the fetal position” and reclaimed her life. It’s an inspiring vision of a brighter future for hip-hop and for our lives. Plus, Brittany covers this week’s UNtrending news.

National Sexual Assault Hotline

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Everybody Watches Women’s Sports, with Cari Champion Oct 10, 2024

Everybody watches women’s sports…it’s true! Brittany talks to iconic sports broadcaster and host of "The Making of a Rivalry" Cari Champion about what all these new eyes mean for the athletes, and the league. Plus: a new report on the mental health toll of anti-trans policies, the October 7 anniversary of the war in Gaza, and the Country Music Awards Beyoncé snub.

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The Group Chat Decodes Your Week's News Oct 03, 2024

We’ve got company! This week Brittany is joined by the group chat to cover the week’s UNtrending news. Dr. Brittney Cooper and Dr. David Johns help us break down Hurricane Helene’s real impact…the latest on college free-speech moves…and the voter suppression tactics afoot in swing states. It’s a conversation full of our favorite cocktail: hard truths and hopeful solutions.

NBJC Voting ToolKit

North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

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Our Right to Party, with Rep. Ruwa Romman and Maurice Mitchell Sep 26, 2024

On this week’s episode, Brittany sits down with Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party, and Georgia State Rep. Ruwa Romman, who wrote a speech we never got to hear at the DNC. Maurice talks strategy, Ruwa gets us inspired, and they answer that pressing question: What do you say to folks who still want to vote third party? Plus, Brittany brings you this week’s UNtrending news.

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"We Elect Partners, Not Saviors:" Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Brittney Cooper Sep 19, 2024

As Kamala Harris became the first Black and South Asian woman to receive a major party nomination for the presidency, Brittany sat down with Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Dr. Brittney Cooper at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. They unpack the highs and lows of this political moment, plus talk about what it means to be a Black woman in power.

This episode of Undistracted was recorded live at “The Power Lounge” during the 2024 Democratic National Convention, hosted by Emerge and The Meteor. You can watch the full, unedited interview on YouTube.

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Ava DuVernay Wants Us to Dig Deeper Sep 12, 2024

It’s our first episode back! And Brittany knew who she wanted to talk to: Ava DuVernay, the visionary director who excels in “big-sister wisdom.” They get into everything about the state of the world now, from the DNC (cookout energy!)...to the way DuVernay’s most recent film, Origin, reframes the world…to why DuVernay wishes Democrats would get “a little bit more bare-knuckle.” Plus, Brittany brings you the latest UNtrending news.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with PEN America. Visit pen.org/undistracted to learn more about Banned Books Week.

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We’re Baaaaaack Sep 06, 2024

It’s a brand new season of UNDISTRACTED, starting September 12th! Join host Brittany Packnett Cunningham as she tackles and makes sense of the news of the week—the bits you heard about, the bits you didn’t, and what we’re going to do about all of it. A lot has happened since we were last together, so make yourself comfortable; Brittany’s got some extra special guests stopping by. Listen in, and let us know who you want to hear from!

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Exclusive: Vice President Kamala Harris On A Year Without Roe Jun 21, 2023

One year ago this week, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade—a momentous decision that has enabled 14 states to outlaw abortion so far. Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham knew exactly who she wanted to talk to about that, and in this special episode, she sits down with Vice President Kamala Harris to talk about the chaos, the confusion, and what the White House should be doing to help patients and providers now. They get into all of it: what the VP thinks of the “extremist so-called leaders” behind the bans; the lawsuits the administration is filing, and the advice Kamala Harris says her mother would give her as she heads into the 2024 election.

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“Every Hashtag is a Human Being”: Honoring the Five-Year Anniversary of #MeToo Oct 20, 2022

It’s been five years exactly since millions of people, most of them women, stepped forward to say #MeToo. What have we learned since then? In our season finale, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with Tarana Burke, the woman who started the movement back in 2006, along with playwright/attorney Mary Kathryn Nagle, and organizer/attorney Monica Ramirez. Their conversation is a reflection on our post-#MeToo world—and what we actually owe survivors. But first, as always, your UNtrending news.

Note: For more information on how to help the fight in Iran, visit Iran Human Rights

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The End of the World as We Know It? Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Rates our Climate Future Oct 13, 2022

The floods, the hurricanes, the wildfires…if you feel like you’re living through a climate apocalypse, you’re not wrong. But it’s not all hellfire, says marine biologist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson—there are signs of progress if you know where to look. In this episode, the “climate futurist” sits down with host Brittany Packnett Cunningham to give our planet a report card from the point of view of science, policy and climate action. The results? Not what we expected. But first, this week’s UNtrending news.

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“You Can’t Win if You Don’t Start”: Rep. Cori Bush on Running for Office—and Making a Difference Oct 06, 2022

Congresswoman Cori Bush doesn’t have the usual political resume: no Ivy League alma mater, no law degree, no generational wealth––but she’s an organizer, a mother, a pastor and a survivor, and she’s brought all those pieces of herself with her to Washington. Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with Rep. Bush to talk about her brand-new memoir, her harrowing journey to the Capitol, and what it’s really like to survive in politics as a Black woman. But first, this week’s UNtrending news.

Note:

For resources on how you can help asylum seekers in New York, see here.

For more information on upcoming SCOTUS cases, see here and here.

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Derecka Purnell On Living (and Loving) Outside the Police State Sep 29, 2022

What do Stranger Things, social media and sexual violence all have in common? They all figure into Derecka Purnell’s brilliant world philosophy about abolition—the effort to move beyond police, and the violence too often associated with them. In this episode, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with her friend, the writer and professor, to hear more. This is a conversation about scaling big ideas down to day-to-day practice. But first, this week’s UNtrending News.

For more information on abolitionist books resources, visit here or here.

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The Queen Died. Now What? Three Brilliant Women on Colonialism and the Future Sep 22, 2022

The funeral is over. The pomp has died down. But the conversations—not just around the monarchy, but around the legacy of imperialism—continue around the world. So host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with three women with different perspectives on the empire: writer Luvvie Ajayi Jones, professor and scholar Caroline Elkins, and the Meteor’s Shannon Melero. Together they get into what the queen represented, what people still don’t understand about colonialism, and their own families and experiences. But first, this week’s UNtrending news.

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The Hidden Latinx Stories We Don’t Hear, with Julissa Natzely Arce Raya Sep 15, 2022

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month! And Julissa Natzely Arce Raya has complicated feelings. The author of You Sound Like a White Girl sits down with host Brittany Packnett Cunningham to talk about why some stories get told so much more than others—and what that costs us. You’ll hear about rebel cheerleaders, solidarity between activists, the pressure to assimilate, and what Julissa learned from her journey through Wall Street. Plus, of course, this week’s UNtrending news.

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The Kids Are All Right. The Adults Are F***ing Up! Sep 01, 2022

It’s all about the young folk this week: We’ve got Gen Z protestors disrupting anti-abortion galas…a student reporter holding colleges to task…and clever TikTokers lobbying for debt relief. And that’s just in the first ten minutes! Then, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham talks to school librarian Jennisen Lucas and author George M. Johnson about the new wave of book banning, who’s really behind it, and the lifelong damage it does– to students, and to all of us.

Note: Read Talia’s Kantor Lieber's story about how colleges in hostile states are responding to the end of Roe: https://themeteor.us/iKxc5z. AND, to donate relief aid to Pakistan, here are some useful resources: Pakistan Red Crescent Society, Muslim Aid, and International Medical Corps.

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Will We Be Smarter About the Next Epidemic? Two Experts Break it Down Aug 25, 2022

COVID taught us a lot of lessons—or did it? With MPV (aka monkeypox) here in its wake, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with Dr. Monica Gandhi and Dr. David Johns to talk about what we’re getting wrong, the rise of homophobic disinformation, and why it’s still so hard for us to care for our neighbors. But first, this week’s UNtrending news.

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A Future Without Police? Andrea Ritchie on Crime and Abolition Aug 18, 2022

The headlines say crime is up. And our politicians say more police are the answer. What’s the truth? And what happened to all those abolitionist promises made in the summer of 2020? Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down to answer those questions with two brilliant guests: Pulitzer-winning journalist Wesley Lowery, who explains what the media’s getting wrong about crime, and activist, writer and attorney Andrea Ritchie, who walks us through once and for all what abolition really means—and how we can take steps, big and little, to get there.

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“People’s Kids Are the Center of Their World”- Caitlin Dickerson on the Horrors of Family Separation Aug 11, 2022

On this week’s episode, Undistracted host Brittany Packnett Cunningham talks to journalist Caitlin Dickerson about one of the darkest policy moments in American history: the “Zero Tolerance” family separation initiative. Caitlin spent 18 months investigating family separation for The Atlantic. She conducted over 150 interviews in order to unpack the administrative decisions that led us here, as well as the collateral trauma still playing out today. In this conversation, we learn about the intentionality behind “Zero Tolerance,” the families that are still separated, and how actions like this can cause intergenerational wounds. But first, this week’s UNtrending news.

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Beyoncé’s Renaissance, According to Four Brilliant Black Women Aug 04, 2022

“This started off as a conversation about Beyoncé,” says host Brittany Packnett Cunningham, “but like her music, it became about so many other things: the evolution of womanhood, our queer siblings, spiritual sexuality and giving Black women their things.” So settle in and listen to legendary music writer Danyel Smith, NPR reporter Ayesha Rascoe, and theologian Candice Benbow talk about it all—from the politics of Beyoncé to why her music means so much right now. There are belly laughs, tears, and moments of deep acknowledgment. But first, this week’s UNtrending news.

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“The System Works For Those Who Occupy It”: Maria Teresa Kumar on Voting Rights Jul 28, 2022

The majority of Americans didn’t want to see Roe v. Wade overturned—but it was. Most Americans want gun reform—but it doesn’t happen. So the big question is: What’s going on here? Maria Teresa Kumar, cofounder of Voto Latino, understands the answers, and she lays them out here, in conversation with correspondent Treasure Brooks. They talk gerrymandering, voter suppression and the very specific races we need to win this fall in order to make things better. And of course, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham breaks down this week’s UNtrending news.

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Phoebe Robinson is Writing Her Own Rules (on TV and in Life) Jul 21, 2022

"The media has such a limited understanding about Black femaleness,” says Phoebe Robinson, the actress, comedian, writer, podcast host and producer. “But the complexity is always more interesting!” So she and Brittany Packnett Cunningham go complex (and hilarious) in this episode, talking about Robinson’s new show, “Everything’s Trash”; the prospect of a Black Carrie Bradshaw; and also our trash world, beginning but not ending with Clarence Thomas. And first–this week’s UNtrending news.

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“Covering the End of the World”: A Reporter on Gun Violence Jul 14, 2022

You know gun violence is an American epidemic. But…why? And how do we get out of this mess? Jennifer Mascia understands those answers better than almost anyone. As a reporter with The Trace, her entire beat is gun violence. Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with her to talk about the highs and lows of the last few weeks, the threat of civil conflict, and exactly what’s wrong with the “good guy with a gun” theory. All that, and this week’s UNtrending news.

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Introducing History is US Jul 12, 2022

Written and narrated by award-winning author and Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, “History is US” is a 6-part audio documentary produced and developed by C13Originals that asks questions about who we are as a nation, and what race might reveal about our current crisis. Through the voices of distinguished historians and scholars, this limited series gives listeners the background and education to understand how we got here and how we can all use history to clarify the choices before us. There will always be something distinct about our present day, yet history haunts. “History is US” is a presentation of Shining City Audio, a C13Originals and Jon Meacham Studio.

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Tiffany Cross on Roe, Resistance and What Comes Next Jul 07, 2022

“I would rather be a voice and an advocate for my people than sit and smile in the face of bullshit.” That’s host Tiffany Cross’ philosophy—and the reason she consistently centers BIPOC voices on her MSNBC show. In this episode, recorded live in Washington, D.C., she and Brittany (colleagues *and* friends) get real about everything from the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade to what exactly is lighting up the group chat these days. All that, plus your UNtrending news.

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Michelle Colón is Living Through The Last Days of Legal Abortion in Mississippi Jun 30, 2022

It’s been six days since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. But activist and “abortion freedom fighter” Michelle Colón has been defending pregnant people and providers in Mississippi for years—and she’s not going to stop now. She tells host Brittany Packnett Cunningham exactly what a post-Roe future looks like, and why her only words to people who doubt her is, “You know what? Dare us.” Plus, public defender Rhiannon Hamam of the podcast 5-4 walks us through the new legal landscape.

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The Roe v. Wade News—and Finding Hope Jun 25, 2022

In the shadow of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, what do hope and faith mean? In this bonus episode, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham joins journalist Phillip Picardi, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, and Jamie L. Manson, president of Catholics for Choice, to talk about religion, and the revolution ahead. This conversation originally aired on Twitter—follow us @TheMeteor for more.

If you can, please support abortion funds at: https://abortionfunds.org, check in with your local abortion fund, or support a fund in the trigger states: https://wearethemeteor.com/people-are-trying-to-get-abortions-today/

We're following organizations like We Testify (https://www.wetestify.org) and I Need An A (https://www.ineedana.com/) to stay connected, and to stay in the fight.

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Having a Baby While Black: Martina Abrahams Ilunga and Gabrielle Horton Know *All* The Stories Jun 23, 2022

You probably know the data about what Black women face when they give birth. But do you know the stories? Martina Abrahams Ilunga and Gabrielle Horton are committed to telling them, through their podcast NATAL. Brittany Packnett Cunningham sat down with the journalists to talk about what they’ve learned, what they advise, and her own journey to motherhood. Together, they get into the importance of community, and how to navigate a healthcare system that has systematically overlooked the Black birthing experience. It’s a rich episode—and Treasure Brooks has your UNTrending News.

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You Can Be Successful Where You Are: Majora Carter on Reclaiming Communities Jun 16, 2022

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“God is Big Enough for Our Questions:” Candice Benbow on Faith, Feminism and Lipstick Jun 02, 2022

What does having faith mean in 2022? Candice Benbow has become an icon for answering that question—especially for those of us who’ve fallen off the prayer wagon somewhere along the way. This week, the writer/theologian/educator and author of Red Lip Theology sits down with host Brittany Packnett Cunningham to talk about her rituals (some of them happen at the beauty supply store), her mother, her Beyonce connection, and healing from assault. Plus, we bring you this week’s UNtrending News.

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During a Dark Time, A Little Light with Bevy Smith May 26, 2022

In this week’s episode, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham honors the victims and the tragedy of the Uvalde, Texas, shooting. Then, the Undistracted team sits down with TV personality and business icon Bevy Smith to talk about women, aging and why she wants to be “one of the old dolls.” Plus, Smith IDs the factors that helped her navigate the predominantly white fashion world.

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“Tell the Truth to Set Us Free”: Kimberlé Crenshaw on White Supremacy, CRT and Lies May 19, 2022

It’s been a long week, y’all—and we’ve been grieving the victims of the Buffalo shooting. On the heels of that violence, we’re bringing you an interview that host Brittany Packnett Cunningham did with Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw last summer, as the anti-CRT laws began to sweep the country. As always, the professor makes it all makes sense, and her discussion of everything from white “insecurity” to the purposes of book-banning hits different in this tragic week. Plus, correspondent Treasure Brooks holds space for the people we lost this week.

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WTF, TEXAS?! Cisneros, Crockett and O’Rourke on The Madness (and Promise) of The Lone Star State May 12, 2022

What happens in Texas matters everywhere. As the state becomes a testing ground for extreme policies (abortion! immigration! CRT!) we hear from three people fighting for a better Texas. Congressional candidate Jessica Cisneros, State Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke talk about what's at stake, how we got here—and why they believe in the power of the people to get us out.

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What Happens Now? Gloria Steinem and Renee Bracey Sherman on the Future of Abortion May 05, 2022

In the shadow of the leaked SCOTUS decision on Dobbs v. Jackson, we're re-airing this conversation between host Brittany Packnett Cunningham, legendary activist Gloria Steinem and the “Beyonce of Abortion storytelling,” Renee Bracey Sherman. Late last year, the trio sat down to talk about the future of Roe—and how to protect the people behind the politics. The two leaders, separated by a generation, get into everything from their own personal stories to why the movement has sometimes sidelined the populations it serves. There’s laughter, tears—and hope. Plus, Brittany shares some resources to guide us forward.

Connect with Renee’s organization at https://www.wetestify.org/. If you have financial resources, give to abortionfunds.org. And if you need an abortion, go to ineedana.com.

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The Senator of TikTok: Morgan Harper’s Run for Office (and Our Hearts) Apr 28, 2022

There are a lot of closely watched midterm races. But in Ohio, Morgan Harper is making news with her run for U.S. Senate—and her TikToks eviscerating her primary opponent. In this week’s episode, the dynamic attorney tells host Brittany Packnett Cunningham about what it means to run as a young woman of color, the nuances of mounting a second campaign after losing her first one, and why she wishes Black women didn’t always have to be so “resilient.” All that, plus correspondent Treasure Brooks joins us with this week’s UNTrending news.

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Motherhood, Love and the “Trayvon Generation,” with Elizabeth Alexander Apr 21, 2022

How do you parent—lovingly and well—in the age of technology and police violence? That question is on host Brittany Packnett Cunningham’s mind as she settles into motherhood—and for this episode, she sits down with Elizabeth Alexander, the inaugural poet at Obama’s 2009 inauguration and now author of The Trayvon Generation. They talk about what it means to raise free Black children in a world that doesn’t see them, and how we build communal futures. Plus, correspondent Treasure Brooks takes on this week’s UnTrending News.

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“I Want To Raise a Free Black Child”: Brittany Packnett Cunningham and Reginald Cunningham On Parenthood Apr 14, 2022

It’s a different kind of episode this week—”our most personal, most gut-wrenching, most triumphant,” says host Brittany Packnett Cunningham. The reason? Four months ago, she became a mother, to a son born at just 24 weeks. Now she sits down to tell that story, with a guest who was there with her the whole time: her husband, Reginald Cunningham. They talk about the long road to parenthood, hospitalized bedrest, becoming NICU parents—and the “free Black child” they hope to raise.

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“I’ve Been Proud So Many Times”: A Texas Family Fights the Anti-Trans Laws Apr 07, 2022

Willow Egerton is 13 years old, an aspiring filmmaker, and a trans girl in Texas in 2022—which means that “people in power want me gone,” she says. This week, Willow and her father Owen Egerton sit down with host Brittany Packnett Cunningham to talk about how that feels, and about the joy and celebration of being trans. (Says Owen of parenting: “It’s like when you watch a flower bloom.”) All that, plus Oklahoma’s restrictive abortion ban in this week’s UnTrending news.

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"We See Who Pays the Price": Muzoon Almellehan on War and Refugees Mar 31, 2022

Nearly four million Ukrainians have fled their homeland—and around the world, 21 times that number of people have been displaced from their homes because of war or other disasters. So: What has Ukraine taught us about what all refugees face, and how you can survive when your life changes in an instance? Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with Muzoon Almellehan, a young woman who fled Syria in 2013 and serves as as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, about her journey, activism, and emotions. And we hear from Dr. Serena Parekh, author of No Refuge: Ethics and the Global Refugee Crisis, and journalist Caitlin L. Chandler about the global context—and whether Americans could be next.

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“You Deserve to Be Safe”: Nicole Chung on Parenting in a Wave of Anti-AAPI Violence Mar 24, 2022

Crimes against AAPI women are in the headlines—and for parents like writer Nicole Chung, the challenges of how to talk to kids about racism, violence and safety are very real. In this episode, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with Chung, the author of All You Can Ever Know and a contributing writer at The Atlantic, for a thoughtful discussion that starts there—and roams into transracial adoption, surviving the “colorblind” era, and why her phone starts ringing when things are at their worst. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest UNtrending News, and a remembrance of her friend Cora Faith Walker.

Read Nicole’s piece in The Atlantic, here: https://newsletters.theatlantic.com/i-have-notes/62115c1b3a37470020ce1c79/mourning-violence-against-asian-women/

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Kimberlé Crenshaw on the Origins of Critical Race Theory Mar 18, 2022

This week, we’re sharing something special from our friends over at Pushkin. It’s an episode of a new podcast from Anita Hill called Getting Even. On the show, Professor Hill tackles the tough questions about equality; she talks with people on the frontlines of improving our imperfect world—and finding solutions. In this episode, she sits down with Kimberlé Crenshaw, the legal scholar who coined the terms intersectionality and critical race theory, about the battle over curricula, its impact on students and the political co-opting of critical race theory.

You can hear more episodes of Getting Even with Anita Hill at https://link.chtbl.com/gettingevencrenshaw

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"Buckle Up": Sen. Elizabeth Warren Still Has a Plan for Change Mar 17, 2022

This week, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham is joined by Elizabeth Warren - the senator from Massachusetts and the president we coulda had. They unpack the student debt crisis, the child care crisis, the filibuster crisis—all of it. Plus, Warren breaks down “what really chaps my fanny,” and why she is hopeful for the midterms. And, Brittany breaks down this week’s UnTrending news.

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“I Don't Believe In The Guilt”: Real Climate Talk, with Mary Annaïse Heglar Mar 10, 2022

Last week, the IPCC released a report finding that the planet is getting “clobbered” by climate change. What does that mean? And what should we do? Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with Hot Take cohost Mary Annaïse Heglar—who sets the record straight on what’s so alarming, how climate change and white supremacy are connected, being Black in the climate movement, and what Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has to do with fossil fuels. (“I didn’t know climate talk could be this juicy,” says Brittany.) All this, plus the week’s UNtrending news.

Follow Mary’s work on climate at https://www.hottakepod.com/.

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Anita Hill on The Supreme Court’s Future—and its Past Mar 03, 2022

It’s a historic moment: America has its first-ever Black woman Supreme Court nominee, and host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with a legend, Professor Anita Hill, to talk about the law, and why she’s “elated” at the possibilities ahead. Also on the table: Hill’s new podcast, Getting Even, and her memories of her mother. Plus, journalist Josie Duffy Rice pops in to talk to Brittany about what Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson might bring to the Court.

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“We Are Here to Fight Disinformation”: Sara Lomax-Reese and Akoto Ofori-Atta Build the Future Feb 24, 2022

“Mainstream media” (whatever that is) might be struggling, but you know who’s leading the revolution to do better? “Women, and especially women of color,” says host Brittany Packnett Cunningham. She sits down with Sara Lomax-Reese of URL Media and Akoto Ofori-Atta of Capital B, two media organizations run by Black and brown women. They talk about why they do what they do, how to get beyond a “scarcity mentality,” and last week’s “crack pipe” debacle. Plus, Brittany breaks down this weeks’ UnTrending News.

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Ai-jen Poo on Caregiving: “We Take for Granted That Women Will Just Figure It Out” Feb 17, 2022

Do you have parents? Children? Someone who cares for you, or who you care for? With Build Back Better on the line, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with Ai-jen Poo of the National Domestic Workers Alliance to talk about what it’ll take for the US to start treating caregiving like the crucial infrastructure it is. Plus, Brittany has thoughts on the Super Bowl, in UnTrending news.

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Jemele Hill and Cari Champion on Racism (and Liberation) in Sports Feb 10, 2022

Sports are beautiful and transformative. Also racist and corrupt! This week, with the Olympics in full swing, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham is joined by journalists Jemele Hill and Cari Champion. They talk about what athletes are going through in China, what it means to represent “America”—and here at home, about discrimination in the NFL and the “reckoning” they see coming for pro sports generally. Plus, Brittany unpacks this week’s UN-TRENDING news; and an announcement about our presence on Spotify.

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Dr. Uché Blackstock on Pandemic Fatigue—And the New COVID Normal Feb 03, 2022

As the two-year anniversary of the pandemic looms, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with Dr. Uché Blackstock to discuss all things COVID-19—from why “Omicron is a gift” (she’ll explain) to the “pandemic privilege” that perpetuates the risks Black and brown communities face. Plus, Brittany takes on this week's Un-Trending news…starting with the real history of Black History Month.

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Elaine Welteroth on the Great Resignation and Rewriting Your Own Definition of Success Jan 27, 2022

What does the Great Resignation mean for women of color? Elaine Welteroth—the best-selling author and former Teen Vogue editor who’s built a career out of charting her own path—has a lot of thoughts. She sits down with host Brittany Packnett Cunningham to talk about why we’re leaving jobs (or being pushed out of them), and how “times of destruction are opportunities to reinvent.” Plus, she shares wisdom from legendary editor Harriette Cole, and remembers another Ebony alum: the late, great André Leon Talley. Plus, Brittany reviews this week’s UnTrending news, and a SCOTUS surprise.

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“This Big Old Lie”: Heather McGhee on the Real Cost of Racism Jan 20, 2022

Why doesn’t the US have universal health care, paid leave, or plenty of seemingly basic public services many other countries do? Heather McGhee has an answer: it’s racism, and it hurts all of us. The author of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, McGhee sits down with host Brittany Packnett Cunningham to explain her research, the “hypnotic racial story” fueling American injustice, and how we can do better. Plus, Brittany takes on this week’s UnTrending news.

Support basic income for Black women! In Her Hands (featured in UnTrending this week) is seeking donations here

https://community.givedirectly.org/campaigns/cbcb518edbde54f8

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LaTosha Brown on our “Moment of Reckoning” Jan 13, 2022

This week, President Biden and Vice President Harris traveled to Georgia to talk about voting rights—but LaTosha Brown was not celebrating. As co-founder of the Atlanta-based Black Voters Matter Fund, Brown explains to host Brittany Packnett Cunningham why she and other organizers sat out the event, arguing that these dangerous times demand bolder action from the administration. Plus, Brittany brings you your UNtrending News—including the coin that has the internet dragging the U.S. Mint.

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One Year Later: “The Next Coup is Already Happening” Jan 06, 2022

It’s been one year since the invasion of the U.S. Capitol—so how are we doing at holding insurrectionists accountable? Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham answers that question, revisiting archival interviews with Representatives Cori Bush and Ayanna Pressley, who lived through the riots, and going deep into the next coup at hand. Plus, a January 6-themed edition of your UnTrending News.

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Nikole Hannah-Jones on America’s “400-Year Racial Pandemic” Dec 16, 2021

Back in May, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sat down with New York Times Magazine reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones to talk about how The 1619 Project—which Hannah-Jones created—has both changed this country’s understanding of slavery, and withstood a brutal, ongoing assault from the right. Since then, The 1619 Project has been banned explicitly in some states, and this conversation, about the truth of our past and our present, feels even more relevant. Originally aired May 13, 2021. UNDISTRACTED will return in 2022.

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Beyond Roe: Gloria Steinem and Renee Bracey Sherman on How We Got Here and What Happens Next Dec 09, 2021

As SCOTUS weighs overturning the legal right to abortion, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down for a moving conversation on what’s most important: the people behind the politics. Her guests are two leaders separated by a generation but determined to put the emphasis on the humanity of people who seek abortions: legendary activist Gloria Steinem and the “Beyoncé of Abortion storytelling” Renee Bracey Sherman. They get into everything from their own personal stories to why the movement has sidelined the populations it serves. There’s laughter, tears—and hope. With a guest introduction by The Meteor’s Rebecca Carroll.

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From SCOTUS to White Womanhood: Dr. Brittney Cooper Decodes Our World Dec 02, 2021

UNDISTRACTED IS BACK! And so are abortion bans, the white women’s vote, and a whole Greek alphabet of viruses. Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham knew exactly who she wanted to unpack it all with: Dr. Brittney Cooper, professor and truth-teller. Together they get into why white women keep upholding white patriarchy (hint: it’s about motherhood), the “nightmarish” rollbacks to all of our rights, and how Dr. Cooper defies respectability politics on a daily basis. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending news.

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We’re Back! A Sneak Peek at Season Two Nov 24, 2021

You heard it here first: UNDISTRACTED is back for Season Two on December 2nd. Here’s a sneak peek at what host Brittany Packnett Cunningham has up her sleeve—as she and her newsmaking, rule-breaking guests get ready to delve into everything that’s happening right now, from abortion access to supremacist juries to what each of us can do to make change. Listen in, and let us know @themeteor who you want to hear from next!

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PREVIEW! “BECAUSE OF ANITA,” WITH ANITA HILL, CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD AND MORE Sep 24, 2021

Special for UNDISTRACTED listeners…it’s a sneak peek of the new podcast “Because of Anita”—a four-part series about the legacy of Anita Hill’s testimony in the Justice Clarence Thomas hearings exactly 30 years ago this fall. It’s about truth, gender, race, and power, with new insights and on-the-ground stories from guests like Tarana Burke, Kerry Washington and Professor Hill herself, in her first-ever public conversation with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who testified 27 years after her. From The Meteor and Pineapple Street Studios.

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BONUS! YOUR UNDISTRACTED HIGHLIGHTS REEL Aug 19, 2021

Forty episodes, baby! With our first season under our belt and a mini-hiatus ahead of us, the UNDISTRACTED team is looking back on some highlights from Season One. Featuring Nikole Hannah-Jones, Rep. Cori Bush and more. See you in the fall!

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Tarana Burke on Her Powerful New Memoir—And The Future of #MeToo Aug 12, 2021

Season finale! Fifteen years ago, Tarana Burke started using two simple words to empower young Black and brown girls who had experienced sexual violence. Today, MeToo has exploded into a global movement that is both exactly what its founder imagined—and also, as she tells host Brittany Packnett Cunningham, often misunderstood. Now, with her debut memoir “Unbound” about to hit shelves, Burke sits down for an intimate, feature-length interview about the origins of the movement—and her own personal path to liberation. Plus, Brittany and our producers share their own highlights of a jam-packed first season.

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Pleasure Activist adrienne maree brown On Conflict, Canceling, and Community Aug 05, 2021

As we head into the last stretch of summer, Brittany catches up with the guru of feeling good, writer adrienne maree brown. Together they get into how the philosophy of Pleasure Activism shaped adrienne’s pandemic experience—and why her new book Holding Change has the conflict-resolution skills we all need right now. It’s a spirit-soothing episode about holding each other in hard times. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending news.

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Jemele Hill On “The Cursed Olympics”—And Simone Biles Choosing Her Peace Jul 29, 2021

Fresh on the heels of Simone Biles’ decision to put her mental health over Olympic gold, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with sportscaster Jemele Hill to ask a key question: Can the Olympics be saved? And should they be? Together they get into everything from harsh penalties handed to Black women athletes to the absence of child care to the reasons the Olympics trails the rest of the sports world on equity issues. Plus, Brittany reflects on good strategies to get more people vaccinated and brings us the latest Olympic Untrending News.

Here are some more guidelines on how to talk to unvaccinated loved ones about getting the vaccine: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/talk-about-vaccines.html

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The Billionaire Space Race and Patriarchy in Physics, With Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein Jul 23, 2021

On Tuesday, Jeff Bezos became the latest contestant in the “billionaire space race,” prompting a million memes—and serious questions about how exactly this makes life better for those of us here on earth. Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein has thoughts on that—she’s a physicist, Black feminist theorist, and cosmos expert, and she sits down with host Brittany Packnett Cunningham to talk about patriarchy in the lab, and how we should be thinking about space. (She also explains dark matter, in case you’ve forgotten—we had.) Plus, Brittany brings the latest Untrending News.

To support voting-rights legislation, you can find your Senator’s number on this sheet: https://www.senate.gov/general/resources/pdf/senators_phone_list.pdf

Or a U.S. Capitol Switchboard operator can also connect you directly with the Senate office. (202) 224-3121

And here’s a script you can use when calling: https://indivisiblesf.org/call-scripts/2021/5/11/senators-support-s1-the-for-the-people-act-in-committee-without-watering-it-down

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Connie Walker On Covering the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Jul 15, 2021

Mass graves found on the sites of former residential schools in Canada. Disturbingly high rates of murder and disappearance for Indigenous women across North America. These headlines have woken many in the U.S. up to the realities Native communities face—but award-winning Cree journalist Connie Walker (host of the podcast Stolen) has spent decades shedding light on these issues. In this episode, she sits down with Brittany Packnett Cunningham to unpack these crimes, their solutions, and what this long-overdue moment of awareness might mean. Plus, Brittany covers the latest Untrending News.

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Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw On the Truth About Critical Race Theory Jul 01, 2021

In recent months, Republican lawmakers in close to a dozen states have been trying to stop schools from teaching Critical Race Theory—or really any examination ofAmerica’s history of oppression. So what is CRT, why are legislators obsessed with it, and how worried should we all be about these attacks on teachers? Law professor Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw has the answers—because she helped develop Critical Race Theory to begin with. Listen as host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with Crenshaw (whom she calls “the godmother of our show”—she’ll explain) to unpack the whole alarming situation. Plus, Brittany brings us the latest Untrending News.

Recorded June 29th

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Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Finally Fixing the Military’s Sexual Assault Problem Jun 24, 2021

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has been speaking up for sexual assault survivors in the military for the better part of a decade. The military currently “addresses” (or fails to address) thousands of assault claims a year against its personnel keeping the cases outside of criminal courts. But now, the legislation Gillibrand is championing may finally be at a tipping point—with unprecedented bipartisan support from her colleagues. She sat down with host Brittany Packnett Cunningham to explain why the military’s prosecution of assault cases has actually gotten worse over the years, what it’ll take to do better...and whether she’ll ever run for president again. Plus, Brittany brings you the Untrending news.

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The “Grandmother of Juneteenth” on the Holiday’s Past, Present and Future Jun 17, 2021

This week, Congress voted to designate Juneteenth a federal holiday—something Opal Lee has spent years trying to make happen. The 94-year-old Texas-raised activist and author—known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth”— even walked from Fort Worth to Washington D.C. to raise awareness about the holiday. And now—156 years after slavery was ended in Texas—her dream of “Juneteenth National Indepedence Day” is coming true. Brittany talks to Miss Opal about her tireless quest, and brings us some summer culture recommendations along the way.

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Lawyer Chase Strangio On “Genocidal” Anti-Trans Laws—And Resistance Jun 10, 2021

2021 has already been declared the worst year in U.S. history for legislative attacks against the LGBTQ community...and we’re not even halfway through! Against that backdrop, ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio—named one of Time’s “most influential people in the world” in 2020—sits down to talk to host Brittany Packnett Cunningham about why the GOP is obsessed with anti-trans legislation, and what we can do in response. Plus, Brittany reflects on the lessons of FX’s Pose and brings us the Untrending News.

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Amani on Why This Moment “Feels Different” For Palestinians Jun 03, 2021

After last month’s devastating violence in Palestine and Israel, global public opinion began to shift in support of the Palestinian people. That’s long-overdue, says Amani, the Palestinian-American activist and founder of the online platform Muslim Girl. She tells host Brittany Packnett Cunningham exactly why—and what social media and feminism have to do with it. Plus, Brittany reflects on the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre and brings us the latest Untrending News, featuring Naomi Osaka.

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‘Queen Sugar’ Author Natalie Baszile on the New Black Farming Revolution May 27, 2021

In a week that marks one year since George Floyd's death, there’s no better time to talk about cultivating the world we deserve. Queen Sugar author Natalie Baszile believes that true Black freedom is tied to land ownership, food sovereignty, and a renewed dedication to the soil. She talks to Brittany about her new anthology that’s been making waves, We Are Each Other’s Harvest, and how a new generation of young, Black farmers are returning to the land and building upon the legacy of their ancestors. Plus, Brittany brings us the latest Untrending News.

Here’s a list of the resources Natalie mentions in this episode:

Soul Fire Farm - Reparations map to donate land to Black farmers (https://www.soulfirefarm.org/get-involved/reparations/)
The Tall Grass Food Box - CSA program (https://www.tallgrassnc.com/)
Planet FWD - For coordinating organic food supply (https://planetfwd.com/)
Jubilee Justice - A Black farmer funding alternative to the USDA (https://www.jubileejustice.org/our-mission)

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Travon Free Wants To Flip The Script on Masculinity May 20, 2021

Feminism is not just about changing the ways we raise girls—in the words of host Brittany Packnett Cunningham, “men need to be freed too, y’all!” And Travon Free, the filmmaker who just won an Oscar for his short film, “Two Distant Strangers,” has a lot to say about that. He and Brittany sit down to talk about the prison of masculinity, and what happens when men (especially Black men) dare to question old norms. Plus, Brittany reflects on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and brings us the latest Untrending News.

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Nikole Hannah-Jones Wants Us To Confront The Truth of Who We Are May 13, 2021

New York Times Magazine reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones is the creator of The 1619 Project, a multimedia effort about the legacy of slavery, and how it still informs American life. It won her a Pulitzer Prize, much praise—and relentless ire from the right, including an ongoing assault from Mitch McConnell, who wants it banned from school curriculums. In today’s episode, Hannah-Jones sets the record straight about the Project, and why Black Americans should feel proud of building this country. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending News.

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Insecure’s Yvonne Orji On Black Joy… And Her “Homie” Jesus May 06, 2021

In the year of our lord 2021, we need all the faith we can get—so it felt like the perfect time to invite comedian/actress Yvonne Orji (Molly from HBO’s Insecure) onto the show to share her lessons from “Da Good Book” a.k.a. the Bible. Author of the new advice guide, “Bamboozled by Jesus,” Orji joins Brittany Packnett Cunningham for a laugh-out-loud conversation about her rise in comedy, kicking it with God, and Issa and Molly’s big fight. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending news.

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Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson On The “Feminist Climate Renaissance” Apr 29, 2021

The state of our blue planet can feel dire—because it is. California wildfires, Midwestern droughts, Southern floods, and global food insecurity. But marine biologist and climate justice expert Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson believes we can still make a difference—and that women are the reason why. This week, she talks to host Brittany Packnett Cunningham about the need for an intersectional feminist climate movement, President Biden’s plan to get America on renewable energy, and how to center joy in the work. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending News.

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Andra Day on the Tragedy and Triumph of Billie Holiday Apr 22, 2021

In a week that brought us Derek Chauvin guilty verdicts but also a relentless wave of police killings, it can feel like not much has changed since Billie Holiday sang “Strange Fruit.” Andra Day—up for an Oscar for playing the iconic singer—joins Brittany to talk about how Holiday’s life, as a “great-godmother of the reinvigorated civil rights movement,” provides powerful inspiration today. They get into everything from Day’s whirlwind film education (this is her first major acting gig) to the need for more stories about complex Black women. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending News.

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Sophia Bush on Surviving “Relentless” Harassment in Hollywood Apr 15, 2021

Sophia Bush ruled the small screen in TV hits like “One Tree Hill” and “Chicago PD”—but on both those sets, the workplace abuse was real, she tells host Brittany Packnett Cunningham. Together, they unpack what three-plus years of #MeToo has and hasn’t changed for working women, and get into Sophia’s activist work—including how white women can better show up for women of color. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending news.

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Alexis McGill Johnson on the “Dire” Landscape for Abortion Rights Apr 08, 2021

Headlines are already calling 2021 “the year of anti-abortion legislation.” State lawmakers have so far introduced more than 500 bills restricting the procedure. Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham speaks to Alexis McGill Johnson, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, who says “abortion access is hanging on by a thread.” Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending news.

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Shannon Watts Believes We’re at a Tipping Point for Gun Reform Apr 01, 2021

People may believe that gun violence went away during the pandemic because mass shootings slowed down—but in reality, gun violence overall hit a two-decade high in 2020, killing 20,000 Americans. On the heels of mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham speaks to Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action and self-described “worst nightmare of the NRA.” They shed new light on the crucial questions: Will this moment actually be different? Is gun reform possible? Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending news.

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Comedian Amber Ruffin Wants to “De-Gaslight” America Mar 25, 2021

Amber Ruffin is breaking boundaries in late-night television with her witty and insightful takes on race, politics and history. She’s a writer and performer on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and the star of “The Amber Ruffin Show.” In this laugh-packed conversation, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham talks to the comedian about everything from the rise of Black women in late-night to why racism is actually...funny? Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending news.

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Rep. Cori Bush Is What “Keeping It Real” Looks Like Mar 18, 2021

U.S. Rep. Cori Bush made history last fall when she became the first Black woman from Missouri to be elected to Congress. Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham—a St. Louis native—talks to her Congresswoman about the long road to Washington, from Rep. Bush’s roots as a Ferguson activist to her no-holds-barred, wholly authentic approach to governing. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending news.

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Lisa Ling on Anti-Asian Violence—And the Rising Movement Against It Mar 11, 2021

Lisa Ling, the award-winning CNN host, was sounding the alarm about anti-Asian threats long before the current rise in violence hit most headlines. Here, she unpacks the troubling issue with host Brittany Packnett Cunningham—from why racism against Asian Americans is so often overlooked to what everyday people can do to take action. Plus, Brittany shares her thoughts on Meghan Markle’s mental-health openness, and brings you the latest Untrending news.

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Padma Lakshmi on the New Food Revolution Mar 04, 2021

With International Women’s Day coming up, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham talks to Padma Lakshmi, the “Top Chef” host and advocate for immigrants’ and women’s rights. And they go deep on the politics of food, from why home cooking is so often overlooked to what Lakshmi would cook for dinner with new V.P. Kamala Harris. (There’s “nothing more political than the food we eat and the bread we break together,” says Lakshmi.) Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending news.

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“The Squad is Big, Y’all”: Rep. Ayanna Pressley on the Power of the People Feb 25, 2021

To round out Black History Month, we turn to a woman making history of her own: U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley, who’s holding Congress’s feet to the fire on issues from student-loan forgiveness to vaccine equity. (She says policy is her love language.) The Congresswoman sits down with host Brittany Packnett Cunningham to talk about her political and her personal journey—in a talk that ranges from racial justice to her own evolving sense of beauty, as a Black woman leader living with alopecia. Plus, Brittany pays homage to the 500,000+ people lost to Covid–19, and brings you the latest Untrending news.

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What Would a Future Without Prisons Look Like? Feb 18, 2021

Calls for criminal-justice reform have built over the last year—and this week, with jail uprisings in St. Louis, the focus is on prison abolition. That’s personal for both host Brittany Packnett Cunningham and her guest, organizer Kayla Reed, who break down what’s happening in their mutual hometown, and take on common myths about abolition. It’s a revealing discussion—and required listening for anyone trying to understand prison issues now. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending news.

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Opal Tometi on the Righteous Rise of Black Lives Matter Feb 11, 2021

Black Lives Matter was just nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize—so this week, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with co-founder of the Black Lives Matter organization Opal Tometi. How did the movement go from being seen as radical to more widely accepted? And what’s next in the fight for racial justice? They cover it all—plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending news.

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Raquel Willis Believes in Black Trans Power Feb 04, 2021

President Biden signed new protections for LGBTQ people on Day One of his presidency—but new anti-trans legislation is cropping up everywhere, and violence against gender-nonconforming folks, especially Black trans women, remains high. How can we fix this? Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with activist and writer Raquel Willis to talk about everything from the new administration to the trans ancestors you never heard about. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending news.

Here are the legendary trans ancestors Raquel mentions in the episode:

Mary Jones: A Black trans sex worker living in New York in the 1830s.
Frances Thompson: A formerly enslaved Black trans woman who fought in the Memphis Riots and later testified before Congress.
Marsha P. Johnson: A Black trans woman who was among the first to resist police raiding Stonewall, sparking the LGBTQ Rights Movement.
Sylvia Rivera: A trans Latina activist and veteran of the 1969 Stonewall uprising
Crystal LaBeija: The legendary founder of The House of LaBeija.

And some of her trans “siblings” leading the fight today:

Ceyenne Doroshow: Founder and Executive Director of GLITS Inc
Ianne Fields Stewart: Founder of The Okra Project
C. Riley Snorton: Professor of English Language and Literature, archiving Black trans history
Tourmaline: Activist, photographer, filmmaker

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Want A Safer Internet? Listen to Black Women Jan 28, 2021

The Capitol attacks were shocking...but, to many Black women, who had been sounding the alarm on online hate and disinformation for years, not wholly surprising. Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham tells her own story of being targeted on Facebook—and sits down with media justice expert Brandi Collins-Dexter of Color of Change for a conversation about everything from foreign agents impersonating Black women to how we can all hold social media companies accountable. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending News.

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A Historic Day… And Why The 'Nap Bishop' Believes Rest is Radical Jan 21, 2021

We’ve got a new president. A new, historic vice president. And so much work to be done! But in order to truly change the world, says Tricia Hersey, founder of the Nap Ministry, we’re going to have to stop running ourselves ragged. Rest isn’t just a wellness fad, she tells host Brittany Packnett Cunningham—it’s a deep racial justice issue and the only path to freedom. Plus, Brittany talks inauguration highlights, remembers Maya Angelou, and brings you the latest Untrending News.

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Valerie Jarrett on Impeachment... And the Next 100 Days Jan 14, 2021

With Inauguration Day only a week away—and impeachment proceedings raging around us—host Brittany Packnett Cunningham talks to a woman who’s seen it all: Valerie Jarrett, the longtime Obama advisor now consulting for the Biden-Harris transition team. They talk insurrection, justice, what needs to happen in the first 100 days—and what Jarrett herself has learned about being a woman at work. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending News.

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America Ferrera Is Talking ‘Bout a Cultural Revolution Jan 08, 2021

This was a rollercoaster of a week—but before there was a white nationalist coup, there was a major, momentous Senate victory in Georgia. How did it happen? And how can we do it again, and again? Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham unpacks those questions with writer, producer and activist America Ferrera, who helped rally the Latinx vote with her new organization She Se Puede. They get into everything from “the Black-Brown alliance” to how the former Ugly Betty star is helping to bring through other creative Latinx voices. And of course, Brittany brings us the latest Untrending news.

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BONUS: What Just Happened? Jan 07, 2021

Reflections on a day of white supremacy run rampant.

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Jenna Wortham and Kimberly Drew Are Building Black Futures Dec 22, 2020

Who do you call for perspective on the craziest year in recent memory? Two expert dreamers—New York Times critic Jenna Wortham and curator Kimberly Drew, co-editors of the ambitious new book Black Futures. They talk to host Brittany Packnett Cunningham about why it’s important to write our stories (and not just on social media), and what they expect 2021 to hold. Plus, we hear about the lessons of the year from members of The Meteor collective—like Raquel Willis, Liz Plank, Treasure Brooks, and Rebecca Carroll—and, most importantly, from you, our listeners.

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Flattening the Curve of Inequality Dec 17, 2020

Vaccines are here. We can almost, kind of, sort of see the light at the end of the tunnel. But what world will we be coming out into? That’s what we’re exploring this week—from an intersectional feminist point of view. Host Brittany Packnett Cunningham hears from Dr. Esther Choo, a professor of emergency medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, about our medical futures; Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center, about building a better working world for women; and Imani Barbarin, a disability activist who writes at CrutchesAndSpice.com, about the future of accessibility. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending News.

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Sue Bird Won't Shut Up and Dribble Dec 10, 2020

Fresh off her fourth WNBA championship and newly engaged to soccer star Megan Rapinoe, basketball phenom Sue Bird sits down with host Brittany Packnett Cunningham to talk about her own leadership on social justice—and the path it took her to get there. They discuss Breonna Taylor, Black Lives Matter, the Georgia Senate races...plus Brittany brings you the latest Untrending News.

Check out the links below to get involved with organizations mobilizing Georgia voters for the upcoming Senate runoffs.

Black Voters Matter

https://blackvotersmatterfund.org

Fair Fight

https://fairfight.com

New Georgia Project

https://newgeorgiaproject.org

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Tracee Ellis Ross Is The Lead in Her Own Life Dec 03, 2020

How do the roles we see influence our own choices in life? That’s a subject Tracee Ellis Ross has thought a LOT about. As the 7th season of “Black-ish” returns to TV—and early-2000s fan favorite “Girlfriends” hits Netflix—host Brittany Packnett Cunningham talks to the actress, producer and activist about her political (and quite personal) evolution, and why she’s on a mission to expand the humanity of Black women—on and off-screen. Plus, Brittany brings you the latest Untrending News.

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Nikki Giovanni Believes Your Dreams Are Worth It Nov 26, 2020

Living legend alert: On this Thanksgiving—or "Friends and Family Day,” as we call it around here—host Brittany Packnett Cunningham talks to much-celebrated poet Nikki Giovanni. And Giovanni brings all her warmth, wit and, yes, poetry, to a discussion about everything from VP-elect Kamala Harris to the global Black Lives Matter movement.

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Rebecca Traister Is Still Good and Mad Nov 19, 2020

Yes, we just had an election that promises to make life better for many women. But our guest this week—New York Magazine writer-at-large Rebecca Traister—is “wary of the feel-good narrative.” She tells host Brittany Packnett Cunningham why we all should be, and gets into what the framing of Kamala Harris's win says about our continued fear of full-grown women. Plus, they discuss whether the activism of 2020 will stick for the long haul—and Brittany brings you the latest Untrending News.

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LaTosha Brown Is Betting On the South Nov 12, 2020

With the election of a lifetime just days behind us, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham talks to one of the organizers who made the Biden-Harris victory happen—Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown. They get real about everything from the past and present power of Black women to the runoff races coming up in Georgia. Plus, LaTosha sings—and Brittany brings you the latest Untrending News.

Check out the links below to get involved with organizations mobilizing Georgia voters for the upcoming Senate runoffs.

Black Voters Matter

https://blackvotersmatterfund.org

Fair Fight

https://fairfight.com

New Georgia Project

https://newgeorgiaproject.org

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Soledad O’Brien Is Calling It Like It Is Nov 05, 2020

In our election special—recorded the day after election day—host Brittany Packnett Cunningham talks to award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien about the big question this week: How did this election get so close? They go deep into the underpinnings of media racism, O’Brien tells a few tales from her own career—and we share an all-election edition of Untrending news.

You can learn more about the organizations Brittany shouts out below:

NAACP legal defense fund

https://www.naacpldf.org/

The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

https://lawyerscommittee.org/

Fair Fight

https://fairfight.com/

Black Voters Matter

https://blackvotersmatterfund.org/

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Cecile Richards Is Ready for the Uprising Oct 29, 2020

We are UNDISTRACTED! In our debut episode, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham gets real with Supermajority co-founder Cecile Richards, who’s been working for over a year to mobilize a historic number of women voters. They get into that, the appointment of Amy Coney Barrett, what Jared Kushner has to do with abortion, and lots more—plus Brittany brings you up-to-date on the latest Untrending News.

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Coming soon: UNDISTRACTED Oct 05, 2020

Brittany Packnett Cunningham is an activist, educator, and popular TV commentator—and a trusted voice for millions of people interested in social justice. Now, with UNDISTRACTED—an original podcast from The Meteor and Pineapple Street Studios—she aims her focus on the most pressing issues of our time through the lens of intersectional feminism. From the latest headlines to deep-dives with today’s most fascinating changemakers, UNDISTRACTED is your weekly guide to the revolution.

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