Battletested with Tanya Acker

Latest Episodes:

Public Counsel Decides to Take On the Fight Against Masked ICE Raids Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful episode, Tanya sits down with Public Counsel's Senior Special Counsel Mark Rosenbaum to discuss the recent legal victory against ICE's immigration raids in Los Angeles. Described by LA Mayor Karen Bass as a 'reign of terror,' these raids, targeting non-criminals based on appearance and Spanish language, have raised significant concern about civil rights violations. Listen as Tanya and Mark talk about why they brought the fight to the government and what happens next.

Amanda Litman (“When We're in Charge: The Next Generation’s Guide to Leadership”) Decides That Power Needs a Refresh Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

The President and Co-Founder of Run for Something talks about breaking the “gerontocracy,” empowering new leadership, and how not to be a “Bad Boomer Boss.”

Special Re-Release: Emmy Nominee Katherine LaNasa (“The Pitt”) Decides to Embrace the Moment Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

The veteran actor talks about what it means to have audiences embrace “The Pitt” and her character, Nurse Dana; the influences that led her from the ballet stage to acting; and how much she loves the fun of it all.

Stacey Abrams Decides to Take On the Future of AI in “Coded Justice” Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Stacey Abrams discusses her prescient new novel “Coded Justice”, the dangers of unregulated AI, and how reclaiming personal power is essential in the fight against authoritarianism.

ACLU President Deborah Archer Decides To Blow The Whistle on Segregation’s (Not-So-Secret) Strategies for American Cities Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

The NYU law professor, president of the ACLU, and author of Dividing Lines: How Transportation Infrastructure Reinforces Racial Inequality, discusses her book, the importance of rule of law, and why she still remains an optimist.

Deciding to Reshape Your Relationship to the Internet (with Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker) Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Over the last decade, our Internet experience has become increasingly dictated by algorithms- data-driven equations that try to anticipate (and elicit) our desires. The problem is, they often get it wrong. The math doesn't math.

Kyle Chayka (staff writer, The New Yorker) has written a new book on the subject entitled "Filterworld."

This week, Tanya and Kyle talk about this ever-tightening web woven by algorithms and how we can begin breaking free from it.

Journalist Alex Thompson (Axios) Decides to Pull Back the Curtain at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

Axios National Political Correspondent and co-author of “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” discusses the controversy around the book, the media’s role in holding power accountable, the hidden history of presidential health cover-ups, and the deeper issues shaping both major parties in America.

Special Re-Release: CNN's Laura Coates on the Sean “Diddy” Combs Trial Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

With this week's decision on the Sean Combs case, we return to our talk with Emmy-nominated CNN anchor Laura Coates. Together, Laura and Tanya break down the inner workings of the courtroom and defense that led to Comb's acquittal of sex-trafficking.

Hurl Taylor Decides to Master Life (and Business) at 86 Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

The Army veteran and “lifelong learner” became, at 86, the oldest graduate of Emory’s 2025 class when he received his Masters in Business for Veterans. He talks to Tanya about solving problems, learning new things, addressing conflict while not losing oneself, and dating!

Special Re-Release: Author Martha Wells (‘The Murderbot Diaries’) Has Helped Create the Show of the Summer Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

We're throwing it back to one of our favorite episodes of the season, with author Martha Wells. We talk all things “The Murderbot Diaries” (now streaming on Apple TV+), the innovation of the new sci-fi series, and what it means to be human.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Battletested with Tanya Acker

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected