Becoming the People Podcast with Prentis Hemphill

Latest Episodes:

[Bonus] Marc Lamont Hill in conversation with Prentis about Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Visit another powerful stop on the What It Takes to Heal book tour. Author and activist, Marc Lamont Hill, interviews Prentis about their book at the Library and Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington D.C. Together, they explore the threads of generational trauma, Prentis' practice of 'cry dates' and how allowing feeling helps us arrive in the present moment. They also discuss the role of Transformational Characters and how interrupting patterns in ourselves can alter the path of healing for the next generation.

This conversation was recorded in July 2024.

You can watch the full book tour on our Youtube Channel.
Check out Prentis’ book: What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World.

Support the show

The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de Leña
Sound Engineer and Editing: Michael Maine
Original Music: Mayyadda

[Bonus] W. Kamau Bell interviews Prentis about What it Takes to Heal Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

In this bonus episode, the seats are turned as W. Kamau Bell interviews Prentis about their book What it Takes to Heal.

These two dig into the complexities of being a middle child, why healing is often dismissed as "soft" or seen as an individualistic pursuit, and make the case that real healing is rooted in community. They also talk candidly about shame versus guilt, actual accountability, and how belonging has to remain intact for real transformation to happen.

This conversation was recorded in July 2024 at the California Institute of Integral Studies - you can watch the full book tour on our Youtube Channel.

Check out Prentis’ book: What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World

Support the show

The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de Leña
Sound Engineer and Editing: Michael Maine
Original Music: Mayyadda

[Bonus] Prentis in conversation with adrienne maree brown Live from Brooklyn - What It Takes to Heal Book Tour Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

This bonus episode is a throw-back to the launch of Prentis’ What it Takes to Heal book tour. This summer marks the two year anniversary of the book’s release and we wanted to share the intimate conversations that happened across the country while Prentis was on tour.

This is a live recording from Brooklyn, where Prentis sits down with their friend adrienne maree brown. The two discuss what it means to write honestly about trauma, why boundaries are really about relationships rather than distance, and how movements for justice can source vision instead of just wounds.

You can watch the full book tour on our Youtube Channel.

Check out Prentis’ book: What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World

Support the show

The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de Leña
Sound Engineer and Editing: Michael Maine
Original Music: Mayyadda

Question Your Answers with Pastor Kristian A. Smith Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

This week, we’re diving into faith and doctrine and how it shapes our worldview. Pastor Kristian A. Smith – public theologian, Spiritual Humanist, and digital pastor of The Faith Community Virtual – is here to share about his journey of deconstructing his theology and what can be fruitful and reorganizing when we have the courage and community to ask the big deep questions about faith.

Follow Kristian on Instagram
Check out the Faith Community Virtual
Read Kristian’s book: Question Your Answers: A Deconstruction Survival Guide

Support the show

The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de Leña
Sound Engineer and Editing: Michael Maine
Original Music: Mayyadda

The Wild Edges of Sorrow with Francis Weller Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Prentis is joined by Francis Weller - writer, therapist and soul activist. He wrote the Wild Edge of Sorrow and so eloquently shares about the collective responsibility of grief. Prentis and Francis talk about the hero's myth, the emptiness of whiteness and how grief rituals and communal ceremonies help reconnect us to the deep echo chamber of the soul.

Check out Francis’ book the Wild Edges of Sorrow

Support the show

The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de Leña
Sound Engineer and Editing: Michael Maine
Original Music: Mayyadda

All That Mattered with Megan Falley Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Poet and writer Megan Falley joined Prentis to share about the life of her late partner Andrea Gibson, and generously offered her learnings on how we can live our lives as richly and fully in the time given.

Support the show

The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de Leña
Sound Engineer and Editing: Michael Maine
Original Music: Mayyadda

Mini Episode: An Outdated Model of Leadership Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

This week, Prentis shares their assessment that the leadership model in our culture feels outdated. They share the concept of two leadership qualities that we could begin to possess on the individual or collective level -- will and surrender. And ask the questions-- How do we start to practice fluidity along the continuum of will and surrender to embody new ways of being leaders? And where can we start to look for leadership in odd and unexpected places?

The quote Prentis mentions in the episode is by Simon Sinek:

“Leaders are the ones who have the courage to go first, to put themselves at personal risk to open a path for others to follow.”

If you’d like to come play and explore this theme more, join us over on Patreon.

Support the show

The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de Leña
Sound Engineer and Editing: Michael Maine
Original Music: Mayyadda

Courage Amidst Collapse with Norma Wong Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Teacher, author and Zen Master, Norma Wong, is here to talk about her new book, Who we are becoming matters: the courage wisdom and aloha we need in the time of collapse.

Norma helps us see further than we can see on our own and asks the question, who do we need to become to meet that horizon?

Follow Norma
Check out her book: Who We Are Becoming Matters: The Courage, Wisdom, and Aloha We Need in a Timeplace of Collapse
Listen to her podcast The Horizon Story with Norma Wong

Support the show

The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de Leña
Sound Engineer and Editing: Michael Maine
Original Music: Mayyadda

Fierce Vulnerability with Kazu Haga Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Prentis is joined by their friend, author and activist Kazu Haga, to explore his new book Fierce Vulnerability. Kazu asks us to consider a new type of courage, and together they converse about the value of deep interdependence, collective trauma, and how the “us vs. them” binary worldview is at the heart of what is destroying our relationships and our planet.

Follow Kazu on Instagram
Check out his book: Fierce Vulnerability: Healing Trauma Emerging through Collapse

If you want to hear more from Kazu, revisit Prentis’ conversation with him about Navigating Conflict

Support the show

The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de Leña
Sound Engineer and Editing: Michael Maine
Original Music: Mayyadda

Mini-Episode - Grief is a Teacher Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Prentis has returned to the pod after a short bereavement leave from the passing of their father. They are sharing how grief and time are pairing up to teach them how to bring more fluidity and honesty to their presence to allow more to be here now.

They are also sharing a sweet story from their drag king past.

If you’re enjoying this season, please support the podcast over on Patreon.

Support the show

The Becoming the People Podcast Team: