Our America with Julián Castro

Latest Episodes:

From What's the Plan?: How Trump Is Using Fear to Win Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

We're sharing a special episode from What's the Plan?, a new podcast from Lemonada Media and Indivisible, hosted by Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin! With the No Kings event coming up on October 17, we wanted to bring this timely conversation directly to your feed. Leah and Ezra break down what's happening in politics right now, what it means for the weeks ahead, and why this moment matters.

The Trump regime is trying to fearmonger its way to an electoral win. Our challenge is to take the threat seriously and act with confidence, without handing the regime power it doesn’t have or feeding the cynicism that demotivates our side. In this episode, Leah and Ezra talk about how the regime is ramping up its fear tactics, why that’s actually a sign of weakness, and what our strongest response looks like: No Kings, early voting, election defense, and community mobilization.

We’re a little more than a week out from No Kings on October 17, the biggest effort against election sabotage in American history. We’ve all got work to do, and we’re gonna talk about how we all have a role in doing it!

To learn more and get involved with Indivisible, visit indivisible.org/wtp

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How to Stop Losing Our Loved Ones to the Opioid Crisis | Introducing Last Day Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

To listen to the rest of this episode, search for Last Day wherever you listen to podcasts.

When Nadia Bowers's sister Sasha died of fentanyl overdose in 2015, Nadia was seven months pregnant with her first child and had gotten married just six weeks earlier. Suddenly she had to ask herself: how do I go on after the worst thing that's ever happened to me? In this episode, Nadia tells Stephanie how writing her new memoir, Dear Dealer, helped her process her rage, grief, and the anxiety of new motherhood while navigating this crippling loss.

Pick up a copy of ⁠Dear Dealer⁠, available wherever books are sold or listen to the audiobook, narrated by Nadia.

Order Steph’s book Last Day: How to Stop Losing Our Loved Ones to the Opioid Crisis at ⁠https://bit.ly/LastDayBook⁠, and the audiobook at ⁠https://bit.ly/3RW4WtF⁠, or wherever books and audiobooks are sold.

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Our America Mixtape: A Special Treat from Hark Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

With Season 2 coming to an end, Julián recalls some of his favorite Our America moments in this special episode put together by a new podcast app called Hark Audio. Julián will walk you through some of his favorite moments from conversations with top thinkers in politics and media, including MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan, Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke, and famed newsman Dan Rather. If you haven’t yet binge listened to every episode of Our America, here’s a little invitation of some great places to start.

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Remembering Uvalde & Hoping for Change May 25, 2022

Show notes

Julián addresses the devastating news out of Uvalde, Texas, where a young man on Tuesday gunned down at least 19 elementary school students and two adults. He and Sawyer then talk about this week’s state primaries, the latest on Title 42, and President Biden’s most-recent approval numbers ahead of the midterms. They’re later joined by Director Gustavo Velasquez of the California Department of Housing and Community Development to talk about the innovative ways in which his agency is tackling the state’s housing crisis.

Follow Mr. Velasquez’s work at the California Department of Housing and Community Development online at @California_HCD.

Keep up with Julián on Twitter at @JulianCastro and Instagram at @JulianCastroTX. Sawyer can be found on Twitter and Instagram at @SawyerHackett. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.

This episode of ‘Our America’ is brought to you by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which is dedicated to building a more inclusive, just, and healthy future for everyone. The series is presented in part by the Marguerite Casey Foundation.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

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The Swift Evolution of Home Ownership May 18, 2022

Show notes

Julián and Sawyer chat with Ruby Bolaria Shifrin, the head of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s housing affordability project, about the realities of modern-day home ownership and the lessons learned from the pandemic. Later they’re joined by Laurie Goodman of the Urban Institute to look into some of the statistics guiding housing experts.

Follow Laurie’s work at the Urban Institute online at @urbaninstitute or @MortgageLaurie. Ruby of @ChanZuckerberg can be found at @Ruby_Bee.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

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Shifting Political Power Through Organizing May 11, 2022

Show notes

Julián and Sawyer ask Marguerite Casey Foundation President Dr. Carmen Rojas about her thoughts on how the leaked Supreme Court decision seemingly invalidating abortion rights will impact the state of organizing in the months to come. They also welcome MCF Freedom Scholar Dr. Alisa Bierria of UCLA’s Gender Studies Program to talk about the potential for mass criminalization following the end of Roe.

Follow Dr. Rojas online at @crojasphd and the Marguerite Casey Foundation at @caseygrants. Find out more about Dr. Alisa’s work here.

Leave us a voicemail at 833-453-6662.

‘Our America’ is presented in part by the Marguerite Casey Foundation.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The End of Roe (with Lauren Rankin) May 04, 2022

Show notes

Julián and Sawyer break down the devastating news out of DC in which a leaked draft opinion shows the Supreme Court’s decision to officially overturn abortion rights nationwide. They welcome reproductive rights activist and author Lauren Rankin to talk about the prospective end of Roe v. Wade and how it may set the scene for both a national abortion ban and other protection removals.

Follow Lauren online at @laurenarankin.

Leave us a voicemail at 833-453-6662.

‘Our America’ is presented in part by the Marguerite Casey Foundation.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Championing Democracy from the Hood to the Holler (with Charles Booker) Apr 27, 2022

Show notes

Julián and guest co-host Maya Rupert speculate on Twitter’s future now that Elon Musk has officially bought the social media giant. They also dive into Trump’s new legal troubles and President Biden’s commitment to financially assist Ukraine in its ongoing fight against Russia. The two then welcome US senatorial candidate Charles Booker of Kentucky to talk about his exciting campaign and his newly-released memoir: From the Hood to the Holler.

Follow Charles online at @Booker4KY and Maya at @MayaRupert.

Leave us a voicemail at 833-453-6662.

‘Our America’ is presented in part by the Marguerite Casey Foundation.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can Biden Rebound? Apr 20, 2022

Show notes

Julián and Sawyer talk about the shocking, but unsurprising, news of the nearly dozen mass shootings that took place nationwide over the weekend and how it's an indication of continued inaction by our leaders on proper gun reform. They also unpack new polling numbers showing that only a third of respondents approve of President Biden’s performance. The two then tackle news of Elon Musk’s proposed acquisition of Twitter and the possible demise of InfoWars.

Leave us a voicemail at 833-453-6662.

‘Our America’ is presented in part by the Marguerite Casey Foundation.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suiting Up to Protect LGBTQ Rights (with Charlotte Clymer) Apr 13, 2022

Show notes

Julián and Sawyer talk about a shocking abortion case in Texas that plays into the GOP’s overall goal of ending reproductive rights in America. The two also discuss the empowering news of Amazon employees unionizing for the first time ever and the reverberations that’s caused for workers nationwide. Later they welcome trans activist and speaker Charlotte Clymer to talk about the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation following the passage of Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bil.

Follow Charlotte online at @cmclymer.

Leave us a voicemail at 833-453-6662.

‘Our America’ is presented in part by the Marguerite Casey Foundation.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices