Best Leadership Conference On Civil And Human Rights Podcasts (2025)

1
S08 E03: Counting Chaos: The Fight for a Complete Census and Dependable Data 52:55

3h ago52:55

52:55

April 1 was the commemoration of Census Day, but the numbers that shape our country are under attack. From erasing critical datasets on government websites to revoking the census practice of counting noncitizens, the Trump Administration’s actions threaten democracy and economic stability. These changes to how we count people will impact everyday l…

1
S08 E02: The Ballot & The Book: Access to Voting and Education Upon Selma’s 60th 51:40

28d ago51:40

51:40

On the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, we explore the deep connection between education and voting rights—two pillars of democracy that have long been intertwined. For decades, education determined one’s access to the polls, as literacy tests and other barriers were used to disenfranchise Black voters. Today, attacks on curriculum, book bans, an…

1
S08 E01: Solidarity & Strategy: We the Majority Fighting Back 56:18

2M ago56:18

56:18

In this episode we will tackle how to respond to the new administration’s early attacks on civil rights. With a wave of executive actions already rolling back key protections—harming immigrants, undermining the federal workforce, and dismantling diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility—we will break down what this means for communities acros…

1
S07 E12: Building an America as Good as It’s Ideals: A Year in Review 47:12

4M ago47:12

47:12

When season seven started in January of 2024, we set out to explore the progress and challenges in building a more equitable society. Anchored by milestone anniversaries -- Brown v. Board of Education (70th), Freedom Summer (60th), and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (60th) -- we discussed judicial diversity, justice reform, education, and voting righ…

1
S07 E11: We Are Still The Majority: A Post-Election Conversation 49:03

5M ago49:03

49:03

In this episode, we dive into the post-election political and policy landscape, analyzing how recent election outcomes will impact the future of civil rights in America. Our guest experts will discuss anticipated agendas from the White House and 119th Congress. They will unpack the major policy shifts, exploring potential executive and legislative …

1
S07 E10: Part 2 – Protecting the Right to Vote 13:49

6M ago13:49

13:49

In this episode, we sit down with Khalid Pitts, Executive Vice Preside of Campaigns and Programs at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, to discuss the "And Still I Vote" campaign. Just days out from presidential election, Pod for the Cause continues the conversation about protecting and preserving the right to vote. We discuss the …

1
S07 E10: Protecting the Vote, Preserving Democracy 42:55

7M ago42:55

42:55

With the historic and high stakes 2024 presidential election upon us, Americans must be vigilant in protecting their right to vote. Modern day voter suppression takes on various forms. It can look like voter roll purges, which often disenfranchise people of color and other marginalized groups. It can be the dangerous spread of misinformation and di…

1
S07 E09: Civil Rights Act at 60 and Project 2025 44:55

7M ago44:55

44:55

This episode commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, reflecting on its profound impact in dismantling legalized segregation, securing voting rights, and expanding protections against discrimination. It explores the victories it represented for marginalized communities and how it catalyzed further reforms in education, hou…

1
S07 E08: Freedom Summer at 60: The Fight for Voting Rights Continues 41:43

9M ago41:43

41:43

In this episode commemorating the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer, we delve into the pivotal 1964 campaign that aimed to register African American voters in Mississippi and the Deep South and challenge systemic racial barriers. We will explore the courageous efforts of activists, the profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement, and the ongoing …

1
S07 E07: Music and the Movement 38:49

11M ago38:49

38:49

June has been designated a month of awareness for several civil rights causes and constituencies. From LGBTQ Pride and Stonewall to Caribbean American Heritage and Juneteenth, the month reminds us of our ongoing efforts to achieve an America as good as its ideals. And as June is also designated Black Music Appreciation Month, we know that whatever …

1
S07 E06: Brown v. Board at 70: Still Separate, Still Unequal 48:50

12M ago48:50

48:50

In recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, this podcast episode delves into the sobering reality that, sixty years later, American schools remain starkly separate and profoundly unequal. Despite the Supreme Court's historic declaration against racial segregation in 1954, data reveals…

1
S07 E05: Building a Diverse Judiciary 32:52

1y ago32:52

32:52

For our courts to work for all of us, our judges should reflect and represent the diversity of our society. Federal courts have been slow to include judges of color, women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and judges from varied legal backgrounds, including those with civil rights experience. However, recent judicial appointments are changin…

1
S07 E04: The State of Black Lives 49:00

1y ago49:00

49:00

February is Black History Month and an opportunity to consider the state of the Movement for Black Lives. Last year, we observed the 10-year anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death, which compelled three Black women to turn a Black Lives Matter hashtag into a social movement. And this year marks the 10-year anniversary of the police killing of Michae…

1
S07 E03: Centering Civil Rights in Technology 39:39

1y ago39:39

39:39

Technology is an integral part of our everyday lives. Thanks to technological advances, there are increased connections and efficiencies around how we learn, work, and play. However, technology, like every other aspect of our society, can perpetuate harms and inequities if we are not intentional around its development and implementation. Artificial…

1
S07 E02: Attacks on the Dream: Dr. King’s Legacy Today 43:30

1+ y ago43:30

43:30

As we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in January, we are provided with an opportunity to discuss the state of Dr. King’s dream at this moment. Over the years, Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech has been weaponized to push for a colorblind society; and this year will be no exception. In fact, given the recent dismantling…

1
S07 E01: Angelic Troublemakers: The Legacy of Bayard Rustin 36:41

1+ y ago36:41

36:41

Welcome back to Pod for the Cause Season 7! On today’s episode, our host, Kanya Bennett, managing director of government affairs at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, discusses the life and legacy of Bayard Rustin with President Clayola Brown, head of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, International Vice President of Workers United…

1
S06 E12: 10 Years Since Shelby SCOTUS Decision: How Voting Rights Have Drastically Changed in a Decade 22:44

2y ago22:44

22:44

Join Kanya Bennett as she discusses the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder with Carolyn Shields, President of the Shelby County Branch of the NAACP, and Deuel Ross, Deputy Director of Litigation at NAACP Legal Defense Fund. This episode was recorded before the Court rendered its decision in Merrill v. Millig…

1
S06 E11: Honoring Juneteenth and the Need for Reparations for Black Americans 47:31

2y ago47:31

47:31

Join Kanya Bennett as she discusses Juneteenth and reparations with Jeff Robinson of The Who We are Project, Kavon Ward of Where is My Land, and Keenan Keller of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.By The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

1
S06 E10: Attacks on Black Political Power 36:07

2y ago36:07

36:07

Join Kanya Bennett and cohost Jheanelle Wilkins, director of state and local government affairs at the Leadership Conference, as they discuss recent attacks on Black political power with District of Columbia Councilmember Robert White, Melissa Wasser of the ACLU-DC, Dr. Sekou Franklin of Middle Tennessee State University, and Patrice Willoughby of …

1
S06 E09: Banning Books, Queer People, and Black History Part 2 28:00

2y ago28:00

28:00

Join our host, Kanya Bennett, as she continues the conversation around book bans and curriculum censorship with Maggie Tokuda-Hall.By The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

1
S06 E09 Banning Books, Queer People, and Black History Part 1 32:27

2y ago32:27

32:27

Join our host, Kanya Bennett, as she discusses book bans and curriculum censorship with Karsonya "Kaye" Wise Whitehead and Khalil Gibran Muhammad.By The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

1
S06 E08: Talking Traffic Stops: The Urgent Need for Police Accountability and Transparency 40:00

2y ago40:00

40:00

Join our host, Kanya Bennett, as she discusses police violence and reform with Chelsea Glass and Josh Adams of DeCarcerate Memphis and Krissy Roth, Senior Policy Associate at The NAACP Legal Defense Fund.By The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

1
S06 E07: Until Justice Is Won: Civil Rights and Sports 29:34

2y ago29:34

29:34

Join our host, Kanya Bennett, as she discusses the role of sports in the civil rights movement with Domonique Foxworth — former NFL defensive back, senior writer for Andscape, and host of The Domonique Foxworth Show, an ESPN podcast.By The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

1
S06 E06: Combatting Online Misinformation and Disinformation 39:51

2+ y ago39:51

39:51

Our host, Kanya Bennett, is joined by Joe Miller, President and CEO of The Washington Center for Technology Policy Inclusion (WashingTECH), and Dave Toomey, Voting Rights and Technology Fellow at The Leadership Conference to discuss the dangers of disinformation on social media and how we can advance the civil and human rights agenda online.…

1
S06 E05: Now What?: Post-Election Accountability 44:00

2+ y ago44:00

44:00

Our host, Kanya Bennett, is joined by Paige Fernandez, the National Organizing Manager at the Center for Popular Democracy, and Tanya Clay House, Executive Vice President of Campaigns and Advocacy at the Hip Hop Caucus to discuss what advocacy and accountability look like to keep advancing civil rights, post-election.…

1
S06 E04: Affirmative Action Means Opportunity for All 39:40

2+ y ago39:40

39:40

On today's episode of Pod For the Cause, our host, Kanya Bennett, is joined by Star Wingate-Bey, a 2016 graduate of the University of North Carolina and a student intervenor who helped defend UNC's admissions policy in the affirmative action case involving the universtiy and Genize Bonadies Torres, Associate Director for the Educational Opportuniti…

1
S06 E03: Our Bodies are on the Ballot 38:13

2+ y ago38:13

38:13

On today’s episode of Pod for the Cause our host, Kanya Bennett discusses the intersectionality of abortion rights and voting and its impact on Black women with Marcela Howell, president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda.By The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

1
S06 E02: Why Our Courts Matter 39:53

2+ y ago39:53

39:53

On today’s episode of Pod for the Cause our host, Kanya Bennett will discuss the importance of our courts with Kadida Kenner, chief executive officer of the New Pennsylvania Project and co-chair of Why Courts Matter – Pennsylvania, and Kim Tignor, executive director for the Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice and cofounder of #SheW…

1
S06 E01: Vote to Save Democracy 45:38

2+ y ago45:38

45:38

Welcome back to Pod for the Cause Season 6! On today’s episode our new host, Kanya Bennett, managing director of government affairs at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the Leadership Conference Education Fund, will discuss voting and civic engagement with Cece Huddleston, voting rights field coordinator for the Prepared to Vo…

1
S05 E08: Vote For Justice 47:52

3y ago47:52

47:52

Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Sakira Cook, Senior Director of the Justice Program at The Leadership Conference and the The Education Fund, and Reginald Belle, Campaigns and Programs Fellow at The Leadership Conference and The Education Fund to discuss how we can transform the criminal-legal system through voting and other forms of civic pa…

1
S05 E07: Local Organizing & the Legacy of Black-led Civil Rights Movements 46:50

3y ago46:50

46:50

Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Arekia Bennett-Scott, executive director of Mississippi Votes, and Jordan Johnson, executive director of Georgia Shift, to discuss the legacy of Black-led civil rights organizing, the importance of youth in these movements, and how to evolve to meet the present moment.…

1
S05 E06: Trans Rights are Civil Rights 44:59

3+ y ago44:59

44:59

Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Diego Sanchez, Director of Advocacy, Policy & Partnerships at PFLAG and Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality to discuss the intersectionality of inequity and how it impacts the transgender community. They discuss dismantling systems of violence, among other …

1
S05 E05: Winning the Narrative 1:07:37

3+ y ago1:07:37

1:07:37

What is narrative and why should it matter to activists? Vanessa is joined by Ellen Buchman, President at The Opportunity Agenda, Dr. Jiggy Geronimo, a progressive research and messaging expert, and Tyler Lewis, Director of Messaging and Project Management at Third Sector to discuss how civil rights advocates can craft messaging that leverages the …

1
S05 E04: What are our Civil Rights on the Internet? 39:44

3+ y ago39:44

39:44

Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Sofia Ongele, Founder of ReDawn and Creative Advisor Intern at Kode with Klossy, and Laura Murphy, President of Laura Murphy & Associates, LLC and Author of The Rationale for and Key Elements of a Business Civil Rights Audit, to discuss the intersection of technology and civil rights.…

1
S05 E03: Immigration and Race in America 38:26

3+ y ago38:26

38:26

Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Lia Parada, Director of Legislative Advocacy at The Immigration Hub, and Abraham Paulos, Deputy Director at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, to discuss asylum, temporary protected status, and the state of immigration in the United States.By The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

1
S05 E02: The Biden Scorecard Episode 44:22

3+ y ago44:22

44:22

Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Lena Zwarensteyn, Senior Director of the Fair Courts Campaign at The Leadership Conference and The Education Fund, and Patricia Richman, National Sentencing Resource Counsel at Federal Public and Community Defenders, to discuss the promises President Biden made to voters, unpack his record on judicial nominati…

1
S05 E01: The Intersections of Abortion Bans 35:43

3+ y ago35:43

35:43

Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Aimee Arrambide, Executive Director at Avow Texas; Leila Abolfazli, Director for Federal Reproductive Rights at National Women’s Law Center; and Nancy Cardenas Pena, Texas Director of Policy and Advocacy at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice to discuss how recent abortion restrictions and …

1
Vision for Justice: Reimagining Public Safety 40:30

3+ y ago40:30

40:30

On the finale of the Vision for Justice miniseries, our guest host, Monifa Bandele, Movement for Black Lives Leadership Team, reimagines public safety with Thea Sebastian, Director of Policy, Civil Rights Corps, Alphonso David, President of Human Rights Campaign, and Eunisses Hernandez, Executive Director and Co-founder of La Defensa.…

1
Vision for Justice: Pretrial Justice 1:05:20

4y ago1:05:20

1:05:20

Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Congressman Ted. Lieu (D-Calif.) to discuss pretrial justice, its current framework, and the inequities that exist within it. Then, in a special Pod Squad segment, Sakira Cook, Senior Director, Justice Program, The Leadership Conference and The Education Fund, reimagines transforming the pretrial justice syste…

1
Vision For Justice: The ’94 Crime Bill 1:04:38

4y ago1:04:38

1:04:38

On this second episode of our special series, Vision For Justice, our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Congressman Bobby Scott (D-Va.), to discuss the passing of the 1994 Crime Bill and its long-term implications on mass incarceration and Black and Brown communities. Then, in a special Pod Squad segment, Nkechi Taifa, Principal and CEO of The Tai…

1
Vision For Justice: 50 Years of the War on Drugs 48:31

4y ago48:31

48:31

On this first episode of our special series, Vision For Justice, our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), to discuss the policies and ramifications of the War on Drugs. Then in a special Pod Squad segment, Kassandra Frederique, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance reimagines public safety with And…

1
S04 E08: School in the Time of COVID 26:12

4y ago26:12

26:12

Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Sylvia Tanguma, president of the McAllen American Federation of Teachers and a teacher at James Bonham Elementary in McAllen, TX, to discuss how teachers heroically pivoted their curriculum and methods in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and what needs to be done to help students and teachers re-enter the cla…

1
S04 E07: "Unmasking Reopening" 30:38

4y ago30:38

30:38

Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by mental health experts: Melvin Wilson (Senior Policy Advisor for Social Justice and Human Rights, at the National Association of Social Workers) and Sherod Haynes (MD/PhD Candidate at Emory University) to unpack mental health after over a year of quarantine, the social dichotomy of vaccination…

1
S04 E06: We Must Keep Fighting Barriers to the Ballot 28:59

4y ago28:59

28:59

Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by voting leaders: Bo Shuff (Executive Director at DC Vote), Lisa Cylar Barrett (Director of Policy at the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc.), and Kadeem Cooper (Policy Counsel at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law) to break down the latest in federal voting, DC statehoo…

1
S04 E05: SHE-cession 31:43

4y ago31:43

31:43

Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by Adrienne Lawrence (Attorney and Sr. Consultant at Jennifer Brown Consulting, Media and Legal Consultant at Bantam Impact, and the Author of Staying in the Game), Jess Morales Rocketto (Co-chair of Families Belong Together and Co-Founder at Care in Action, Supermajority, and She Se Puede), and …

1
S04 E04: #AVLExplains Local Elections 30:08

4y ago30:08

30:08

Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by amazing members of the All Voting is Local team: Peter Burress (Wisconsin Campaign Manager), Rosemary Avila (Arizona Campaign Manager), Ifeolu Claytor (Ohio Campaign Manager), and Ben Gardner (Michigan Campaign Manager) to break down voting at the local level and discuss the intersectionality …

1
S04 E03: Black Justice is Our Justice 25:44

4y ago25:44

25:44

Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by Claudia Flores (Senior Campaign Manager at the Center for American Progress), Abraham Paulos (Deputy Director of Policy and Communications at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration), and Jill Yu (Managing Director and Cofounder at Act to Change) to talk about immigration, white supremacy, and…

1
S04 E02: The First 100 Days of Biden-Harris 34:26

4y ago34:26

34:26

Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by Monica Simpson (Executive Director of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective), Tina Tchen (President & CEO of TIME'S UP), and LaShawn Warren (Executive Vice President for Government Affairs at The Leadership Conference) to talk all about the first 100 days of the Biden-Harri…

1
S04 E01: This Is America 25:34

4+ y ago25:34

25:34

On the season 4 premiere of Pod for the Cause, Wade Henderson, civil rights lawyer, human rights activist, and interim president of The Leadership Conference, and Nelini Stamp, Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the Working Families Party, join host Vanessa Gonzalez to discuss where we've been as a country (and where we want to be) in the aft…

1
S03 E09: Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021 27:30

4+ y ago27:30

27:30

2020 has been a year unlike any other - from the COVID-19 pandemic to racial injustice, a historic presidential election and more - as we close the door on 2020 and welcome a New Year, The Leadership Conference colleagues LaShawn Warren and Kelly Brewington join Vanessa Gonzalez to take a look back & reflect on all that has happened this year, whil…

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Leadership Conference On Civil And Human Rights Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen