Best Julian Heck Podcasts (2023)

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Our America Mixtape: A Special Treat from Hark 34:28

1+ y ago34:28

34:28

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 Bet…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Remembering Uvalde & Hoping for Change 1:03:08

1+ y ago1:03:08

1:03:08

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 Gust…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
The Swift Evolution of Home Ownership 43:18

1+ y ago43:18

43:18

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 La…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Shifting Political Power Through Organizing 44:15

1+ y ago44:15

44:15

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 potentia…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
The End of Roe (with Lauren Rankin) 36:34

1+ y ago36:34

36:34

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 abortio…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Championing Democracy from the Hood to the Holler (with Charles Booker) 48:24

1+ y ago48:24

48:24

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…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Can Biden Rebound? 40:38

1+ y ago40:38

40:38

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.…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Suiting Up to Protect LGBTQ Rights (with Charlotte Clymer) 44:51

1+ y ago44:51

44:51

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 Cha…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
What’s Merrick Garland Waiting For? (with Elie Mystal) 47:44

1+ y ago47:44

47:44

Julián and Sawyer discuss the Biden administration’s long-awaited removal of Trump’s Title 42 policy that paralyzed the asylum-seeking process at the height of COVID. They then unpack the latest from the Jan. 6th House committee’s investigation into Trump’s alleged involvement in the Capitol insurrection. Later the two welcome MSNBC contributor and…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Everything is Chaos from Will Smith to SCOTUS (with Mark Joseph Stern) 50:34

1+ y ago50:34

50:34

Sawyer and guest co-host Maya Rupert unpack the shocking Oscars moment that saw Best Actor winner Will Smith physically assault comedian Chris Rock over an insensitive joke. They then focus on the GOP’s treatment of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson at her Supreme Court nomination hearing as well as the deafening calls for Justice Clarence Thomas’s resig…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Ketanji Brown Jackson Makes History 47:15

1+ y ago47:15

47:15

Julián and Sawyer compare the first days of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic Supreme Court nomination hearing to those of Trump’s candidates, including Brett Kavanaugh. They then talk about the latest out of Ukraine amidst the ongoing Russian assault. Later they welcome Marguerite Casey Foundation CEO Dr. Carmen Rojas to talk about voting rights, p…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Midterm Messaging (with Jason Kander) 50:18

1+ y ago50:18

50:18

Julián and Sawyer talk about the GOP’s misleading rhetoric regarding Russian sanctions and their effects on American gas prices, while also examining the Democratic Party’s messaging choices ahead of the 2022 midterms. They then welcome Majority 54 podcaster Jason Kander to chat about his advocacy work, especially when it comes to bipartisanship in…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Ukraine Fights Back (with Michael McFaul) 46:28

1+ y ago46:28

46:28

Julián and Sawyer condemn the anti-LGBTQ policies constructed by right-wing conservatives in both Texas and Florida, including the so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. They also welcome Michael McFaul, Stanford University professor and former US ambassador to Russia, to get an unvarnished take on the “young war” waging in Ukraine and to learn how its co…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
SOTU & TX Election Results (with Rep. Joaquin Castro) 40:14

1+ y ago40:14

40:14

Julián and Sawyer welcome US Rep. Joaquin Castro to talk about President Biden’s State of the Union address, the results of the Texas primary elections, and Gov. Greg Abbott’s assault on transgender children and their families. They also comment on Biden’s historic nomination of federal judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the US Supreme Court and the up…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Russia’s War Games 50:38

1+ y ago50:38

50:38

Julián and Sawyer give an update on the Russian conflict against Ukraine while also tackling domestic issues like President Biden’s most-recent polling numbers and the state of the Democratic Party, especially before next week’s Texas primaries. They also chat with housing advocate and All Home founder Tomiquia Moss about her organization’s fight t…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Putin on the Blitz? (with Nayyera Haq) 53:04

1+ y ago53:04

53:04

Julián and Sawyer chat about mask mandate removals in cities and states nationwide, the Canadian trucker protest energizing North American right-wingers, and Texas early voting amidst new election restrictions. They also welcome Black News Channel host and former Obama State Department advisor Nayyera Haq to address the growing tension between Russ…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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A Real, Legitimate Political Discourse (with Jessica Cisneros) 50:40

1+ y ago50:40

50:40

Julián and Sawyer deride Republicans for trying to label the Capitol insurrection as “legitimate political discourse.” They also talk about the aftermath of yet another young Black American’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police. Later the two chat with Texas congressional candidate Jessica Cisneros about her much-discussed primary race against…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Not Going Quietly (with Ady Barkan) 48:39

1+ y ago48:39

48:39

Julián and Sawyer marvel at Trump’s public admission of trying to use Mike Pence to help overturn the 2020 election results and comment extensively on President Biden’s quest to place a Black female judge on the US Supreme Court. They also sit down with healthcare advocate and ALS patient Ady Barkan to talk about the nation’s troubled healthcare sy…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Trump’s Legal Woes & America’s Childcare Crisis (with Gloria Riviera) 48:40

1+ y ago48:40

48:40

Julián and Sawyer dig deep into Trump’s troubles, ranging from the January 6th Committee’s latest findings and New York State’s continued investigation into his seemingly shady business practices. The two also welcome ‘No One is Coming to Save Us’ host Gloria Riviera to talk about the difficulties of childcare during the recent omicron surge. Follo…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Who Will Primary Voting Rights Holdout Sinema? (with Mehdi Hasan) 52:20

1+ y ago52:20

52:20

Julián and Sawyer theorize about Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s political future following her latest efforts to sideswipe President Biden’s overall agenda, including historic voting rights legislation. They also welcome MSNBC and Peacock host Mehdi Hasan to break down Biden’s first full year in office and the media’s responsibility ahead of the midterms. F…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Biden Drops the F-Bomb: Filibuster (with Beto O’Rourke) 49:55

1+ y ago49:55

49:55

Julián and Sawyer talk about President Biden’s decidedly pointed responses to the Capitol riots anniversary, filibuster reform and voting rights. They also deride Sen. Ted Cruz for apologizing to FOX News host Tucker Carlson after he initially condemned the insurrection. The two then chat with friend Beto O’Rourke about his Texas gubernatorial bid …

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Our America with Julián Castro

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The Capitol Coup, One Year Later 49:03

1+ y ago49:03

49:03

Julián and Sawyer start the new year off by revisiting some of the headlines you may have missed during the holidays, including Sen. Joe Manchin seemingly derailing President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda. They also commemorate the one year anniversary of the January 6th Capitol Riots and discuss its overall impact on our democracy. Keep up with…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Revisiting: Journalists Need To Do Their Damn Jobs (with Dan Rather) 35:05

2y ago35:05

35:05

Storied news anchor and journalist Dan Rather has reported on some of the world’s most important events – from Georgia’s church pews at the height of the civil rights movement, to deadly student protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, to the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11. Dan’s been at the epicenter of American media since the ‘60s, and now, …

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Revisiting: Why I'm F*cking Mad (with Jonathan Van Ness) 29:56

2y ago29:56

29:56

With the launch of the hit Netflix show, “Queer Eye,” Jonathan Van Ness became a personal grooming guru for unkempt Americans across the country. But JVN has engaged audiences in so much more than better hygiene practices – a year after the show launched, JVN wrote a memoir that helped to demystify living with HIV and what “undetectable equals untr…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Insurrection, Impeachment and Other Wild 2021 Moments (with Maya Rupert) 51:15

2y ago51:15

51:15

Julián and Sawyer welcome their former presidential campaign colleague Maya Rupert to unpack some of the year’s most memorable news stories, from some of the most inspirational (involving women of color at the top of their field) to a few of the wackiest (did JFK Jr. really come back?). Even Q-Anon conspiracy theories can’t keep the team from refle…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
The Death of Roe and the Rise of Omicron (with Lauren Rankin & Andy Slavitt) 48:38

2y ago48:38

48:38

Julián and Sawyer welcome writer and abortion rights activist Lauren Rankin to make sense of the Supreme Court’s latest efforts to potentially invalidate Roe v. Wade. They also chat with ‘In the Bubble’ host Andy Slavitt about the emergence of the omicron COVID variant and his work with the Biden administration earlier this year to help combat the …

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Our America with Julián Castro

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‘Tis the Season for Making Legislative Moves (with Sen. Elizabeth Warren) 51:05

2y ago51:05

51:05

Julián and Sawyer are back from the holidays and back to the DC chatter with special guest Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who explicitly outlines the work Congress still has to do before year’s end. Speaking of Congress, Julián and Sawyer criticize Republicans for their continued ambivalence toward racism and bigotry against their own colleagues while simu…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Revisiting: A Seat at the Table for Native and Indigenous People 39:08

2y ago39:08

39:08

After a year and a half of disproportionately high rates of COVID-19, the major losses within Native and Indigenous communities have underlined just how deep-seated historical discrimination still is – evident in an overwhelming lack of access to water, electricity, and health care services on reservations. In this Season 1 episode, Julián is joine…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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The Bells & Dog Whistles of GOP Messaging (with Anat Shenker-Osorio) 50:54

2y ago50:54

50:54

Julián and Sawyer talk about Julián’s decision to sit out the Texas gubernatorial race, which just welcomed former Congressman Beto O’Rourke this week. They also chat with ‘Words to Win By’ podcast host Anat Shenker-Osorio about her ‘Race-Class Narrative Project’ and the need for Democrats to hone their political messaging against Republican dog-wh…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Election Wake-Up Call: Time To Get Sh*t Done (with Rep. Joaquin Castro) 48:02

2y ago48:02

48:02

Julián and Sawyer walk through the disappointing Election Night results likely worrying the (slim) Democratic majority and offer answers as to what could’ve happened. They also welcome Julián’s twin brother, US Rep. Joaquin Castro, who provides an inside look as to how Congress was finally able to pass President Biden’s massive infrastructure deal …

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Why is Joe Manchin Calling the Shots? (with Dr. Carmen Rojas) 46:08

2y ago46:08

46:08

Julián and Sawyer talk about President Biden’s newly-amended framework for his Build Back Better Plan and how voters may react to certain legislative omissions like paid family leave and tuition-free community college. They also welcome Marguerite Casey Foundation CEO Dr. Carmen Rojas to unpack how the bill’s passage will impact the work of non-pro…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Defending Voting, Protecting Democracy (with Marc Elias) 52:19

2y ago52:19

52:19

Julián and Sawyer talk about the ever-evolving nature of President Biden’s two-tiered infrastructure package ahead of a purported final vote and the hotly-contested gubernatorial race down in Virginia set for next week. They also welcome renowned election law attorney Marc Elias to break down gerrymandering efforts in Texas and the continued fight …

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Trump’s Immigration Policies in Biden’s White House (with Hamed Aleaziz) 49:58

2y ago49:58

49:58

Julián and Sawyer unpack the importance of the Jan. 6 select committee investigating the Capitol insurrection (which Trump is now suing) and analyze new poll numbers that may be enlightening for some Democrats ahead of the midterm elections. They also welcome BuzzFeed News immigration reporter Hamed Aleaziz to break down the current administration’…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
The Fight to Build Back Better (with Rep. Ayanna Pressley) 55:52

2y ago55:52

55:52

US Rep. Ayanna Pressley joins Secretary Julián Castro and new co-host Sawyer Hackett for our season two premiere to talk about President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda and the power of progressives on the Hill. Julián and Sawyer also discuss the latest judicial back and forth on Texas’s restrictive anti-abortion measure and a new study analyzing …

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Introducing: Our America with Julián Castro - Season 2 1:55

2y ago1:55

1:55

Voting. Abortion. Immigration. Poverty. Federal courts. This season, Julián Castro goes off script with Sawyer Hackett and insiders on the front lines of the biggest political issues influencing Our America. From Lemonada Media. Premieres October 13th. Find Julián online at @JulianCastro and Sawyer at @SawyerHackett. And stay up to date with us on …

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
WTF is Happening in TX? (with Cecile Richards) 56:16

2y ago56:16

56:16

Just days after the state implemented a draconian anti-abortion measure that effectively invalidates Roe v. Wade, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed voter suppression legislation into law this week. With COVID numbers also spiking there, Julián and his longtime staffer Sawyer Hackett hop on the mic for a special episode to dissect the latest (and not gr…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Safety Doesn’t Mean More Guns (with John Legend) 28:16

2+ y ago28:16

28:16

Season Finale! We’re ending on a high note with Grammy-award winning musician and social justice advocate, John Legend, who joins us to talk about using his platform to fight for racial equity, and his personal connection to reforming the criminal justice system and upholding the voting rights of formerly incarcerated folks. Keep up with Julián on …

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Our America with Julián Castro

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The Filibuster’s Racist Roots (with Adam Jentleson) 42:11

2+ y ago42:11

42:11

When you hear the word ‘filibuster,’ you might think of an idealistic Jimmy Stewart delivering an impassioned speech against corruption on the Senate floor in Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. But the reality of the filibuster of today – and how we got here – is anything but justice-seeking. Senate insider and author Adam Jentleson walks …

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
A Seat At The Table For Native And Indigenous People 38:08

2+ y ago38:08

38:08

After a year of disproportionately high rates of COVID-19, the major losses within Native and Inidigenous communities have underlined just how deep-seated historical discrimination still is – evident in an overwhelming lack of access to water, electricity, and health care services on reservations. We’re joined by Áshįįhí Clan member President J…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
A Reckoning in Texas 38:06

2+ y ago38:06

38:06

In February, Texas faced the startling reality of a changing climate with single-digit temperatures that led to widespread power outages, flooded homes and lives lost. But why was Texas hit with one of the worst blackouts in our country’s history? And why was its energy grid unprepared to handle it? This week, senior energy analyst Julie McNamara o…

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Our America with Julián Castro

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Who Responds to a Mental Health Crisis? (with Rep Leslie Herod) 38:28

2+ y ago38:28

38:28

Colorado State Representative Leslie Herod saw a gap in mental health services in Denver and decided to do something about it. With the help of a van, a mental health professional, and an EMT, the Support Team Assistance Response (STAR) program was born – and six months in, it has proved effective at fielding mental health calls received by the Den…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Curbing Anti-Asian and Pacific Islander Hate (with Cynthia Choi) 33:31

2+ y ago33:31

33:31

Since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in the US, over 3,000 attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have been reported – with many targeting the Bay Area’s elderly population. Misinformation, fear, and politicians’ racist rhetoric tied to COVID’s origins in China have only fueled the sometimes fatal violence against AAPI communit…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Moms Demand Action 39:52

2+ y ago39:52

39:52

After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, many Americans felt a call to action to reform our country’s gun laws. One of these people was Shannon Watts, a mother of five who started a Facebook group that turned into Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Two years later, a mom in Texas joined her local chapter of Moms Demand Act…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Unions Are Vehicles of Justice (with Mary Kay Henry) 34:35

2+ y ago34:35

34:35

For over 40 years, Mary Kay Henry has fought for the rights of workers with the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU. With the rise of COVID-19 and an increased reliance on essential workers, these rights have too often been disregarded, leaving many without adequate personal protective equipment or access to fair wages and benefits. This…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Families Ripped Apart 35:50

2+ y ago35:50

35:50

Los Angeles County is home to the largest foster care system in the country, and it’s run in partnership with the police and local Sheriff’s department. So what happens when a system that’s meant to protect our children intersects with law enforcement and ends up criminalizing them instead? How do we get to the root of the system’s domino effect in…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Journalists Need To Do Their Damn Jobs (with Dan Rather) 34:59

2+ y ago34:59

34:59

Storied news anchor and journalist Dan Rather has reported on some of the world’s most important events – from Georgia’s church pews at the height of the civil rights movement, to deadly student protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, to the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11. Dan’s been at the epicenter of American media since the ‘60s, and now, …

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Making Mental Health Accessible (with Dan Harris) 37:54

2+ y ago37:54

37:54

Dan Harris knows all about how to cope with everyday stressors and anxiety. In 2004, he was filling in for a news anchor on Good Morning America when he experienced a panic attack on air. He joins us this week to talk about how his televised panic attack led him to embrace meditation, and how this mental health routine developed into the Ten Percen…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
Why I'm F*cking Mad (with Jonathan Van Ness) 30:09

2+ y ago30:09

30:09

With the launch of the hit Netflix show, “Queer Eye,” Jonathan Van Ness became a personal grooming guru for unkempt Americans across the country. But JVN has engaged audiences in so much more than better hygiene practices – a year after the show launched, JVN wrote a memoir that helped to demystify living with HIV and what “undetectable equals untr…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
A Beacon of Hope (with Ayanna Pressley and London Breed) 46:12

2+ y ago46:12

46:12

Although 2020 is behind us, the new year is already off to an unsettling start. On January 6, chaos erupted as a violent mob of Trump loyalists stormed our nation’s Capitol, leaving five people dead. One of this week’s guests, Massachusetts representative Ayanna Pressley, was at the Capitol that day. Fearing for her safety, she reached for the pani…

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Our America with Julián Castro

1
How We Reach the Working Class (with Bernie Sanders) 36:06

3y ago36:06

36:06

From his humble beginnings as Mayor of Burlington, Vermont to his seat in the Senate, Demoractic Socialist Bernie Sanders has consistently backed the working class, universal health care and taxing the wealthiest Americans. The Vermont Senator joins us this week to talk about the future of Trumpism, priorities for the new administration, and what t…

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