We’ve joined the airwaves to help spark conversation and activism on some of the most critical issues of today. From the courts to immigration, we’re seeing unprecedented attacks on the values we hold near and dear. At Pod for the Cause, we’re going to tackle these issues and more. Our friends in the movement will be stopping by to have these conversations, and they promise to be real, straightforward and honest. This podcast was created for those of you wanting to effect change, who understand the importance of restoring our democracy and want to engage in deep conversation around the issues. So check out the first episode of Pod for the Cause, and subscribe below!
S05 E07: Local Organizing & the Legacy of Black-led Civil Rights Movements
March 23, 2022Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Arekia Bennett-Scott, executive director of Mississippi Votes, and Jordan Johnson, executive director of Geo...
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S05 E06: Trans Rights are Civil Rights
March 16, 2022Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Diego Sanchez, Director of Advocacy, Policy & Partnerships at PFLAG and Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Executive...
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S05 E05: Winning the Narrative
March 16, 2022What is narrative and why should it matter to activists? Vanessa is joined by Ellen Buchman, President at The Opportunity Agenda, Dr. Jiggy Geronim...
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S05 E04: What are our Civil Rights on the Internet?
November 29, 2021Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Sofia Ongele, Founder of ReDawn and Creative Advisor Intern at Kode with Klossy, and Laura Murphy, President...
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S05 E03: Immigration and Race in America
November 15, 2021Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Lia Parada, Director of Legislative Advocacy at The Immigration Hub, and Abraham Paulos, Deputy Director at ...
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S05 E02: The Biden Scorecard Episode
October 28, 2021Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Lena Zwarensteyn, Senior Director of the Fair Courts Campaign at The Leadership Conference and The Education...
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S05 E01: The Intersections of Abortion Bans
September 20, 2021Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Aimee Arrambide, Executive Director at Avow Texas; Leila Abolfazli, Director for Federal Reproductive Rights...
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Vision For Justice: Reimagining Public Safety
August 5, 2021On the finale of the Vision for Justice miniseries, our guest host, Monifa Bandele, Movement for Black Lives Leadership Team, reimagines public saf...
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Vision For Justice: Pretrial Justice
July 26, 2021Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Congressman Ted. Lieu (D-Calif.) to discuss pretrial justice, its current framework, and the inequities that...
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Kanya Bennett is the managing director of government affairs at The Leadership Conference — a coalition of more than 220 organizations serving as a strategic hub of the civil rights movement. Kanya Bennett has advanced a civil rights policy agenda for more than a decade in Washington, DC, a city she calls home by way of Chicago. She currently serves as the Managing Director for Government Affairs at The Leadership Conference. A social justice lawyer by day, and basketball momager by night, you can catch Kanya on the sidelines when she’s not on Capitol Hill.