Pod for the Cause

Welcome to the official podcast of The Leadership Conference

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!


Vision For Justice: Pretrial Justice
July 26, 2021

Our 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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Vision For Justice: The ’94 Crime Bill
July 13, 2021

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...

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Vision For Justice: The 50th Anniversary of the War on Drugs
June 22, 2021

Our host Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), to discuss the policies and ramifications of the War on Drugs. T...

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S04 E08: School in the Time of COVID
June 17, 2021

Vanessa Gonzalez is joined by Sylvia Tanguma, president of the McAllen American Federation of Teachers and a teacher at James Bonham Elementary in ...

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S04 E07: Unmasking Reopening
May 12, 2021

Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by mental health experts: Melvin Wilson (Senior Policy Advisor for Social Justice and Human Ri...

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S04 E06: We Must Keep Fighting Barriers to the Ballot
April 28, 2021

Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by voting rights leaders: Bo Shuff (Executive Director at DC Vote), Lisa Cylar Barrett (Direct...

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S04 E05: SHE-cession
March 23, 2021

Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by Adrienne Lawrence (Attorney and Sr. Consultant at Jennifer Brown Consulting, Media and Lega...

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S04 E04: #AVLExplains Local Elections
March 10, 2021

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)...

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S04 E03: Black Justice is Our Justice
February 26, 2021

Pod for the Cause host Vanessa N. Gonzalez is joined by Claudia Flores (Senior Campaign Manager at the Center for American Progress), Abraham Paulo...

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Meet the Host

Kanya Bennett headshot

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.

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