wrongfully convicted

Both species of rhinoceros in Africa are endangered, in large part due to the value of rhino horn on the black market. In the western part of South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park, a group is working to keep these animals safe in spite of the bounties on their horns. The Black Mambas are a woman-only group of rangers that patrol the wildlife reserve to protect against poaching. 

Tsakane Nxumalo, a ranger with the Black Mambas, joins host Jay Ruderman to talk about their rigorous training process, the role of education in conservation work, and what role her gender plays in her work.

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Bobby Farrelly’s movies are well-known for their comedy - Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, and, most recently, Champions. They’re also well-known for something else - featuring actors with disabilities in prominent roles. For Bobby, this isn’t activism. It’s making sure the world he creates on-screen looks like the one he lives off-screen.

Bobby joined host Jay Ruderman to talk about what casting has looked like over the course of his career, what it was like to shoot Champions, and where he hopes to see Hollywood in the future.

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In his career, Michael Maren has been a relief worker, war correspondent, and film director. Michael’s book, The Road to Hell, took a hard look at NGOs operating in a development context, and how good intentions aren’t enough to affect positive change. 

On this episode of All About Change, Michael joins host Jay Ruderman to discuss his time working in development in countries in east Africa, and how it informed his stance on international aid. The two get into the problems with humanitarian aid and food relief programs, highlighting how they often support the status quo and fail to address the root causes of poverty.

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With antisemitism on the rise, the need for Holocaust education has never been more important. That’s where Emmy award-winner Julianna Margulies comes in. In 2022, Julianna helped to found the Holocaust Educator School Partnership, an initiative to help train undergraduate and graduate students in how to teach about the Holocaust in the classroom. 

In this episode, Julianna Margulies sits down with host Jay Ruderman to discuss the misconceptions and challenges facing the Jewish community today, and what allyship means to her.

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Nas Daily has been an internet sensation since its inception. But the man behind it all is a bit less well known. Nuseir Yassin left a well-paying job at Venmo to travel the world, and do 1,000 videos in 1,000 days about the places and people he encountered. Since then, he’s built a company founded on community, positivity, and storytelling.

Nuseir sat down with host Jay Ruderman to talk about growing up in Israel, how he keeps his company community-minded, and how he’s building a culture that lasts.

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In this episode from the All About Change vault, Jay Ruderman sits down with iconic actor and activist Fran Drescher. Fran tells Jay the story of getting The Nanny off the ground, and what it took to make sure that Fran Fein made it to air as a Jewish woman.

In the years since The Nanny, Fran has battled uterine cancer, and founded the Cancer Schmancer Movement to encourage women to advocate for themselves in the doctor’s office. Fran and Jay talk about all of this, and more.

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The correlation between boxing and rescuing stray dogs isn’t one that’s clear at first glance. But for Chrissy Beckles, founder of the Sato Project, the connection is one she makes each and every day. 

Since 2011, the Sato Project has rescued more than 8,000 dogs in Puerto Rico. With nearly half a million stray dogs roaming the island, there’s no one knockout solution. Chrissy sat down with host Jay Ruderman to talk about the long journey,  from gaining feral dogs’ trust, to finding funding, to weathering a category 5 hurricane. 

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Chelsea Miller may be young, but she’s already had a lifetime full of activism. Perhaps more impressive than the work itself is the intentionality, care, and thoughtfulness she brings to it all.  

Listen to the latest episode of All About Change as Chelsea delves into her childhood in Brooklyn’s “Little Caribbean,” interning at the Obama White House, and founding Freedom March NYC in response to George Floyd’s murder.

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Some people may see J.R. Martinez's burn scars and think that he is defined by that single day in his life. But J.R.'s journey towards vulnerability and resilience began long before his time in the military and the twists and turns it’s taken since nearly defy imagination.

Listen to the latest episode of All About Change as J.R. describes his trajectory to Jay. He’s gone from recovering in a military burn unit to becoming a motivational speaker, actor, winner of Dancing with the Stars, and advocate for veterans and other charitable causes.

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Manatees in Florida could be placed back on the Endangered Species List.

One of the greatest miscarriages of justice in America occurred in Port St. Joe, Florida in the case of Freddie Lee Pitts and Wilbert Lee. The two Black men were convicted of a double homicide despite no physical evidence, no credible eyewitness, confessions forced via police torture, and a subsequent confession shortly after from the actual murderer.

The pair were eventually pardoned after serving 12 years. Spearheading the pardon was a Miami Herald journalist Gene Miller, and our guest this week, Pitts and Lee's defense attorney at appeal, Phillip A Hubbart. Hubbart is the author of "From Death Row to Freedom: The Struggle for Racial Justice in the Pitts-Lee Case" which he will be discussing at the 2023 Miami Book Fair.

"Welcome to Florida" is presented by Windstorm Products.

In the early years of the Iraq War, thousands of Americans enlisted to fight for their country, fully aware of the dangers of that decision. Or so they thought. But one insidious threat had long-lasting impacts on the health of American troops: burn pits. Meant to provide an efficient way for soldiers to get rid of their waste, burn pits instead pumped tons of toxins into the air that found their way into the lungs of nearby service members. Service members like Beau Biden, President Biden’s son, and Le Roy Torres. Le Roy remembers the smell, and the almost immediate respiratory infections and headaches that followed. Now, more than 15 years later, he’s still dealing with the fallout.

Le Roy joins Jay to discuss his trajectory from deployment until now, and the work he’s doing to ensure that veterans aren’t left to deal with mounting disabilities and health costs alone.

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Welcome to "The Ya-Native Podcast," that unravels the compelling and challenging journey of one of the most significant Native American causes that the world should know about. We delve deep into the story of the largest online support group for Leonard Peltier, who has been a symbol of Indigenous rights and justice for decades.

This podcast is an unfiltered look at the relentless dedication, hurdles, and sacrifices made by those who stood up for what they believed in. Hear about the hundreds of hours spent, personal funds invested, and the countless attempts to create awareness, all for a cause that demanded attention and justice.

In retrospect, it's a story of both regret and resilience. We recount the struggles faced, including the unexpected challenges like spam attacks and the eventual deletion of the Facebook page with 78,000 followers. But, despite the setbacks, the spirit remains unbroken.

Join us as we explore this incredible journey, reflect on the experiences, and offer an open invitation. If 'Mr. X' would be willing to share his insights and perspectives in a podcast interview, the legacy of the Leonard Peltier support group could be rekindled.

"Unforgotten Voices" is not just a podcast; it's a testament to the enduring fight for justice and a call to remember the unspoken heroes who dedicated their time, money, and energy for a cause that still echoes in the hearts of many. Thank you for your time, and may you have a truly blessed day.

Thank you for your continuing support. This Podcast is another tool for the Ya-Native Network, This may be the last stage to share our ideas openly.
Podcasting and videos are certainly outside my comfort zone, but it's a necessary means to help find a voice for those of us who can not be heard.

Listen to this special episode of All About Change as Linor gives an intimate look at the aftermath of Hamas' attack on Israel.

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You're in prison. 
The system has convicted you of murder. 
 You're serving a lifetime in prison. 
But you're innocent. You didn't kill anyone.  

So who are you going to call? 

It's no use phoning a lawyer. They didn't work too well at your trial.
It's no use phoning a politician. Those guys campaign on locking up murderers. 
Your family cannot help.
Your friends?  Very few actually stayed with you. 

There is one small organization without much money or resources - the Innocence Project.  They are your last hope.

**

This week on Crimewaves, the true story of an extraordinary fight to free an innocent man and overturn a shocking injustice. 

Please rate, review or like this episode: would be hugely appreciated by Declan and the whole team of students.

www.crimewavespodcast.com
www.declanhill.com
Twitter: declan_hill

It is said military veterans account for 1% of the American population, and certainly, women have been a part of that number, stepping up to the challenge of defending their country for generations. But when their service ends, they often find themselves without meaningful support, unable to attain the most basic levels of assistance offered to their male counterparts.

Jas Boothe was in a similar situation. A single mother living in Louisiana, she was hit hard by two events: The diagnosis of an aggressive cancer, and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Homeless and jobless, she was turned away when she sought help. Jas speaks to Jay about how she turned her struggle into a beacon of hope for female veterans in need.

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The extraordinary true story of an innocent man convicted of murder and the small group of investigators who not only prove his innocence but find the real murderer.

**

You're driving in your car on a Houston highway. The police stop you and the nightmare begins... 

They open up the trunk and discover a wig and a ski mask. You say, rightly, "they're part of a Halloween costume."   The police arrest you anyway and put you on trial for murder.

The ensuing court trial is bizarre. Six complete strangers stand there and say that you killed somebody and they saw you. You don't know what they're talking about, but the court finds you guilty. Then you lose your appeal, and now you're in prison for the rest of your life for a crime that you did not commit. 

Please rate, review or like this episode: would be hugely appreciated by Declan and the whole team of students.

www.crimewavespodcast.com
www.declanhill.com
Twitter: declan_hill

Life isn’t fair. Perhaps that is why we love sports. In sports, the aspiration at least, is to even the playing field. But that endeavor in and of itself, poses many challenges. What does the inclusion of transgender athletes mean for sports? For ESPN’s Katie Barnes, a journalist who covers the intersection of gender and athletics, the answers here are never simple. 

Katie joins Jay to discuss the gender politics of sports at all levels of performance, as they break down in their new book, Fair Play: How Sports Shapes The Gender Debates. This conversation distills the complex and often-sensitive questions around transgender competitors, many of whom are kids who simply want to enjoy the sport they love.  

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Always having a love for the sea, Emily Penn took a journey from Shanghai to Melbourne, Australia that would change her life, as she saw first-hand the extent of pollution in the world’s oceans.

Since then, she has organized the largest ever community-led waste cleanup operation, completed a trip around the world solely using biofuel, and created various avenues for people—from ordinary citizens to filmmakers—to discover and document the damage microplastics have done to our oceans. Emily also runs eXXpedition, a series of sailing voyages where crew members—all women—focus on researching the connection between pollution and female health. 

Emily joins Jay to share her insights into ocean advocacy, what lessons we can learn from the past, and how governments, companies, and communities can reimagine the way we create and consume products.

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In 1988, an explosion killed six Kansas City firefighters. Closure Is Not Justice is a public art project drawing attention to the 1988 explosion, and the public campaign that generated false testimony among residents in the Marlborough neighborhood, turning neighbor against neighbor, all for the sake of closure.

Closure Is Not Justice Exhibition Opening - Friday, September 1
 Vulpes Bastille gallery in the Crossroads, KC.

Andrew Johnson is an author, essayist, and artist living in Kansas City, Missouri. His work has appeared in The Sun, Image, Commonweal, Crazyhorse, and elsewhere, and he is the author of two books: The Thread and On Earth As It Is. He is the recipient of a Charlotte Street Foundation residency, a Rocket Grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation, an ArtsKC Inspiration grant, a Vermont Studio Center residency, and a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship.

Closure Is Not Justice https://www.closureisnotjustice.com/

Andrew’s Substack https://thethread.substack.com/p/closure-is-not-justice?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Andrew’s website https://www.andrewmichaeljohnson.com/

FB: andrewjohnsonkc / IG: andrew.johnson.kc


Seasoned and fresh-faced artists (of every genre) discuss how to make creativity work within the complexities and challenges of adult life. Confessing Animals podcast co-hosts Jen Harris + Vanessa Aricco, both working writers, unveil the secrets and struggles of creative living in a rapid fire capitalist society. One guest at a time, Jen + Vanessa ask, How Does Your Life Translate to Art?

Intro and music by Ashley Raines https://www.ashleyrainesmusic.com/

While certain areas of Haiti remain picturesque, it’s hard to find a place within the beleaguered island nation untouched by the trifecta of violence, pollution, and corruption. 

Serving as executive director of the Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité Marine, or FoProBiM, Jean Wiener is considered by many to be Haiti’s foremost environmentalist, and the expert in all matters concerning the Haitian coast. 

But Activism is not something that happens in a vacuum. Jean’s decades-long efforts to clean, restore, and preserve the fragile ecosystem, is a constant balancing act between the country’s environmental issues and the basic survival needs of its impoverished population. How do you convince a fisherman struggling to put food on his family’s table that it's within his own best interest to engage in sustainable practices?  

This important conversation between Jay and Jean deals head on with some of those challenges - challenges that are both unique to Haiti but hold relevance for any kind of activism and advocacy.

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