Episode 46

Jalil Muntaqim, revolutionary, former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, and current community organizer with Citizen Action of New York, shares his powerful story of resistance, survival, and ongoing liberation work. Arrested at age 19 and imprisoned for nearly 50 years, Jalil reflects on his time organizing from within prison, the repression he faced—including solitary confinement for teaching Black history—and how he remained unbroken. He discusses U.S. genocide against Black and Indigenous people, social work's complicity through child removal, and his efforts to organize an international tribunal to hold the U.S. accountable. This conversation is a testament to unwavering commitment to Black liberation and a call to resist systemic violence in all its forms.

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Episode 45

Wayne Reid, Professional Officer and Anti-Racism Visionary at the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), shares his bold and principled approach to anti-racist social work. He discusses how the murder of George Floyd catalyzed his advocacy, leading to numerous BASW initiatives and resources that push the profession to confront white supremacy embedded in policy, practice, and culture. Wayne emphasizes that anti-racism must be an explicit part of professional conduct—within client work, peer relationships, and institutional structures—and outlines the responsibilities organizations have to protect and support social workers of color. This conversation offers a powerful international perspective on what it means to lead with clarity, courage, and action in the face of systemic racism.

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Episode 44

Alesandra Lozano, Director of Communications and Advocacy at the Texas Civil Rights Project, shares her journey from grassroots LGBTQ organizing to leading policy advocacy efforts in Texas. She discusses TCRP's work to protect voting rights and how it's deeply connected to immigrant justice and criminal legal reform. Alesandra offers practical strategies for engaging in local advocacy, including public testimony and coalition building through efforts like the Texas for All coalition. This episode is a master class in organizing for change and ensuring our communities have a voice in the policies that affect them.

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Episode 43

Durrell Washington, Vivianne Guevara, Cameron Rasmussen, and Michelle Grier of the Network to Advance Abolitionist Social Work (NAASW) discuss their collective efforts to integrate abolition into social work practice. They explain how social work has historically supported carceral systems and how NAASW challenges the profession's complicity with policing, surveillance, and white supremacy. The conversation explores what abolition means, how to apply it in both vision and action, and how their collective offers support for navigating the tensions between values and practice. This episode invites listeners to reimagine social work rooted in collective care, radical healing, and transformative justice.

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Episode 42

Nicole Vazquez, a critical race scholar and consultant, and Susana Victoria Parras, a justice-focused therapist, discuss how critical race theory (CRT) can transform social work practice. They explore applying CRT's tenets to challenge the micro-macro divide, reexamine professionalism, and build authentic, collaborative relationships rooted in humility and historical context. The conversation highlights how liberalism and individualism undermine collective healing and perpetuate oppression, while ancestral and Indigenous ways offer paths toward connection. Susana also shares her perspective on healing justice work and what it means to move beyond the limitations of CRT.

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Episode 41

Hayden Dawes, a PhD student, therapist, and clinical social worker in Greensboro, North Carolina, shares his work addressing mental health disparities and promoting culturally humble, anti-racist clinical practice. He discusses the importance of talking openly about race, racism, and systemic oppression in therapy—and doing the inner work to recognize internalized oppression and privilege. Hayden explains his approach to training clinicians and supporting clients, particularly people of color and LGBTQIA communities, in identifying when "the oppressor is speaking." The conversation also explores how white therapists can and must engage white clients in conversations about racism.

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Episode 40

Anjanette Young, LCSW and founder of Café Social Work in Chicago, shares her harrowing experience of being wrongfully raided by the Chicago Police Department while naked and alone in her home. She describes the trauma of the incident, the city's attempted cover-up, and how it propelled her from a 25-year career in direct service social work into social justice activism. Anjanette now fights for policy change to hold the City of Chicago accountable and prevent similar violations against Black and Brown residents. This conversation is a powerful testimony of resilience, truth-telling, and the demand for systemic accountability.

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Episode 39

Kristen Brock-Petroshius, a PhD candidate in Social Welfare at UCLA and community organizer with White People 4 Black Lives, discusses her work engaging white communities in racial justice through deep canvassing and political education. She shares her journey into organizing and how she came to view anti-racism as essential for white people's collective liberation. Kristen also highlights her research on deep canvassing as a social justice strategy, examining its origins in LGBTQ+ movements and its application in campaigns like Reform LA Jails. This conversation explores how building political power through relational, accountable organizing can advance racial justice.

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Episode 38

Mr. Garland Jaggers, co-founder of the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), and Dr. Denise McLane-Davison, Associate Professor at Morgan State University and NABSW's Founding Researcher and Archivist, share the powerful history and ongoing work of NABSW. They recount the organization's founding in 1968 as a response to racism within the social work profession and their commitment to building a liberatory, Black-centered alternative. The conversation highlights NABSW's focus on developing Black practitioners and researchers, establishing its own code of ethics, and centering the Black family and community. Mr. Jaggers and Dr. Davison offer a bold vision of liberation, rooted in history and carried forward by action.

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Episode 37

Dr. Laura Abrams, Chair and Professor of Social Welfare at UCLA, and Nicole Vazquez, a critical race scholar and consultant, discuss the foundations and application of critical race theory (CRT) in social work. They explore key CRT tenets—including the social construction of race, everyday racism, interest convergence, and counter-narratives—and how these ideas challenge white supremacist culture and liberal myths like meritocracy and colorblindness. The conversation highlights CRT's alignment with social work's social justice mission and offers guidance for educators, students, and practitioners seeking to implement it in their work. This episode is a powerful call to interrogate dominant narratives and build more liberatory, equity-driven approaches in social work.

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