Leading By History

In this episode, Dr. Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul sits down with Dr. Rachel McMillian to discuss her work in Black education and critical prison studies. In this dialogue they discuss their personal experiences with those in prison and address a broken criminal system of punishment that leads to recidivism and not progressive change. It is important to remember those who are trapped behind bars and to advocate for the acknowledgement of their humanity in a society that has long discounted them as positive members. This is not an episode to take lightly.

In this episode, Dr. Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul sits down with Dr. Michael Robison to discuss his book, "The Lost White Tribe". In his text, Robinson traces the rise and fall of "the Hamitic Hypothesis." In addition to recounting Stanley's "discovery," Robinson shows how it influenced encounters with the Ainu in Japan; Vilhjalmur Stefansson's tribe of "blond Eskimos" in the Arctic; and the "white Indians" of Panama.

*Update: Technical issues with the host microphone persists in this episode. We have edited for the best possible quality.

In this episode of Leading By History Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul sits down for a talk with author and mental health advocate Andrea "Drea" Williams in order to discuss suicide prevention. Drea is a survivor of multiple suicide attempts and has dedicated herself to the mission of helping and supporting those struggling with ideas of death and suicidal ideations. Drea is a firm believer that the more we listen to, learn from and support those struggling with ideas of suicide-the more opportunities we will have to help make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. This is a very emotionally challenging conversation and we provide a trigger warning for those who may be currently be in a delicate mental space. We want you to know that we love you and our thoughts and prayers are for you to overcome, survive and succeed.

If you are looking to learn more about mental health support and how to understand mental health and trauma challenges-please listen to this episode from season 1.

Here is an article about Drea's book as well as a link to purchase it - Fearless of the Inevitable.

In this episode of Leading By History, Dr. Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul sits down with Ms. Jeannine Cook to discuss her journey from street vendor to brick n' mortar business woman and the power of literacy to transform a city. The conversation is engaging, insightful and inspiring. The Philadelphia Citizen rated Jeannine as

You can catch Jeannine at one of her two shops working to build bridges and relationships. Learn more about her businesses here:

In this episode, Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul sits down with Dr. Lucas Morel to discuss his persuasive work of intellectual history. Morel argues that the most important influence on Abraham Lincoln’s political thought and practice was what he learned from the leading figures of and documents from the birth of the United States. In this discussion Morel and Isra-Ul  discuss how Lincoln can be understood through an examination of the American founding.

In this episode of Leading By History, Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul sits down with Dr. Jacqueline Battalora to discuss her research on the origins of racially-based hierarchies in America, starting with the first Virginia Colony. This is a DEEP DIVE into the origin of race in the American colonies and how "catch-all" terms were invented in order to separate and discriminate privilege access among residents of the early colonies. Dr. Battalora ties today's racial classification of "white" to the aftermath of Bacon's rebellion and shows through the development of colonial law how this was done in order to create and maintain division between Africans, Europeans and the Indigenous. This show is over one hour but it will be worth every listening moment. This may be one of the most important and intriguing conversations about racial classifications of the new year!

Dr. Battalora's book-Birth of a White Nation: The Invention of White People and Its Relevance Today can be purchased with a special discount for Leading By History listeners by using this code -> ADC23 for Routledge Press.

In this long awaited episode of Leading By History, Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul sits down for a chat with Dr. Evyn Le Espiritu Gandhi. In this dialogue there is a discussion of Dr. Gandhi's book (read free here-> Archipelago of Resettlement Vietnamese Refugee Settlers and Decolonization across Guam and Israel-Palestine - PROMO 13W0801 in discount coupon when ordering from University of California Press) and the idea of displacement and unjust dispossession of lands and refugee settler conditions. This is a heavy topic and one that has not been addressed in many forums. Though these ideas are dense and need unpacking, this short episode takes the listener on a journey to understand how resettlement and forced immigration has impacted more indigenous peoples that are commonly known or considered. Welcome back to Leading By History...we are excited that you are here!

https://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520379657

This is a brief introduction to our series on Indigenous Warrior Arts. In this series we will speak with three teachers and masters of their specific art and hear about how they started, their personal philosophies and how we, as the audience, can draw knowledge and understanding from their respective practices. You don't have to be a Bruce Lee fan to enjoy this! Let's get started!