In our inaugural episode, we speak with two giants of Ethnic Studies and social movement scholarship: Robin D.G. Kelley (University of California, Los Angeles) and George Lipsitz (University of California, Santa Barbara). Together, they’ve shaped how we understand the intersections of race, culture, resistance, and solidarity for nearly four decades. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore the origins and evolution of Ethnic Studies, its role in preparing citizens for our diverse democracy, and how scholarly work connects to organizing and social movements.