Our Body Politic

By Diaspora FarmsSociety & Culture Documentary News Government News Commentary

Our Body Politic episodes

January 04, 2024 3. Jan 6th: An American Story - America In Black and White
By now, the story of what happened on January 6 2021 is seared into the public psyche. But there is still an untold story.
Many of the investigators and team leads on the January 6th Committee were people of color. In this podcast, we bring you the story of their leadership, and why their mix of lived experience as descendents of enslaved people; children of immigrants; or immigrants themselves deeply shaped the committee’s quest to protect and uphold a multiracial pluralistic democracy.
The story they tell about the inner workings of the committee also reveal deep rifts over the role of race and Christian Nationalism in the insurrection, and how much of that inquiry should be told while proving former President Trump’s role in the insurrection.

As America winds up with endless court cases over the former President and his alleged co-conspirators, it is also, arguably winding up for an increase in domestic violent extremism. In “January 6th: An American Story,” we show – through the investigators of color and lawmakers helping lead the committee – that January 6th is not over, and the ways we continue to make sense of its reverberations could save – or imperil – us all.
The story of January 6 is an American Story.
It just might be different from the one you thought you knew.
23 min
January 04, 2024 2. Jan 6th: An American Story - 187 Minutes
By now, the story of what happened on January 6 2021 is seared into the public psyche. But there is still an untold story.
Many of the investigators and team leads on the January 6th Committee were people of color. In this podcast, we bring you the story of their leadership, and why their mix of lived experience as descendents of enslaved people; children of immigrants; or immigrants themselves deeply shaped the committee’s quest to protect and uphold a multiracial pluralistic democracy.
The story they tell about the inner workings of the committee also reveal deep rifts over the role of race and Christian Nationalism in the insurrection, and how much of that inquiry should be told while proving former President Trump’s role in the insurrection.

As America winds up with endless court cases over the former President and his alleged co-conspirators, it is also, arguably winding up for an increase in domestic violent extremism. In “January 6th: An American Story,” we show -- through the investigators of color and lawmakers helping lead the committee -- that January 6th is not over, and the ways we continue to make sense of its reverberations could save -- or imperil -- us all.
The story of January 6 is an American Story.
It just might be different from the one you thought you knew.
30 min
January 04, 2024 1. Jan 6th: An American Story - Legal Eagles
36 min
December 29, 2023 OBP’s Best Books of 2023 with Tananarive Due, Linda Villarosa, and Baynard Woods
On this episode of Our Body Politic, host Farai Chideya looks back on some of our favorite conversations with authors this past year. First we hear Farai’s conversation with author Linda Villarosa about her latest book “Under the Skin” and the dangers of medical racism. Then guest host Karen Grigsby Bates speaks with Baynard Woods, about his book “Inheritance: An Autobiography of Whiteness.” We round out the show hearing Farai’s conversation with award-winning author Tananarive Due about her latest spooky book, “The Reformatory” and the true family story that inspired it.
58 min
December 22, 2023 Conversations on Care: How to Give a Good Apology and Music for Mindfulness
On this episode of Our Body Politic, host Farai Chideya looks back on our best advice from guests about how to take care of our relationships, communities, and ourselves. First we hear Farai’s conversation with authors Susan McCarthy and Marjorie Ingall about what it means to give and receive an apology. Then Farai talks with professor Andrea Roberts about celebrating Black Memory and Freedom on Juneteenth. We round out the show by listening back to Farai’s conversation with Jasmine Lamb, founder of Whut We Share and singer Geminelle about making music for mindfulness.
50 min
December 15, 2023 A Love Letter to Hip-Hop: How Women Shaped the First 50 Years
On this episode of Our Body Politic, guest host Callie Crossley, who is a host and commentator for GBH Boston, looks back at the first 50 years of women in Hip-Hop with educator and MC Queen D and author and cultural critic Aisha Durham. Then Callie talks with journalist Brooklyn White about the iconic Missy Elliot, the first woman Hip-Hop artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We round out the show by hearing from our viewers about what Hip-Hop means to them and the impact it’s made on their lives.
54 min
December 08, 2023 Mobilizing for 2024: The Power of Ballot Initiatives and Engaging Black and Asian American Voters
On this episode of Our Body Politic, Sayu Bhojwani, guest host and founder of Women’s Democracy Lab, speaks with Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, Executive Director at The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center about the power of ballot initiatives. Then Sayu talks with Grace Choi, CEO & Founder of Karis Consulting Group and LaTosha Brown, Co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund about mobilizing diverse voters. We round out the show with host Farai Chideya’s conversation with Tiffany Hammond, author of “A Day with No Words” about creating community while raising two sons with autism.
59 min
December 01, 2023 2023 Labor Movements And An Immigrant Capitol Sergeant’s Perspective On the January 6th Insurrection
On this episode of Our Body Politic, Karen Attiah, guest host and Columnist for the Washington Post, speaks with labor journalist Kim Kelly about the past year in labor movements in the U.S. Then Karen talks with journalist, activist and documentarian Rokhaya Diallo about the anti-racist protests in France. We round out the show with part 2 of Farai Chideya’s conversation with Former U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant, Aquilino Gonell about his new book, “American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy.
58 min
November 24, 2023 OBP Rewind: The Gift of Health And Deb Haaland on Being an Indigenous Leader
On this episode of Our Body Politic, host Farai Chideya listens back to some of the conversations she is thankful for this year. First, is Farai’s most recent interview with Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland. Then Farai speaks with Renata Joy, founder of Pure Joy Wellness and Dionne C. Monsanto, Founder of Joyous Ocean about gratitude for good health. We round out the show with guest host Imara Jones and her interview with Oklahoma State Representative Mauree Turner, and then hear The Grio’s Natasha Alford in conversation with Jemele Hill about the gift of allyship in women’s sports.
49 min
November 17, 2023 Living Data: Insights on Cultural Competency and the American Mindset
On this episode of Our Body Politic, host Farai Chideya talks with Shannon-Janean Currie, vice president at Benenson Strategy Group, which conducted our inaugural survey for our Living Data series. Farai then speaks with Cathy Cohen, the founder and director of GenForward Survey about the importance of polling. Then, Farai, Cathy Cohen and Shannon-Janean Currie, discuss the main GenZ survey takeaways. We round out the show with Farai in conversation with Former U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant, Aquilino Gonell about his new book, “American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy.”
57 min

About Our Body Politic

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Created and hosted by award-winning journalist Farai Chideya, Our Body Politic is unapologetically centered on reporting on not just how women of color experience the major political events of today,…