In this powerful series finale, we track the evolution of Lezley’s grief to understand how she rebuilt her life piece by piece, navigating pain and hope while supporting her children. Fueled by love and resilience, Lezley’s journey leads to a fierce call to activism, driving her fight to reopen Mike’s case and demand the justice her family deserves. This final episode is a testament to healing, strength, and the unyielding power of a mother’s love.

This series was created in partnership with Campaign Zero, a nonprofit organization that develops data-driven policy solutions to end police violence in America. Learn more about the series and the work of Campaign Zero and The Michael O.D. Brown We Love Our Sons and Daughters Foundation at www.stillmybaby.org.

Audio from Mike Brown's 2024 birthday party is from the short film 'Happy Birthday MikeMike' which documents the event. The film was created by "1-800-Happy Birthday," an acclaimed experiential public art project that re-centers the conversation about police violence on the families and the community impact. Watch the full film here and learn more about 1-800 Happy Birthday.

Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. 

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 9, 2014, changed the world. While the world mobilized, Lezley was navigating the deepest grief imaginable. What was it like to grieve in the public eye, while her son’s name became a rallying cry? How did she process the love, the anger, and the weight of a movement born from her loss? 

This series was created in partnership with Campaign Zero, a nonprofit organization that develops data-driven policy solutions to end police violence in America. Learn more about the series and the work of Campaign Zero and The Michael O.D. Brown We Love Our Sons and Daughters Foundation at www.stillmybaby.org.

Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. 

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before Michael Brown became a national symbol, he was simply Mike Mike – Lezley’s firstborn son. Her early years of motherhood in St. Louis were full of ups and downs: joy, struggle, sacrifices, and dreams. She navigated pregnancy with the help of her community, survived her darkest moments of early motherhood, raised Mike as a single mother, and went on to find love and help Mike graduate – only to have everything ripped away. 

This series was created in partnership with Campaign Zero, a nonprofit organization that develops data-driven policy solutions to end police violence in America. Learn more about the series and the work of Campaign Zero and The Michael O.D. Brown We Love Our Sons and Daughters Foundation at www.stillmybaby.org.

Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. 

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the police shot and killed her firstborn son, Lezley McSpadden was left trying to hold things together while the world turned her family's private tragedy into a public battleground. This series reveals the untold story behind the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9, 2014. It’s a family portrait filled with loss, grief, and one mother’s enduring strength. Episode 1 is out May 27, wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re excited to introduce you to Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan, a new show from Lemonada Media.

As Meghan, Duchess of Sussex builds out a business of her own, she’s getting advice and insights from a handful of amazing women who have scaled small ideas into successful companies. These fly-on-the-wall conversations will no doubt inspire anyone who’s interested in turning their own entrepreneurial dreams into a reality and anyone else who just wants to hear what really happens behind the scenes. 

We’re going to play you a little sneak peek of the first episode, featuring Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of Bumble. After you listen, search Confessions of a Female Founder wherever you get your podcasts, or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/confessionsofafemalefounderfd

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re excited to share a show we know you’ll love: Pantsuit Politics. Hosted by Kentuckians Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, Pantsuit Politics offers a refreshing, thoughtful take on news and culture. It’s all about paying attention to what’s happening in the world—without the anxiety. 

This week, destruction can be part of the building process; it certainly is a key part of Elon Musk’s approach to business and his new - legally ambiguous - role with DOGE. There is, however, a fine line between disruption and destruction. The tech mantra of “move fast and break things” can be dangerous, particularly when applied to the government. On today’s show, Sarah and Beth explore this idea and how the new Trump administration is letting Musk run full steam ahead.

Plus, they discuss the Trump administration’s approach to foreign policy, most notably marked this week by Ukraine’s exclusion from the negotiating table with Russia. Outside of politics, Beth shares her new hack for managing her online shopping.

Topics Discussed

• Ukraine Excluded from Negotiations
• Is Elon Musk Building or Destroying Through DOGE?
• Outside of Politics: Online Shopping Strategies

Visit our Substack page for complete show notes and episode resources. For more episodes, listen to Pantsuit Politics wherever you get your podcasts or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/pantsuitpoliticsfd

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re dropping something special in your feed this week- we’re reexploring BEING Trans. BEING Trans was the first series of its type when it premiered in 2022- it’s reality TV for your ears. No scripts, no interviews, just real life as it happens. The show follows four trans people as they go about their lives in Los Angeles. You’ll be there for the highs and the lows, the messy, complicated, beautiful moments that make us who we are.

Trans people don’t often get to tell their own stories, in their own voices, on their own terms. That’s why this show is so important. They’re not here to explain themselves or justify who they are. They’re just letting you in—to listen, to experience, to understand.

We’re about to play you an episode from BEING Trans, featuring Chloe, a trans woman who recently transitioned and is very inexperienced with dating, so much so that she's not even sure about her sexuality but is hoping to change all of that in LA. This is BEING Trans. To hear the full series, search for BEING Trans where you are listening right now, or head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/being

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s it like to spend years in a state penitentiary and then make it big in Hollywood? What makes a death row warden become a leading voice in prison reform? How does a conservative Christian in the deep South decide we can’t incarcerate our way out of a drug crisis? For all of these people, they had a moment when their thinking about justice and safety changed. In this series, host Ana Zamora – founder of The Just Trust – sits down with business leaders, advocates, actors, artists, and unexpected changemakers to learn about when it all clicked for them, and what they’re doing about it. 

You’re about to hear an episode from When It Clicked, focusing on the transformative power of art within the justice system. For Clarence Maclin, the answer unfolded during his incarceration at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Through a program called Rehabilitation Through the Arts, he used theater as a way to process trauma onstage and off. Now starring in the A24 film "Sing Sing", Clarence tells us what it was like acting out his own story on the big screen. Plus, how a more compassionate justice system doesn’t just transform the lives of incarcerated people – it strengthens society when they return as productive, creative and empowered community members.

To hear more of When It Clicked, head to https://lemonada.lnk.to/WhenItClickedfd

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re thrilled to introduce you to Legacy Talk with Lena Waithe. Hosted by Emmy-winning writer, actor and producer, Lena Waithe, Legacy Talk is a series of conversations celebrating the brilliance and artistry of some of the most iconic Black women in entertainment. Join Lena as she sits down with powerhouses like Jada Pinkett Smith, Debbie Allen, and more, as they explore how these legends shaped the industry and inspired a generation. They’ll dive into their creative process, how they prepared for their roles, and the legacy they continue to build. 

Here’s a sneak peek into the first episode, where Lena chats with acclaimed actress and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph about her groundbreaking role on Dreamgirls and the journey that led her to Broadway. Informative, inspiring and unforgettable– lock into your legacy with Legacy Talk. 

Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts or head to https://lemonada.lnk.to/LegacyTalkWithLenaWaithefd

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re excited to introduce My So-Called Midlife, a new podcast by Reshma Saujani and Lemonada Media. “Is this it?” That’s the question our host Reshma Saujani asks herself daily. She’s the founder of two successful nonprofits, she’s married to a great guy, and she’s raising two beautiful children. She’s gotten everything she’s ever wanted, so why does she feel so unsatisfied? Is this a woman’s version of a midlife crisis? 

She’s determined to figure it out, and with the strength of her group chat behind her, she’s calling in reinforcements. From conversations with Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Emily Oster, Cheryl Strayed, and more, Reshma’s going to help us all figure out how we stop trying to just get through this time of life… and actually start living it.

Here’s a sneak peek of episode one of My So-Called Midlife. Listen as Reshma chats with Julia Louis-Dreyfus about why her 50s have been the best decade of her life. My So-Called Midlife with Reshma Saujani– listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts or head to https://lemonada.lnk.to/mysocalledmidlifefd

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.