Those Who Give A Damn Podcast

In this bonus conversation, I'm sharing my full interview with Rick Smith from The Rick Smith Show.

We talked about the issues shaping our communities, the importance of speaking up, and why these conversations matter beyond the headlines. I also shared my perspective as a columnist, educator, podcast host, and someone who believes we have to stay engaged in what is happening around us.

Thank you to Rick Smith and the entire team for having me on and giving me space to share my voice and perspective.

If something from the conversation stands out to you, drop a comment below and let me know your thoughts.

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In this special bonus episode of Those Who Give a Damn, I'm sharing my full conversation with the ALA Black/African American Affinity Group during their September 2026 Educational Session.

We talked about leadership, professional growth, navigating spaces where we may not always feel seen, and what it means to lead with purpose and authenticity.

I also shared parts of my own journey, the lessons I've learned along the way, and why using your voice matters.

Thank you to the ALA Black/African American Affinity Group for the invitation and for creating space for this conversation.

If something I said connects with you, leave a comment and tell me what stood out.

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In Season 3, Episode 14 of Those Who Give a Damn Podcast, I sit down with North Carolina A&T University student leaders Shia Rozier and Olu Rouse of Protect Ours NC.

They talk about the fight for voting access, what it means to organize as Black students at an HBCU, and why young people cannot afford to believe their voices do not matter.

Their message is simple: if your voice did not matter, nobody would be working this hard to make it harder for you to vote.

Watch the full conversation and learn more at www.duvalierjmalone.com.

To support the work of Protect Ours NC and follow their efforts to help students get to the polls, visit @ProtectOursNC on Instagram.

What have we done with Dr. King's dream?

I asked Daryl Davis that question, and his answer was simple: "We've stepped all over it."

In Season 3, Episode 13 of Those Who Give a Damn, Daryl and I talk about race, the March on Washington, America's deep divisions, and why young people are demanding more than speeches and symbolism. We also talk about what it will actually take to renew Dr. King's dream in this generation.

If this conversation moves you, don't stop with this episode. Visit www.duvalierjmalone.com for more conversations, commentary, and ways to stay connected to Those Who Give a Damn.

Listen. Share it. Then ask yourself: What are we doing with the dream?

In Season 3, Episode 12 of Those Who Give a Damn, Dr. Duvalier Malone sits down with education advocate and former ANC Commissioner Victor L. Horton to discuss the funding inequalities affecting public charter school students across Washington, DC.

Nearly half of DC's public school students attend charter schools, yet Victor explains how those schools can receive thousands of dollars less per student when operating and facility funding are considered. That difference can affect teacher hiring, academic programs, after-school activities, building maintenance, and the resources students receive inside the classroom.

This conversation breaks down DC's education funding formula, the challenges charter schools face when paying for their own facilities, and why public education funding should follow the student instead of the type of school they attend.

Victor also shares practical ways parents, educators, ANC commissioners, and community members can get involved, including starting education committees, attending public hearings, testifying before the DC Council, and advocating for stronger schools in every ward.

Learn more and get involved at strongschoolsaction.org.

In Season 3, Episode 11 of Those Who Give a Damn, Dr. Duvalier Malone sits down with incoming Howard University student Isabella Williams for a powerful conversation about financial aid, student unenrollment, accountability, and the cultural shift needed across HBCUs.

After receiving an unexpected notice that she had been unenrolled, Isabella took to social media to speak up for herself and hundreds of other incoming students facing confusion over scholarships, payment deadlines, and conflicting information. She explains why students should not be blamed for institutional communication failures and why transparency must become a priority.

But this conversation goes far beyond Howard University.

Isabella shares her passion for public service, her dream of becoming an elected official, and why Gen Z refuses to accept "that is just how it is" as an answer. She also discusses political leadership, the future of America, the exhaustion many Black women feel, and why young people must never allow fear to define their future.

This is the voice of a new generation demanding accountability while remaining committed to the institutions and communities they love.

Watch more powerful conversations, read my latest commentary, and stay connected at www.duvalierjmalone.com.

Subscribe to Those Who Give a Damn and join a community of people who are not afraid to speak up, demand better, and fight for change.

In Season 3, Episode 10 of Those Who Give a Damn, Dr. Duvalier Malone sits down with incoming Howard University student Jordan Storey for an honest conversation about financial aid confusion, unexpected unenrollment notices, and what students call the "Howard Runaround."

Jordan shares the fear of not knowing whether his place at Howard was secure, even after his family had made payments and prepared for move-in. He explains why students turned to social media, what university leaders must do to improve transparency and communication, and why students should always keep written documentation.

The conversation also highlights Jordan's passion for storytelling and his dream of becoming an actor and screenwriter at Howard University's Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts.

This episode is about more than one university. It is about listening to students, holding institutions accountable, and making sure young people are supported as they begin one of the most important chapters of their lives.

Watch more interviews, read my latest commentary, and stay connected at www.duvalierjmalone.com.

Subscribe to Those Who Give a Damn and join a community of people who believe speaking up can create change.

In Season 3, Episode 9 of Those Who Give a Damn, Dr. Duvalier Malone sits down with Mississippi U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom for a candid conversation about leadership, public service, and why Mississippi should never be counted out.

Colom discusses his roots as a seventh-generation Mississippian, his record as a district attorney and former judge, and why he believes now is the time for new leadership in Washington. The conversation explores rising grocery prices, stagnant wages, rural hospital closures, healthcare access, struggling farmers, food insecurity, and the political disengagement felt by many Mississippi voters.

Colom also explains his path to victory, why voters across the country should pay attention to Mississippi, and how his campaign plans to reach people who have lost faith in politics.

This is a conversation about hope, accountability, and building a Mississippi where working families are seen, heard, and represented.

Watch the full episode and more conversations at www.duvalierjmalone.com.

Can fining parents really prevent youth crime, or does it simply place another burden on families already struggling to survive?

In this episode of Those Who Give a Damn, Dr. Duvalier Malone sits down with Priya Sarathy Jones, Executive Director of the Fines and Fees Justice Center, for a powerful conversation about youth crime, economic inequality, community safety, and the growing reliance on fines as a substitute for real public policy.

Jones explains why a $500 fine does not mean the same thing to every family, how fines and fees can criminalize poverty, and why punishing parents will not address the root causes affecting young people. The conversation also examines the lessons of Ferguson, policing for profit, racial inequities within the justice system, and the difference between political talking points and solutions that actually make communities safer.

This episode challenges elected leaders to stop searching for quick fixes and begin investing in young people, families, education, employment opportunities, community organizations, and long-term prevention.

Because you cannot punish your way into a safer community, and you cannot fine your way out of youth crime.

Watch the full episode and discover more conversations that challenge policy, confront injustice, and center real solutions at www.duvalierjmalone.com.

In Season 3, Episode 7 of Those Who Give a Damn, Dr. Duvalier Malone sits down with Montgomery based organizer Evan Milligan for a powerful conversation about the South's continued influence on Black culture, voting rights, civil rights, and the future of American democracy.

Evan shares how he was raised in a family rooted in movement work and why community involvement can take many forms, including voting, organizing, cooking, caregiving, volunteering, donating, and simply showing up for others.

The conversation also explores young people's frustration with politics, the growing influence of artificial intelligence, the danger of prioritizing money and status over humanity, and the African philosophy of Ubuntu, the belief that we become our fullest selves through our relationships with other people.

This episode is a reminder that meaningful change begins when we stop waiting for someone else to act and recognize the power already present within our communities.

Learn more and support community organizing, artists, and movement work in Alabama at ShakeTheField.org.