It’s the six-month mark of the revolution in Iran — what might the future look like? V checks in with Moj Mahdara, co-founder of the Iranian Diaspora Collective, to understand more about what the Iranian people are fighting for. And together, they explain how an Iran Nuclear Deal could actually give more power to the current regime. V also digs into all the hullabaloo that went down after Utah officials encouraged residents to eat invasive frogs. Then, with the help of Dr. Orisanmi Burton, social anthropologist and professor, V explores what it really means to carry out a conspiracy. Dr. Burton breaks down who’s been plotting and scheming over the decades, and how they’ve used this to harness power — for better or worse. This conversation was made possible by The Marguerite Casey Foundation. 

Follow Dr. Burton at @orisanmi on Twitter, and keep an eye out for his forthcoming book on Black radicalism and prison repression from the University of California Press.

Find the resources on Iran mentioned in this episode at https://www.iraniandiasporacollective.com/ 

Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. 

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2022 midterms broke up partisan gridlock across the country, turning four state governments fully blue. V walks us through what these states have already been up to. Plus, who knew you could track the influence that air pollution had on famous artwork? Scientists, that’s who! V breaks it down. Then, they bring on another science-minded individual: the no-BS therapist Dr. Courtney Tracy. But don’t forget — Dr. Tracy is a human first, and she and V explore all the ways that bringing your full self, struggles, and stories to therapy can make it better for everyone involved.

Note: This conversation contains mention of suicidal ideation. If you think this will be hard or harmful to listen to, you can turn off the episode after the headlines/first commercial break. For immediate support, dial 988 to reach the national suicide and crisis lifeline.

Follow Dr. Tracy at @the.truth.doctor on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. 

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we go full fangirl over the incredible life of former President Jimmy Carter. V also zooms in on how one Broadway production is shaking up a classic story on stages across the U.S. Then, they dive into the big changes slated to hit the SNAP food assistance program on March 1. And to explore all the ways this program helps our communities, V brings on Gina Plata-Nino, the deputy director of SNAP for the Food Research and Action Center. Gina debunks the “welfare queen” stereotype, explains why we should have more compassion for people who are food insecure, and lays out what can be done to help protect SNAP benefits ahead of reauthorizing the 2023 farm bill.

Follow FRAC’s work at @fractweets on Twitter and at @fracgram on Instagram. Get more information on SNAP and find out how those benefits are changing come March.  

Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. 

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're sharing an episode from a podcast we love called Pop Culture Happy Hour. In this episode, Aisha Harris talks to Brittany Luse and Odie Henderson about the three-decade run of the Maury Povich show and the end of an era as he retires. Listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several weeks out from the train derailment in Ohio, there’s reason to be concerned about long-term contamination in the area. V boosts the advice of citizen scientists to help people protect themselves and keep records of the damage. There’s also been a ton of buzz about UFOs in recent weeks, so V breaks down what’s actually flying around our atmosphere. Then, they’re joined by professional maintenance technician Mercury Stardust, who empowers people to fix pesky problems in their homes. Mercury, also known as the Trans Handy Ma’am, talks about the hardships she overcame as a queer person in a male-prioritized industry, then bestows coveted tips for fixing door frames and making your house a home.

Keep up with Mercury at @mercurystardust on TikTok and at @mercurystardusttopz on Instagram. You can also check out (and call into) her Handy Ma’am Hotline podcast for more maintenance DIY tips.

Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. 

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The state of this union is that V is back from D.C., bringing stories from the White House and quotes from the politicians who serve us. V gets them talking about the role of government and community resources, then highlights some of the work that’s already been done this year. Later, V is joined by longtime pal Jordan Harbinger, an expert in social dynamics and host of The Jordan Harbinger Show. They talk about creating a space for men that isn’t based on bro culture, plus how therapy and challenging oneself can go further than picking up degrading self-help books or idolizing toxic male influencers.

Keep up with Jordan on Twitter and Instagram at @JordanHarbinger and check out The Jordan Harbinger Show wherever you get your podcasts.

Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. 

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what’s next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards.

In this clip of episode one, you’ll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history.

This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved.

To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In places beyond Memphis, deadly police squads remain in operation. In Hobbs, New Mexico, abortion clinics have been banned. In Ohio, thousands of homeschooling parents have been teaching white supremacy. How is all this happening? V explains what's going on in all these states, then gets joined by “America’s Government Teacher” to fill in the rest. V sits down with Sharon McMahon, host of the podcast Here’s Where It Gets Interesting, to talk congressional committees, impeachment, and the history that got us here.

Follow Sharon at @sharonsaysso on Instagram and TikTok and at @sharon_says_so on Twitter. You can find her podcast, Here’s Where It Gets Interesting, wherever you listen.

Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. 

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week has brought a lot of change for public health. On one hand, the first electric school buses have started rolling out, courtesy of bipartisan infrastructure funding. On the other, politicians proposed severely limiting SNAP benefits. V breaks down what all this means for our communities. Then, V welcomes medical-rights advocate and comedian Laura High to talk about being a donor-conceived person. From serial sperm donors to sibling pods, there are many ways that a lack of regulation can corrupt the infertility industry, and Laura shares how she's pushing for more protection.

Follow Laura at @laurahigh5 on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. 

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

V pops in with a quick update: new weekly episodes will drop on Fridays! Yes, Fridays! So long, Tuesdays! Fridays will be our new home, where we’ll bring you all the news and novelty you’ve come to love. So hang tight — we’ll see you soon!

Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. 

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.