

Bryan Stevenson
World-renowned civil rights lawyer and author of Just Mercy. Founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, dedicated to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States.
Top 10 podcasts with Bryan Stevenson
Ranked by the Snipd community

173 snips
Jun 5, 2025 • 1h 35min
This Conversation Will Change Your Life: Do This to Find Purpose & Meaning
Bryan Stevenson, a world-renowned civil rights lawyer and author of Just Mercy, shares his incredible journey in the fight for justice. He discusses the vital role of compassion in leadership and how small actions can create significant change. Stevenson emphasizes that we are not defined by our worst mistakes and highlights the transformative power of hope. Through compelling stories, he inspires listeners to embrace empathy and understanding, urging everyone to recognize the humanity in others, especially those affected by injustice.

76 snips
Jan 5, 2024 • 1h 3min
How to Keep Going When Things Get Hard | Bryan Stevenson
Bryan Stevenson, a renowned public interest lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, shares powerful insights from his fight for justice. He discusses the importance of 'proximity' to marginalized communities and how it fosters understanding. Stevenson emphasizes the role of mindfulness, music, and exercise in maintaining personal resilience. He also highlights the necessity of compassion in overcoming hatred and navigating fear. Through stories of collective memory and personal faith, he encourages listeners to engage actively in the pursuit of equality and justice.

22 snips
Sep 10, 2025 • 27min
What Germany Did That America Still Hasn’t
Join Bryan Stevenson, a leading lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, as he dives into the urgent need for honesty in America's historical narratives. He discusses President Trump's critiques of 'wokeness' in museums, revealing the dangers of whitewashing history. Stevenson emphasizes the importance of confronting painful truths about slavery and segregation. He also analyzes the backlash against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and the shifting legal landscape regarding racial bias. Hope and perseverance in the fight for justice are highlighted as essential for future generations.

18 snips
Aug 28, 2025 • 32min
Trump, the Smithsonian, and the battle over U.S. history
Bryan Stevenson, a renowned civil rights lawyer and author of 'Just Mercy,' discusses the contentious nature of American history, particularly how museums are targeted in the political landscape. He critiques Trump's efforts to reshape historical narratives, focusing on the importance of educational institutions like the Smithsonian. Stevenson emphasizes the significance of acknowledging the legacies of slavery and racial injustice as essential truths for healing. He calls for resilience against cultural attacks on history, urging the need to confront uncomfortable realities.

14 snips
Jan 2, 2026 • 50min
How Debate Took Over the Internet. Plus, a Case for Confronting the Past.
Mehdi Hasan, journalist and editor-in-chief of Zeteo, shares insights from his confronting debates with far-right conservatives on Jubilee, tackling the evolving nature of political discourse online. He raises critical questions about the fine line between platforming extremist views and fostering understanding. Meanwhile, Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, emphasizes the importance of truthful historical memory, arguing against the erasure of painful histories. He inspires hope through storytelling and advocates for public narratives that honor the legacy of slavery and racial violence.

10 snips
Dec 30, 2025 • 38min
The books that explained 2025 (Part 2)
In this engaging discussion, Bryan Stevenson, a renowned lawyer and racial justice advocate, delves into the powerful narratives formed around Mother Emanuel AME, exploring its role in American history and the need for honest reflection on systemic injustice. Canadian journalist Paul Wells analyzes Adam Nagourney's The Times, shedding light on the evolution of media in the digital age and the challenges faced by news outlets today. Lastly, Mattea Roach shares insights on Maria Reva's Endling, discussing how fiction can frame contemporary crises and reflect the complexities of storytelling.

8 snips
May 10, 2023 • 33min
Super Soul Special: Oprah Winfrey: Love and Connection
Original Air Date: February 17th, 2021Everything we do, every relationship we have, succeeds or fails based on our level of true spiritual connection with others. How do we get back on track when we find ourselves disconnected from people? In this episode of “Super Soul,” Oprah sits down with acclaimed spiritual teachers—including Jill Bolte Taylor, Dr. Maya Angelou, Sister Joan Chittister, Thich Nhat Hanh, Gary Zukav and Linda Francis, Meagan Good, Rob and Kristen Bell, President Jimmy Carter, Pastor Wintley Phipps, Brené Brown, Tracy Morgan, Phil Jackson, Shawn Achor, Gloria Steinem, Bryan Stevenson, Malala Yousafzai, and Elie Wiesel—to discover the steps we all can take to find creative ways to nurture the bonds of love and a connection with the people in our lives, and then gradually expanding that to the rest of the world. Interviews with these talented writers, speakers and thought leaders are excerpted from Oprah’s Emmy Award-winning show “Super Soul Sunday.” You can also find this compilation and other insightful conversations in Oprah’s best-selling book The Wisdom of Sundays. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 16, 2017 • 1h 33min
Bryan Stevenson on why the opposite of poverty isn’t wealth, but justice
Bryan Stevenson is the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. He and his staff have won reversals, relief, or release for more than 115 wrongly convicted prisoners on death row. He’s the author of the power book Just Mercy, and a winner of a MacArthur “Genius” grant. There are only a few people I’d say this about, but he’s a genuine American hero.This conversation begins with one of Stevenson’s most provocative arguments. “The opposite of poverty isn’t wealth,” he says. “It’s justice.” In this podcast, he explains what he means.We also talk at length about his argument — an argument I am now fully convinced by — that the question is not whether a criminal deserves to die but whether the state deserves to kill. We talk about America’s history, our justice system, our prejudices. We talk about what it’s like to be a black man in the South, driving down highways named for Robert E. Lee and attending high schools named for Jefferson Davis. We talk about the value of shame, and the way we honor it in the justice system even as we dismiss it in our national dialogue.The nature of writing these podcast descriptions is that they lend themselves to hype. I want you to listen, and I use this space to try to persuade you to listen. But that backfires a bit when it gets to a conversation like this one, which left me more changed than perhaps any of the discussions that came before it. This is worth listening to.Books:“The Brothers Karamazov," by Fyodor Dostoyevsky"Gilead," by Marilynne Robinson“Anna Karenina," by Leo Tolstoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 24, 2025 • 27min
Is Trump’s Version of America’s History a Lie? (Re-Air)
Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, is a powerful voice against racial injustice and a champion for historical truth. In this conversation, he critiques the political battle over America's narrative, particularly around institution like the Smithsonian. Stevenson emphasizes the need for honest history about slavery and segregation to truly heal, arguing that celebrating achievements should not come at the cost of recognizing past wrongs. He also highlights the dangers of recent legal shifts and calls for leaders to openly confront bigotry for progress.

Oct 22, 2025 • 24min
Civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson believes America needs truth telling now more than ever
Bryan Stevenson, a civil rights lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, emphasizes the need for truth-telling about America’s history with slavery and racial injustice. He discusses the resistance to confronting uncomfortable histories, drawing parallels with South Africa and Germany. Stevenson advocates for institutions to push back against censorship and highlights the importance of protecting voting rights. Despite current threats, he remains optimistic about legal victories and encourages active participation in honoring the legacy of civil rights.


