

Pod Save the People
Crooked Media
On Pod Save The People, host DeRay Mckesson explores social justice, culture, politics – and the various ways they all collide – with cohosts Myles E. Johnson and Sharhonda Bossier.
Each Tuesday, the crew digs into the current events driving the political discourse – bringing cultural context, actionable insights, and a hot take or two – to help empower listeners to engage as thoughtful members of their communities…and their group chats.
Alongside special guests, the show uplifts overlooked news stories that impact people of color and amplifies underrepresented voices who are working to create meaningful change.
Each Tuesday, the crew digs into the current events driving the political discourse – bringing cultural context, actionable insights, and a hot take or two – to help empower listeners to engage as thoughtful members of their communities…and their group chats.
Alongside special guests, the show uplifts overlooked news stories that impact people of color and amplifies underrepresented voices who are working to create meaningful change.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 10, 2023 • 59min
Know When To Go (with Chris Gelardi)
DeRay, Kaya, and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week— including the killing of LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba, Arizona prisons inducing labor against mother's will, and miscarriages punishable under post-Roe v Wade legislation. DeRay interviews investigative reporter Chris Gelardi about his report Lesser Infractions Aren’t Supposed to Land You in Solitary Confinement. They Do Anyway. News: Deray Arizona inducing the labor of pregnant prisoners against their willKaya Bleeding and in pain, she couldn't get 2 Louisiana ERs to answer: Is it a miscarriage?De’Ara Killing of LGBTQ+ activist prompts outcry over anti-gay attacks in Kenya

Dec 20, 2022 • 49min
Practice Patience
DeRay, Myles, De'Ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including organ thieves, former slaveowners in US Congress, Native American business directory and Lizzo recreates the famous Annie Lee painting Blue Monday. News:Myles https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11552525/Lizzo-opens-flood-emotion-creates-beloved-piece-art-SNL-performance.htmlDeRay https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/12/18/black-mistrust-healthcare-00060324Kaya https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2022/12/01/coles-hill-virginia-slavery-uranium/De'Ara https://thecirclenews.org/cover-story/new-and-revised-directories-make-native-holiday-shopping-easier/

Dec 13, 2022 • 1h 29min
Plan for Good (with Ricki Lake and Kalen Allen)
DeRay, Myles, De'ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including the first Black women on Minnesota's senate, schools mandatory JROTC enrollment, thieves targeting EBT snap funds, Will + Jada broadway buyout. DeRay interviews Ricki Lake and Kalen Allen about their joint podcast Raised by Ricki.NewsDeRay https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/thieves-are-stealing-snap-funds-electronically-states-victims-never-ge-rcna60172De’Ara https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2022/11/29/finally-at-the-table-meet-the-first-black-women-elected-to-minnesotas-senateMyles https://playbill.com/article/will-and-jada-pinkett-smith-buyout-performance-of-broadways-aint-no-moKaya https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/11/us/jrotc-schools-mandatory-automatic-enrollment.html

Dec 6, 2022 • 50min
Learn Something New (with Sam Quinones)
DeRay, Myles, and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including unexploded bombs on Hawaiian lands, US army bases named after Confederate traitors, and a Strange Loop broadway play review. DeRay interviews Sam Quinones about his newest book The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth. News:Myles https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/11/theater/strange-loop-broadway-closing.htmlDeRay https://www.propublica.org/article/native-hawaiians-land-housing-army-corps-engineersKaya https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/04/us/politics/army-bases-confederate-names.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/02/us/politics/army-base-names-south-confederates.html

Nov 29, 2022 • 1h 23min
Tap In (with Wendy Sawyer)
DeRay, Myles, De'Ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including a hip-hop store ran by undercover cops, Chance the Rapper's free music festival in Ghana, top universities boycott school rankings, and a pedophilic Balenciaga ad campaign. DeRay interviews Wendy Sawyer of the Prison Policy Initiative and her most recent report titled All Profit, No Risk: How the bail industry exploits the justice system.NewsDeRay https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy74jk/fake-record-store-operation-peyzacDe'Ara https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/chance-the-rapper-interview-black-star-line-festival-ghana-1234635605/Kaya https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/18/us/law-school-rankings-test-scores.htmlMyles https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2022/11/25/balenciagas-teddy-bear-ad-is-a-warning-against-pushing-luxury-too-far/?sh=52dff4b05fd1

Nov 15, 2022 • 1h 24min
Find a Book (with Kevin Hazzard)
DeRay, Myles, De'Ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including the newest additions to the national portrait gallery, youth voters turn back midterm red wave, an out of touch Broadway play, and a UK law that will make you do the time even if you were not present for the crime. DeRay interviews Kevin Hazzard about his newest book American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics.News:De’Ara https://deadline.com/2022/11/national-portrait-gallery-portrait-of-a-nation-gala-anthony-fauci-1235171136/Kaya https://tennesseelookout.com/2022/11/11/young-black-and-latino-voters-seen-as-key-in-turning-back-midterm-red-wave/DeRay https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/12/world/europe/uk-criminal-justice.htmlMyles https://twitter.com/pharaohrapture/status/1591629567583739904

Nov 8, 2022 • 1h 26min
Enjoy the Light (with Dr. Rebecca Kavanagh)
DeRay, Myles, De'Ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including Black women Republicans in Congress, the correlation between Black women's health and retirement planning, a Native American adoption law in Supreme Court, and an unusual casting for Rihanna's Savage Fenty show. DeRay interviews Dr. Rebecca Kavanaugh about her recent Teen Vogue op-ed about the reemergence of the D.A.R.E. program in school districts across the nation. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/dare-program-back-schoolsNews:De’Ara https://19thnews.org/2022/11/jennifer-ruth-green-black-republican-congress/DeRay https://fortune.com/well/2022/11/02/for-black-women-health-plays-an-outsized-role-in-retirement-planning/Kaya https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/07/health/native-american-adoption-icwa.htmlMyles https://www.cnn.com/style/article/rihanna-savage-fenty-show-johnny-depp-cast-backlash/index.html

Nov 1, 2022 • 1h 9min
Every Little Counts (with Dr. Lawrence Brown)
DeRay, Myles, and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including an abortion pill network, higher mortality rate for Babies born to Black mothers who use fertility treatments die at far higher rates, fresh trial for Black Panther Mumia, and a thread of anti-Semitism from rapper Kanye West. DeRay interviews Dr. Lawrence T. Brown about his newest book The Black Butterfly: The Harmful Politics of Race and Space in America.News:Kaya https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/18/illegal-abortion-pill-network/De’Ara https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/26/ex-black-panther-mumia-abu-jamal-fresh-trial-amid-new-evidence?amp_js_v=0.1#webview=1&cap=swipeDeRay https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/babies-black-mothers-die-higher-rates-white-mothers-rcna52722Myles https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/30/entertainment/kanye-west-remarks/index.html

Oct 25, 2022 • 58min
Take A Chance
DeRay, De'Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the under-reported news of the week - including the shortage of Black sperm donors, anti-colorism protests erupting throughout Mexico, housing rights for squatters, and racism within cardiac care. NewsKaya https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/10/20/black-sperm-donors/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wp_dmv7&wpsirc=nl_dmv7De’Ara https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-10-20/mexico-anti-racism-movement-protests-colorismDeRay https://t.co/KqSfuAof9OMyles https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/essex/police-fire/nj-woman-details-extremist-groups-attempt-to-drive-her-out-of-new-house-on-tiktok/811420/https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/maryland-couple-says-strangers-have-moved-the-home-they-just-bought-and-refuse-to-leave/65-c87072eb-65a1-4844-8fc5-160aa7bd69ad?fbclid=IwAR0m3YFGLQ28M6WAqqPQqDLdPf6S5HTywE3oSn9JWUESUmKwhjUZwucm3Oc#l9lw7ohibs77u28p6m

Oct 18, 2022 • 57min
Prepare for the Polls
DeRay, Myles, De'Ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including stock increases for companies hiring Black CEOs, a school board's attempt to hijack a Black student podcast, poor ventilation in nail salons impact on reproductive health, and Angelica Ross makes history on Broadway. News:De’Ara https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/10/12/black-ceo-appointments-market-reaction-study-diversity/Kaya https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/09/22/black-students-podcast-lawsuit/DeRay https://documentedny.com/2022/10/12/nail-salon-reproductive-health-baby-pregnant-ventilation/Myles https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/08/22/angelica-ross-chicago-broadway-history/