From the recording studio to the White House, Women have played an important role in shaping history. We take a look back at some of Roy’s favorite Beyond the Scenes moments from Season 1 that celebrate female trailblazers. Roy is joined by CNN contributor Kate Andersen Brower and producer Jeff Gussow to discuss the historical impact of America’s first ladies. Next, he chats with Daily Show correspondent Dulcé Sloan and producer Chelsea Williamson about how female rappers made a name for themselves in a male-dominated industry. And finally, he’s joined by Daily Show correspondent Desi Lydic and writer Kat Radley to discuss how female pleasure on screen has evolved over the years to be more sex positive. New episodes of Beyond the Scenes return August 9, wherever podcasts are available.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this special episode of Beyond the Scenes, Daily Show correspondent Dulcé Sloan and writer Josh Johnson join Roy Wood Jr. to talk about their new podcast, Hold Up! The two discuss the relatively inconsequential topics they plan to debate, beginning with the one that started it all: the merits of Crime Mob’s 2004 hit, “Knuck If You Buck.”   Listen to Hold Up wherever you get your podcasts: https://podcasts.iheartradio.com/HoldUpTDSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the past year, near-total abortion bans have been instituted across America, including in Texas and Oklahoma. In December 2021, Beyond the Scenes host Roy Wood Jr. sat down with Texas-based OB/GYN and abortion provider, Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, to discuss Texas’s new policies. In light of the Supreme Court leak that threatens Roe v. Wade, Dr. Moayedi rejoins Roy and executive director and founder of We Testify, Renee Bracey Sherman, to discuss where abortion rights are headed, how Texans and Oklahomans are already living without the protections of Roe v. Wade, and why voting isn’t the most effective solution for supporting abortion rights.   To support Renee Bracey Sherman’s work with We Testify, consider donating: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/wetestify   More on abortion bans from Beyond the Scenes: https://www.youtube.com/K-wa9XMB9DYSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been a number of pieces of anti-trans legislation introduced around the country, with more than 300 bills proposed this year. In this episode, host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with ACLU Deputy Director for Transgender Justice, Chase Strangio, and author of “The Present Age” newsletter, Parker Molloy, to discuss the motivation behind these bills and how the attacks from conservatives have evolved from bathroom bans to women’s sports and now to gender-affirming care. Parker and Chase also discuss their own experiences, challenges, and joys of being trans in America.    Watch the original segment:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynfnfhBJ51c&t=633sSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In light of recent mass shootings in America, we revisit a piece we did on how Switzerland is able to have so many guns per capita, but no mass shootings. Host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with correspondent Michael Kosta, field producer Stacey Angeles, and their producer from Switzerland, Pierre-Adrian Irlé to discuss how the country’s approach to military service and common sense laws have created a safe gun culture.     Watch the original segments:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjlT4BME2aE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgYJ5V2HYy4See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all have preferences when choosing who to date, but when do they cross the line into sexual racism? Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng, UMass Amherst sociology professor and associate dean, Jennifer Lundquist, and “Dates & Mates” podcast host, Damona Hoffman, join Roy Wood Jr. to discuss how dating apps amplify users’ racial biases and how this impacts those looking for love online.   Watch the original segment: https://on.cc.com/3MTECIX   Tune in to Dates & Mates Podcast with Damona Hoffman: DatesandMates.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Working moms have left the workforce in disproportionate numbers over the last two years as reliable, affordable child care has gotten harder to find. In this episode, host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with correspondent Desi Lydic, segment director Sarah Hamblin, and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to discuss how child care impacts the economy, the challenges of being a working mother, and how parenting prepared Sen. Murray to work in Congress.    Watch the original segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXJpJl1H8wE-See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While America has made progress in removing confederate statues from public squares, many remain standing. Director of the PBS documentary The Neutral Ground, CJ Hunt, and founder of Project Say Something, Camille Goldston Bennett, join Roy Wood Jr. to discuss why these monuments were erected in the first place, how many are left, what’s being done on the ground to remove them, and where they should end up once they’re removed.  Watch the original segment: https://youtu.be/rUZL4z5Drcw   Donate to Project Say Something: https://projectsaysomething.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s divorce started as a celebrity scandal, but has evolved into a larger discussion surrounding the harassment many women face when trying to leave a relationship. In this episode, host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with Daily Show writer Christiana Mbakwe-Medina and journalist Rachel Louise Snyder to discuss how The Daily Show has covered this topic, the many types of violence women endure on a daily basis, and the lengths women go to in order to feel safe.    For further resources visit The National Domestic Violence Hotline:  https://www.thehotline.org    Watch the original segments:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDclMXpjvj8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEZdsisM8ZISee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black folks seeking mental health treatment face a litany of obstacles: a scarcity of Black therapists, stigma within the Black community and discrimination. In this episode, Roy is joined by Daily Show writers X Mayo and Ashton Womack for a wide-ranging and deeply personal discussion about mental health, the Black church, the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 and more.    Further mental health resources: https://www.NationalCouncil.org https://www.TherapyForBlackGirls.com https://www.AskDrJess.com   Couples Therapy on Showtime: https://www.sho.com/couples-therapy   Watch the original segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5qZv... Originally aired:  July 20, 2021See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.