Finding Humanity

Addiction was common in the McDaid family. So when Carol, the youngest in her upper-middle-class household began using, the disease quickly took root. Carol sipped her first drink at age 12, and by 16 was using IV drugs. It wasn't until her drug use threatened her career that she decided to enter treatment. One in every ten people in the U.S. experiences drug addiction, which is nearly the entire population of Texas. In this episode, we seek to understand the varied causes and consequences of drug abuse, and how new pharmaceuticals that came onto the market in the late-90s—prescription opioids—changed the landscape of addiction for an entire generation. Featuring Carol McDaid, a D.C. lobbyist specializing in addiction and mental health policy, Diane Sevening, former President of the Association for Addiction Professionals and Assistant Professor at The University of South Dakota, and Marta Michelle Colon, Founder of BeGutsy, a national campaign that educates the Latinx community on the dangers of opioid use. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

Sherry Johnson grew up in Tampa, Florida as a member of the Pentecostal church. She was only 11-years-old when her mother married her off to a man nearly twice her age. She had already been a victim of years of sexual violence, abuse that resulted in her first pregnancy at age nine. As many as 12 million underage girls are forced to marry each year, meaning more than 650 million women alive today were married as children. In this episode, we explore the many causes of child marriage, including gender inequality, generational tradition, poverty, and war. We expose the global nature of this issue and how the U.S.—a country without any federal laws prohibiting child marriage—continues to contribute to these statistics. Featuring Sherry Johnson, Founder of the Svon Foundation, Princess Mabel van Oranje, Founder and Global Champion at Girls Not Brides, and Tannistha Datta, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF. -- This episode is made possible with the support of Vodafone Americas Foundation. To learn more about their programs and how you can support their network of partners, visit vodafone-us.com -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

Juan Escalante's family immigrated to the U.S. from Venezuela when he was a child. It wasn't until he applied to college that he learned his family had overstayed their visa. Every year, visa overstays outnumber those who enter the U.S. illegally. These same undocumented immigrants pay $11 billion in U.S. taxes annually. Nearly 3 in 4 are considered essential workers. In this episode, we reveal the barriers undocumented immigrants face when they attempt to work within the U.S. immigration system. We look into a system ripe with malpractice and burdensome bureaucracy—which can result in a single application taking up to 40 years to process. Featuring policy and advocacy insights from Juan Escalante, an immigration rights advocate, Angeline Chen, Senior Attorney at Clark Hill, and Rosa Velazquez, Lead Immigration Rights Advocate for Arkansas United. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses sexual violence. Stephanie Mosley experienced sexual violence perpetrated by a schoolmate in college, then a football player at her alma mater, the University of Alabama. In spite of being blamed and called a liar, Stephanie ultimately decided to press charges — but her case was never prosecuted. It is estimated that out of 1000 rapes, only 310 victims report the incident. Of these, only 25 are prosecuted. In this episode, we tackle weak enforcement mechanisms that fail to hold sexual violence perpetrators, how victims are silenced from reporting their case, and why survivors like Stephanie don’t get the justice they deserve. Featuring policy and advocacy insights from: Stephanie Mosley, Rape Survivor and Creator of The Antidote Conference, Jacqui Hunt, Global Lead, End Sexual Violence Campaign, at Equality Now, and Jane Manning, Director at Women's Equal Justice Project. -- This episode is made possible with the support of Vodafone Americas Foundation. To learn more about their programs and how you can support their network of partners, visit vodafone-us.com -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

As a teen, Leah Juliett sent nude photos to a boy who spent years requesting them. When the boy learned that Leah was gay and paying attention to other people, Leah became one of the millions of victims of revenge porn — more accurately known as nonconsensual pornography (NCP). In this episode, Hazami Barmada explores where NCP is criminalized, the lack of regulation that prevents victims from getting justice, and what (little) recourse victims have in getting their life and dignity back. Featuring policy and advocacy insights from: Leah Juliett, Founder and Executive Director of March Against Revenge Porn; Elisa D'Amico, Chief Legal Officer of A4D and Co-Founder of Cyber Civil Rights Legal Project; and Dr. Kristen Zaleski, Clinical Director at the Mental Health Collective and Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

Yanique Brandford had to skip school and go to the nearest shopping mart to buy herself period products. The price tag was $15, and she only had $8 in her bank account. Born from a single-parent household where money was tight, Yanique’s mom had to make sanitary pads out of cardboard, plastic, or newspaper. In this episode, Hazami Barmada tackles the “pink tax” and breaks down misconceptions around period poverty — a stigmatizing experience that happens even in the richest countries. We also examine paths towards safe and affordable menstrual products and why education is key in achieving period equity. Featuring policy and advocacy insights from: Yanique Brandford, Founder of Help A Girl Out, Laura Strausfeld, Attorney and Co-Founder of Period Equity, and Jennifer Gaines, Program Director at Alliance for Period Supplies -- This episode is made possible with the support of Vodafone Americas Foundation. To learn more about their programs and how you can support their network of partners, visit vodafone-us.com -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

Shon Hopwood is a serial robber who spent 11 years in federal prison. But when he walked out of prison in 2008, Shon couldn’t have predicted an incredulous twist: earning the title ‘Professor’ at Georgetown University while raising his young family. While the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world, there is little evidence to show that with more people in the prison system, crime rates are significantly reduced or that public safety is ensured. In this episode, we discuss the irony of the American criminal justice system. On the podcast, we explore if prisons are aimed to rehabilitate, the vicious cycle created by the prison industrial complex, and how one former inmate remarkably started his legal career within the four walls of prison. Featuring policy and advocacy insights from: Professor Shon Hopwood, Former Inmate and Associate Professor of Law, Georgetown University; Dr. Annahita Mahdavi West, Activist and Associate Professor at Long Beach City College; and Dr. Nazgol Ghandnoosh, Senior Research Analyst at The Sentencing Project. -- This special series of Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate, and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and on Facebook @findinghumanitypod.

In solving the world’s most profound challenges like poverty, discrimination, and inequality, are we fixing the right problems? In Season 4 of the Finding Humanity podcast, we examine the institutional, political, and legal systems that got us here. How do we reduce prison populations and move from punishment to rehabilitation? What are the biggest myths around food insecurity? How do our systems perpetuate racial injustice? Through the lens of visceral human experiences, we will explore issues such as colorism, drug addiction, child marriage, and immigration. On the podcast, we will shine a light on failing systems — and tackle changes that will lead to more just solutions. -- This special series of Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Hosted by Hazami Barmada. Subscribe, rate, and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and on Facebook @findinghumanitypod.

Until the late 20th century, assimilation was the Brazilian government’s official indigenous policy. Native inhabitants were sometimes driven out of their communities and flown by plane to distant locations where they were dropped off; meanwhile, outsiders seized their land. In some cases, assimilation turned into extermination. There are 370 million Indigenous people around the world. Although these groups are incredibly diverse, their human rights struggle is similar, no matter where they are. In this episode, we unravel the ways in which “modernization” and “development” trample on the rights of indigenous people. We’ll learn about forced assimilation and practices of colonial-settlers that included ‘modern’ education, land theft, and physical violence. On the podcast, we share the story of Daiara Figueiroa-Tukano an indigenous activist and visual artist whose family and people endured a legacy of abuse and discrimination. Featuring policy and advocacy insights from experts: Michael Heckenberger, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Florida, and Kristen Carpenter, Professor of Law, at University of Colorado Law School. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

Catherine Healy confronted her roommate after learning that she was a sex worker. But instead of an intervention, Catherine’s encounter revealed an industry that she would ultimately end up fighting for —   helping pass the New Zealand Prostitution Reform Act, a law that makes it legal for any citizen over 18 years old to sell sexual services. As of 2021, 64 countries have decriminalized sex work with varying degree of regulations.  However, in most parts of the world, sex work continues to be criminalized. In this episode, we break down sex work and understand the plight of those in the industry. We unpack the differences behind the decriminalization and legalization of sex work.  Does regulation of the sex work industry incentivize human trafficking or combat it? Why should we advance the rights of sex workers? Featuring policy and advocacy insights from experts: Dame Catherine Healy, Sex Workers' Rights Activist & National Coordinator at New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective; Stacey-Leigh Manuel, Program Officer for Sexual and Reproductive Health at Open Society Foundation; and Abigail Swenstein, Staff Attorney at Legal Aid Society. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.