Sixth & I LIVE

As Washington, DC’s decades-long push for statehood heats up, Mikaela Lefrak, host of the "51st" podcast, moderates a conversation about how the statehood movement intersects with the civil rights movement; why statehood could and should matter to people outside the District; and whether a statehood bill actually has a chance at success. Panelists include George Derek Musgrove, a history professor and co-author of Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation’s Capital, Robinson Woodward-Burns, an assistant professor of political science at Howard University, and Stasha Rhodes, Campaign Director for 51 for 51, a coalition of groups advocating for DC statehood. This program was held in partnership with WAMU on March 17, 2021. 

In Simply Julia: 110 Easy Recipes for Healthy Comfort Food, bestselling cookbook author Julia Turshen shares a healthier take on the simple, satisfying comfort food for which she’s known, plus menu suggestions, adaptations for dietary needs, and personal essays. In conversation with Antoni Porowski, the food and wine expert on “Queer Eye,” Netflix’s Emmy Award-winning series, and New York Times bestselling author of Antoni in the Kitchen. This program was held on March 4, 2021.  

In this urgent, authoritative book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical—and accessible—plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid a climate catastrophe. In conversation with Rashida Jones, an actor, writer, producer and director. This program was held on February 17, 2021. 

In Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain, Shankar Vedantam, the host of the “Hidden Brain” podcast, argues that, paradoxically, deceiving ourselves and others can play a vital role in human success and well-being. In conversation with David Greene, an award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author of Midnight in Siberia, and former host of Morning Edition and Up First on NPR. This program was held on March 2, 2021. 

In The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto, Charles Blow, Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times, delivers a resounding call to action for Black Americans to amass political power and fight white supremacy. In conversation with Laura Barrón-López, a White House correspondent for POLITICO and a political analyst for CNN. This program was held on January 27, 2021. 

In celebration of the paperback release of her New York Times bestselling book You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance, Chani Nicholas shows how your birth chart reveals your unique talents, challenges, and opportunities. In conversation with Fatimah Asghar, a poet, filmmaker, educator, performer, and the writer and co-creator of the Emmy-nominated web series “Brown Girls.” This program was held on February 9, 2021. 

Walk in My Combat Boots: True Stories from America’s Bravest Warriors is a powerful collection of never-before-told war stories crafted from hundreds of original interviews with soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines by James Patterson, the world’s bestselling author, and First Sergeant U.S. Army (Ret.) Matt Eversmann, part of the Ranger unit involved in the infamous Battle of Mogadishu portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down. In conversation with Admiral (Ret.) William H. McRaven, who served for thirty-seven years as a Navy SEAL. As as a Four-Star Admiral, his final assignment was as Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces.

In Badass Habits: Cultivate the Awareness, Boundaries, and Daily Upgrades You Need to Make Them Stick, the New York Times bestselling author Jen Sincero offers an accessible and simple 21-step process for building the habits you want and dethroning the ones you don’t. This program was held on January 12, 2021. 

With Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age, neurosurgeon and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta shares the best-kept secrets of experts around the world for maintaining your mind, holding on to memories, building resiliency against disease, and continually boosting a robust brain, regardless of age. In conversation with Joshua Foer, a journalist and entrepreneur, bestselling author, co-founder of Atlas Obscura, and former U.S. Memory Champion. This program was held on January 6, 2021. 

Curated by writer Kimberly Drew and “Still Processing” podcast host Jenna Wortham, Black Futures features art, photos, essays, memes, dialogues, recipes, and poetry from over 100 Black contributors in response to the question: what does it mean to be Black and alive right now?  In conversation with Camonghne Felix, the vice president of strategic communications for Blue State, former director of surrogates and strategic communications for Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 presidential campaign, and author of the poetry collection Build Yourself a Boat. This program was held on December 3, 2020.