Anti-racism is for everybody—but no one said it would be easy. The HOPE IS A DUTY podcast is self-care for the change maker's soul, a resource offering care for the humanity of those who care for humanity. Join friends and accomplices Austin Channing Brown, New York Times bestselling author, renowned speaker, and amateur bird-watcher, and Jenny Booth-Potter, author, activist, and lamp enthusiast, as they put the social in social justice. Tune in to the show as we discuss current events, history, and day-to-day life through the lens of anti-racism, with humor, truth-telling and compassion. If you feel hopeful and bitter, excited and cynical, joyful and exhausted—you belong here. Let's feel all of these emotions together while we embody our hope for a better world.
No risk, no reward. Justice comes at a cost, but when we lose hope, we all pay. Join these quirky gal pals as they weigh the risks and rewards of troublemaking. Discover their weekly obsessions, obstacles of defying the norm, and approaches to obtain "your people." Do you want to be popular or free?
8 Apr 2025
The Backlash to 2020
Join Austin and Jenny as they examine the fallout from 2020. DEI rollbacks to book bans, brace for the visceral reflex of white supremacy―when there's progress, backlash is inevitable, so troublemakers, we're doing something right!
Show Notes:
Bird Apps (https://www.marthastewart.com/bird-identifier-apps-and-tools-8422356)
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-to-be-an-antiracist-ibram-x-kendi/12072476?ean=9780525509301)
1619 Project by Nicole Hannah Jones (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-1619-project-a-new-origin-story-jake-silverstein/16383226?ean=9780593230596)
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo (https://bookshop.org/p/books/white-fragility-why-it-s-so-hard-for-white-people-to-talk-about-racism-robin-diangelo/9008090?ean=9780807047415)
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson (https://bookshop.org/p/books/all-boys-aren-t-blue-a-memoir-manifesto-george-m-johnson/9902795?ean=9781250895561)
Anti Racist Baby (https://bookshop.org/p/books/antiracist-baby-board-book-ibram-x-kendi/13584351?ean=9780593110416)
The Next Question (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNextQuestion)
Jasmine Guillory (https://www.jasmineguillory.com/)
Paradise by Toni Morrison (https://bookshop.org/p/books/paradise-toni-morrison/10862902?ean=9780804169882)
DEI Offices Closing in 22 States (https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/anti-dei-legislation-tracker/)
Corporate America and DEI (https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/11/22/how-corporate-america-may-be-quiet-quitting-dei.html)
Mikki Kendall (https://mikkikendall.com/about/)
George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 (https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1280)
2023 Was One of the Worst Years for Police Violence (https://blacklivesmatter.com/2023-was-one-of-the-worst-years-for-police-violence/)
Brenda Salter McNeil (https://www.saltermcneil.com/)
The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-sum-of-us-what-racism-costs-everyone-and-how-we-can-prosper-together-heather-mcghee/14618549?ean=9780525509585)
White Rage by Carol Anderson (https://bookshop.org/p/books/white-rage-the-unspoken-truth-of-our-racial-divide-carol-anderson/573049?ean=9781632864130)
White Flight (https://www.pbs.org/video/suburban-growth-policies-racism-led-white-flight-y1gcp7/)
1 Apr 2025
What the Hell was 2020?
Austin and Jenny tackle the question, “How did we get here?!” From COVID to Confederate flags, the pair connect the dots by taking it back to the fever dream that was 2020.
Shownotes:
IT'S LAMP-O'CLOCK! (https://www.instagram.com/chrislovesjulia/p/CqfjgK5Odl-/?img_index=1)
Cherry Plums (https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cherry-plums-know-versatile-fruit-181534823.html)
Is it Cake? (https://www.netflix.com/title/81333845)
NASCAR Bans Confederate Flags (https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/06/10/874393049/nascar-bans-confederate-flag)
Congress in Kente Cloth (https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/06/11/875054683/kente-cloth-from-royals-to-graduation-ceremonies-to-congress)
White people kneel and ask forgiveness from the black community in Third Ward (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdX6aVzPgHs).
Kiese Laymon (https://www.kieselaymon.com/books)
18 Mar 2025
That's Rich
Does acquiring wealth require conservative views and the hoarding of resources? Hell No! So, fellow troublemakers repel the status quo alongside Austin and Jenny as they examine the interconnectedness of the masses, mass wealth, and mass deportation. Join the pair as they critique the notion of "makers" and "takers," examine why folks vote against their self-interests, and analyze the importance of shifting the narrative surrounding poverty, wealth, and race. Tune in, friends; it gets rich!
Mentioned in today's episode:
Parade Of Planets (https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/seven-planet-parade-28-february-2025)
Roxane Gay (https://roxanegay.com/)
Tim Walz (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/09/tim-walz-no-stocks-bonds-home-ownership/74725632007/)
Shannan Martin (https://www.shannanmartin.com/)
Heather McGhee, The Sum of Us (https://heathermcghee.com/)
Welfare Queen Sterotype (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-true-story-behind-the-welfare-queen-stereotype)
Jenny’s Reel (https://www.instagram.com/p/DGjFVBQPZrx/?hl=en)
Immigrant Restaurant Owners In Haddon Township, New Jersey (https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/haddon-township-new-jersey-kebab-ice-arrest/#:~:text=Community%20stunned:%20%22Sweet%2C%20loving,can)
Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Water Dancer (https://ta-nehisicoates.com/books/the-water-dancer/)
Target Sued By Shareholders (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/target-being-sued-defrauding-shareholders-144200399.html)
11 Mar 2025
Joyful Resistance
Justice work can be enjoyable―who knew? Austin and Jenny examine the importance of humor and creativity in resisting absurdity. The duo explores the joy of delighting in the paradoxical via wit, satire, irony, and mimicry. While there is no shortage of examples, the hosts gather their favorite troublemaker anecdotes in the wild. Raise those middle fingers, point out the lunacy, and tee-hee with the pair as they reclaim their power by discovering joy through resistance.
In this episode, discover:
Austin and Jenny's weekly obsessions
A list of justice jokesters
4 Mar 2025
Pro Proactive
In this breakout episode, Austin and Jenny call all Troublemakers to accept the invitation to Hope as a Duty.
They delve into the importance of pivoting from a reactive to a proactive stance while combatting the difficulty and constant bombardment of doom scrolling, neverending news cycles, and information overload.
The besties discuss how to be kind to your nervous system and offer tips that help them do the work when everyday life is trying to work you over.
In this episode discover:
Austin and Jenny's weekly obsessions
The weekly list of pointers for the social justice warriors' artillery
25 Feb 2025
Hope is a Duty Trailer
Anti-racism is for everybody—but no one said it would be easy. The HOPE IS A DUTY podcast is self-care for the change maker's soul, a resource offering care for the humanity of those who care for humanity. Join friends and accomplices Austin Channing Brown, New York Times bestselling author, renowned speaker, and amateur bird-watcher, and Jenny Booth-Potter, author, activist, and lamp enthusiast, as they put the social in social justice. Tune in to the show as we discuss current events, history, and day-to-day life through the lens of anti-racism, with humor, truth-telling and compassion. If you feel hopeful and bitter, excited and cynical, joyful and exhausted—you belong here. Let's feel all of these emotions together while we embody our hope for a better world.
15 Jan 2025
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8 Jan 2025
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
15 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 28 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
36
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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