The Untold Story: Criminal Injustice-logo

The Untold Story: Criminal Injustice

Lemonada

On seasons 1 and 2, we took a deep look into policing and criminal justice in America. This season on The Untold Story, we go even further, with three investigations of injustice happening in your own backyard. From executive producer Jay Ellis and Lemonada Media, this season covers how we can fix the humanitarian crisis happening at Rikers Island; why your tax dollars are funding software that leads to over policing in our most vulnerable communities; and the racist roots of the debunked medical term excited delirium. Host Travon Free talks to real people who have experienced the effects first-hand, as well as lawyers, organizers, and city officials who are all part of the effort to answer the question: How can we hold our most powerful institutions accountable?

Location:

United States

Networks:

Lemonada

Description:

On seasons 1 and 2, we took a deep look into policing and criminal justice in America. This season on The Untold Story, we go even further, with three investigations of injustice happening in your own backyard. From executive producer Jay Ellis and Lemonada Media, this season covers how we can fix the humanitarian crisis happening at Rikers Island; why your tax dollars are funding software that leads to over policing in our most vulnerable communities; and the racist roots of the debunked medical term excited delirium. Host Travon Free talks to real people who have experienced the effects first-hand, as well as lawyers, organizers, and city officials who are all part of the effort to answer the question: How can we hold our most powerful institutions accountable?

Language:

English


Episodes
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Introducing: Legacy Talk with Lena Waithe

11/12/2024
We’re thrilled to introduce you to Legacy Talk with Lena Waithe. Hosted by Emmy-winning writer, actor and producer, Lena Waithe, Legacy Talk is a series of conversations celebrating the brilliance and artistry of some of the most iconic Black women in entertainment. Join Lena as she sits down with powerhouses like Jada Pinkett Smith, Debbie Allen, and more, as they explore how these legends shaped the industry and inspired a generation. They’ll dive into their creative process, how they prepared for their roles, and the legacy they continue to build. Here’s a sneak peek into the first episode, where Lena chats with acclaimed actress and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph about her groundbreaking role on Dreamgirls and the journey that led her to Broadway. Informative, inspiring and unforgettable– lock into your legacy with Legacy Talk. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts or head to https://lemonada.lnk.to/LegacyTalkWithLenaWaithefd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:06:13

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Introducing: My So-Called Midlife with Reshma Saujani

10/16/2024
We’re excited to introduce My So-Called Midlife, a new podcast by Reshma Saujani and Lemonada Media. “Is this it?” That’s the question our host Reshma Saujani asks herself daily. She’s the founder of two successful nonprofits, she’s married to a great guy, and she’s raising two beautiful children. She’s gotten everything she’s ever wanted, so why does she feel so unsatisfied? Is this a woman’s version of a midlife crisis? She’s determined to figure it out, and with the strength of her group chat behind her, she’s calling in reinforcements. From conversations with Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Emily Oster, Cheryl Strayed, and more, Reshma’s going to help us all figure out how we stop trying to just get through this time of life… and actually start living it. Here’s a sneak peek of episode one of My So-Called Midlife. Listen as Reshma chats with Julia Louis-Dreyfus about why her 50s have been the best decade of her life. My So-Called Midlife with Reshma Saujani– listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts or head to https://lemonada.lnk.to/mysocalledmidlifefd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:10:09

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Listen Now: Wiser Than Me is Back!

10/9/2024
We’re so excited to let you know that Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus - is BACK for a third season – with even more wisdom from some legendary older women! Each week, you’ll hear Julia have insightful, funny, and important conversations with these ladies who have so much to teach us about living unapologetically and focusing on the stuff that really matters. This season is yet again chock-full of marvelous guests, and, as always, every episode ends with a conversation between Julia and her 90-year-old mom Judy. You’re about to hear an extended clip of the first episode of season 3 of the show, featuring the remarkable scientist and researcher, Doctor Jane Goodall. After you listen, search for Wiser Than Me in your podcast app to hear the rest of the episode or head to https://lemonada.lnk.to/wiserthanmefd. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:23:37

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Introducing: Mind Your Own with Lupita Nyong’o

9/19/2024
We’re excited to tell you about a brand new storytelling show – hosted and produced by the amazing Lupita Nyong’o – that we are just loving. It’s called Mind Your Own, and it’s about navigating what it means to belong, all from the African perspective. Lupita Nyong’o knows what home feels like. But where exactly is it? In Mexico, where she was born? Kenya, where she grew up? Or the States, where she’s spent the past 20 years? Like Lupita, millions of Africans are spread out across the globe following family, searching for love, building futures and creating stories. It's these stories – wild and messy, intimate and joyous – that she wants to hear. Here’s a sneak peek of Mind Your Own episode 1. It’s about what it’s like to try to find your voice. You’ll hear a story from Lupita, and then you’ll meet a Ghanaian who rediscovered his voice after losing it. Mind Your Own – listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts or head to https://lemonada.lnk.to/mindyourownfd. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:18:44

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Listen Now: Podcrushed featuring Ariana Grande

7/4/2024
We’re excited to drop in your feed today a special episode of Podcrushed featuring the prolific, amazingly talented, and incredibly sweet Ariana Grande. In this first part of a two-part conversation with the pop icon, the crew has a wide-ranging conversation on childhood, Ariana's Broadway origins, and getting to act alongside her best friends. Podcrushed is the podcast where hosts Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, and Sophie Ansari bring you stories and conversations about middle school - from childhood crushes, to battles with body hair, to schoolyard scuffles. The results are sometimes awkward, sometimes heartwarming, and always relatable. For more on Ariana Grande’s music, Eternal Sunshine, BTS tidbits on The Boy is Mine music video, and Wicked, listen to part 2 on the Podcrushed feed here: https://lemonada.lnk.to/Wp2OXBfd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:01:03:11

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Listen Now: The Pink House with Sam Smith

6/13/2024
We’re excited to drop in your feed today to tell you about a new Lemonada Media series called The Pink House with Sam Smith. Hosted by five-time Grammy winner Sam Smith, The Pink House is about the people and places that make us who we are. One of those places was Sam’s childhood home in the English village of Great Chishill, literally called The Pink House. It was a space of total warmth and love where Sam felt safe enough to find their voice. Each week, join Sam in conversation with icons and friends like Trixie Mattel, Gloria Estefan, Elliot Page, Joel Kim Booster, Ben Platt, Rebecca Sugar and Michelle Visage as they explore their own “Pink Houses” and how they navigated early struggles and ultimately found their place in the world. You’re about to hear a preview of the first episode of The Pink House, where Sam chats with Elliot Page about his upbringing in Canada, his breakout role in the film Juno, and how seeking time away from it all has helped him embrace a whole new, exhilarating life. To hear more of The Pink House head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/thepinkhousefd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:06:18

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Listen Now: Fail Better with David Duchovny

5/7/2024
We are dropping in your feed today to tell you about a new Lemonada Media series called Fail Better with David Duchovny. On Fail Better, David, who has experienced both low and high profile failures throughout his life, explores the vast world of failure - how it holds us back, propels us forward, and ultimately shapes our lives. Each week, he will chat with guests like Ben Stiller, Bette Midler, and more about how our perceived failures have actually been our biggest catalysts for growth, revelation, and even healing. Through these conversations, he hopes listeners can learn how to embrace the opportunity of failure and fail better together. You’re about to hear a preview of the first episode of Fail Better, where David catches up with Ben Stiller. Believe it or not, Ben Stiller has failed. (Remember Zoolander 2? He’d probably rather you didn’t.) As it turns out, Ben has had his share of flops, and he chats with David about those times in his life and how they sometimes led to something better. To hear more of Fail Better, head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/failbetterfd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:09:55

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Listen Now: The Letter Season Two

4/16/2024
The hit true-crime podcast The Letter is back for Season Two. Today, we’re dropping into your feed to offer you a sneak peek of this gripping and impactful story. On a winter morning in 1982, two young fathers were found shot to death in a van parked outside an upscale Utah restaurant.The killer soon confessed, but his story about what happened - and why he chose violence - would create more pain, conflict, and questions for the families left in the wake of the murders. As the families of the men struggle to rebuild their lives, they face questions they never anticipated. Does everyone deserve a second chance? Who is forgiveness for? And if you can inherit trauma, can you also inherit forgiveness? Through their stories, we discover even the most personal decisions can unintentionally ripple through lives, through generations, even impacting the lives of people we’ve never met. From KSL Podcasts (Cold), Lemonada Media (Blind Plea) and WorkHouse Media. You’re about to hear a clip from Episode 1, Season Two of The Letter. To hear the rest of the episode, head to https://lemonada.lnk.to/theletterfd or theletterpodcast.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:14:33

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Listen Now: The Dough Season Two

3/21/2024
Hey, Listeners! The team at Lemonada Media is excited to let you know that The Dough is back for Season Two! This season, host X Mayo (The Blackening, The Daily Show, Swarm) returns for weekly conversations with reality stars, entrepreneurs, financial experts…basically anyone who will get real with her about their relationship with money. We’re talking to people about the risks they take to make the dough, how they spend it, and how they save it. You’re about to hear an episode of The Dough featuring The Bachelorette’s Michelle Young! Michelle is here to tell us all about the dollars and cents surrounding the world of reality TV. To hear more of Season Two, head to: https://lnk.to/thedoughfd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:32:28

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Listen Now: Archetypes with Meghan

3/6/2024
Introducing Archetypes, a refreshing and dynamic podcast where Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, dives into the labels that try to hold women back. During these intimate and candid conversations with guests from around the world, we discover how these archetypes impact our everyday lives in ways big and small. With experts and historians, Meghan also uncovers how we got here in the first place – unearthing the origin of words such as ‘diva’, ‘slut’, ‘the B word’, ‘hysterical’, and many more, and asks the question: can we change this? In this episode, Meghan talks to the one and only Serena Williams about the double standard women face when they are labeled "ambitious" and the ripple effect this has on other aspects of their lives. This groundbreaking premiere episode also features Dr. Laura Kray, a leading expert on gender in the workplace. To hear the full season of Archetypes, head to https://lemonada.lnk.to/archetypesfd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:58:35

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Listen Now: When We Win

2/13/2024
Today, we are dropping in your feed to introduce you to When We Win, a new podcast from Lemonada Media that asks, is the impossible possible? What will it take to create a truly engaged democracy that represents all of us? Each week, Maya Rupert talks to some of the most incredible women of color in office today who ran against insurmountable odds and won, from the all-women city council in St. Paul, Minnesota, to the youngest Black woman to serve in Congress. So stop asking yourself if we can win, and start imagining what we’ll do when we win. You’re about to hear a clip from episode one of the podcast. After you listen, head to https://lemonada.lnk.to/whenwewin to hear the rest of the episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:22:05

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Listen Now: Longer Tables with José Andrés ft. Lin-Manuel Miranda

12/15/2023
This week, we’re sharing a podcast with you that we know you’ll love. It’s called Longer Tables with José Andrés. Longer Tables with José Andrés explores all the ways that food shapes our world and makes us who we are. In each episode, José talks to friends from the worlds of culinary and creative arts, politics, and media: Stacey Abrams, Ron Howard, Jane Goodall, Eric Ripert, and more. He also takes listeners into his home kitchen and answers their burning culinary questions. This week, Longer Tables features an interview with Lin-Manuel Miranda. Before a live audience, José doesn't waste his shot, asking the legendary playwright/songwriter/actor/filmmaker for the backstory behind beloved lines, his culinary secrets -- even an on-the-fly songwriting seminar. Sorry, you're gonna have "Hamilton" lines in your head for another month. To hear more of Longer Tables with José Andrés, head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/longertables See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:52:42

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Listen Now: The Defenders

11/8/2023
We are dropping in your feed to share Lemonada Media's newest series, The Defenders. On Friday, June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Since then, it's been a barrage of bad news and bleak headlines. But for every restriction, there are many more acts of resistance, and a growing network of activists, clinic workers, faith leaders, and everyday people working to expand access to care.This is the story of the fight for freedom in a post-Roe America, co-hosted by Samantha Bee and Gloria Riviera. Episode One of The Defenders features Brittany, Back in 2022, shortly after the fall of Roe, Brittany felt trapped. She was pregnant and stuck in an abusive relationship, totally cut off from her support system. She didn’t see a way out - until she happened to hear a radio story about the Midwest Access Coalition, an abortion fund helping people travel across state lines. We follow Brittany’s harrowing journey as she travels hundreds of miles, with the help of a group of volunteer pilots from Elevated Access. To hear more of The Defenders, head to : https://lemonada.lnk.to/DTc0Crfd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:44:37

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Introducing Hard Feelings with Jennette McCurdy

10/24/2023
We’re dropping in your feed today to bring you the first episode of our newest Lemonada podcast, Hard Feelings with Jennette McCurdy. If you like what you hear, there’s another episode out now and waiting for you in the feed! Don’t forget to like and subscribe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:20:01

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Check Out: The Dough

10/12/2023
We’re dropping in your feed today to introduce you to the newest show from Lemonada Media that we think you’ll like: The Dough. The Dough is an eye-opening new 10-episode podcast series about the financial trapdoors any of us could fall into. From messy divorces to wellness products that are too good to be true, join host X Mayo (The Blackening, The Daily Show, Swarm) as she explores the financial flops and money myths that stand in the way of financial freedom. On this show, cash is queen, and we hardly know her, but we're determined to be her friend. In this episode, you’ll hear about weddings! Aka, one of the happiest days of your life…until you realize you’ll be paying off the bills for years to come. Host X Mayo brings us back to her New York roots, when she had a coveted job at reBar, a wedding venue in Brooklyn that was actually affordable. But turns out, the small price tag came with a big risk. We hear from one woman who lost thousands and then talk to a thrifty bride for tips to hear how she managed to throw a wedding in NYC for less than $5K. This series was created in partnership with Flourish Ventures, an early-stage global investment firm backing mission-driven entrepreneurs and industry influencers working toward a fair finance system for all. SHOW NOTES Please note, The Dough contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners. This series was created in partnership with Flourish Ventures, an early-stage global investment firm backing mission-driven entrepreneurs and industry influencers working toward a fair finance system for all. Learn more at flourishventures.com. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date. . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:41:36

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Learn More: Providing Access to Housing After Incarceration

10/3/2023
​​Incarceration in the U.S. has profound flaws and consequences, but there are many people doing life-changing work to lessen its harm. In this special episode, Lemonada co-founder Stephanie Wittels Wachs sits down with two individuals whose organizations aim to increase access to housing for people who have been involved in the justice system. Stephanie speaks with Leslie Credle, founder and executive director of Justice 4 Housing in Boston, and Bernadette Butler, director of The Homecoming Project, an initiative out of Impact Justice in Northern California. The three discuss the realities faced by justice-involved individuals in today’s society, and how housing is both a human right and a crucial place to start when trying to improve lives. You can find Justice 4 Housing at justice4housing.org and @justice4housing on Instagram and YouTube. The Homecoming Project can be found through its parent organization at impactjustice.org and @impactjustice on Instagram and Facebook. Thank you to both of these organizations for making this episode possible. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:28:37

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Why we can’t incarcerate our way to public safety

11/27/2022
There has been a lot of media coverage around recent spikes in violent crime. A LOT. Even though overall crime rates are at historic lows, many people are feeling unsafe and want solutions. Most people also want to tackle our country’s incarceration crisis while addressing public safety concerns. As it turns out, these things go hand in hand. Join us for this special live event between Lemonada Media and The Just Trust to hear from executive directors of three leading criminal justice reform advocacy organizations – a former Police Lieutenant, a former federal prosecutor, and a social worker focused on drug law reform – about the intersection of safety and criminal justice reform in this moment. We’ll ask questions like “what really makes communities safer?” (hint - it’s not more prisons), and “what myths do we need to bust about justice reform?” The bottom line is that the criminal justice system impacts all of us, and we all have a role to play in making it better – in every city, in every state, regardless of who is in the White House or the Governors’ mansions. Join us as we break down some of the most urgent strategies for change, and how unlikely allies across sectors are leading the way. This is a sponsored episode by The Just Trust, a philanthropic venture that is 100% dedicated to powering criminal justice reform, state by state and across the country. Visit TheJustTrust.org to learn more. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:57:13

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Travon Unravels the Racist Roots of Excited Delirium

10/25/2022
In this episode, host Travon Free uncovers the racist roots of the debunked medical term “excited delirium.” A study from Maryland in 2017 found that excited delirium was referenced in 11 percent of cases where someone died in police custody. And when these cases go to court, the concept of excited delirium can be used to argue that the police did nothing wrong. How did TASER, a couple of doctors and a handful of so-called experts take a meaningless psychiatric term and get it picked up by police departments, medical professionals and courtrooms all over the country? The Untold Story is a Lemonada Media original and is presented by Campaign Zero. This episode is produced by Nicolle Galteland with production help from Hannah Boomershine and Priscilla Alabi. Supervising producer is Kristen Lepore. Production intern is Jala Everett. Fact checking by Steve Crighton. Music, sound design and mixing by Hannis Brown. Engineering from Andrea Kristinsdottir. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer, Stephanie Wittels Wachs, DeRay Mckesson and Jay Ellis. You can find host Travon Free on Instagram and Twitter: @Travon. Resources: Campaign Zerohttps://campaignzero.typeform.com/untold-story “Excited Delirium” and Deaths in Police CustodyExposed: Last WritesPolicy on Excited DeliriumNew policy on excited deliriumHow “excited delirium” is misused to justify police brutalityExcited Delirium and Police Use of ForceJustice for Angelo QuintoCalifornia Attorney General, Rob BontaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:50:17

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Travon Asks If Microphones Really Stop Bullets

10/25/2022
Can you hear the difference between a firework and a gunshot? ShotSpotter says it can. It's a private sector company that uses microphones to detect gunfire and alert police to the scene. The company says it’s a powerful tool to stop gun violence, but critics say it’s an excuse to overpolice some of our most vulnerable communities. How did this technology with questionable accuracy lead to million-dollar contracts with police departments across the country? Travon walks us through the case of Silvon Simmons, a man falsely accused of shooting a cop, all because of an eight-second audio file from ShotSpotter. Plus, conversations with a former 911 operator and a city councilmember in Durham, NC, about the fight against ShotSpotter. The Untold Story is a Lemonada Media original and is presented by Campaign Zero. This episode is produced by Hannah Boomershine with production help from Nicole Galteland and Priscilla Alabi. Supervising producer is Kristen Lepore. Production intern is Jala Everett. Fact checking by Steve Crighton. Music, sound design and mixing by Hannis Brown. Engineering from Andrea Kristinsdottir. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer, Stephanie Wittels Wachs, DeRay Mckesson and Jay Ellis. You can find host Travon Free on Instagram and Twitter: @Travon. Resources: CancelShotSpotter.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:44:59

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Travon Explores the Humanitarian Crisis on Rikers Island

10/25/2022
Rikers is a pretrial detention center and while people await their day in court, the conditions at the island are simply inhumane due to violence, overcrowding and inadequate medical care. Rikers is scheduled to close in 2027 but at the rate we're going, eighty more people might die on the island before the jail is shut down. How do we untangle this culture of perpetual violence at Rikers? And could an intervention called a federal receivership make conditions more humane for the people who live there? Host Travon Free uncovers why a receivership might be the only solution that could actually make things better for people right now. The Untold Story is a Lemonada Media original and is presented by Campaign Zero. This episode is produced by Nicolle Galteland with production help from Hannah Boomershine and Priscilla Alabi. Supervising producer is Kristen Lepore. Production intern is Jala Everett. Fact checking by Steve Crighton. Music, sound design and mixing by Hannis Brown. Engineering from Andrea Kristinsdottir. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer, Stephanie Wittels Wachs, DeRay Mckesson and Jay Ellis. You can find host Travon Free on Instagram and Twitter: @Travon. Resources: The Rikers in Crisis CampaignTracking the Deaths in New York City’s Jail System in 2022Receiverships for Jails and Prisons, Explained, The Way Forward for Rikers Island: Receivership At pivotal time for Rikers, experts say federal control is best path forwardPros and Cons of Receiverships as a Catalyst for Institutional ReformThe Fatal Cost of Waiting: What Must Happen Now in the City’s JailsCorrection commissioner absent from oversight hearing as Rikers Island violence escalatesJust leadership USAThe Close Rikers CampaignThe Legal Aid Society See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:41:40