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Written Off

Lemonada

Walter Thompson-Hernández speaks with formerly incarcerated young writers whose work will be read over the course of the season by creatives like John Legend, Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Karamo Brown, Jay Ellis, Keke Palmer, Julio Torres, and Jesse Williams. Vulnerable poems and honest stories play out against a tailored soundtrack with original music. From Lemonada Media and Black Bar Mitzvah. The voices of those locked up in the U.S. prison system have been all but written off, but no more. These aren’t voices you’ve missed; they’re voices that haven’t been heard.

Location:

United States

Networks:

Lemonada

Description:

Walter Thompson-Hernández speaks with formerly incarcerated young writers whose work will be read over the course of the season by creatives like John Legend, Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Karamo Brown, Jay Ellis, Keke Palmer, Julio Torres, and Jesse Williams. Vulnerable poems and honest stories play out against a tailored soundtrack with original music. From Lemonada Media and Black Bar Mitzvah. The voices of those locked up in the U.S. prison system have been all but written off, but no more. These aren’t voices you’ve missed; they’re voices that haven’t been heard.

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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Listen Now: The Defenders

9/12/2024
With the 2024 election just around the corner, the stakes are higher than ever for reproductive justice. Gloria Riviera hosts the second season of Lemonada Media’s award-winning podcast The Defenders, where she’ll be talking to activists, organizers, and experts to equip you, our listeners, with everything you need to defend abortion rights at the polls. You’re about to hear a clip from the first episode of S2 The Defenders in Arizona, where abortion rights have been in turmoil since the overturn of Roe. Now, a citizen-led effort is trying to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution through a ballot measure. November’s election may not only change the fate of abortion in this crucial swing state; it could also flip the state legislature and impact control of the U.S. Senate and the fate of the White House. The Defenders is out now, wherever you get your podcasts. To hear more of The Defenders head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/thedefendersfd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:04:52

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Listen Now: Squeezed with Yvette Nicole Brown

8/21/2024
This week we’re dropping in your feed to tell you about a new Lemonada show, Squeezed with Yvette Nicole Brown. Whether we’re young or old, part of the sandwich generation or child-free, care is universal. In this seven-part series, actress and caregiver Yvette Nicole Brown looks at caregiving over the course of a lifetime, exploring the lives of everyday people, spotlighting the daily dramas, hardships and joys of caregiving across America. So many of us are caught up in the challenges of providing care and love across generations, all while juggling the demands of work and family, navigating a system that wasn’t designed with care and love in mind. You’re about to hear a clip from the first episode, where Yvette Nicole Brown talks to Stephanie Wittels Wachs, co-founder of Lemonada Media, a mom of two, and a primary caregiver for her dad, who has Parkinson's. On the surface, Stephanie manages her kids’ extracurriculars, visits to her dad's care facility, work meetings, hikes with her husband, and never ending grocery store trips. But on the inside, she’s sinking into quicksand. To hear more of Squeezed with Yvette Nicole Brown, head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/Squeezedfd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:07:55

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Listen Now: The Inspiring Women Leadership Lab

8/8/2024
We’re dropping in your feed to introduce you to Lemonada’s newest podcast– The Inspiring Women Leadership Lab, a masterclass for CEOs, entrepreneurs and business leaders ready to challenge the status quo. Each week, host Laurie McGraw, a leader at the intersection of healthcare, technology and innovation, talks with visionary guests like Kara Swisher, Cheryl Pegus, and Andy Slavitt to get their practical advice, inspiration, and essential tips to help women launch and lead impactful, successful businesses. Whether you are a seasoned CEO or contemplating a fresh professional start, this podcast is your essential guide to taking the next step towards your leadership dreams. You’re about to listen to the first full episode of The Inspiring Women Leadership Lab, featuring Dr. Cheryl Pegus – one of the nation’s most influential healthcare leaders and clinical executives. Laurie and Cheryl talk about healthcare, hoops and history. To hear more of The Inspiring Women Leadership Lab, head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/TheInspiringWomenLeadershipLabfd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:35:50

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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: 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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Listen Now: I Need To Ask You Something

9/6/2023
We are dropping in your feed to share Lemonada Media's newest series, “I Need To Ask You Something." This unique 10-part series bridges the gap between the things we need to say and the words we’re afraid to hear. Each week, trauma therapist Dr. Monica Band sits down with a young person and their parent, friend or partner to help them create a blueprint for building stronger relationships while healing out loud. Created in partnership with The Jed Foundation. In the series premiere, you'll hear from Jessica. Her parents divorced when she was 18, but the years leading up to it were filled with “contagious unhappiness”. Now she sits down with her father to ask: why did you wait so long, and how do we heal from here? To hear more episodes of I Need To Ask You Something, head to https://link.chtbl.com/INTAYS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:46:08

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Listen Now: My New Favorite Futbolista

6/17/2023
Who should you root for at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup? Get to know soccer’s most inspiring players and the causes they champion on My New Favorite Futbolista. Team USA’s Crystal Dunn, who returned to competitive soccer less than four months after giving birth to her son Marcel Jean, shares how she juggles her career and motherhood. To hear more of My New Favorite Futbolista, head to https://link.chtbl.com/WorldCup2023 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:21:35

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Listen Now: Choice Words with Samantha Bee

6/1/2023
The producers of this series are excited to let you know about another Lemonada Media podcast, Choice Words with Samantha Bee. Each week on Choice Words, Samantha Bee sits down with people she admires to examine the biggest choices they’ve made in their lives and the ripple effects those decisions have had. When Rosie O’Donnell chose to step away from her talk show after six successful seasons, her actor friends thought she was out of her mind. Sam asks Rosie what went into that professional choice as well as a personal one: celebrating her 50th by adopting a baby. Rosie relives moments like drunk-dialing Oprah, fighting with Eileen Fisher, and uttering a sentence that’s never been said in Hollywood. To hear more of Choice Words with Samantha Bee, head to https://link.chtbl.com/ChoiceWordswithSamanthaBee See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:40:38

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Listen Now: Blind Plea

5/17/2023
We’re dropping in your feed today to let you know about a gripping new series from Lemonada Media, BLIND PLEA. In 2017, Deven Grey, a young mother, shot and killed her abusive partner in a remote trailer in rural Shelby County, Alabama. She claimed self-defense and filed a Stand Your Ground claim. Instead of freedom, she was handed a “blind plea” – an option to take an unknown sentence in exchange for pleading guilty. As a Black woman who shot and killed a white man in Alabama, she did the only thing she could: She took the plea. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Liz Flock, BLIND PLEA asks: Who do we believe, and why? And in America, who has the right to self defense and a fair trial? In this episode, you’ll be introduced to Deven’s story. When John Henry Vance brought his girlfriend, Deven Grey, to his family property in Calera, Alabama, Deven became the latest in a decades-long line of women to be beaten and broken down on that same land. In December 2017, after a violent evening and years of abuse, Deven shot and killed John. Then, she called 911 to turn herself in. The second episode of BLIND PLEA is available right now. To listen, head to https://link.chtbl.com/BlindPleaPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:41:04