Defense of Democracy Podcast
Friends. Allies. Americans. Folks taking small steps towards big change. The Defense of Democracy podcast tells their stories. Hosted by Karen Svoboda.
Defense of Democracy is made up of people from all walks of life passionately committed to nonpartisanship. We welcome anyone who is interested in protecting their fellow Americans - in particular those in marginalized communities - from oppression.
We advocate for legislators, educators, and administrators who will work to maintain communities as well as a public education system that supports and enhances our shared experiences regardless of religious beliefs, cultural background, or sexual orientation.
Find out more: https://defenseofdemocracy.org/
Podcast produced by the Volunteers of Defense of Democracy
Episodes
95 episodes
The Voice of a Poet: Richard Blanco
In this episode Karen speaks with Richard Blanco, the fifth presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history. They discuss the role of poetry in society, the importance of cultural identity, and the impact of censorship on public education. Blanco s...
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Season 1
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Episode 94
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31:14
Banned Together: A Fight Against Censorship with Jen Wiggin
In this episode Karen interviews Jen Wiggin, the producer of the documentary film 'Banned Together.' The conversation explores the origins of the film, which was inspired by a local news article about book banning in South Carolina. Jen discuss...
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Season 1
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Episode 93
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29:56
The Role of School Boards in Crisis Management
In this episode Karen speaks with Jennifer De La Jara, a fundraising expert and former school board member of the Charlotte Mecklenburg School District. They discuss Jennifer's experiences on the school board, particularly during the COVID-19 p...
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Season 1
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Episode 92
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33:14
The Rise of Extremism in Education
In this episode Karen sits down with Lauren. Lauren shares her journey as an activist in Virginia, focusing on the challenges faced by public schools under the current administration. She discusses the rise of extremist policies, the importance...
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Season 1
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Episode 91
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24:37
The Historical Context of Education and Racism with Jesse Hagopian
In this episode Karen speaks with Jesse Hagopian, director of the Teaching for Black Lives campaign and author of 'Teach Truth.' They discuss the ongoing struggle for honest education in the face of laws that criminalize teaching about race, ge...
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Season 1
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Episode 90
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31:09
The Dire Consequences of Defunding the Department of Education
In this episode Karen speaks with Debbie, a retired special education teacher and the new volunteer state director for New York. They discuss Debbie's journey in education, the challenges facing public schools, and the importance of community i...
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Season 1
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Episode 89
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26:22
Silenced Teachers, Stifled Classrooms: The Toll of Educational Censorship
In this episode Karen speaks with Matt Hawn, a former teacher, and Rebecca Modrak, a professor, about the troubling trend of censorship in education. They discuss the personal stories of teachers facing harassment and dismissal for teaching con...
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Season 1
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Episode 88
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29:21
The Rise of LifeWise Academy: A Growing Concern for Parents
In this episode, Karen speaks with Zach Parrish and Keith Comer, volunteers from Parents Against LifeWise, about the growing influence of LifeWise Academy in Ohio schools. They discuss the recent legislative changes that mandate schools to coor...
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Season 1
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Episode 87
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32:42
Education Under Siege: The Threat of Defunding with Josh Weil
In this episode Karen interviews Josh Weil, a candidate running for the US Congress in Florida's sixth district. They discuss the significance of the special election, the challenges facing public education, and the impact of political groups o...
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Season 1
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Episode 86
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39:21
Fighting for Education: A Journey of Advocacy
In this episode Karen speaks with Katie, the new volunteer state director for Kansas. They discuss Katie's journey from educator to advocate, the challenges faced by marginalized students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing fight agai...
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Season 1
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Episode 85
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27:28
The Rise of Parental Activism
In this episode Karen speaks with Greg Ross, a parent and activist from Brevard County, Florida. They discuss the rise of Moms for Liberty and the impact of misinformation on public education. Greg shares his experiences with the Families for S...
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Season 1
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Episode 84
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33:30
Grassroots Activism in Education
In this episode Karen speaks with Allan, a dedicated activist from South Carolina, about his journey into defending public education against extremist groups like Moms for Liberty. Allan shares his personal experiences of backlash from the comm...
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Season 1
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Episode 83
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28:23
Supporting Non-Binary Children: Advice for Families and Educators
In this episode Karen welcomes Jacob Kelley, a queer educator and advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Jacob shares their journey growing up in a rural town with limited resources for queer individuals, the impact of lack of representation in liter...
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Season 1
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Episode 82
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33:35
Exploring Literature and Its Social Impact
In this episode Karen speaks with storyteller and writer Dynahlee about her journey from the Bronx to becoming a passionate advocate for literature and social impact. Dynahlee shares how Ellen Hopkins' book 'Crank' profoundly influenced her und...
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Season 1
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Episode 81
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24:06
The Role of Librarians in Democracy with Sharon Hawkes
In this episode Karen speaks with Sharon Hawkes, a retired librarian, about the importance of literature, the relevance of The Handmaid's Tale in today's political climate, and the ongoing threats of censorship and book banning. They discuss th...
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Season 1
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Episode 80
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28:37
Project 2025: A Threat to Disability Rights with Nadina Laspina
In this episode Karen speaks with disability advocate Nadina Laspina about her life experiences, the challenges faced by the disabled community, and the importance of intersectionality in advocacy. Nadina shares her personal journey from childh...
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Season 1
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Episode 77
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36:07
The Role of Volunteers in Advocacy and Defending Libraries
In this episode Karen speaks with Angie Hayden from Read Freely Alabama about the grassroots efforts to combat book bans and protect LGBTQ-inclusive literature in Alabama's libraries. They discuss the challenges posed by extremist groups, the i...
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Season 1
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Episode 78
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30:16
Special Episode: Defense of Democracy Volunteers React to the 2024 Election Results
In this episode Karen and a panel of volunteers reflect on their emotions and experiences following the recent election. They discuss the impact of misinformation, the importance of grassroots activism, and the need for community engagement to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 77
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41:05
Grassroots Organizing for Racial Justice in Schools: Insights from Race Forward
In this episode Karen welcomes James Haslam and Glenn Harris from Race Forward to discuss the critical role of public education in fostering a just, multiracial democracy. They explore the challenges facing public education, the importance of c...
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Season 1
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Episode 76
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32:29
Supporting Pro-Public School Candidates with Tiffany Van Der Hyde
In this episode, Karen talks with Tiffany Van Der Hyde from People for Education about how her organization helps recruit and support candidates for school board elections. Tiffany explains their focus on three main areas: candidate su...
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Season 1
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Episode 75
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25:08
After Roe: River Gassen’s Mission to Protect Women’s Health and Youth Safety in Colorado
In this episode Karen sits down with River Gassen and she discusses her motivations for running for office in Colorado, focusing on the impact of Roe v. Wade on women's health, her personal experiences with gun violence, and the need for better...
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Season 1
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Episode 74
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30:13
Hope and Resilience in Ohio Politics with Samantha Meadows
In this episode Karen speaks with Samantha Meadows, a candidate running for office in Ohio. They discuss the challenges facing public education in Ohio, particularly in impoverished areas, and the impact of underfunding on schools. Samantha sha...
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Season 1
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Episode 73
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29:30
Navigating Book Censorship and Parental Rights in Ohio Schools
In this episode, Karen sits down with Lyndsie Wall, a state director for Defense of Democracy. They discuss the challenges faced by the public school system in Ohio, particularly regarding the censorship of books. Lyndsie shares her personal ex...
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Season 1
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Episode 72
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28:25
Educated We Stand: Supporting School Board Candidates in the Fight Against Extremism
In this episode Karen talks with Jennifer Jenkins, a school board member who has been at the forefront in the fight against Moms for Liberty. Jennifer shares her journey from being a passionate educator advocating for fair teacher wages to faci...
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Season 1
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Episode 71
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35:57
The Tyree Nichols Tragedy: Uncovering Memphis’ Scorpion Unit and the Fight Against Police Brutality
In this podcast episode, investigative journalist Sean Kevin Campbell discusses the tragic case of Tyree Nichols, exploring the systemic issues of police brutality in Memphis. He delves into the history of policing in the city, the formation an...
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Season 1
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Episode 70
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34:54