Know Your Rights Camp Podcast

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In this powerful episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, host Amir Whitaker exposes how war profiteering and unchecked military expansion are silently shaping our world—and stealing from our communities. From classrooms to clinics, vital resources are stripped away as billions pour into endless conflict. Dr. Whitaker breaks down how President Eisenhower’s 1961 warning wasn’t just a footnote in history—it was a prophecy. This isn’t just about foreign wars; it’s about how the military-industrial complex infiltrates our politics, poisons our priorities, and threatens our freedom. If you care about j...

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Host: Mariela Regalado

Guest: Charli Cooksey (@charlialexacooksey)

In this heartfelt episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, education advocate Charli Cooksey delivers a powerful message: teachers should be honored and paid like athletes, because they shape futures every day. She shares how her mother’s activism lit a fire in her during high school—one that now fuels her work with Inspire STL and We Power to uplift Black and Latinx communities. From early childhood education to culturally relevant teaching, Cooksey makes it clear that...

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Host: Diana Barbadillo (@deeeeezzyyy) & Sean Tory (@theestoryofseantory)

Guest: Toni Taylor & Mike Brown Sr.  (@michael_mb_brown_senior)

On this powerful episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast in St. Louis, Toni Taylor and Mike Brown Sr. open up about turning unimaginable pain into purpose. Toni, mother of Cary Ball Jr., leads Carry On the Ball, creating healing spaces for families devastated by state violence. Mike, whose son Michael Brown Jr. was killed in Ferguson, founded the Chosen for Change Foundation, offering support and resources for grieving families. Together, t...

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Host - Sean Tory (@theestoryofseantory )

Guest -  Cbabi Bayoc ( @cbabi) 

Cbabi Bayoc, a celebrated artist with roots deep in the culture, opens up about how his art became a lifeline—both for himself and for his community—after the killing of Mike Brown in 2014. Known for designing iconic album covers for industry giants like Chris Lighty, Bayoc's work took on a new purpose: using bold colors and emotion-driven expressionism to speak truth to power. He reflects on the weight of creating art that confronts over-criminalization and uplifts the beauty of Bla...

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On this deeply moving episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, writer, organizer, and movement lawyer Derecka Purnell reimagines what love, justice, and liberation truly mean. She challenges the idea of justice as a courtroom verdict, framing it instead as the cultivation of equitable, caring relationships. Abolition, she explains, isn’t just about ending violence—it's about building a world rooted in safety and dignity. With powerful insight, Purnell calls on young people to find their "political home"—a space for radical education, organizing, and dreaming together. This episode is a passionate call t...

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Host: Diana Barbadillo (@deeeeezzyyy) 

Guest: Mykail James (@boujiebudgeter)

In this powerful episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, host Diana Barbadillo sits down with Mykail James—better known as the Bougie Budgeter—to unpack the emotional realities behind money, mindset, and generational wealth. Mykail vulnerably shares her path from financial mistakes to becoming a financial educator, driven by the belief that Black and Brown communities deserve access to financial freedom. She celebrates small wins like saving for a home over six years and breaks down...

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This podcast episode of KYRC Podcast dives into the ongoing "Summer of Resistance," as communities rise against ICE raids and arrests terrorizing sanctuary cities like Los Angeles. Diana Barbadillo and Amir Whitaker break down the racist, profit-driven roots of U.S. immigration policies, connecting them to the violence of U.S. foreign policy that forces families to flee. They confront how immigrants are criminalized, detailing ICE’s post-9/11 origins and its brutal tactics. This conversation is a powerful call to action: stand with our immigrant neighbors, uplift their humanity, honor their contributions, and fi...

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Host: Tat Wza (@tatwza)

Guest: Abran Maldonado (@Abran_ai )

In this powerful episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, Tat Wza and Abran Maldonado dive into how AI is leveling the playing field for Black and Brown creators, visionaries, and solopreneurs. No longer tethered to Hollywood or Silicon Valley, anyone with a dream can now build, launch, and thrive directly from their own community. Maldonado introduces Clara, an AI digital human, and Empowered, a chatbot offering culturally grounded tools for success. This isn’t just about tech—it’s abou...

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In this powerful episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, Dr. Krystel Edmonds Biglow unpacks the deep-rooted inequities in mental health care that continue to harm Black and Brown communities. As a clinical psychologist, she sheds light on how implicit bias often leads to misdiagnoses and neglect—especially for neurodivergent individuals. Dr. Biglow calls for urgent systemic change and the necessity of culturally informed care that validates the lived experiences of marginalized people. This emotional and eye-opening conversation is a call to action for justice, healing, and equity in the mental health sp...

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As ICE raids shake Los Angeles, the Know Your Rights Camp Podcast exposes the truth behind the headlines: fear grips immigrant communities, peaceful protests face military-grade crackdowns, and civil liberties hang in the balance. This episode is a powerful call to resist, prepare, and protect each other in a summer of defiance. Despite national portrayals of chaos, what’s unfolding is state-sanctioned intimidation and trauma. Organizers and community members speak out, reminding listeners of the urgent need to know their rights, stand in solidarity, and demand accountability. This is more than protest—it’s a mo...

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In this episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, hosts Amir Whitaker and Diana Barbadillo unpack the complexities of critical race theory (CRT) and the broader assault on truth and education. They trace the historical roots of CRT and break down the widespread misconceptions that have distorted its purpose, emphasizing how it reveals the systemic racism woven into U.S. laws and institutions. The conversation also critiques the Trump administration’s executive actions aimed at whitewashing American history, warning of the long-term consequences of suppressing hard but necessary truths.

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Join the Know Your Rights Camp podcast for a powerful conversation with Dana Amihere, founder of Afro LA, as she exposes the harsh realities of environmental racism in Los Angeles. Discover how Afro LA empowers marginalized communities through storytelling and data, highlighting the impact of redlining, industrial zoning, and air pollution on Black and Brown neighborhoods. Dana shares the inspiring work behind Afro LA’s "Environmental Justice Next Door" initiative, which enlisted students and photographers to capture the struggles and resilience of these communities. Tune in for insights into the fight for clean ai...

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In this stirring episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, Dr. Milo Dodson explores what it means to care for our minds and spirits while fighting against the weight of systemic oppression. He reminds us that rest, joy, and community are not luxuries—they’re radical tools of survival in the face of white supremacy and authoritarianism. The conversation confronts “resistance fatigue” and the toll unrelenting struggle can take, calling on listeners to honor their humanity through self-care. With deep reverence for generational resilience, the episode affirms that healing isn’t just personal—i...

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In this deeply moving episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, Dr. Milo Dodson and Amir Whitaker unpack the emotional weight of mental health struggles in communities of color. They confront the damaging effects of stigma, toxic masculinity, and systemic neglect—especially as recent cuts to school-based mental health services threaten access for youth. Through personal stories and urgent truths, the hosts highlight how shifting cultural narratives and increased media representation are slowly dismantling shame around therapy. They call for patience, self-love, and the courage to seek help, reminding listeners that healing is...

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The latest episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast features a powerful conversation between host Amir Whitaker and Adam Cain, a formerly incarcerated advocate now working with Initiate Justice. Their discussion dives deep into the exploitation of prison labor, focusing particularly on how incarcerated individuals are used to fight California’s largest wildfires for shockingly low wages. Adam shares his personal journey from incarceration to activism, emphasizing the urgent need for fair pay and real rehabilitation opportunities inside prisons. He explains the impact of Proposition 57, which offers incarcerated people the chance to re...

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Hosts:  Amir Whitaker  (@Drknucklehead_esq) 
Guest: Dr. Tracey Veal 

In this powerful episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, host Amir Whitaker sits down with the brilliant Dr. Tracey Veal—a healthcare leader with four decades of experience—to unpack the devastating toll recent healthcare funding cuts are having on our most vulnerable communities. With a heart full of truth and urgency, Dr. Veal breaks down how the loss of global coordination, the gutting of vaccine efforts, and the stripping away of preventive care are putting lives at risk—especially...

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In this powerful episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, Amir Whitaker and Diana Barbadillo explore the persistent challenges Black male students face in the education system. Amir shares personal stories and revealing statistics to expose the systemic barriers that push Black boys and young men out of classrooms and away from college campuses. They discuss how early school experiences—often shaped by bias and exclusion—can derail futures, and how the lack of support and representation takes a deep emotional toll. More than a conversation, this episode is a call to acti...

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On this episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, host Amir Whitaker sits down with civil rights lawyer Kamilah Moore for a raw and urgent conversation about the deep-rooted economic exploitation within the U.S. prison system—especially in the world of private prisons. With passion and precision, Moore exposes how Black Americans, particularly those behind bars, are trapped in a system that profits from their suffering, forcing them into labor under the false guise of justice. The discussion dives into the unsettling reality of political figures with financial stakes in private pr...

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In this explosive episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, host Diana Barbadillo breaks down the shocking reality of International Women's Day under Donald Trump’s 2025 policies. With women's rights under attack like never before, this episode exposes the far-right agenda pushing for traditional gender roles while excluding transgender women—a calculated move to control women's autonomy.

Read More + References [Link]: 

[Link]: https://apnews.com/article/trump-women-protector-abortion-election-697ce355f7386bfd192b99bb00322705

[Link]: https://www.npr.org/2025/03/20/nx-s1-5332213/jobs-women-trump-dei-civil-rights

[Link]: https://www.nbcnews.com/n...

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Hosts:  Amir Whitaker (@drknucklehead_esq)

Guest: Kamilah Moore (@kamilahvmoore)

In this powerful episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, host Amir Whitaker sits down with attorney and former California Reparations Task Force chairperson Kamilah Moore for a deeply moving conversation about the fight for reparations. Moore unpacks the painful legacy of slavery and systemic anti-Blackness that continues to shape Black Americans’ lives today, making the case for why reparations are not just overdue—but essential. The discussion also explores the global struggle for reparations, the l...

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Hosted by Sean Tory, this episode of the Know Your Rights Podcast  features a discussion with visual artists Brandan "BMike" Odums and Russell Craig. The conversation delves into the impact of art on social change and personal growth. Russell Craig, a self-taught artist from Philadelphia, shares how his experiences in the foster care system and incarceration influenced his art, which addresses social and political themes. Brandan "BMike" Odums, known for his large-scale murals, discusses the intersection of art and activism, emphasizing the importance of radical imagination and collaboration. 

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This Know Your Rights Camp Podcast episode features a discussion on the importance of understanding and exercising legal rights, particularly for minorities who are more likely to face rights infringements by police. Hosts Diana Barbadillo and Amir Whitaker are joined by guests Nicole Martin, director of the Autopsy Initiative at KYRC, and Philadelphia-based attorney Brianna Shaw. 

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This Know Your Rights Camp podcast episode, hosted by Amir Whitaker, delivers a powerful discussion on the rollback of federal civil rights protections. This episode examines the U.S. Department of Justice’s termination of the National Accountability Database and the reversal of police accountability measures. It highlights the halting of investigations into departments with histories of racial discrimination and the appointment of Attorney General Pam Bondi, whose executive orders have undone key protections. As systemic safeguards crumble, Whitaker urges listeners to stay vigilant, recognizing the urgent need to fight for justice, accountability, an...

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The Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative, launched in February 2022, provides free independent second autopsies for families of victims who died in custody, including police-related deaths. The initiative addresses the high costs of independent autopsies, which can range from $10,000 to $15,000, and aims to eliminate financial burdens for grieving families. This episode explores the importance of this initiative in pursuing police and prison accountability.  

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The Know Your Rights Camp podcast, hosted by Diana Barbadillo and Amir Whitaker, delves into the implications of #DonaldTrump's executive orders on education, particularly focusing on the potential dismantling of the US Department of Education. The discussion highlights the critical role of the Department in funding and regulating education, ensuring equity, and supporting low-income and special education students. 

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This episode of  Know Your Rights Camp Podcast, hosted by Sean Tory, features a discussion on the importance of mental health, particularly within Black and Brown communities. The episode includes guests Kyle Morris, an educator and community organizer, and Tasnim Sulaiman, a licensed psychotherapist and founder of Black Men Heal. The conversation delves into the historical and systemic factors affecting mental health in these communities, such as the legacy of slavery and ongoing structural oppression. 

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Hosted by Amir Whitaker and Diana Barbadillo, this episode of the KYRC Podcast delves into the significance of Black History Month in 2025 amidst increasing legislative and executive efforts to suppress cultural celebrations and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs. The hosts discuss the historical and ongoing struggles of Black Americans and other marginalized groups, emphasizing the importance of inclusive education and the dangers of whitewashing history.

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In this episode of the Know Your Rights Camp podcast, Tat Wza interviews Abran Maldonado, a pioneering AI expert and one of the first prompt engineers with OpenAI. Maldonado shares his journey from growing up in challenging environments to becoming a Gates Millennium Scholar and a leader in AI and EdTech. 

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This Know Your Rights Camp podcast episode focuses on immigrant rights under the new presidential term, featuring Chloe Edmonds from White and Case. The discussion highlights the importance of knowing and exercising one's rights when approached by ICE or police, emphasizing the right to remain silent and the necessity of a valid judicial warrant for home or workplace entry. The episode also covers the collaboration between White and Case and the latest Know Your Rights Camp app update, which provides legal information on various rights, including immigration, protestor, and police interaction rights, tailored...

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This Know Your Rights Camp Podcast episode features a discussion on the challenges and progress in educational equity for Black and Brown students. Hosted by Sean Tory, the episode includes insights from Ishmael Jimenez, a dedicated educator and program developer, and Sharif El-Mekki, founder of the Center for Black Educator Development. They address the systemic issues leading to the dismissal of Black educators amid budget cuts and the importance of Black teachers in fostering positive educational outcomes.

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In this episode of the KYRC Podcast, Anthony Copeman, founder of Financial Lituation, emphasizes the importance of financial literacy in Black and Brown communities. He discusses the need to change mindsets about money, start saving small, and overcome barriers like low wages and limited access to capital. Anthony highlights the significance of building financial stability and intergenerational wealth, aiming to create a school curriculum to address the wealth gap. He encourages listeners to start small, use community resources, and seek help when needed, with a goal of empowering young people to achieve financial...

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On this episode of the KYRC Podcast, host Amir Whitaker sits down with Diana Barbadillo to break down how the Trump administration’s policies impact Black and Brown communities. From harsh sentencing to the expanded use of the death penalty, they explore how these measures fuel mass incarceration and strip away due process.

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In this episode of the KYRC Podcast, Clara Pritchett (@body_empowerment_project ), Executive Director of the Body Empowerment Project, discusses her mission to prevent eating disorders by promoting body appreciation and addressing risk factors with Sean Tory (@theestoryofseantory). A Philadelphia native with a BA in Africana Studies from Brown University, Clara shares insights from her course on diet culture and fatphobia, and her research on the racial construction of obesity. Her 10-week program, focusing on self-compassion, self-esteem, and weight stigma, has impacted over a thousand students. Clara’s personal experiences with eating disorders dr...

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In this episode of the KYRC Podcast, activist Mike Africa Jr. shares his personal story as a member of the MOVE organization. He emphasizes the need for accountability in society, drawing attention to the role of historical awareness in addressing ongoing racism and injustice. Hosted by Amir Whitaker and Diana Barbadillo, the conversation covers his parents' wrongful imprisonment, the 1985 MOVE bombing, and the systemic challenges faced by marginalized communities. Mike highlights the importance of remembering history to combat oppression and encourages listeners to engage in activism to drive meaningful change in society.

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In this Know Your Rights Camp Podcast episode, Diana Barbadillo and Amir Whitaker discuss the persistent issue of voter suppression targeting Black and Brown communities in the United States. They trace the historical roots of this problem, from the exclusion of non-white property owners in early American voting laws to the violent tactics of the Ku Klux Klan. Despite the passage of the 15th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, voter suppression has evolved with new strategies, including gerrymandering and restrictive voter ID laws. The 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v...

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In this episode of KYRC Podcast, co-hosts Amir Whitaker and Diana Barbadillo dive into the heated debate surrounding Atlanta's "Cop City" project. This controversial military-style police training complex has sparked major pushback due to its environmental impact, as it involves deforesting a large area, and concerns over police militarization. Critics argue that the money would be better spent on essential community services and social programs. The conversation explores how environmental activism and anti-police militarization movements intersect, highlighting the extreme police response to protests, which included the use of military-grade weapons and excessive force...

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In this special bonus episode of the Know Your Rights Camp Podcast,  Autopsy Initiative program head Nicole Martin and guest Dr. Roger A Mitchell Jr., a forensic pathologist, discuss the importance of their work in providing free autopsies for in-custody deaths. They highlight the need for transparency and objectivity in the process, noting that many families are not given clear information about the cause of their loved one's death. 

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