Category: Episodes

The pandemic is devastating America. And black Americans especially. Maybe more than any other group in the United States. As many as one-fourth of the overall American dead from the pandemic are black. And people of color are disproportionately serving on the front lines of healthcare, public transportation, food services and many other industries that are the hardest hit. The impact on black people is another hidden and underreported front in our war against COVID-19. And meanwhile, Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black jogger, was ruthlessly murdered by two white men in Brunswick, Georgia—sparking outrage and anger nationwide–while President Trump continues to make racist statements at the White House aimed at Chinese people. In this powerful new episode, we dig into race and the coronavirus.  Race has never been more urgent, divisive and underreported. Except for on this pod. Independent activist, author, social entrepreneur and Army veteran @PaulRieckhoff breaks it down and leads a fascinating and riveting conversation with Baratunde Thurston (@Baratunde). [1:06:00] Baratunde is a powerful, inspiring and dynamic next-generation thought leader. He’s an activist, futurist, comedian and author of the New York Times bestseller, How To Be Black. He’s worked for The Onion, produced for The Daily Show, advised the Obama White House, and cleaned bathrooms to pay for his Harvard education. Baratunde serves on the National Board of BUILD, an organization that uses entrepreneurship-based experiential learning to propel underserved youth through high school on to college and career success, serves on the Brooklyn Public Library board of trustees and his TED Talk has over 2 million views. He and Rieckhoff have known each other for over a decade, and they chop it up for a fun, emotional and inspiring conversation that you’ll want to talk about and share. Angry Americans continues our groundbreaking focus on the front-line fighters of the war against COVID-19 with another inspiring leader shaping the future of America.  And as the virus takes more lives and infections spreads through the White House staff, states begin to reopen. And that’s got Rieckhoff and many others angry–for good reason. He rips into the news that you may have missed with his trademark tenacity, wit, wisdom and humor. He digs into the national defense, first-responders and veterans issues that are off the national radar. And he adds a splash of pop-culture, great music and civic action. Featured recently on Fox News, Variety, NPR, The New York Times, MSNBC and CNN, it’s another riveting episode of the most dynamic podcast in America for independent politics, news and culture.  Get special access to Paul Rieckhoff, our dynamic guests, special online events and behind-the-scenes content by joining the Angry Americans community on Patreon. You’ll get unique and powerful connections to information and opportunities to meet friends of the pod like Jeffrey Wright, Chris Cuomo, Ron Perlman, Meghan McCain and Mayor Pete Buttigieg. And our support will also help keep this important content coming.  This episode is powered by the generous support of BRAVO SIERRA. BRAVO SIERRA (@BravoSierra_USA) is the military-native performance wellness company built for every lifestyle. BRAVO SIERRA delivers high-quality grooming essentials formulated with clean ingredients that are made-in-the-USA. And BRAVO SIERRA gives back to America’s heroes. 5% of all sales support programs for active-duty U.S. Military service members, veterans and families. Visit www.BravoSierra.com/AngryAmericans to get a FREE trial set now. Angry Americans listeners can use the discount code ANGRY at checkout for 15% off on all orders.  Angry Americans is connecting, uniting and empowering concerned citizens worldwide and powered by Righteous Media. Watch the Conversation: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How is the coronavirus impacting the mothers of the world? This Mother’s Day, moms across America are being hit especially hard by the pandemic. It’s another hidden and underreported front in our war against COVID-19. Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner (@RoweFinkbeiner) [43:30] is a renowned and respected fighter for moms everywhere. She’s met with Presidents, testified before Congress and organized millions. Kristin is the dynamic Founder and Executive Director of the most powerful organization for mothers in America: MomsRising. With over one million members, MomsRising is leading on the most critical issues facing women, mothers, and families. The powerful organization brings the voices and real world experiences of women and mothers to local, state, and national leaders, amplifies women’s voices and policy issues in the national dialogue and in the media, accelerate grassroots impact on Capitol Hill and at state capitols across the country and holds corporations accountable for fair treatment of women and mothers and for ensuring the safety of their products. Kristin is also the host of “Breaking Through with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner” on 1480AM in Washington, D.C and the co-author of The Motherhood Manifesto–which also became a documentary film on PBS.  Angry Americans continues our groundbreaking focus on the front-line fighters of the war against COVID-19 with another inspiring guest shaping the future. If you want to give your mom a great Mother’s Day gift, listen to and share this episode.  With the weather in America heating up and states reopening nationwide, while the spread of the virus and the 2020 race for President are accelerating, independent activist, author, social entrepreneur and Army veteran @PaulRieckhoff leads the conversation with Kristin and dissects the latest news with his trademark fiery style. Rieckhoff also continues to hold the powerful accountable at the White House, Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, and broadcast media. It’s another riveting episode of the most dynamic podcast in America for independent politics, news and culture. Variety, NPR, The New York Times, MSNBC and CNN are tracking–and you should be too.  This episode of Angry Americans is powered by BRAVO SIERRA. BRAVO SIERRA (@BravoSierra_USA) is the American, military-native performance wellness company built for tough times. BRAVO SIERRA delivers high-quality grooming essentials formulated with clean ingredients that are made-in-the-USA. And BRAVO SIERRA gives back to America’s heroes. 5% of all sales supports programs for active-duty U.S. Military service members, veterans and families. Visit www.BravoSierra.com/AngryAmericans to get a FREE trial set now. Angry Americans listeners can use the discount code ANGRY at checkout for 15% off on all orders.  You can get special access to Paul Rieckhoff, our dynamic guests, special online events and behind-the-scenes content by joining the Angry Americans community on Patreon. Your support will keep this important content coming. And, you’ll get unique and powerful connections to information and one-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet guests like Chris Cuomo, Ron Perlman, Meghan McCain and Mayor Pete Buttigieg.  Angry Americans is connecting, uniting and empowering concerned citizens worldwide and powered by Righteous Media. Watch the Conversation: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the future of education after the coronavirus? What will schools look like after all this? How can they reopen safely? Will colleges go bankrupt? Are we rotting the brains of our kids with all this screen time? Where is Education Secretary Betsy DeVos? What happens now to education in America?  As the global war against the virus continues, the world of education is a hidden battlefield. The future of learning has been turned upside down–and underreported. With 97% of the world’s schools closed, the virus has upended everything we know about education. Graduations are canceled, dorms are empty, school lunches are left uneaten and millions of kids are now glued to screens all day long. This is education in our pandemic-stricken world. And the stakes for America couldn’t be higher.  Angry Americans continues our groundbreaking focus on the front-line fighters of the war against COVID-19 with another inspiring guest shaping the future: [1:15:00] Anya Kamenetz (@Anya1Anya) is a powerful expert on learning and the future. Anya is Education Correspondent at NPR, co-host of NPR’s Life Kit parenting podcast and celebrated author of multiple books including The Art of Screen Time, Generation Debt, DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education and The Test. Anya is our professor giving us all a crash course on parenting in a pandemic.  Previously, Anya was a writer for Fast Company covering technology, innovation, sustainability and social entrepreneurship and she contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, the Oprah Magazine. Anya was named a Game Changer in Education and three times won National Awards from the Education Writers Association. She also leads the innovative NPR Ed team–which won an Edward R. Murrow award for Innovation. With the world paralyzed and divided by shut-downs and reopening, independent activist, author, social entrepreneur and Army veteran @PaulRieckhoff asks Anya the questions we all need answers to–and tears into the latest news with a dash of pop-culture, kick-ass music, and his trademark wit, tenacity, wisdom and humor. Rieckhoff shines a powerful spotlight on issues you need to know about–and holds the powerful accountable. As the White House, Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, and broadcast media fumble, this is a powerful must-hear episode of the pod that’s been featured in Variety, NPR, The New York Times, MSNBC and CNN. From the front lines of the exhausting war against the virus, to the race for President, to the NFL draft, Angry Americans is the most dynamic podcast in America for politics, news and culture. Angry Americans is powered by BRAVO SIERRA. BRAVO SIERRA (@BravoSierra_USA) is the American, military-native performance wellness company built for tough times. BRAVO SIERRA delivers high-quality grooming essentials formulated with clean ingredients that are made-in-the-USA. And BRAVO SIERRA gives back to America’s heroes. 5% of all sales supports programs for active-duty U.S. Military service members, veterans and families. Visit www.BravoSierra.com/AngryAmericans to get a FREE trial set now. Angry Americans listeners can use the discount code ANGRY at checkout for 15% off on all orders.  Get exclusive access to Paul Rieckhoff, our amazing guests, online events and special behind-the-scenes content by joining the Angry Americans community on Patreon. You’ll keep this important content coming–and get unique connections to powerful information and one-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet guests like Henry Rollins, Rachel Maddow, Jeffrey Wright and Ambassador Susan Rice. Angry Americans is connecting, uniting and empowering concerned citizens worldwide–and is powered by Righteous Media. Watch the Conversation: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the future of sports after the coronavirus? Will the NBA play again this season? How will sports look in our new normal? David Aldridge (@DavidAldridgeDC) is one of the best and most respected sports writers in America. He’s a basketball icon that’s been in on our TV for decades covering the NBA for ESPN, TNT and now, for The Athletic. He’s also an astute observer of the intersection of sports, culture, politics, race and economics. David has interviewed Presidents and received the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Curt Gowdy Media Award for his contributions to basketball. He’s a tenacious advocate for his hometown of Washington, DC and has interviewed President Barack Obama, Steph Curry and Michael Jordan.  Angry Americans has always focused on the interaction of politics, sports and culture. And as our the war against the coronavirus drags on, sports is one of the things people everywhere miss the most. With concerns from players about safety, and pushes from politicians to restart leagues, David helps us all understand the biggest challenges and the bigger picture of sports in the world of COVID-19. And as the hit ESPN documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bull, The Last Dance, captivates audiences everywhere, the NFL draft goes virtual, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski head to Tampa, and as we recognize the 16th anniversary of the death of NFL player and Army Ranger, Pat Tillman, David’s wisdom will leave you enlightened.  And as the country is ripped by the coronavirus and political division over how and when to shutdown and re-open sports and everything else, independent activist, author and Army veteran @PaulRieckhoff breaks it all down with a kick. Rieckhoff tears into the politicians who are putting politics ahead of people, drills into the exposure of our national security, and continues to hold the White House, Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense accountability for leadership failures, political nonsense and a rising death toll. It’s a another powerful episode of the show that’s been featured in Variety, NPR, The New York Times, MSNBC and CNN. From front edge of the evolving war against the virus in New York City, to Georgia, to Washington, DC, to North Korea, Angry Americans is the most interesting and independent podcast in America for politics, news and culture. This episode Angry Americans is powered by the awesomeness of BRAVO SIERRA. BRAVO SIERRA (@BravoSierra_USA) is the military-native performance wellness company that’s built for the pandemic. They deliver high-quality grooming essentials that are formulated with clean ingredients and made in the USA. And BRAVO SIERRA leads by example. 5% of all sales goes to the Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs for active-duty U.S. Military service members, veterans and their families. Go to www.BravoSierra.com/AngryAmericans to get a FREE trial set of their products now. And Angry Americans listeners can use the special discount code ANGRY at checkout for 15% off on all orders.  You can now get exclusive access to the people, events and content behind Angry Americans by joining us on Patreon. You can help keep this important content coming–and get unique connections to powerful information and one-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet guests like Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Meghan McCain and Henry Rollins. Angry Americans is connecting, uniting and empowering people nationwide–and is powered by Righteous Media. Watch the Conversation: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are now a world at war. The coronavirus is the enemy we all face. And we are all united in our fight against that enemy. The Dispatches is a new quick-hit pod hosted by Iraq war veteran, author and activist Paul Rieckhoff that gives you news and information you can use in the fight to protect those around you, kill the virus and help win the war. In less than 30 minutes.  The next edition of the Dispatch checks-in with the American celebrity Tom Colicchio. Former Host of Top Chef, Tom is the recipient of five James Beard Foundation Awards for his culinary achievements and is on the front lines right now advocating for restaurants and their workers. Colicchio joined us for a longer conversation in Episode 8 of Angry Americans–one of our earliest episodes and one that definitely set the bar. More than one month after our natio waged war against the virus, Tom is back to give us his update live from NY on how the restaurant industry is going to be impacted. He breaks down the federal relief loan programs and their conundrums, and gives insights for how to navigate the pending economic breakdowns we’re likely to see in the months to come. Tom talks community feeding centers and more ideas on how government can be more responsive in this crisis era. This Dispatch is packed with the same integrity, information, inspiration and impact you get from every episode of Angry Americans. The war is on. This is your update. This is your dispatch.  The Dispatch is a production of Righteous Media. Watch the Conversation: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeffrey Wright [50:40] is one of the finest actors in the world. He’s also one of the most tenacious activists. He’s a patriot. He’s an organizer. He’s a voice for the voiceless. He’s a powerful critic of Donald Trump. And he’s deep in the fight vs the coronavirus right now.  From Angels in America to Basquiat to Syriana to Casino Royale to The Hunger Games to Boardwalk Empire to Classical Baby to Westworld. Jeffrey Wright (@JFreeWright) has played Martin Luther King Jr. and Colin Powell. He’s played artists and scientists. And he’s everyone’s favorite Host, Bernard Lowe. He’s won a Golden Globe, an Emmy, a Tony. And he’s a driven supporter of causes ranging from veterans with mental health injuries to miners in Sierra Leone.  And as the war against the coronavirus expands, Jeffrey Wright is a critical global face for two prongs of our collective experience. His neighborhood in Brooklyn is being hammered by sickness and death. Sirens are wailing constantly outside his home. And he’s using his unique talents to rally support for his community through a bold new effort called #BrooklynForLife! At the same time, the HBO show he stars in is at the top of the world’s stay-at-home binge list. Westworld is a global phenomenon–giving so many of us a break from the non-stop news cycle around the coronavirus. But also providing a warning about our weaknesses and painting a picture of a dystopian potential future. It’s a candid, inspiring, unpredictable and extended conversation–with one of the most recognized faces on the planet. You’ll hear sides of Jeffrey Wright you’ve never heard before. His thoughts as a father, his experience in Africa fighting another deadly virus, his thoughts on potential VP options for Biden, his stories of glory as a college lacrosse star–and you’ll even meet his pet turtles. And as the stupid continues to spread faster across American even faster than the virus, independent activist @PaulRieckhoff breaks it all down with this trademark insight, wit and candor. He rips into how a skyrocketing number of veterans are dying from COVID19 at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Pentagon’s struggles to contain outbreaks, a flood of anti-lock-down state capitol protests, and the line of endorsements coming to Joe Biden. Angry Americans is powered by BRAVO SIERRA. BRAVO SIERRA (@BravoSierra_USA) is the military-native performance wellness company. They deliver high-quality grooming essentials, formulated with clean ingredients and made in the USA with local partners. And 5% of sales go to the Morale, Welfare and Recreation quality of life programs for active-duty U.S. Military service members, veterans and their families. Go to www.BravoSierra.com/AngryAmericans to get a FREE trial set of their products now. And Angry Americans listeners can use the special discount code ANGRY at checkout for 15% off on all orders.  Every episode of Angry Americans creates ways for you to turn your righteous anger into positive impact. In this pod, it’s supporting Jeffrey Wright’s Brooklyn For Life! team on the front lines of helping healthcare heroes and businesses at a local level. And friend of the pod Tom Collichio’s (@TomColicchio) Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) at the national level. Tom joined us on the pod back in Episode 8 and is continuing his important activism. It’s a powerful episode of the show that’s been featured in Variety, NPR, The New York Times, MSNBC and CNN.  For video of the conversation in this episode with Jeffrey Wright –and for past conversations with Rachel Maddow, Chris Cuomo, Rosie Perez, Henry Rollins, Meghan McCain, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Samantha Bee and more– join the Angry Americans community now. Angry Americans is connecting, uniting and empowering people nationwide–and is powered by Righteous Media. Watch the Conversation: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are now a world at war. The coronavirus is the enemy we all face. And we are all united in our fight against that enemy. The Dispatches is a new quick-hit pod hosted by Iraq war veteran, author and activist Paul Rieckhoff that gives you news and information you can use in the fight to protect those around you, kill the virus and help win the war. In less than 20 minutes.  Our first ever Dispatches checks-in with Chris Fussell–former U.S. Navy SEAL, best-selling author and the president of McChrystal Group. Chris is the co-author of Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World. He joined us for a longer conversation in Episode 50 of Angry Americans–one of our most compelling episodes yet. One month after that conversation, our war against the virus is now fully expanded across America. And Chris is back to give us his update on how the battlefield is evolving, grade the leadership of President Trump and Governor Cuomo, share how you can better prepare your family in the face of the latest threats, and weigh-in on the controversial firing of Captain Bret Crozier–the Navy Commander who spoke up to defend his crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier.  This Dispatches is packed with the same integrity, information, inspiration and impact you get from every episode of Angry Americans. The war is on. This is your update. This is your dispatch.  The Dispatches is a production of Righteous Media. Watch the Conversation: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than ever before, we should all listen to the doctors. And celebrate the doctors. In this vital episode, we talk with one of those brave fighters in the expanding war against the coronavirus. A hero who is right now fighting COVID-19 and saving lives. Dr. Paul Haser is a brilliant and heroic emergency surgeon at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York–a front line in our global war against the coronavirus. One that this week became a war zone. [1:10:30] Dr. Paul Haser takes us inside. He’ll show you what the face of our enemy looks like. He’ll tell you what it’s like to operate on someone who’s tested positive for COVID-19. He’ll explain what you can do to protect yourself. And what you can do to support the heroes like him, and all the incredible medical professionals risking their lives for us.  Prior to the fight against COVID-19, Dr. Haser volunteered in Haiti after the catastrophic earthquake of 2010. He also served at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany–the only forward-stationed medical center for U.S. and Coalition forces–where he treated combat injuries and performed the first endovascular aortic graft implantation procedure ever, saving the life of an American sniper with a piece of shrapnel next to his heart. Now, Dr. Haser is on the forward edge of our fight against the coronavirus, inside one of the hardest hit hospitals in the world. A dangerous place, deep behind the lines, surrounded by the enemy. This is a conversation everyone needs to hear now.  Our host, independent activist and Iraq Veteran Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) leads this vital episode and breaks down the most urgent political, defense and veterans news you need to know–with equal doses of snark and funny. He gets an update from 9/11 hero FDNY firefighter Rob Serra (@SerraRob) about a critical and outrageous shortage of masks facing NYC firefighters. Rieckhoff also digs into how COVID-19 has taken out a US Navy aircraft carrier, how the number of dead veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs is rising, which Governors and Mayors are costing American lives, and how unlikely leaders like Dolly Parton are heroically stepping up to help. It’s important, informative and inspiring.  This episode of Angry Americans is powered by BRAVO SIERRA. BRAVO SIERRA (@BravoSierra_USA) is the military-native performance wellness company. They deliver high-quality grooming essentials, formulated with clean ingredients and made in the USA with local partners. And 5% of sales go to the Morale, Welfare and Recreation quality of life programs for active-duty U.S. Military service members, veterans and their families. Go to www.BravoSierra.com/AngryAmericans to get a FREE trial set of their products now. And Angry Americans listeners can use the special discount code ANGRY at checkout for 15% off on all orders.  And as with every episode of Angry Americans, this pod is about action. Rieckhoff offers ways to turn your righteous anger into positive impact. It’s a powerful episode of the pod that’s been recently featured in Variety, NPR, The New York Times and CNN.  For video of the conversation in this episode with Dr. Paul Haser –and for past conversations with Chris Cuomo, Rosie Perez, Henry Rollins, Rachel Maddow, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Samantha Bee and more– join the Angry Americans community now. Angry Americans is connecting, uniting and empowering people nationwide–and is powered by Righteous Media. Watch the Conversation: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices