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

Listen Now: Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

3/27/2024
We’re dropping in your feed to let you know that Julia Louis-Dreyfus has returned for Season 2 of her award-winning podcast, Wiser Than Me™! Each week, she has funny, touching, personal conversations with iconic older women who are brimming with the kind of unapologetic attitude and wisdom that only comes with age. Julia sits at the feet of some extraordinary teachers this season and of course her 90-year-old mom, Judy. Tune in to laugh, cry and get wise. All Hail Old Women! You’re about to hear part of the premiere episode, where Julia connects with the one-and-only Sally Field. With a spectacular film career spanning over six decades, Sally – now 77 years old – candidly discusses the introspection that comes with aging, shyness and playing characters who are taking back their power. Plus, Julia asks her 90-year-old mom, Judy, when she feels most confident. To hear the rest of the episode, head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/wiserthanmefd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:29:40

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Untold Story: Season 3, we're back!

10/18/2022
From executive producer, Jay Ellis, and Lemonada Media, season 3 of The Untold Story drops October 25. Host Travon Free talks to real people about the injustices happening in your own backyard. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:01:33

True Crime Upside Down: The Letter

9/7/2022
The Letter is a new original true crime podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Amy Donaldson. This 8-part narrative series tells the story of the brutal murder of Zachary Snarr, which took place in Salt Lake City, UT, on August 28, 1996. The Letter weaves a story of forgiveness, guilt, and what happens after the headlines die down and the real story begins. On Zach Snarr’s last day alive, he got up early to help his father at work, he cleaned the kitchen for his mother and he made his...

Duration:00:43:25

Listen to This: Call For Help

8/16/2022
For far too long, the United States has put mental healthcare on the back burner. Through enormous advocacy and the initiation and rollout of the 988 hotline, a theoretical lifeline is now at the fingertips of every American. But in a country with a deep history of criminalizing mental health, will 988 live up to its potential? Today, Stephanie explores how 988 came to be, along with all the promise and peril it carries. Weekly special correspondent Zak Williams shares his personal mental...

Duration:00:15:15

Special Episode: The Impact of the End of Roe v. Wade

6/25/2022
The producers of this series wanted to share another Lemonada Media series with you as a resource in the wake of the recent Supreme Court verdict. In this special breaking-news edition of In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt, Andy helps you understand the impact of yesterday's Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade. As health clinics in several states halt abortion procedures due to the decision, Andy gets reaction and action items from Caitlin Cruz, a reporter from Jezebel who covers reproductive...

Duration:00:44:57

Introducing V Interesting

6/10/2022
The producers of this series wanted to share with you another Lemonada Media series that they know you’ll love. V Interesting is hosted by V Spehar - who is out from under the desk and into your ears! They're starting off by sharing some of the headlines you may have missed this week, including exactly who’s rewriting the national reading curriculum, how Biden may have actually started the U.S. student debt crisis, and how people feel about returning to the office after working remotely...

Duration:00:48:17

Last Day Special: Unpacking Fear, Danger, and Mass Shootings

5/27/2022
The producers of this series wanted to share another Lemonada Media show with you that they know you will find helpful in a critical moment where the country feels as if it’s spinning out of control. It’s called Last Day. In this award-winning series, Lemonada co-founder and author Stephanie Wittels Wachs confronts massive epidemics with humanity, wit, and a quest for progress. Now, back for a third season, Last Day grapples with guns in America, asking: How can we live safely in a country...

Duration:00:49:37

BEING Trans: Introducing Audio Reality

4/28/2022
The producers of this series would like to share with you another show they know you’ll love. BEING is reality TV for your ears, an innovative new audio format like no other podcast you've ever heard. This season, it’s BEING Trans. This week, we meet Sy, a nonbinary transgender legal assistant in Los Angeles. They transitioned after marrying their husband, Robert, and having a baby. While things seem great on the surface, Sy confesses they've been putting off having a tough conversation with...

Duration:00:22:23