• 30 minutes 49 seconds
    Mini Episode: An Outdated Model of Leadership

    This week, Prentis shares their assessment that the leadership model in our culture feels outdated.  They share the concept of two leadership qualities that we could begin to possess on the individual or collective level -- will and surrender. And ask the questions-- How do we start to practice fluidity along the continuum of will and surrender to embody new ways of being leaders? And where can we start to look for leadership in odd and unexpected places?

    The quote Prentis mentions in the episode is by Simon Sinek: 

    “Leaders are the ones who have the courage to go first, to put themselves at personal risk to open a path for others to follow.”

    If you’d like to come play and explore this theme more, join us over on Patreon.

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    The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

    8 July 2026, 9:00 am
  • 50 minutes 2 seconds
    Courage Amidst Collapse with Norma Wong

    Teacher, author and Zen Master, Norma Wong, is here to talk about her new book, Who we are becoming matters: the courage wisdom and aloha we need in the time of collapse. 

    Norma helps us see further than we can see on our own and asks the question, who do we need to become to meet that horizon? 


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    The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

    1 July 2026, 9:00 am
  • 44 minutes 34 seconds
    Fierce Vulnerability with Kazu Haga

    Prentis is joined by their friend, author and activist Kazu Haga, to explore his new book Fierce Vulnerability. Kazu asks us to consider a new type of courage, and together they converse about the value of deep interdependence, collective trauma, and how the “us vs. them” binary worldview is at the heart of what is destroying our relationships and our planet. 

    If you want to hear more from Kazu, revisit Prentis’ conversation with him about Navigating Conflict

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    The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

    24 June 2026, 9:00 am
  • 31 minutes 5 seconds
    Mini-Episode - Grief is a Teacher

    Prentis has returned to the pod after a short bereavement leave from the passing of their father. They are sharing how grief and time are pairing up to teach them how to bring more fluidity and honesty to their presence to allow more to be here now.

    They are also sharing a sweet story from their drag king past.

    If you’re enjoying this season, please support the podcast over on Patreon.


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    The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

    17 June 2026, 10:00 am
  • 45 minutes 22 seconds
    [Revisit] Survival Is A Promise with Alexis Pauline Gumbs

    This episode originally aired in August 2024.

    We gather to honor the luminous legacy of Audre Lorde through the lens of Alexis Pauline Gumbs' radiant new book, Survival Is a Promise. Alexis joins us to unveil the journey of crafting Audre's biography, a tribute to the vibrant pulse and power of Audre’s words and practice. Together, we revel in the profound lessons Audre imparted on us about survival, courage, and love.

    Alexis’ new book is available now, Survival Is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde, and you can follow her work here @alexispauline

    Read the transcript for this conversation here

    You can learn more about Prentis’ work below

    The Becoming the People Podcast Team:
    Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de Leña
    Sound Engineer and Editing: Michael Maine
    Research Assistant: Bhavana Nancherla
    Original Music: Mayyadda

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    The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

    10 June 2026, 9:00 am
  • 51 minutes 51 seconds
    [Revisit] Embodying Existence with Kai Cheng Thom

    This episode was originally aired on July 1st 2024.

    Kai Cheng Thom - MSW, Qualified Mediator, Somatic Sex Educator, performance artist, community healer, award-winning writer, and author of Falling Back in Love with Being Human joins us for this episode. A consummate dreamer and believer in revolutionary potential, Kai brings radical love to her work and this conversation. Join us while Kai and Prentis geek out about exciting and dangerous things like monster-making, harm and revenge, + queerness and love.

    Read the full transcript of this conversation here.

    Follow Kai on IG @kaichengthom and support the projects they mentioned in this episode:

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    The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

    3 June 2026, 9:00 am
  • 55 minutes 41 seconds
    [Revisit] Conjuring Worlds with Maurice Mitchell

    This episode first aired in July 2024.

    Prentis is joined by the National Director of the Working Families Party, Maurice Mitchell. Maurice shares the roots of his organizing; reminds us of our power as a people and inspires us to continue to conjure and build a compelling vision toward the worlds we dream of.

    Support the organizations that Maurice mentioned in the episode:

    You can check out Prentis' new book What It Takes to Heal is available now.
    Follow @prentishemphill on Instagram to see show clips or become a Patreon Subscriber to support the podcast and gain access to the full unedited conversations and visual episodes!


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    The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

    27 May 2026, 9:00 am
  • 58 minutes 41 seconds
    [Revisit] Grief is the Medicine with Malkia Devich Cyril

    We won't be dropping a new episode this week, as Prentis is away mourning the passing of their father. 

    To honor this tender moment we are resharing an episode from last season with Transformative grief activist, movement strategist, and writer Malkia Devich Cyril. Malkia shares stories and wisdom from their personal experience of loss, the possibility that emerges when we attend to our grief, and their insight about how we choose to grieve can determine how we can change the world.

    Thank you all for your kind wishes and we will be back soon with new episodes.

    Follow Malkia on Instagram @culturejedi and support the projects they mentioned in this episode:

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    The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

    20 May 2026, 9:00 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Reverence for Death with Alua Arthur

    Death doula, author and trainer, Alua Arthur, is a clear voice of what death could be if we brought it into the center of our lives. Alua brings her profound wisdom from confronting the existential and seemingly unfaceable realities of death. In this episode she breaks down the tastiest five layer fear of death cake and shares what’s possible for all of us when we hold death with reverence.

    Join us on our new Youtube channel for the Imposing Beauty on Our Future Livestream - get your tickets here!

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    The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

    13 May 2026, 9:00 am
  • 33 minutes 43 seconds
    Mini-Episode: The Practice of Imagination

    Prentis addresses the rolling back of the Voting Rights Act and the impacts on our hope and imagination. They remind us of the power and audacity of the visionary ancestors that dared to dream before us, and encourage us to practice recovering our imagination to envision what we want next for our future.

    Join us on our new Youtube channel for the Imposing Beauty on Our Future Livestream - get your tickets here!

    Listen to the Dunums - Casual Planes Album

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    The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

    6 May 2026, 9:00 am
  • 48 minutes 36 seconds
    Holistic Prosperity with Aisha Nyandoro

    Aisha Nyandoro is the CEO of Springboard To Opportunities and leader in the campaign to end generational poverty through guaranteed income. She joins Prentis this week to talk about her program Magnolia Mother’s Trust. They also discuss what the true meaning of wealth is and how our institutions shape the idea of who is worthy and deserved. Aisha brings a call of radical resourcing and shares her vision for what’s possible if our communities didn’t have to live in scarcity and we actually supported our people to thrive.

    Notes:



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    The Becoming the People Podcast Team:

    29 April 2026, 9:00 am
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