Teach the Babies w/ Dr. David J. Johns

• Unbought and Unbossed: Joy-Ann Reid on Independent Black Media

  In a moment when major media companies are bending to power and silencing truth-tellers, Joy-Ann Reid is building something different. Fresh from her historic run as cable's first Black woman to host a primetime news program, Joy joins the class to talk about getting fired on her day off, launching The Joy Ann Reid Show the very next day, and what it really means to refuse fear in the face of autocracy.This conversation goes deep—from the behind-the-scenes call that ended The ReidOut, to standing firm when Trump targets you by name, to why your voice is the one thing they can never take. Joy breaks down the business of building independent Black media, the freedom that comes from owning your platform, and why resistance starts with refusing to be silent.If you've ever wondered what courage looks like in practice, or how to keep fighting when institutions fail us, this is your episode.Show Notes:Follow Joy Ann Reid: The Joy Ann Reid Show | Substack: joyannreid.comRead Joy's books including Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened AmericaSupport independent Black journalism and subscribe to Joy's platformsThis episode of Teach the Babies features candid conversation about serious topics. The discussion includes:Strong language (we believe in authentic conversation)Detailed accounts of sudden job loss and workplace traumaDiscussion of threats and intimidation from political figures, including threats of arrest and imprisonmentReferences to police violence against Black peopleDiscussion of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and violence against PalestiniansFrank talk about media censorship and institutional failuresWhy We're Not Sanitizing This Conversation:At Teach the Babies, we believe our community—especially our young people—deserves to hear truth-telling in its full complexity. Joy Ann Reid's story and voice represent the courage and clarity we need now. We trust you to engage with this content in ways that serve your own well-being while honoring the importance of what's being said.Take care of yourself: If you need to pause, step away, or return to this episode when you're ready, that's completely valid. Your well-being matters.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

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• Governing Under Occupation w. Councilwoman Christina Henderson

  Councilwoman Christina Henderson breaks down what's really happening with federal occupation of DC, why National Guard troops on American streets should alarm everyone, and the pattern of attacks on Black women's leadership.As an independent councilmember raising two Black daughters in DC, she speaks truth about local power, why your council member matters more than you think, and what she's teaching her children about resistance.Three actions you can take: Ask your congressperson about DC statehood. Call your governor to bring troops home. Interrogate what you consume.Required listening for anyone who cares about democracy and the future our babies deserve.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

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• Preserving Legacy and the Power of Mutual Aid with Deesha Dyer

  In this deeply personal and politically urgent conversation, Dr. David Johns welcomes his White House family—Deesha Dyer, former Social Secretary to President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama—for a raw discussion about what we lose when power demolishes history, and what endures when community builds with intention.Deesha takes us inside the moment she saw excavators tearing down the East Wing of the White House in October 2025—the space where she orchestrated state dinners, opened doors for people who never thought they'd walk through them, and made the People's House truly belong to the people.This conversation moves from the rubble of demolished institutions to the unshakeable foundation of community organizing. Deesha shares lessons learned from Michelle Obama about grace under pressure, why she wrote Undiplomatic for Black girls who "risk it all," and what defending democracy actually looks like in practice: investing in local organizations, letting leaders lead in their expertise, documenting our work, and showing up for each other with intention.Deesha's story is a masterclass in refusing to let imposter syndrome—or anyone else—define your worth. As she reminds us: buildings can be demolished in 72 hours, but they can't demolish the memories, the legacy, or the collective power we build together.This is required listening for anyone who believes that mutual aid isn't charity—it's how we survive, build, and love each other into liberation.Website: DeeshaDyer.comInstagram: @deedyer267Email: [email protected] (She answers every email!)Book: Undiplomatic: How My Attitude Created the Best Kind of Trouble(Available at libraries and independent bookstores)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

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• Honoring Michael K. Williams and Fighting for Black Mental Health

  Four years after we lost Michael Kenneth Williams to an accidental overdose, his legacy continues to light the way forward. In this powerful Mental Health Awareness special, Dr. David J. Johns sits down with Dominic Dupont—Michael K's nephew and advocate carrying his uncle's torch—and Jonnel C. Doris, CEO of Startcare, the nation's oldest and largest Black-founded behavioral healthcare organization.This isn't just a memorial. It's a call to actionTogether, we explore how to break the silence, expand access to culturally responsive care, and create spaces where Black men feel safe asking for help. They celebrate Michael K's radical honesty, iconic portrayal of Omar Little, and commitment to criminal justice reform. Most importantly, they remind us that joy was Michael's catalyst—and it can be ours tooThis conversation could save a life—maybe yoursResources mentioned:National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)Startcare: startny.orgCrisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741NBJC (National Black Justice Collective): nbjc.orWe Build The Block https://webuildtheblock.org/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

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• Brothers in Conversation-Million Man March 30 Years Later

  This is a special episode of Teach the Babies.On October 16, 2025, we celebrated 30 years since the Million Man March. To honor that anniversary, I sat down with three brothers for a conversation about what the March got right, what it got wrong, and what repair requires of us now.You're about to hear Rev. Mark Thompson (who emceed the original 1995 March), Pastor Jamal Bryant (who's leading one of the nation's largest Black churches), and Sean Ebony Coleman (who's keeping Black trans youth alive in the Bronx) get honest about:Where we were in 1995 and why some of us were told we couldn't belongHow sexuality has been weaponized to divide Black menWhat happens when a megachurch pastor admits he was doing "domestic terrorism" from the pulpitWhy the Black church owes the LGBTQ+ community an apologyWhat it costs when we police masculinity instead of expanding brotherhoodHow we turn churches into sanctuaries and teach the babies that vulnerability is strengthThis conversation is brothers talking WITH each other—not at each other. It's repair in real time. It's reckoning and regeneration.And it's what teaching the babies actually requires.For full video and additional resources, visit NBJC.org and millionmanmarch2025.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

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