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Unruly Subjects

Rowhome Productions
ICE
Department Of Justice
Election Interference
Culture
Politics
Civil Rights Law
Campus Speech
Family Dynamics
Activism
Voter Purging
Political Activism
Food
Music
Cop City
Comedy
Racism
Black Lives Matter
Voting Rights Act
Daryl Li
Israel-Palestine Conflict

Unruly Subjects is a weekly show about politics and culture hosted by Chenjerai Kumanyika, media professor and Peabody Award-winning audio journalist. Each week, Chenjerai makes sense of the week’s struggles with some of his favorite people - thinkers, journalists, friends, and folks who can help us laugh through the pain.

The show is created in partnership with Rowhome Productions. Support Unrul... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes17Founded5 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Unruly Subjects

Latest Episodes

This episode is all about the fight against data centers. Specifically, we’re sharing the story of how the residents of Monterey Park, California waged a successful campaign against the construction of a data center in their town. Chenjerai interview... more

This week, Chenjerai drives down to Philly to break bread with his friend - community activist and advocate April Lee. They visit Black Dragon, an innovative takeout spot in West Philly featuring Black Chinese cuisine from the mind of Chef Kurt Evans... more

This week, the show features a long conversation between Chenjerai and his good friend Ronald Young Jr. Ronald is the creator and host of Weight For It, an award-winning narrative podcast that explores the ways we think about our bodies. They talk ab... more

This week, we have an episode all about the Trump administration's attack on federal workers and how people are mobilizing to fight back. We feature an interview with two prominent organizers with the Federal Unionist Network: Paul Osadebe and Chris ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ronald Young Jr.
Creator and host of Weight For It; pop culture commentator
Weight For It; Leaving the Theater
Episode: Chopping it up with Ronald Young Jr. About Building Dialogue When The Stakes Aren’t Equal
Paul Osadebe
Former Civil Rights Attorney at HUD, union steward, and organizer with the Federal Unionist Network
Federal Unionist Network
Episode: Why the Fight for Federal Workers Is a Fight About All of Us
Chris Dols
Former cost engineer and district value officer at US Army Corps of Engineers, executive director of the Federal Unionist Network
Federal Unionist Network
Episode: Why the Fight for Federal Workers Is a Fight About All of Us
Gilberto Porcidonio
Legendary journalist and researcher reporting on culture and policing in Brazil.
Episode: Mobilizing Black Brazil: Culture, Power, and the Fight Over Democracy
Pedro Borges
Brazilian journalist from Alma Preta, focusing on elections and the black vote.
Alma Preta
Episode: Mobilizing Black Brazil: Culture, Power, and the Fight Over Democracy
Gillian Brockell
Investigative journalist and former flight attendant
Mother Jones
Episode: Shackled at 30,000 Feet: What You Don’t Know About ICE Flights—and Who’s Paying for Them
Mac Muir
Former investigator with New York's Civilian Complaint Review Board
Community Police Review Agency
Episode: Who Polices the Police? with Mac Muir
Bill Fletcher Jr.
Longtime organizer, scholar, and activist.
Episode: What It Takes to Shut It Down: General Strikes, Movement Strategy, Solidarity
Dr. Robert Mills III
Pediatrician in Minneapolis.
Episode: What It Takes to Shut It Down: General Strikes, Movement Strategy, Solidarity

Host

Chenjerai Kumanyika
Host of Unruly Subjects, media professor and audio journalist with a focus on politics and culture.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 18 ratings
  • Essential, brilliant, and surprisingly hilarious

    Chenjerai Kumanyika has a rare gift for making complex political and social issues feel accessible without losing an ounce of nuance. What I love most is that while the topics are serious, the show is genuinely fun—often funny and perfectly willing to embrace the absurdity of our current moment. The production from the Rowhome team is top-tier; the sound design and pacing make even the heaviest deep dives feel like a sharp, witty conversation. If you want news commentary that challenges your bra... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Philly Music Guy
    United States2 months ago
  • On point!

    Unsurprisingly for any project Chenjerai tackles, this podcast is tight & on point!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Skatzesq
    United States4 months ago
  • Everything Chenjerai does is gold!

    This is exactly what our world needs right now, and Chenjerai is the man for the job.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    laurajoycedavis
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show's nuance and accessibility, noting the host's ability to tackle complex issues with wit.
The production quality and pacing are highlighted as top-tier by many listeners.
Guests and discussions are repeatedly described as insightful and timely, resonating with an audience seeking rigorous yet engaging political culture talk.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Trump 2.0 Built a Vote Purging Machine with Abby Vesoulis
Q: If you had to break this down in about 10 minutes, how would you explain this?
Abby Vesoulis explains the efforts of the DOJ to collect full voter rolls for compiling a national database, emphasizing the implications on individual voting rights.
Debate, Journalism, and Power in the Feed with George “Conscious” Lee
Q: How do you feel Conscious Lee cuts through where someone else might not be able to hold someone's attention?
People find him relatable because he talks with a Southern draw, blending academic jargon with accessible language and political engagement.
How Civil Rights Law Became a Weapon Against Dissent—on Palestine and Beyond
Q: Daryl, I want to start out by really setting the stakes for this. Is there a particular example of someone being targeted in one of these investigations that you could flesh out for us?
Li discusses a complaint filed against Cornell University, which led to a federal investigation without substantial evidence.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Unruly Subjects

What is Unruly Subjects about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Unruly Subjects presents a thoughtful mix of politics and culture, with frequent deep dives into civil rights, labor organizing, policing, and how culture intersects with public policy. Episodes often feature activists, journalists, and scholars who connect current events to broader social movements, while also spotlighting personal narratives and practical organizing strategies. Expect rigorous analysis, a clear left-leaning orientation toward social justice, and a balance of serious critique with accessible storytelling that invites both reflection and action. Notable strengths include high-quality production, candid conversations with a wide range of guests, and a consistent focus on solidarity, community organizing, and democratic parti... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Unruly Subjects?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Unruly Subjects:

1. On the Media
2. The Intercept Briefing
3. Democracy Now! Audio
4. The New Yorker Radio Hour
5. Pod Save America

How many episodes of Unruly Subjects are there?

Unruly Subjects launched 5 months ago and published 17 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Unruly Subjects?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Unruly Subjects?

Recent guests on Unruly Subjects include:

1. Ronald Young Jr.
2. Paul Osadebe
3. Chris Dols
4. Gilberto Porcidonio
5. Pedro Borges
6. Gillian Brockell
7. Mac Muir
8. Bill Fletcher Jr.

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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