The Progressivists Podcast

Meet Walter Masterson, the comedian, actor and activist with more than one million devoted social media followers. Walter’s style of comedy is a unique blend of Borat meets The Daily Show and he possesses the ability to ruffle conservative feathers like no other.

On this final episode of The Progressivists Podcast for 2021, Walter and host, Jo Lorenz, discuss the year that was, including the insurrection on Capitol Hill (Walter was there!), COVID-19, global politics, billionaire space travel and the culture wars.

Meet Mehcad Brooks. Mehcad is an award winning actor, as well as producer and writer, known in the entertainment industry for his raw talent and sharp mind. Earlier this year, Mehcad starred as Jackson ‘Jax’ Briggs, a cybernetically-enhanced super soldier and leader of Earthrealm in Warner Bros’ highly anticipated action adventure feature film ‘Mortal Kombat’.

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Mehcad grew up excelling at academics and sports, but always had a deep-rooted passion for the arts (in fact, he gave up a full scholarship to Yale in order to hone his craft). A natural-born storyteller, we are so excited to have Mehcad on The Progressivists Podcast where - amongst many things – we’re going to talk about racial and intersectional equity in the entertainment industry and how what we watch on the screen has the potential to bolster equality and empathy.

Today's guest is the very wonderful Aja Barber, who is a writer, stylist and consultant whose work deals with the intersections of sustainability and the fashion landscape. Aja's work builds heavily upon areas such as privilege, wealth inequality, racism, feminism and colonialism — and importantly how to fix the fashion industry with all these things in mind.

Aja has just authored her first book, 'Consumed', which is a brilliant read about our need for collective change. In the book, Aja illustrates the endemic injustices in our consumer industries and helps us confront the uncomfortable truth behind why we consume the way we do.

This episode of The Progressivists Podcast is actually a two-parter – as both host and guest just couldn't stop talking. So welcome to part 1!

Jen Winston is a writer, creative director and bisexual, whose work bridges the intersection of politics, sex and technology — and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, on CNN, and more.

Jen is passionate about unlearning and creating work that helps others do the same. With her new book, GREEDY: Notes from a Bisexual Who Wants Too Much (October 5, 2021) Jen takes us inside her journey of self-discovery in a provocative and laugh-out-loud way, attempting to make sense of herself, her bisexuality and, well, everything!

On this episode of The Progressivists Podcast, Jen discusses bisexuality, intersectionality and the intersection of the two.

Saira Rao is a lawyer-by-training; a former congressional candidate; co-founder of Race2Dinner, the dinner party experience aimed at enabling white women to confront their own racism; co-founder of Haven, the collective of BIPOC women rooted towards abolition, liberation and healing through art and storytelling; and also co-author of the upcoming book White Women: Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How to Do Better (released Fall 2022).

On this episode of The Progressivists Podcast, Saira discusses the habits of white women that affect BIPOC women, and importantly, how we can move forward.

Our first guest is Leah Thomas, author of the upcoming book The Intersectional Environmentalist - and founder of the ‘Intersectional Environmentalist’ platform and the eco-lifestyle blog, ‘Green Girl Leah’.

Join Leah and our podcast host, Jo Lorenz, as they discuss how intersectional environmentalism acknowledges the ways in which all of our injustices are interconnected, and how we can all recognize and actively combat environmental racism.

Regina (Ginny) Jones is a proud Gomaroi woman from Brisbane, Australia, currently living in the USA. She is an artist, designer and activist, working to preserve and uplift Aboriginal culture via her unique and purposeful fashion label, Ginny’s Girl Gang.

On this episode Ginny and host, Jo Lorenz, talk about the importance of Indigenous culture and our need for universal institutional reform.

Fanny Moizant is President and Co-Founder of Vestiaire Collective, the leading global platform for desirable pre-owned fashion - and is an undisputed pioneer of circularity. On this episode Fanny and host talk about the circular economy, excessive linear consumerism and, of course, climate change.

Frederick Joseph is an award-winning marketing professional, media representation advocate, and author of the New York Times best-seller The Black Friend.

On this episode Frederick and host talk about the Black Lives Matter movement, social justice and the perilous realities of cultures of entitlement.

Tori is an intersectional climate activist and communicator who recently sailed across the Atlantic Ocean as part of an environmental think-tank called Sail To The COP, where her journey was sponsored by the one-and-only, Stella McCartney.

Yet as well as her climate activism, Tori is also a mental health advocate and is exploring the intersection between activism and mental wellbeing. On this episode we explore mental wellbeing in the Anthropocene and how we can ensure all our activism is always inclusive and diverse.