Listen Now

Over the past year, near-total abortion bans have been instituted across America, including in Texas and Oklahoma. In December 2021, Beyond the Scenes host Roy Wood Jr. sat down with Texas-based OB/GYN and abortion provider, Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, to discuss Texas’s new policies. In light of the Supreme Court leak that threatens Roe v. Wade, Dr. Moayedi rejoins Roy and executive director and founder of We Testify, Renee Bracey Sherman, to discuss where abortion rights are headed, how Texans and Oklahomans are already living without the protections of Roe v. Wade, and why voting isn’t the most effective solution for supporting abortion rights.   To support Renee Bracey Sherman’s work with We Testify, consider donating: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/wetestify   More on abortion bans from Beyond the Scenes: https://www.youtube.com/K-wa9XMB9DY See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been a number of pieces of anti-trans legislation introduced around the country, with more than 300 bills proposed this year. In this episode, host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with ACLU Deputy Director for Transgender Justice, Chase Strangio, and author of “The Present Age” newsletter, Parker Molloy, to discuss the motivation behind these bills and how the attacks from conservatives have evolved from bathroom bans to women’s sports and now to gender-affirming care. Parker and Chase also discuss their own experiences, challenges, and joys of being trans in America.    Watch the original segment:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynfnfhBJ51c&t=633s See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In light of recent mass shootings in America, we revisit a piece we did on how Switzerland is able to have so many guns per capita, but no mass shootings. Host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with correspondent Michael Kosta, field producer Stacey Angeles, and their producer from Switzerland, Pierre-Adrian Irlé to discuss how the country’s approach to military service and common sense laws have created a safe gun culture.     Watch the original segments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjlT4BME2aE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgYJ5V2HYy4 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all have preferences when choosing who to date, but when do they cross the line into sexual racism? Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng, UMass Amherst sociology professor and associate dean, Jennifer Lundquist, and “Dates & Mates” podcast host, Damona Hoffman, join Roy Wood Jr. to discuss how dating apps amplify users’ racial biases and how this impacts those looking for love online.   Watch the original segment: https://on.cc.com/3MTECIX   Tune in to Dates & Mates Podcast with Damona Hoffman: DatesandMates.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Working moms have left the workforce in disproportionate numbers over the last two years as reliable, affordable child care has gotten harder to find. In this episode, host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with correspondent Desi Lydic, segment director Sarah Hamblin, and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to discuss how child care impacts the economy, the challenges of being a working mother, and how parenting prepared Sen. Murray to work in Congress.    Watch the original segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXJpJl1H8wE- See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While America has made progress in removing confederate statues from public squares, many remain standing. Director of the PBS documentary The Neutral Ground, CJ Hunt, and founder of Project Say Something, Camille Goldston Bennett, join Roy Wood Jr. to discuss why these monuments were erected in the first place, how many are left, what’s being done on the ground to remove them, and where they should end up once they’re removed.  Watch the original segment: https://youtu.be/rUZL4z5Drcw   Donate to Project Say Something: https://projectsaysomething.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s divorce started as a celebrity scandal, but has evolved into a larger discussion surrounding the harassment many women face when trying to leave a relationship. In this episode, host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with Daily Show writer Christiana Mbakwe-Medina and journalist Rachel Louise Snyder to discuss how The Daily Show has covered this topic, the many types of violence women endure on a daily basis, and the lengths women go to in order to feel safe.    For further resources visit The National Domestic Violence Hotline:  https://www.thehotline.org    Watch the original segments:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDclMXpjvj8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEZdsisM8ZI See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black folks seeking mental health treatment face a litany of obstacles: a scarcity of Black therapists, stigma within the Black community and discrimination. In this episode, Roy is joined by Daily Show writers X Mayo and Ashton Womack for a wide-ranging and deeply personal discussion about mental health, the Black church, the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 and more.    Further mental health resources: https://www.NationalCouncil.org https://www.TherapyForBlackGirls.com https://www.AskDrJess.com   Couples Therapy on Showtime: https://www.sho.com/couples-therapy   Watch the original segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5qZv... Originally aired:  July 20, 2021 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The well-intentioned “strong Black woman” stereotype limits Black women to only their strength, which can lead to harmful experiences in the workplace and in medical care situations. Daily Show producer Chelsea Williamson and creator and showrunner of Amazon’s "Harlem," Tracy Oliver, join Roy Wood Jr. to dissect and analyze what being a “strong Black woman” means and how Black men and onscreen representation can help provide safer spaces for Black women. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2015 killing of Cecil the Lion ignited a global conversation around trophy hunting, the killing of wild animals for sport. Daily Show writer Joseph Opio and author of the book, Undercover Trophy Hunter, Eduardo Gonçalves, join Roy Wood Jr. to discuss the history and psychology of a practice widely seen as cruel and inhumane. Watch the original segment: https://youtu.be/5V0Nnfm8j5E See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can making pizza help rehabilitate people in jail? How is America dealing with its mass incarceration crisis? Is deep dish pizza even real pizza? In this episode, Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng, segment director Sebastian DiNatale, and Chef Bruno Abate join host Roy Wood Jr. to discuss Recipe for Change, a pizza-making program for people in Chicago’s Cook County Jail. Watch the original segment: https://youtu.be/PXOCEcIWiec Originally aired: December 14, 2021 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden's Infrastructure bill aims to address racism in America's highway design. In this episode, host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with Daily Show writer Randall Otis and ACLU President Deborah Archer to discuss how the initial construction of U.S. highways displaced and destroyed thriving Black communities, the legacy of racist transportation policies, and how to repair and rebuild highways without inflicting additional harm on Black communities.  Watch the original segment: https://youtu.be/kvDjgFpROVM Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From white women appropriating traditional Black hairstyles to society telling Black men to keep their hair short and neat, natural Black hair is a source of unsolicited opinion and controversy. Daily Show Correspondent Dulcé Sloan, Writer Josh Johnson and Deep Dive Producer Chelsea Williamson join Roy Wood Jr. to discuss the history and politics around how we treat Black hair in America using anecdotes from their own natural hair journeys. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this live edition of Beyond the Scenes from South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, Roy Wood Jr. sits down with moderator of Washington Week on PBS, Yamiche Alcindor, CBS News Correspondent Vladimir Duthiers, and MSNBC host Symone D. Sanders for a poignant discussion about what it’s like to be a Black journalist and commentator in America. They each share personal experiences with racism on the job, talk about whether there’s been a shift in newsrooms to address the lack of representation, and exchange essential self-care tips for the job. Watch The Original Segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xBNPdF1kZ4 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this week, Roy Wood Jr. sat down with WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu to discuss how college athletes are cashing in on the NCAA’s new Name Image and Likeness rules. In this bonus episode, former college and professional tennis player, and Daily Show correspondent Michael Kosta breaks down his experiences and how he thinks players could benefit from the NCAA’s profits.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last summer, the NCAA introduced Name Image and Likeness deals that allow college athletes to accept payment from sponsors and brands -- including anything from endorsement deals to TikTok sponsorships. In this episode, WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu sits down with Roy Wood Jr. to discuss what this means for college athletes, the future of compensating players, and how she is involved with navigating deals for students at her alma mater, University of Oregon. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pink tax is a form of gender discrimination that can cost women  an average of $1,400 more a year. In this episode, host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with correspondent Desi Lydic, segment director Stacey Angeles, and Congresswoman Jackie Speier to discuss everyday examples of goods and services that cost women more, the economic impact of the pink tax, and the challenges of being a female consumer. Watch the original segment: https://youtu.be/As2p2vsdrfk Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America’s First Ladies have historically been expected to champion social causes, be style icons, and serve as the nation’s matriarch. In this episode, host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with CNN Contributor Kate Andersen Brower, and Daily Show Senior Producer Jeff Gussow to discuss how the role of First Lady has evolved, how they have impacted policy, navigated gender expectations, and shaped history. Watch the original segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bywhjXOGfEk Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Correspondent Ronny Chieng talks to host Roy Wood Jr. about his viral response to a 2016 Fox News segment that was filled with negative Asian stereotypes, and the dramatic rise in anti-Asian violence in the years since. They’re joined by Norman Chen, CEO and co-founder of Asian-American advocacy group LAAUNCH.   Watch the original segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX8jZTN0CdU More on LAAUNCH: Website: https://www.laaunch.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/go_laaunch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/go_laaunch/ Originally aired: August 10, 2021 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the movie genre known as Black horror and how has the Black experience been portrayed over time in these movies? Daily Show writer Ashton Womack, filmmaker and executive producer of Shudder’s Horror Noire documentary Tananarive Due, author and screenwriter Steven Barnes, and author and educator Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman join Roy Wood Jr. to  discuss the history and evolution of Black representation in film, specifically in the genre of Black horror. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.