Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello on Race, Roots, and Growing Up in Suburban Illinois.

In the premiere of Identified Season Two, Nabil Ayers speaks with musician and activist Tom Morello about his extraordinary upbringing and journey toward understanding his identity. Tom shares stories about his trailblazing mother—an adventurous white teacher from a small Illinois town who raised him alone as a Black child in a segregated suburb—and the complex legacy of his absent Kenyan father.

Their conversation traverses generational resilience, the racism Tom faced growing up in Libertyville, Illinois, and the emotional reckoning of meeting his father for the first time at age 30. Tom discusses finding belonging in unexpected places: among childhood friends, through music, and ultimately, with the Kenyan family he never knew he had. He also opens up about being a sperm donor in the '90s—and the surprising family connections that have surfaced in recent years.

This episode explores what it means to define family on your own terms, and how connection can transcend distance, time, and silence.

Host: Nabil Ayers

Guests: Tom Morello

Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji

Production Company and Network: Palm Tree Island

Music: Nouela and Patricia Brennan

Palm Tree Island Team: Sophia Moore & Asli Pehlivanli

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