Ayana Explains It All

In this episode of "Ayana Explains It All," Ayana Fakhir delves into the reasons behind the Democratic Party's loss in the 2024 election and explores potential strategies for rebuilding. Reflecting on the party's historical trajectory from the era of Franklin Roosevelt to the present, Ayana discusses the long-standing connection the Democratic Party had with working-class struggles and civil rights, and how it has drifted from this...

Lies, lies, and more lies. When you believe everything your uncle shares on WhatsApp it can have disastrous consequences. In this episode, Ayana dives into the omnipresence of misinformation and disinformation, using her experiences and readings from the book 'The Defectors' by Paola Ramos as a backdrop. She humorously critiques people's tendencies to believe unverified stories and conspiracy theories found on platforms...

In this candid and eye-opening episode (where she may cuss a lil) of 'Ayana Explains It All,' join Ayana Fakhir as she navigates through the labyrinth of the backlash against the federal government’s bureaucracy. From her firsthand experience as a federal employee to her personal musings on the current sociopolitical climate, Ayana dives deep into the challenges, misconceptions, and harsh realities faced by federal employees, along...

Ayana dives into the dumpster fire that is social media, waxing poetic about our life-long love-hate relationship with it. She shares how the TikTok ban has her scrambling to find dopamine on another app, and guess what? She's landed on China's version of Instagram, and it's a joy fest! Ayana hilariously contrasts America's doom-scrolling addicts with China's peppy social media users who make even their cats loo...

In this episode of 'Ayana Explains It All,' host Ayana Fakhir delves into the metaphor of empathy as democracy's oxygen and critiques the current state of the United States post-2024 election. Ayana talks about the broader implications of Vice President Kamala Harris's election loss, touching on issues like political polarization, economic instability, and the importance of public service. She highlights the setbacks and misguided...

It's nearing the time to pack away our political signs, wagging fingers, and presidential rally sneakers, and move on to turkey, fixings, and pie. In this episode, Ayana tackles those numb above the neck on the functions of government, and covers the middle-class squeeze, and the myth of scarce resources. She exposes power dynamics and criticizes blind political loyalty while dissecting the 'bandwidth tax' of poverty-induced stress...

Focusing on the recent execution death of Marcellus Williams in Missouri, despite strong evidence suggesting his innocence, Ayana delves into the systemic issues that lead to wrongful convictions, including mistaken eyewitness identification, false confessions, prosecutorial misconduct, and ineffective defense. She emphasizes the severe consequences of such errors, not only for the wrongfully convicted individuals but also for soci...

Ayana discusses comedian Lil Duval's viral tweet questioning the lack of political pandering to black men in the presidential election, and the broader issue of Black male voter apathy. Highlighting the varied responses to Lil Duval's query, she underscores the importance of civic engagement, the systemic challenges faced by Black Men (such as incarceration and disenfranchisement), and the misalignment of priorities like child supp...

An "in your face" discussion of the subtle influences that shape our political landscapes and cloud our decision-making as voters. Turn your thinking cap from back to front and XYB--examine your biases.

Sources used in the making of this episode:

1. https://niemanreports.org/articles/how-implicit-bias-works-in-journalism/#:~:text=Journalism%20has%20not%20been%20immune,they%20treat%20every%20group%20fairly.
2. https...

It's that time again! Time to dissect another of the US Supreme Court's strict constitutionalist rants, aka a court opinion, Grant's Pass, Oregon v Johnson, a decision that allows municipalities to criminalize homelessness. Or does it? What are the implications for the US homeless population? What are the solutions? And what shoes will your mayor wear to kick people off the streets? As the song goes, "this is our...

In this riveting episode, we delve into the resurgence of racial injustices in the U.S. through legal channels, opinions and public policy, critiquing the belief in a post-racial society and emphasizing White Supremacy's lingering influence. We highlight significant legal and historical contexts, and also address recent lawsuits targeting programs designed to support racial minorities, arguing against the so-called colorblind p...

ADHD is like holding a galaxy in your mind where every star is a thought fighting for attention. 🌌 In this episode, I take you on my personal journey with ADHD and present stories from those navigating this same universe--my friends Victoria Rashid and Jerritt Terrill. Join us in this conversation as we embrace the whirlwind inside and explore "Living Vividly: The ADHD Experience Through Voices."

Sources used in th...

The big man on campus is a group of good trouble making students who shall not be moved. The kids are alright.

Sources:

1. "Freedom is a Constant Struggle" by Angela Y. Davis.
2. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2024/04/15/punishments-rise-student-protests-escalate
3. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/diversity/2024/03/08/report-most-jewish-muslim-students-fearful-amid-conflict
4. ...