Jay Ellis

Shows

Episodes

  1. The Hustler

    SEASON 5, EPISODE 6

    The Hustler

    This episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. Sign up on http://wondery.fm/applepodcasts and stay up-to-date on the latest new podcasts and more from Wondery. You’ve spent your whole life trying to be something you’re not. Now it’s time to stop pretending and speak your truth.  Hosted by Jay Ellis.

    37 min
  2. The Sisi Star Snatcher w/ Jay Ellis

    06/18/2024

    The Sisi Star Snatcher w/ Jay Ellis

    What's poppin' con-gregation? This week Jay Ellis (Insecure, Top Gun: Maverick) is here to talk about career criminal Gerald Blanchard, who started out stealing electronics and cars and graduated to bank robberies and jewel heists. Stay schemin'!   This episode was recorded on June 6, 2024.   Pre-Order Laci’s book “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press   Pre-Order Jay Ellis' book "Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)?: https://www.jayellis.com/dideveryonehaveanimaginaryfriend   Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod  Laci Mosley: @divalaci Jay Ellis: @jayrellis   Research by Kaelyn Brandt.   SOURCES: https://time.com/6294160/jewel-thief-hulu-true-story/ https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-jewel-thief-master-criminal-gerald-daniel-blanchard-1234786405/ https://www.wired.com/2010/03/ff-masterthief-blanchard/ “The Jewel Thief” - Hulu, dir. by Landon Van Soest Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scam Goddess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 11m
  3. They Shot Mike Mike

    SEASON 4, EPISODE 2

    They Shot Mike Mike

    August 9, 2014, changed the world. While the world mobilized, Lezley was navigating the deepest grief imaginable. What was it like to grieve in the public eye, while her son’s name became a rallying cry? How did she process the love, the anger, and the weight of a movement born from her loss?  This series was created in partnership with Campaign Zero, a nonprofit organization that develops data-driven policy solutions to end police violence in America. Learn more about the series and the work of Campaign Zero and The Michael O.D. Brown We Love Our Sons and Daughters Foundation at www.stillmybaby.org. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  4. The Untold Story: Jay Learns Why Police Unions Matter

    SEASON 1, EPISODE 1

    The Untold Story: Jay Learns Why Police Unions Matter

    Police unions in America are powerful organizations that protect vulnerable, hard working Americans… except when they don’t. Host Jay Ellis shares his personal motivations for untangling the twisted web of public safety in America. Then, Jay calls up Campaign Zero’s DeRay Mckesson and Samuel Sinyangwe to learn more about police unions’ stranglehold on justice and security in America. Learn more at nixthe6.org Thank you to the Cash App for sponsoring our show. Download the Cash App in the App Store or Google Play store today.   For additional resources, information, and a transcript of this episode, visit https://www.lemonadamedia.com/theuntoldstory  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 min
  5. Welcome to the World, Mike Mike

    SEASON 4, EPISODE 1

    Welcome to the World, Mike Mike

    Before Michael Brown became a national symbol, he was simply Mike Mike – Lezley’s firstborn son. Her early years of motherhood in St. Louis were full of ups and downs: joy, struggle, sacrifices, and dreams. She navigated pregnancy with the help of her community, survived her darkest moments of early motherhood, raised Mike as a single mother, and went on to find love and help Mike graduate – only to have everything ripped away.  This series was created in partnership with Campaign Zero, a nonprofit organization that develops data-driven policy solutions to end police violence in America. Learn more about the series and the work of Campaign Zero and The Michael O.D. Brown We Love Our Sons and Daughters Foundation at www.stillmybaby.org. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min
  6. Justice for Mike Mike

    SEASON 4, EPISODE 3

    Justice for Mike Mike

    In this powerful series finale, we track the evolution of Lezley’s grief to understand how she rebuilt her life piece by piece, navigating pain and hope while supporting her children. Fueled by love and resilience, Lezley’s journey leads to a fierce call to activism, driving her fight to reopen Mike’s case and demand the justice her family deserves. This final episode is a testament to healing, strength, and the unyielding power of a mother’s love. This series was created in partnership with Campaign Zero, a nonprofit organization that develops data-driven policy solutions to end police violence in America. Learn more about the series and the work of Campaign Zero and The Michael O.D. Brown We Love Our Sons and Daughters Foundation at www.stillmybaby.org. Audio from Mike Brown's 2024 birthday party is from the short film 'Happy Birthday MikeMike' which documents the event. The film was created by "1-800-Happy Birthday," an acclaimed experiential public art project that re-centers the conversation about police violence on the families and the community impact. Watch the full film here and learn more about 1-800 Happy Birthday. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    53 min
  7. Tupac Lives! (with Jay Ellis)

    11/24/2020

    Tupac Lives! (with Jay Ellis)

    Is Tupac still alive and still dressed like 1996 in Cuba? Langston and his guest Jay Ellis (Insecure on HBO) take a trip through all of Tupac's possible survival tactics and hiding places. Also, they learn about a promising new film producer by the name of Rick Boss. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min
  8. The Untold Story: Jay Finds Activists Who Bear Witness, Take Notes, and Make Change

    SEASON 1, EPISODE 2

    The Untold Story: Jay Finds Activists Who Bear Witness, Take Notes, and Make Change

    Fueled with new information about the power of police union contracts, host Jay Ellis is determined to figure out if real change is even possible. So he heads to Austin, Texas where community organizers Sukyi McMahon and Chas Moore changed the course of history...in a city council chamber.  Learn more at nixthe6.org   Thank you to the Cash App for sponsoring our show. Download the Cash App in the App Store or Google Play store today.   For additional resources, information, and a transcript of this episode, visit https://www.lemonadamedia.com/theuntoldstory  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min
  9. Introducing: Still My Baby (Official Trailer)

    SEASON 4 TRAILER

    Introducing: Still My Baby (Official Trailer)

    After the police shot and killed her firstborn son, Lezley McSpadden was left trying to hold things together while the world turned her family's private tragedy into a public battleground. This series reveals the untold story behind the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9, 2014. It’s a family portrait filled with loss, grief, and one mother’s enduring strength. Episode 1 is out May 27, wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 min
  10. The Untold Story: Breonna Taylor, No-Knock Raids and What We Can Do

    SEASON 1, EPISODE 5

    The Untold Story: Breonna Taylor, No-Knock Raids and What We Can Do

    Jay Ellis is back, exploring no-knock raids through the eyes of a family who, unlike Breonna Taylor, survived a terrifying evening of mistaken identity. Joined by experts, Jay explores a system that allows for warrants, raids, and civil-asset forfeiture. Netta and DeRay also join to share a blueprint for how Breonna’s life could have been spared. Learn more at endallnoknocks.org and nixthe6.org Thank you to the Cash App for sponsoring our show. Download the Cash App in the App Store or Google Play store today. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of this episode, visit https://www.lemonadamedia.com/theuntoldstory  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min
  11. The Untold Story: Jay Learns Who Really Pays for Prison Time

    SEASON 2, EPISODE 3

    The Untold Story: Jay Learns Who Really Pays for Prison Time

    In all 50 states, people caught up in the criminal justice system can becharged fines and fees for everything from the cost of police transport duringarrests, to the cost of room and board for their time behind bars. In this episode,Jay learns about the back story of how Pay to Stay policy was inspired by a killerclown. And he speaks to experts and journalists about how Pay to Stay policieslock people into a never-ending cycle of debt and involvement with the criminaljustice system. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min
  12. The Untold Story: Jay Learns that Forensic Science Isn't Very Scientific

    SEASON 2, EPISODE 2

    The Untold Story: Jay Learns that Forensic Science Isn't Very Scientific

    Host Jay Ellis is a fan of crime scene investigation TV shows - he’s even acted inthem! But in this episode, he learns that all the fancy forensic science the heroesof those shows use to solve crimes are not as good as they seem on TV. Jay speaksto experts about how forensic practices were developed and why they aren’t thereliable science they seem to be. He takes listeners on a field trip to the oneforensic lab in the country that’s getting it right and speaks with a woman whospent 13 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit because of bad forensicevidence used against her at trial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min
  13. Gabrielle Union & Jay Ellis

    03/04/2025

    Gabrielle Union & Jay Ellis

    Gabrielle Union & Jay Ellis join host Andy Cohen. Listen to lively debates on everything from the latest drama surrounding your favorite Bravolebrities to what celebrity is making headlines that week live from the WWHL clubhouse. Aired on 03/03/24 Binge all your favorite Bravo shows with the Bravo app: bravotv.com/getbravo See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    25 min
  14. The Untold Story: Jay Separates Fact from Pseudo-Science

    SEASON 1, EPISODE 3

    The Untold Story: Jay Separates Fact from Pseudo-Science

    From the 48-Hour Rule to the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bills of Rights, Jay talks with social scientists and legal experts about a criminal justice system that offers special protections to the police that are neither offered to civilians nor backed by hard science.  Learn more at nixthe6.org Thank you to the Cash App for sponsoring our show. Download the Cash App in the App Store or Google Play store today.   For additional resources, information, and a transcript of this episode, visit https://www.lemonadamedia.com/theuntoldstory  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min
  15. The Untold Story: Travon Unravels the Racist Roots of Excited Delirium

    SEASON 3, EPISODE 3

    The Untold Story: Travon Unravels the Racist Roots of Excited Delirium

    In this episode, host Travon Free uncovers the racist roots of the debunked medical term “excited delirium.” A study from Maryland in 2017 found that excited delirium was referenced in 11 percent of cases where someone died in police custody. And when these cases go to court, the concept of excited delirium can be used to argue that the police did nothing wrong. How did TASER, a couple of doctors and a handful of so-called experts take a meaningless psychiatric term and get it picked up by police departments, medical professionals and courtrooms all over the country? The Untold Story is a Lemonada Media original and is presented by Campaign Zero. This episode is produced by Nicolle Galteland with production help from Hannah Boomershine and Priscilla Alabi. Supervising producer is Kristen Lepore. Production intern is Jala Everett. Fact checking by Steve Crighton. Music, sound design and mixing by Hannis Brown. Engineering from Andrea Kristinsdottir. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer, Stephanie Wittels Wachs, DeRay Mckesson and Jay Ellis. You can find host Travon Free on Instagram and Twitter: @Travon.  Resources: Campaign Zero @campaignzero on Twitter and Instagram; Sign up to learn more: https://campaignzero.typeform.com/untold-story  Physicians for Human Rights: “Excited Delirium” and Deaths in Police Custody Richard Burns documentary: Exposed: Last Writes The American Medical Association: Policy on Excited Delirium BART Police Department: New policy on excited delirium Brookings: How “excited delirium” is misused to justify police brutality Dr. Obasogie in the Virginia Law Review: Excited Delirium and Police Use of Force Justice for Angelo Quinto California Attorney General, Rob Bonta See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    50 min
  16. The Untold Story: Providing Access to Housing After Incarceration

    SEASON 3, EPISODE 4 BONUS

    The Untold Story: Providing Access to Housing After Incarceration

    ​​Incarceration in the U.S. has profound flaws and consequences, but there are many people doing life-changing work to lessen its harm. In this special episode, Lemonada co-founder Stephanie Wittels Wachs sits down with two individuals whose organizations aim to increase access to housing for people who have been involved in the justice system. Stephanie speaks with Leslie Credle, founder and executive director of Justice 4 Housing in Boston, and Bernadette Butler, director of The Homecoming Project, an initiative out of Impact Justice in Northern California. The three discuss the realities faced by justice-involved individuals in today’s society, and how housing is both a human right and a crucial place to start when trying to improve lives. You can find Justice 4 Housing at justice4housing.org and @justice4housing on Instagram and YouTube. The Homecoming Project can be found through its parent organization at impactjustice.org and @impactjustice on Instagram and Facebook. Thank you to both of these organizations for making this episode possible. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min
  17. The Untold Story: Travon Explores the Humanitarian Crisis on Rikers Island

    SEASON 3, EPISODE 1

    The Untold Story: Travon Explores the Humanitarian Crisis on Rikers Island

    Rikers is a pretrial detention center and while people await their day in court, the conditions at the island are simply inhumane due to violence, overcrowding and inadequate medical care. Rikers is scheduled to close in 2027 but at the rate we're going, eighty more people might die on the island before the jail is shut down. How do we untangle this culture of perpetual violence at Rikers? And could an intervention called a federal receivership make conditions more humane for the people who live there? Host Travon Free uncovers why a receivership might be the only solution that could actually make things better for people right now.  The Untold Story is a Lemonada Media original and is presented by Campaign Zero. This episode is produced by Nicolle Galteland with production help from Hannah Boomershine and Priscilla Alabi. Supervising producer is Kristen Lepore. Production intern is Jala Everett. Fact checking by Steve Crighton. Music, sound design and mixing by Hannis Brown. Engineering from Andrea Kristinsdottir. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer, Stephanie Wittels Wachs, DeRay Mckesson and Jay Ellis. You can find host Travon Free on Instagram and Twitter: @Travon.  Resources: The Rikers in Crisis Campaign The New York Times: Tracking the Deaths in New York City’s Jail System in 2022 The Brennan Center: Receiverships for Jails and Prisons, Explained, The Way Forward for Rikers Island: Receivership The Fortune Society: At pivotal time for Rikers, experts say federal control is best path forward The Columbia Justice Lab: Pros and Cons of Receiverships as a Catalyst for Institutional Reform Vital City: The Fatal Cost of Waiting: What Must Happen Now in the City’s Jails WNYC/ Gothamist: Correction commissioner absent from oversight hearing as Rikers Island violence escalates Just leadership USA The Close Rikers Campaign The Legal Aid Society  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min
  18. The Untold Story: Jay’s Ready to Nix the 6

    SEASON 1, EPISODE 4

    The Untold Story: Jay’s Ready to Nix the 6

    It’s our solutions episode! Jay arrives at six things that have got to be eliminated in order to usher in substantial improvements to public safety and policing in America and he talks with Netta Elzie (activist, organizer and co-founder of Campaign Zero) about how she transformed her own grief, frustration and anger into steady irrefutable progress. Step one: dive in.    Learn more at nixthe6.org  Thank you to the Cash App for sponsoring our show. Download the Cash App in the App Store or Google Play store today.   For additional resources, information, and a transcript of this episode, visit https://www.lemonadamedia.com/theuntoldstory  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min
  19. Tour of the Houston Forensic Science Center - Extended cut

    BONUS

    Tour of the Houston Forensic Science Center - Extended cut

    In Episode 2, Jay took listeners on an audio tour of the Houston Forensic Science Center, to get a glimpse at a truly state-of-the-art, science-based forensic laboratory. This extended cut of the audio tour takes listeners deeper behind the scenes at the HFSC, including the Crime Scene Unit, Firearms and Latent Prints.

    31 min
  20. The Untold Story: Travon Asks If Microphones Really Stop Bullets

    SEASON 3, EPISODE 2

    The Untold Story: Travon Asks If Microphones Really Stop Bullets

    Can you hear the difference between a firework and a gunshot? ShotSpotter says it can. It's a private sector company that uses microphones to detect gunfire and alert police to the scene. The company says it’s a powerful tool to stop gun violence, but critics say it’s an excuse to overpolice some of our most vulnerable communities. How did this technology with questionable accuracy lead to million-dollar contracts with police departments across the country? Travon walks us through the case of Silvon Simmons, a man falsely accused of shooting a cop, all because of an eight-second audio file from ShotSpotter. Plus, conversations with a former 911 operator and a city councilmember in Durham, NC, about the fight against ShotSpotter.  The Untold Story is a Lemonada Media original and is presented by Campaign Zero. This episode is produced by Hannah Boomershine with production help from Nicole Galteland and Priscilla Alabi. Supervising producer is Kristen Lepore. Production intern is Jala Everett. Fact checking by Steve Crighton. Music, sound design and mixing by Hannis Brown. Engineering from Andrea Kristinsdottir. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer, Stephanie Wittels Wachs, DeRay Mckesson and Jay Ellis. You can find host Travon Free on Instagram and Twitter: @Travon.  Resources: CancelShotSpotter.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min
Jay Ellis on Apple