ESL For Equality Podcast

ESL for Equality

ESL for Equality is a podcast exploring the powerful intersection of language, identity, and justice. Created for educators, advocates, and multilingual communities, the show delves into how English language learning and access shape, and are shaped by, immigration policy, civil rights, and equity movements in the U.S. and beyond. Each season brings timely stories and expert voices that unpack how language policy affects real people: from asylum seekers navigating legal systems to students confronting discrimination in schools. Through interviews, storytelling, and critical analysis, ESL for Equality aims to amplify the experiences of those on the front lines of language justice and to spark conversations about how we can build more inclusive, multilingual futures.

  1. Season 2, Episode 11: Happy World Refugee Day!

    06/16/2025

    Season 2, Episode 11: Happy World Refugee Day!

    In honor of World Refugee Day 2025, Hannah explores the day’s history, this year’s theme Solidarity with Refugees, and why it matters now more than ever. She highlights trailblazers like Luma Mufleh and Omar Bah, outlines ways to celebrate meaningfully, and urges listeners to turn awareness into action through advocacy and support. Host: Hannah Joos Original Opening/Closing Music: Michael Caskey aka Bunny Patootie Resources: Luma Mufleh Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/luma_mufleh_don_t_feel_sorry_for_refugees_believe_in_them?language=en UNHCR We Were Here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbpi6ZahtOH7c6nDA9YG3QcyRGbZ4xDFn Emi Mahmoud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av77E3le9ho Flee Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgj7DUEtfg0 We Dare to Dream Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KvH55DDNzQ Peace by Chocolate Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YN5ZXrCkik Salam Neighbor Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6SxPSZVD9o

    14 min
  2. Season 2, Episode 10: A New Travel Ban and the Criminalization of Protest

    06/08/2025

    Season 2, Episode 10: A New Travel Ban and the Criminalization of Protest

    In this episode of ESL for Equality, Hannah examines the reinstatement of the U.S. travel ban under the Trump administration. She unpacks the policy’s legal and historical context, its far-reaching human impact, and why the latest version has been crafted to withstand judicial scrutiny. Hannah also turns to what’s unfolding on the ground in Los Angeles, where the federal deployment of National Guard troops to support immigration raids has sparked mass protests, arrests, and a national outcry. Call to Action: Engage with local advocacy efforts to support those impacted by the travel ban. Connect with community organizations, participate in events, and offer support to individuals affected. Your involvement can help uphold the values of inclusion and justice. Host: Hannah Joos Original Music: Michael Caskey aka Bunny Patootie, Semo, ABE

    12 min
  3. Season 2, Episode 9: Human Rights on the Chopping Block

    05/27/2025

    Season 2, Episode 9: Human Rights on the Chopping Block

    In this episode of ESL for Equality, Hannah unpacks Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s testimony before Congress and the Trump administration’s shocking FY26 budget proposal. From massive cuts to refugee support and global health programs to the complete dismantling of human rights offices, we examine how this budget isn’t just lean, it’s lethal. Call to Action: Support frontline global health and refugee organizations like Partners In Health, Doctors Without Borders, CARE, International Rescue Committee, Women for Women International who are doing the work the U.S. government is walking away from.

    9 min
  4. Season 2, Episode 8: A Flight into Chaos: Deportations and the Collapse of Due Process

    05/23/2025

    Season 2, Episode 8: A Flight into Chaos: Deportations and the Collapse of Due Process

    In this episode of ESL for Equality, host Hannah unpacks a shocking and illegal deportation carried out by the Trump administration, sending eight men, most of whom were not South Sudanese, to one of the most dangerous and unstable countries in the world. We explore what happened, how it violated a federal court order, and why deporting people to a country engulfed in famine, flooding, and conflict sets a terrifying precedent for U.S. immigration policy. Call to Action: Support legal defense. Organizations like the National Immigrant Justice Center and Human Rights First are fighting to protect due process for immigrants facing deportation. If you can, donate or share their work because legal aid saves lives. Host: Hannah Joos Original Music: Michael Caskey aka Bunny Patootie

    10 min
  5. Season 2, Episode 7: Revoked TPS for Afghans and the Cost of American Abandonment

    05/15/2025

    Season 2, Episode 7: Revoked TPS for Afghans and the Cost of American Abandonment

    In this episode of ESL for Equality, we dig into the Trump administration’s decision to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals, just three years after the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan and left many of its allies behind. We explore the history of TPS, the chaotic 2021 exit, and how this policy shift puts thousands of Afghans at risk of deportation to a country still ruled by the Taliban. We contrast this with the recent welcoming of white South African “refugees” and ask: Who gets protection in America and why? Call to Action: - Call your members of Congress. Demand they support permanent protections for Afghans — including pathways to citizenship for TPS holders and SIV applicants. - Support legal aid organizations like the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and the Afghan-American Community Organization (AACO), who are fighting for TPS holders and helping with asylum claims. - Write an op-ed. Talk to your local paper. Use your voice. Policy changes when people make noise. - Donate to mutual aid funds that support Afghan families facing eviction, job loss, or legal uncertainty. - Talk about this. Share this episode. Talk to your friends, your family. Make sure people understand this isn’t just a political decision — it’s a moral crisis. This is about justice and it’s not too late to act. Host: Hannah Joos Original Music: Michael Caskey aka Bunny Patootie

    9 min
  6. Season 2, Episode 6: A Pause for Some, A Pathway for Others

    05/10/2025

    Season 2, Episode 6: A Pause for Some, A Pathway for Others

    In this urgent episode, host Hannah Joos returns to unpack one of the most jarring developments in U.S. refugee policy: the expedited resettlement of white South African Afrikaners under a new executive order from the Trump administration. While the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program remains largely suspended for most global populations, this exception, made for a historically privileged group with deep ties to South Africa’s apartheid regime, has ignited global criticism. We dive into the legacy of apartheid, the mechanics of refugee vetting, and the political messaging embedded in this decision. With policy unraveling for the many and being selectively extended to the few, this episode asks listeners to look directly at how racism continues to shape immigration law. Call to Action: This time, we won’t pretend there’s a clear next step. There’s no hotline, no form letter. But we can stay informed. We can name what this is. And we can refuse to normalize it. Because when refugee policy becomes a tool of white grievance, we are all implicated. See resources below. Host: Hannah Joos Original Music: Michael Caskey aka Bunny Patootie NPR: "Trump ignites political firestorm in South Africa over Afrikaner asylum status offer": https://www.npr.org/2025/05/09/nx-s1-5391815/first-afrikaners-granted-refugee-status-due-to-arrive-in-u-s Reuters: "First white South Africans to arrive under US refugee plan as soon as next week": https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-officials-seek-bring-first-white-south-african-refugees-us-next-week-nyt-2025-05-09/ Associated Press: "US to accept white South African refugees while other programs remain paused": https://apnews.com/article/us-south-africa-refugees-a8ef81e11667041f6d87c33f613774a9

    19 min
  7. Season 2, Episode 5: Language as a Weapon

    05/02/2025

    Season 2, Episode 5: Language as a Weapon

    In this episode of ESL for Equality, Hannah explores how language policy is being weaponized in real time. With the recent repeal of Executive Order 13166 and the signing of EO 14224, federally funded institutions are no longer required to offer translation or interpretation services unless deemed “essential.” What does that mean for multilingual families, students with disabilities, immigrants, and Limited English Proficient (LEP) communities? It means the loss of access - not just to language, but to healthcare, education, justice, and public services. This episode traces the history of language access in the U.S., exposes the dangerous myths behind English-only movements, and shows how this moment is part of a long legacy of linguistic exclusion. Hannah also highlights the vital role of interpreters and educators working at the frontlines of language justice. Whether you’re an educator, an advocate, a parent, or a student, this episode will help you understand the stakes and your power to respond. 🎯 Call to Action: Support your local interpreters and community translators. These frontline language workers are essential to equity and survival. ✅ Find and follow/ reach out to a local interpreter collective, bilingual legal aid clinic, or community health center. ✅ Share their work with your networks. ✅ Invite an interpreter to speak in your classroom, staff training, or community meeting. ✅ Donate if you can. 🗣️ Language access isn’t optional, it’s a right. Let’s defend it, together.

    13 min

  8. 05/02/2025

    Season 2, Episode 4: When the Law Speaks a Different Language

    How do you assert your rights when the system doesn’t speak your language? In this episode, host Hannah Joos explores the life-saving power of Know Your Rights (KYR) resources - educational tools that help immigrants, refugees, and English learners understand and assert their legal protections in the United States. From the history of KYR campaigns to their critical role today in detention centers, housing courts, and hospitals, this episode highlights how language access is not just about communication, it's about justice. We also dig into how ESL educators can integrate KYR into their teaching, using real-world flyers, roleplays, and legal vocabulary to equip students with both language and agency. Because when someone can read a deportation notice, assert their right to silence, or demand an interpreter in court, they’re not just surviving. They’re resisting. Host: Hannah Joos Original Music: Michael Caskey aka Bunny Patootie 📣 Call to Action This week, help spread the knowledge that protects. Print and post multilingual Know Your Rights resources in the spaces where people live, work, learn, and gather: classrooms, libraries, churches, community centers, laundromats, and break rooms. 🔗 Use the links below to access and download KYR materials in multiple languages: ACLU – Know Your Rights: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights NILC – Multilingual KYR Materials: https://www.nilc.org/resources/everyone-has-certain-basic-rights/ Immigrant Legal Resource Center – KYR Toolkit: https://www.ilrc.org/resources/community/know-your-rights-toolkit Legal literacy is community care. Share it widely. Someone’s safety might depend on it.

    18 min
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About

ESL for Equality is a podcast exploring the powerful intersection of language, identity, and justice. Created for educators, advocates, and multilingual communities, the show delves into how English language learning and access shape, and are shaped by, immigration policy, civil rights, and equity movements in the U.S. and beyond. Each season brings timely stories and expert voices that unpack how language policy affects real people: from asylum seekers navigating legal systems to students confronting discrimination in schools. Through interviews, storytelling, and critical analysis, ESL for Equality aims to amplify the experiences of those on the front lines of language justice and to spark conversations about how we can build more inclusive, multilingual futures.

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  • Creator
    ESL for Equality
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
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    ESL For Equality Podcast