Unruly Subjects

Rowhome Productions
  • 5.0 (18)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Unruly Subjects is a weekly show about politics and culture hosted by Chenjerai Kumanyika, media professor and Peabody Award-winning audio journalist. Each week, Chenjerai makes sense of the week’s struggles with some of his favorite people - thinkers, journalists, friends, and folks who can help us laugh through the pain. The show is created in partnership with Rowhome Productions. Support Unruly Subjects at Patreon.com/UnrulySubjects 

  1. 3D AGO

    Being Dope, Staying Unruly: Why We Need Hip-Hop to Understand Power, to Build Power and to Fight the Power

    Text the Unruly Hotline Here Before he was a scholar, journalist, and podcast host, Chenjerai was a rapper. And this week’s show is all about how hip-hop is connected to our larger political struggles.  📝 Got a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself?  Take the Unruly Subjects Audience Survey. 🙏 We make Unruly Subjects 100% independently! Support the show on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/UnrulySubjects  First, Chenjerai interviews his friend, the scholar, rapper, and UVA professor A.D. Carson. He's the author of Being Dope: Hip Hop and Theory through Mixtape Memoir. In their conversation, they talk about what it means to take rap seriously on its own terms and why it's worthy of scholarly analysis, and how A.D’s work applies to the Afroman case.  Second, Chenjerai talks with RodStarz, ½ of  the political rap duo Rebel Diaz. They discuss the group's history, their political education, the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective, and how they understood hip hop not just as music, but as actual infrastructure.  Also, P-Dawg calls in, News Fiend, & more…  Follow Chenjerai on Instagram @chenjerai and Bluesky @chenjerai.bsky.social and follow Unruly Subjects @unrulysubjectspod. Get in touch unrulysubjects@gmail.com. Unruly Subjects is also now on YouTube! Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@UnrulySubjects Additional Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Grizzly Beatz Unruly Subjects is created in partnership with Rowhome Productions Further reading & sources from this episode Buy A.D’s book:  Being Dope: Hip Hop and Theory through Mixtape Memoir https://academic.oup.com/book/61518?login=false A.D. Carson’s hot off the presses article on the use of James Broadnax lyris to sentence him to death. https://theconversation.com/after-the-execution-of-james-g-broadnax-in-texas-questions-persist-over-use-of-rap-lyrics-as-evidence-280901 Some of A.D. Carson’s other writing  https://aydeethegreat.com/printed-words/ Rebel Diaz “Chicago Teacher” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yN7cRZP58k Rebel Diaz on a legacy of activism through music http://bronxink.org/2011/10/12/17578-rebel-diaz-passing-on-a-legacy-of-activism-through-music/ Support the show

    1h 34m

  2. APR 30

    Getting Unruly on May Day: Education Workers, Labor Power, and the Fight Ahead

    Text the Unruly Hotline Here **Got a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself?** Take the Unruly Subjects Audience Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2yAl6HSeeImYB94zgMHftklj_hVArDjRY4Q3fJQ57UgA_hA/viewform Here at Unruly Subjects you know we’re celebrating May Day ✊🏻✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 So this week, we’re featuring two interviews that help us think through this critical question: What does it take to build the kind of power that can actually meet this political moment? 🙏 We make Unruly Subjects 100% independently! Support the show on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/UnrulySubjects  In This Episode: First, Chenjerai interviews three major labor leaders: Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and a national vice president of American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Jessica Tang, president of AFT Massachusetts and former president of the Boston Teachers Union; and Carl Rosen, who recently retired as general president of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE). Todd, Jessica, and Carl talk about May Day as more than symbolism. They talk about it as part of building the infrastructure we may need later: labor, civil society, public institutions, community organizations, immigrant rights groups, education workers, and ordinary people finding ways to move together before a crisis hits. Second, Our Unruly homie - the scholar and poet Demetrius Noble - talks with Carla Harris, a public school teacher and organizer in Guilford County, North Carolina. They discuss the everyday realities of working in public education and also about organizing in practical terms: how you talk to a coworker who is tired, scared, skeptical, or has never been asked to act before. Follow Chenjerai on Instagram @chenjerai and follow Unruly Subjects @unrulysubjectspod. Unruly Subjects is also now on YouTube! Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@UnrulySubjects Additional Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Grizzly Beatz Unruly Subjects is created in partnership with Rowhome Productions Further reading & sources from this episode: AAUP/AFT Platform: A Blueprint for Strengthening and Transforming Higher Education https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2026/Higher_Ed_Vision_and_Policy_Platform_326.pdf May Day Strong https://maydaystrong.org/ Kids Over Corporations https://kidsovercorporations.org/index.html https://www.ednc.org/4-23-2026-state-house-dems-call-for-budget-with-raises-for-educators-and-other-updates-from-the-start-of-short-session/#:~:text=Ben%20Humphries/EdNC-,Senator%20to%20file%20a%20 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Cancelling Classes https://www.instagram.com/p/DXhiOqzEWQ9/?igsh=ZDJ4MWR5YWo5OGx2 Support the show

    1h 30m

  3. APR 23

    When the President Declares Martial Law: What We Can Learn From South Korea’s Struggle to Defeat an Authoritarian Turn

    Text the Unruly Hotline Here This week, we look back at the martial law crisis that happened in South Korea in 2024, the Union-led opposition that organized swiftly, and the nationwide general strike that helped played a key role in defeating martial law and spurring mass mobilization. 🙏 We make Unruly Subjects 100% independently! Support the show on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/UnrulySubjects  Chenjerai interviews Mikyung Ryu, the International Director of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) about what happened on December 3rd, 2024, how labor reacted, what broader forces made the response possible, and what lessons people in the United States might learn from South Korea's fight to stop an authoritarian turn. Follow Chenjerai on Instagram @chenjerai and Bluesky @chenjerai.bsky.social and follow Unruly Subjects @unrulysubjectspod. Get in touch unrulysubjects@gmail.com. Additional Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Grizzly Beatz Unruly Subjects is created in partnership with Rowhome Productions Further reading & sources from this episode Wikipedia Primer on the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_South_Korean_martial_law_crisis Korean Confederation of Trade Unions https://nodong.org/english/ Support the show

    56 min

  4. APR 16

    Creating Conditions for Black Mothers to Thrive

    Text the Unruly Hotline Here It’s Black Maternal Health Week! So on this week’s show we’re taking a deep look at the conditions Black mothers face before and after giving birth.  🙏 We make Unruly Subjects 100% independently! Support the show on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/UnrulySubjects  We feature an esteemed guest to discuss the mental health dimensions of maternal health: Saadiqa Kumanyika, a psychotherapist who specializes in perinatal and postpartum maternal mental health. (Saadiqa is also the First Lady of Unruly Subjects).  We also share an interview with Malajah Rigsby, a new mother, and her doula Shantice Edwards. They give us an intimate view into what support and care looked like for them through their birthing journey.  Follow Chenjerai on Instagram @chenjerai and Bluesky @chenjerai.bsky.social and follow Unruly Subjects @unrulysubjectspod. Get in touch unrulysubjects@gmail.com. Additional Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Grizzly Beatz Unruly Subjects is created in partnership with Rowhome Productions Further reading & sources from this episode Saadiqa Kumanyika Therapy https://www.saadiqakumanyikatherapy.com/ Should I Have a Baby? 10 Questions to Ask Before You Get Pregnant https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/should-i-have-a-baby-10-questions-to-answer-before-you-get-pregnant-jennifer-jessica/1113650744 Black Women Birthing Justice  https://www.blackwomenbirthingjustice.com/ Black Mama’s Justice Alliance  https://blackmamasmatter.org/ Support SisterWeb - the community of Birth Workers and Educators that Shantice works with! https://www.sisterweb.org/ Resources from Black Women’s Health Imperative  https://maternalhealth.bwhi.org/ Support the show

    1h 20m

  5. APR 9

    Steph Curry, Sportswashing, and Why NBA players are investing in Israeli Security Tech?

    Text the Unruly Hotline Here This week on Unruly Subjects, Chenjerai finally gets into sports. Kind of. Recently, it came to his attention that Steph Curry - one of the greatest NBA players of all time - has been investing in Israeli technology that’s linked to military actions that country is taking in Palestine,Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, and beyond. What’s up with that? Chenjerai unpacks this situation with Dave Zirin, Sports Editor at The Nation Magazine, and Demetrius Noble, Professor of African American Diaspora Studies at UNC Greensboro. They discuss the “sports-washing” being choreographed by nations and companies perpetuating war and genocides, the real world impacts of these investments, and how seemingly good guys like Steph Curry get tied up in the mess.  Also, we bring back singer-songwriter CoCo Watson and D Noble to dissect a ridiculous video that’s recently been going viral.  And new music from Coco! https://soundcloud.com/hellocollette/unsubscribe2026 We make Unruly Subjects 100% independently - support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnrulySubjects  Follow Chenjerai on Instagram @chenjerai and Bluesky @chenjerai.bsky.social and follow Unruly Subjects @unrulysubjectspod. Get in touch unrulysubjects@gmail.com. Additional Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Grizzly Beatz Unruly Subjects is created in partnership with Rowhome Productions Further reading & sources from this episode Why is Steph Curry Investing in Israeli Security Tech?, The Nation  https://www.thenation.com/article/society/steph-curry-investments-israel-tech-sector/ Here is a video on Sports Washing From Dave Zirin - https://www.pbs.org/wnet/amanpour-and-company/video/sportswashing-countries-use-sports-to-distract-from-crimes/ Video of the Singing Server https://www.instagram.com/reels/DTYeWTekj4S/ Support the show

    1h 25m

  6. APR 2

    Jack Harlow’s "Blacker" Comments: Unpacking the Fallout with D Noble

    Text the Unruly Hotline Here This week on Unruly Subjects, Chenjerai is joined by his close friend Professor D Noble to unpack the viral fallout surrounding white rapper Jack Harlow. Following Harlow’s move into Neo Soul with his new album Monica, Chenjerai and Professor Noble dive into the controversy sparked by Harlow’s recent interview on the New York Times’ Popcast, where he claimed he has "gotten Blacker." Go beyond the individual critiques of Harlow and go deeper to analyze how the "post-Not Like Us" landscape has changed the rules for artists, and who actually controls the means of Black cultural production. In other words who really controls access to the "Cookout?” And, of course, it wouldn't be Unruly Subjects without some levity—Chenjerai and D Noble spend some time riffing on the hilarious and biting nicknames that have popped up as the internet trolls Harlow, including Jan 6 Mafia, A Clan Called Quest, and Musiq Rothschild. We make Unruly Subjects 100% independently - support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnrulySubjects Follow Chenjerai on Instagram @chenjerai and Bluesky @chenjerai.bsky.social and follow Unruly Subjects @unrulysubjectspod. Get in touch unrulysubjects@gmail.com. Unruly Subjects is created in partnership with Rowhome Productions Support the show

    23 min

  7. MAR 26

    How to Kill a Data Center

    Text the Unruly Hotline Here This episode is all about the fight against data centers. Specifically, we’re sharing the story of how the residents of Monterey Park, California waged a successful campaign against the construction of a data center in their town. Chenjerai interviews Hrag Balian and Steven Kung, co-founders of No Data Centers in Monterey Park and Claire Wang, an independent journalist who has been covering the anti-data center movement for The Guardian and other outlets.  We make Unruly Subjects 100% independently - support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnrulySubjects  Go there now to hear Chenjerai and his friend D Noble dissect what's going on with the "rapper" Jack Harlow.  Follow Chenjerai on Instagram @chenjerai and Bluesky @chenjerai.bsky.social and follow Unruly Subjects @unrulysubjectspod. Get in touch unrulysubjects@gmail.com. Listen to Proxy created & hosted by our friend Yowei Shaw. Additional Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Grizzly Beatz Unruly Subjects is created in partnership with Rowhome Productions Further reading & sources from this episode: Rage against the machine: a California community rallied against a datacenter – and won, The Guardian  After a White Town Rejected a Data Center, Developers Targeted a Black Area, Capital B News Trump releases AI policy for Congress to pre-empt state rules, Reuters Trump’s AI Order Is More Bark than Bite While the executive order has created uncertainty for the many states that have passed artificial intelligence policies to protect their residents, its impact falls short of its menacing rhetoric. Data Center Watch   Support the show

    45 min

  8. MAR 19

    How to Replace Family Policing with Real Community Care

    Text the Unruly Hotline Here This week, Chenjerai drives down to Philly to break bread with his friend - community activist and advocate April Lee. They visit Black Dragon, an innovative takeout spot in West Philly featuring Black Chinese cuisine from the mind of Chef Kurt Evans. Over noodles and spring rolls, April gives her analysis of the family policing system and talks about survival, structural violence, parenting, and about what real community care actually requires.  Also, Chenjerai calls up his friend Professor D Noble to find out what’s going on with the white rapper Jack Harlow and his comments about “getting Blacker” for his new album.  We make Unruly Subjects 100% independently - support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnrulySubjects Go there now to hear Chenjerai’s interview with New York assembly member Phara Souffant.  Follow Chenjerai on Instagram @chenjerai and Bluesky @chenjerai.bsky.social and follow Unruly Subjects @unrulysubjectspod. Get in touch unrulysubjects@gmail.com. Listen to Proxy created & hosted by our friend Yowei Shaw. Additional Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Grizzly Beatz Unruly Subjects is created in partnership with Rowhome Productions Further reading & sources from this episode Learn more about April Lee’s organization Philly Voice for Change https://phillyvoiceforchange.org/ Inside Black Dragon, the New Black American Chinese Takeout in West Philly https://philly.eater.com/2024/8/29/24231141/black-dragon-new-american-chinese-food-takeout-west-philly Support NYU ‘s Contract Faculty https://nyucontractfacultyunion.org/ Center for Family Representation  https://cfrny.org/ See Clips from Family Advocacy Day on C4FR’s Instagram page   https://www.instagram.com/p/DVOrs-EEcf_/ Support the show

    1h 17m
See All (23)

Trailer

5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Unruly Subjects is a weekly show about politics and culture hosted by Chenjerai Kumanyika, media professor and Peabody Award-winning audio journalist. Each week, Chenjerai makes sense of the week’s struggles with some of his favorite people - thinkers, journalists, friends, and folks who can help us laugh through the pain. The show is created in partnership with Rowhome Productions. Support Unruly Subjects at Patreon.com/UnrulySubjects 

Information

  • Creator
    Rowhome Productions
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Unruly Subjects
  • Show Website
    Unruly Subjects

You Might Also Like