Public Defenseless

Hunter Parnell

Anyone paying attention can tell you that our criminal legal system is perpetuating cruelty and harm, but the complexity of the legal world overwhelms most people simply trying to get through another day. Public Defenseless explores the rot in the justice system and what we can do about it. Join host, Hunter Parnell, as he interviews top defense attorneys and criminal justice stakeholders from across the country as they pull apart the convoluted web of our criminal justice system.

  1. 1d ago

    513 | How to Teach Kids to Think like a Public Defender w/Emily Galvin Almanza

    In this episode, Hunter speaks once again with Emily Galvin Almanza about a new book she is publishing. While her last book sought to teach adults about the failings of our criminal legal system, Emily's newest book, Andromeda Diaz and the Reasonable Doubt, is aimed at teaching kids about legal principles through a public defender's lens. In doing so, Emily hopes to instill a different type of civic education in schools around the country.   Guest: Emily Galvin Almanza, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Partners for Justice   Resource: Pick up a Copy of the Book Here https://www.amazon.com/Andromeda-Reasonable-Doubt-Galvin-Almanza/dp/B0G5WVXFSQ   Follow Emily's Work https://www.emilygalvinalmanza.com/ https://www.instagram.com/galvinalmanza/?hl=en   Learn More About Partners for Justice https://partnersforjustice.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=15231703396&gbraid=0AAAAAoL1I_LuXR_6d_5khg4qkdAQN6d77&gclid=Cj0KCQjwteTUBhD4ARIsAEYjs3otlUtZa1n7oPjFoT0NWL_Lg3CFUNJVuvKxK0xJQZKRHXg2j1D9zvkaAlSbEALw_wcB      Contact Hunter Parnell:  Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram: @PublicDefenselessPodcast  YouTube: @publicdefenselesspodcast  Facebook: Public Defenseless Podcast  Bluesky: @pdefenselesspod.bsky.social  Twitter: @PDefenselessPod  Website: www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon: www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe: https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    513 | How to Teach Kids to Think like a Public Defender w/Emily Galvin Almanza
  2. 6d ago

    512 | How Public Advocacy Secured Missouri Public Defenders Pay Parity and Much More w/Matthew Crowell and Jet McDonald

    In this episode, Hunter revisits with Matthew Crowell, Director of the Missouri State Public Defender, and for the first time Jet McDonald, MSPD's newest Comms Strategist. They discussed how Matthew was able to use public and private advocacy to secure desperately needed pay raises for the system and their plans to continue expanding their public advocacy to fight for even more improvements to the system.   Guest: Matthew Crowell, Director, Missouri State Public Defender Jet McDonald, Communications Strategist, Missouri State Public Defender   Resource: Learn More about the Office https://publicdefender.mo.gov/ Contact Jet Jet.McDonald@mspd.mo.gov Read the Article Here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/162r6fsCin_ROQLdhfgAYEZFpl1-HdujG?usp=drive_link   Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    512 | How Public Advocacy Secured Missouri Public Defenders Pay Parity and Much More w/Matthew Crowell and Jet McDonald
  3. Sep 1

    511 | God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood w/Jasper Craven

    On this episode, Hunter spoke with Jasper Crave, author of the book God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood. While this episode takes us away from the world of Public Defense, this conversation is an illuminating look at how military education like JROTC, ROTC, and the Service Academies help shape American masculinity. By understanding the culture inculcated at these institutions, we are better able to understand how that hyper violent culture spreads to police departments and other young men around the country.   Guest: Jasper Craven, Investigative Reporter   Resource: Follow More of Jasper's Work Here https://x.com/Jasper_Craven   Pick up a copy of the book Here:   https://bookshop.org/p/books/god-forgives-brothers-don-t-the-long-march-of-military-education-and-the-making-of-american-manhood-jasper-craven/ff6d1cf46c2d9b69   Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    511 | God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood w/Jasper Craven
  4. Aug 25

    509 | How to Create Workload Standards for Public Defenders w/Malia Brink

    Since the release of the National Public Defender Workload Study, Malia Brink travelled the country helping Public Defenders create and implement workload standards. Now, she joins the show to discuss the new tool the Deason Center created to help Public Defenders create their own workload standards.   Guest: Malia Brink, Policy Director, Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center, Southern Methodist University   Resource: Deason Center Website https://www.smu.edu/law/centers-and-initiatives/deason-center Access the Workload Tool Here https://www.smu.edu/law/centers-and-initiatives/deason-center/work/news/articles/2026-7-28-workload-release   Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    509 | How to Create Workload Standards for Public Defenders w/Malia Brink
  5. Aug 20

    508 | Will Underfunding Push the Defenders Association of Philadelphia to Stop Accepting New Cases? w/Keisha Hudson

    In the last budget cycle, Keisha Hudson, Chief Defender of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, asked the city for $5 million. Instead, the city council and the mayor gave her office $0. Now, Keisha is looking at cutting back client services and even potentially refusing to accept new DUI and drug possession cases. On this episode, you will hear Keisha explain how this all happened and what comes next for the office.   Guest: Keisha Hudson, Chief Public Defender, Defender Association of Philadelphia   Resource: Defender Association of Philadelphia's Contact https://phillydefenders.org/ https://www.facebook.com/phillydefenders/ https://www.instagram.com/phillydefenders/ https://x.com/phillydefenders/       Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    508 | Will Underfunding Push the Defenders Association of Philadelphia to Stop Accepting New Cases? w/Keisha Hudson
  6. Aug 18

    507 | Robin "Rocky" Myers was Wrongfully Convicted of Murder. Was his Defense Lawyer in the Ku Klux Klan? w/Leah Nelson

    The State of Alabama sentenced Robin "Rocky" Myers to death after he was convicted of murder in 1994. Over the next 30 years, Rocky fought to prove his innocence, and with each passing year, the evidence of his innocence continued to grow. There was a lack of DNA evidence. Inconsistent witness testimony. Police and Prosecutorial misconduct. On top of all that, there were serious problems with the verdict itself. Taken together, these factors pushed Governor Kay Ivey to commute Rocky's death sentence. Yet, Rocky is still serving a life sentence. Now, our guest, Leah Nelson, is here to present evidence that Rocky's trial lawyer might have been in the Ku Klux Klan.   Guest: Leah Nelson, Special Investigator, Alabama   Resource: Justice 4 Rocky Website https://www.justice4rockymyers.com/ Undisclosed Podcast https://www.undisclosedpod.com/seasons-cases/rockymyers https://open.spotify.com/episode/40VBEwOtdaO6suwPRx8SLa     Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    507 | Robin "Rocky" Myers was Wrongfully Convicted of Murder. Was his Defense Lawyer in the Ku Klux Klan? w/Leah Nelson
4.7
out of 5
98 Ratings

About

Anyone paying attention can tell you that our criminal legal system is perpetuating cruelty and harm, but the complexity of the legal world overwhelms most people simply trying to get through another day. Public Defenseless explores the rot in the justice system and what we can do about it. Join host, Hunter Parnell, as he interviews top defense attorneys and criminal justice stakeholders from across the country as they pull apart the convoluted web of our criminal justice system.

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