Playing By Whose Rules? The War on Women’s Bodies in Sports
Wide Awake America
Authoritarian regimes have always understood that controlling the definition of womanhood is a gateway to controlling society. In this episode of Wide Awake America, Nadine Smith speaks with journalist and historian Michael Waters, author of The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports, to explore the long, disturbing history of policing women’s bodies through athletics. Together, they trace how governments—from Nazi Germany to today’s right-wing movements—have used sports to enforce rigid definitions of femininity, exclude trans and intersex athletes, and...
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When the Guns Turned on Students: Kent State and the Warning for Today
Wide Awake America
Today on Wide Awake America, we speak with Kate D'Angelo, a mother, grandmother, and former Kent State University student who witnessed the events of May 4, 1970, when the National Guard opened fire on students protesting the Vietnam War, killing four and wounding nine. As college campuses once again erupt in protest and calls to deploy the National Guard reemerge, Kate shares her firsthand account of the lead-up, the deadly escalation, and the traumatic aftermath of that day. Her story is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake when student voices are met with state violence—and what...
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How Apartheid's Heirs Are Undermining America w/ Jim Stewartson
Wide Awake America
Jim Stewartson joins Wide Awake America to expose how billionaires shaped by apartheid-era South Africa, including Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, are fueling a war of disinformation against democracy. From QAnon to Project 2025, he traces the machinery of radicalization and the urgent fight to resist.
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We Survive Together or Not at All
Wide Awake America
This week, Nadine Smith talks with Suzanne Pharr, author of Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism, to talk about the re-release of her prophetic 1996 book, In the Time of the Right: Reflections on Liberation. Suzanne traces the rise of right-wing authoritarianism, the radicalization of churches, and how systems of domination play out from domestic violence to national politics. She shares lessons from decades of organizing alongside Black women and urges us to rebuild face-to-face community as a path to collective liberation
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Control, Chaos, and Community: Melissa Ryan on What Comes Next
Wide Awake America
Melissa Ryan, one of the leading experts on far-right extremism and online disinformation, joins this episode of Wide Awake America to break down how the right built a powerful online machine—and what it will take to fight back. As the founder of the Control Alt-Right Delete newsletter, Melissa has tracked the rise of white nationalism, authoritarian movements, and the digital playbook behind them. We talk Elon Musk, media collapse, and why building real community, not just better messaging, is the key to reclaiming power.
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The Sand in the Gears: Chris Geidner on the Legal Pushback Against Trump’s War on Rights
Wide Awake America
Legal journalist Chris Geidner joins Wide Awake America to unpack the mounting legal threats to LGBTQ rights, the erosion of democratic norms, and how ordinary people can push back. From courtroom battles to everyday resistance, this episode is a call to stay informed and stay in the fight.
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Resilience in the Wild: How Nature Grounds Us in Turbulent Times
Wide Awake America
Woniya Thibeault joins Wide Awake America with Nadine Smith to discuss how ancestral skills offer more than survival—they ground us amid today’s political turbulence. From winning Alone Frozen to teaching resilience through connection with nature, Woniya shares how reclaiming these practices can empower us to face an uncertain world with confidence and community.
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The Media's Crisis of Courage
Wide Awake America
In this episode, Nadine sits down with Eric Deggans, NPR’s first full-time TV critic, media analyst, and author of Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation. They tackle the state of journalism today, the impact of social media and AI on news consumption, and the ethical dilemmas facing reporters in an age of weaponized lies and political intimidation. From the rise of influencers to the decline of local news, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone concerned about the future of truth and accountability in media. --------- Welcome to Wide Awake America,...
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Trump's War On Public Health and the Lessons of The Black Angels
Wide Awake America
Trump’s War on Public Health and the Return of Deadly Diseases In this episode of Wide Awake America, we examine how Trump’s war on science has paved the way for new and deadly disease outbreaks, including the largest tuberculosis outbreak in modern U.S. history. With public health agencies gutted, vaccine skepticism on the rise, and research suppressed, we are facing a resurgence of infectious diseases—including drug-resistant TB—that could set us back decades. We also revisit the heroism of the Black Angels, the Black nurses who risked everything to combat tuberculosis when white...
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Impossible to Inevitable: Evan Wolfson's Lessons on Fighting the Backlash
Wide Awake America
Evan Wolfson knows about defying the odds. In 1983, he argued for same-sex marriage in his Harvard Law thesis—an idea dismissed as impossible at the time. Three decades later, he led Freedom to Marry to a nationwide victory. Now, as LGBTQ rights and democracy face renewed threats, Wolfson’s strategic insights are more urgent than ever. In a recent conversation on Wide Awake America, he shared his take on the current landscape and what comes next.
info_outlineIn this episode, Nadine sits down with Eric Deggans, NPR’s first full-time TV critic, media analyst, and author of Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation. They tackle the state of journalism today, the impact of social media and AI on news consumption, and the ethical dilemmas facing reporters in an age of weaponized lies and political intimidation. From the rise of influencers to the decline of local news, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone concerned about the future of truth and accountability in media.
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Welcome to Wide Awake America, the podcast that dives deep into the issues shaping our nation and the world. Hosted by Nadine Smith, this show brings you thought-provoking conversations with leading voices in journalism, politics, media, and culture. Each episode explores the pressing questions of our time, from the challenges facing democracy to the evolving role of media in an era of misinformation and polarization.
Tune in for a candid discussion that will leave you thinking long after the episode ends. Whether you're a news junkie, a media critic, or just someone trying to make sense of the world, Wide Awake America is your guide to staying informed and engaged in these turbulent times.
Subscribe now at www.WideAwakeAmerica.org and join the conversation. Because being wide awake means seeing the world as it is—and imagining what it could be. 🌟