In this powerful episode of Slingshot The Podcast, we break down the 2025 election results and what they reveal about the current political climate in Pennsylvania and the nation. From record-breaking voter turnout to historic wins led by Black voters, women, and marginalized communities, this episode explores what happens when people decide to show up and shift power.Kadida Kenner and Charles Gregory unpack the Blue Wave, the rejection of extremist policies, and the renewed energy for affordable living, fair representation, and democratic accountability. We explore:Record-breaking turnout across Pennsylvania countiesMississippi flipping seats and breaking GOP supermajorityNew Jersey’s historic governor winCalifornia’s redistricting shiftNew York’s historic mayoral raceThe role of Black women voters and emerging coalitionsWhy voters mobilized in such unprecedented numbersFrom Montgomery County’s highest-ever turnout to Philadelphia’s dramatic increase in participation, this episode examines why the 2025 elections mattered — and what they signal for the future of democracy.This isn’t just a celebration of voters. It’s analysis, truth, and context for where we go next.📢 Subscribe to Slingshot The Podcast on YouTube🎥 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who cares about voter turnout, election outcomes, civic engagement, and the real power of the people at the polls. Catch all episodes of Slingshot The Podcast on YouTube or wherever you stream your podcasts — and don’t forget to subscribe to stay connected to the culture and the movement.Slingshot The Podcast: The Misunderstood Voice, The Culture’s Power.Slingshot The Podcast is a platform for voices that are too often overlooked, misrepresented, or unheard. Through bold conversations on culture, sports, entertainment, and the forces shaping our world, we challenge narratives and amplify perspectives that matter. This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a movement to inform, inspire, and empower the culture from the inside out.Media & booking: media@newpaproject.org 

All I wanna say is that… they don’t really care about us.In this episode of Slingshot The Podcast, Kadida Kenner is joined by co-host Charles Gregory and special guest Tisha Crippen, editor of Slingshot The Podcast, to unpack what happens when governmental power goes unchecked and everyday people become collateral damage.Starting from the Michael Jackson 1996 classic “They Don’t Care About Us”, the crew digs into the shocking reality that more than 170 U.S. citizens have reportedly been picked up or detained by ICE in their own neighborhoods. No due process. No clear oversight. No real accountability.They break down:How ICE is operating with weak checks and balances — and why that should scare all of usEveryday people and grassroots groups like Indivisible training volunteers to watch, document, and challenge ICE actions on the groundVoters who crossed party lines expecting economic relief — and are now “finding out” the hard wayThe role of Black women mayors in protecting their constituents National Guard deployments, public safety, and why “more police” doesn’t always translates as safer communitiesIf you’ve ever wondered “What would I have done in the 1960s?” — this episode challenges you to look at what you’re doing right now. Are you speaking up? Protecting your neighbors? Paying attention to who has power…and how they use it?🗳️ Watch, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who cares about civil rights, immigration, policing, or voting in the upcoming elections. Watch all Slingshot The Podcast episodes on YouTube, or anywhere you watch/listen to podcasts & subscribe.💬 Drop a comment: What are YOU willing to do when power is being abused in plain sight?

What does incarceration in America look like in 2025—and how do judges shape our future? In this episode, we unpack Angola’s plantation-style prison labor,  over-incarceration, juvenile life-without-parole, and why courtrooms (and the people in them) impact our daily lives. Guest Robert Saleem Holbrook, Executive Director of the Abolitionist Law Center, joins host Kadida Kenner to connect policy, lived experience, and community power—plus what you can do next.You’ll learn:-Why PA is one of the most incarcerated states—and how that shifts rural demographics-How landmark Supreme Court cases opened doors for incarcerated people sentenced as kids-What Court Watch programs reveal about courtroom culture and outcomes-Voting rights for people who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated in PA-Why judicial elections and retentions matter on November 4th—and how to make a plan to votePA: Make a plan to vote on November 4th - Bring a friend. Talk to a returning citizen you know—if their feet are on the street in PA, they can vote (with limited exceptions).Subscribe, like, and share to keep these conversations moving from talk to action.About Slingshot The PodcastSlingshot: The Misunderstood Voice, The Culture’s Power. Bold conversations on culture, sports, entertainment, and the forces shaping our world—amplifying voices too often overlooked. This isn’t just a podcast; it’s a movement to inform, inspire, and empower from the inside out.Stay Connected:For media/booking: media@newpaproject.orgSubscribe for new episodes and clips every week.Listen in wherever you get your podcasts (Apply, Spotify, etc) or watch the episode at SlingshotThePodcast.org

This one’s for everyone who’s ever said, “my vote doesn’t count.” We break down how Pennsylvania’s courts shape your daily life, why judicial elections are on the ballot this November 4, and how youth turnout and registration can swing outcomes in real ways. If you marched at the No Kings Rally, this is the action step that follows: vote. 🎯 Why watch PA is one of only 7 states where voters elect all judges, from local benches to the PA Supreme Court. In odd years, you’re voting for judges, mayors, DAs, school boards, and more. Youth registration is lagging: only 1 in 4 PA high schoolers of voting age are registered; in Philly/Pittsburgh it’s about 15%; at Chester High it’s 6%. Retention votes this year include Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, David Wecht on the PA Supreme Court. Retention is a Yes/No box — no party labels. 💡 What you’ll learn -How courts work in PA: minor courts → Courts of Common Pleas → Commonwealth & Superior Courts → PA Supreme Court-Why retention matters, and what happens if seats go vacant-Your rights in PA’s state constitution (clean air, pure water; thorough and efficient education) and the school funding decision-Practical voting tips: provisional ballots, voting on campus, and planning your vote-by-mail or in-person plan 🗓️ Key dates (Pennsylvania) Election Day: Nov 4 (ballots must be received by 8pm) Voting by mail? Seal, sign, date the envelope and use an official drop box if you don’t trust the mail.If there’s a problem at the polls, request a provisional ballot — it’s your right.Review your ballot before you go. Check nonpartisan resources like the PA Bar Association and your county election office. If you want change after the rally, the ballot is where you make it stick.

Marvin Gaye asked the question, “What’s Going On” in 1971 - and we’re still asking it today. In this powerful episode (recorded in early September), Kadida sits down with guest co-host, Charles Gregory to unpack the headlines, the policies, and the real lives behind them. From civil unrest to due process to kitchen-table economics, we connect the dots and offer clear steps you can take right now.🎶 Why this matters nowWar is not the answer. We need some loving here today. That refrain anchors a conversation about rights, dignity, and how communities can push for change with both urgency and care.💬 In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:✅ Civil discourse, decorum, and why it’s disappearing✅ Second Amendment debates and restoring rights for returning citizens✅ Picket lines and picket signs, what’s inside massive federal bills, and who pays the price✅ Union power, living wages, and the legacy of sanitation worker strikes🗳️ Your MoveListen, share, register, vote, and bring three friends along. Change is live, not televised.📌 Stay Connected:🌐 Website: https://slingshotthepodcast.org/📺 YouTube: @SlingshotThePodcast📩 Media: media@newpaproject.org

We dig into what kids are facing today, why youth engagement matters, and how we can teach them well then get out the way.Joining host Kadida Kenner with co-host Charles Gregory is Cory B. Long, Sr. of Making a Change Group, sharing real stories from mentoring, diversion programs, and bringing joy back to childhood. From the school-to-prison pipeline to the youth vote, this episode is a call to listen, support, and let young people lead.💬 In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:✅ Gen X to Gen Alpha and how the internet reshaped childhood✅ The school-to-prison pipeline and proven solutions like diversion and restorative practices ✅ The youth vote in Pennsylvania where only 1 in 4 eligible high school students are registered✅ How to talk with young people about civic power and actually hear themAsk the young people in your life: “Are you registered to vote?” Then listen. Help them register and make a plan to vote in every election.Listen in wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, etc.) or watch it at SlingshotThePodcast.org📌 Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://slingshotthepodcast.org📸 Instagram: @slingshotthepodcast📘 Facebook: @SlingshotThePodcast📺 YouTube: @SlingshotThePodcast⏲️ TikTok: @slingshotpodcast📩 Media Contact: media@newpaproject.org

This week, Slingshot The Podcast dives deep into the impact of defunding public education and public broadcasting  — and how these decisions fuel the school-to-prison pipeline. Inspired by the iconic PBS series Reading Rainbow, we reflect on how stories, voices, and representation shape generations, and what happens when those resources are stripped away.Joining us for this extended episode is Brent Johnstone, co-founder of FathersRead365, who is using the power of reading and mentorship to uplift Black and brown youth. Together, we explore how to keep young people engaged, motivated, and joyful even in turbulent political times.💬 In This Episode, You’ll Hear About: ✅ The legacy of Reading Rainbow, PBS, and public broadcasting as tools for education and empowerment ✅ How harsh school policies push kids toward the criminal justice system ✅ How defunding public television and schools connects to the school-to-prison pipeline ✅ Brent Johnstone’s mission with Father’s Read 365 and the role of fathers in literacy and leadershipWhether you grew up with Reading Rainbow or are currently advocating for equitable education, this conversation will inspire you to take action on behalf of the next generation.📌 Stay Connected: 🌐 Website: https://slingshotthepodcast.org/ 📸 Instagram: @slingshotthepodcast 📘 Facebook: @SlingshotThePodcast 📺 YouTube: @SlingshotThePodcast ⏲️ TikTok: @slingshotpodcast 📩 Contact: media@newpaproject.org

The revolution will not be televised, but it will be live. In Episode 11 of Slingshot The Podcast, we reflect on Gil Scott-Heron’s timeless words and why they matter just as much today.Joining host Kadida Kenner is Charles Gregory, bringing a sharp perspective on what revolution really looks like in 2025 from redistricting battles in Texas to the fight for voting rights and the dangerous normalization of authoritarian tactics.💬 In This Episode, You’ll Hear About: ✅ Why Gil Scott-Heron’s message still speaks to today’s democracy crisis ✅ How redistricting and gerrymandering strip power from Black and brown communities ✅ The role of performative politics — from Jasmine Crockett’s clapbacks to Cory Booker’s marathon speech ✅ Trump’s latest executive orders and what they mean for our rights, safety, and democracyThis isn’t just a podcast. It’s a call to action. The revolution won’t be handed to us by TV pundits — it will be lived, organized, and fought for in real time by people like you.📌 Stay Connected: 🌐 Website: https://slingshotthepodcast.org/ 📸 Instagram: @slingshotthepodcast 📘 Facebook: @SlingshotThePodcast 📺 YouTube: @SlingshotThePodcast ⏲️ TikTok: @slingshotpodcast 📩 Contact: media@newpaproject.org

🎉 We’ve hit double digits! Episode 10 is here, and we’re celebrating this milestone with a powerful conversation on the role music, community, and leadership play in driving real change.Joining us are Cory Long, Sr., D.J. Cory Da 1, and D.J. Papo (Papo Hernandez), three Pennsylvania-based DJs with dynamic voices who know how to move a crowd and move a community forward. From the dance floor to the voting booth, they share how DJs and community leaders can use their platforms to inspire action, protect rights, and bring people together.🎶 We’ll take you back to 2020 COVID quarantine nights when DJs like DJ Jazzy Jeff and D-Nice kept our spirits alive with #ClubQuarantine, and show you how those same skills can be used today to motivate people to take action.💬 In This Episode, You’ll Hear About: ✅ How DJs became lifelines during quarantine and kept hope alive through music ✅ Why community spaces and cultural events are critical for joy, unity, and resilience ✅ Practical ways to use your talents and influence to speak out on the issues that matter mostWhether you’re here for the music, the movement, or the message, this episode will leave you inspired to get involved and keep fighting for the causes you believe in.

In Episode 9 of Slingshot The Podcast, hosts Kadida Kenner and Charles Gregory take us deep into the battleground for rights and recognition. Titled “Stand Up for Your Rights,” this episode sounds the alarm on the escalating attacks against bodily autonomy, voting rights, and due process across America.Through sharp, honest conversation, the hosts unpack how laws that seem distant are already reshaping lives, especially those of Black women and marginalized communities. From a chilling story out of Georgia to dangerous voter suppression tactics hiding in plain sight, this episode is a must-watch for anyone who believes in freedom and justice.🎧 In This Episode: ✔️ Reproductive rights and the tragic case of Adriana Smith in Georgia ✔️ The growing danger of fetal personhood laws ✔️ The SAVE Act and how it could be used to suppress votes, if passed ✔️ A call to action inspired by the legacy of Ms. Viviette Applewhite ✔️ Practical ways to defend your agency and advocate for your family and communityThis isn’t just a podcast—it’s a call to stand up, speak out, and protect what’s yours. ✊🏾📌 Stay Connected: 🌐 Website: https://slingshotthepodcast.org/ 📸 Instagram: @slingshotthepodcast 📘 Facebook: @SlingshotThePodcast 📺 YouTube: @SlingshotThePodcast ⏲️ TikTok: @slingshotpodcast 📩 Contact: podcast@newpaproject.org

In this gripping episode of Slingshot The Podcast, host Kadida Kenner asks the question that cuts through centuries of injustice: “What the Hell Did We Ever Do to Y’all?”Featuring Dyneco Gibson, Director of Programs at the New Pennsylvania Project (NPP), this conversation dives into the painful reality that Black Americans—unlike many other marginalized communities—have never received reparations or a national reckoning for centuries of systemic violence, exploitation, and erasure.From the internment of Japanese Americans to the struggles of Indigenous Nations, this episode traces how others have received recognition, apologies and redress—while Black communities continue to be told to “get over it.”🧠 Prepare to challenge what you’ve been taught and reflect deeply on what justice really looks like.🎧 In This Episode:✔️ Anti-Blackness in America: from country music to DEI backlash✔️ What’s “unacceptable” for others—but normal for Black folks✔️ Sundown towns, travel bans, and American double standards✔️ The case for reparations—and why cultural love isn’t the same as people love✔️ How appropriation and silence fuel erasure📢 Don’t just listen—share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.📌 Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://slingshotthepodcast.org/ 📷 Instagram: @slingshotthepodcast 📘 Facebook: @SlingshotThePodcast 📺 YouTube: @SlingshotThePodcast ⏲️ TikTok: @slingshotpodcast 📩 Email: podcast@newpaproject.org

“The Courts Aren’t All Bad: #CourtsMatter” | Episode 7 – Slingshot The PodcastWhen you hear “the court system,” what comes to mind? Prison. Punishment. Injustice.But not every courtroom is a weapon. Some are shields.In this sharp, truth-telling episode of Slingshot The Podcast, hosts Kadida Kenner and Charles Gregory dive into what most people don’t know about Pennsylvania’s court system. Titled “The Courts Aren’t All Bad: #CourtsMatter,” this episode challenges assumptions and spotlights how PA appellate courts have protected our rights, even when politicians failed us.From public school funding equity to the historic role of Black voters in court rulings, the Slingshot team brings the facts—and reminds us why understanding the courts is a must, not an option.🎧 In This Episode:✔️ Why Pennsylvania has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world✔️ The real story behind how PA courts helped demand fair funding for public schools ✔️ What you didn’t learn in civics class about the PA Commonwealth Court ✔️ The legacy of voting rights battles and what’s at stake in retention elections ✔️ How #CourtsMatter—especially for the misunderstood and marginalized🎙️ This isn’t just commentary—it’s a wake-up call.📌 Stay Connected: 🌐 Website: https://slingshotthepodcast.org/ 📸 Instagram: @slingshotthepodcast 📘 Facebook: @SlingshotThePodcast 📺 YouTube: @SlingshotThePodcast 📩 Media/Guest Inquiries: info@newpaproject.org

🎧 Episode 6: “Juneteenth: Invitation to the Cookout Is Gonna Cost You”Juneteenth isn’t just a day off. It’s a reminder that freedom came with a cost—and it still does. In this special episode of Slingshot The Podcast, we ask a real question: What are you doing with the freedom our ancestors fought for?We’re joined by Dyneco Gibson, Director of Programs, New Pennsylvania Project, for a sharp, no-fluff conversation about voter apathy, political fatigue, and the disconnect between history and action. We talk about what it takes to wake up our communities—especially young Black voters—and how honoring our ancestors means getting in the fight, not just rocking a t-shirt.🎯 What you’ll hear: ✅ Why “our ancestors died for this” isn’t resonating anymore ✅ How to fight voter suppression in Pennsylvania and beyond ✅ The true meaning of civic power and generational responsibility ✅ Why showing up is more powerful than ever in 2025💬 Drop “I’m showing up” in the comments if you’ve made your voting plan.

Ballers’ Lives Are Political, Too!What happens when athletes are told to “stick to sports” but politics won't stick to them? 🏈In Episode 5 of Slingshot The Podcast, hosts Charles and Kadida are joined by Paul “Boo Boo” Palmer, Temple football legend and former NFL running back, for an unfiltered conversation about the inescapable politics of sports, race, and identity.From his time at Temple and the NFL to deeply personal experiences with racism, including a disturbing piece of LDS literature sent to his college dorm before a game against BYU. Paul reflects on how Black athletes have always been political, even when they didn’t ask to be.🔎 Topics include: ✔️ NFL culture and the myth of "apolitical" athletes ✔️ BYU, racism, and college football realities ✔️ What Saquon Barkley said about politics—and why it matters ✔️ Respecting the office vs. respecting the president ✔️ How Paul stays engaged with youth and speaks out today🎧 This isn’t just a sports episode. It’s a powerful look at how deeply intertwined Black identity, public expectation, and power truly are.📅 New episodes drop Thursdays at 12PM ET 🔔 Subscribe + turn on notifications so you don’t miss a moment.—📌 Stay Connected: 🌐 Website: https://www.newpaproject.org/ 📸 Instagram: @newpennsylvania 🐦 Twitter/X: @newpennsylvania 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewPennsylvaniaProject/ 📩 Media/Guest Inquiries: info@newpaproject.org

Every day feels like a new headline designed to distract us—and this week, Slingshot The Podcast is cutting through the noise.From floating illegal ideas like sending U.S. citizens to foreign prisons, to reintroducing child labor, to defunding the Department of Education and college DEI programs, hosts Kadida Kenner and Charles Gregory break down the chaos with clarity and urgency.This isn’t conspiracy. This is the long game—strategized, intentional, and already in motion.In this episode:Why talk of imprisoning U.S. citizens abroad violates the ConstitutionThe dangerous rise of child labor and the targeting of immigrant workersHow gutting public education and DEI policies is about power—not policyA clear breakdown of how to protect your rights and freedoms before it’s too lateThe “3-person hack” to pressure your elected officials into actionThis episode is loud, unfiltered, and unapologetically real—because the distractions are working, and it's time we fight back with facts.