Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy

This week, Dr. Nola Haynes sits down with political strategist, former presidential campaign advisor, and The Real Ones author Maya Rupert for one of the most personal conversations we've had on the show. Together, they unpack why Black women are often expected to perform authenticity while simultaneously navigating respectability politics, code-switching, racism, and impossible double standards....

This week on Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy , Dr. Nola Haynes sits down with Congresswoman Veronica Escobar for a conversation about the human side of foreign policy. Growing up in El Paso shaped how Rep. Escobar sees borders, not just as lines on a map, but as places where families, cultures, and communities intersect. Together, they explore why humanitarian values should remain central to American lea...

Some stories don't go away. As questions continue to swirl around the Epstein files, government transparency, and who gets held accountable in America, we're revisiting one of our most talked-about conversations. Congresswoman Summer Lee joins Dr. Nola Haynes to discuss her push for greater transparency around the Epstein files, what real accountability looks like when power protects itself, and w...

This week on Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy , Dr. Nola sits down with SiriusXM host Reecie Colbert and Chad Thompson , founder of BLXCKMRKT, for a Juneteenth conversation about the State of the Black Union. From diaspora wars and online division to voter turnout, Black political influence, and the future of Democratic politics, they unpack the forces shaping Black America at a moment when the stakes cou...

This week on Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy , Dr. Nola sits down with political strategist Ameshia Cross and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joel Rubin for a conversation that spans foreign policy, race, media, misinformation, and the future of American leadership. Together they unpack the gap between political slogans and geopolitical reality, the consequences of "America First" foreign poli...

Former Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer joins Dr. Nola Haynes for a wide-ranging conversation about America's future role in the world. From growing up in rural Vermont to helping shape U.S. foreign policy during some of the most consequential global crises of the last decade, Finer reflects on leadership, diplomacy, media, and the growing challenges facing American power. Toge...

Recorded live from the Foreign Policy for America Summit, Dr. Nola Haynes sits down with some of the most influential voices shaping America's role in the world; from Capitol Hill to the State Department. Senator Chris Van Hollen explains why he believes America's Cuba policy is failing and where he still finds hope in a turbulent political moment. Former Special Representative Desiree Cormier Smi...

This week on Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy , Dr. Nola sits down with Malynda Hale and Dr. Tamice Spencer-Helms for one of the most vulnerable and thought-provoking conversations of the season. Together, they unpack the state of Christianity in America, growing up in faith spaces, activism in entertainment, queerness, Blackness, church culture, and what it means to follow Jesus outside the confines of i...

This week on Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy , Dr. Nola sits down with Congressman Mike Levin for a conversation that goes far beyond politics, starting with who he is before the title. From his grandparents’ immigration story to his work on climate and clean energy, Levin opens up about the personal experiences shaping his policy decisions, and why today’s political climate feels fundamentally different...

Dr. Nola Haynes sits down with Jennie Gage ( Life Take Two ) and Robin ( Pullups Pasta Politics ) for an unflinching conversation on predator protection, religious abuse, and women fighting back. Jennie shares her journey from Mormon trad wife and MAGA supporter to feminist podcaster, including being publicly shamed by her school and waking up from a coma to rebuild her life from scratch. Robin ch...

This week on Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy , Congresswoman Lauren Underwood gets real about power, pressure, and what’s actually happening inside the Democratic Party. From the “92%” conversation to growing frustration among Black women voters, this episode dives into the question no one wants to answer: If Black women are the backbone of the party… why do so many feel overlooked? They break down: The...

This week on Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy , Nola is joined by Reecie Colbert and Rebekah Caruthers for a candid, unfiltered conversation that moves from pop culture to politics, and everything in between. They break down the rise of Black celebrities flirting with right-wing politics, from Nick Cannon to Chilli, and what it really means in terms of influence, the algorithm, and voter behavior. Is this...

Congresswoman Summer Lee joins Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy for a wide-ranging conversation on power, accountability, and the latest developments in the Jeffrey Epstein files. Lee breaks down the strategy behind her bipartisan push to subpoena the DOJ for un-redacted Epstein documents and why millions of files are still missing. She also weighs in on the Trump administration’s response, including Mela...

This week on Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy , Dr. Nola sits down with cultural journalist, and founder of AllHipHop.com , Chuck Creekmur and prominent digital strategist and the founder of Hip-Politics, Cameron Trimble for a conversation at the intersection of hip-hop, politics, and power. They unpack whether hip-hop is truly moving toward conservatism or if those tensions have always existed beneath th...

Journalist Terrell Starr joins Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy live from Kyiv to talk about his journey from Detroit to reporting on Ukraine  and how culture shapes the way we understand foreign policy. They discuss how his upbringing, community, and influences like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Anita Baker inform his global perspective, why foreign policy often feels inaccessible, and what shows like...

Former Capitol Police officer and congressional candidate Harry Dunn joins Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy to discuss his firsthand experience on January 6th and what it revealed about the state of American democracy. From growing up in Prince George’s County to defending the Capitol during the insurrection, Harry shares how that day reshaped his views on national security, law enforcement, and accountab...

Hosted by Dr. Nola Haynes, Nola Haynes Is Not A Spy steps outside of the briefing room and into the real world, where policy decisions collide with culture, art, music, and everyday life. Security doesn’t just live in treaties and strategy documents, it shows up in films, television, books, hip-hop lyrics, prestige dramas, and the stories we tell ourselves about danger and control. This podcast br...