Rethinking Freedom

We were taught to stand for the anthem, place a hand over our heart for the pledge, and treat July 4th as the day freedom began. But who wrote these symbols — and who were they actually written for? In this hour-long special, we read the entire Declaration of Independence out loud, start to finish, before breaking down what it actually says, what got cut from early drafts, and who it left out enti...

We're taught that American democracy was built on liberty and self-governance. But what if it was actually built on two erasures at once — the enslavement of African peoples and the dispossession of Indigenous nations — happening together, by design? In this episode of Rethinking Freedom: The Other Side of Freedom, part of our USA at 250 summer series, we sit down with historian Dr. Kyle T. M...

In this episode of Rethinking Freedom, part of our summer series The Other Side of Freedom: USA at 250, we sit down with historian Dr. Cynthia E. Orozco, author of No Mexicans, Women, or Dogs Allowed: The Rise of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement — the first scholarly history of LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens. Dr. Orozco is the National LULAC Historian and Professor E...

Juneteenth began in Galveston, Texas, but the story beneath June 19, 1865 is deeper than most Americans are taught. This week on Rethinking Freedom, I sit down with Anthony Paul Griffin — attorney, writer, and author of The Water Cries — for a powerful conversation about memory, justice, and what it truly means to be free. For over three decades, Griffin tried high-profile cases that tested the li...

What if the American Revolution was not simply a struggle for liberty and independence? What if preserving slavery was one of the driving forces behind the break from Britain? Join us on Rethinking Freedom as we continue our special summer series, The Other Side of History: America at 250, with renowned historian, author, and scholar Dr. Gerald Horne. In this thought-provoking conversation, we exa...

THE OTHER SIDE OF FREEDOM (Part 2): UNTOLD HISTORIES OF THE U.S. AT 250  | Featuring E.R. Bills  As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, whose stories are celebrated—and whose stories remain buried beneath the surface of official history? In part 2 of our discussion, host Aya Fubara Eneli sits down with acclaimed Texas journalist and author E.R. Bills to discuss his gripping book, T...

THE OTHER SIDE OF FREEDOM: UNTOLD HISTORIES OF THE U.S. AT 250Summer Series Kickoff | Featuring E.R. Bills As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, whose stories are celebrated—and whose stories remain buried beneath the surface of official history? In this powerful kickoff episode of Rethinking Freedom’s summer series, The Other Side of Freedom: Untold Histories of the U.S. at 250,...

What happens when Black political power begins to rise in America? History gives us the answer: Backlash. In this explosive episode of Rethinking Freedom, host Aya Fubara Eneli sits down with community activist Dr. Rodney Duckett to expose the long history of white resistance to Black political advancement — from Reconstruction to Jim Crow, from voter suppression to modern redistricting battles ha...

Mother’s Day didn’t begin with flowers, cards, or brunch. It began with war, grief, organizing, and resistance. In this powerful episode of Rethinking Freedom, we uncover the true origins of Mother’s Day—from Ann Reeves Jarvis organizing mothers during the American Civil War, to Julia Ward Howe calling for mothers to unite against war, to Anna Jarvis fighting the commercialization of the very holi...

What happens when the right to vote is no longer protected—but quietly weakened? In this powerful episode of Rethinking Freedom, we confront the ongoing fight for Black voting rights in America—from Reconstruction to the Civil Rights Movement to today’s legal battles over redistricting and representation. This is not just history. This is happening now. We break down: • The true history of the Bla...

What does it take to move from awareness to real change? In Part 2 of this urgent and necessary conversation, Rethinking Freedom goes deeper—beyond naming the crisis to confronting its roots and building pathways toward healing, accountability, and transformation. This episode brings together powerful voices committed to truth, restoration, and the protection of Black women and girls. Together, we...

What are we missing when we call these tragedies “isolated incidents”? In this powerful and necessary episode of Rethinking Freedom, Aya Fubara Eneli confronts the growing pattern of homicide-suicides involving women—particularly Black women—and places these tragedies within a broader global and systemic context. From recent cases to the staggering reality that 51,000 women and girls were killed b...

What does power really look like inside the justice system—and who does it truly serve? In this thought-provoking episode of Rethinking Freedom, Aya Fubara Eneli sits down with Judge Darrell Jordan, former Harris County Criminal Court Judge and candidate for Harris County District Clerk, for a candid and layered conversation about the intersection of power, politics, and the judicial system. Befor...

Reclaiming Your Power | Your Vote. Your Legacy. Your Responsibility. What does it truly mean to reclaim your power? In this compelling episode of Rethinking Freedom, Aya Fubara Eneli challenges you to take control in two of the most overlooked—but life-defining—areas: 🗳️ Your Vote 📜 Your Legacy As local elections approach in Killeen and Harker Heights, Aya breaks down: ✔️ What’s on the ballot (ci...

What does it truly mean to become a woman in today’s world—and what wisdom are our daughters already carrying that we must learn to hear? In this powerful Women’s History Month finale of Rethinking Freedom, we turn inward, centering the voices of the next generation. In “What Our Daughters Know: Their Wisdom, Struggles, and the Journey to Womanhood,” we sit down with three brilliant young women wh...

The Iran War Explained: History, Lies, and Global Consequences | Rethinking Freedom What is really happening with the Iran war—and why should you care? In this powerful episode of Rethinking Freedom, we go beyond the headlines to unpack the history, hidden agendas, and global consequences of the Iran conflict. From the 1953 coup to present-day escalations, this is a conversation about power, propa...

Women’s Rights Under Attack: The SAVE Act, Healthcare, and the Fight for Freedom in Texas In this urgent and eye‑opening episode of Rethinking Freedom, we sit down with Dr. Mann, a board‑certified family practice physician, to examine the escalating crisis facing women in Texas. From reproductive healthcare restrictions to the erosion of patient autonomy, Dr. Mann breaks down what she is witnessin...

This week's conversation, featuring Aya Fubara Eneli Esq. and Adesoji Iginla,  delves into the life and legacy of Shirley Chisholm.  the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress.  The discussion highlights her candidacy for the presidency, her advocacy for women's rights and civil rights, and her critique of the American political system.  Chisholm's emphasis on empowerment, p...

Rethinking Freedom – Episode: The Epstein Files: The Patriarchy Protection Racket Guest: Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings This week on Rethinking Freedom, we welcome Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings—distinguished scholar, former chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, former U.S. congressional candidate, and candidate for Maryland Governor—to discuss her powerful essay on the Epstein Files. As Dr. Rocke...

What does it really take to raise confident, grounded, emotionally strong girls in today’s world? In this episode of Rethinking Freedom, Aya Fubara Eneli sits down with Saquoi Dreckette, IT Girls alumna, Board Secretary, and facilitator of the Love Social, and Janaya LaRae, owner of MelaninFlow Yoga Studio and facilitator of the yoga experience featured in the Love Social for girls ages 10–18. Tog...

Ballots, ICE, and Student Protest in Texas: What’s at Stake? Texas is at a crossroads. In this episode of Rethinking Freedom, we break down two urgent issues shaping our state: the upcoming Texas primary elections and the wave of high school student walkouts protesting ICE enforcement policies. Part I: Texas Primaries Guest: Liz Jagodzinski, Elections & GOTV Committee Lead for Indivisible CenT...

Are you ready to be financially free?  In this episode of Rethinking Freedom, we’re joined by Dawn Robinson, also known as The Money PhD™, creator of the CASH Formula. Dawn helps women over 40—especially natural spenders—build real financial power by rethinking how they save, spend, and invest. After saving $30,000 in cash and eliminating more than $140,000 in consumer debt without increasing her...

Episode 67 | The Assault on the 1964 Civil Rights Act – Why It Matters to You The 1964 Civil Rights Act is not ancient history—it is living law. And today, it is under sustained attack. In this powerful episode of Rethinking Freedom, host Aya Fubara Eneli, Esq. is joined by historian and educator Dr. Rodney Duckett to examine how one of the most important civil rights laws in U.S. history is being...

Title: Anxious, Angry, and Alone: Inside the Youth Mental Health Crisis” What does freedom mean if our children are struggling to cope? On this episode of Rethinking Freedom, we confront the student mental health crisis and the role of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in public schools. Host Aya Fubara Eneli is joined by Shannon Lumar, Counseling Director of Mental Health and Wellness in public edu...

On January 19, 2026 at 7:00 AM CST, Rethinking Freedom presents a powerful, unfiltered episode: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: His Words and the Unfinished Moral Reckoning of America In this special broadcast, we move beyond the soundbites and slogans to let Martin Luther King Jr. speak for himself. This episode centers Dr. King’s own words—extended, uncompromised passages drawn from his sermons, sp...