Revolutionary Social Work

Workplace trauma is real trauma, especially when racism, anti-LGBTQ bias, and institutional betrayal are part of the job. In Episode 34 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, Alicia Stettler and Causha Spellman-Timmons host a grounded, practical conversation with Heliana Ramirez, PhD, LISW on toxic workplaces, psychological safety, culturally affirming crisis response, and what it takes to stay...

AI is reshaping social work, education, and everyday life fast. In episode 33 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, Ace and Alicia talk through what this shift means for purpose, identity, mental health, and community, and how to lead with heart while staying grounded and ethically clear. If you’ve felt the tension between technology and humanity, this one is for you. Website: RevolutionarySoc...

Alan Dettlaff (upEND Movement) joins Ace + Alicia for a direct conversation on abolitionist social work, ending the family policing system, and reclaiming social work from professionalized compliance. We get into electoral politics, the profession’s silence on genocide, desensitization and empathy, organizing for community, and practical action like economic boycotts and finding clearer informatio...

Social work, identity, Ubuntu, community, and cultural transition anchor this conversation with Shayla S. Dube, an Africentric and decolonial educator whose work embodies collective responsibility and relational practice. Alicia and Ace explore the tensions between assimilation and belonging, the power of Ubuntu-centered care, and the ongoing work of reclaiming cultural foundations in a world shap...

Social work keeps defaulting to clinic-first. Patrick “Taylor,” LCSW, joins Alicia and Ace to unpack how education, licensure, billing, and program design funnel graduates into the micro pipeline... and what it takes to rebuild legitimate macro pathways, restore creativity, and center structural change. Contact: revolutionarysocialwork.com Key themes Micro pipeline: how education, licensure, and b...

What does it mean to transform private pain into public purpose? In this deeply personal and wide-ranging episode of The Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, hosts Professor Ace and Alicia are joined by author and educator Mark Tuggle for a revolutionary conversation about trauma, healing, and the lifelong work of becoming whole. Mark shares his journey—from childhood abuse, addiction, and a diagnos...

“This is about the human family.”In Episode 28 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, hosts Professor Ace and Alicia Stettler sit down with Haki Kweli Shakur, a revolutionary, activist, and historian committed to the liberation of New Afrikan people and the fight for political prisoners. Haki unpacks the case of Shaka Shakur, speaks to the lived reality of solitary confinement, and examines how...

In this episode of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, Alicia and Ace are joined by Brotha KD Kyle Toon — father, veteran, and Afrocentric Liberation Social Worker. Founder of Mental & Creative Liberation LLC, Brotha KD brings forward a practice rooted in ancestry, Afrocentric healing, and revolutionary love. Through his Gracefully Imperfect podcast, CREATIVST, and Soul Medicine Substack, h...

In this powerful live recording from the NASW National Conference in Chicago, the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast centers Indigenous women whose leadership, resilience, and cultural vision are reshaping the future of social work. Hosts Alicia and Ace talk with Maria Panjoj Salvador, Vilma Saloj, and Ausirys Alviz — grassroots social workers advancing cultural preservation, education, and healing...

In this live episode of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, recorded at the NASW National Conference in Chicago, Ace and Jerome MT sit down with Dr. Amana Mbise—scholar, mentor, and global advocate in social work. Together they explore the profound intersections of migration, cultural adjustment, authenticity, masculinity, and community engagement. Dr. Mbise shares insights from his work across...

In this live episode of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, recorded at the NASW National Conference in Chicago, hosts Christian Ace and Jerome MT sit down with Prajna Horn and Dr. David Wrathall to explore how Indigenous wisdom and the guidance of elders can transform our response to today’s global crises. The conversation highlights the work of Kaiāulu, a women- and Indigenous-led nonprofit b...

Reggae music, Rastafari, and revolutionary social work collide in this powerful live conversation with Hawaiian reggae artist Lion Fiyah, recorded at the NASW National Conference in Chicago. Hosted by Professor Ace with special guest MT, this episode is part of the Social Work Outside the Status Quo series — where we challenge the profession’s comfort with celebrity culture and amplify voices that...

Recorded live at the NASW National Conference in Chicago, Episode 22 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast features Rev Love — yogi, musician, activist, and founder of Yoga for Activists — in a powerful dialogue on liberation, healing, and political prisoners. Rev Love shares her decades-long connection to Dr. Mutulu Shakur, her work bringing sound healing into carceral spaces like Rikers Islan...

In Episode 21 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, Alicia takes the host seat and interviews Professor Ace in a deeply personal conversation about addiction, recovery, and the power of lived experience. Together, they explore the terrain of methamphetamine use, the role of peer pressure, and the long road to healing. Professor Ace's story does not reflect perfection. It’s a story of truth...

What does it mean to live as resistance? In Episode 20 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, we sit down with Causha Spellman-Timmons for a powerful conversation on ancestral connection, identity, and the spiritual roots of social work. Causha shares how embodying their truth is an act of defiance in a world that demands conformity. We explore the role of ancestry in shaping identity, the nece...

Episode 19 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast continues our Social Work Outside the Status Quo series, recorded live at the NASW National Conference in Chicago. With Alicia Stettler unable to join from Hawaiʻi due to the six-hour time difference, Jerome MT stepped in as guest alongside Professor Ace for a powerful conversation with Dr. Paul Michael Garrett (PMG), joining from Ireland. This e...

Episode 18 kicks off our Social Work Outside the Status Quo series, recorded live from the NASW National Conference in Chicago. Professor Ace is joined by special guest MT and Alicia Stettler, LCSW from the Big Island of Hawai‘i, for a wide-ranging conversation on healing, family, and therapeutic practice. Topics include yoga as a parenting tool, transforming energy in relationships, the Circle of...

In Episode 17 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, hosts Christian Ace Stettler and Alicia Stettler sit down with Charlie Stark to explore what happens when social work merges with emergency management. Charlie shares his journey pursuing an interdisciplinary degree that bridges both fields—while raising hard questions about bureaucracy, community, and the human cost of disconnection. Togethe...

A raw, honest conversation about why you can’t save the world until you save yourself. In Episode 16 of The Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, Alicia and Professor Christian Ace Stettler sit down with Causha A. Spellman-Timmons (they/them) for an unfiltered, revolutionary conversation on what it means to show up for yourself, your community, and your purpose. Together, they unpack the fear of succ...

📅 Release Date: April 5th, 2025🎧 Hosts: Alicia and Ace🎙️ Guests: Ukumbwa SautiIn Episode 15 of The Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, hosts Ace and Alicia engage in a powerful dialogue with Ukumbwa Sauti, exploring the Dagara tradition, mental health, and the profound wisdom embedded in Indigenous knowledge systems. This episode centers on kinship — not just as blood relation but as an active pr...

📅 Release Date: February 22nd, 2025🎧 Hosts: Alicia and Ace🎙️ Guests: Jerome MTIn this episode of The Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, hosts Ace and Alicia (joining from Alaska) sit down with Jerome MT (calling in from Texas) to discuss the deep connections between health, diet, and mindful consumption. They explore the historical and cultural significance of sugar, its role in modern society,...

📅 Release Date: February 18th, 2025🎧 Hosts: Alicia and Ace🎙️ Guests: Rev LoveJoin Ace and Alicia for an inspiring conversation with Rev Love—a musician, sound healer, yogi, and social justice organizer. Discover how music, yoga, and revolutionary love intersect with the legacies of Tupac Shakur, Dr. Mutulu Shakur, and other political prisoners like Veronza Bowers and Delbert Africa. We explore h...

In Episode 12 of The Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, hosts Ace and Alicia welcome Zenia, a clinical social worker in Canada, founder of A Little Zen, and leader of The Embodiment Lab. Together, they explore the profound impact of seasonal changes on mental health, the acceptance of winter’s darkness, and the transformative power of aligning with nature's rhythms. This episode delves into person...

📅 Release Date: November 27th, 2024 🎧 Hosts: Alicia and Ace Stettler In Episode 11 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, hosts Alicia and Ace Stettler share their personal and professional journeys in social work, focusing on the transformative connections between addiction recovery, substance abuse, and mental health. Their discussion emphasizes the role of relatability, community support,...

📅 Release Date: November 19th, 2024 🎧 Hosts: Alicia and Ace Stettler 🎙️ Guests: Charla Yearwood In Episode 10 of The Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, hosts Ace and Alicia Stettler are joined by special guest Charla Yearwood (she/her), a licensed clinical social worker who champions authentic connection, compassionate support, and equity in social work and mental health. Together, they explore...