The Negative Space Podcast (The Anthem Awards)

From banned books to restricted speech in schools, censorship is surging—with stories that live outside the mainstream being cast to the margins. With Project 2025 and the new administration pushing for deep-rooted information control, the danger isn’t just in banned books—it’s in the ideas they hold. Nick Higgins of Brooklyn Public Library broke down how this legacy institution is fighting back, protecting free access to knowledge, and defending the fundamental right to think critically.

Guest: Nick Higgins is the Chief Librarian at Brooklyn Public Library in charge of public service across Brooklyn and leads the development of transformative library services across the borough.

Resources: 

• Books Unbanned Program 
• Borrowed and Banned Podcast

Keep up with Brooklyn Public Library @bklynlibrary on Instagram and LinkedIn. Find out more about how they’re creating change and get involved at bklynlibrary.org/! Entries for the 5th Annual Anthem Awards will open on Tuesday, April 8. Follow us @theanthemawards on Instagram and LinkedIn to discover our new categories and how to enter your work. 

Credits: 

Hosted by Patricia McLoughlin 

Written and Produced by Mahlet Sugebo 

Editorial Lead by Jordana Jarrett 

Edited by Kate Mishkin 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly a decade after the landmark case legalizing gay marriage—the rights of LGBTQIA+ communities nationwide are under attack. With government-led erasure and rising anti-Queer legislation on the rise, Jim Obergefell joins us to reflect on his historic Supreme Court case, unpack the right-wing backlash and pull lessons from his playbook for resistance. 

Guest: Jim Obergefell is the named plaintiff from the landmark marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges and an advocate for LGBTQ+ equality and civil rights. 

Resources: 

• Equality Vines 
• Just Married Project

Find out more about how Equality Vines is creating change and get involved at equalityvines.com. Entries for the 5th Annual Anthem Awards will open on Tuesday, April 8. Follow us @theanthemawards on Instagram and LinkedIn to discover our new categories and how to enter your work.

Credits: 

Hosted by Patricia McLoughlin 

Written and Produced by Mahlet Sugebo 

Editorial Lead by Jordana Jarrett 

Edited by Kate Mishkin 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a country reeling from mass shootings—with only thoughts and prayers offered—Moms Demand Action is on the frontlines of the fight for gun safety. With a powerful network of over 400 chapters nationwide, they’re challenging the very systems that perpetuate gun violence at the root. We spoke with Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Executive Director of Moms Demand Action, to spotlight their work in tackling America’s gun crisis, the push for school safety and the fight to protect hard-won progress, despite the shift in the new administration's stance. 

Guest: Angela Ferrell-Zabala serves as the first-ever Executive Director of Moms Demand Action where she leads the largest grassroots network in the gun violence prevention space.

Keep up with Angela @FerrellZabala on Instagram, Threads and X and @ferrellzabala.bsky.social. Find out more about how Moms Demand Action is creating change and get involved at momsdemandaction.org. Entries for the 5th Annual Anthem Awards will open on Tuesday, April 8. Follow us @theanthemawards on Instagram and LinkedIn to discover our new categories and how to enter your work.

Credits: 

Hosted by Patricia McLoughlin 

Written and Produced by Mahlet Sugebo 

Editorial Lead by Jordana Jarrett 

Edited by Kate Mishkin 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a post-Roe reality, the fight for reproductive freedom hasn’t stopped—it just got a new look. With abortion access under attack, digital censorship silencing providers, and legal gray zones complicating care, the abortion pill has become a frontline tool for autonomy. Francine Coeytaux, one of the original founders of Plan C, joins us to unpack the realities of self-managed care and hidden barriers threatening the future of reproductive healthcare.  

Guest: Francine Coeytaux is a woman’s health advocate and public health specialist who Co-Founded Plan C, a nationwide campaign to normalize the modern option of at-home abortion using pills.  

Resources: 

• Plan C
• Plan C Documentary

Keep up with Plan C @plancpills on Instagram. Find out more about how they’re creating change and get involved at plancpills.org! Entries for the 5th Annual Anthem Awards will open on Tuesday, April 8. Follow us @theanthemawards on Instagram and LinkedIn to discover our new categories and how to enter your work. 

Credits: 

Hosted by Patricia McLoughlin 

Written and Produced by Mahlet Sugebo 

Editorial Lead by Jordana Jarrett 

Edited by Kate Mishkin 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rising sea levels, eroding coastlines and worsening storms threaten communities worldwide, while anti-climate agendas stall critical action. The Surfrider Foundation has spent decades at the intersection of grassroots activism and policy change, fighting to protect our oceans and encourage systemic action. In the face of growing anti-climate action, we’re joined with Surfrider CEO, Chad Nelsen, as we dive into the biggest environmental battles ahead, the power of community-led action and what it will take to hold brands and policymakers accountable.

Guest: Dr. Chad Nelsen is the CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, leading the world’s largest grassroots network dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of oceans globally by blending coastal recreation with conservation. 

Keep up with their work @surfrider on all major platforms and @surfrider.org on Bluesky. Find out more about how they’re creating change and get involved at surfrider.org/! Entries for the 5th Annual Anthem Awards will open on Tuesday, April 8. Follow us @theanthemawards on Instagram and LinkedIn to discover our new categories and how to enter your work. 

Credits:

Hosted by Patricia McLoughlin 

Written and Produced by Mahlet Sugebo 

Editorial Lead by Jordana Jarrett 

Edited by Kate Mishkin 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Internet’s tides are changing—social media is not what it used to be back in 2008. As the digital world shifts, social media platforms are now more than just virtual spaces, but battlegrounds for privacy and autonomy. Tracy Chou, founder of Block Party, is on a mission to take the power back from corporate algorithms and give it to users. We spoke with Chou to lay bare the chaotic evolution of online safety, the role AI plays in reshaping the digital world and how we can build a more responsible, human-first internet.

Guest: Tracy Chou is an entrepreneur and software engineer well-known for her work advocating for diversity and inclusion in tech, who founded the startup Block Party to safeguard online privacy.

Keep up with Tracy @triketora on all major platforms and @exhaustedfemalefounder on Instagram and Threads. Find out more about how Block Party is creating change and get involved at blockpartyapp.com! Entries for the 5th Annual Anthem Awards will open on Tuesday, April 8. Follow us @theanthemawards on Instagram and LinkedIn to discover our new categories and how to enter your work.

Credits:

Hosted by Patricia McLoughlin 

Written and Produced by Mahlet Sugebo 

Editorial Lead by Jordana Jarrett 

Edited by Kate Mishkin 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the earth quakes or sociopolitical issues arise, World Central Kitchen is on the frontlines—often even before journalists. Powered by a global supply chain of advocates and (yes) chefs, it’s been a pioneering force in humanitarian aid since 2010. From serving up life-saving meals in crisis zones to navigating aid in regions like Gaza, we sat down with Linda Roth, CCO of WCK, to explore the complexities of delivering vital relief where it’s needed most.

Guest: Linda Roth is an Emmy-award-winning broadcast journalist turned purpose-driven communications expert who leads campaigns with tremendous geopolitical impact. 

Keep up with World Central Kitchen @WCKitchen on Instagram, X, Youtube and TikTok and @wck.org on Bluesky. Find out more about how they’re creating change and get involved at wck.org! Entries for the 5th Annual Anthem Awards will open on Tuesday, April 8. Follow us @theanthemawards on Instagram and LinkedIn to discover our new categories and how to enter your work. 

Resources: 

• The World Central Kitchen Cookbook
• Chefs for Gaza

Credits:

Hosted by Patricia McLoughlin 

Written and Produced by Mahlet Sugebo 

Editorial Lead by Jordana Jarrett 

Edited by Kate Mishkin 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.