Standing Tall with Gloria Johnson

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Gloria sits down with longtime friend and civil rights pioneer Dr. Theotis Robinson Jr. for a conversation spanning six decades of Tennessee history. Dr. Robinson shares what it was like growing up in segregated Knoxville, his fight to become the first Black undergraduate admitted to the University of Tennessee in 1961, his groundbreaking election to Knoxville City Council in 1969, and his forceful rebuttal to today's political attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The conversation closes on a hopeful, action-oriented note about voter turnout ahead of the 2026 election. Early voting happens October 14-29 and Election Day is November 3rd. Make a plan to vote.

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In a three-in-one candidate spotlight, Gloria sits down with three Tennessee Democrats stepping up to run in 2026: ⁠Victoria Broderick⁠, taking on longtime incumbent Scott DesJarlais in Congressional District 4. ⁠Dr. Laura Andreson⁠, an OB-GYN running for TN House District 63 after living the impact of the state's abortion laws firsthand as a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state. ⁠ Lindsey Patrick-Wright⁠, a public librarian running for TN Senate District 17 in Wilson County. Each candidate shares their personal path into politics, what's driving their campaign, and why they believe Tennessee voters deserve a real choice this cycle. We have real options in this upcoming election and I hope that you’ll take the time to learn more about these candidates or the ones running in your district. Confirm your district and look up your candidates ⁠here⁠. Dates to Remember: Voter Registration Deadline: Monday, October 5, 2026 Early Voting: Wednesday, October 14 – Thursday, October 29, 2026 Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: Saturday, October 24, 2026 Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Gloria talks with Lisa Sherman-Luna, executive director of TIRRC Votes, about the on-the-ground reality of immigration enforcement in Tennessee right now. They cover last year's fight to defeat a bill designed to challenge Plyler v. Doe, the economic case for immigration, real detention and family separation stories, the Memphis "Unsafe" Task Force, and the expansion of 287(g) agreements deputizing local law enforcement as ICE agents. Lisa shares her own family's story of fleeing Guatemala after her sister was kidnapped, and closes on what gives her hope even in difficult moments. Learn more about the work TIRRC Votes does in Tennessee: https://www.tirrcvotes.org

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Gloria sits down with Rev. Dr. Harold Middlebrook, a Memphis-born civil rights leader who marched with Dr. King, worked on voter registration drives across the South in the 1960s, and was present at the Lorraine Motel when King was assassinated. They trace his path from a 10th-grade voter registration drive in Memphis through Morehouse College, Selma, and decades of ministry in Knoxville, drawing direct lines between the fights of the 1960s and what's happening in Tennessee and the country today, from voting rights and book bans to Christian nationalism and the erosion of local political engagement. 🗳️Today is National Voter Registration Day! If you're not registered, or you've moved and need to update your info, today's the day. It takes five minutes and it matters. Head to proudvoter.org to check your status or get registered. Rev. Middlebrook said it best in this episode: getting registered doesn't mean anything if you don't follow through and vote. So let's start with step one, today.

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Gloria sits down with musician and activist, Morgxn and his husband, therapist Gabriel Starner, to talk about Fruity Farm, the agroforestry farm they run in Sumner County, which they have cultivated into a genuine safe haven for Pride in a county that offered none. They get into the farm's pawpaw orchard and regenerative growing practices, and the wild story of how Fruity Farm became Sumner County's Pride venue after local business owners and even a church backed out under pressure. What started as a last resort turned into Affirming Sumner, a full-blown celebration and a hub of community and resistance. They also dig into a tense meeting with a Republican state representative over a "religious freedom" same-sex marriage bill, the farm's lost USDA/NRCS greenhouse funding, and what keeps Morgxn and Gabe hopeful in Tennessee's current political climate. Check out Affirming Sumner on September 19th! RSVP here. Listen to Morgxn’s album Heartland, out now! Give our guests a follow! Morgxn: @morgxnofficial Gabriel Starner: @gabrielmaxstarner Fruity Farm: @fruityfarmtn Affirming Sumner, the volunteer group organizing Pride at the farm: @affirmingsumner