Standing Tall with Gloria Johnson

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Gloria sits down with KeShaun Pearson, the Memphis organizer who helped lead the fight against the Byhalia crude oil pipeline alongside his brother, Rep. Justin J. Pearson. KeShaun explains how losing both of his grandmothers to cancer turned the numbers into something personal, and how knocking on doors in the rain with flyers printed at FedEx grew into a movement. They dig into Elon Musk's xAI data centers and gas turbines in Southwest Memphis, what it does to people's trust in government when corporations get tax breaks while the community gets silence, the chaotic Memphis City Council meeting over a data center moratorium, and the "performance of civility" used against protesters. They close on the redrawn Tennessee congressional map, the Nov. 3 election, and KeShaun's practical case for hope: do something. NOTE: On Tuesday., October 20, the council rejected the 12-month moratorium on a 6-6 tie (one member absent) and instead passed a set of data center regulations (Ordinance 18, per Action News 5) Also on Oct. 20, a federal judge (U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker, per WREG) temporarily blocked the council from enforcing bans on six people, including KeShaun, for 14 days. Keep up with the Pearsons: KeShaun Pearson - https://www.instagram.com/keshaunpearson/ Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP) https://www.instagram.com/memphiscap_org/ Rep. Justin J. Pearson - TN House member (Memphis) and 2026 candidate for Congress in the redrawn District 9: https://www.instagram.com/justinjpearson

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Jerri Green doesn’t take a dime from special interests. She does have three: Bo, Vivian, and Wilder. Her kids are the reason the Memphis City Councilwoman and Democratic nominee for governor is crossing the state, and in this episode she sits down with Gloria to explain why. From Memphis to the mountains, Jerri says Tennesseans are telling her the same thing: the American dream is slipping out of reach, and the state keeps falling behind its neighbors. So what would she do about it? Jerri gets specific. She talks about putting money back in families’ pockets instead of handing out corporate tax breaks, raising wages, legalizing cannabis, and what she’d do on day one, from executive orders to fixing DCS, reforming prisons, and ending CoreCivic contracts. Along the way, Gloria and Jerri trade stories about Marsha Blackburn (a plane, a jetway, and some bushes), and Jerri shares what happens when you show up in the deepest-red corners of the state: a park pavilion built for 20 people that filled with 125. They close with a challenge to every listener: knock doors, phone bank, text your friends, and vote the whole ballot.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Gloria sits down with Tequila Johnson, the founder leading The Equity Alliance, for a candid conversation about building independent Black political power in Tennessee. They trace the organization's start after the 2016 election, how its model has evolved from voter registration into direct service, political education, and cultural events, and why Tequila calls it "egoless leadership." They dig into the May 2026 special session that split Memphis's majority-Black congressional district, gerrymandering, political courage, and what it takes for candidates of color to run and survive in office. Tequila closes with a blunt take on hope: "Hope is cheap." What she wants from people is discipline, strategy, and power.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! 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.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! 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