Chuck D of Public Enemy speaks to a crowd at UCLA exploring a wide ranging talk that starts with loss and memory, then expands into technology, culture, and the stakes of how narratives get shaped.
Freedom Frequency Series
Freedom Frequency is a curated audio series featuring conversations, lectures, and interviews with leading intellectuals, artists, academics, journalists, and grassroots organizers addressing racial justice, political education, economic equity, state violence, public health, and movement building.
Rooted in independent media and the legacy of community-centered journalism, the series amplifies voices often excluded from mainstream platforms and preserves critical dialogue for future generations.
On a powerful episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with Council on American Islamic Relations Executive Director Zahra Billoo to unpack a series of urgent issues impacting Muslim communities, civil liberties, and free speech across the country. The conversation opened with the tragic mass shooting at the Islamic Center in San … Continued
On a recent broadcast of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D welcomed Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad, scholar, Buddhist practitioner, and founder of the Initiative for Black Buddhist Studies, for a wide ranging conversation about her new book, The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde. What unfolded over the better part of an hour … Continued
Host Davey D welcomed Jamelle Bouie to Hard Knock Radio for an in depth conversation about disinformation, political manipulation, identity politics, and the growing threats facing American democracy. Bouie, one of the nation’s most prominent political commentators, is a columnist for The New York Times and is widely known for connecting current political events to … Continued
On a recent episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with political strategist, attorney, and author Steve Phillips to discuss his provocative new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else? The wide ranging conversation explored race, democracy, corporate power, media influence, and the ongoing backlash against racial justice efforts in the United States. … Continued
On a recent episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with rapper, author, and longtime community figure Mopreme Shakur for an in depth conversation about his new memoir, This Thug’s Life. The wide ranging interview explored family, politics, Hip Hop culture, and the untold stories behind one of the most discussed families in … Continued
Phyllis Bennis is a journalist, author, and Middle East analyst known for her work on U.S. foreign policy, international law, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Her latest book, Understanding Palestine & Israel — examines the historical roots and political realities shaping the current crisis in Gaza and the broader struggle over Palestine and Israel. People across the … Continued
On a recent episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with journalist Felicia Mello of Berkeleyside and educator activist Dr. César Cruz of Homies Empowerment to unpack the growing controversy surrounding UC Berkeley’s Multicultural Community Center and what many see as a broader attack on free speech, Ethnic Studies, and student activism. The conversation centered around … Continued
On Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with Bay Area author Adam Mansbach to discuss his new book, Go the F to College, the sequel to his bestselling parenting satire Go the F to Sleep. Mansbach, known for books like Angry Black White Boy, The Golem of Brooklyn, Rage Is Back, and his screenplay for the Netflix film Barry, returned to … Continued
On Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D spoke with longtime organizer and Pan-Africanist Netfa Freeman about reports that the Trump administration pressured Zambia to exchange mineral rights for continued U.S. health aid, including support for HIV and AIDS programs. Freeman, who works with the Black Alliance for Peace and WPFW in Washington, D.C., said the … Continued