We Should All be Backtalkers, with Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw

  She’s the scholar behind the idea of intersectional feminism—and but those words aren’t just political to her, they’re personal. In her new memoir Backtalker, Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw traces her own life from childhood in Ohio to work on Anita Hill’s legal team to helping popularize ideas like critical race theory. Now she sits down with Brittany to talk about all of it, and how she’s learned to challenge systems that were never built to see Black women clearly.  Plus we’ve got a full and fearless UNtrending News for you, with group chat besties Dr. David Johns and Dr. Brittney Cooper joining Brittany to analyze what’s happening with Delaney Hall protests, voting-rights wins, and, wait for it, Jay-Z’s new Blue Ivy look. Mentioned in this episode: To join Kimberlé Crenshaw's Backtalkers Academy at https://www.aapf.org/backtalkers-academy You can donate to support the Delaney Hall detainees and affected families at https://linktr.ee/supportourfamilies To take action for voting rights this midterm election, visit FreedomSummer2026.com Follow Brittany: https://www.instagram.com/MsPackyetti https://www.tiktok.com/@mspackyetti https://www.youtube.com/@MsPackyetti https://www.threads.com/@mspackyetti Episode website: https://www.stayundistracted.com To subscribe to The Meteor: https://www.wearethemeteor.com/newsletters https://collective.media

A lot of conversations about AI are either sales pitches (“the efficiency!”) or horror stories (“the extinction!”). This week, Bridget Todd, technologist and host of There Are No Girls on the Internet, joins us for something better—an informed, 100% human discussion of what it will take to make AI work for us, and whether there’s still time to do that. (Yes, but move fast.)  She, host Brittany Packnett Cunningham, and group-chat regular Dr. David Johns break it down in a wide-ranging conversation: Together, they unpack the rise of AI-generated Black identities, nude deepfakes, the risks to child safety, and what to do about “girlboss AI.” It’s an episode that challenges us to think critically about the systems shaping our lives…because nothing about this future is inevitable.   Follow Brittany: https://www.instagram.com/MsPackyetti https://www.tiktok.com/@mspackyetti https://www.youtube.com/@MsPackyetti https://www.threads.com/@mspackyetti   Episode website: https://www.stayundistracted.com To subscribe to The Meteor: https://www.wearethemeteor.com/newsletters https://collective.media  

In a world of Epstein files, voter suppression and mansplaining lawmakers, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is a breath of fearless fresh air. She sits down with Brittany Packnett Cunningham to talk about everything from why the files matter to why some politicians still refuse to grasp the urgency of this political moment. Plus, Brittany links up with David Johns for a group chat on this Saturday’s historic voting rights rallies in Selma and Montgomery, as well as why some people are confused about exactly where the South is. For more information on how to join this Saturday’s All Roads Lead to the South National Day of Action for Voting Rights: https://blackpowerwarroom.com/dayofaction/  

The Constitution: So revered! So important! So…really, who knows, because most of us haven’t read it. But law professor and Strict Scrutiny cohost Melissa Murray has, and she sits down with Brittany Packnett Cunningham to discuss her new, essential book on the subject. They get into why the Constitution is a “trauma-informed document,” why SCOTUS’s new voting-rights ruling is so scary and “bonkers,” and why the real secret of the Constitution is that we, the people, have more power than we think. Plus, Brittany is joined by Dr. Brittney Cooper and political strategist Atima Omara for this week’s group chat—on everything from billionaire culture to Devil Wears Prada 2 to Black joy during prom season. Read LaTosha Brown’s article “We Are the Architects Now”: https://www.contrabandcamp.com/p/we-are-the-architects-now Melissa Murray’s The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader is out now: https://bit.ly/42g0KGW Atima Omara’s How Black Women Have Been Essential to American Democracy (And What We Can Learn From Them) https://bit.ly/3Rqswy3 For abortion access visit: INeedAnA.com To subscribe to The Meteor: wearethemeteor.com/newsletters Episode website: stayundistracted.com Follow The Meteor on Instagram and TikTok: @themeteor Follow Brittany on Instagram, TikTok, Youtube: @mspackyetti

After her MSNBC show The Cross Connection was canceled back in 2022, Tiffany Cross “felt like it was just me.” But now she sees her experiences of loss (of a job, and of a relationship at the same time) as connected to the broader pattern of Black women being pushed out of the workplace and denied what they deserve. Now, she has a new book out—and she sits down with Brittany Packnett Cunningham to talk about what it takes to rebuild. Plus, we’ve got your UNTrending News—with group chat fave Dr. Brittney Cooper joining Brittany to break down everything from deed theft to why Megan Thee Stallion should definitely date our producer Doug.   To subscribe to The Meteor: wearethemeteor.com/newsletters Episode website: https://www.stayundistracted.com Follow The Meteor on Instagram and TikTok: @themeteor Follow Brittany on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube: @mspackyetti https://collective.media

It’s been a month of devastating violence against women and children—from femicide cases making headlines to the mass killing in Shreveport, Louisiana. To understand it, Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa for a powerful conversation about the shocking allegations against farmworkers leader César Chávez, and Maria’s interview with Chávez’s co-leader (and victim) Dolores Huerta. Plus, they get into covering politics in the age of Trump, and how Maria got her Mexican passport back. And at the top of the show, group chat fave Dr. Brittney Cooper joins our UNtrending news segment on understanding all this violence—and, also, Beyoncé’s Lemonade turning 10!   To subscribe to The Meteor: wearethemeteor.com/newsletters Episode website: https://www.stayundistracted.com Follow The Meteor on Instagram and TikTok: @themeteor Follow Brittany on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube: @mspackyetti https://collective.media

Let’s be real: Capitol Hill has a creep crisis. In this episode, Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down with creator Arielle Fodor—better known as Mrs. Frazzled—to unpack how a small group of women publicized the alleged sexual misconduct of former congressman and California gubernatorial hopeful Eric Swalwell. They get into the power of the whisper network, and why Democrats stay quiet when The Accused is one of their own. Plus, group chat bestie Dr. David Johns joins Brittany to break down this week’s UNtrending news—from Hungary to New Jersey. To subscribe to The Meteor: wearethemeteor.com/newsletters Episode website: https://www.stayundistracted.com Follow The Meteor on Instagram and TikTok: @themeteor Follow Brittany on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube: @mspackyetti https://collective.media

UNDISTRACTED is back—and this is a fully loaded season premiere! First, Brittany Packnett Cunningham sits down the group chat of Dr. Brittney Cooper and Dr. David Johns to unpack what’s happened, from the rise of Ms. Rachel to the decline of democracy. Then she hits the mic with Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach to talk about raising boys in the age of the manosphere, navigating social-media backlash, and why Dawn Staley should never be messed with. This conversation gets real about the work of showing up…with integrity and with each other. Plus, we’ve got a helping of your UNtrending news.

We missed you, our sweet UNDISTRACTED gang…and look, this is no time to be apart. So we are BACK, with our biggest, juiciest season yet. Here’s a peek at what host Brittany Packnett Cunningham and her regular group chat—plus our newsmaking, rule-breaking guests—will be talking about all season long. In a world that’s trying to distract you from what really matters, she’ll keep you focused, informed, and making a difference. Follow Brittany on Instagram, Threads, TikTok & YouTube on @MsPackyetti Follow The Meteor on Instagram and Threads @themeteor & TikTok @wearethemeteor & YouTube @watchthemeteor Episode website: https://wearethemeteor.com/work/undistracted/

For our Season 3 finale, Brittany had no choice but to call up Thee group chat–The Machetes, an unshakeable sisterhood of women who bonded during COVID and haven’t let go. This week Brittany sits down with five of them–community organizer LaTosha Brown, broadcast journalist Cari Champion, co-host of The View Sunny Hostin, sports journalist Jemele Hill, and TheReidOut host Joy Ann Reid for conversation about community, sisterhood, and of course—where they got their name. Listen in…and hold on tight to your own Machetes. We’re going to need each other this year.For timely analysis, updates, and resources on actions from Trump-Vance administration, visit: https://www.democracy2025.org/response-centerStay UNDISTRACTED and subscribe to The Meteor newsletter by visiting WeAreTheMeteor.com/newsletters. Follow Brittany on Instagram, Threads & Tik Tok @MsPackyettiFollow The Meteor on Instagram @themeteor and X @themeteor. Follow Wonder Media Network on Instagram @wmn.media, X @wmnmedia, and Facebook.