
Hosted by Prentis Hemphill · EN
From Prentis Hemphill, the host and producer of the Finding Our Way podcast comes a new podcast: Becoming the People.
Prentis is in conversation with the thinkers, creators, and doers who are exploring some of the most relevant questions of our time: What will it take for us to change as a species? How do we create relationships that lead to collective transformation, and what will it take for us to heal?
We hope this podcast helps us uncover the path of how to become the people of our time. Find out more on www.prentishemphill.com
Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de Leña
Sound Engineer and Editing: Michael Maine
Original Music by Mayadda

This week, Prentis shares their assessment that the leadership model in our culture feels outdated. They share the concept of two leadership qualities that we could begin to possess on the individual or collective level -- will and surrender. And ask the questions-- How do we start to practice fluidity along the continuum of will and surrender to embody new ways of being leaders? And where can we start to look for leadership in odd and unexpected places?The quote Prentis mentions in the episode is by Simon Sinek: “Leaders are the ones who have the courage to go first, to put themselves at personal risk to open a path for others to follow.”If you’d like to come play and explore this theme more, join us over on Patreon.Support the showThe Becoming the People Podcast Team:Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de LeñaSound Engineer and Editing: Michael MaineOriginal Music: Mayyadda

Teacher, author and Zen Master, Norma Wong, is here to talk about her new book, Who we are becoming matters: the courage wisdom and aloha we need in the time of collapse. Norma helps us see further than we can see on our own and asks the question, who do we need to become to meet that horizon? Follow NormaCheck out her book: Who We Are Becoming Matters: The Courage, Wisdom, and Aloha We Need in a Timeplace of CollapseListen to her podcast The Horizon Story with Norma WongSupport the showThe Becoming the People Podcast Team:Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de LeñaSound Engineer and Editing: Michael MaineOriginal Music: Mayyadda

Prentis is joined by their friend, author and activist Kazu Haga, to explore his new book Fierce Vulnerability. Kazu asks us to consider a new type of courage, and together they converse about the value of deep interdependence, collective trauma, and how the “us vs. them” binary worldview is at the heart of what is destroying our relationships and our planet. Follow Kazu on InstagramCheck out his book: Fierce Vulnerability: Healing Trauma Emerging through CollapseIf you want to hear more from Kazu, revisit Prentis’ conversation with him about Navigating ConflictSupport the showThe Becoming the People Podcast Team:Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de LeñaSound Engineer and Editing: Michael MaineOriginal Music: Mayyadda

Prentis has returned to the pod after a short bereavement leave from the passing of their father. They are sharing how grief and time are pairing up to teach them how to bring more fluidity and honesty to their presence to allow more to be here now.They are also sharing a sweet story from their drag king past.If you’re enjoying this season, please support the podcast over on Patreon.Support the showThe Becoming the People Podcast Team:Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de LeñaSound Engineer and Editing: Michael MaineOriginal Music: Mayyadda

This episode originally aired in August 2024.We gather to honor the luminous legacy of Audre Lorde through the lens of Alexis Pauline Gumbs' radiant new book, Survival Is a Promise. Alexis joins us to unveil the journey of crafting Audre's biography, a tribute to the vibrant pulse and power of Audre’s words and practice. Together, we revel in the profound lessons Audre imparted on us about survival, courage, and love.Alexis’ new book is available now, Survival Is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde, and you can follow her work here @alexispaulineRead the transcript for this conversation hereYou can learn more about Prentis’ work belowPrentis' new book What It Takes to Heal is available nowFollow @prentishemphill on Instagram to see show clipsBecome a Patreon Subscriber to support the podcast and gain access to the full unedited conversations and visual episodesThe Becoming the People Podcast Team:Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de LeñaSound Engineer and Editing: Michael MaineResearch Assistant: Bhavana NancherlaOriginal Music: MayyaddaSupport the showThe Becoming the People Podcast Team:Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de LeñaSound Engineer and Editing: Michael MaineOriginal Music: Mayyadda

This episode was originally aired on July 1st 2024.Kai Cheng Thom - MSW, Qualified Mediator, Somatic Sex Educator, performance artist, community healer, award-winning writer, and author of Falling Back in Love with Being Human joins us for this episode. A consummate dreamer and believer in revolutionary potential, Kai brings radical love to her work and this conversation. Join us while Kai and Prentis geek out about exciting and dangerous things like monster-making, harm and revenge, + queerness and love.Read the full transcript of this conversation here.Follow @prentishemphill on Instagram to see show clipsBecome a Patreon Subscriber to support the podcast and gain access to the full unedited conversations and visual episodesFollow Kai on IG @kaichengthom and support the projects they mentioned in this episode:Trans Pride TorontoMaggie’s TorontoRed Canary SongSupport the showThe Becoming the People Podcast Team:Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de LeñaSound Engineer and Editing: Michael MaineOriginal Music: Mayyadda

This episode first aired in July 2024.Prentis is joined by the National Director of the Working Families Party, Maurice Mitchell. Maurice shares the roots of his organizing; reminds us of our power as a people and inspires us to continue to conjure and build a compelling vision toward the worlds we dream of.Support the organizations that Maurice mentioned in the episode:Working Families PartyMovement for Black LivesYou can check out Prentis' new book What It Takes to Heal is available now.Follow @prentishemphill on Instagram to see show clips or become a Patreon Subscriber to support the podcast and gain access to the full unedited conversations and visual episodes!Support the showThe Becoming the People Podcast Team:Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de LeñaSound Engineer and Editing: Michael MaineOriginal Music: Mayyadda

We won't be dropping a new episode this week, as Prentis is away mourning the passing of their father. To honor this tender moment we are resharing an episode from last season with Transformative grief activist, movement strategist, and writer Malkia Devich Cyril. Malkia shares stories and wisdom from their personal experience of loss, the possibility that emerges when we attend to our grief, and their insight about how we choose to grieve can determine how we can change the world.Thank you all for your kind wishes and we will be back soon with new episodes.Follow Malkia on Instagram @culturejedi and support the projects they mentioned in this episode:Movement Innovation Collaborative (MIC)Vision Change WinHighlander CenterPolitical Research AssociatesThe 22nd Century InitiativeSupport the showThe Becoming the People Podcast Team:Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de LeñaSound Engineer and Editing: Michael MaineOriginal Music: Mayyadda

Death doula, author and trainer, Alua Arthur, is a clear voice of what death could be if we brought it into the center of our lives. Alua brings her profound wisdom from confronting the existential and seemingly unfaceable realities of death. In this episode she breaks down the tastiest five layer fear of death cake and shares what’s possible for all of us when we hold death with reverence.Check out Alua’s Book Briefly Perfectly HumanGoing with Grace Death Doula TrainingFollow Alua on InstagramJoin us on our new Youtube channel for the Imposing Beauty on Our Future Livestream - get your tickets here!Support the showThe Becoming the People Podcast Team:Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de LeñaSound Engineer and Editing: Michael MaineOriginal Music: Mayyadda

Prentis addresses the rolling back of the Voting Rights Act and the impacts on our hope and imagination. They remind us of the power and audacity of the visionary ancestors that dared to dream before us, and encourage us to practice recovering our imagination to envision what we want next for our future.Join us on our new Youtube channel for the Imposing Beauty on Our Future Livestream - get your tickets here!Listen to the Dunums - Casual Planes AlbumSupport the showThe Becoming the People Podcast Team:Producers: Prentis Hemphill & devon de LeñaSound Engineer and Editing: Michael MaineOriginal Music: Mayyadda