The Cause Podcast Episodes
EPISODE 30 | MAR 12, 2026 | 42 MIN
The Women's Liberation Movement
What is Women's Liberation? It is more than a slogan, more than a season, more than a symbolic seat at a table built by patriarchy. Women's liberation is the radical reimagining of the world itself. It is the audacious assertion that women are not property, not afterthought, not footnotes to male ambition, but full human beings endowed with intellect, imagination, agency, and authority.
Coming Soon!
EPISODE 29 | FEB 26, 2026 | 58 MIN
Afrofuturism: Black Freedom, Black Philosophy, Black Future
What is Afrofuturism, and why does it matter now? In this episode, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores Afrofuturism as more than a cultural trend. It is a philosophy of freedom, a political imagination, and a practice of worldmaking rooted in the Black Freedom Struggle. It is what happens when Black artists, thinkers, and communities refuse the lie that the future belongs to someone else.
EPISODE 28 | FEB 12, 2026 | 36 MIN
Black History Month Centennial, 1926–2026: One Hundred Years of Black History Month
In 2026, we mark 100 years of Black History Month. One hundred years of intentional remembering, rigorous study, and collective struggle around Black life and Black humanity. One hundred years of insisting that Black history is not a footnote to American history but central, foundational, and indispensable.
EPISODE 27 | JAN 29, 2026 | 37 MIN
The Beloved Community, Part II: Martin Luther King, “I Have a Dream,” and the Beloved Community
Dr. Reiland Rabaka returns to one of the most quoted speeches in American history, but this time with sharper questions and deeper listening. What happens when a radical call for justice gets remembered without its demands? What did Martin Luther King Jr. actually say on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, and what have we chosen to forget?
EPISODE 26 | JAN 15, 2026 | 37 MIN
The Beloved Community Part I: Martin Luther King and the Beloved Community
In this first part of our January series, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores the meaning, origins, and practical demands of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision for the Beloved Community. Far from an abstract ideal, the Beloved Community represents a way of being and acting in the world that places justice, love, care, and collective responsibility at the center of democratic life.
EPISODE 25.5 | DEC 29, 2025 | 1 HR 30 MIN
Kwanzaa Part II: A Celebration of Culture, Family, and Community, Live Event
This special Part 2 episode comes from a live community gathering held on December 10, 2025 at the Boulder Public Library. Rooted in dialogue, reflection, and shared practice, this episode centers community voices as they engage the principles of Kwanzaa together.
EPISODE 25 | DEC 18, 2025 | 54 MIN
Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Culture, Family, and Community
In this powerful and timely episode of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka offers a deeply rooted meditation on Kwanzaa as a cultural practice, a philosophical framework, and a living tradition born from the Black Freedom Movement. More than a holiday, Kwanzaa emerges here as a week long ritual of remembrance, reflection, and renewal that affirms African and African diasporic dignity, creativity, and collective responsibility.
EPISODE 24 | DEC 4, 2025 | 48 MIN
The Women's Suffrage Movement
In The Women’s Suffrage Movement, Dr. Rabaka lifts up the intertwined histories of women’s rights, abolitionism, racial justice, and democratic reform. This episode serves as a companion to Episode 23, The Abolitionist Movement, deepening our understanding of how these movements shaped one another.
EPISODE 23 | NOV 20, 2025 | 60 MIN
The Abolitionist Movement: The Roots of Anti-Racism and Allyship
Episode 23 of The Cause Podcast takes listeners deep into the heart of The Abolitionist Movement, exploring how the fight to end slavery laid the foundation for modern anti-racism, civil rights, and contemporary struggles for human dignity and liberation.
EPISODE 22 | NOV 6, 2025 | 59 MIN
Beyond the Game: Voices from the Black Student Athlete Summit
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Reiland Rabaka is joined by DaWon Baker, CU Boulder’s Associate Athletic Director for Impact & Strategic Engagement, along with three CU Boulder students and student-athletes who recently attended the 2025 Black Student Athlete Summit in Chicago. Together, they share what it means to be part of a national gathering that celebrates Black excellence, amplifies voices, and addresses the challenges and opportunities facing Black students at predominantly white institutions.
EPISODE 21 | OCT 23, 2025 | 59 MIN
A Conversation with State Rep. Junie Joseph
In this episode, Dr. Reiland Rabaka speaks with State Representative Junie Joseph, a dynamic legislator representing Colorado’s District 10. Born in Haiti and now serving in the Colorado General Assembly, Representative Joseph shares her remarkable journey of resilience, civic engagement, and community-centered leadership.
EPISODE 20 | OCT 9, 2025 | 59 MIN
Global South
In this episode, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores The Global South. Not just as a place, but as a living, breathing movement for liberation. Through stories of art, activism, and resistance, Dr. Rabaka connects the histories of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, revealing how centuries of colonialism have shaped today’s struggles for justice and self-determination.
EPISODE 19 | SEP 25, 2025 | 53 MIN
Decolonization
In Episode 19, Dr. Reiland Rabaka takes us deep into the meaning and urgency of Decolonization. Far more than a political project, decolonization encompasses cultural, spiritual, and musical transformations. It is about dismantling oppressive systems while reclaiming knowledge, heritage, and self-determination.
EPISODE 19 | SEP 11, 2025 | 50 MIN
Social Justice
In Episode 18, we conclude our Justice Series with a powerful exploration of Social Justice. Dr. Reiland Rabaka examines how movements for equity, access, participation, and human dignity are essential to building a truly democratic society.
EPISODE 17 | AUG 28, 2025 | 48 MIN
Food Justice
In Episode 17, Dr. Reiland Rabaka turns his attention to the politics of the plate: food justice. This episode digs deep into how access to healthy, affordable food is tied to democracy, power, and equality.
EPISODE 16 | AUG 14, 2025 | 56 MIN
Environmental Justice
In this episode, Dr. Rabaka examines the intersection of environmentalism, social justice, and the fight for equality. This powerful conversation unpacks how environmental issues disproportionately impact marginalized communities, and why that matters for democracy.
EPISODE 15 | JUL 31, 2025 | 53 MIN
Radical Democracy: Power to the People!
In this episode, Dr. Reiland Rabaka dives deep into the roots, meanings, and modern-day relevance of radical democracy. From grassroots movements to global calls for justice, this conversation explores how democracy can be reshaped through community action, cultural expression, and music.
EPISODE 14 | JUL 17, 2025 | 60 MIN
Pacifism & Peace Activism
In this episode, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores the radical legacy of pacifism and nonviolent resistance in African American history and beyond. From W.E.B. Du Bois and Martin Luther King Jr. to Bayard Rustin and Angela Davis, Dr. Rabaka brings forward voices that have imagined and embodied a different way of doing justice work.
EPISODE 13 | JUL 3, 2025 | 56 MIN
Hip Hop Studies Part 3: The Hip Hop Movement
In this powerful closing chapter of our Hip Hop Studies series, Dr. Reiland Rabaka invites us to step beyond the music and into the deeper meaning of hip hop as a worldwide movement for change. While most people think of hip hop as just beats and rhymes, Dr. Rabaka challenges us to see it as something much larger: a living, breathing social movement rooted in community, activism, and the ongoing fight for justice.
EPISODE 12 | JUN 19, 2025 | 56 MIN
Hip Hop Studies Part 2: Political and Gangsta Rap
In Part 2 of our Hip Hop Studies series, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores the evolution and impact of political and gangsta rap, two vital branches of hip hop that challenged systems, spotlighted injustice, and reshaped public dialogue around race, poverty, policing, and power.
EPISODE 11 | JUN 6, 2025 | 50 MIN
Hip Hop Studies Part 1: The Roots of Rap
In this episode, Dr. Reiland Rabaka launches our new Hip Hop Studies series with a powerful exploration of the cultural, political, and historical foundations of hip hop. This episode traces the origins of hip hop from its roots in the Bronx to its connections with African griots, Black oral traditions, and resistance movements. Dr. Rabaka unpacks the five core elements of hip hop, MCing, DJing, breakdancing, graffiti, and knowledge, and how each one emerged as a form of survival, expression, and cultural genius.
EPISODE 10 | MAY 8, 2025 | 55 MIN
The Beloved Community
In this milestone 10th episode of The Cause, Dr. Reiland Rabaka reflects deeply on one of his greatest causes: The Beloved Community. Tracing its philosophical roots from Josiah Royce to Howard Thurman to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rabaka offers his own powerful remix for the 21st century, one grounded in radical inclusivity, environmental justice, gender equity, and transformative love.
EPISODE 9 | APR 24, 2025 | 53 MIN
Civil Rights Movement Music
In this powerful episode, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores the deep cultural, spiritual, and political roots of Civil Rights Music. From the sacred sounds of the Black church to the anthems that echoed through marches, protests, and mass meetings. Drawing connections between gospel, rhythm & blues, rock & roll, and freedom songs, Dr. Rabaka illustrates how music served not only as inspiration but as a vital form of protest and communication when other means were denied.
EPISODE 8 | APR 10, 2025 | 50 MIN
Rock and Roll and the Civil Rights Movement
In this episode, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores how rock & roll helped shape the Civil Rights Movement and American democracy itself. From its deep roots in gospel and rhythm & blues to its explosive rise in the 1950s and ’60s, rock & roll became more than music. It was a cultural force for integration, resistance, and youth rebellion.
EPISODE 7 | MAR 27, 2025 | 41 MIN
Rhythm and Blues and the Civil Rights Movement
Rhythm and Blues wasn’t just a genre, it was a powerful force in the fight for civil rights. In this episode, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores how R&B artists used their music to challenge injustice, inspire activism, and uplift communities during one of the most pivotal times in American history.
EPISODE 6 | MAR 13, 2025 | 45 MIN
Black Women's Liberation Movement Music, Overview by the Author
How did Black women use music to fight for freedom? In this episode, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores the themes of his recent book, Black Women's Liberation Movement Music: Soul Sisters, Black Feminist Funksters, and Afro-Disco Divas. From the raw soul of Aretha Franklin to the boundary-pushing funk of Betty Davis, this episode highlights the Black women artists who used music as a tool for activism, empowerment, and cultural transformation.
EPISODE 5 | FEB 27, 2026 | 43 MIN
Allyship
What does it mean to be an ally? More importantly, what does it mean to be an active ally? In this episode, Dr. Reiland Rabaka takes a deep dive into the meaning of allyship. Breaking down the difference between reactive and proactive allies, the role of self-transformation in social change, and the need for radical, authentic allyship in dismantling systems of oppression.
EPISODE 4 | FEB 13, 2025 | 67 MIN
Interview with Otis Taylor, Musician, Pioneer of Trance Blues and Banjo, Part 2
In Part 2 of our conversation with legendary blues musician Otis Taylor, we dive deeper into his artistic journey, his distinctive trance blues style, and the historical and cultural significance of his work. Taylor shares personal stories about the power of storytelling through music, the African roots of the banjo, and how his music continues to challenge narratives and inspire change.
EPISODE 3 | FEB 1, 2025 | 52 MIN
Interview with Otis Taylor, Musician, Pioneer of Trance Blues and Banjo, Part 1
In this two-part special of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka sits down with renowned blues musician Otis Taylor for an intimate and dynamic conversation. In Part 1, they explore Taylor’s journey into music, his unique style, and his deep ties to African American history and culture. Taylor shares stories about his upbringing, his influences, and how he’s used his music to tell powerful, often untold, stories.
EPISODE 2 | FEB 1, 2025 | 68 MIN
The Funk Movement, Book Overview by the Author
In the second episode of The Cause, Dr. Reiland Rabaka takes us deep into the rhythmic roots of his latest book, The Funk Movement: Music, Culture, and Politics. This episode explores how funk music became a vital soundtrack to the Black Power movement, transcending mere entertainment to embody a cultural and political revolution.
EPISODE 1 | FEB 1, 2025 | 37 MIN
An Introduction to The Cause
Welcome to The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy with Dr. Reiland Rabaka. In this inaugural episode, Dr. Rabaka introduces listeners to the heart and soul of the podcast: a space dedicated to exploring profound causes like social justice, racial equality, and cultural empowerment through the lens of music and historical dialogue.
Have any ideas for topics or guests for The Cause Podcast? Let us know thecause@gmail.com.