A master-class in personal and professional development, ultra-athlete, wellness evangelist and bestselling author Rich Roll delves deep with the world's brightest and most thought provoking thought leaders to educate, inspire and empower you to unleash your best, most authentic self. More at: https://richroll.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
John Lewis + John Salley Are Black In America
“You’re not going to be liked by everybody but if someone’s going to hate you – let them hate you for doing the right thing.”
John Lewis
Today I reconnect with my friends John Salley & John Lewis to discuss the black experience, race in America, food injustice, and where we go from here.
A legit living legend, John Salley is the first basketball player in history to win four NBA championships with three different teams -- the Pistons, Bulls & Lakers -- in three different decades. Since retiring in 2000, John has been a consistent media presence across television, radio, film and new media -- appearing on countless programs as a host, commentator and creator.
A long-time vegan, Salley is also a passionate animal rights and healthy nutrition advocate (which we discussed in RRP 180). In addition, he’s an absolutely relentless entrepreneur, involved in a myriad of enterprises from vegan wine to cannabis. John's latest venture is Cafe Organix, a new plant-based restaurant he launched to help eradicate the food deserts that plague the Black and Brown communities of San Bernardino, California.
A prominent, ultra-positive voice in the vegan movement, John Lewis -- aka The Badass Vegan -- is a public speaker, personal trainer, and entrepreneur who can now add filmmaker to the resume. In partnership with mutual friend Keegan Kuhn (RRP 91, 176, 278, & 397), the co-director behind Cowspiracy, What The Health, and Running For Good, John is inching towards completion of They’re Trying To Kill Us -- a powerful upcoming documentary that examines the impact of food & health injustice on disenfranchised African American communities (a subject I first explored with John in RRP 260).
Busting traditional vegan stereotypes with a unique ability positively impact a wide diversity of people, John's story and broad smile has appeared on multiple television shows and in such publications as Muscle & Fitness, Men’s Fitness, Thrive, Origin, Maxim, and even Sports Illustrated.
Today we break bread. Black Lives Matter. Police misconduct. The pernicious nature of systemic racism. How religious institutions embed white supremacy.
We also discuss the importance of black leadership and entrepreneurship. And we close with thoughts on food injustice -- how our broken food system negatively and disproportionately impacts communities of color.
But most of all, this is a conversation about what is necessary to make things right. What black and brown communities need from white allies. And the ways in which we can grow, change, and do better -- together.
Note: Check out the recently released and incredibly compelling trailer for They're Trying To Kill Us. Then visit the film's Indiegogo campaign to learn how you can support the film.
Language Advisory: This one is packed with expletives, so pop on the earbuds if you got kiddos in the backseat.
Finally, I suspect this will be an uncomfortable conversation for some; maybe for many. I invite you to listen or watch with an open mind and heart.
Notwithstanding, these guys are a total blast. I love them both. I'm grateful for their friendship -- and their honesty.
The visually inclined can watch our conversation on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Strap in.
Peace + Plants,
Listen, Watch & Subscribe
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Show Notes
- Connect with John Salley: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
- Connect with John Lewis: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
- Trailer: They're Trying To Kill Us
- Indiegogo: They're Trying To Kill Us
- LA Times: Former NBA star John Salley touts the vegan life
- Cafe Organix: Website | Instagram
- VegOut: John Salley's New Vegan Restaurant Opens In San Bernardino
- The Source: Filmmaker John Lewis Tackles Food & Health Injustice Against African Americans
- Plant Based News: Bad Ass Vegan Stars In New Film 'They’re Trying To Kill Us' About Racism And Food Justice
- AfroPunk: ‘They're Trying To Kill Us': The Links Between Racism, Diet and Disease
- The Beet: Upcoming Documentary They’re Trying to Kill Us Focuses on Food Injustice
- VegNews: New Vegan Film 'They're Trying To Kill Us' Examines Intersection. of Diet, Poverty, and Systemic Racism
- The Reporter: Danette Mitchell: The ‘white Jesus’ controversy
- The Jerusalem Post: Archbishop of Canterbury: Church must reconsider image of Jesus as white
Allyship Resources
- Google Doc: Anti-Racist Resource Guide
- Google Doc: Anti-Racism Resources for White People
- New Era of Public Safety: A Guide to Fair, Safe, and Effective Community Policing
- Equal Justice Initiative: Tragic Death of George Floyd Reveals Continuing Problem of Police Violence
- TED: How we can make racism a solvable problem — and improve policing
- Campaign Zero: joincampaignzero.org
- 8 Can’t Wait: 8cantwait.org
- GoFundMe: George Floyd Memorial Fund
- Change.org: Justice for Breonna Taylor
- GoFundMe: George Floyd Memorial Fund
- Black Lives Matter: Resources
- Reclaim The Block: reclaimtheblock.org
- The Marshall Project: themarshallproject.org
- The Bail Project: bailproject.org
- Bail Funds: List of Bail Funds for Protestors
- NAACP: Legal Defense and Education Fund
- Run With Maud: runwithmaud.com
- Crooked Media: Vote Save America
- The Atlantic: The Case for Reparations by Ta-Nahisi Coates
- NY Times: The 1619 Project
- NY Times: 1619 Podcast
- Bad Form Review: Racism Reading List
- Sojourners: For Our White Friends Desiring To Be Allies
- The Ezra Klein Show: Why Ta-Nahesi Coates Is Hopeful
- Netflix: Black Lives Matter Collection
Related Podcasts You Might Enjoy
- RRP #180: John Salley — The NBA Champion on Going Vegan For Athletic Performance, Longevity, & The Environment
- RRP #260: John Lewis is The Badass Vegan — Upending Stereotypes & The Impact of Positive Mindset on Destiny
- RRP #243: Coach George Raveling on Breaking Civil Rights Barriers
- RRP #526: This Is America - Byron Davis & Phil Allen, Jr.
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Thanks to Jason Camiolo for production, audio engineering and show notes; Margo Lubin and Blake Curtis for video, editing and graphics; portraits by Ali Rogers; and theme music by Tyler Piatt. Trapper Piatt & Hari Mathis.
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