Learn More: Providing Access to Housing After Incarceration

​​Incarceration in the U.S. has profound flaws and consequences, but there are many people doing life-changing work to lessen its harm. In this special episode, Lemonada co-founder Stephanie Wittels Wachs sits down with two individuals whose organizations aim to increase access to housing for peopl…

Why we can’t incarcerate our way to public safety

There has been a lot of media coverage around recent spikes in violent crime. A LOT. Even though overall crime rates are at historic lows, many people are feeling unsafe and want solutions. Most people also want to tackle our country’s incarceration crisis while addressing public safety concerns. A…

Travon Unravels the Racist Roots of Excited Delirium

In this episode, host Travon Free uncovers the racist roots of the debunked medical term “excited delirium.” A study from Maryland in 2017 found that excited delirium was referenced in 11 percent of cases where someone died in police custody. And when these cases go to court, the concept of excited…

Travon Asks If Microphones Really Stop Bullets

Can you hear the difference between a firework and a gunshot? ShotSpotter says it can. It's a private sector company that uses microphones to detect gunfire and alert police to the scene. The company says it’s a powerful tool to stop gun violence, but critics say it’s an excuse to overpolice some o…

Travon Explores the Humanitarian Crisis on Rikers Island

Rikers is a pretrial detention center and while people await their day in court, the conditions at the island are simply inhumane due to violence, overcrowding and inadequate medical care. Rikers is scheduled to close in 2027 but at the rate we're going, eighty more people might die on the island b…

The Untold Story: Season 3, we're back!

From executive producer, Jay Ellis, and Lemonada Media, season 3 of The Untold Story drops October 25. Host Travon Free talks to real people about the injustices happening in your own backyard.

Jay Learns Who Really Pays for Prison Time

In all 50 states, people caught up in the criminal justice system can be charged fines and fees for everything from the cost of police transport during arrests, to the cost of room and board for their time behind bars. In this episode, Jay learns about the back story of how Pay to Stay policy was i…

Jay Learns that Forensic Science Isn't Very Scientific

Host Jay Ellis is a fan of crime scene investigation TV shows - he’s even acted in them! But in this episode, he learns that all the fancy forensic science the heroes of those shows use to solve crimes are not as good as they seem on TV. Jay speaks to experts about how forensic practices were devel…

Jay Learns that a Pair of Jeans Could Ruin Your Life

Host Jay Ellis has dealt with shoplifters first-hand, back when he was a teenaged retail manager at a high-end shoe store. But he never learned about the other side of the story - what motivates people to shoplift and what happens to them if they’re caught. In this episode, Jay learns that people c…

The Untold Story is Back for Season 2

In season one of The Untold Story, host Jay Ellis (Insecure, Top Gun: Maverick, Mrs. America) took us on a journey to understand policing and its pitfalls. Now, he's back to tell you about some of the things that can happen after you get arrested. You might be aware that America's criminal justice …