Claim OwnershipWe the Unhoused
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Description
We the Unhoused is a podcast created by Theo Henderson with the goal of uplifting voiceless citizens. Begun while Theo was living on the streets of LA for over eight years, the show provides an intimate look at the unhoused experience.
115 Episodes
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To close out 2025, Theo speaks with Sam Luu and Hillary Cohen of Every Day Action. We learn how they scaled their pandemic-era mutual aid effort to feed the unhoused to where they are today, continuing that work by preventing food waste on film sets and helping out-of-work film industry professionals during the ongoing labor crisis. Learn more about Every Day Action here: https://www.youreverydayaction.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Theo speaks with Professor Dina Gilio-Whitaker, author of the new book Who Gets to Be Indian? Ethnic Fraud, Disenrollment, and Other Difficult Conversations about Native American Identity. We also take a look at the new ghoulish policies that stand to force people into houselessness in the new year, and revisit the story of Brendan Glenn, an unhoused man killed by an LAPD officer ten years ago. Buy Dina's book here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/who-gets-to-be-indian-ethnic-fraud-disenrollment-and-other-difficult-conversations-about-native-american-identity-dina-gilio-whitaker/6e5512b39cdfe3a3 Follow Dina: https://www.instagram.com/dinagiliowhitaker/?hl=enSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Longtime guest Caitlin Krenn returns to We the Unhoused to tell Theo about the upcoming documentary Outcast Nation: LGBTQIA. Homeless. Unseen. on PBS, along with collaborators and subjects Jen Liquori, Maddox Guerilla, and director Charlie Spickler. Watch the documentary here starting December 6th or on your local PBS affiliate! https://www.pbs.org/show/outcast-nation-lgbtqia-homeless-unseen-in-new-york-city/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Theo speaks with legendary activist and writer Dr. Gloria Browne-Marshall, author of the new book A Protest History of the United States. Dr. Browne-Marshall discusses the most effective ways to protest in the modern age, and what we can learn from the long tradition of sit-ins, street protests, and boycotts that have empowered people for centuries. Also, Theo returns to JTown Action and Solidarity in Los Angeles to speak with organizers Carlos and Zen the day that millions of Americans had SNAP benefits taken by the Trump regime. Follow Gloria's work here: https://www.instagram.com/gbrownemarshall/?hl=en Donate to JTown Action and Solidarity here: https://jtownaction.com/DonateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Theo heads to a protest organized by the unhoused residents of the Mountain View encampment after yet another violent sweep. Their question: why isn’t their DSA-endorsed councilperson, Eunisses Hernandez, showing up? Residents, organizers, and mutual aid workers share their perspectives. If you’re in LA and lost your SNAP benefits: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQP-y08EsjT/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Follow the All Power Free Clinic here: https://www.instagram.com/apfreeclinic?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
School is in session! This week, Theo speaks with Felicia Rangel-Samponaro of the Sidewalk School, an organization that provides services from food and necessities to policy advocacy to education to unhoused immigrants living on the Mexican border. Felicia's journey to this crucial work, and how the Sidewalk School has had to adapt to protect their participants during increased ICE kidnappings and violence, is not one to be missed. Follow Felicia and the Sidewalk School here: https://www.sidewalkschool.org https://www.instagram.com/thesidewalkschool/?hl=enSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Theo speaks with longtime activist Beth Green about how to push through moments of apathy in the organizing movement. Follow Beth's work here: https://www.heartcastmedia.com/beth-green/ Keep voting for us in the Signal Awards -- open til October 9th! https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting?fbclid=PARlRTSANKtG1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp1QF2gTwcL-RtwGFolalwQqBkJK6ze8t3PwOwCPWyZ8OuvbsReVYEXZ5rFew_aem_uvY1f3AzE-45Fiw4fdKc5g#/2025/shows/genre/activism-public-service-social-impact?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadUBdoE8HC_kbcBhaJWpcEKgZCSus3vLdz8DsAj1smfDrr27EXlWBF2eaxXsA_aem_uvY1f3AzE-45Fiw4fdKc5gSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Description: We the Unhoused is nominated for a Signal Award, one of the most prestigious in podcasting, and your vote counts! Vote for WTU in the Activism, Public Service & Social Impact category before October 9th, and Theo will be back next week with a brand new episode. Vote here: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting?fbclid=PARlRTSANKtG1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp1QF2gTwcL-RtwGFolalwQqBkJK6ze8t3PwOwCPWyZ8OuvbsReVYEXZ5rFew_aem_uvY1f3AzE-45Fiw4fdKc5g#/2025/shows/genre/activism-public-service-social-impact?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadUBdoE8HC_kbcBhaJWpcEKgZCSus3vLdz8DsAj1smfDrr27EXlWBF2eaxXsA_aem_uvY1f3AzE-45Fiw4fdKc5gSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Theo examines how violent language has not just become normalized and weaponized against the unhoused, but how its worst offenders are lauded as heroes. Then: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Crenshaw Farmer's Market, Theo speaks with organizers Laura, Ashley, Summer, and Jennifer about how community food justice is working to preserve and build community in South LA.Learn more about the celebration on September 27th here: https://www.crenshawfarmersmarket.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Theo speaks with Executive Director of the Institute of the Development for Human Arts Jessie Roth about healing and transforming society through accessible treatment for mental health that takes full account of the adverse affects of external conditions. In Unhoused News, Theo takes a closer look at the most recent policies at the national and state level targeting the unhoused and the undocumented, and how they seek to turn vulnerable people against one another.Follow Jessie Roth here: https://www.jessie-roth.com/idhaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As ICE raids continue to escalate and target farm workers, many of whom as unhoused, revolutionary mutual aid efforts like Alianza Nacional De Campesinas are meeting the moment. Theo and the WTU crew head to the triple digits of Thermal, California, where farmers can access everything from fresh food to diapers and school supplies. Food justice organizers Melissa Acedera and Roxanna Chavez speak to Theo about how the needs of their community changed as racist, targeted violence has escalated; then, farmer and volunteer Sonia Baturoni shares her experience and concerns about the ripple effects ICE raids have on the farming community. Alianza Nacional De Campesinas: https://www.alianzanacionaldecampesinas.org/ Lideres Campesinas: https://liderescampesinas.org/ Polo's Pantry: https://www.polospantry.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Theo speaks with activist Sequoyah Thiessen about their experience being body brokered at LA area rehab facilities, and how these same places are exploiting the community's most vulnerable -- including the unhoused. We also remember past guest Cindy McAllister, who passed away this month. Theo speaks with friends about her life, and how her memory will continue. Follow Sequoyah's work here: https://www.instagram.com/sequoyahthiessen/?hl=enSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1This week, Theo explores the reality of mental health complications while unhoused -- with parent to an unhoused Angeleno, Anita, and speaking about lived experience with attorney Clare Cortwright. Also, we remember Angeleno and Reclaimer activist Benito Flores. More about Reclaimers and contribute to Benito's memorial fund here: https://reclaimingourhomes.org/support/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Theo speaks with returning guest, ACLU SoCal's Kath Rogers and immigration lawyer Pasquale Lombardo about the ICE raids in Los Angeles, and how to move forward with hope and pragmatism for the undocumented and unhoused communities. Also -- Theo covers the press conference of hospitalized victim of an ICE attack, Milagra Solis Portillo, including an interview with Senator Sasha Renee Perez and speaks on the top five ways that the unhoused are being devalued at a local, state, and federal level.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As the heat picks up and Los Angeles continues to resist ICE, Theo speaks with Tanner Swanson of A New Leaf in Arizona to speak about the unique issues the state’s unhoused people face in increasingly lethal temperatures. While the year mark of the Grants Pass decision approaches and climate change’s consequences continues to spread, they speak on how the unhoused are being failed, and what needs to change. Learn about A New Leaf: https://turnanewleaf.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Theo reports from Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, where necessary protest was met with violent retaliation from ICE, the LAPD, and the National Guard after the city was targeted for mass deportation. He reflects on the intersection of being unhoused and undocumented, and who gets left behind -- then, an interview with unhoused activist Secret.1Add reactionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Theo is joined by author and journalist Claudia Rowe to discuss her latest book Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care and take a closer look at the ways that those in the foster system have faced discrimination and a complete lack of support for generations. The intersections and overlaps between systemics failure to those in (and out) of foster care are explored, and no stone is left unturned. Also: Theo discusses how the SNAP program rollbacks will affect the unhoused. Buy Wards of the State here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/wards-of-the-state-the-long-shadow-of-american-foster-care-claudia-rowe/21706052 Follow Claudia here: https://www.claudiarowejournalist.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Houselessness is a global issue, and every unhoused person’s experience is unique. This week, Theo welcomes his first international guest to We the Unhoused — Greta shares her story of navigating houselessness in Europe and the UK, and how her experience is in conversation with how the unhoused are treated in the U.S.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Theo speaks with the legendary John Lee Hooker Jr. about his time being unhoused, the misconceptions media has around the unhoused, and how he found his way through addiction. Also, a moment to celebrate We the Unhoused's two Webby Award wins! Follow John Lee Hooker Jr. here: https://johnleehookerjr.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Theo talks with Becks Heyhoe-Khalil about how houselessness is treated in America versus other places in the west -- and what needs to be done in the States to combat the numerous way the U.S. fails the unhoused on the city, state, and national levels.Follow Dr. Heyhoe-Khalil's work here: https://unitedtoendhomelessness.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/becks-heyhoe/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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If "I don't like the way it looks" is justification for having cars towed, can we call tow requests for every new Tesla we see parked?
I'm so glad he mentioned Mutual Aid. Recognized charities have their place, but many still funnel money into the silk line suit pockets of executives. If you can, give to charities, mutual aid groups, volunteer groups, and directly to people you see holding signs. If you only have enough for one, well, I'd put that in the hand of someone who is wondering if they'll get enough to stay somewhere warm and not freeze to death tonight.
I wish someone did something like this in my region. I live in MA, and when it's 6°F, we are nowhere near prepared enough to provide warming stations for unhoused people. These temperatures aren't new: it isn't like we haven't had our entire history to learn we need this infrastructure.
I live in Massachusetts and see a lot of these issues here, too. Empty gestures pretending to help while allowing house and rent prices to skyrocket, abandoned houses wasting space, public housing wait list a year or longer, a bus system that stops running at 8pm, and more. Improvements always start with services used by the wealthier population. It's upside down
Anecdotal evidence: yes, for the first 20-ish years since I was working, all my co-workers were (as far as I knew) housed, and many were in a physical or mental space where they shouldn't be working, so the fear of employers that unhoused people might not be ready to work is silly