https://viewerslikeus.com/
Explore our website at https://viewerslikeus.com/]]>enTV & FilmCopyright Viewers Like Ushttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/9f1bca2fb871325234b8f62e44a52b6c.jpghttps://viewerslikeus.com/Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:07:58 +0000Viewers Like UsViewers Like Ushello@viewerslikeus.comViewers Like Us explores who gets to tell America’s multitude of stories in public media today. Host and independent filmmaker, Grace Lee, along with reporter and filmmaker Akintunde Ahmad, investigate a history of systemic inequities at PBS, the...
Explore our website at https://viewerslikeus.com/]]>trueepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/now-what--67999112
In the final episode of Season 2, Grace and her fellow Viewers Like Us co-creators, Ken Ikeda and Joaquin Alvarado, reconvene in Oakland, California for a candid roundtable conversation about the fraught state of the public media union. The trio reflects on lessons learned from making Season 1 of the podcast, from 2021 to the present, and uplifts resonant takeaways from a series of interactive worldbuilding sessions organized by VLU in 2022. Facilitated by Tony Patrick, these sessions allowed industry peers and leaders in the arts, documentary, and media sectors to collectively envision more dynamic, sustainable paths forward in support of all those who are eager to tell an abundance of American stories. Grace, Joaquin, and Ken also call in young makers to join the critical fight to build a better, more innovative future for public media — albeit in whatever new, reimagined forms it may take in the months ahead.

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67999112Fri, 03 Oct 2025 12:58:12 +0000Viewers Like Us“You’ve gotta respect the incredible amount of hustle that independents bring, that our communities bring, that is defined inside of the history in public broadcasting. There's been a lot of hustle. That hustle's not going away.” - Joaquin Alvarado...
In the final episode of Season 2, Grace and her fellow Viewers Like Us co-creators, Ken Ikeda and Joaquin Alvarado, reconvene in Oakland, California for a candid roundtable conversation about the fraught state of the public media union. The trio reflects on lessons learned from making Season 1 of the podcast, from 2021 to the present, and uplifts resonant takeaways from a series of interactive worldbuilding sessions organized by VLU in 2022. Facilitated by Tony Patrick, these sessions allowed industry peers and leaders in the arts, documentary, and media sectors to collectively envision more dynamic, sustainable paths forward in support of all those who are eager to tell an abundance of American stories. Grace, Joaquin, and Ken also call in young makers to join the critical fight to build a better, more innovative future for public media — albeit in whatever new, reimagined forms it may take in the months ahead.

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com]]>2467publicmediatrue27fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/no-surprises--67998981
Grace continues to unpack the devastating fallout from the Republican-led rescission package to defund CPB—the conduit for federal funding to NPR, PBS, and their member stations—alongside Leslie Fields-Cruz, executive director of Black Public Media, and Don Young, executive director of CAAM. Leslie and Don share their respective organizations’ origin stories and reflect on what prior decades of independent maker-led organizing, particularly the work of veteran indie filmmaker and producer Loni Ding, made possible for public media.

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67998981Fri, 03 Oct 2025 12:34:06 +0000Viewers Like Us“The worst thing that can happen is that [young makers] stop. That's what they're trying to do. They're trying to scare folks into not creating, not sharing their voices, not telling our stories. And that’s not acceptable. We're not going back.” -...
Grace continues to unpack the devastating fallout from the Republican-led rescission package to defund CPB—the conduit for federal funding to NPR, PBS, and their member stations—alongside Leslie Fields-Cruz, executive director of Black Public Media, and Don Young, executive director of CAAM. Leslie and Don share their respective organizations’ origin stories and reflect on what prior decades of independent maker-led organizing, particularly the work of veteran indie filmmaker and producer Loni Ding, made possible for public media.

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com]]>1739publicmediatrue26fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feet-to-the-fire--67995816
Following the passage of the Trump administration's rescission package to defund public media, including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), Grace speaks with Erika Dilday in her capacity as executive director of American Documentary, Inc., and executive producer of its award-winning documentary series POV on PBS. Erika shares potential ways forward from her corner of the public broadcasting world; addresses the censorship claims related to Jane M. Wagner’s debut feature documentary, "Break the Game" (2023), the focus of this season’s fourth episode; and discusses her experiences of collaborating with Ken Burns on a forthcoming documentary series, "Emancipation to Exodus." 

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67995816Fri, 03 Oct 2025 12:24:29 +0000Viewers Like Us “Being able to give people things to discuss, to have an honest and intelligent discussion, is important. Dialogue leads to action, and we can't lose that.” - Erika Dilday Following the passage of the Trump administration's rescission package to...
Following the passage of the Trump administration's rescission package to defund public media, including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), Grace speaks with Erika Dilday in her capacity as executive director of American Documentary, Inc., and executive producer of its award-winning documentary series POV on PBS. Erika shares potential ways forward from her corner of the public broadcasting world; addresses the censorship claims related to Jane M. Wagner’s debut feature documentary, "Break the Game" (2023), the focus of this season’s fourth episode; and discusses her experiences of collaborating with Ken Burns on a forthcoming documentary series, "Emancipation to Exodus." 

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com]]>2065publicmediafalse25fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/left-in-the-dark--66812496
Grace speaks with filmmaker and television producer Jane M. Wagner about her debut feature documentary, "Break the Game" (2023). Jane’s film, centered on world-record-holding gamer Narcissa Wright and her experience coming out as a trans woman, explores “gamer culture, the realities of online harassment, and the mental health implications of living a digital life.” The film’s unexpectedly rocky rollout — PBS indefinitely postponed its POV broadcast, before offering a later date — offers a cautionary tale for anyone navigating the crisis-filled waters of public media right now. Jane’s innovative approach to ensuring that her film reached audiences, on her own terms, will hopefully spark inspiration for how fellow filmmakers can connect with and share their work directly with the public, no matter what happens next with PBS.

The documentary makes its national broadcast premiere on PBS’s POV Monday, June 30, 2025 at 10 p.m. (check local listings). It will be available to stream until July 30, 2025 at pbs.org and via the PBS App.

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66812496Mon, 30 Jun 2025 22:40:03 +0000Viewers Like Us“Making some noise can make a difference, and I hope that would be encouraging to people who are afraid, especially in this political climate.” - Jane M. Wagner Grace speaks with filmmaker and television producer Jane M. Wagner about her debut...
Grace speaks with filmmaker and television producer Jane M. Wagner about her debut feature documentary, "Break the Game" (2023). Jane’s film, centered on world-record-holding gamer Narcissa Wright and her experience coming out as a trans woman, explores “gamer culture, the realities of online harassment, and the mental health implications of living a digital life.” The film’s unexpectedly rocky rollout — PBS indefinitely postponed its POV broadcast, before offering a later date — offers a cautionary tale for anyone navigating the crisis-filled waters of public media right now. Jane’s innovative approach to ensuring that her film reached audiences, on her own terms, will hopefully spark inspiration for how fellow filmmakers can connect with and share their work directly with the public, no matter what happens next with PBS.

The documentary makes its national broadcast premiere on PBS’s POV Monday, June 30, 2025 at 10 p.m. (check local listings). It will be available to stream until July 30, 2025 at pbs.org and via the PBS App.

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com]]>2588publicmediafalse24fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-are-we-preserving--66549742
Grace convenes fellow filmmakers Cecilia Aldarondo, Marjan Safinia, and Michèle Stephenson (see full bios and links to films in episode show notes) for a conversation on something that’s sparked serious concern for all four of them in recent months: the elimination of many educational and curriculum materials accompanying their films on the PBS LearningMedia website.

As with all of our episodes this season, Grace and the VLU team aim to capture what's happening in real time — to document for public awareness and, hopefully, catalyze further conversation and action among independent filmmakers, multimedia storytellers, and people working both in and beyond PBS.

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66549742Fri, 13 Jun 2025 15:45:03 +0000Viewers Like Us“The idea of preemptively censoring, before any executive order or decision — not only do you feel violated, but I felt I could not go to any institution for potential protection or support for my independent voice.” - Michèle Stephenson Grace...
Grace convenes fellow filmmakers Cecilia Aldarondo, Marjan Safinia, and Michèle Stephenson (see full bios and links to films in episode show notes) for a conversation on something that’s sparked serious concern for all four of them in recent months: the elimination of many educational and curriculum materials accompanying their films on the PBS LearningMedia website.

As with all of our episodes this season, Grace and the VLU team aim to capture what's happening in real time — to document for public awareness and, hopefully, catalyze further conversation and action among independent filmmakers, multimedia storytellers, and people working both in and beyond PBS.

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com]]>2320publicmediafalse23fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-upside-down--66549599
On June 12, 2025, the House narrowly voted (214-212) to cut nearly $1.1 billion in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds PBS and NPR. This will significantly impact smaller stations serving rural communities nationwide. This bill now advances to the Senate.

In our second episode of Season 2, Grace Lee talks with WXXI’s Chris Hastings about recent staff layoffs and federal funding cuts roiling public media, preserving trusted information as a vital public resource, and what innovation looks like to him while navigating the ‘Upside Down’ present. 

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66549599Fri, 13 Jun 2025 15:43:54 +0000Viewers Like Us“I don't know if there's anything in history that we've ever seen in civic life [like] what we're seeing. But I do know, like Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, we have to speak up…we have to be willing to put ourselves on the line. At the very...
On June 12, 2025, the House narrowly voted (214-212) to cut nearly $1.1 billion in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds PBS and NPR. This will significantly impact smaller stations serving rural communities nationwide. This bill now advances to the Senate.

In our second episode of Season 2, Grace Lee talks with WXXI’s Chris Hastings about recent staff layoffs and federal funding cuts roiling public media, preserving trusted information as a vital public resource, and what innovation looks like to him while navigating the ‘Upside Down’ present. 

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com]]>2009publicmediafalse22fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/death-by-a-thousand-cuts--66477358
In fall 2021, independent filmmaker Grace Lee launched Viewers Like Us, a six-part podcast series that asked: What will it take to restore the entire public to public media? Now, four years later, public media funding is under fire from the Trump administration, and Grace is hearing disturbing stories — directly from fellow filmmakers — of censorship within the PBS system.

With so much of our journalism being targeted, we want to show up for our community of independent filmmakers, storytellers, and journalists, as well as document how PBS is responding to these threats. 

In the coming weeks, VLU will publish six new episodes, giving the mic to different voices — starting with Emmy-Award winning producer/director Alicia Sams — to share their experiences of this moment and figure out how we move forward together, in real time. 

To kick off season two, Grace and Alicia discuss how PBS censored her recent film on Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Art Spiegelman, how the filmmakers responded, and what these actions might mean for independent filmmakers moving forward. 

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66477358Mon, 09 Jun 2025 21:05:07 +0000Viewers Like Us“I'm talking about it because I think it's important for people to know the little ‘death by a thousand cuts’ that are happening. I don't think that appeasement is the way to maintain our free speech rights and our democracy.” - Alicia Sams In fall...
In fall 2021, independent filmmaker Grace Lee launched Viewers Like Us, a six-part podcast series that asked: What will it take to restore the entire public to public media? Now, four years later, public media funding is under fire from the Trump administration, and Grace is hearing disturbing stories — directly from fellow filmmakers — of censorship within the PBS system.

With so much of our journalism being targeted, we want to show up for our community of independent filmmakers, storytellers, and journalists, as well as document how PBS is responding to these threats. 

In the coming weeks, VLU will publish six new episodes, giving the mic to different voices — starting with Emmy-Award winning producer/director Alicia Sams — to share their experiences of this moment and figure out how we move forward together, in real time. 

To kick off season two, Grace and Alicia discuss how PBS censored her recent film on Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Art Spiegelman, how the filmmakers responded, and what these actions might mean for independent filmmakers moving forward. 

Explore show notes and more at viewerslikeus.com

]]>1802publicmediafalse21fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/interview-excerpt-randall-pinkston--48297340https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/randall-pinkston

Correction: An earlier version of this bonus interview excerpt misidentified the party that assumed control of WLBT’s broadcast license in 1980 as Communications Improvement Inc. CCI was the interim operator of the station for nine years after the FCC ordered the original owner to vacate the license. The excerpt has been updated for accuracy.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48297340Fri, 14 Jan 2022 17:32:30 +0000Viewers Like UsIn the United States, there’s a “public” element to all broadcasting over the federally regulated airwaves. Audiences have the right to speak up about the changes we expect on the air. That’s why a commercial broadcast license challenge — launched...https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/randall-pinkston

Correction: An earlier version of this bonus interview excerpt misidentified the party that assumed control of WLBT’s broadcast license in 1980 as Communications Improvement Inc. CCI was the interim operator of the station for nine years after the FCC ordered the original owner to vacate the license. The excerpt has been updated for accuracy.]]>203viewerslikeusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/it-s-not-over--48114064
This episode includes an update to Myrton Running Wolf’s story shared in Episode 4, about his painful experience in a mentorship program run out of Boston’s public television station, GBH.
Grace talks with Jihan Robinson, who currently helps lead documentaries at Hulu’s ONYX Collective, a BIPOC-led entertainment brand. Jihan underscores that tangible change will require ongoing investment and work by white people working in media, commercial and public alike. We also hear from filmmaker Kristi Jacobson, who shares what solidarity and accountability in the fight for racial justice and equity in media looks like for her and other white people.

Grace and Tunde reflect on what they’ve learned while making this podcast. And of course, we couldn’t end this series without hearing from you, our listeners.

In 2022, we encourage you to continue following this project as it evolves, on Twitter (@_ViewersLikeUs_) and through our website (https://viewerslikeus.com/). Because we know what it’s going to take for PBS to finally listen: the voices, ideas, care and feedback of viewers like us.

Explore show notes, episode transcript and more at: https://viewerslikeus.com/podcast/episode-6-its-not-over/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48114064Thu, 30 Dec 2021 20:36:58 +0000Viewers Like UsThe Viewers Like Us team has spoken with filmmakers, journalists, DEI officers, a member of Congress, station managers and so many others who care about the future of public media. All provide reasons to stay energized and engaged in the work of...
This episode includes an update to Myrton Running Wolf’s story shared in Episode 4, about his painful experience in a mentorship program run out of Boston’s public television station, GBH.
Grace talks with Jihan Robinson, who currently helps lead documentaries at Hulu’s ONYX Collective, a BIPOC-led entertainment brand. Jihan underscores that tangible change will require ongoing investment and work by white people working in media, commercial and public alike. We also hear from filmmaker Kristi Jacobson, who shares what solidarity and accountability in the fight for racial justice and equity in media looks like for her and other white people.

Grace and Tunde reflect on what they’ve learned while making this podcast. And of course, we couldn’t end this series without hearing from you, our listeners.

In 2022, we encourage you to continue following this project as it evolves, on Twitter (@_ViewersLikeUs_) and through our website (https://viewerslikeus.com/). Because we know what it’s going to take for PBS to finally listen: the voices, ideas, care and feedback of viewers like us.

Explore show notes, episode transcript and more at: https://viewerslikeus.com/podcast/episode-6-its-not-over/]]>1350beyondinclusion,viewerslikeus,waitingonpbsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/don-t-go-chasing-watersheds--47957142
As you’ve heard throughout the series, countless BIPOC creators have dedicated themselves for decades to keeping PBS’s mission and relevance on track. Many people working within the system have done the same. With so many wanting to see PBS thrive, what's holding it back? In our fifth episode, we dig into two essential components for delivering on long-overdue change in public media: data transparency and accountability. We speak to Dacia Mitchell, Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at San Francisco’s KQED, about the necessity of white leaders and media makers moving through their fear and discomfort in order to actively dismantle systemic racism. We hear from Representative Joaquin Castro on why public TV has to be front and center in terms of combating cultural exclusion in media. Darnell Hunt, Dean of Social Sciences at UCLA, shares some revealing data about PBS scripted dramas. Richard Jean So, a professor at McGill University who’s studied racial inequities in the publishing industry, guides us on taking data collection into our own hands. Plus, we embark on our own not-so-scientific study using an official PBS publication: the Shop PBS catalog.

Explore show notes, episode transcript and more at: https://viewerslikeus.com/podcast/episode-5-dont-go-chasing-watersheds/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47957142Fri, 17 Dec 2021 11:00:02 +0000Viewers Like UsIn the decades-long struggle toward an equitable public media system, what will it take to move from mere talk to actionable change? As you’ve heard throughout the series, countless BIPOC creators have dedicated themselves for decades to keeping...
As you’ve heard throughout the series, countless BIPOC creators have dedicated themselves for decades to keeping PBS’s mission and relevance on track. Many people working within the system have done the same. With so many wanting to see PBS thrive, what's holding it back? In our fifth episode, we dig into two essential components for delivering on long-overdue change in public media: data transparency and accountability. We speak to Dacia Mitchell, Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at San Francisco’s KQED, about the necessity of white leaders and media makers moving through their fear and discomfort in order to actively dismantle systemic racism. We hear from Representative Joaquin Castro on why public TV has to be front and center in terms of combating cultural exclusion in media. Darnell Hunt, Dean of Social Sciences at UCLA, shares some revealing data about PBS scripted dramas. Richard Jean So, a professor at McGill University who’s studied racial inequities in the publishing industry, guides us on taking data collection into our own hands. Plus, we embark on our own not-so-scientific study using an official PBS publication: the Shop PBS catalog.

Explore show notes, episode transcript and more at: https://viewerslikeus.com/podcast/episode-5-dont-go-chasing-watersheds/]]>1488beyondinclusion,viewerslikeus,waitingonpbsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/an-american-experience--47610123
Explore show notes, episode transcript and more at: https://viewerslikeus.com/podcast/episode-4-an-american-experience/

Viewers Like Us is committed to preserving a history of BIPOC makers and their contributions to PBS over the years. We’ve published a timeline on our website listing the ups and downs of PBS’s record with people of color. We invite you to explore our new resource and submit ideas for this work-in-progress via hello@viewerslikeus.com or through the Engage page on our website, https://viewerslikeus.com/engage/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47610123Tue, 23 Nov 2021 11:00:11 +0000Viewers Like UsGrace and Tunde discuss what it feels like to be a token. Myrton Running Wolf, a professor of race and media at the University of Nevada, shares his experiences of participating in an aughts-era Native American mentorship program run by Boston’s...
Explore show notes, episode transcript and more at: https://viewerslikeus.com/podcast/episode-4-an-american-experience/

Viewers Like Us is committed to preserving a history of BIPOC makers and their contributions to PBS over the years. We’ve published a timeline on our website listing the ups and downs of PBS’s record with people of color. We invite you to explore our new resource and submit ideas for this work-in-progress via hello@viewerslikeus.com or through the Engage page on our website, https://viewerslikeus.com/engage/]]>1899beyondinclusion,viewerslikeus,waitingonpbstruefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/minority-report--47360813
Explore show notes, episode transcript and more at: https://viewerslikeus.com/podcast/episode-3-minority-report/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47360813Sun, 07 Nov 2021 17:35:31 +0000Viewers Like UsThe words “diversity, equity, and inclusion”—DEI for short—seem to be everywhere these days: from Fortune 500 companies to government agencies and...public media. Episode 3 reveals what happened to a PBS Diversity Report filed 14 years ago, and...
Explore show notes, episode transcript and more at: https://viewerslikeus.com/podcast/episode-3-minority-report/]]>1355beyondinclusion,viewerslikeus,waitingonpbsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/endless-loop--46982676
Explore show notes, episode transcript and more at: https://viewerslikeus.com/podcast/episode-2-endless-loop/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46982676Fri, 15 Oct 2021 00:58:24 +0000Viewers Like UsGrace Lee and fellow Beyond Inclusion members meet with PBS leaders in spring 2021. Latinx organizers, journalists and filmmakers confront PBS about the erasure of Latinx voices and stories in Ken Burns’ 2007 seven-part series, The War. And in 1987 at...
Explore show notes, episode transcript and more at: https://viewerslikeus.com/podcast/episode-2-endless-loop/]]>1479beyondinclusion,pbs,viewerslikeus,waitingonpbsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/america-s-storyteller--46714813
Explore show notes, episode transcript and more at: https://viewerslikeus.com/podcast/episode-1-americas-storyteller/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46714813Wed, 29 Sep 2021 10:00:15 +0000Viewers Like UsSince its founding in the late 1960s, PBS has presented itself as a trusted home for America’s multitude of stories and experiences. An inclusive space of exploration and education, for all. So when independent filmmaker Grace Lee published an essay...
Explore show notes, episode transcript and more at: https://viewerslikeus.com/podcast/episode-1-americas-storyteller/]]>1004meetingthemoment,pbs,publicmedia,viewerslikeus,waitingonpbstruefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/introducing-viewers-like-us--46622721
Listen and learn more at viewerslikeus.com; join the conversation about public media’s past, present and future using the hashtag #viewerslikeus on Twitter and Instagram; and email us at hello@viewerslikeus.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46622721Tue, 21 Sep 2021 19:27:10 +0000Viewers Like UsViewers Like Us explores who gets to tell America’s multitude of stories in public media today. Host and independent filmmaker, Grace Lee, along with reporter and filmmaker Akintunde Ahmad, investigate a history of systemic inequities at PBS, the...
Listen and learn more at viewerslikeus.com; join the conversation about public media’s past, present and future using the hashtag #viewerslikeus on Twitter and Instagram; and email us at hello@viewerslikeus.com.]]>68viewerslikeustruefull