The Call with Erica Williams Simon

The last episode of Season 3 features Erica in conversation with the wonderful writer and Tony Award-winning performer Sarah Jones, recorded live in front of an audience. Sarah talks to Erica about the journey to create her own lane for herself and all of the lessons that she’s learned along the way and her new show,“Sell/Buy/Date.”

This week Erica Williams Simon talks with Jameela Jamil. The star of 'The Good Place' is an activist against hate speech toward women, particularly where bodies and weight are concerned, and they spend the episode talking about body image, success and fear.

This week, host Erica Williams Simon chats with Rebecca Cokley, Director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress. They talk disability policy, fighting for justice for all, raising woke children and balancing motherhood with a demanding career.

This week, host Erica Williams Simon sits down with writer and activist Glennon Doyle. Together they talk about the balancing act of sharing your true self without tipping into depreciation, and striving for your best without focusing on perfection.

In this episode, host Erica Williams Simon sits down with Orange is the New Black star Dascha Polanco. They talk about representation, the hustle and only moving forward.

The Call is back with another fantastic, utterly beguiling, awe-inspiring guest: blogger and fashion entrepreneur Gabi Gregg. Gabi and Erica talk about failure, fashion and creating your own career path.

This week's guest is writer and editor Samhita Mukhopadhyay. After stints at Feministing and Mic and writing her book, she took over the Executive Editor role at Teen Vogue. In this episode she talks about her path to Teen Vogue and offers up some serious career advice.

Janet Mock is a New York Times best-selling author as well as a writer, producer and director on FX's Pose. In this episode of The Call, Janet and Erica talk about the importance of telling your own individual story. They cover Janet's path from print journalism to TV; fear -- and what can happen when you overcome it.

Clemantine Wamariya is a storyteller and writer. She first burst onto the scene with an appearance on the Oprah Show in 2006, where she was reunited with her family after the Rwandan genocide. In her new memoir, "The Girl Who Smiled Beads," she dives into reclaiming the narrative around her identity, her love of stories and Afro-centrism.

In this episode of The Call, I talk to Franchesca Ramsey (aka Chescaleigh), about activism, hustling and not being so hard on yourself. She also chats about her new book, Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist. Also we premiere a new segment, Ask E, where listeners call in with their life and career questions.

Allow me to play the role of the waiter who is here to serve you an exciting appetizer — The Call is almost BACK!!! Episode One airs Tuesday, July 10 but this teaser offers up a few bon mots from upcoming guests like Franchesca Ramsey, Gabi Fresh and Janet Mock.

Angela Yee, co-host of the nationally syndicated, wildly popular radio show, The Breakfast Club, is the final guest of The Call's Season 2. In this episode, Yee talks about what she's learned about negotiation, how she refused to be the "female sidekick" on-air in a male dominated industry, using your platform for good, pushing past sexism, and how to be respected for your work.

In this episode of The Call, Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo organization, tells the real story behind the movement in an effort to bring the focus back to its original intent: healing. She also talks about the danger of the hashtag, why she feels she and the movement have been misrepresented in the media, and her powerful words for survivors today.

In this episode of The Call, I sit down with Melina Matsoukas, director of HBO's Insecure and "Thanksgiving," the Emmy Award-winning episode of Master of None, not to mention director of Beyoncé's "Formation" and Rihanna's "We Found Love." We talk about her career path, how her politics influence her work, and the bold, badass thing she said when she first met Beyoncé.

Adrienne Maree Brown is the author of a book I recommend so often I might as well put it in my email signature: Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. She's a Detroit-based writer, activist, facilitator, poet, and avid sci-fi fan. In this episode, we nerd out; We talk about what birds can teach us about social movements, the value of personal pleasure, why Beyoncé is absolutely everything, and how to survive the end of the world.

Hope you love listening to this episode as much as I loved making it.

This week I sat down with Amanda Nguyen, activist, future astronaut and founder of Rise, a national civil rights nonprofit that helps survivors of sexual assault. After being raped in college, Amanda discovered just how few rights victims of sexual assault actually had within the criminal justice system. Thanks to Amanda and the work of many others, the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act was unanimously passed in Congress in 2016. In our conversation, we talk about Rise, why no one should ever be pressured to tell their story, and why she still has every intention of becoming an astronaut. It's enough to help even the most cynical cynic believe that anything is possible -- and to always reach for the stars.

On this week's episode of The Call, Erica sits down with Nina Jacobson, the powerhouse Hollywood executive and producer responsible for The Hunger Games to Princess Diaries to American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson. As one of a handful of female heads of studios, she's changing the way that the industry responds to and engages with women in power. This week, we talk about how she seeks to tell iconic stories that tackle gender, power and race; we talk inspiration, mistakes, and what she thinks of this pivotal moment in the entertainment industry. Enjoy.

In this episode of The Call, Erica Williams Simon speaks with award-winning radio show host Krista Tippett about the difference between religion and spirituality, why we should all be kinder to ourselves and what she would say to Donald Trump if she had the chance.

Despite garnering attention for organizing a city-wide protest to fight Trump's proposed Muslim ban, 17-year-old activist Hebh Jamal isn't interested in being a "famous activist." She thinks the focus on her is a distraction from the issues at hand. So when we sat down to talk for this week's episode on her day off from class, we made sure to talk about the issues that matter to her: diversity in education, what it means to be a feminist and how answering a call to activism absolutely requires some risk -- no matter how old you are.

In this episode of The Call, Erica sits down with Latham Thomas, wellness expert, doula and author of “Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living and Crowning the Queen Within." They talk about birthing dreams, how to lean into the louder, less "socially acceptable" parts of ourselves and discuss what would happen if our work lives respected our menstrual cycles. It's a good one. Enjoy.

This week's episode of The Call features trans activist Ashlee Marie Preston, who was thrust her onto the national stage after a video of her went viral. In it, she confronts Caitlyn Jenner for her public support of Donald Trump despite his administration's continued attacks on the LGBTQ community. We talk about this event and more, including life growing up as a black boy in Kentucky to Preston's battle with addiction later in life. Ashlee Marie Preston has a lot to teach us about answering our call to be our full selves. Take a listen and take notes.

Behold, the first episode of The Call, Season 2. Host Erica Williams Simon speaks with designer Melody Ehsani about her mystical “call” moment, how her former fear of being single forever used to stop her growth, and what Ehsani named the self-doubting voice in her head.

Behold! A sneak peak into Season 2 of The Call. You'll hear about what our Season 1 guests have been up to, who you can look forward to this season (like designer Melody Ehsani and Latham Thomas, the doula who delivered DJ Khaled's Instagram-famous baby, Ashad). And you'll find out about the one pressing question that Erica wants this season to answer. Headphones in and enjoy!

We turn the tables on host Erica Williams Simon in this special episode of 'The Call.' Listen as MR President Kate Barnett interviews Erica about her life and career changes.

This episode of The Call was produced and edited by Kate Barnett.

On this week's episode, Erica sits down with bold, vivacious media personality Bevy Smith to talk about reinventing your life and the business advice she wishes she'd received 20 years ago.

The Call is produced and edited by Samara Breger and Kate Barnett.

Designer Mara Hoffman discusses how she got her start, the moment she decided to radically shift her business to be more environmentally sustainable and more.

The Call is produced and edited by Samara Breger and Kate Barnett.

Actress and comedian Yvonne Orji has received accolades for her role as Molly on the hit HBO show Insecure. This week, Erica sits down with Yvonne to discuss the power of humor and #blackgirlmagic.

The Call is produced and edited by Samara Breger.

What makes a woman "difficult"? This week, Erica sits down with fabulous writer Roxane Gay to discuss her new book, 'Difficult Women,' and life post-election.

The Call is produced and edited by Samara Breger.

Erica sits down with writer, producer and actor Lena Waithe whose original, hour-long drama, 'The Chi', is being executive produced by Common and was just greenlit by Showtime. You may have already seen her as the breakout star on Aziz Ansari’s 'Master of None', where she played Dev’s cool best friend, Denise.

The Call is produced and edited by Samara Breger.

Erica sits down with filmmaker, activist and your favorite rapper’s favorite writer dream hampton to talk about the cost of telling the truth, never being too afraid to fight and that one time she was cursed out by Nina Simone.

The Call is produced and edited by Samara Breger.

"Chief Leadership Officer" and author Tiffany Dufu shares how to tap into your own leadership potential, find mentors and sponsors, and stay true to your purpose.

The Call is produced and edited by Samara Breger.

Erica Williams Simon sits down with Wendy Carrillo.

The Call is produced and edited by Samara Breger.

Erica Williams Simon sits down with Sally Kohn.

The Call is produced and edited by Samara Breger.

Erica Williams Simon sits down with Jenna Wortham.

The Call is produced and edited by Samara Breger.

Do you want to step up and do something epic? Follow your dreams, take action, change the world? In The Call, former political strategist Erica Williams Simon hosts intimate conversations with women who have answered their own call. What are the costs and challenges of taking the leap, of living your politics, of being unapologetic? How do you go from wishful thinking to real impact? What is the journey really like? Tune in, get inspired.

Produced by Samara Breger