Best Plumbline Podcasts (2025)

Send us a text This week, Shelley chats once again with Dr. Ricky Jones, Professor of Pan-African Studies at the University of Louisville. Dr. Jones highlights W.E.B. Du Bois's views on broad educational access for African Americans and critiques the negative impact of integration on Black education. Shelley and Dr. Jones explore the historical con…

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Education Can Happen Anywhere 36:29

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2M ago36:29

36:29

Send us a text What’s education got to do with it? Everything. But in a system built to hold us back, education isn’t even the top concern—discrimination is. In this bold and necessary conversation, Dr. Stewart sits down with Attorney Tom Larkin to unpack the roots of educational inequality, the legacy of slavery, and the power of putting fat in th…

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From Projects to PhD: An Interview with Ricky Jones on the Importance of Education (Rebroadcast) 36:46

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Send us a text 🔥 “People who are in control of the country because of racial stratification want to stay in control by keeping people stupid about the country’s history.” — Dr. Ricky Jones In this compelling episode of Shelley’s Plumbline, Dr. Jones calls out the deliberate silence around slavery and America’s original sins — the genocide of Native…

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Finding My Father 31:21

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Send us a text This week on Shelley’s Plumbline… a revelation that changes everything. Dr. Ricky Jones has spent his life speaking truth to power. But in this episode, he shares a truth of his own—one that’s raw, personal, and decades in the making. For the first time publicly, Ricky reveals the identity of his father. That man… is Dr. Shelley Stew…

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From Projects to PhD: An Interview with Ricky Jones on the Importance of Education 36:46

2M ago36:46

36:46

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Don't Be A Home For Hatred 31:48

3M ago31:48

31:48

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Welcome Shelley Stewart to the Radio Hall of Fame! 36:02

3M ago36:02

36:02

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Sharing Generational Knowledge with Elijah Davis 37:16

3M ago37:16

37:16

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Young, Gifted and Black. A Chat with Artist Erica Chisholm 35:02

3M ago35:02

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Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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The Unknown Community of Calcis, Alabama 34:09

4M ago34:09

34:09

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Discussing Fatherhood with Marlon Keller 36:36

4M ago36:36

36:36

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Still Singing the Blues 29:00

4M ago29:00

29:00

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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A Meeting Is Not A Movement 32:24

4M ago32:24

32:24

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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There's a Leak in the Roof 33:45

4M ago33:45

33:45

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Education is Our Most Important Asset 30:32

4M ago30:32

30:32

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Another Look At Hosea Williams 32:44

5M ago32:44

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Send us a text Dr. King's legacy inspired generations of activists and leaders, and his contributions continue to be recognized and celebrated today as a beacon of hope and progress. But Dr. King had a premonition about his death, and he warned the members of his inner circle to beware of the tactics external forces would use to break the movement …

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Happy Heavenly Birthday to Sam Stewart 38:19

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Send us a text April 29 is a special day in Shelley's life. It is the birthday of his younger brother, Sam. Join us as Shelley shares an interview from 1994 with his brother Sam, just two weeks before his passing. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Respect For All 34:10

5M ago34:10

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Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Responsibility in the Modern Age 34:52

5M ago34:52

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Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Old Sayings That Still Have Meaning 25:51

6M ago25:51

25:51

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Make America Greater 29:07

6M ago29:07

29:07

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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The Importance of Education 27:40

6M ago27:40

27:40

Send us a text Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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A Reunion with the Son of Mr Clyde 23:09

7M ago23:09

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Send us a text Hey Plumbliners, we’ve often talked about Mr Clyde – the man who took Shelley in when he was living in Stringfellows Stable. Well, a few weeks ago Shelley had a reunion with Mr Clyde’s son. Stay tuned and we’ll tell you all about it. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.…

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Shelley's Back! 32:08

7M ago32:08

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Send us a text Hey Plumbliners. Welcome to Season 9 of the Plumbline! Let’s take a walk out to the back porch and hear some of Shelley’s reflections on his 90 years of life. Get ready, Shelley is back! Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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"The Playboy" Fights for Human Rights (Rebroadcast) 30:44

7M ago30:44

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Send us a text This week, Shelley expands on the story of his growing popularity as a radio personality. He fought for equality in access and pay at the radio stations where he worked. And he shares stories about meeting and working with Dr King well before he was well-known. Stay tuned and learn more about Shelley’s ongoing struggle for equality a…

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The Back Porch: Race, Racism and Happiness (Rebroadcast) 25:11

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Send us a text Hey Plumbliners, This week, we rebroadcast an episode we first released in June 2024. Shelley and I shared our experiences learning about race and racism. Then, we touched upon the topic of happiness. Stayed tuned. It's worth another listen. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.…

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Should We End Black History Month? (Rebroadcast) 39:16

8M ago39:16

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Send us a text Black History Month has been celebrated for decades as a time to honor and recognize the contributions and achievements of Black individuals throughout history. However, some argue that relegating Black history to a single month perpetuates segregation and fails to fully integrate it into the mainstream curriculum. Ending Black Histo…

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Shelley Reflects on Black History Month and Racism (Rebroadcast) 27:48

8M ago27:48

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Send us a text Today, we re-share an episode from 2023. Shelley shares his personal insights on the overt and not-so-overt signs that racism is still evident in America today. Stay tuned as the plumbline seeks the truth. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Hate Crimes (Rebroadcast) 37:50

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Send us a text Hey Plumbliners. This is Mark Jamroz, producer of Shelley’s Plumbline. Just a few days ago, on January 27th, Shelley and I celebrated what would have been the 93rd birthday of his brother Jerome, affectionally known as Bubba. To continue that celebration, we’re going to rebroadcast one of the Plumbline’s most popular podcasts. It’s a…

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Rare Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King (Rebroadcast) 38:32

8M ago38:32

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Send us a text As we continue the retrospective of Shelley's Plumbline, and in honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day, we are rebroadcasting an episode from Season 3. They feature some rare recordings of #MLK that Shelley had forgotten about. These are speeches MLK made in Birmingham! Why are they rare? Because for his protection and to keep Bull Conne…

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Interview with Hosea Williams: Did the Dream of Dr King Become a Nightmare? (Rebroadcast) 35:29

8M ago35:29

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Send us a text Dr. King's legacy inspired generations of activists and leaders, and his contributions continue to be recognized and celebrated today as a beacon of hope and progress. But Dr. King had a premonition about his death, and he warned the members of his inner circle to beware of the tactics external forces would use to break the movement …

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Internalized Racism (Rebroadcast) 36:55

9M ago36:55

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Send us a text Hey, Plumbliners. As we rewind through some of our most popular podcasts, we couldn’t overlook our very first. It was published on April 17, 2023. And it’s about Internalized Racism. Take a listen. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Rebroadcast of The Last Interview with Eddie Kendricks 45:50

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Send us a text Happy New Year, Plumbliners! Welcome to the year 2025! We are planning for great things in this new year, but before we get started, we wanted to look back. So, for the next few weeks, we will be rebroadcasting some of YOUR favorite Plumblines. To date, we have published 87 podcasts. While most of our fans are in the US, Shelley’s Pl…

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"The Colored Doctor," Dr Cashen 37:47

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Send us a text In this episode, we continue our conversation from last week, when Shelley and Ezekwa discuss the effects of the Willie Lynch letter with Dr Cashen, a one-time candidate for governor of Alabama on the independent ticket. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.…

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Ezekwa Abdullah Discusses Willie Lynch in the Late 90s 48:41

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Send us a text Today we pick up on the theme of the Willie Lynch letter, but in a different time and place. Stay tuned as we hear an interview from 1997 with Ezekwa Abdullah. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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The Legend of Willie Lynch 34:18

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Send us a text Whether the Willie Lynch letter is real or not, the content of the message remains very much intact today. Seeding division among an audience is a way to get them fighting amongst themselves, which makes them easier to control from the outside. Today, Shelley takes a look at the continuing impact of that strategy on the world. Follow…

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George Subira: Teaching Black People to Sell. 38:23

10M ago38:23

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Send us a text Today, Shelley continues his search for the truth on the topic of selling. It is often an occupation that is looked on with disdain, yet nothing can happen without it. Whether it’s an idea or a product, we are all selling something. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.…

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The Immigration Story of George Sarris 38:07

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Send us a text Today, Shelley shares an interview from 1991 with George Sarris. Mr. Sarris was an immigrant from Greece who eventually developed a small empire of seafood restaurants in and around the Birmingham, Alabama, area. He discusses how the Greek community worked together to help each other grow and prosper. Follow us and continue the conve…

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Charles Gray and the Re-Education of Our Children 37:54

11M ago37:54

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Send us a text This week, Shelley once again shines the light on the importance of education as he shares a recording from 1991 of a speech given by Charles Gray on the Re-Education of our Children. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Bubba's Sacrifice, Georgia Price and Voting Rights 34:19

11M ago34:19

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Send us a text As election week finally rolls around, Shelley recalls the ultimate sacrifice that was made by his bother Jerome in Korea. He also talks about Georgia Price and others who, in the late 50s and mid-60s, paved the way for the movement toward equality and human rights in the United States. Follow us and continue the conversation on Face…

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Shelley Stirs the Pot in the 60s 33:53

11M ago33:53

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Send us a text In this week’s episode, Shelley explains the real meaning behind equality. Plus, he shares some stores from early in his career, including an encounter with the Ku Klux Klan. Stay tuned. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Shelley Gets Arrested in Jackson, Mississippi 34:52

11M ago34:52

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Send us a text Today, Shelley continues sharing anecdotes from his life. This week, he tells us about the time he was arrested when he took a job in Jackson, Mississippi. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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Shelley Builds A Business 32:59

11M ago32:59

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Send us a text In this week’s episode, Shelley recalls how he evolved from his role beyond an on-air personality, developing the key relationships that set the foundation for his future as a businessman. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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"The Playboy" Fights for Human Rights 30:44

12M ago30:44

30:44

Send us a text This week, Shelley expands on the story of his growing popularity as a radio personality. He fought for equality in access and pay at the radio stations where he worked. And he shares stories about meeting and working with Dr King well before he was well-known. Stay tuned and learn more about Shelley’s ongoing struggle for equality a…