E05: Allison Russell: The Radical Act of Caring
Standing Tall with Gloria Johnson
Allison Russell: The Radical Act of Caring
Air Date: 08/04/2026
Guest: Allison Russell (Grammy, Juno, and Americana Music Award-winning musician, songwriter, and activist)
Host: State Rep. Gloria Johnson
Episode Summary
Gloria talks with musician and activist Allison Russell about the through-line connecting her art and her advocacy — from co-founding the Love Rising benefit concert in response to Tennessee's anti-drag legislation, to her gun violence advocacy following the Covenant School shooting, to the personal history that shapes her commitment to showing up for marginalized communities. They also dig into empathy, generational change, farmland loss and AI data center expansion in Black communities, and Allison's new record, "In the Hour of Chaos," out now.
Topics Covered
How Gloria and Allison met (Smithsonian's "Entertainment Nation" event honoring Taj Mahal) and reconnected at Love Rising
Love Rising: the 2023 benefit concert organized in response to Tennessee's anti-drag legislation — over 11,000 attendees, nearly $600,000 raised
Allison's activism following the Covenant School shooting, including gun violence advocacy with Annie Lennox
Allison's personal history: growing up in an abusive household with a father who held white supremacist views, and how she found "chosen family" through music
The "empathy impairment" conversation, including Gloria's story about Rep. William Lamberth blocking a resolution for a shooting victim
Farmland loss in Tennessee and AI data center expansion disproportionately affecting Black communities
The Haudenosaunee Confederation's "seven generations" principle as a model for leadership
Allison's new album "In the Hour of Chaos" (out now) and her upcoming tour with Sarah McLachlan
Allison's daughter's school choir recording session, and the joy of intergenerational music-making
Closing thoughts on hope, youth engagement, and building "circles" of inclusion
Guest
Allison Russell - IG: @allisonrussellmusic · X/Threads: @outsidechild13 · allisonrussellmusic.com
Gloria Johnson - IG/X: @VoteGloriaJ
People Mentioned
Annie Lennox (musician, mentioned re: gun violence advocacy collaboration)
Sarah McLachlan (musician, mentioned re: upcoming tour)
Mavis Staples (musician, mentioned)
Hozier (musician, co-writer on a song for Mavis Staples)
Rep. William Lamberth (TN State Rep, mentioned re: empathy impairment story)
Justin Jones & Justin Pearson (TN State Reps, mentioned)
Tressie McMillan Cottom (writer, referenced re: NYT piece on AI data centers)