Debra Messing Podcast 'Dissenters' Spotlights Activists, Features Eva Longoria, Hillary Clinton, Jane Fonda (Exclusive)

Lindsey Ellefson

Debra Messing, fresh off the second “Will & Grace” series finale, is launching a podcast to spotlight activists Thursday. “The Dissenters,” co-hosted with attorney and activist Mandana Dayani, will, she told TheWrap by teleconference Wednesday, aim “to dispel the myth that you have to have a certain pedigree in order to actually make change happen.”

TheWrap can exclusively reveal the list of all 20 “Dissenters,” each of whom get their own podcast interview and episode on the podcast, produced by Dear Media. Ranging from actresses Jane Fonda and Eva Longoria to former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and animal rescuer Zach Skow, they certainly do all have different platforms and pedigrees.

Here’s the full list:

Glennon Doyle

Amanda Nguyen

Adam Schiff

Shannon Watts

Sophia Bush

Zach Skow

Patrisse Cullors

Ali Wentworth

Jameela Jamill

Kate Roberts

Nadya Okamoto

Mark Bustos

Eva Longoria

Schuyler Bailar

Preet Bharara

Christian Siriano

Cindy Eckert

Jane Fonda

Carole Cadwalladr

Hillary Clinton

Also Read: Debra Messing Gets Trump's Attention on Twitter, Demands End to Gun Violence

“‘The Dissenters’ came out of our of our own activism,” Messing told TheWrap. “Mandana and I are really great friends and we’re super nerdy. We’re curious nerds. We read all the time and we get really inspired by discovering people who are doing great things in the world and so, after we found all of these people were like, ‘Oh my goodness. We should do a podcast so that we can honor them and we can introduce them to the listeners.'”

She went on, “We had so many people to go through and we decided on these 20, many of whom you had never heard of before. We wanted there to be a wide swath of subject matter. So, we have accidental activists from fashion and athletics and politics and stay-at-home moms who have done extraordinary things.”

Messing and Dayani approach the interviews — most of which were recorded before the pandemic hit but some of which are still taking place via Zoom call — as “superfans,” she said: “We’re geeking out when we meet these people, and we are asking all the questions that anybody would have. We’re not scared of asking stupid questions.”

Also Read: Lancet Editor Corrects Trump About Medical Journal's Early Coronavirus Coverage

The actress has been doing her part to be a change, too. Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, she and her former castmates from “Smash” will stream a live concert of songs from the series, which chronicled the making of a musical about Marilyn Monroe. The proceeds will go to The Actors Fund, which, she says, “is an organization that supports people from every aspect of the entertainment industry, and obviously because of Covid, everyone is out of work.”

Messing’s own Broadway show, “Birthday Candles,” was postponed by the coronavirus two weeks into rehearsals, which she called “devastating.”

“I’m happy to report that the Roundabout Theatre loves this brand-new show so much that they intend to do it in the fall or whenever it’s safe to do it and to actually do it,” she added. “So, I’m very grateful because most of the Broadway shows shut down and and that’s it. They will not be coming back.”

Innovative Ways Stars Are Helping Out During the Coronavirus Pandemic (Photos)

Celebrities are using their influence and resources to provide assistance to the needed impacted by the coronavirus and the front line health care workers combatting the disease.

While many stars have donated money or performed in benefit concerts, some have gone the extra mile in terms of hands-on giving or simply spreading goodwill.

From John Krasinski's Some Good News broadcast to Bethenny Frankel's BSTRONG initiative, check out the innovative ways the stars are helping out during the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo credit: Getty Images/NBC
From action star to anchor! Since late March, John Krasinski has been posting new episodes of his Some Good News show weekly, with guest appearances from his wife Emily Blunt. Krasinski also convinced AT&T to give first responders three-months free cell phone service with a subscription to the carrier's FirstNet plan.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been spotted delivering meals to the needy in Los Angeles, their new home after stepping back from royal duties and leaving the U.K.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Director Kevin Smith is bringing his fictional fast-food spot Mooby's to life, which now has a pop-up location in Hollywood. In April, proceeds went to No Us Without You, the fundraiser to provide food for families of undocumented restaurant workers during the pandemic. In mid-June, proceeds from the social distance pop-up will benefit Clean Up South Central.
Photo credit: TheWrap
Matthew McConaughey brought some joy to residents of a senior living facility in his native Texas, hosting bingo night virtually and calling out numbers.

The actor and his wife Camila Alves also raised funds to donate 80,000 masks to workers in Texas, Lousiana, and nationwide.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Eva Longoria, Danny Trejo and other Latinx stars joined forces with the League of United Latin American Citizens for the #ayudaenespanol initiative which has provided resources for the Latino community (in both English and Spanish). Minorities have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and have higher fatality rates.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Halsey worked with Orange International Inc. to source 100,000 FDA-certified masks to donate to local Los Angeles hospitals.

"If you are on the frontlines, my heart is with you," the singer wrote on Instagram. "I am eager to redirect you to @givedirectly - A non-profit that allows you a way to give direct cash payments to vulnerable households in at risk communities, most of whom are single mothers."
Photo credit: Getty Images
"SNL" host Michael Che will pay one month's rent for all 160 apartments in the New York City Housing Authority building his grandmother lived in. She passed away from coronavirus complications.

"I know that's just a drop in the bucket. so I really hope the city has a better plan for debt forgiveness for all the people in public housing, AT THE VERY LEAST," the comedian posted to Instagram.
Photo credit: NBC
Not only did Kylie Jenner give $1 million towards the purchase of protective equipment to frontline health care workers, she also donated hand sanitizer produced with Coty -- a stakeholder in Kylie Cosmetics -- to the grateful workers at West Hills Hospital and Medical Center.
Photo credit: Getty Images
"Project Runway" winner and mentor Christian Siriano offered to have his sewing team create face masks for health care workers who are facing supply shortages.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Bethenny Frankel, who previously led crisis-relief efforts via her BSTRONG organization, raising money and supplies not only for COVID-19 relief but also those displace by tornados during the pandemic.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Andy Serkis, best known as playing Gollum from "The Lord of the Rings" films, decided to read aloud J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" as part of a 12-hour "Hobbithon." He set a goal of £250,000 for the charity Best Beginnings through his GoFundMe and reached the top trending spot on Twitter. And of course he took the pains to do all the character voices as well.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

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From good news broadcasts to meal delivery, these celebrities are giving a little extra

Celebrities are using their influence and resources to provide assistance to the needed impacted by the coronavirus and the front line health care workers combatting the disease.

While many stars have donated money or performed in benefit concerts, some have gone the extra mile in terms of hands-on giving or simply spreading goodwill.

From John Krasinski's Some Good News broadcast to Bethenny Frankel's BSTRONG initiative, check out the innovative ways the stars are helping out during the coronavirus pandemic.

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