The Dissident's Mic
The Dissident's Mic

The Dissident’s Mic

What does it take to stand up to authoritarianism?

The Dissident's Mic
The Dissident's Mic

The Dissident’s Mic

What does it take to stand up to authoritarianism?

About the Podcast

The Dissident’s Mic is a two-person interview series featuring timely, in-depth conversations about authoritarianism around the world.

Hosted by HRF staff members Casey Michel and Chelsea Hedquist, each episode is driven by a central compelling question and grounded in the firsthand experiences of dissidents resisting authoritarian power.

Episodes

What Happens When You Run Against a Dictator?

Hosted by

Dissidents Mic - Episode 1 - Felix Maradiaga
Also available on:

In this episode of The Dissident’s Mic, Casey Michel, Director of HRF’s Combating Kleptocracy Program, sits down with Nicaraguan political activist Félix Maradiaga to discuss his time as a political prisoner, why authoritarian regimes are increasingly working together to suppress dissent, and what gives him hope that democracy can still prevail.

Play

What Happens When You Run Against a Dictator?

Jul 13, 2026

Also available on:

How do governments use sports to launder money?

Hosted by

Episode 2 - Dissident’s Mic.
Also available on:

In this episode of The Dissident’s Mic, Casey Michel, director of HRF’s Combating Kleptocracy Program, sits down with Equatoguinean human rights lawyer and EG Justice Executive Director Tutu Alicante to discuss how authoritarian regimes use sports to launder their reputations, what soccer corruption reveals about the broader kleptocracy in Equatorial Guinea, and why players, journalists, and fans can still play a role in holding these networks accountable.

Play

How do governments use sports to launder money?

Aug 19, 2026

Also available on:
The Dissident Mic Podcast

The Dissident's Mic

The Dissident’s Mic is a two-person interview series centered on timely, in-depth conversations about authoritarianism around the world.

Episode 3 Coming Soon

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

About the Host

Casey Michel Combating Kleptocracy Program Head

Casey Michel

Combating Kleptocracy Program Head

Casey Michel oversees the Human Rights Foundation (HRF)’s Combating Kleptocracy Program, focusing on transnational corruption, illicit finance, and the corruption that links dictators around the world. He is the author of two books, “American Kleptocracy” and “Foreign Agents,” both published by St. Martin’s Press. Michel has written on kleptocracy and related topics for outlets like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, The Atlantic, and others. He received his master’s degree Russian, Eurasian, and East European studies from Columbia University, and he’s currently sanctioned by the Russian regime for his work.

Chelsea Hedquist

Chelsea Hedquist

Head of Communications Strategy

As Head of Communications Strategy for the Human Rights Foundation, Chelsea works across the organization to develop and execute integrated communications campaigns that advance HRF’s mission and global influence. Chelsea joined HRF from the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, where she led communications and advocacy before taking on the role of Executive Director. Prior to the Lantos Foundation, Chelsea spent more than a decade working in global health communications with the World Health Organization in Europe and the United Nations Foundation in Washington, DC. She began her career as a journalist and writer before transitioning to communications and advocacy work. Chelsea received her master’s degree from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism and her bachelor’s from Stanford University.

You may also like

PODCAST
May 21, 2026

Power Plays

Season 1 explores the regimes that have exploited the FIFA World Cup over the last century, from Italy’s fascists in 1934, to Argentina’s military junta in 1978, to Russia’s kleptocratic police state in 2018, to Qatar’s monarchy built on the backs of exploited migrant workers in 2022. We also look ahead to the 2030 and 2034 World Cups.

Hosted by
Karim Zidan
Karim Zidan
Sports & Dictators Program Lead

How can we help?

Hit enter to search or ESC to close

Email Us

Join the cause by subscribing to our newsletter.