Photo by dusan jovic
Reclaiming the podcast…for the Culture!
Not going to lie: until about 2017, I assumed podcasts were for * ahem * less melanated folks to talk about the stock market or dungeons and dragons. Not only did I assume I wasn’t welcome in those spaces, I didn’t really feel any desire to immerse myself in podcast culture.
Who really wants to sit and listen to someone talk for an hour?
Fast forward to 2021, and the answer is a resounding: ME! I do! Pleeeease!
Why do I enjoy podcasts?
I live in Spain. Trends— if they make it— arrive super, hella, mega late. I’m pretty sure I saw someone dabbing just the other week. I want to feel connected to the cultural ebbs and flows that more often than not originate in my culture wheelhouse: Black + American.
“What would America be like if we loved black people as much as we loved black culture?”
I need to feel connected to my home. The language. The music. The issues that are on everyone’s minds. There’s already an ocean separating us. If I can close that distance just a bit by listening to a podcast, sign me alllll the way up!
I work in social media and write for a living, which means I need to know how people speak in order to be understood by them! You can’t write to your audience in a language that doesn’t resonate with them! It needs to be real, authentic. When it’s not, people can tell. I see podcasts as fun homework. They’re also research, a release, and a great way to spend an hour or so while cooking or cleaning.
My favorite Blackity Black-Black, Black AF Podcasts:
The Read
Why? Crissle and Kid Fury are a whole mood. I love how openly the speak on topics such as anxiety and being introverts who avoid people, because honestly, same. They’re witty, without being pretentious and I always learn something about some housewife which comes in handy cause I don’t watch any of the shows! Also, Black Queer visibility with political commentary makes my heart happy.
Code Switch
Why? The topics are so engaging. One of my favorite episodes was about the trope of the Welfare Queen. I also loved “Is it time to say RIP to POC”? These episodes are well-produced and well-researched. You can tell they’ve got that NPR money, okuuuurrrr! Since the run time is between 30 and 40 minutes, it’s perfect to listen to while cooking dinner!
Sibling Rivalry
Why? If you know anything about me, you’ll know this: I love Drag Race. I’ve watched US, UK and Canada’s Drag Race and I still get excited when a new season launches. When I discovered that Monet X. Change and Bob the Drag Queen had their own podcast, Immediately subscribed. If you’re not comfortable hearing about fellatio or Grindr, you may want to skip this podcast. However, if you want a laugh and a whole cup of piping hot tea from two charismatic Queens, tune in!
O Lado (B)lack
Why? Black Brazilian and unapologetic are the words that come to mind when I think of O Lado Black. I’m such a fan of the topics they touch on in this podcast, and it’s been a go-to of mine for years now. They discuss Brazilian culture, history, race, music and the style is that of an audio roundtable, so you always hear different perspectives.
Honorable Mentions:
I don’t listen to these as regularly; nevertheless, they deserve to be on the list because you never know what resonates with people. I believe that my podcast choices—just like everything else—shift and change with my mood and state in life. These are some podcasts that at one point really meant something to me, but for one reason or another, I’ve grown out of.
Black Girl in OM (wellness)
From Hoodrat to Headwrap (political + topical)
The Sexually Liberated Woman (sex + relationships)
The Layover (storytelling + travel)
Podcasts, thank you for spicing up my life, and keeping me (semi-) hip.
Photo by C D-X
