AudioDiaspora

Hi fam, This week, I’m excited to welcome Josh Rivers to AudioDiaspora. He has been building safe spaces throughout his career. And he’s done this using storytelling as a tool. He’s also the host of the podcast " Busy Being Black ,” which explores and celebrates the richness of queer Black lives. At the start of each show, he asks a simple yet poignant question: "How is your heart?" And I haven’t...

Ep. 82: Louise Lyons-Appiah is Using Personal Narratives in Podasts to Break Barriers In a world where societal expectations can be stifling, Louise Lyons-Appiah’s story is a testament to breaking free from self-doubt to build communities and empower others through collaboration. In this episode, I speak with Louise, the co-founder of BreatheUnion and a passionate advocate for mental health, perso...

EP 81: Fight for the Life of Your Work! AudioDiaspora 2024 Highlights It’s nearly the end of 2024, and as the year winds down, Christabel takes a moment to reflect on some of the most impactful AudioDiaspora conversations of the year so far. From the power of telling your truth to the art of owning your narrative, this episode is packed with wisdom from Black creatives you SHOULD know - and storie...

Channing Chasten on ‘The 1% Kid’: Don’t Let Your Setbacks Dictate Your Future Channing Chasten, the former Phoenix Rising football star and author of the kids' book, " The 1% Kid ," shares why honoring disappointment and sadness in setting goals and boundaries was essential in achieving his career or creative goals. He also recounts how often being the only Black player on his team fueled his driv...

Shaznay Martin Is Creating The World She Wants To See Using the Camera and the Pen. In this week’s episode, we are joined by  Shaznay Martin, a writer and filmmaker who is forging her path in the media world and creating space for Black women on both sides of the camera. As a writer, Shaznay dissects and celebrates movies with complex Black women who take up space. Now, she’s spreading her creativ...

Hi everybody, I think the universe is ‘having a laugh’ because why is the episode we’re playing one week after I broke my ankle about…sports?! TOO. SOON! I jest! It’s fine! In this week’s episode, I speak with Dr. Shaun M. Anderson , the Knight Chair in Sports, Race, and Media at UNC-Chapel Hill , who is on a mission to share how athletes increasingly use their influence for social change.  Our co...

Hi everybody, I'll try to keep this note short(ish) because, well, a (not very) funny thing happened to me on Monday. I broke my ankle while on a run. I thought it might be a sprain. It turns out it is more than that. So I'm doing something I've never done before. I am going to rest, or should I say, I will sit my @$$ down (aka park my brain and slow things down. How did it happen? Well, I went on...

Hey AD Fam, How's everyone doing? I hope you're all doing great. As for me, I'm battling a pesky cold at the moment. 'Tis the season, right?  That didn’t stop me from my usual ‘nerding’ out over creation and engagement., I stumbled upon some intriguing facts and figures about podcasting this week. First off, my buddies at Spotify dropped these stats :  In the US, 47% of podcast streams f rom users...

Fam! The impact of Black creators has been felt this week. For some, that has come with a feeling of uneaase. For others, it’s been a moment to celebrate a win. Nevertheless, what each of these creators are demonstrating is the power of following that north star, and the desire to tell the truth as you see it. Keep reading to hear about their inspiring achievements. First, thank you for listening...

Hi everyone,  Thank you for joining me again. I’m glad you’re back. How are you? It’s been another insane week, at least in US politics. Like everyone else, I laughed at the clever memes and remixes of the absurd, racist - and debunked - claims by former President Donald Trump that Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating cats and dogs in the US town of Springfield. Trump’s comments were so out...

Well, hello, hello! Thank you for the great feedback on last week’s episode—the conversation with Charlene Campbell. I loved it, too. She’s so generous with her time and talents.  Speaking of sharing time, this weekend, I’m talking about interviewing authentically and finding historically under-recognized voices with student journalists for an online forum presented by the Youth Media Forward init...

A WORD FROM OUR HOST AD Fam! I had a hard time developing a good title for this week's newsletter. Then, just as I was about to give up, my producer, Nancy Kwamboka, pinged me to check out this week’s social media artwork she’d put together. Then, *cue angel chorus!* The phrase, a quote from Charlene Campbell of London’s Renaissance Studios -  jumped out at me. The full quote is this:  “Never unde...

AD Fam! It was Labor Day in the US, so we’re dropping our episode on Tuesday! That means that Autumn (or Fall) is just around the corner. Don’t worry; I’m not ignoring the family members in the Caribbean, South America, or Africa (and yes, we have listeners there - I know this is a season of change for you, too! This third quarter of the year signals new things for all of us. In a previous edition...

A WORD FROM OUR HOST AD Fam! I’m back in the US and still processing the crazy ups and downs of my world(s.) In the UK, while the riots may have quelled, people of colour around the country are still dealing with the effects. Writer Poorna Bell wrote this week that people are DMing her stories of being spat at in the street and afraid to leave the house. I dearly hope Britain doesn’t return to bus...

This week, we’re replaying our conversation with Howard J. Davis, which first aired on May 15, 2024.  Read a NEW reflection from Christabel about this episode: When I first talked to Howard J. Davis, aka HAUI, in May, I reflected on how, as a child, I felt compelled to fight against media portrayals of my community in the UK and found the courage to chase my dreams from American TV shows. Three mo...

A WORD FROM OUR HOST It’s my last week in the UK, and what a week it’s been. For me, this time was consumed by the inspiring highs of familial reconnection and Olympic superheroism. On the other end of the scale, I’ve had to process my anger and fear as I watched the UK riots first-hand. Watching the public conversation avoid having honest discussions about British racism had been hurtful. And in...

Welcome Back, AD Fam!.  For the third part of our Summer Picks series, we're super excited to welcome back Priscilla Owusu from 'Just Read It.' This week, Priscilla takes us through the powerful novel “How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House” by Cherie Jones. The book, which was shortlisted for the Women's Prize, follows the lives of Lala, Mira, and Wilma. Priscilla gives us a great overview, hi...

What’s good, AD Fam?! For the second part of our Summer Picks series, our special guest, Priscilla Owusu from ‘Just Read It’ takes a deep dive into the legacy and representation of “Queenie,” written by Candice Carty-Williams. For anyone who hasn’t read it yet, the novel centers around Queenie Jenkins, a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London. It explores her journey to self-understan...

Happy Friday, AD Fam! In the first episode of our Summer Reads series, special guest Priscilla Owusu of ‘ Just Read It ’ walks us through a story that resonates deeply with the themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the pursuit of one's true identity. The captivating tale of ‘Maame,’ officially called Maddie Wright, reveals the challenges of a 25-year-old British-Ghanaian woman navigating the d...

A WORD FROM OUR HOST Happy Friday, AD Fam! First, I’m taking a break from interviewing folks for the next few weeks because I will be on my summer break! But worry ye not! Over the next four weeks, Priscilla Owusu of ‘Just Read It ’ will share her Summer Book Picks with us! Tune in—listening to our ‘fabulous auntie vibes’ will be worth the listen, lol. That said, I’m leaving you all with a banger...

Welcome to this week's AudioDiaspora roundup! We're excited to share the latest in music, culture, and creativity from the Black diaspora. On Our Radar The Significance of Juneteenth from Erin Haines' podcast, "The Amendment," featuring New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie. Discover the history and impact of this important celebration. Link: Transcript: Jamelle Bouie discusses race and Juneteent...

A WORD FROM OUR HOST WOOSAH! It’s the end of the school year in my neck of the woods.  And my eldest kid is moving on to middle school. It’s all-change here!! I gotta say, the transition to summer break is always a struggle for me. Like many guardians of school-aged humans, trying to entertain kids at home or taking them to camps that start at different times of the day often challenges my ability...

A WORD FROM OUR HOST Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how we creators tend to overlook the significance of using data to deepen our relationship with our audience. When I guide clients in refining their show angles, I always begin by asking who their target audience is. I've noticed that people rarely fully answer this question.  Here's my take: knowing your audience means understanding thei...

A WORD FROM OUR HOST If you’re a content maker with a mission or social message, it can feel hard to make a living telling content that’s meaningful to your community. But Tamara Barton-Campbell found a way to do it. She’s a bold storyteller and businesswoman who knows she deserves a seat at the media table. She shares invaluable tips on pitching your idea to a potential broadcast (or financial) p...

A Word From Our Host Team! I’m in New York City, wrapping up my time as part of the Sulzberger Executive Leadership 2024 cohort. I was selected because program leaders see me as an editorial leader with the potential to change the media. After five intense months, I’m inspired and ready to do just that. Part of my vision is to coach creators across the Diaspora who want to thrive in this new creat...