AudioDiaspora

A WORD FROM THE HOST “A History is written, but I believe a myth is what we believe.”  When I think about Howard J. Davis saying those words to me, I can’t help but reflect on the history I was told and believed – AND how that shaped how I moved in the world. As a kid, I loved TV and was fascinated with the US primarily because of the many American sitcoms I watched. Through those shows, I fell in...

A WORD FROM THE HOST ALWAYS fight for the life of your creative work. It’s a twist on a lesson Nana-Ama Danquah shares on the show and one of the biggest takeaways I’ve learned from her over the years. We first met in the aughts when she was a contributor on a radio show I supervised at NPR. Even then, she brought nothing but her ENTIRE self. That honesty unnerved me back then, and I tried my best...

A WORD FROM THE HOST “Bet on yourself!” That’s the takeaway from my interview with Alex Zepherin. She is clear on why she does her work. When you listen to our interview, you’ll discover what helps her decide what kinds of projects she takes on and how her job gave her a new perspective on Black British culture and history. She’s creating the work-life balance that we all seek. She reminded me why...

A WORD FROM THE HOST I’m excited to be back with a new season of changemakers who are connecting the dots about our world in inspiring ways! Meet Svetlana Chigozie Onye-Sanya. Through her journalism, she helps us understand the conversations around climate justice. Through her fiction writing, she helps us demystify it - and compels us to connect with others. And through her music, she reminds us...

A WORD FROM OUR FOUNDER + HOST It’s funny how the body keeps up with what the mind doesn’t. When my producers suggested we run this day on April 19th, a wave of tiredness came over me, but my eyes blasted past it, and my brain shut off. I simply said, ‘Yes,’ It’s just another day. But it’s not. You see, April 19 is the day my dad passed away. So, replaying this show on this date feels very appropr...

A WORD FROM OUR FOUNDER + HOST If, like me, you spent some of this week digging deep to stay focused and energized as strangers made assumptions about what you bring to the creative table, this is the show for you. Listening to her talk about her passion for ‘the work’ and her unwavering focus on her ‘why’ helped her achieve her goals, even on the most challenging days, will re-energize you. This...

A WORD FROM OUR FOUNDER + HOST Black Girl Magic. I love that term. We are magical and excellent, but I believe we’re just as loveable when we’re not so magical - you know, like when we’re regular - or when we fail. Seeing it in specific contexts, like work, brings to mind - for me at least - this idea of needing to be twice as good to get half as much;  something that still rings true for so many...

A WORD FROM THE FOUNDER + HOST This conversation reminded me that not everything you see is what you get. Black superheroes, like Sojourner Truth, didn’t become great despite their disabilities. They became great BECAUSE of them. They were shaped by all of whom they were to lead and become legends in their own way. I urge you to listen to this conversation. It was one of those moments where, as I...

Under-represented or under-recognized? My brain exploded during this conversation with N. Chloe Nwangwu.  Listen to the show, and you’ll hear the moment it happens. When Chloe introduced the term ‘under-recognized’ in our conversation, I immediately understood how that framing moved the onus - aka the responsibility and the lack - away from the people fighting against it - and TOWARD the people wh...

To mark International Women’s Day, we sit down with Esther Armah, the visionary CEO and founder of The Armah Institue of Emotional Justice . On this powerful episode of AudioDiaspora, Esther shares her insights on Black women’s relationship to work, joy, and Black love, as discussed in her latest book, “Emotional Justice: A Roadmap for Racial Healing.” She also shares the groundbreaking work of he...

Step into the vibrant world of storytelling on the latest episode of AudioDiaspora as we sit down with Cyril Afeku, co-founder of The Gold Coast Report network. In this episode, we explore Cyril’s journey from a global development scholar to a pioneering force in Ghana’s podcasting landscape. Cyril talks us through the humble beginnings of The Gold Coast Report Network, starting as a passion proje...

Step into the thought-provoking realm of Audio Diaspora as we engage in a dynamic conversation with Chloé Nwangwu, also known as “The Brand Scientist.” In this episode, we explore the intersection of academia, technology, and underrepresentation — and unravel the complexities of visibility biases and their profound impact on individuals and communities. Chloé shares her academic journey and unique...

Join us on a journey to Seattle, Washington, to chat with the incredibly talented Paula Boggs, the creative genius behind Paula Boggs Band . In this episode, Audio Diaspora dives deep into folk and jazz with Paula. She and her band are on a mission to unravel the rich history of roots instruments, from the banjo to the ukulele, tracing their soulful origins back to Africa. But it’s not just about...

Step into the vibrant world of creativity with host Christabel Nsiah-Buadi as she welcomes Blaine D. Teamer, the multi-talented artist, playwright, and host of the Afro-Existential podcast. Get ready to dive into the behind-the-scenes journey of Blaine's creative endeavors, from the stages of LA and NY to the captivating world of podcasting. In this candid episode of Audio Diaspora, Blaine shares...

In this episode, The Cipher ventures to London and Rio de Janeiro to chat with Gabriela Vallim, a remarkable music journalist and co-founder of BaileFunkeCulture . This project is a bridge that connects the vibrant culture, music, events, and advocacy of black Brazil to the UK. Gabriela shares her inspiring journey, from starting as a journalist and activist at a young age to navigating the challe...

In this episode, Christabel goes ‘back home’ to the UK for a chat with Tino Bvunzawabaya, the host of the Black and RAWW podcast. He started this incredible journey during the pandemic, driven by a deep passion for exploring and celebrating Black masculinity. Tino's journey from Zimbabwe to the UK shaped his perspective as a Black man in Britain.  Feeling stuck between different worlds, he created...

In this episode, we'll chat with Dr. Therí A. Pickens in Maine. She's a professor at Bates College, a writer, and a champion for new voices as the founder of Inquiry Editing LLC. She’s also the author of several books, including "Black Madness :: Mad Blackness."  Dr. Pickens breaks down how the concept of disability intersects with Blackness and how our society has invisibilized people over the ye...

On this episode of "The Cipher," we journey to Kenya to meet Namulanta Kombo, the host of "Dear Daughter," a BBC World Service production. Namulanta's podcast offers practical advice to future generations, driven by her experiences and a desire to share constructively with her daughter.  She won the BBC World Service's International Podcasting competition, choosing podcasting as a flexible medium...

We’re taking the Mic to East Africa - via New York, cause that’s how we do -and speaking with film maker Ekwa Msangi.  She’s been a film maker for over 20 years, and is the visionary behind the award-winning and critically acclaimed movie, Farewel Amor. The movie, which was made in 2020 centres around an Angolan family stumbling to find a way reconnect after being separated for 17 years. The movie...

There’s a phrase by the legendary author, Toni Morrison that’s often repeated, it’s this: "If there’s a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” And that’s what our guest today, NANA EKUA BREW HAMMOND has done.  She’s a writer, her books include a children’s book called BLUE, and a YA novel called Powder Necklace. In her latest book, she’s taken on the role o...

In this episode, Christabel asks Juliana Ogechi, the host of the podcast ‘ No Shame In My Name ,’ what power do names carry? You’ll discover in this episode that the answer is ‘family history, global history, re-connection, and love.’ Juliana is a Nigerian-British woman with a thoughtful and academic mind who wanted to explore the power of names in her podcast, ‘No Shame In My Name,’ to reflect on...

The world loves to tell young people to be quiet, or that their ideas aren’t fully formed. But as we know, Our gen Z’ers and Alphas don’t play that! They’re out in these streets making their voices heard. Kenya Juma is one of these powerful individuals. At just 17, Kenya Juma is an avid fashion student, travelling the country as a motivational speaker and performing as a spoken word poet. Her work...

In this episode, Christabel talks to Priscilla Owusu , a writer and the founder of Just Read It , a repository of reviews of books by Black British, American, and African authors. She has also written for The British Blacklist, the online global home for African and African-Caribbean British creative professionals on the screen and stage. A self-proclaimed ‘lover of a good book,’ Priscilla loves e...

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Full Episode here This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.audiodiaspora.com/subscribe