Brooklyn Free Speech Radio

The guitarist Wendy Eisenberg profiles Squanderers, the collaborative, improvising trio of Eisenberg with David Grubbs (gastr del sol) on electric guitars, and Bonner Kramer (Shimmy Disc) on bass ukulele. Eisenberg's commentary reveals the roots and flowers of this multi-generational exploration heard alongside excerpts from their 2025 performance at the Roulette concert hall in Brooklyn. Squander...

Maheema dives into the world of coffee with Aqil and Omar. But what invisible forces decide what coffee Aqil and Omar drink? And who gets to call it "good" coffee, anyways?

You're A Shining Star Our very own Roger Turner is doing a press circuit at the 2025 Blackstar Film Festival! This epic event was nothing short of amazing and impactful. Roger & Alexus sit down to discuss the highlights, the vibe, the experience, and yes! the films!!! You will not want to miss all the good dish on some of the most exciting Black, Brown & Indigenous content coming your way...

Pianist/composer Aruán Ortiz, classically trained in Cuba and influenced by jazz musicians from Chick Corea to Muhal Richard Abrams, narrates his journey over excerpts from his 2025 concert at Roulette pushing the boundaries of musical Afro-diasporic traditions and storytelling. A 2024 Guggenheim Fellow, we'll hear solos and ensemble works with clarinetist Don Byron, flutist Nicole Mitchell, and p...

Love On Top (with André Holland) We talk our favorite films about love and we interview the star of the new movie Love, Brooklyn...André Holland.

What would urbanist legend Jane Jacobs think of downtown Brooklyn today? Jacobs' "four elements for a good neighborhood" are foundational for many modern urban planners. But Jacobs herself did not hold downtown Brooklyn in high regard when she was writing in the 1960s. In this episode, host Maheema applies Jacobs's own four elements to modern DTBK

The Power of Black Boy Joy We celebrate the career of Malcolm-Jamal Warner and his impact on how Black men are portrayed on television.

Super Hero Summer The two biggest brands in the superhero business are rebooting their flagship characters at the box office. Throw in a few super-powered tv series with these movies and we've quite an interesting summer. We will give our reviews of what has been released so far and talk about what we are excited to see next.

Films On Freedom It's Independence Day but most of us marginalized folks don't feel free. So we curated our own list of films with freedom themes to go with your bbq and fireworks. America is a mess but you can still enjoy the day off. Go be free, booboo.

We discuss America's longest running tv sketch comedy show and ponder what could be next. We'll also rundown the list of our sketch comedy faves.

Queer Story Survival Kit: All Letters Matter This is the last installment of our Pride series. We talk about all of our Queers siblings the we do see enough of in popular media. Say the whole thing with us sweetie, L-G-B-T-Q-I-A-PLUS. Why? Because all of these letter matter.

The sonic world and career of composer Pauline Oliveros (1936-2016) featuring a 2008 interview with the artist conducted by David Weinstein for the radio station of the Clocktower Gallery in support of an exhibition at PS1 Contemporary Art Center (now MoMA PS1) entitled WACK: Art of the Feminist Revolution. We also hear solos and collaborative works recorded for the Roulette concert series dating...

We discuss the rollercoaster rides emotion that come with romantic-relationship centered reality TV. 

Queer Strory Survial Kit: Ladies First We are still in our Pride series, but this week we'll be talking about some great selections featuring the stories of Queer women. We have a lot of thoughts about the landscape for Woman-led queer stories. Most of our thoughts sum up to one idea: HUNNY, we all need to pay more attention to Queer women of Color. Duh.

Queer Story Survival Kit: Queer TV Dads In the second edition of our Pride series we take look at the Father figures on TV. Happy Pride Y'all!

Vibraphonist, marimbist, and composer Patricia Brennan in conversation with excerpts from performances at the Roulette Concert Hall in Brooklyn. Raised in Mexico and now in Brooklyn and honoree of many awards, Brennan's work as a bandleader and side person includes projects with pianist Sylvie Courvoisier, trumpeter Adam O'Farrill, and her ensembles More Touch and the Patricia Brennan Septet. Bren...

EP20- In this inspiring episode of *Let's Talk Passion & Purpose*, host Nicole Thomas sits down with Hanna Guzman, dynamic storyteller and creator of *The Advice From Hanna Show*. Since launching her podcast in 2018, Hanna has built a global platform that's reached over 30 countries and 35,000+ downloads by empowering listeners to embrace their truths and own their stories. She opens up about...

EP19 - In this thought-provoking episode, host Nicole Thomas chats with visual artist and writer Chunbum Park about the power of identity, creativity, and self-expression through art. From their journey growing up in South Korea to earning an MFA and launching innovative projects like *ArtBid*, an art auction card game, Chun shares how personal transformation and gender identity shape their vibran...

Playing and discussing classic jazz, also discussing social justice and political issues

This is a podcast is on various leadership or business topics

EP18 -In this empowering episode, Nicole Thomas sits down with Her Excellency Dr. Theresa A. Moseley—a United Nations Peace Ambassador, U.S. Army Veteran, international motivational speaker, and 21x best-selling author—whose work in global peacebuilding has earned her two Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards and international acclaim. Featured in over 300 media outlets and on the covers of mul...

Playing and discussing classic jazz, also discussing social justice and political issues

EP17 - In this inspiring episode of Let's Talk Passion & Purpose, Nicole Thomas sits down with Tamara J. Madison, a poet, author, spoken word artist, editor, and instructor whose work has captivated audiences worldwide. Tamara shares her journey through the literary arts, the power of poetry as a form of storytelling and healing, and how she has built a career fueled by passion, creativity, an...

The music of composer, pianist, and cultural explorer "Blue" Gene Tyranny (1945-2020) in solos and collaborations recorded by Roulette from 2004-10 including archival commentary by the artist and a 2025 introduction by friend and colleague, the writer/producer Mary Griffin. We'll hear excerpts from pieces including A Letter From Home (2004 version) and Flipside (2008) with vocalists The Smithereen...

Playing and discussing classic jazz, also discussing social justice and political issues