Black Pod Class

We had the honor of interviewing the fabulous Taz & MaRah from the amazing true crime podcast Sistas Who Kill. We learned about their production process, the show's amazing impact on the true crime genre and their journey into becoming podcasters. Enjoy!

In this captivating podcast episode, Zainat and Sierra, students of the Black Podclass, engage in an enlightening conversation with one of the hosts of the “Black Girl Charmed” podcast. Hosted by Peggy ‘Max’ Olson, a Trinidadian American, alongside her best friend Jonelle, the podcast delves into the nostalgic allure of the early 2000s hit "Charmed." Join the discussion as Zainat and Sierra uncover Peggy's initial fascination with "Charmed" and how the series resonated with her as a young black girl growing up. Peggy reflects on the evolution of her relationship with the show over the years, transitioning from a fan of its magic and sisterhood to a deeper appreciation of its thematic depth and representation. Sit back and enjoy as Peggy shares insights into the podcasters and influencers who have influenced her approach to podcasting, highlighting their unique styles and storytelling techniques. As a bonus, she offers her perspective on the reboot of "Charmed," analyzing its strengths and weaknesses compared to the original series.

The Black Podclass is joined by hosts Shay Payne and Briea Parks! In this episode, Shay and Briea, both accomplished black women in the nursing profession, share their insights and experiences working in the high-stakes environment of the Labor and Delivery Unit. Shay Payne brings her expertise as a seasoned labor and delivery nurse, with a passion for maternal health and patient advocacy. Briea Parks, equally dedicated to her profession, offers a unique perspective shaped by her years of experience in the field. Together, they navigate through the joys, challenges, and heartfelt moments encountered in their daily work, shedding light on the realities of labor and delivery nursing. Tune in as they share stories, provide valuable tips, and advocate for the well-being of both mothers and babies in "The Laborhood" podcast.

A little bit more on their background, Shay is a certified Midwife from Greensboro, NC. In 2016, she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Winston-Salem State University. As a nurse, she gained labor and delivery experience in high-risk obstetrics, hydrotherapy and aromatherapy. For the next 2 years, she became captivated by holistic, low-intervention births. In 2019, she transitioned into a management role and excelled at a new Birthing Center in Winston-Salem, NC. It was there where she became a Certified Nurse in Inpatient Obstetrics and started her climb to Clinical Midwifery. Shay also has a Masters Degree in the Science of Nursing from Frontier Nursing University.

Briea also is an alumnae from Winston-Salem State University, she obtained her Bachelors of Science in Nursing and a minor in psychology in 2015. After obtaining her degree, she began working as a cardiac telemetry nurse. In 2016, she became a labor and delivery nurse. In 2019, Briea transitioned to a leadership position where she became a charge nurse at a birthing center. In 2020, she received a Masters of Science in Nursing Leadership from Western Governors University. In 2021, she received a national certification in inpatient obstetric nursing. Now, she continues to work as a labor and delivery staff nurse and is a travel nurse.

In this episode, we explore the unique perspectives and insights offered by two remarkable hosts: Sadhana Jackson and Joseph Vivens of "First Off" and Joseph Vivens of "Wizarding Black Lit." Hosted by Inayat Jain, this podcast interview aims to highlight the significance of Black
representation in media and entertainment through the lens of podcasting.

Sadhana Jackson and Joseph Vivens, hosts of "First Off," brings her experiences as a parent navigating
the complexities of raising children in contemporary society to the forefront of her podcast. With
a keen eye for insightful conversations, they explore the challenges and triumphs of parenthood,
offering a refreshing take on familial dynamics.

Joseph Vivens, the creative mind behind "Wizarding Black Lit," combines his passion for literature and Black culture to craft a podcast that celebrates Black voices in the realm of
magical storytelling. Through captivating discussions, Joseph invites listeners to explore the rich tapestry of Black narratives within the fantasy genre.

Podcaster Bio:
Dr. Reighan Gillam is a professor, podcaster, and author. Gillam holds a BA in Anthropology and Afro-American and African Studies from the University of Virginia, and a PhD from Cornell University. She has previously taught as an assistant professor of Anthropology at the University of Southern California and now at Dartmouth College. Her work delves into the intersection of racial ideologies, anti-racism, and protest, particularly focusing on Afro-Brazilian
media production and its portrayal of Black experiences. Her newest book, "Visualizing Black Lives: Ownership and Control in Afro-Brazilian Media," explores these themes. The professor's next project, "Diasporic Agency: Transnational Racial Leverage and Challenges to Exceptionalism," examines Afro-Brazilian engagement with African American culture and politics. Dr. Gillam was elected to the Executive Committee of the Brazilian Studies Association and has received prestigious fellowships from institutions such as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Mellon Foundation. In her role as host of the New Books Network
podcast, she showcases academic works and contributes to public understanding of Black Studies, Media Studies, Latin American Studies, and Anthropology. She is dedicated to
assisting students in their academic and career endeavors by providing courses on Black culture, visual culture, social movements, and the African Diaspora.

Episode Summary:
In this podcast interview, Lizzie and Anouchka discuss Dr. Gillam's academic background and what led her to the fields of Anthropology and Black studies. We also talked about how her background in Afro-Brazilian Media influences her current work as a professor and podcaster. Additionally, Dr.
Gillam shares her journey from studying anthropology to becoming a podcaster and how she balances her various interests. Finally, this episode concludes with a discussion of Dr. Gillam's future endeavors and advice for aspiring scholars/podcasters interested in exploring topics related to anthropology, black culture, and media studies.

On this episode of the Black PodClass, Lily, Eric, and Andrew interviewed Corey Gumbs. Gumbs is an entrepreneur and podcast development strategist. He is the founder of the Black Podcasters Association, and owns Black Label Media.

Episode Summary:
This podcast episode covered plenty of topics relating to the struggles of podcasting and how to make the small changes to see big results. The episode’s special guest, Corey Gumbs provides all the insight you need to become a successful entrepreneur and podcaster in the newly formed, yet to be figured out, podcast industry. The key to it all is learning how to manage, maintain, and learn from the audience while providing the content that you want to produce. Finding your target audience and breaking down with yourself or your team on how you can be useful to that audience and find a way to value and monetize your content.

Have you ever wondered or told your best friend “We should start a podcast”? In this week’s episode, long-time best friends Franchesca Ramsey and De’Lon Grant of the “Lemme
Fix It” podcast spill the secret to hosting a podcast with your best friend—without it resulting in a falling out—while still juggling a personal life, self-care, multiple hobbies and jobs, and mental health. Ramsey and Grant are both multi-hyphenates in the entertainment industry with credits ranging from staff writer on the now (unjustly) canceled iCarly reboot to ensemble cast member in Tony Award-nominated Broadway musicals to supporting actor in various Hollywood TV and film productions, and much more. Inspired by conversations they’ve had during their frequent
hours-long phone calls, each episode of“Lemme Fix It” centers around Ramsey and Grant taking TV shows, events, celebrities, movies, music, etc. from the early zeitgeist and rebranding, or “fixing” them for today’s world. Over 6 months and 32 episodes later, Ramsey and Grant’s
friendship—and podcast—is still thriving. Maybe it is possible to mix business with pleasure!
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Keep up with “Lemme Fix It” on Instagram: @fixitpod
Franchesca Ramsey: @chescaleigh
De’Lon Grant: @thedelondotcom

In today’s episode, we have the honor of interviewing Nikesha Williams, host of Black & Published Podcast. Her podcast is one that delves into the journey of writers, poets and storytellers as they reflect on their writings and give insight into what the process looks like under the literature umbrella. Her platform is a source to amplify narrators who she feels are underrepresented, and she shines light on their accomplishments. 

During this interview podcast, we talk a lot about her journey into podcasting, her recent publications with insight into what’s next, and her overall process into how her podcast is run. She has a very unique style as to how she operates her guest choosing process, she talks about that as well. 

M. Foss, better known as the TV Doctor, joins us to tell us all about herself and her podcast, The TV Doctor. TV critic by nature and nurture, works to “prescribe” us the very best show or episode to help us when we’re in need. With episodes ranging from prescribing tv treatments to healing homesickness, PTSD, and even iron deficiency. We asked many questions to M. Foss about her journey to becoming a podcaster, lessons she has learned in her production, show recommendations for her audience, and even her favorite show.

On this episode, David and Dylan interviewed Leslie and Lynne Streeter. Leslie and Lynn are co-hosts of the “Fine Beats and Cheeses'' podcast. They are sisters from Baltimore, Maryland with a passion and fascination for pop culture. Leslie is a University of Maryland graduate who now
works as a columnist for the Baltimore Banner. Leslie is also the author of “Black Widow”, a story about her losing her husband with a spin of her own unique humor and storytelling on the topics of grief and loss. Lynne works as a playwright, actor, teaching artist, singer, director, and
the founder and artistic director of Building Better People Productions.

In this episode we got Leslie and Lynn’s take on what a black podcast is and where they fall in the category. We also covered their background and influences that they use when making their own podcast. We even found out about some of their favorite pop culture moments and the impact they have on them today. You can listen to more of Lynne and Leslie’s pop culture conversations on their podcast “Fine Beats and Cheeses”.