Black Pod Class

Dr. Breniel Lemley is a children's podcast researcher, she mainly researches kid’s podcasts. She has a nice list of credentials: BA in Psychology with a minor in music from University of San Francisco, MA from Northwestern University, and recently acquired her PhD from Northwestern University as of this past summer. Has a plethora of research experience. TV is still #1 when it comes to media choices for kids. She thinks that children could benefit from educational podcasts, depending on how kids are engaging with it. The average length of a children's podcast was about 15-20 minutes; though, they were for kids who were 6-10 years old. Children podcasts have an ad break in-between and segments to keep their attention. The shorter the podcast is the better they will be able to keep their focus. In her bio, she has a focus on mental health stigma, including how talking about mental health issues has become less stigmatized, and thankfully, Society is more open to it, talking about it is very liberating, and erodes away the stigma over the years. She has always been an avid podcast listener and she became curious into the kid’s TV shows that have podcasts. The media is constantly evolving to the point where the research can’t keep up. She also mentioned how research takes forever. The rules & regulations that apply to TV have not made their way into the podcast world. 

Odochi Ibe and Maurice Licorish are podcast hosts who have gained recognition for their show, "Black and Snerdy." Their podcast often covers topics related to pop culture, including discussions about nerdy subjects with a particular focus on issues such as mental health awareness and social justice, especially related to combating racism and challenging stereotypes. Their podcast typically incorporates elements of humor, candid conversation, and
cultural insights, discussing various aspects of nerd culture while intertwining discussions about mental health awareness and dismantling systemic issues like white supremacy.

Production credits: Ariana Wright

Hi everyone! Today we have Dr. Jenn and Darren with us who are the hosts and
creators of “ThatBlackCouple” podcast. Jenn is queer, androgynous Black woman, an
abolitionist, a lover of all Black people, and an Assistant Professor at Syracuse University in the
Department of Political Science. Jackson’s research is in Black Politics with a focus on Black
Feminist movements, racial threat, gender and sexuality, and political behavior.

Jenn’s Bio:
Jenn M. Jackson (they/them) is a queer, androgynous Black woman, an abolitionist, a lover of all
Black people, and an Assistant Professor at Syracuse University in the Department of Political
Science. Jackson’s research is in Black Politics with a focus on Black Feminist movements,
racial threat, gender and sexuality, and political behavior. They are a columnist at Teen Vogue
and the author of the forthcoming books BLACK WOMEN TAUGHT US (Penguin Random
House, 2024) and POLICING BLACKNESS (University of Chicago Press, 2024). Jackson has
written peer-reviewed articles at Public Culture, Politics, Groups, and Identities, Social Science
Quarterly, and the Journal of Women, Politics, and Policy. Jackson received their doctoral degree
in Political Science at the University of Chicago in 2019.

Daren’s Bio:
Daren W. Jackson (he/him/they) is an asexual novelist and storyteller who offers narratives about
individuals who are overlooked in mainstream literature. A recent MFA graduate from The New
School for Liberal Arts in NYC, he is hard at work on his debut novel. This mild-mannered,
Southern California native is a die hard fan of all things Marvel or Star Trek. Daren’s book
reviews have been featured at the Chicago Tribune and his editorial work has been featured on
VSB and VIBE.

ThatBlackCouple:
ThatBlackCouple podcast is a podcast about the realities of Blackness and adult life.
Their goal is to create a space for Black millennials to discuss and embody adult life on their
own terms.

In this episode, hosts Emma Calcutt, Madison Coccaro, and Aidan Lawrence engage in a
compelling conversation with our esteemed guest, Aaron Wright. Aaron, a senior journalism
student at the University of Maryland, offers valuable insights into the realm of podcast editing
and journalism. During the discussion, Aaron generously shares his wealth of experience and
practical tips garnered from his work on the "The Off Beat" podcast. Additionally, he delves into
his ability to authentically convey lived experiences through his own podcast, "The Afro Files,"
while navigating the challenges of editing for organizations like the Diamondback.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of Aaron's meticulous research methods, his podcast
preferences such as scripted content, a preference for audio-only formats, and his overall
approach to crafting compelling narratives. Aaron also provides valuable reflections on his
journey in journalism and internships, illustrating how these experiences have informed his
prowess in creating and editing podcasts. The episode concludes with Aaron graciously sharing
his insightful advice for individuals embarking on their podcasting journey. Tune in for a
thoughtful exploration of the podcasting landscape, enriched by Aaron's expertise and genuine
passion for the craft.

Please read Aaron’s bio below:
Aaron Wright is a senior Journalism major with a certificate in African American Studies. Ever
since he switched majors from Letters and Science, he’s written for The Black Explosion, The
Diamondback, WMUC's Drop the Pop, WMUC's Weekly Roundup, hosted a show on WMUC-
FM called "The Afro Files," and did internships for The Baltimore Banner and The Fauquier
Times. Currently he is Co-EIC of The Black Explosion and the audio editor for The
Diamondback's podcast "The Offbeat." His pronouns are He/Him/His. All his podcast experience
is in doing live shows of "The Afro Files," doing the advanced podcasting capstone and editing
an episode (by the time of this class) for The Offbeat. He has listened to Louder than a Riot,
Code Switch, Rough Translation and now getting into The Read.

Production Credits:
Emma Calcutt, Madison Coccaro, Aidan Lawrence

Music Credits:
bedtime after a coffee by ikkun (ex. Barradeen) | https://soundcloud.com/ikkunwastaken
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OBoJqKHvKggEGaeQpjvIVz27ugaZ_APpmEwl77fWRqY/edit?usp=sharing

Our guest speaker for our episode is Dr. Lauren Malone. She is from Texas, but spent most of her adult life in Iowa, where she got her bachelor’s in English from Central College. She then went to study in London and received a master’s in Professional Writing, then returned to Iowa for her PhD in rhetoric and Professional Communication. She studies digital rhetoric, justice-centered curriculum, literature, and Black American rhetoric. She is currently a second year assistant professor at the University of Tampa.

Dr. Malone discussed how people in London view America from her experience in London. It is mixed and not as negative or positive as many think. The student podcast about the history of radio announcements was one that stood out to Dr. Malone. Malone also discussed anonymity and the importance of visual anonymity especially. Dr. Malone went into the details of the difference between education in Iowa and in London. The main difference was that in London you have less assignments overall but they are usually big projects that you have to complete. She also discussed teaching classes in a more game style as compared to a strict lecture based style. She referred to it as “gamifying” the classroom. She mentioned how among other professors, some are a fan and some are not a fan of gamifying their classrooms. Dr. Malone stressed how through accessibility and understanding concepts, social justice can be facilitated through podcasts. The discussion concluded with Dr. Malone discussing how there isn’t an age preference in professors when it comes to deciding to gamify their classes. 

Production Credits:

Matthew Rodriques

Alex Hong

Brenny Rodriguez 

Lauren Malone

We first asked questions specifically relating to Dr Snipes’ and Dr Fine’s work at SIUE. Dr. Fine talked about how to further advance diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as her connection to the sociocultural aspect of intercollegiate athletics among black student
athletes. Her work starting out as a practitioner, as well as outside events such as the BLM movement in regard to the death of George Floyd, were catalysts for her work in student affairs. We asked Dr. Snipes whether his educational plans changed because of the
pandemic in regards to his Phd, and the reasons he decided to research/teach about the importance of spirituality and religion on the college campus. He talked about how the pandemic in fact positively influenced his teaching and the necessity to have conversations in relation to religion and meaning.

We also discussed their podcast Blacktivism in the Academy. Outside sources such as Invisible Man by Ralph Elison were discussed in terms of the pursuit of identity as it relates to identity assignment on the college campus. Dr. Snipes discusses his all-time
favorite guest on the podcast, while Dr. Fine reveres her love for Season 4 of their podcast.Finally, the duo talked about important pieces of advice for those starting their own podcasts, which include being open to new ideas, having fun, and hiring a good editor.

Production Credits:
Alex Turner, Caleb White, Daniel Rudden, Haley Scheinberg

Music Credit: Silent Partner. “West.” 2014. Youtube, West - Silent Partner (YouTube
Royalty-free Music Download) - YouTube

Episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P2DhNEN-ffHYGDrnwpWx6wAUm5EJQLrwRcEtXBXGBwc/edit?usp=sharing

In this week’s Black PodClass Podcast episode, students Joulisa Francis and Madeline Seck interviewed Dr. Nicole Carr. Dr. Carr is currently an assistant professor at Texas A&M University who teaches African-American Literature and culture. Her studies primarily focus on black feminism, reproductive justice, and health. She noted her new documentary film, “High-Risk Black Mothers Protecting Themselves and Their Babies,” will be released in October 2023, presenting her research on the disadvantages and injustice of Black women regarding their reproductive health. The students asked about her upbringing in Florida and what inspired her to write the article “A Love Letter to Miami.” Dr. Carr provided insight into what living in the diverse melting pot was like and how black culture is prominent within South Florida despite its assumptions of being mainly Latin.

Furthermore, she discusses the adjustment of currently living in conservative Texas and what inspired her to teach African-American Literature. Additionally, she describes how she discovered podcasting through her passion for black literature and recommended to the class her favorite novels she has discovered throughout the years. You can find her “Bookstagram,” Lovers in the Library on Instagram.

Episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EvgI4P3Cyg1vUXfOBlj68hzdU5nxAJxT8RAPVFKMEAw/edit?usp=sharing

For our first guest, we welcomed the wonderful Monica Wisdom, host extraordinaire of the Black Women Amplified podcast. Monica shared her journey to becoming a podcast host, her process for publishing her episodes and her insights into the future of podcasting. She gave the students advice on starting their own podcasts. Monica also discussed her approach to interviewing and storytelling. Check out our very first episode!

The Black Pod Class podcast is hosted and produced by the students and professor of the Black Podcasts class, taught at the University of Maryland by Dr. Briana Barner.

Monica's bio:

Monica's journey has been nothing short of remarkable, and her diverse career has taken her through various industries, placing her among giants in the field. Her adventurous spirit has led her into the realms of cosmetology, publishing, and the music industry.

Monica's expertise and dedication earned her a prestigious role as part of the esteemed educators' team at Sebastian International. Later, she assumed the position of Director of Education for Salon Resources, the distributor for Sebastian International. In this capacity, she crafted classes, workshops, and product launches that left an indelible mark.

As a multifaceted professional, Monica has collaborated with celebrities and renowned companies, including The Isley Brothers, Lela Rochon, Kevin Mayes (Black Panther), Nina Gancy (The Matrix), Great Lengths Hair Extensions, Carole’s Daughter, Atlantic Records, Yoruba Records, and DreamWorks Records. Her mastery caught the attention of major news outlets such as ABC, CBS, NBC, Clear Channel, and Fox, leading to interviews and features across her wide range of expertise.

Monica's career also encompassed influential roles as the Director of Operations for In Magazine and Today in Church Magazine. In these positions, she played a pivotal role in shaping the direction of the magazines, ensuring brand continuity and compelling features. Monica had the privilege of interviewing notable celebrities about their spiritual lives, including Kirk Whalum, Eric Roberson, Evander Holyfield, and Isaac Bruce, to name a few. Her work shared space alongside contributions from renowned figures like Joyce Meyers, TD Jakes, and Joel Olsten.

Amid her multifaceted career, Monica embarked on a profound spiritual journey, confronting the scars of her traumatic childhood and generational wounds. This inner exploration led her to a profound study of the Divine Feminine under the guidance of world-renowned teachers, Dr. Caroline ‘Isis’ Fuqua and Bettie Spruill. Monica also became an initiate of Transcendental Meditation and a devoted student of Yogini Nithyananda.

This spiritual evolution culminated in Monica's role as the creator and founder of the Black Women Amplified podcast, where remarkable black women from around the world share their incredible stories. Distinguished guests such as best-selling author Jayne Allen, Tony Award-winning actor Tonya Pinkins, and Leatrice Ellzy, the Director of Programming at the Iconic Apollo Theater, have graced the podcast. 

Monica's unwavering desire to empower Black women to share their stories, be seen, and embrace their power gave birth to The Amplify Academy, an extension of Black Women Amplified. This platform is dedicated to centering Black women and offers masterclasses, VIP coaching, and an upcoming membership, all designed to uplift and empower.