When a ballet teacher told co-host Leila that her back should be straight on the ground, no light shining through and Leila couldn't make it happen, her ballet dreams disappeared. The world of classical ballet is extremely difficult to break into, and for those who do, there's a lot that comes with it. This episode looks at breaking the line. We talk to former ballerina Aesha Ashe, and dance educator and writer Theresa Ruth Howard about ballet, bodies, and skin tone.

Episode 12: Breaking the line

The Stoop podcast digs into stories that are not always shared out in the open. Hosts Leila Day and Hana Baba start conversations and provide professionally-reported stories about what it means to be Black and how we talk about blackness. Come hang out on The Stoop as we dialog about the diaspora.

Personal Journals

Society & Culture

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Welcome to our Mother's Day special!There are many unexpected ways that people step into parenting. In this special from The Stoop, we hear stories about redefining family on your own terms. We explore the term ‘Auntie’ and how some women find it problematic, we hear about the challenges of IVF for Black women, and we meet a family that shows us how co-parenting can evolve.

It's a Mother's Day Special

Hana loves perfume, and there’s a long heritage of traditional perfume making in Sudan. But sometimes, sweet smells come with some controversy. As she explores the history of racism and colonialism in the global perfume industry with perfume enthusiast and historian Razan Idris, she discovers an intriguing story about an iconic Sudanese scent that has her bothered.

Eau de problème

This is an ode to Black men's voices. Celebrating some of the voices that soothe, excite, or give us a sense of feeling grounded. Over the years, Black men’s voices have symbolized comfort, affection, and authority in pop culture. From the baritone of Barry White to the reliable tone of James Earl Jones, we're celebrating voice. We also meet voice actor and writer Kingsley Okafor of the group that became a viral sensation: Bearded Black Men Reading. Kingsley Okafor: @rukuslive

Talk That Talk

“When can we allow somebody to cry and be transparent?” WNBA player Chamique Holdsclaw asked at the height of her career as a pro basketball player. Chamique's willingness to address her mental health changed her life. In this episode, Chamique talks about the Black pride that can get in the way of healing, what she’d like for people to consider when they have loved ones struggling, and she shares her story of survival and choosing to love herself.

Self Love and Basketball

Hana is trying to enjoy the Sudanese music she loves, but something isn’t feeling right. The war in Sudan continues, and has destroyed with it a lot of the country’s cultural landscape, including places where the country’s music once lived. She’s wondering - what will happen to Sudan’s musical heritage? She talks it out with Leila and with Haneen Sidahmed - someone who is preserving music on her site Sudan Tapes Archive, plus she visits a Sudanese choir that’s singing the classics in California.

Episode 12: Breaking the line

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