In today’s episode, we’re bringing you an extraordinary lineup of trailblazing directors whose vision, craft, and boundary-breaking work have shaped film and television for decades. These storytellers haven’t just created iconic films and TV—they’ve opened doors, shifted culture, and inspired future generations of filmmakers.

The transcript for this episode will be available the day following the airdate.⁠

Links mentioned:

• Oz Scott Instagram

• Matty Rich's Instagram

The Women of Color Unite Podcast is produced by Nwabata Nnani and edited by Lauren Bonett. It’s hosted by Cheryl L. Bedford and Nicci Freeman.

If you want to submit responses to any of our episodes - either written or a voice note - you can send them to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. 

Find out more about Women of Color Unite: ⁠⁠https://wocunite.org⁠⁠

Donate to Women of Color Unite: ⁠⁠https://wocunite.org/donate⁠⁠

Music by Oh Yeah featuring Nyuta 

Follow us on social media: @wocupodcast, @wocuniteorg @gypsycarpetbagger and @Cheryl_CLBP.

In today's episode, we are joined by three powerhouse actors, Kareem Grimes, Christopher Ammanuel, and Damion Poitier. They share their experiences navigating the entertainment industry as Black actors, including the challenges and rewards of their craft.

Transcript

Links mentioned:

• Kareem Grimes' Scene from All American

• Kareem's Charity: My Friend's House LA

• Christopher's Charity: Inspire the Fire

• Damion's Go Fund Me for Sammi

The Women of Color Unite Podcast is produced by Nwabata Nnani and edited by Lauren Bonett. It’s hosted by Cheryl L. Bedford and Nicci Freeman.

⁠The transcript for this episode will be available the day following the airdate.⁠

If you want to submit responses to any of our episodes - either written or a voice note - you can send them to ⁠[email protected]⁠. 

Find out more about Women of Color Unite: ⁠https://wocunite.org⁠

Donate to Women of Color Unite: ⁠https://wocunite.org/donate⁠

Music by Oh Yeah featuring Nyuta 

Follow us on social media: @wocupodcast, @wocuniteorg @gypsycarpetbagger and @Cheryl_CLBP.

We’re back with season two of the Women of Color Unite Podcast! Did you miss us?

The Women of Color Unite Podcast: How Hollywood Works… Or Doesn't pulls back the velvet curtain on the entertainment industry: the wins, the wild stories, and the “you can’t make this up” moments that define life behind the scenes. The show brings you real talk from people who live it, love it, and occasionally have to fight it. Each episode dives into creativity, career chaos, and those rare moments when Visibility, Innovation, and Access actually align.

In our premiere episode, we have an illustrious guest, Brenda Gilbert of BRON Studios. Now a board member of Women of Color Unite, Gilbert has produced over 125 projects, including “The Willoughbys” and “Loudmouth.” She joined our hosts, Cheryl L. Bedford and Nicci Freeman, to share her journey from business to film production, the importance of authentic storytelling, and the challenges she faced in the industry.

Links mentioned:

• “Surrounded” trailer

• “Loudmouth” trailer

• “The Willoughbys” trailer

• “Reggie” trailer

• Instagram

• WOCU

The Women of Color Unite Podcast is produced by Nwabata Nnani and edited by Lauren Bonett. It’s hosted by Cheryl L. Bedford and Nicci Freeman.

Transcript

If you want to submit responses to any of our episodes - either written or a voice note - you can send them to [email protected]. 

Find out more about Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org

Donate to Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org/donate

Music by Oh Yeah featuring Nyuta 

Follow us on social media: @wocupodcast, @wocuniteorg @gypsycarpetbagger and @Cheryl_CLBP.

Women of Color Unite is finally back with a new season!!! This season Cheryl will be hosting will her good friend Nicci Freeman. They'll be interviewing industry professionals both behind and in front of the camera. You do not want to miss this! So be sure to tune in October 23rd!

On this episode of the Women of Color Unite podcast, Cheryl L. Bedford and Manon de Reeper recap the first season of the WOCU podcast, and reflect on the WGA and SAG strikes so far.

Subscribe to the Women of Color Unite Podcast to never miss a new episode. Become a premium subscriber today and get access to our “Hot Tea” bonus segments and the video versions of the podcast for only $2.99 per month: Subscribe here

Links mentioned:

The Women of Color Unite Podcast is produced by Nwabata Nnani and edited by Lauren Bonett. It’s hosted by Cheryl L. Bedford and Manon de Reeper.

If you want to submit questions or responses to any of our episodes - either written or a voice note - you can send them to [email protected]. 

Find out more about Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org

Donate to Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org/donate

Music by Oh Yeah featuring Nyuta 

Follow us on social media: @wocupodcast, @wocuniteorg @manondereeper and @Cheryl_CLBP.

Recorded with Riverside

On this episode of the Women of Color Unite podcast, Cheryl L. Bedford and Manon de Reeper sit down with Dr. Sarah L. Webb to discuss the much avoided topic of Colorism in Hollywood. 

Subscribe to the Women of Color Unite Podcast to never miss a new episode. Become a premium subscriber today and get access to our “Hot Tea” bonus segments and the video versions of the podcast for only $2.99 per month: Subscribe here

Links mentioned:

The Women of Color Unite Podcast is produced by Nwabata Nnani and edited by Lauren Bonett. It’s hosted by Cheryl L. Bedford and Manon de Reeper.

If you want to submit questions or responses to any of our episodes - either written or a voice note - you can send them to [email protected]. 

Find out more about Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org

Donate to Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org/donate

Music by Oh Yeah featuring Nyuta 

Follow us on social media: @wocupodcast, @wocuniteorg @manondereeper and @Cheryl_CLBP.

Recorded with Riverside

On this bonus episode, our hosts Cheryl L. Bedford and Manon de Reeper are joined by Women of Color Unite’s Head of Education, Dr. Akosua Lesesne, who responds to Roanna Renee’s story of how she experienced sexual battery at the hands of a VP of DEI in Hollywood - what the implications are, and what the future holds for DEI in the entertainment industry.

Subscribe to the Women of Color Unite Podcast to never miss a new episode. Become a premium subscriber today and get access to our “Hot Tea” bonus segments and the video versions of the podcast for only $2.99 per month: Subscribe here

Links mentioned:

Dr. Akosua Lesesne's Instagram 

https://lovenowmedia.com/the-me-too-movements-new-program-director-has-a-history-of-healing/

me too. Movement (metoomvmt.org)

All the women are white, all the blacks are men (book link)

Her Words | Sojourner Truth Memorial Committee

DR. Deguar Analysis

“Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them.” Assata Shakur  

The Women of Color Unite Podcast is produced by Nwabata Nnani and edited by Lauren Bonett. It’s hosted by Cheryl L. Bedford and Manon de Reeper.

If you want to submit questions or responses to any of our episodes - either written or a voice note - you can send them to [email protected]. 

Find out more about Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org

Donate to Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org/donate

Music by Oh Yeah featuring Nyuta 

Follow us on social media: @wocupodcast, @wocuniteorg @manondereeper and @Cheryl_CLBP.

Recorded with Riverside

TRIGGER WARNING!

On this episode of the Women of Color Unite Podcast, Roanna Renee shares her story of sexual battery, betrayal, and the total disregard of Black female victims.

If you or someone you know has been sexually harrased, battered or assaulted, please reach out for help to the National Sexual Assault Hotline 1(800) 656-4673. Please speak to someone today.

This is dedicated to all the women of color left out of #MeToo.

Links:

Subscribe to the Women of Color Unite Podcast to never miss a new episode. Become a premium subscriber today and get access to our “Hot Tea” bonus segments and the video versions of the podcast for only $2.99 per month: Subscribe here

The Women of Color Unite Podcast is produced by Nwabata Nnani and edited by Lauren Bonett. It’s hosted by Cheryl L. Bedford and Manon de Reeper.

If you want to submit questions or responses to any of our episodes - either written or a voice note - you can send them to [email protected]. 

Find out more about Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org

Donate to Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org/donate

Music by Oh Yeah featuring Nyuta 

Follow us on social media: @wocupodcast, @wocuniteorg @manondereeper and @Cheryl_CLBP.

Recorded with Riverside

This episode, Cheryl and Manon break down the diversity paradox and how Hollywood is leaving billions of dollars on the table. Over and over, studies have shown that more diverse representation in film and TV positively impacts both viewership and the bottom line, yet marginalized communities are still severely underrepresented on-screen. 

In our hot tea segment for premium subscribers, we talk about pitching our own projects, all of which have marginalized leads, and some of the (positive and negative) responses we’ve had. Perhaps the most perplexing: “this is too diverse”. 

Subscribe to the Women of Color Unite Podcast to never miss a new episode. Become a premium subscriber today and get access: Subscribe here

Links mentioned:

The Women of Color Unite Podcast is produced by Nwabata Nnani and edited by Lauren Bonett. It’s hosted by Cheryl L. Bedford and Manon de Reeper.

If you want to submit questions or responses to any of our episodes - either written or a voice note - you can send them to [email protected]. 

Find out more about Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org

Donate to Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org/donate

Music by Oh Yeah featuring Nyuta 

Follow us on social media: @wocupodcast, @wocuniteorg @manondereeper and @Cheryl_CLBP.

Recorded with Riverside

This episode, Cheryl and Manon break down what Diversity, Equity & Inclusion departments do at the studios and other production companies, and how they have become yet another tool in the toolbox of Hollywood gatekeepers.

In our hot tea segment for premium subscribers, we talk about Uber’s “Don’t Call Me Karen” event, and how that led to their DEI Officer being suspended. Oof. And what about that “backlash” from Asia about casting Halle Bailey as the Little Mermaid? Our thoughts may not be what you expect.

Links mentioned:

Subscribe to the Women of Color Unite Podcast to never miss a new episode. Become a premium subscriber today and get access: Subscribe here

The Women of Color Unite Podcast is produced by Nwabata Nnani and edited by Lauren Bonett. It’s hosted by Cheryl L. Bedford and Manon de Reeper.

If you want to submit questions or responses to any of our episodes - either written or a voice note - you can send them to [email protected]. 

Find out more about Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org

Donate to Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org/donate

Music by Oh Yeah featuring Nyuta 

Follow us on social media: @wocupodcast, @wocuniteorg @manondereeper and @Cheryl_CLBP.

Recorded with Riverside