Gray Matters

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Our goal is to make complex theory accessible, prompt conversations about uncomfortable topics, and provide tangible resources. Gray Matters is an inclusive space for all backgrounds and abilities. We aim to center disenfranchised voices and experiences. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/graymatters6/support

Gray Matters The Blog


    • May 31, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 36m AVG DURATION
    • 129 EPISODES

    5 from 13 ratings Listeners of Gray Matters that love the show mention: super informative, amazing.



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    Latest episodes from Gray Matters

    A New Beginning

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024 20:10


    Sharmeen shares very important news about Gray Matters the Blog. Thank you for your continued support! Stay connected via email: graymatterstheblog@gmail.com and on social media: graymatterstheblog --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/graymatters6/support

    Media Talks: #OscarsSoBiased

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2024 28:45


    Sharmeen celebrates historic nominations while delving into the many shortcomings of the Academy Awards. A perfect convo to listen to before the upcoming Oscars!

    Collective Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 36:39


    Sharmeen welcomes 2024 by advocating for self and community care and continues to think about liberation. -- Get your Magic Mind order today:⁠ https://www.magicmind.com/gray⁠ Code: Gray20 --

    Sustaining Activism

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 48:38


    Sharmeen explores how to sustain activism and engage in non-commodified self-care and community solidarity. ---

    The Perfect Victim

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 30:07


    Soft Life ft. Wadzy Dzvurumi

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2023 55:13


    Summer Check-in

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 7:28


    Sharmeen is reminding you to stay hydrated, wear SPF, and asking for your help GM community. Send us an email! (graymatterstheblog@gmail.com) with your episode topic ideas and/or if you want to be a guest on the pod! Show your support by listening to our previously released episodes, leaving a comment, and rating us 5 stars.

    When Hate Wins

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 46:44


    Rikki and Sharmeen delve into how Critical Race Theory and DEI initiatives are being targeted by far-right legislation, how harmful that is for everyone, and what that means for educators and those working in DEI spaces.

    The Future of Pride Month

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 44:00


    Rikki and Sharmeen discuss how some corporations are pulling back on Pride month display/merchandise as a result of far-right conservative actions and why it's important to research who you choose to support with your money. Sharmeen shares a special movie recommendation!

    The Failed Promise: Muslim Representation ft. Dr. Evelyn Alsultany

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 51:09


    Sharmeen speaks with Dr. Evelyn Alsultany about representations of Muslims in the media and Professor Alsultany's new book, Broken: The Failed Promise of Muslim Inclusion.

    Welcome to Season 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2023 18:28


    Sharmeen welcomes the Gray Matters community to season four and discusses International Women's Day and Women's History Month.

    The Un-Book Club #5: White Tears, Brown Scars

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2022 30:08


    Rikki and Sharmeen wrap up season 3 with a special installment of the Un-Book Club series!

    The Invisibles: Lack of Muslim Representation in the Media

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 31:23


    Rikki and Sharmeen discuss a new report which looks at how Muslim representation is lacking in the media, and Sharmeen delves into her own research on the subject.

    Inequalities of Academia

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2022 29:21


    Rikki and Sharmeen shed light on the systemic inequalities in the field of academic scholarship. 

    Royal Dynamics: Kate v. Meghan

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 29:54


    Rikki and Sharmeen share insights into the royal dynamics of how the British media scrutinize Meghan Markle and place her in opposition to Kate Middleton.

    Legacies of Colonization

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2022 29:11


    Sharmeen & Rikki discuss the Cartier and Islamic Art: In Search of Modernity featured at the Dallas Museum of Art, the death of a monarch, and their connections to colonial legacies.

    Healing Girl Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 31:16


    Join Rikki and Sharmeen as they welcome special guest Annie Szotkowski and talk about healing seasons for all folks (not just the girls)! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/graymatters6/support

    Generational Trauma

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 35:41


    Rikki and Sharmeen begin an Introduction to the field of what they are naming Generational Trauma which includes/are called Inherited/Intergenerational/Transgenerational Family Trauma.

    Media Talks: Ms. Marvel

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2022 28:37


    Media Talks: On the Pulse

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2022 43:20


    Rikki and Sharmeen discuss the current media (and their own) obsession with historical period dramas, specifically British period dramas, and imperialism's continuing influence.

    Check-In

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022 45:48


    Rikki and Sharmeen have a very candid and informal chat to express how they are coping with the recent rebuking of reproductive rights along with the other compounding issues from wage stagnation, inflation, the housing crisis, student loan debt, climate change, and racial injustice; and the necessity of avoiding political apathy.

    Creative Writing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2022 34:30


    Rikki and Sharmeen explore creative writing within academia and as a means for healing, activism, and self-expression.

    Juneteenth

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2022 31:57


    Rikki and Sharmeen open the episode with a check-in to acknowledge the recent gun-related targeted mass violence in the U.S. & Pride Month, then delve into the significance, history & symbolism of Juneteenth.

    Individualism & Roe v. Wade

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2022 43:26


    Rikki and Sharmeen unpack their feelings about the events relating to the rollbacks of reproductive justice, its connections to individualism, and the concept of the capital "T" truth.

    Why 'Behind the Scenes' Matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 29:25


    Rikki and Sharmeen discuss why it is important to have representation on all fronts and especially "behind the scenes" - in media and other industries.

    Separating Art from the Artist

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 44:35


    Join this very candid conversation where Rikki and Sharmeen ask: is it possible to separate art from the artist?

    Media Talks: Revisiting Bridgerton

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 63:17


    Rikki and Sharmeen are back with talk about 'the ton' and season 2 of the Netflix series Bridgerton.

    The Trojan Horse Scandal & Strategic White Feminism

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 55:29


    Sharmeen & Rikki discuss "The Trojan Horse Affair" and its connection to neoliberal feminism and Strategic White Womanhood featured in Ruby Hamad's book "White Tears, Brown Scars".

    The Un-Book Club #4: Reading for Joy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2022 47:26


    Rikki and Sharmeen share the struggles of being lifelong bookworms, reading for school, and reclaiming your reading for joy. P.S. We left in some bloopers for you to enjoy & have date updates: World Book Day is March 3, 2022, and this episode releases on March 2, 2022.

    Black Women in the Media

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 36:24


    Sharmeen and Rikki discuss media studies and Rikki delves into her research on Black women and the media.

    Black History Month

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2022 24:45


    New Year Same Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2022 24:23


    Join Rikki and Sharmeen as they discuss overcoming the pressures of New Year's resolutions and roll into the New Year with radical self-acceptance!

    Welcome to Season 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2022 27:59


    2022 is here and all are welcome! Join Rikki and Sharmeen to ring in the new year and season 3!

    REPLAY - Care Economy & Emotional Labor

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2021 36:55


    Listen back to a replay from one of our favorite Season 2 episodes, as we prepare for Season 3. Make sure to check out our IG and TikTok (links below) for insight into the episode!

    REPLAY - Influencer Culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 36:15


    Listen back to a replay from one of our favorite Season 2 episodes, as we prepare for Season 3. Make sure to check out our IG and TikTok (links below) for insight into the episode!

    REPLAY - Language & Identity Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2021 41:52


    Listen back to a replay from one of our favorite Season 2 episodes, as we prepare for Season 3. Make sure to check out our IG and TikTok (links below) for insight into the episode!

    REPLAY - Hair Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 30:11


    Listen back to a replay from one of our favorite Season 2 episodes, as we prepare for Season 3. Make sure to check out our IG and TikTok (links below) for insight into the episode!

    REPLAY - Digital Humanities ft. Dr. Casarae Abdul-Ghani

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 44:39


    Listen back to a replay from one of our favorite Season 2 episodes, as we prepare for Season 3. Make sure to check out our IG and TikTok (links below) for insight into the episode!

    REPLAY - Hate Groups - Proud Boys

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2021 60:05


    Listen back to a replay from one of our favorite Season 2 episodes, as we prepare for Season 3. Make sure to check out our IG and TikTok (links below) for insight into the episode!

    REPLAY - Queering Art ft. Toria Maldonado

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2021 63:16


    Listen back to a replay from one of our favorite Season 2 episodes, as we prepare for Season 3. Make sure to check out our IG and TikTok (links below) for insight into the episode!

    REPLAY - Afrofuturism ft. Dr. Kathy Brown & Dr. Lauren Cross

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2021 85:12


    Listen back to a replay from one of our favorite Season 2 episodes, as we prepare for Season 3. Make sure to check out our IG and TikTok (links below) for insight into the episode!

    REPLAY - Intersectionality

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2021 32:49


    Listen back to a replay from one of our favorite Season 2 episodes, as we prepare for Season 3. Make sure to check out our IG and TikTok (links below) for insight into the episode!

    REPLAY - HERstory: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 30:43


    Listen back to a replay from one of our favorite Season 2 episodes, as we prepare for Season 3. Make sure to check out our IG and TikTok (links below) for insight into the episode!

    REPLAY - Independent Academics ft. Dr. Sophia Basaldua-Sun

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2021 60:08


    Listen back to a replay from one of our favorite Season 2 episodes, as we prepare for Season 3. Make sure to check out our IG and TikTok (links below) for insight into the episode!

    REPLAY - Hold The Phone: We're All Tired

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2021 41:18


    Listen back to a replay from one of our favorite Season 2 episodes, as we prepare for Season 3. Make sure to check out our IG and TikTok (links below) for insight into the episode!

    Season 2 Wrap Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2021 20:36


    Join Sharmeen & Rikki as they wrap up season 2 and provide a sneak peek into the break & season 3!

    Body Politics & Body Hair

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 35:20


    Media Talks: Analyzing Popular TV

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2021 35:38


    Sharmeen & Rikki discuss their love/hate relationship with different television shows.

    Exploring Gray Spaces (within Academia) ft. Flora Roussel

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 51:17


    Sharmeen & Rikki share an enlightening conversation with guest Flora Roussel on "the gray spaces", particularly within academia.

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