Stance

Singer, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray joins Chrystal Genesis to talk about her new album, Weirdo, an ambitious, deeply personal project written, performed, produced, mixed, and arranged entirely by Emma-Jean in her South London flat.  In this episode, they discuss how grief, neurodivergence, and resilience shaped the record, which blends elements of jazz, funk, soul, grunge, and pop. They explore her early path into musicianship, how isolation and creativity came together in the making of Weirdo, and why embracing your weirdness can create a powerful sense of self. The conversation touches on vulnerability, community, and finding your home in music, with tracks from Weirdo, out now via Brownswood Recordings and Parlophone Records, featured throughout. If you like what you heard, please leave a review, subscribe, and explore more at stancepodcast.com and on socials @stancepodcast. Stance is Hosted by Chrystal Genesis and Produced by Etay Zwick. Referenced In This Podcast & Show Notes: Wanna Die by Emma-Jean Thackray  It's Okay by Emma-Jean Thackray feat. Kassa Overall Black Hole by Emma-Jean Thackray feat. Reggie Watts Maybe Nowhere by Emma-Jean Thackray   

Musician and artist Goya Gumbani joins Chrystal Genesis in New York's East Village ahead of his live show to talk sound, style, Miles Davis, and his new album, Warlord of the Weejuns. In this episode, the Brooklyn-born, South London-based artist reflects on the cultural influences behind his dreamy, laid-back record, where the storytelling of New York hip-hop meets London's jazz edge. Recorded just after soundcheck, their conversation glides through fashion, food trucks, friendship, and family, with Warlord of the Weejuns, out via Ghostly International, threaded throughout. The album features contributions from Fatima, Yaya Bey, Joe Armon-Jones, and more, and is a meditation on self-expression, Black cultural lineage, and the quiet power of doing things your way. If you like what you heard, please write us a review, subscribe and check out more of our work at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps & socials @stancepodcast This podcast was hosted by Chrystal Genesis and produced by Lauren Davies & Etay Zwick.  Referenced In This Podcast & Show Notes Goya Gambani IG Buy Goya Gumbani's Music Here Music Used In This Podcast: Driftin' Interlude feat. Pearl De Luna by Goya Gumbani. Beautiful BLACK by Goya Gumbani. Chase the Sunrise feat. Yaya Bey & lojii & Fatima by Goya Gumbani.  Manuva(s) feat. Joe Armon-Jones by Goya Gumbani. FireFly feat. Fatima by Goya Gumbani. Nothin' to Say by Goya Gumbani.  

Marie Mitchell joins Chrystal Genesis at home in Harlem for a cooking lesson and conversation, drawn from her debut cookbook, KIN: Caribbean Recipes for the Modern Kitchen. In this episode, Marie teaches Chrystal how to finally master a classic Caribbean staple while sharing the stories, memories and legacy behind the food. As the daughter of Jamaican-born parents, Marie's approach to cooking is about bringing people together through flavor, history and conversation. Her debut book KIN goes far beyond the usual jerk chicken with rice and peas, weaving together more than 80 recipes from saltfish fritters and aubergine curry to dumplings, pineapple punch and provisions, alongside essays and reflections that trace cultural connections across histories, geographies and generations. Over the stove and around the table, Chrystal and Marie explore the many layers of Caribbean cuisine, from the role of intuitive cooking to the importance of honoring the past while making space for the future. KIN marks the beginning of a longer journey, spotlighting the dishes, subtleties and often-overlooked stories that shape Caribbean food. If you like what you heard, please write us a review, subscribe and check out more of our work at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast This podcast was produced by Etay Zwick. Presented by Chrystal Genesis. Referenced In This Podcast & Show Notes KIN Cookbook Marie Mitchell Website  

Stance visits London to explore the Tate Gallery show The 80s: Photographing Britain with campaigner Marc Thompson. The exhibition examines how photographers used the camera to respond to the seismic social, political, and economic shifts of the era, including the rise of Thatcherism, race uprisings, and the AIDS epidemic. It highlights photography as a vital tool for social representation, cultural celebration, and artistic experimentation, spanning landscapes, self-portraiture, and social documentary during this pivotal and highly creative period. Marc Thompson, a Brixton-born cultural leader and prominent British campaigner with over three decades of experience in HIV activism and education, joins Chrystal for a tour of Tate Britain. Together, they engage with the works of photographers such as Ajamu X and Rotimi Fani-Kayode, discussing the legacy of Black queer voices in shaping modern Britain, the cultural significance of Brixton as a hub for activism, creativity and nightclubs, and the ongoing fight for healthcare equity faced by marginalized communities today. If you like what you heard, please write us a review and check out more of our work at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast This podcast was produced by Etay Zwick. Referenced In This Podcast & Show Notes Mark Thompson Linktree Marc Thompson IG London HIV Prevention Resident Survey Black & Gay Back InBlack & Gay Back In The Day IGThe Day Black & Gay Back In The Day Podcast Lost Spaces Podcast - Queer Nation (with Marc Thompson)  PrEPster Love Tank Black Health Matters Do It London - HIV Prevention Interview with Marc Thompson in London Friend  Article about Marc Thompson in The Voice We Were Always Here Podcast hosted by Marc Thompson Tate Britian The 80s: Photographing Britain at the Tate Artists include: Online Gallery of Rotimi Fani-Kayode's Photography Black British Artists 1980s Archive Pogus Caesar  Martin Parr's Ajamu X's website Dave Lewis's website  Susanne Roden Anna Fox's website Derek Bishton's website Jason Evans website  Reflections of the Black Experience: Brixton Art Gallery, 1986. PV Card, Poster, Catalogue, Time Out, Echoes & LAM Reviews A Review of an exhibition of Rotimi Fani-Kayode's work  

Stance is back with singer and dancer Moonchild Sanelley as we approach our 8th year on air! In Season 4, Chrystal Genesis explores the people, places, stories, and ideas shaping our creative world. And with that, we head to South Africa to hear about Full Moon, the upcoming album from Port Elizabeth-born, Jo'burg-based singer, dancer and businesswoman Moonchild Sanelly. Born Sanelisiwe Twisha, she was raised on dance routines and church choirs and has since created a sound that's entirely her own, which she calls Future Ghetto Funk—an eclectic fusion of hip hop, punk rock, house, and dance-pop with South African gqom and kwaito. She has also collaborated with artists like Beyoncé, Self Esteem, Nile Rodgers, Ezra Collective, and Gorillaz. Chrystal sat down with her to discuss her third studio album, Full Moon, her patented teal Moonmop hairstyle, and the inspiration behind her new record's themes of sexuality, reclaiming power, motherhood, vulnerability and forgiveness. If you like what you heard, please write us a review and check out more of our work at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast This podcast was produced by Etay Zwick with additional support from Zara Martin. Music used in this podcast: Scrambled Eggs by Moonchild Sanelly with thanks to Transgressive Records Do My Dance by Moonchild Sanelly with thanks to  Transgressive Records Big Booty by Moonchild Sanelly with thanks to  Transgressive Records Gwara Gwara by Moonchild Sanelly with thanks to  Transgressive Records Demon by Moonchild Sanelly & Sad Night Dynamite with thanks to Transgressive Records With Love To An Ex by Gorillaz featuring Moonchild Sanelly with thanks to Parlophone Records  Big Man by Moonchild Sanelly and Self Esteem with thanks to  Polydor Records  

After seven years of Stance which has spanned over 64 episodes of arts, culture and current affairs, 8 insightful Stance Takes shows, the growth of Stance Studios, multiple awards, and over 30 in-person events across the globe, we present our final show! In this episode, Chrystal Genesis takes one last look at creativity, storytelling and what it means to be human through literature, music, history and culture. We speak with musician and producer Kamaal Williams who chats about his latest album, Stings, his enduring faith, and the layered creative influences behind his music. Author LaToya Watkins discusses her new collection of short stories Holler, Child, set in Texas, and talks about how using method acting brings her closer to the the characters she writes about. Artist and composer, Cochemea discusses working with Sharon Jones as part of the Dap-Kings, and his album Vol. II Baca Sewa, which connects ancestry, memory and improvisation. Musician and multi-instrumentalist, Sinkane shares the inspirations behind his new upcoming record, We Belong, celebrating black creativity and joy. Ahead of retirement, we hear from some of our guest editors who reflect on their experiences collaborating with Stance. If you like what you heard, please write us a review and check out more of our work at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast

On Stance, we explore the question: what does it mean to be a Jewish person of color in America today? We chat with a range of voices from this growing demographic, in the worlds of philosophy, pop culture, community organizing, and journalism.  Plus, we cover music with Jazz Musician Enji to learn more about her mesmerizing new record, Ulan. At a Sukkot celebration, a few members of the Jews of Color Initiative team, Jade Groobman, Sarah Starks and Riki Robinson, discuss their hopes, dreams and their work building more community in Jewish spaces. CEO of Jews of Color Initiative, Ilana Kaufman takes us through their mission to build a professional, organizational and communal space for Jews of Color. She discusses the importance of accurately capturing data about Jews of Color, and of empowering them into leadership roles. Writer, Hanah Bloom, tackles the model minority myth twice over in her essay about being a Japanese American Jew, published in Hey Alma, a contemporary online community. She reads her essay and chats about some of the responses that followed. Professor of Philosophy and Global Affairs, Lewis R. Gordon offers us another glimpse into the diverse history of Jewish peoples, as he shares his experience navigating between the Jewish community in Jamaica and the Jewish community in the US. We end this topic with Robin Washington, a journalist and Editor-At-Large for The Forward, a US Jewish news and culture publication founded in 1897. He reflects on what it means to be a Black Jew after the horrors of October 7. We chat with vocalist and composer Enji about her musical journey and the inspiration behind her third solo album, Ulaan. Enji's unique and expansive sound combines jazz, contemporary folk, and the ancient Mongolian musical tradition of Long Song. She talks with us about how combining the creative freedom of jazz with her Mongolian heritage enables her to express more of her authentic self. If you like what you heard, please write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

This show explores Harlem, one of New York City's most historic and noteworthy places. Co-hosted by special guest, Vita, she joins her mum, Stance's host and founder Chrystal Genesis to highlight some of their favorite places. As residents of the area, they visit a handful of their favorite spots, spanning film, food and nature to uncover what continues to make Harlem one of the most distinctive pockets of NYC.  Through independent filmmaking at Maysles Documentary Center, we chat with lead educator Art Jones about their one of a kind cinema space, filmmaking as a creative medium and the importance of community-first programming. At Sugar Hill Creamery we speak with co-founder Petrushka Bazin Larsen about founding Harlem's only family owned ice cream store, the relationship between ice cream and Harlem's community, and Vita gets to taste test a few of their seasonal flavors. Stance connects with The Brotherhood Sister Sol, a social justice organization empowering young people of color through community and environmental change. Chrystal and Vita visit their Green Youth Market and meet with senior manager, Nando Rodriguez, to find out how urban farming enriches the Harlem community. We end with music from New Yorker, Cameroonian American musician and songwriter, Vagabon, on her new record Sorry I Haven't Called exploring joy after grief. All music used in this podcast is from Vagabon's new album Sorry I Haven't Called. With thanks to Nonesuch Records.  This show was producer Zara Martin.  If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis Visit Stance's website at stancepodcast.com .com for more info and links from this episode. 

How do we tap into sources of hope, compassion and humanity during such turbulent times? This episode of Stance explores this question through the lenses of philosophy, poetry, and music. Professor Lewis R. Gordon is a philosopher, musician, and historian whose areas of focus include existentialism, Africana philosophy, social and political theory, theories of race, and philosophies of liberation and education. He speaks with us about compassion, politics and power during periods of uncertainty and upheaval. Poet, writer and multidisciplinary artist, Fariha Róisín shares her latest poetry collection, Survival Takes A Wild Imagination, and reflects on hope, humanity, and imagining new futures. Soul artist, singer-songwriter and lawyer, Danielle Ponder introduces to us her compelling debut album, Some Of Us Are Brave, an anthem of resilience and hope. This show was producer Zara Martin. Special thanks to Im Genesis and Etay Zwick. If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis Visit Stance's website at stancepodcast.com for more info and links from this episode. 

We're back from our summer break to bring you a special show all about the seminal funk-punk dance band, ESG. Join us on this immersive musical journey through New York City exploring the 70's, 80's and beyond, following ESG and their unique sound and story. Starting in the South Bronx, sisters, Valerie, Renee, Deborah, and Marie Scroggins formed ESG with Tito Libran in the late 70's. They went on to perform across the world and record dozens of records influencing artists in all genres, with their music being sampled over 500 times. The band's body of work is rooted in New York City's electric music scene, which spans Latin groove, hip-hop, rock, funk and more. In conversation with Chrystal Genesis, the band's lead vocalist, guitarist and co-founder Renee Scroggins, shares her perspective on ESG's origins, era-defining sound, and future. We find out more about the band's new documentary “Are You Serious?”, new album and plans for their farewell tour. Stance hears from Carol Cooper, a journalist, professor and cultural critic,  who was there to document ESG hitting New York City's vibrant music scene for the first time. They both discuss the city's booming creativity and crumbling economy, as well as what made 70-80's NYC so unique. If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis Special thanks to producer Zara Martin. Visit Stance's website at stancepodcast.com for more info and links from this episode.   

We take you to Tribeca Film Festival celebrating creative storytelling from the heart of NYC's lower Manhattan. Chrystal Genesis interviews actors and filmmakers on the red carpet and backstage to cover some of the most exciting films and TV premiering at Tribeca.  We catch up with actors including Zazie Beetz, CCH Pounder and Claire Danes to find out more about the mystery thriller TV show, Full Circle, directed by Steven Soderbergh. Prolific actor Steve Buscemi chats about his directorial project The Listener. It is an intimate look at the experiences of calling a helpline, as we follow one night in the life of volunteer helpline worker Beth, played by Tessa Thompson. Filmmakers So Young Shelly Yo and Guo Guo discuss their Korean American coming-of-age drama, Smoking Tigers, following the life of teenager Hayoung who navigates her shifting identity and working-class reality. Writer-director Noam Kaplan's drama covers Israeli politics, the struggle for liberation and womanhood in his engrossing new drama, The Future. Jennifer Esposito chats with Chrystal about reinventing the organized crime genre, by centering women, in her directorial debut film, Fresh Kills. A powerful, layered drama exploring the complicated dynamics of a mob family.  If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis Visit Stance's website for more info and links from this episode. 

Stance visits Toronto to cover Hot Docs, the largest documentary film festival in North America, known for its bold and outspoken programming. Founded in 1993 by Canadian filmmakers and producers, the festival now showcases over 200 films from across 72 countries. While at the festival, Stance views visually arresting, thought-provoking, experimental and investigative documentaries premiering in Toronto from across the world.  Chrystal Genesis interviews makers of the films including Who's Afraid of Nathan Law?, covering Hong Kong's fight for democracy through the political rise of lawmaker and activist Nathan Law to becoming most wanted by the age of 26. This World is Not My Own is an innovative portrait of self-taught visual artist Nellie Mae Rowe in 20th century Georgia, USA, through vivid dreamscapes and animation. The Homes We Carry follows Sarah, an Afro-German mother to a newborn, who dreams of being united with her family having been separated by two continents, Africa and Europe, in a moving search for home. Echo Of Everything explores the transformative power of music across cultures through science, history and philosophy. Plus we share a list of other compelling and important international films for you to check out.  If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis Visit Stance's website for more info and links from this episode.   

We visit New York City's Chinatown with culinary historian, cookbook author, and campaigner Grace Young. The largest in the US, it is known for an abundance of markets, eateries, multi-generational businesses, and independent stores serving New Yorkers and tourists from all over the world. It is home to a predominantly Chinese Asian diaspora dating back to the mid-1800s and today this area includes communities from Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and more.  On a tour through the area, Grace guides Chrystal around Chinatown's streets and landmarks. They begin at 65 Mott Street, the oldest tenement building in NYC, followed by a visit to Mee Sum Cafe, a local hangout since 1967 and now a household name known for its casual setting, Zongzi Chinese tamales, ginger tea, and small plates. Together they explore Grace's favorite food markets, fishmongers and bakeries in the area.  To end, Chrystal visits Grace's home where she learns about the art and history of the wok, and how to make the perfect stir fry. In conversation with Chrystal, Grace shares why Chinatown is a living encyclopedia, the still felt impact of COVID-19 and anti-Asian racism, and the importance of supporting Chinatown's history and future.  If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at Stance Podcast and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis and visit Stance's website for more info and links from this episode. 

Stance delves into the spiritual realm and how it manifests through the visual arts, dance, music and poetry. An ever-evolving topic, we cover the power of spirituality through ancestral connections, imagination, movement, humor and joy.  To start, we speak with surrealist blues poet, aja monet on the artistic movements shaping her writing and community organizing. We discuss her upcoming poetry collection Florida Water, and album When The Poems Do What They Do.  We cover writer and journalist Emma Warren's book Dance Your Way Home: A Journey Through the Dance Floor, an intimate look at movement through the personal, social and cultural history of dance.  We speak in conversation with visual artists Senga Nengudi Fittz and Kaylynn Sullivan TwoTrees who were both members of the Just Above Midtown (JAM) creative space which centered African American creatives in the 1970s and 80s in NYC. We explore the spiritual links between art, history and tradition, and their collaborative performance piece Tying & Un-tying at the MoMA in New York.  This episode is guest-edited by Tamika Abaka-Wood, a cultural anthropologist, creative strategist, and founder of Dial An Ancestor. If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis  

Have you heard of Caste? Whether you know it well or not at all, Caste in South Asia and around the world influences everything from politics, education, media, and family relationships. It's a system which dates back centuries and today affects around 1.9 billion people. So how do we become Caste aware? We explore this and more through the lenses of literature, tech and the arts.    We speak with Mumbai based author and journalist Anindita Ghose about her highly praised debut novel The Illuminated. A lyrical, human and provocative story set against India's tense contemporary political landscape.    Dalit rights activist, Thenmozhi Soundararajan discusses her powerful debut publication The Trauma of Caste: A Dalit Feminist Meditation on Survivorship, Healing and Abolition. She is joined in conversation by Model, engineer & DJ Seema Hari who shares their experience of caste oppression and the power of travel and transformation.   If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis  

Stance is back with its sixth anniversary episode, a celebration of all things Stance loves: culture, food, music and art. In this show, Chrystal Genesis travels to the buzzing, complex and vibrant capital of Ghana: Accra. An epicenter of creativity, innovation and youth culture. While in Accra, Chrystal meets Ghanaian music collective SuperJazzClub, made up of artists, producers, filmmakers and DJs to find out more about their alternative sounds of the city. In conversation with Sandy Alibo, founder of social enterprises including Freedom Skatepark, we go for a tour of the park and hear how community-led projects and entrepreneurship shape the city's burgeoning youth population. To end, art and food unite in a sundown dining experience at the creative space and restaurant Palm Moments, owned by model Anastasia Cobbinah, in collaboration with ceramicist Ella Bulley and Chef Kwame Fiafoli. Thanks for listening! Please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Stance celebrates the summer with a live show from Glastonbury. The most iconic music and performing arts festival in the UK. Stance takes in the sounds of the festival atmosphere and speaks with Lima-born, Berlin-based producer, DJ and vocalist Sofia Kourtesis before her show at Glastonbury's Sonic Stage. Sofia chats about her bittersweet house music, her Peruvian roots, and playing Glasto for the first time. Her recent EP Fresia Magdalena features tracks influenced by family relationships, loss, community, and hope. Before hitting the stage at Glastonbury, Sofia chats with Stance about how nature, joy, and activism inform her work, and how Berlin as a creative hub enriches her sound. Plus Stance spends the weekend taking in the sounds and atmosphere of the festival just for your ears. Thanks for listening! Please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

We examine sex, desire, and pleasure through visual art, literature, culture and musical critique to uncover how black women, and women of colour, navigate their sexual needs and wants.  Stance hears from Ghanaian non-fiction author Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah on her book, The Sex Lives of African Women which shares stories of over 30 African women across the continent and its diaspora.  We discuss sexual expression through poetry, performance and visual art with American poet and editor of erotica Samiya Bashir & South African visual artist Lady Skollie. UK based Journalist and culture editor at gal-dem, Kemi Alemoru explains how sex is depicted in music, film, and wider popular culture, through the lens of black women.  We end with music as we chat with award-winning producer, composer and DJ, The Twilite Tone. We hear his debut solo album The Clearing which celebrates a space to be free by breaking away from the past.  This episode is guest-edited by Charlene pPrempeh, founder of A Vibe Called Tech, a creative agency championing Black creativity and innovation. Subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis stancepodcast.com

Stance explores Island Life through music, food, culture, and literature as well as where they sit within our imaginations. From representations on telly to Sicily's diverse culinary food history, and Haiti's culture and politics through sound, Stance attempts to get to the roots of Island Life. We hear the arresting music of Haitian American artist Leyla McCalla, as she speaks with Stance about her new album Breaking The Thermometer. We have an energetic conversation dissecting all things White Lotus set in Maui, Hawai'i, in a group chat with journalist Mitchell Kuga based in Honolulu, editor and writer Maura Walz stationed in LA, and film publicist Yung Kha in London. Living in Sicily, American author, Mary Taylor Simeti reveals the global influences which have for centuries shaped Sicilian cuisine. She speaks with Stance through an anthropological lens and also shares some of her favorite Sicilian dishes. British author, Alice Albinia presents a reading of her futuristic feminist island novel, CWEN. Her upcoming novel has been shaped by the past seven years she spent traveling around the edges of Britain, piecing together ancient, medieval and modern myths of islands ruled by women. Plus, Island expert and professor of sociology, Godfrey Baldacchino breaks down the narratives of Islands. For over two decades, Godfrey has researched islands in connection with topics including identity, small states and politics. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis stancepodcast.com

In light of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, we examine how narratives of war shape how we see and experience conflict. Stance explores the tropes of war, racist media coverage, war as entertainment, and the current and future issues refugees fleeing Ukraine are likely to face. Plus, the impact this has on global politics and policy with Daemeah Karbeah, the co-founder of grassroots collective @BlackPeopleInUkraine, research professor of women & militarism Cynthia Enloe, and award winning journalist and author Daniel Trilling. We also speak with award winning journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin to get his take on international law and the concept of hierarchies of suffering.  Stance hears music from Hercules & Love Affair, as we chat with Andy Butler about the upcoming release of their new record, In Amber, featuring  ANOHNI and drums by Budgie of Siouxsie and the Banshees. In Amber, is their first offering in five years - an emotive, honest and genre-crossing album.  Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis stancepodcast.com

Stance speaks with Summer of Soul Director Questlove and highlights the innovative musicians making their mark on music right now. We discover how the arts, introspection, sound, society, and heritage influence these artists and their crafts. Grammy winner, Oscar and BAFTA nominee, director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson discusses his spellbinding and vital documentary Summer of Soul, highlighting the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Stance speaks with London-based multidisciplinary artist Joviale about their otherworldly, immersive alt-pop sound, and their latest EP Hurricane Belle. We chat with Tallinn-based singer, producer, and composer Planningtorock about celebrating queer happiness, fashion as a powerful language, and their latest EP Gay Dreams Do Come True. We catch up with Montreal-based songwriter, dancer, and visual artist KALLITECHNIS about her soulful songs, themes of love and vulnerability in music, and her latest EP Because it Feels Good. Stance also spotlights a range of other artists who continue to shape and innovate. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis stancepodcast.com

Stance Podcast goes beyond the studio in conversation with world-renowned sculptors Antony Gormley & Nari Ward. From London and New York, they share unique, considered opinions on their own practices and each other's work, and highlight themes at the forefront of their creativity. We cover the subversive nature of art, architecture, fatherhood, the human body, the island nations they're from, and the role of community within their practice. It's a powerful discussion between two visual artists who have shaped the landscape of contemporary art as we know it.  Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis stancepodcast.com

Stance Takes is back with a special show taking you around Montreal's creative scene. Known for its independent and eclectic music and visual arts, Montreal is a striking and dynamic French speaking multicultural city. In this immersive episode where music and art collide, Stance profiles Haitian Canadian musical artist, programmer and DJ Gayance. She invites Stance into her home for pancakes and a chat about her latest EP No Toning Down, and the cross-cultural influences behind her nostalgic and joyful sounds. We speak to Dr. Kenneth Montague, founder of Wedge Collection about his long-standing work as a Canadian art collector of Jamaican heritage, acquiring works that explore black identity, and his recent compilation of photographs in his book, As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic. To end, we meet with Gabonese photographer based in Montreal, Yannis Guibinga about his bold and futuristic representations of African identity and culture through the lens of photography. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis stancepodcast.com  

Stance Takes is back covering MFest, a multi-arts festival of Muslim knowledge and creativity with Maslaha with The British Library. We bring highlights from the festival, sharing an immersive glimpse from its programme, and speak with award-winning Somali-British author Nadifa Mohamed. The Fortune Men, covers the true story of the wrongful imprisonment and execution of Mahmood Hussein Mattan, a Somali seaman, in Wales. The book is a reimagined version of Mahmood Hussein Mattan's real life. We connect anti-racist struggles internationally with France-based journalist Rokhaya Diallo, UK Labour MP Zarah Sultana and US-based writer Hoda Katebi. We examine the practice of loving through the eyes of Muslim women with Founder of Amaliah Magazine, Selina Bakkar, creative producer Haja Fanta, political academic Hudda Khaireh, and journalist Myriam François. Stance explores the work being done to subvert narratives through comedy, with writer and director of Channel 4's We Are Lady Parts, Nida Manzoor. We hear about the importance of wide-ranging Queer and Trans Muslim stories with poet Fatimah Asghar, author Zeyn Joukhadar, historian Blair Imani, and writer Faryal Velmi. To end, we discuss the process of creating fictional realities through fantasy novels for young adults with authors Reni Kosi Amayo, Intisar Khanani and Taherah Mafi. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis stancepodcast.com

Stance visits The Bronx to spotlight its rich history and contemporary landscape to dissect how it's one of the city's most unique and overlooked boroughs in New York City. Through visual art, global cuisine, and music, Stance uncovers just some of the individuals, scenes and places that make up The Bronx. For generations, The Bronx has been a point of entry for people from all over the world from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico call The Bronx their home. The birthplace of hip hop, The Bronx has been and still is a world renowned hub for creativity and collaboration, despite chronic underfunding. Stance views the Yayoi Kusama exhibition, Cosmic Nature at the New York Botanical Garden - the largest botanical garden in a US city. We tour The Bronx and chat with mixed media performance artist Tasha Dougé on creating work as an act of resistance, and rewriting existing narratives. We visit forth generation Italian bakehouse on Arthur Avenue's Little Italy, Madonia Brothers Bakery, and taste West African cuisine from Togo at Bognan International. To end, we speak with South Bronx hip hop artist Kemba about the rare energy of The Bronx in shaping his personal and creative evolution. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis stancepodcast.com

On Stance, Chrystal Genesis is joined by award-winning journalist and writer Ismail Einashe to explore the people and stories of East Africa. Inspired by migration, culture, music and history, the episode traverses through Kenya, Sudan, and Somalia, examining the contemporary hubs and ancient histories of East Africa. Starting in Kenya, we chat with political analyst and author of Travelling While Black: Essays Inspired by Life on the Move, Nanjala Nyabola about her experiences and observations of global travel as an African woman. Stance looks at archaeology, architecture, and cultural heritage in the Horn of Africa with Somali-Italian architect, Omar Degan and Somali-Swedish archaeologist, Sada Mire. Abdi Latif Dahir, East Africa Correspondent for the New York Times pens an essay love letter to Mogadishu exclusively on Stance, paying homage to renowned Somali musician, Fadumo Nakruma, who recently died of COVID-19. To end, Stance speaks with Sudanese artist Eltayeb Dawelbait about his art practice, reflecting on Nairobi as a hub for connections, and the growth of the art scene in Sudan. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

In this episode of Stance, Chrystal Genesis is joined by film programmer and cultural researcher Jemma Desai. Together they examine the practices of (Un)learning for Liberation as they highlight the many forms of abolitionist thinking through literature, music, activism and film. We speak with London based artist, writer and political organiser Joshua Virasami about his book How to Change It from #Merky books and Penguin, an accessible step by step guide to activism and campaigning work to provoke change. California based Cultural strategist and film producer Sonya Childress, and Professor of Media and Cultural Studies at University of California, Riverside, Dylan Rodriguez, discuss their work, highlighting the intersections of culture, movement building and the radical nature of abolition. Heading to Cape Town, Stance chats with musician, educator and organiser Asher Gamedze about his soulful and political Jazz album, Dialectic Soul. Between New York and London, we speak with Dalit rights activist and founder of Equality Labs Thenmozhi Soundararajan, and Kelsey Mohamed of London based Cradle Community about the links between caste and white supremacy. To end, we chat with Berlin based interdisciplinary artist and educator Camille Barton, and educator focused on radical pedagogies and spaces, London based Aditi Jaganathan about their work as facilitators and educators in enacting change. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Marking the 40th anniversary of the 1981 Brixton Uprising, Stance explores the moments leading up to the uprising and the activism that inspired it, their connections to the Windrush scandal, and the 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and subsequent #KillTheBill protests in Bristol. Looking at the uprising through film, academia, literature, and music, we explore political activism through poetry with globally renowned Jamaican poet, Linton Kwesi Johnson. Stance delves into Soundsystem Culture and the Smiley Culture collaboration with founder of Code 7 youth charity, DJ and musician Asher Senator. Novelist Alex Wheatle shares his firsthand account of being part of the uprising, going to prison and how it led to the collaborative partnership with director Steve McQueen in producing the hit drama series, Small Axe. We chat with Queen of Lovers Rock, Carroll Thompson about her record-breaking album, Hopelessly in Love released in 1981, and her campaigning work around the Windrush Scandal. But how far have we actually come? We discuss policy and fair policing with Dr. Rebekah Delsol of StopWatch. To end, Stance looks to new wave Croydon born singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri, and her upcoming EP Four° In Winter. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Stance is an independent award-winning arts, culture and politics podcast run by journalist and curator Chrystal Genesis. Guests so far include musicians Four Tet, Jamila Woods, Chassol, Róisín Murphy, Amber Mark, Caribou, Ebo Taylor, Kaytranada, Jessie Ware and Nao, authors Yaa Gyasi, Elif Shafak, Saidiya Hartman, Sayaka Murata & Valeria Luiselli, lawyer & campaigner Gina Miller, politician Bobi Wine, poets Fatimah Asghar, John Cooper Clarke & Kae Tempest, actor Riz Ahmed, Me Too founder Tarana Burke, playwrights Inua Ellams & Natasha Gordon, writer and activist Janet Mock, choreographers Akram Khan, Deborah Colker and Hofesh Shechter, fashion designer Duro Olowu, Philosophers Kwame Anthony Appiah & Angie Hobbs, and visual artists Shirin Neshat, Larry Achiampong, The Singh Twins, Hassan Hajjaj, JR & Juliana Huxtable. Topics covered include Is This for Real?, Black in the Time of Corona, Manchesters LGBTQ+ Story, On Beauty, The Class Ceiling in the Arts, Modern Mumbai, Sex, The Female Prison Experience, Revolutionary Mothering, Demystifying Yoga & Donald Glover’s Atlanta. Stance loves to explore and has visited locations including Mumbai in India, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Bergen in Norway, Kingston in Jamaica, Paris in France and New York, LA, SF & Philadelphia in the US in search of original stories and fresh perspectives. Stance won Bronze for Best Current Affairs at The British Podcast Awards 2020. Stance won Best Arts & Culture Show and Rising Star in the Mixcloud Online Radio Awards 2018, nominated for Best Arts and Culture and Best Current Affairs as part of the British Podcast Awards 2019, included in The Observer and The Times annual Best Podcasts list, and has been Podcast of the Week in publications including The FT, Grazia, The Guardian and The Independent. Visit stancepodcast.com for more info and @stancepodcast on socials.

In Stance, Chrystal Genesis is joined by actor and activist Alix Wilton-Reagan to unpack pregnancy and birthing experiences right now. Bringing to the forefront women’s voices from around the world, we explore what it means to be pregnant during the pandemic with Doula Maiysha Campbell Kramer, and Positive Birthing Movement Founder and Author Milli Hill. We exchange views on pregnancy while living with a visible or invisible disability with Tania Akbarali on anxiety, on autism and neurodiversity with Samantha Stein, and physical disability and pregnancy with Dr. Erin Andrews. Next, we head to Ecuador, speaking to Ofelia, Olga and Maria, three Kichwa midwives at the AMUPAKIN clinic to explore the power and history of vertical birthing. We are also joined by Dr. Nina Moeller, a longtime associate of AMUPAKIN to find out more. Ending the show, Stance speaks with Ghanaian Australian musician Genesis Owusu about his album Smiling With No Teeth. He takes us through his musical influences, creative process and shares his joy at playing live just recently. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Come with Stance to Jamaica to explore the old and new currents shaping the shifting arts and cultural scene. We speak with musicians, creatives, artists, and activists to discuss the Jamaica of today We head to the National Gallery of Jamaica to explore Jamaica Jamaica, a touring exhibition highlighting the islands fascinating and storied celebrated music history from mento to dancehall. Iconic reggae singer Judy Mowatt, a member of Bob Marley’s I-Threes, chats with us about her life’s philosophy and her formidable musical career thus far. We catch up with comedian, law grad and educator, Raul Blaze about his comedic expressions and musings on Jamaican culture. We meet with Donna Blake, the island’s director of The Nature Conservancy to understand the island’s lush and fertile ecosystem, the effects of climate change, and the efforts in conserving ecology in the Caribbean. We chat with founder and art consultant Susanne Fredricks about her visual art platform Suzie Wong Presents, one of the most comprehensive platforms promoting artists from the region. Finally, we catch up with music producer and record owner iotosh to get to know the contemporary sounds and hottest tunes shaping Jamaica right now. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

To mark our fourth birthday Stance Takes is here with a special programme celebrating the black image in visual arts. Tired of the old interpretations of the black image and inspired by new forces that are redefining who gets to choose, view and critique the Black image, Stance brings you a podcast profiling the curators and visual researchers who are remapping how it's presented in art and culture. We juxtapose the work of two archivists - Alayo Akinkugbe from @ABlackHistoryOfArt in the UK, and Renata Cherlise from BlackArchives.co in the US - who are challenging dominant narratives surrounding the Black image in visual art. We hear from Italy, where visual researcher Theo Imani finds echoes between African and European imagery. We delve into the world of curation with Osei Bonsu of Tate Modern and discuss the challenge of making artistic space that includes all types of Black expression. Pioneers of the Past celebrates the revolution in agency these curators and researchers represent. Made in Partnership with Vibe Called Tech for The North Face and Gucci collaboration. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

To mark the New Year Stance Takes is back with a special programme celebrating a new book Forces of Art which champions the work of artists and arts organisations across the world. We travel to the Choco region of Colombia to look at the work of Más Arte más Acción, who are using art and the rainforest to innovate change. We cover Syrian artists in exile displaced after a decade of war and revolution to explore how it has redefined their lives and artistic practice. In Central Asia we discuss how successive generations of post-soviet creatives are forging new artistic space in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. And finally, we hear from Queer poets in Uganda and Kenya on how they’re thriving despite living in societies virulently hostile to their very identities. Forces Of Art: Perspectives from a Changing World takes the reader on a dizzying journey across the globe with the analysis of more than 30 researchers given free rein to write about the radical role art plays in societal change. Made in collaboration with The European Cultural Foundation, The Prince Claus Fund, Hivos and Valiz. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

In this episode of Stance, we cover music, literature and politics by asking whether 2020 marks a tipping point for the system of Failing Upwards. Are we seeing the beginning of a Tearing Down as the incompetence of populist leadership is laid bare? We chat with academics, authors and politicians including Chryl N. Laird, Taylor Small, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Sarah Kendzior and Kwame Anthony Appiah. We speak with rapper, singer, and producer Tricky about his new album Fall to Pieces and his illustrious career in music. Chrystal Genesis is joined by writer and journalist Komal Thakur based in Mumbai to chat with the award-winning author and essayist, Elif Shafak, now based in London about her latest book How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division, a stirring reflection on the current state and future of modern politics and society.  Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

In this episode of Stance, Chrystal Genesis covers the creatives and change-makers on the African continent through music, visual art, politics and film. We speak with the iconic Ghanian musician and father of Highlife and Afrobeat, Ebo Taylor, and his son Kweku about his life's work. We head to Morocco to discuss the continent’s dynamic and evolving art scene with 1-54 International African Contemporary art fair founder, Touria El Glaoui. The Morrocan-British visual artist and photographer Hassan Hajjaj shares his journey and striking art works. We speak with actors Jesesi Mungoshi and Tendaiishe Chitima and producer Joe Njagu, of Zimbabwean feature film Cook Off to discuss the country's cinema industry and cultural scene past and present. We head to Nigeria to report on the End SARS movement, speaking to filmmaker Ifeoma Chukwuogo about the ongoing protests against police brutality. Finally, we highlight the mood in New York City amidst the upcoming Presidential election and COVID-19, speaking to voters at a Manhattan polling station.  Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

In this special show, Stance visits Paris to explore the fresh and creative cultural landscape of this iconic, global city. We discuss literature, film, music and podcasts as Chrystal Genesis is joined by Lory Martinez, host of Mija Podcast and Founder of the Paris based Studio Ochenta. We speak with comedian and director Jean-Pascal Zadi about his new comedy-drama Tout Simplement Noir. We catch up with writer Lindsey Tramuta who talks us through her book The New Parisienne: The Women & Ideas Shaping Paris. We dissect French culture, new writing and the power of translation with Coven bookshop owner Lucie Camara and non-fiction translator Celine Leroy. Musician and composer Chassol tells us about his new record Ludi and we cover the boom in French podcasts coming out of Paris with Melting Pot exploring French identity, Dinner For One showcasing the healing power of food and VOXXX, an innovative audioporn podcast. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com This episode contains adult themes and explicit references to sex

We cover film, literature, music and dance starting with the documentary On The Record, which charts decades of abuse at the hands of US Hip Hop Mogul Russell Simmons. We discuss this and more with the author of Miseducation: A Woman’s Guide to Hip Hop Shanita Hubbard, Kierna Mayo, an exec at The Lena Horne Prize and former editor-in-chief of Ebony and The Source and feminist cultural critic, author and journalist Dr Joan Morgan. We speak with dancer and choreographer Akram Khan who talks us through his prolific career as well as his thoughts on politics, movement and family; we talk to singer and songwriter Roisin Murphy who discusses new music and creativity; we head to Canada to meet author Zalika Reid-Benta to discuss her critically acclaimed first short story collection Frying Plantain. We also highlight new writing from The Commonwealth Short Story Prize and head to Oklahoma through the thoughts, and music, of Tulsa’s Steph Simon on the legacy of Black Wall Street. Join the conversation @stancepodcast.com

In this show we cover health, food, performance art and music as Stance starts off by asking what lies behind the loss of black lives during COVID-19 as Chrystal Genesis is joined by Shanae Dennis, a biochemist, journalist & campaigner and by Charlene Prempeh,  who runs A Vibe Called Tech, set up to address the absence of black voices in conversations about technology. In this informative and eye-opening interview, they discuss the weakness of  existing data when it comes to understanding health inequalities and what urgent actions need to be taken. Stance speaks with award-winning pastry chef and TV Judge Cherish Finden. We talk taste, baking and experimentation during lockdown as well as life in Singapore, judging on TV and being a perfectionist. Performance artist and writer Travis Alabanza discusses their most recent work Burgerz and their views on arts and outreach as well as reflecting on life growing up in Bristol. We head to Oklahoma where Choctaw singer and producer Samatha Crain explores ideas of renewal and hope on her new record, A Slow Death. And finally listeners from around the world to share quarantine journals from Guadalajara, Sao Paulo, Hong Kong, La Drome, Ubud and Kampala. Join the conversation @stancepodcast.com

In this episode of Stance we have visual arts, music, politics and film featuring Bobi Wine, the Ugandan politician and musician hoping to be the country's next president; Iranian visual artist Shirin Neshat guides us through her work culminating in her new exhibition, Land of Dreams. British singer Ghostpoet introduces his new album I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep; and finally, we are off to Mexico with filmmaker Elizabeth Carroll who talks to us about her debut documentary Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy. It explores the life of this culinary legend and authority on Mexican cooking. As we all try to cope with the restrictions that COVID-19 has brought to our lives, Stance wondered if there was some kind of global commonality to be found in our experiences. We ask people from around the world to share their quarantine journals. We hear from Mumbai, Guadalajara, New York and Ulaanbaatar. Join the conversation @stancepodcast.com

Stance asks: Is This For Real? as we explore authenticity through the growth of lab-grown diamonds within the jewellery industry with filmmaker and journalist Harriet Constable and with 77Diamonds co-founder Tobias Kormind; we speak with bestselling author Susannah Cahalan about her book Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness which uncovers mental health misdiagnosis and her new book The Great Pretender which investigates a famous study about the line between sanity and insanity; and we end our topic with a conversation about the growth of Deepfakes - digitally manipulated content, oftentimes, used for nefarious purposes - and touch on whether the tech industry is using language to manipulate the increasingly blurred lines between real and fake. We hear from children to get their views on life in quarantine. Finally, we profile comedian and writer Sophie Duker to find out more about her rise in the comedy scene and life growing up. Join the conversation @stancepodcast.com

Stance takes on Institutions and explores some of their inner workings and how best to navigate them with professor and journalist Gary Younge, economist and former head of the British Civil Service Gus O’Donnell, actor, campaigner and Chancellor of the University of Nottingham Lola Young and we look into the care system with @CPositivista. We profile Juno award-winning Musician and Composer Caribou who talks us through some of the tracks from his new record Suddenly.

Stance interrogates what Belonging means through tattoo art, literature, music and journalism as Chrystal Genesis is joined by guest editor, author, journalist, Artistic Director and CEO of The Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Hannah Azieb Pool. We explore the theme of Belonging through the lens of people of the African diaspora. In this original and eye-opening episode, SHINGAI tells us about her new record Ancient Futures, we catch up with journalistic giant Gary Younge as he leaves The Guardian for Manchester University and we talk tattoos with artists Jessica Horn and Laurence Sessou. Their new visual arts project The Temple of Her Skin examines the stories and aesthetics around African women and their tattooing journeys. In our Belonging feature, we speak to author Maaza Mengiste about her new novel, The Shadow King, which tells the story of female strength and is set during Benito Mussolini’s 1935 invasion of Ethiopia. And finally, we profile fashion powerhouse Duro Olowu to find out more about his background, pioneering womenswear label and his new exhibition at the Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago called Duro Olowu: Seeing Chicago.

To celebrate our 3rd birthday, Stance Takes is back bringing you two live discussions on nightclub culture. We start with Beats, Racism and Strife as we explore prejudice and discrimination in the nightclub space over the decades. We examine how the commodification of black music intersects with racist door policies and politicized dance floors. We were joined by Grime legend Marci Phonix, writer and journalist Emma Warren, UK Father of the vogue house of Comme des Garçon Kartel Brown, and Soundsystem elder Clive Curniffe. The second talk covers the architecture and design of nightclubs. We talk about how the lack of accessibility to nightclubs raises questions as to how inclusive these spaces really are. The panel was made up of disability rights activist Joshua Hepple, Associate Professor of Design History at Kingston School of Art, Catherine Rossi, and award-winning teacher, architect and promoter Neil Pinder. Join the conversation @stancepodcast and do subscribe and write us a review. stancepodcast.com 

We unpack notions of Happiness through art and colour, celebrity, film, psychology and science as Chrystal Genesis is joined by guest editor, makeup artist Kay Montano. We learn more about The Queen of Happiness Florence Mills as we take a trip to Harlem. We visit the artist and teacher Vanessa Jackson RA who discusses colour and emotion and we catch up with Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Lauren Greenfield who talks power, happiness and wealth. We speak with Dr Laurie Santos from the Happiness Lab podcast who opens up about how we can become happier. Stance profiles Zackary Momoh, the British actor from London, and one of Hollywood’s rising stars for 2020 about his new film Harriet. Finally, onto a section, we call ‘Rites of Passage’ we ask broadcaster and chef Andi Oliver and author and editor, Nikesh Shukla, to share a piece of literature that deeply resonates with them and makes them happy.

We explore film, music, literature and visual art as Chrystal Genesis is joined by guest editor, journalist and director of Bare Lit Festival, Mend Mariwany. We investigate the theme of The Disappeared as we head to Iraq to cover an estimated 250,000 to 1 million people who have disappeared without a trace. We look at the forgotten histories of those that have reappeared through the writer and academic Saidiya Hartman’s new book Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments. Plus, we visit Mexico City, often referred to as The Sinking City which may soon disappear if radical action isn’t taken. Stance profiles NYC singer and producer Amber Mark to hear about her new EP What If and dig into her unique sound and global influences. Finally, we explore the city of Philadelphia to check out its incredible mural art scene with organisation Mural Arts. Join the conversation @stancepodcast and do subscribe and write us a review. stancepodcast.com

Chrystal Genesis welcomes guest editor Jemma Desai, film curator and writer. We explore mothering as a radical and transformative force in the world, with reports from Cape Town, Leeds, Seattle and London. We talk to musician and producer Kindness, whose new album celebrates joy, resilience and community through funk, pop, Indian folk, deep house and nineties girlgroup harmonies. Finally, we head to Sri Lanka to learn how its rich history of puppetry is helping to heal wounds, a decade on from the civil war. Join the conversation @stancepodcast and do subscribe and write us a review.

In this special summer episode, Stance features Deborah Colker, the legendary Brazilian choreographer and creative mind behind the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. We speak to writer Kerry Hudson about her memoir, Low Born, that charts life growing up poor in 80’s & 90’s Britain. And Stance heads to Grange Park Opera to speak to Wasfi Kani, the woman bringing South Carolina’s Porgy and Bess, to the English countryside. Visit stancepodcast.com

Stance travels to Manchester to explore and celebrate its extraordinary LGBTQ+ history and why it’s been consistently judged as one of the best places in the world to be LGBT. We catch up with Chicago born singer, songwriter and poet Jamila Woods to find out more about her album LEGACY! LEGACY! that celebrates 12 of her heroes and icons from the African diaspora, along with the cultural lineage they have created for her. Lastly, Stance covers Smack That, a play currently touring the UK, inspired by real stories of domestic violence and abuse.

Stance meets award-winning writer Valeria Luiselli. We speak to her about her life and what influenced her new book The Lost Child Archive, which has been longlisted for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction. We head to the East Bay, California, to learn about the disability rights movement for artists and we visit Creative Growth, the world’s first and largest non-profit centre dedicated to artists with disabilities. And lastly, we profile electronic music collective KOKOKO!. Formed in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, they have been hailed as creating a new and exciting sound that is radical and energetic in a country where political instability has been almost consistent.

Stance catches up with actor and director powerhouse Adjoa Andoh to find out more about her production of Shakespeare’s Richard II showing at the Globe Theatre in London. It’s the first UK show to be produced entirely by people of colour - front and backstage. Stance flew to Bergen in Norway to check out Borealis, an experimental music festival showcasing everything from music to performance art to dance. Voices featured include Last Yearz Interesting Negro, Juliana Huxtable, Colin Self, B L A C K I E and more. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast

In this episode, we catch up with London singer and producer NAO to hear about her acclaimed second album, Saturn. Plus, we explore the many faces of modern yoga - including the voices driving for greater representation in the wellness space, the people that call themselves ‘yogis’, the cult-like controversy surrounding the founder of Bikram yoga, LA’s first instructor that teaches from a wheelchair, and the artist that started the movement #WhitePeopleDoingYoga. Stance is an award-winning arts, culture and current affairs podcast. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast