What Is Black? Podcast

Join us for the last episode of the winter season as I talk with Page Thomas. Page and I go into how a neighborhood becomes a "Black neighborhood", how to develop real estate equity, and the anti-masturbatory effects of Corn Flakes. Basically, you don't want to skip this! - For full episodes and extras visit whatisblackpodcast.com. Feel free to share and rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts, it helps us feed the algorithm gods. The What Is Black? Mixcast is brought to you in part by the Pittsburgh Office of Public Art. For more info visit opapgh.org.

Join me and award winning writer Brian Broome (IG=@bbromb, FB=brian.broome.5) as we wax and wane about getting older, avoiding people for our mental health (and the inevitable post-social exhaustion when we can't), and overcoming trauma. Brian's book “Punch Me Up to The Gods” is available digitally, in print, and audio on multiple platforms. If you can't get your hands on a copy, you're lying. In this debut memoir Brian navigates growing up Black and gay in a world that is hostile to both. Visit brianbroome.com for more details. - For full episodes and extras visit whatisblackpodcast.com. Feel free to share and rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts, it helps us feed the algorithm gods. The What Is Black? Mixcast is brought to you in part by the Pittsburgh Office of Public Art. For more info visit opapgh.org.

What a better way to close out 2021 than with verbal violence. Join Terry and I as he slanders catfish, and we talk about how The South is "different..." We also talk about how the common motivating factor in xenophobia, racism, anti-Blackness, anti-LGBTQ, anti-women, and anti-critical thinking is fear, and how you can organize against that fear to activate your communities. "What are you afraid of, fam?" Start listening to these holiday gifts we'e giving you. Also note that we will continue to distribute zine issues on January 10, 2022. This mixcast is brought to you in part by the Pittsburgh Office of Public Art. For more info visit opapgh.org. Be sure to grab a copy of the What Is Black Mixcast zine at participating businesses and organizations for more in depth content with all of our guests. Visit whatisblackpodcast.com for a list of distribution points on the regular as we are always updating. If you'd like to sponsor a distro point, or get your hands on a copy, email whatisblackpod@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

Join me and Aaron as we talk about pivoting from law enforcement to crime stories. Also how Marvel's Blade movie proved it pays to always bet on the Black(ness of Wesley Snipes). Aaron's book Under Color of Law is now available as paperback and Kindle on Amazon, and audiobook on Audible. For more info, visit AaronPhilipClark.com. This mixcast is brought to you in part by the Pittsburgh Office of Public Art. For more info visit opapgh.org. Be sure to grab a copy of the What Is Black Mixcast zine at participating businesses and organizations for more in depth content with all of our guests. Visit whatisblackpodcast.com for a list of distribution points on the regular as we are always updating. If you'd like to sponsor a distro point, or get your hands on a copy, email whatisblackpod@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

Welcome back for another season of the What Is Black? Podcast. Join me and Jessica as we talk protecting Black autonomous spaces and Archie comics. Jessica also has a dope exhibit at the August Wilson Cultural Center in Downtown Pittsburgh called The Black Box Test that everyone should be checking out starting November 17 (the same day this ep drops). This mixcast is brought to you in part by the Pittsburgh Office of Public Art. For more info visit opapgh.org. Be sure to grab a copy of the What Is Black Mixcast zine at participating businesses and organizations for more in depth content with all of our guests. Visit whatisblackpodcast.com for a list of distribution points on the regular as we are always updating. If you'd like to sponsor a distro point, or get your hands on a copy, email whatisblackpod@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the AKAC: All Kinks Allowed Crowd! for the season finale. For more info, episodes, and ways to support visit whatisblackpodcast.com. Don't forget to rate us 5 stars and review us on Apple Podcasts, and share with your friends and enemies. Ray Smiling and I open things up talking about Tilda Swinton (if you don't know, educate yourself) and how she is literally everything. So much so that she brings unlikely pairs together in the short “Tilda”, part of the series Khaki Is Not Leather. We then touch on getting film projects done during a whole panini press, and the processes they went through to get the job done being daunting but ultimately doable when you break things down into little passionate pieces. All this to sum up how absurd the world is, and the best art comes from being true to the absurdity of the human condition. Real heady sh*t made simple. For more info on Ray and his film and commercial projects, check out @raythedestroyer on Instagram and creator-destroyer.com. Also peep khakiisnotleather.com to view the full series on relationships and connecting in a the age of social distancing.

*CW: Sh*t talking* For more info, episodes, and ways to support visit whatisblackpodcast.com. Don't forget to rate us 5 stars and review us on Apple Podcasts, and share with your friends and enemies. For this episode, inventor, entrepreneur, yoga instructor, sculptor, mother, and friend Alecia Dawn and I start out talking sh*t (literally), continue talking sh*t about slave yoga for kids, and end up talking about how Marvel's Inhumans comics are the sh*t (the TV show was trash though!). In between we talk a lot about motherhood and what it's like raising children whilst trying to achieve greatness. It ain't easy! For more info on Alecia and her inventiveness, check out @yogamotif and @thealeciadawn on Instagram. Also peep yogamotif.com for info on yoga classes and yoga paint parties.

*NOTE: This episode was recorded during the winter storm that rocked The South in February 2021* For more info, episodes, and ways to support visit whatisblackpodcast.com. There is so much that can be said about photographer, chair sculptor, burgeoning musician... You know what, you'll have to listen to the episode to hear the myriad things Cary can do, or is learning how to do. In this episode, we talk about how a fascination with chairs lead to the Dadaist adjacent, stacking sculpture project chairs are people. We then segue into what happens when it all falls down and learning the best lessons from failing forward, and picking up the pieces for his fine art jigsaw puzzle project timeless.goods. Finally we dive head-first into our shared love of Japan and the ease at which it was to exist while being Black there. SPOILER ALERT: Police actually know how to do their jobs there. For more info on Cary and his work, check out all these social media profiles: @cary.fagan / @chairsarepeople / @timeless.goods / @cf.filmstudios. You can also visit https://cary-fagan.com/ for his collected portfolio. For more on Jason, visit https://solo.to/mckoycreative

For more info, episodes, and ways to support visit whatisblackpodcast.com. *CW: brief talk about suicide* Building things from your brain: that's what guest Kristen McIntosh does. We talk about how her visual arts journey lead to architecture, a field with approximately 2% Black representation. Then we transition into the really heady territory of cosplay subculture and the many varied genres. And of course I got her to drop her favorite anime, because how could we not talk about anime. For more on Kristen, visit find her on Instagram at @krissycosplay. For more info on cosplay in Pittsburgh's cosplay scene check out @PittsburghCosplayPhotoshoot on Instagram. In reference to Black architects, visit https://blackarchitect.us/ and https://www.ncarb.org/nbtn2020/demographics. For more on Jason, visit https://solo.to/mckoycreative

For more info, episodes, and ways to support visit whatisblackpodcast.com. Wrasslin', ‘Rona, and Relationships: the three pillars of modern society. Poet and author Linsay Phillipe-Auguste and I continue the convo we started on her podcast waxing poetic about what makes an alpha female an Alpha Female, showing all the ugly bits, and sidepiece life. Also covered: Canada's 'rona response, because everything up there isn't just poutine and Trudeau's dreamy eyes. For more info, visit https://whatisblackpodcast.com For more on Linsay and to listen to the Alpha Female Chronices, visit https://alphafemalechronicles.ca/ and to purchase her book of poetry visit https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000125122899. Find her on Instagram at @linsay_4. For more on Jason, visit https://solo.to/mckoycreative

Welcome back, and welcome Black for season two, the next revolution around that gas giant. This episode, we are joined by Jez. A multitalented, multifaceted, human that maybe the closest we come to interacting with a living myth as possible. THEY ARE THE REALEST! They do it all, and they do it with aplomb and grace. We get into it about music, the music industry, liberation of self through expression as a Black, queer, trans independent artist, and who's people makes the best “Peppapot”, which also happens to be the name of their latest EP. For more info, visit https://whatisblackpodcast.com For more on Jez., visit https://allmylinks.com/jez-who and follow them on IG at @jez.who, or Twitter/Patreon at @jez_who. For the “Peppapot” EP visit https://jez-who.bandcamp.com/ For more on Jason, visit https://linktr.ee/mckoy

*Starting off the new year by ending season 1. We'll be back in March 2021, though.* WARNING: Off the ripcord, we open the new year with chitlin slander. I apologize in advanced to all the chitlin eaters out there. Kelsey is one of those rare people you meet and you're like, "Did I just meet a hologram?" because the amount of dopeness she outputs is unreal. Her sanguine energy are nothing short of infectious. When she's not on stage in immersive theater, she's out there cycling... LITERALLY CYCLING... with a bicycle, through the United States up to Canada tracing and exploring regional histories of Black uprisings with her project Talking With Ghosts. The project is everything... LITERALLY EVERYTHING: performance art, photography, poetry, music, visuals... The whole 9. Check out the project at https://www.talkingwithghosts.com/ and follow her on IG at @kwjumper or @talkingwithghosts. Want to support WIB?P? Subscribing always helps: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts. Follow and rate us 5 stars; we might even shout you out and answer your question if you leave one in the review. Don't forget to spread the love with your friends, and even your enemies: whatisblackpodcast.com. And if you're feeling generous, donate/buy us a coffee to keep things going at ko-fi.com/whatisblackpodcast. We on IG at @whatisblackpodcast; follow us.

Might as well call us Black Santa, because we're gifting you with several jewels and gems this holiday season. Kahlil Haywood and I, with our wonderfully deep voices are leaving 2020 behind with a dope conversation on creative writing, breaking into the the blogging/journalism industry, and basically being steadfast and powering through the worst of it to get to the better of it. Check your ego at the door and prepare to have your brainbox blown back. Make 2021 show and prove season. Check out Kahlil's work at https://kahlilhaywood.contently.com/ then check him out on IG at @damnitpops, or Twitter at @damnpops. Want to support WIB?P? Subscribing always helps: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts. Follow and rate us 5 stars; we might even shout you out and answer your question if you leave one in the review. Don't forget to spread the love with your friends, and even your enemies: whatisblackpodcast.com. And if you're feeling generous, donate/buy us a coffee to keep things going at ko-fi.com/whatisblackpodcast. We on IG at @whatisblackpodcast; follow us.

Cyberpunk 2077 is nigh and goodbye to being social! Shoutout to Mike Pondsmith and CD Projekt Red for ruining so many relationships and making so many people broke at the end of 2020. Who knew Cyberpunk 2077 was a self-fulfilling prophecy? This episode I sit down with Gail D Taylor and talk about the fate of Black people, from Jim Crow, to Alisha Wormsley, to the zombie apocalypse according to Duane Jones. We chat about afrofuturism and how morphogenic fields continue to guide Black traditions, new and old, like an invisible hand of the ancestors. Check out Gail's work on IG at @prettykittypublishing or the many projects she has going on at https://linktr.ee/prettykittypublishing. Want to support WIB?P? Subscribing always helps: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts. Follow and rate us 5 stars; we might even shout you out and answer your question if you leave one in the review. Don't forget to spread the love with your friends, and even your enemies: whatisblackpodcast.com. And if you're feeling generous, donate/buy us a coffee to keep things going at ko-fi.com/whatisblackpodcast. We on IG at @whatisblackpodcast, follow us.

F-ck Pilgrims... Get turkey! Pardon the technical difficulties and sound quality at certain points. Satan tried to stop us, but we shan't be stopped! Kandaka can do anything. Kandaka knows everything. Even the stuff she doesn't know, she knows; she just hasn't learned it yet. Join us for this so-much-knowledge-you-don't-need-to-go-to-college episode where we break down what an artist needs to know and do to merchandise and maximize their profits, because lets be real: art is a business if you want to make a living from it. We also talk about the color of taste, the flavor of color, and how ouster mushrooms are basically the chicken of the non-animal world. Check out art by Kandaka at https://www.artbycandirose.com/ and hit her up on IG at @Artbycandirose to cop some custom Timberlands. Want to support WIB?P? Subscribing always helps: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts. Follow and rate us 5 stars; we might even shout you out and answer your question if you leave one in the review. Don't forget to spread the love with your friends, and even your enemies: whatisblackpodcast.com. And if you're feeling generous, donate/buy us a coffee to keep things going at ko-fi.com/whatisblackpodcast. We're retiring the Episode Timestamps, but if you want them back, hit us up at whatisblackpod@gmail.com.

Senator Kamala Harris and former Vice President Biden are presidents elect. I think... Now what? What Is Black? Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast where we talk with Black creatives from varied disciplines, whilst defying the myth of a Black monolith. I have a propensity to feel like I almost never know what I'm doing. Most of that is because I have difficulty accepting things outside of my control are outside of my control. I'm getting better though and didn't allow myself to go down a spiral because of the technical issues in this episode. In spite of that, novelist Chris L Terry and I had an awesome conversation about punk, Black authorship, and when you smash all that together you get this really appealing, thoughtful, and at times quite humorous sandwich. We explore our views on who or what determines Blackness and exchange notes on what we are digging in terms of music and pop culture. You should also note that Chris has one of the smoothest voices ever. It's like listening to lotion compared to my ashy nasal-ness. It creates a nice balance. We might have to start an R&B-Hardcore-Screamo-Lullcore band called Dulcet Bones. For more info on Chris, his novels Zero Fade and Black Card, and his 5 year-old, find him on Twitter and Instagram at @ChrisLTerry and buy Black Card on bookshop.org. Want to support WIB?P? Subscribing always helps: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts. Follow and rate us 5 stars; we might even shout you out and answer your question if you leave one in the review. Don't forget to spread the love with your friends, and even your enemies: whatisblackpodcast.com. And if you're feeling generous, donate/buy us a coffee to keep things going at ko-fi.com/whatisblackpodcast. For literacy moments and links to info you might not know, check the Feel Notes on whatisblackpodcast.com. Episode Timestamps 00:00:38 - Prelude 00:02:35 - Intro 00:05:25 - Johnny is just Rotten 00:07:24 - Black Card: A Punk Story 00:08:20 - Where do Black people fit in the spectrum of punk? 00:09:30 - How does Afro Punk differ from non-Afro Punk? 00:13:37 - Finding balance between writing and your wallet 00:20:00 - Becoming a *thing*er: the *PING* moment 00:24:00 - “Oh s*it, I'm a writer!” moment: Owning your s*it 00:30:10 - What is a Black story? 00:37:53 - Doctor Who? More like Doctor, where the hell am I going with this? 00:39:28 - What makes weird, weird? 00:41:16 - What Black creatives have to deal with on the regular: expectations and erasure 00:48:36 - Pushing past “white people shit” 00:51:28 - The (Specter of) “Culture”(?) - If sh*t is wack, sh*t is wack 00:56:57 - Plugs 00:59:10 - What is Black? 00:59:39 - Outro

What Is Black? Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast where we talk with Black creatives from varied disciplines, whilst defying the myth of a Black monolith. This episode, we're a step over joyous to welcome Quincy Ledbetter to the microphone. Quincy is a renaissance filmmaker, composer, writer, and quite possibly one of the coolest dudes you will ever have the pleasure to make an acquaintance of. This man is seriously capable of doing everything to the point where it may be more appropriate to call him a creative Leatherman's Tool. He's that friend that bounces early from the party because he has sh*t to do, but he ACTUALLY has sh*t to do, and does it quite well. We get deep on the tools it takes to be a Black artist and overcoming the barriers of bullsh*t that our White counterparts do not have to. Let this podcast set you free. Give a listen, then check Quincy out on IG at @qledbetter or his online showcase at qledbetter.com. Want to support WIB?P? Subscribing always helps: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts. Follow and rate us 5 stars; we might even shout you out and answer your question if you leave one in the review. Don't forget to spread the love with your friends, and even your enemies: whatisblackpodcast.com. And if you're feeling generous, donate/buy us a coffee to keep things going at ko-fi.com/whatisblackpodcast. For literacy moments and links to info you might not know, check the Feel Notes on whatisblackpodcast.com. Episode timestamps: Prelude - 00:00:46 Intro - 00:02:45 The Heavy “Why?” Experience - 00:03:50 What Inspires Q? (Coo, Coo, Ca'chu) - 00:06:55 Expecting barriers from within, and without - 00:09:35 About our White counterparts in the arts - 00:19:35 The Owl of Minerva and working with your wife - 00:22:10 F*ck it: I'm out! - 00:27:12 Imposters are not your besties - 00:28:08 F*ck it 2: Electric F*ckittoo - 00:33:27 Two apparatuses, one big brain - 00:37:00 An impossible 6 minutes of film - 00:43:16 A moratorium on the N-word: “Nah” - 00:48:10 WIB?P: True to the naked artist, not the nude critic - 00:50:10 The Wrap-up/Plugs - 00:53:10 What Is Black? - 00:54:07 Outro - 00:54:40

*NOTE: This episode was recorded the week of Chadwick Boseman's (may he Rest In Peace and Power) passing* What Is Black? Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast where we talk with Black creatives from varied disciplines, whilst defying the myth of a Black monolith. SHEBA can't draw a straight line but in this episode we talk about how she IS the art. From being an abundant Black practitioner of yoga in these LuluLemon laden streets, to being a "heARTivist" (and why it's spelled that way), to how decolonizing your mind is good for White people against their own whiteness, this convo gets leagues deep to a depth where you'll have to open your third eye to see. Oh, and SHEBA wants you to "swag out your t-shirts!" so, you know, you better do that post haste. Want to support? Subscribing always helps: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts. Follow and rate us 5 stars; we might even shout you out and answer your question if you leave one in the review. Don't forget to spread the love with your friends, and even your enemies: whatisblackpodcast.com. And if you're feeling generous, donate/buy us a coffee to keep things going at https://ko-fi.com/whatisblackpodcast. For literacy moments and links to info you might not know, check the Feel Notes on whatisblackpodcast.com. For more info on what SHEBA is up to, peep her IG at @shebasheba7. Episode timestamps: Prelude – 00:01:07 Intro – 00:02:58 Black Panther's Play – 00:04:07 A “Little” about SHEBA – 00:06:06 The Most Important Question EVER – 00:08:11 Universal Lasagna Headspace – 00:09:13 What is a “heARTivist”? – 00:10:04 Centering “Blackness” in Yoga – 00:14:40 Violent-ass yoga (in Pittsburgh) – 00:21:46 *Audio quality shifts* “Whiteness” vs White people – 00:28:06 Hot Jesus Bae wants to save your poor, White ass – 00:37:58 Vast access to your body shouldn't be a privilege – 00:47:00 Black people “show the f*ck up” – 00:50:00 Finding joy when f*ckery is abound, aka The Grand Unf*ckering– 00:52:17 The Wrap-up/Plugs – 01:00:28 What Is Black? – 01:03:47 Outro – 01:05:10

Welcome to the first, GIANT SIZED episode of What Is Black? Podcast. WIB?P, as it's been promoted ad nauseum is a bi-weekly podcast where we talk with Black creatives from varied disciplines in whilst defying the myth of a Black monolith. To kick things off, we talk with Musician/Singer + Songwriter/Creative Director Stéfon Charlot who is a “bad bitch” and happens to be the catalyst for starting this podcast. Join us as we talk about being creative during a multifaceted pandemic, the crimes against Kanye West and Azealia Banks, and disposable White people. Want to support? Subscribing always helps: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts. Follow and rate us 5 stars; we might even shout you out and answer your question if you leave one in the review. Don't forget to spread the love with your friends, and even your enemies: whatisblackpodcast.com. And if you're feeling generous, buy us a coffee to keep things going at https://ko-fi.com/whatisblackpodcast. For literacy moments and links to info you might not know, check the Feel Notes on whatisblackpodcast.com. For more info on Stéfon and his projects, follow him on IG & Twitter at @Stefonxcharlot and check out @Hello.sug on IG for his branding/creative direction services. Episode timestamps: 00:56 – Intro 03:57 – Nah, but like the REAL intro: Dakota shame 04:19 – Where I completely fuck up my first guest's name (even though we've known each other for ever) 10:35 – The interesting thing about COVID-19… 13:25 – The most important question Stefon's ever been asked! 18:24 – The privilege of straightness in the black community 43:50 – Stefon's music does not f*ck around, even if you can f*ck around to it. 1:02:15 – Tapping in: the process of being Stéfon Charlot: bad b*tch, artist 1:05: 30 – The Crimes Against Kanye West (and Azealia Banks for that matter) 1:13:12 – Disposable white people: Why do we deem them more respectable? 1:24:10 – Plugs 1:27:00 – Outro

What Is Black? Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast where we attempt to define “Black art and artistry” with a bunch of dope Black creatives, whilst defying the myth of a Black monolith.  We'll have conversations with everyone from painters to designers, performers to musicians that would be considered fringe, outsider, non-traditional folk, and/or intuitive within an industry that is already aligned with being a weirdo.  Season 1 will start on September 30 and continue on every other Wednesday from then for eight episodes. For more info, head to whatisblackpodcast.com and follow us on Instagram → @whatisblackpodcast.