WOKELAND

Do you think colorism impacts Black women differently than Black men? We certainly do! In fact, we'd argue that Black men are the main purveyors of colorism (we still love ya'll though!) There are few topics in our community that are more divisive than colorism and in this episode we look to address the nuances of how Black women experience colorism,  issues with their identity, worth, and safety based on their skin tone. We are joined by  Nchimunya and Shay Bones, who share their personal stories on the stereotypes, traumas and complexity of their complexion.  Be sure to follow our gworls on IG:  Nchimunya: @nchimunsShay Bones: @shayybones

There are few topics in our community that are more divisive than colorism and in this episode we look to address the nuances of how Black men experience colorism, and issues with their identity based on their skin tone. We are joined by Bebe and Jared, Co-hosts of The Humble  Loser Podcast, who share their personal stories on the stereotypes, traumas and complexity of their complexion.Please follow The Humble Loser Podcast on all podcast platforms --IG: thehumbleloserpodcast // YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd7KGTBQ-60LKicCozZkpKA

Who knew reimagining travel would be so profound for Black people?! Those of us who chose to leave America also left our problems behind and we get deep into that conversation on this episode.  Anitra Smith joins us as we discuss why travel was especially important (and controversial) for Black folks during the panasonic. Anitra is a public health leader, travel blogger and creator of Don't Trip Travel - a blog dedicated to encouraging women to travel and balance their 9-5's.  Be sure to follow Anitra's social media and travel blog for all things travel!  IG: @donttriptravel // Blog: https://donttriptravel.com/This episode was recorded at Stay Diff Studios in Oakland, CA. You can watch the full video on our Youtube page @ Wokeland Podcast. 

The Simone's are back! We kick off Season 3 by catching up on events that turned our world upside down the last 2 years. We had some pretty big life changes and we know you did too. We review some moments in time during lockdown and discuss news in pop culture, and how Black folks reimagined travel in 2020.     This episode was recorded at Stay Diff Studios in Oakland, CA. You can watch the full video on our Youtube page @ Wokeland Podcast. 

If you're like us, you have many questions surrounding covid-19. Enter, Dr. Ivory Dean, who is a scientist with a Ph.D in Cancer Biology. Dr. Dean is trained to understand various disease models and has conducted breast cancer research at UCSF and is now in Washington D.C. finishing a science policy fellowship at the National Science Foundation. We learn how covid-19 came about, why soap (not hand sanitizer) is the real MVP, and some ways to keep you and your family safe.Resources: Support Small Business's in Oakland: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1H5k6zzguCjAs8uurgDTNlRFKd1C8pEayJsWcpvCJ5DM/edit?fbclid=IwAR1zCoTSMmUia-2nFIvj-YqtpBCqh2LSBJ9uprpOVk_sbM4WfgasOhWdQzw#gid=0 Rent Relief: https://www.ktvu.com/news/coronavirus-rent-relief-eviction-moratoriums-enacted-across-bay-areaOakland's  COVID Numbers: http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov.aspx

What Is Oakland Doing To Fight COVID-19? With Councilwoman Lynette McElhaney (Part 2)With so much uncertainty in the world right now with covid-19 influencing our day-to-day lives, we spoke with Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney of District 3, to give us insight on how the virus is impacting the lives of Oakland residents. She informs us of what the city of Oakland is doing to protect renters, the houseless population, and hospitals in need of aid. For information regarding city of Oakland's rent assistance -- https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/rent-adjustment-programFor tax filing and assistance with  unemployment applications --Financial Tax Freedom                                                                     Teddy Teshome: 510-904-4305 

Think of this as your go-to, one stop shop for all of your burning HR questions. Our all Black panel of HR specialists share some best practices in the workplace to assist your level up in 2020. They addressed how to escalate matters of concern, how to address the Becky's in the office, our mental health, how to negotiate salary upon hire, and so much more.Our panelists also help demystify their roles as Human Resources and provide some insight on how their Blackness impacts their jobs at the recruiting, hiring/firing, and compensation phases of their job functions.Our panelists ---Matthew Kirby, Owner, Principal Consultant, Honest Human Resources Consulting LLCDuring the day, Matthew works as a People & Culture Partner for a large non profit. Outside of his 9-5, Matthew demystifies stereotypical perceptions of Human Resources through his conversational, engaging and weekly broadcasts of the Honest Human Resources Podcast.Tigist Takele, Associate Director of HR, Gilead SciencesTigist Takele-Maylor, MBA, is a Senior HR professional with over 15 years of HR experience in Biotech, Engineering and Healthcare industries. Tigist's area of expertise is in Leadership Development, Employee Relations and Executive Coaching. She aspires to continue to support people of color and women navigate the workplace as well as transition into Leadership roles.Jordan Cisneros, Recruiting Coordinator, IDEOAs a Recruiting Coordinator for IDEO, a 40 year old global design company, Jordan’s work revolves around using her role to increase access to design for marginalized communities. When she’s not fighting systemic racism in the workplace and beyond, you can find her cuddled with bae at home watching reruns of Insecure.

The end of 2019 is near!We started the decade off with a newly elected Black president in Barack Obama, and we're ending it by impeaching a crooked white one, how fitting?There were so many moments this decade that defined  our culture and our lives. This episode isn't exhaustive  of everything but we dig into some of the highlight moments that happened in Oakland, The Bay, and beyond. See yall in 2020! Keep that #ImpeachmentEnergy going into the new year. -The Simones@wokelandpodcast

Let's talk about black people from California...what's the first thing that comes to mind?A WHOLE LOTTA LIES!!!Lol, jk. But in all seriousness, as California natives we've heard alllll the stereotypes about Black people from California: from hippie hoteps to gangbangers to bougie tech people who only date interracially, we've heard it all. And on today's episode, we're going to get into these (whack) stereotypes with two of our friends. DNas from Oakland and host of StreetsIzTalking Radio and Faith, an Oakland-based Educator who is originally from LA.Shoutout to San Jose!  You can find DNas here: @dnasteeFaith - @winfortheculture And us @wokelandpodcastPlease subscribe to our show on Spotify, iTunes, and  Google Play. 

Sooooooo.. Your girls attended Afrotech this year and you know we had collect all the deets and provide you with our honest feedback! This is our second year attending the conference (our first time was Afrotech's inaugural year) and it felt so refreshing to be among so many Black professionals. We also discuss some of the social impacts of the conference and we would like to see being offered in the future. 

This episode is for the amplification, storytelling, and healing of Black men. Our panelists share their experiences at the intersection of Blackness and Masculinity. Our all black, male panel discuss many of the myths and stereotypes that plague Black men in everyday life. Our panelists -- Dr. Bedford Palmer II (MODERATOR) is a licensed counseling psychologist and Associate Professor in the Counseling Department at Saint Mary’s College of California. He also co-hosts the Naming It podcast, where he promotes social justice action and awareness through a psychological lens. (Contact @drbfpalmer) Denzel Herrera-Davis is a storyteller, life coach, and consultant living in Oakland, CA. He is the founder of Create The Space, a novel developmental wellness program for men of color that promotes healing, embraces healthy relationships, and challenges traditional notions of masculinity for men of color through shared vulnerability in community workshops and events. (Contact @create_the_space) Leon Sykes aka Dnas is a Oakland native, educator, On-Air host (Streets Is Talking Radio), founding memeber of #510Day, and community leader. All around champion of all things pertaining to Black Oakland.(Contact @dnastee) William Walker has worked in community organizing, secondary and higher public education, and in government administration roles. He currently works as a Capital Projects Intern with the San Francisco County Transportation Authority and lives in the Lakeview neighborhood of San Francisco. Jesse Byrd is an Award-Winning Children’s Book Author and Oakland Native. Besides his original work, Jesse is creating children’s books for ex-NBA players, Public Figures and Non-Profits. (Contact @b.y.r.d)

We felt it was crucial to share the lens of activism on campus from the eyes of a faculty member doing great work at one of the nation's most progressive colleges. Professor Jerome Stewart is the Assistant Professor of Business & Society/Sustainable Business at San Francisco State University and joins us in this conversation surrounding campus activism and how SFSU still has a long way to go in its efforts of creating a safe, autonomous, spaces for Black students and faculty. If you haven’t been on a college campus in some time, this episode lends itself as a guide to the many obstacles Black students and faculty face, even at America’s more progressive universities. The Black Campus Movement of the 1960’s rendered as a catalyst of protests to disrupt the tradition of inequities in higher education and thus created the pathway to Black Student Unions and African American studies throughout the country. This legacy has been transformative in academia and in the presence of Black life on campus however; as our guests on this episode discuss, while there have been many triumphs in the Black plight on college campuses, there is still a long way to go.

We spoke with Shay and Leo, who are two students fighting the good fight on their PWI, Bay Area college campuses. They detail the militarization of their campuses, the fight to own Black spaces on campuses, and how they don’t feel safe on the college grounds they pay tuition to be on. #blackactivismoncampus If you haven’t been on a college campus in some time, this episode lends itself as a guide to the many obstacles Black students and faculty face, even at America’s more progressive universities. The Black Campus Movement of the 1960’s rendered as a catalyst of protests to disrupt the tradition of inequities in higher education and thus created the pathway to Black Student Unions and African American studies throughout the country. This legacy has been transformative in academia and in the presence of Black life on campus however; as our guests on this episode discuss, while there have been many triumphs in the Black plight on college campuses, there is still a long way to go. Follow Shay on IG @yg_harrison Learn more about BASE @ USF - Black Achievement Success and Engagement - https://www.usfca.edu/academics/special-programs/black-achievement-success-engagement Follow Leo Learn more about Leo's org and get involved with Black Collectivism for Students - www.blackcs.org

Mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.... We haven't quite seen the Warriors struggle with injuries the way they have this season so it was extra painful to see them lose at home to the Toronto Raptors in Game 6. But what hurts more is knowing the organization is uprooting to San Francisco which is likely to cause a whole host of issues - more displacement, more gentrification, more traffic, and of course, pricier game tickets. As Bay Area natives we know firsthand what it feels like to be from somewhere that is often overlooked or misrepresented and with the rise of the Golden State Warriors, it felt like a new light and a new appeal had emerged on the entire Bay, namely Oakland. So to see them leave definitely hurts and the people and economy of Oakland are going to feel the biggest impact. While we are not happy about the move (and anticipate high rise condos and possibly a Whole Foods to be constructed around the Oracle), we know the love the players had for the Town and for their dedication to community over the years, we are thankful. They'll truly be missed!

Dating is hard. But dating in the Bay?! That's a whole 'nother story. Welcome to part 3 of the Weird Ass Bay Area Dating Scene series, #Pride edition! This episode centers around the foolishness of the Bay Area dating scene and how the LGBTQIA+ community navigates dating here. Whether you're a transplant or are born and bred here, when it comes to dating you're most likely looking like confusion Susan aka lost AF. We sat down with Nenna, owner of the sex shop, Feelmore in downtown Oakland; Dannie, Co-Founder of Good Vybz; and our good friend, Sidney last week to provide some insight on the queer dating experience -- they spoke about all the different dating apps, some of their favorite parties they frequent, and even some tips on how to properly approach them in-person. Our three guests also opined on how they have mixed emotions of the dating landscape and detail the chasms between the gay and lesbian population and how much of it is rooted in the gender binary, heteronormativity that is often propagated. Be sure to follow: Neena @Feelmore510 Dannie @its.dannie / Good Vybz @goodvbzparty Sidney @ sid_nicious

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we spoke to Dr. Palmer and Dr. Hill about the spectrum of mental health and how the trauma African Americans have historically faced still impact us today. In fact, one study reports that, "African Americans are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population", and still, we are the least likely to seek help. We discuss the different reasons why seeking help may not be considered an option for some Black people (socio-economic background, stigma of therapy, religion, etc.) and dispel some of the common myths and excuses we often make to convince ourselves therapy isn't for us. They urge those of us who need help to reach out and understand that a crisis does not need to occur for you to access help. We also discuss resources that offer discounted services and the rise of "self-care" and how it is perceived to be at the juncture of privilege. Dr. Palmer and Dr. Hill are co-hosts of Naming it Podcast where they explore the intersections of social justice, psychology and blackness. Be sure to check out their podcast! Follow Naming it Podcast: @namingitpodcast Follow Wokeland: @wokelandpodcast Email us at wokeland@gmail.com

Bonus Episode with Naming It Podcast! We talk about mental health myths and we answer a readers question on Dear Simones! Follow: @namingitpodcast and @wokelandpodcast Got a question you want us to answer on air for Dear Simones? Email us at wokeland@gmail.com or DM us!

Our Season 2 premiere provides for an interesting discussion on the use of the n-word, specifically as it pertains to its use by our non-black homies. Refa One joins us as we dissect the behaviors, intentions, and desires of those wanting to align themselves with Black culture and identity but not realizing how their efforts are inherently discourteous. In this conversation, we also discuss the role of Black people providing space for other people of color (who are not Black/African American) to adopt the use of the word and how in order to move forward, we as Black people, may have to bury the word altogether. Thoughts? We’re also really excited about the premiere of our “Dear Simones” segment where you can email or dm us questions you’d like our expertise on :). This also provides space for you to get to know us more on subjects outside of Bay Area life and culture. Hit us up @wokeland@gmail.com.

What a dope year it's been with you! Thank you to everyone who has tuned in the last 12 months, joined in on the convos, and debates. We've enjoyed every email, comment, DM, everything -- let's keep it going! Season 2 is coming up soon but in the meantime we're taking a mini break cuz #selfcare. We'll be back in 2019 with some fresh heat! We'll be around still out in these Oakland streets so keep checking out our past episodes (be sure to leave a 5-star review wherever) and say hi when you see us out. Thanks for being part of the Wokeland community. We love yall. Have a great new year and see you next year!

On this episode, we talk to some of the prominent Black-owned business owners in the Bay to figure out how they've maintained their presence and survived through the storms. Keba Konte, founder of Red Bay Coffee, founded his coffee business in 2014 from his garage in Oakland. His ethically sourced coffee is quickly becoming a Bay Area mainstay, and his beautiful brewery in Fruitvale hosts some of the dopest events in the Bay. Chaney Turner was homeless when she began launching her business. Nowadays, she's the founder of a few successful ventures, including Town Biz and People's Dispensary. She's a true testament of how perseverance can get you closer to your goals. Tamirra Dyson got the funds for her NOLA-inspired vegan restaurant, Souley Vegan, just 20 minutes before she was supposed to meet her landlord to sign the lease!

Part 2! Dating is hard. But dating in the Bay?! That 's a whole 'nother story. We've been in many conversations centered around the foolishness of the Bay Area dating scene. Whether you're a transplant or are born and bred here, when it comes to dating you're most likely looking like confusion Susan aka lost AF. Why is that? We sat down with three brave souls who walked us through their dating experiences. After our discussion with Brandon (from Alabama), fellow podcaster (The Seeds You Sow) Aysha, and Oakland native and comedian, Elijah, we learned that in the age of social media, a tech industry boom, and gentrification, it's easy to understand why the dating landscape is a hodgepodge. While the ladies are looking to blame the men, and the men are looking at the women crazy, at the end of the day we just stuck on stupid looking at each other--and not connecting. Don't get us wrong: connections can be made here. But it's slim pickings. You have to WERK to make it work. The solution? Who knows. This conversation is a first step (don't forget to check out part 1). May the force be with us all. Follow us: Wokeland is available on iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud and errrrrywhere else! If you like the content, please leave us a review! Instagram: instagram.com/wokelandpodcast Facebook: facebook.com/oaklandiswoke Twitter: twitter.com/wokelandpodcast

Dating is hard. But dating in the Bay?! That 's a whole 'nother story. We've been in many conversations centered around the foolishness of the Bay Area dating scene. Whether you're a transplant or are born and bred here, when it comes to dating you're most likely looking like confusion Susan aka lost AF. Why is that? We sat down with three brave souls who walked us through their dating experiences. After our discussion with Brandon (from Alabama), fellow podcaster (The Seeds You Sow) Aysha, and Oakland native and comedian, Elijah, we learned that in the age of social media, a tech industry boom, and gentrification, it's easy to understand why the dating landscape is a hodgepodge. While the ladies are looking to blame the men, and the men are looking at the women crazy, at the end of the day we just stuck on stupid looking at each other--and not connecting. Don't get us wrong: connections can be made here. But it's slim pickings. You have to WERK to make it work. The solution? Who knows. This conversation is a first step (don't forget to check out part 2). May the force be with us all. Follow us: Wokeland is available on iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud and errrrrywhere else! If you like the content, please leave us a review! Instagram: instagram.com/wokelandpodcast Facebook: facebook.com/oaklandiswoke Twitter: twitter.com/wokelandpodcast

For this episode on gentrification, we sat down with our neighbor Stanley, to provide us some context on how he has seen his neighborhood in West Oakland change. He recounts his Black Panther days, the high crime rate, and all the drugs that were in the neighborhood, but also the strong Black population that once occupied The Lower Bottoms (headquarters of the Black Panther Party.) Stanley has lived in Oakland for 57 years and is a dedicated advocacy coordinator at the Western Service Workers Association. In his role, he sees the influx of individuals and families fighting to keep their electricity, water, and a roof over their heads. For more information about the group that kept Stanley keep his home, please visit the Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals here. And if you're ever in West Oakland and would like to learn more about the center Stanley works at, visit them at 1141 Peralta St in West Oakland.

Where did gentrification come from? In the midst of a homeless and housing crisis, we are unable to escape the harsh reality of what is becoming the "New Oakland." From Permit Patty to BBQ Becky, to the fading Black population of Oakland, to the increasing cost of living we can't help but feel for all of the people who no longer recognize their city and are being pushed out of the place they call home. In order to get some insight, we sat down with three people from the Town who are in the midst of this battle: Jahmel is the founder of Real Oakland (@realoakland) and BBQ'n while Black. Avé (@keep_it_diasporic) is an artist dedicated to promoting the African diaspora through imagery. Seven (@afrooakland) is the executive director of Alena museum which is currently in the process of being evicted. You can learn more about their fight to keep the space and get involved by visiting alenamuseum.com This is part one of a two-part series. Next week, we'll get a few different perspectives. Stay Tuned!

Bay Area Transplants: What they're doing here, why they settled in the Bay Area, and why they love Oakland Wondering what a "transplant" is? Most would define a transplant as someone who has moved, relocated, or settled in an area that they are not from and plan to live short term; usually in the pursuit of higher education, industry, or appeal of a better life. As natives of The Bay Area, it is far more common for us to meet people who are NOT from here then it is to meet locals. Why is that? And is it a bad thing? We would be lying if we said there isn't a negative connotation to the word "transplant", but are all transplants created equal? And if we have such a huge influx of out-of-towners here, then surely there must be some Oakland/SF/SJ folks polluting some metropolitan city, right? We were a bit conflicted with regards to our feelings of transplants. With Silicon Valley eating at jobs, driving gentrification and homelessness, it's easy to feel territorial about a place you call home. We wanted to hear the other side of the story, so we interviewed four amazing people who were open and honest about what attracted them to The Bay and why they have an affinity for Oakland, and detail some of the things they weren't expecting upon moving here. Leave a review on iTunes & follow us @wokelandpodcast. Visit us at thisiswokeland.com

With the rise of social media, video games, and iPhones, engaging children in classrooms is harder than ever. We spoke to Ben Gilbarg of Big Picture Anthems and Griot B of Schoolyard Rap about edutainment aka "educational entertainment" and how schools can turn their low engagement around by fusing hip hop culture into their curriculum. We also get into the difference between charter schools and public schools, what tech companies can do to give back to underrepresented communities, and how teachers have their hands tied when it comes to enacting big changes in the school system. The episode starts with Griot B's song, "Bill O' Rights" off of his album Ourstory which educates youth on the power of knowing their rights. Follow Schoolyard Rap @schoolyardrap Follow Big Picture Anthems @bigpicanthems

When we found out that only 3% of Black women occupy the tech space, we were both astonished and saddened by the statistic. So we kept digging. Turns out, that not only do they only account for 3% of tech roles but those numbers are on the decline. In fact, the amount of Black women in tech is 13% less than it was 10 years ago. Yes, you read that right! But why is that? We needed to know, so we went out to find the factors that were contributing to this. Enter Tamisha Monet and Zakiya Harris: two Black women from deep East Oakland who are killin' it in tech. Tamisha taught herself to code at the age of 10 (inspired by Lil Bow Wow, listen to the episode to find out why) and has since went on to found several different businesses in STEM, marketing, and real estate. Zakiya is the co-founder of Hack The Hood, a non-profit serving underrepresented black & brown youth and introducing them to tech through 6-week boot camps, as well as an independent artist known as Sh8peshifter. They share their personal stories with us as well as the adversities they and many other Black women face in life and career.

Anyone who grew up in the Bay Area knows that the nightlife scene is pretty interesting to say the least. Growing up in San Jose, we didn't have many options as far as big clubs or events, and apparently Oakland didn't either. For a few years, Greek parties took over the Bay Area party scene, and when that came to a halt there was a monopoly between 1-2 promoters who held down ALL the functions in the Bay (shoutout to Demetrius from Location415, where Amina & Shayla first met). Now, years later, that's all changed. There are a bunch of nightlife movements happening in the Bay and we got the chance to speak to the founders of two of the biggest - Shayla Bang of So Oakland, and Amina & Jesse Brooks of TrapxArt. Not only do these brands give you parties and provide a space to function, they also give you a platform to promote your art, your talent, and facilitate a safe space for you to do it in. If you like what you hear, give Wokeland a positive review on iTunes! Follow Wokeland on social media: Instagram: @wokelandpodcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/oaklandiswoke Twitter: @wokelandpodcast For more info, visit our website at thisiswokeland.com

With all the hype of the Black Panther movie, we cannot forget the history, contributions, and revolutionists that were the Black Panther Party. They are the soul of Oakland, and are a huge part of why Oakland's spirit is so #BlackPower centric today. We got a chance to speak with Jabali aka James Burford, who is an original Black Panther Party member from the San Francisco chapter. He was, as he says, "Ready to talk." If you like what you hear, give Wokeland a positive review on iTunes! Follow Wokeland on social media: Instagram: @wokelandpodcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/oaklandiswoke Twitter: @wokelandpodcast For more info, visit our website at thisiswokeland.com

Surprise! We're back with a new and hella unplanned episode! Black Panther is seeing huge success, breaking records, and causing a frenzy of unnecessary thinkpieces. We sat down to have an impromptu chat discussing our favorite characters in the film, African booty scratchers, Africans vs. African-Americans, the significance of Oakland in the film, and more. #staywoak If you like what you hear, give Wokeland a positive review on iTunes! Follow Wokeland on social media: Instagram: @wokelandpodcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/oaklandiswoke Twitter: @wokelandpodcast For more info, visit our website at thisiswokeland.com

"Oakland, Parts Unknown" - Welcome to the land of the woke. A sonic cultural ode to city of Oakland. On our inaugural episode we spoke to five Oakland natives who dissect Oakland stereotypes, gentrification, and their love of the town. Featuring your favorite Oakland neighbors, influencers, and rappers. Featuring Refa 1, Kyona Palmer, Albert aka Run The World Rothstein, Valorie Wynn, and Mistah F.A.B. aka Fabby Davis Jr. If you like what you hear, give Wokeland a positive review on iTunes! Follow Wokeland on social media: Instagram: @wokelandpodcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/oaklandiswoke Twitter: @wokelandpodcast For more info, visit our website at thisiswokeland.com