Podcasts You Should Know: The Black History Month Edition

Hey Party People! 

IT’S BLACK HISTORY MONTH, aka, the most 🔥 month of the year! 🙌🏾✊🏾👊🏾 #melaninonfleek 

I figured I’d share what’s been playing in my earbuds aside from music for this month’s post. I’m a podcast junkie, y’all. My Spotify Unwrapped stats will have you like 😲… 

Speaking of Spotify, their CEO, Daniel Ek, is 🗑 and deserves all the backlash he’s getting for doubling down and backing that former Fear Factor host. I was PISSED when Spotify signed him and even canceled my premium account. I gave them another chance to do better, and here we are again, same shit, new day. PSA: You cannot claim to “support” Black Lives Matter and then pay the dude 100 million dollars to spew misinformation and racist 🤬 a few months later. 

BUT WHAT ABOUT CENSORSHIP, HARPER?

Censorship my arse. Sure, in America, everyone has the right to speak freely, but speaking freely sometimes comes with consequences, especially when “free speech” is nothing more racist dog-whistling riddled with ignorant stereotypes coupled with misinformation. Daniel, in this instance, “support” does not mean what you think it means. Corporations engage in performative nonsense and then backtrack with the quickness. Anywho, let me not further digress because I could go down a rabbit hole. Fortunately, some of the podcasts I’m hyping address the hypocrisy.

I love giving my people shine, and by sharing these podcasts, I hope you expand your horizons and add some new faves to your list. So without further ado, check out these Black podcasters that keep me entertained:

I do not recommend listening to this podcast if you’re a commuter who uses public transportation. There have been too many instances where I’ve laughed so hard I was on the verge of hyperventilating on the subway. I guess I should be glad people were genuinely concerned for my well-being! Kid Fury and Crissle address pop culture in a way that’s nothing other than unapologetically Black. They give it to you straight, no chaser. And honestly, Crissle and Fury kept me sane during 2020. They showed up week after week and gave the public moments of joy when the world was a flaming pile of rank Cheetos. 

The Read is part of the LoudSpeakers Network and can be found wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

I visited New Orleans for the first time in November 2008 with my then boyfriend. The trip took place about a week after Obama won the election and three years post-Katrina. Culturally it’s amazeballs, but then we went to the Ninth Ward, and it was shocking to see that THREE YEARS LATER, the community hadn’t been rebuilt. Hell, even buildings belonging to nearby Tulane University were still boarded up. It was weird walking from areas that were still in deep need of repair and then later coming across a Saks Fifth Avenue still intact doing business as usual. Priorities, amirite? 🤷🏾‍♀️

Floodlines is SUPERB. Vann Newkirk II talks with residents about where they were when Katrina hit and how the aftermath of the hurricane changed their lives forever. Unfortunately, not everyone was lucky enough to pick up and move on.

Initially released in early 2020, Floodlines was sponsored by The Atlantic.

Fiscal responsibility isn’t intuitive for a large portion of the population. Fortunately for me, my parents instilled excellent money management skills. Still, learning is an ongoing process. Bola Sokunbi gives women the tools to get their finances in order. I subscribe to the Clever Girl Finance Newsletter, and I love the gems of advice enclosed. LOL, I legit get happy when I get a newsletter. It’s always an enjoyable read. Did I mention Bola’s website has free courses? OH YES YES, Y’ALL! The Podcast extends all the wonderful nuggets of knowledge found in her newsletter and website. And if you’re down for a massive financial cleanse, pick up her book!

Aside from being a sincere and lovely person (I’m biased; she’s cool af), Leslye, aka L. Penelope, is one heck of a storyteller. If you like your fantasy with romance attached, she’s an author you want to add to your TBR pile. THIS WOMAN STAYS HONING HER CRAFT! Her podcast is so fun to listen to, and I feel like I always need to have a notepad nearby because she will drop a helpful tidbit in a minute! I love her candidness as well. Not everyone has this writing thing figured out, but many of us rarely share the highs and lows publicly. One more reason I dig My Imaginary Friends. My editor also enjoys Leslye’s podcast. If she can get a hardcore Editrix on board, you can’t resist. Go listen, and then check out her backlist!

I’m always impressed (and scared) by journalists that do whatever it takes to chase a story. MSNBC Correspondent, Pulitzer Prize, and Emmy Award winner Trymaine Lee hits the road and heads straight to the people to get their perspectives on issues in America. I’m not talking mainstream cities. My dude goes off the beaten path to get to the nitty-gritty—profound respect.

WHEW, if there was ever a time to invest in mental health… now is it! Neeooooowwwww!!! Black women are many things to many people. Unfortunately, it’s ingrained from a young age for us to be the “strong one,” the “support system,” that “holds everyone down.” It’s a toxic mentality, and in the end, it leaves us drained. When are we allowed to relax, be soft, and express vulnerability? Dr. Joy Harden does a beautiful job of helping Black women center themselves. Personal development, self-care, pop culture, and various topics are discussed weekly. I am also a subscriber to the Therapy for Black Girls Newsletter. If you’re interested in finding a Black female therapist and you’re not sure where to begin, here’s a precious resource: TFBG.

If you’re a sports fan, you’ve probably heard of Jemele Hill. Since leaving ESPN in her rearview mirror, Miss Thing has ELEVATED her game. Her interviews feature a who’s who of Black Excellence.

I ❤ Investigative Journalism. It’s why I’m a big fan and supporter of Reveal and ProPublica. They can get all my coins! *Sidenote* Please donate so these types of stories get told. Mississippi Goddam was my favorite podcast of 2021. Journalist Al Letson travels to Mississippi to explore the death of 17-year-old Billey Joe Johnson Jr., who died in 2008. Billey Joe was a high school football star that seemingly had everything going for him, except he was a young Black man who lived in Mississippi and was dating a white girl. 

Be prepared to be enraged at our Criminal Justice System and the fact that after a 400-year-old institution based on dehumanization and oppression was eradicated, people truly believe there aren’t ANY residual effects. Uh, Jim Crow? The War on Drugs? Stop and Frisk? 🙄 Racism didn’t suddenly pull a disappearing act, peeps. My heart goes out to the Johnson family and many others who lose loved ones by suspicious means, and their deaths aren’t given the attention they deserve. Sadly, it’s a tale as old as time for many Black families. Justice isn’t something we’re equally afforded.

And this concludes Podcasts You Should Know: The Black History Month Edition. You can stream these podcasts on services such as iTunes, Spotify, and wherever else you find your faves. Till next time, y’all. 💕

Go the way your blood beats! ✊🏾