Tag: podcast

Heather McGhee Takes Listeners on a Journey of America’s Possibilities on ‘The Sum of Us’

July 27, 2022

heather mcghee smiles in front of a green pastoral background

Photo credit: Andreas Burgess

Imagine: In 1959, instead of allowing a swimming pool to be racially integrated, the city of Montgomery decided to drain it. In 2022, many would shake their heads at this past reality while relegating it in their minds to exactly that—the past. Yet this choice to restrict access for some, and therefore all, is still happening in America, especially at the policy level. This is something educator, activist, and author Heather McGhee has investigated throughout her career, and especially in her 2021 book The Sum of Us.

“The Sum of Us is the story of my journey across the country that I took in search of answers to why it seems like we can’t have nice things in America,” Heather explained to For the Record. “And by nice things, I mean universal childcare and paid family leave and clean air and clean water and good schools in every neighborhood. And what I discovered is that—more than any other single factor—racism in our politics and our policymaking that leads to a reluctance for people to come together across lines of race and find common solutions to our common problems is holding us back.” 

Heather is bringing this conversation to her podcast of the same name. Debuting today on Spotify, The Sum of Us will take listeners deep into local issues from the perspective of the individuals on the ground. As Heather spotlights communities across the country, she aims to emphasize togetherness, positivity, and hope. In an unjust world where racism has costs for all Americans, The Sum of Us inspires listeners to take a more collective approach to racism through the power of human stories, empathy, and solidarity.

We sat down with Heather to learn more about her new podcast. 

How and why did you decide to create a podcast of The Sum of Us?

At the end of my book, The Sum of Us, I talk about this idea of the “Solidarity Dividend” of gains that can be unlocked by us coming together across lines of race and rediscovering our collective power. It was an idea that I floated at the end of the book, and it resonated with so many readers. And frankly, it stayed in my mind as the country seemed to fall farther and farther apart—the political divisions, the fraying of the solidarity that we had seen at the beginning of the pandemic. 

And so I wanted to hit the road again and really just focus on this idea of people coming together in communities, across their differences, really rebuilding the kind of America that our people deserve. I brought this idea to the Obamas’ production company Higher Ground; the Pulitzer Award-winning Futuro studios, an incredible team of mostly producers and engineers and writers and editors of color; and Spotify. And they were all excited about it, too. So I’ve spent the last nine months on the road finding new stories of people coming together to win in their communities. And it’s left me feeling optimistic, and I hope listeners will feel the same.

You mention your theory of the Solidarity Dividend. Can you explain it for our readers?

Over the course of my journey, I chronicled the ways in which racism ultimately has a cost for everyone because it distorts our public policymaking, makes for bad economic decisions, and erodes the trust that we have in one another, which is necessary to support public goods and public solutions. And so the flip side of that is that, if we can come together across lines of race and see our own struggles in each other or have solidarity for each other’s struggles, then we can unlock what I call “Solidarity Dividends.” And these are the gains that can only come through collective action. And in a multiracial society can really only come through multiracial, collective action. And these are things like cleaner air and water, better-funded schools, higher-paying jobs. Each of the episodes in the Some of Us podcast tackles a different solidarity dividend, something that’s precious, that matters to us all, that people are able to accomplish by coming together. 

What was the process of turning the book into a podcast like? What surprised you?

The entire process surprised me. I had no idea what I was getting into. You know, the first part was that I really tossed the book up in the air. The Sum of Us podcast is not an adaptation of the book The Sum of Us. It’s sort of a spinoff, a takeoff, another journey that’s guided by the same principles: the need to come together across lines of race, the way that racism has a cost for everyone and a real inquiry into what builds empathy and solidarity. Those themes are the same in the book and in the podcast, but the stories are mostly completely new and different. There are two locations that are in the book—Lewiston, Maine, and Kansas City, Missouri—that are also in the podcast. But I take totally different angles on those stories. In fact, in Lewiston, it’s an entirely different cast of characters. And the rest of what we cover are new stories that the incredible teams at Futuro and Higher Ground collaborated on and discovered and unearthed together. So it feels very different.

In the first episode, you share the example of Gary, a white man who, in 2016, professes to you on live TV that he wants to confront his racism and prejudices. You gave him some recommendations for where to begin. Do you think you would respond in the same way in 2022, keeping the events of the past two years in mind?  

If someone like Gary had called in today and said, “I’m prejudiced and I want to change, so what can I do to become a better American?” to be honest, I don’t think my answer would change. 

I think that the assumption might be that now in 2022, maybe a person like Gary should have already done the work. These issues have been alive. The history has been written, the books have been available. The causes have been there to join for centuries. So I totally understand the perspective that might say “you should have already done that work. You shouldn’t have had to call into a radio show or a television show with a Black woman and ask her how to become less prejudiced.” But for me, I think that the humility that it took to admit his prejudice and to ask for help is something that should always be rewarded and matched with kindness.

I think we take for granted sometimes how much work it takes to unlearn biases, to counter the dominant narratives that have supported racist systems. And so we often ask people to do it on their own—this sort of shopping cart approach to racial reconciliation in this country. And I don’t think it’s sufficient. So ideally, there would be a process that our country would go through at the national, state, local, community level. That would take us to a better place and that would teach the truth and that would create avenues for people to come together. Absent that collective effort. I do think it’s important for each one to teach one. 

So many Americans are siloed politically. How do you hope to address that through the podcast?

It’s funny. I was just thinking about what the political kind of color is on the map of the places we visited, I think the vast majority of them are red or purple. I mean, Manhattan Beach, California, is probably the most typically liberal place that we went. And yet, as listeners will learn when they listen to the podcast, the story of Manhattan Beach is a lot more complicated than it seems. 

I think we were intentional in choosing places that had good stories of people coming together against the odds. And to do that, you had to go to some places where there’s deep divisions and where the governments may not have been on the side of justice and progress. So it wasn’t an intentional effort to go to red places or purple places, but that’s where the most interesting stories of people coming together across lines of race ended up being.  

You use humor and the meme-like question of “Why can’t we have nice things?” to address hard topics. How did you decide to orient the podcast in this way?

I think that’s just my personality. I’m a really serious person whose job is focused on the worst problems in American society. But I love to have fun. I love to throw parties. I love to laugh. I have a huge network of friends. I think that ultimately what we’re looking for is a world in which there’s lots of joy and laughter and connection. And so I try to bring that to the journey to get there.

 

Listen to The Sum of Us hosted by Heather McGhee starting today only on Spotify. 

Hear more directly from Heather on Spotify: Mic Check.

Kick Back With One of the Spotify-Themed Drinks We’re Serving Up at Cannes Lions

June 22, 2022

Spotify is making a splash in France for this year’s Cannes Lions. It’s been far too long since we’ve been able to gather together as an advertising industry to celebrate the inspiring and out-of-the-box work happening across the globe. This year we’re celebrating the future of audio and the creativity that drives connections between fans, creators, and advertisers around the world—you’ll see those themes come through in our buzzworthy slate of daytime programming and can’t-miss evening concerts. And to top it off, we’ve partnered with the mixology wizards from nonprofit Equal Measures, who have created a custom menu of Spotify-inspired cocktails and mocktails for guests to enjoy on the Croisette throughout the week. 

Equal Measures’ mission is to deliver equity and equality in the cocktail industry by providing opportunities to professionals from marginalized backgrounds and underrepresented groups. For Spotify Beach, the organization paired us with mixologists Sana Barclay, Ernest Reid, and Jason-Candid Knüsel, who created drinks themed around some of our Original and Exclusive podcast titles, such as Jemele Hill is Unbothered, Caso 63, and Call Her Daddy. 

So, what’s the recipe for a Spotify-themed cocktail?

Sounds of Africa: Creators Bring the Continent to Life on Spotify

May 25, 2022

a graphic image showing all the artists and podcast cover arts that are part of the sounds of africa creator campaign

May 25 marks Africa Day, which recognizes the creation of the African Union and offers a chance to reflect on the progress that has been made across the continent since 1963. To commemorate the occasion, Spotify is celebrating local voices through the new Sounds of Africa campaign.

The continent is home to an incredible array of talented individuals who are sharing their unique creativity, storytelling, and sounds with the world. So from social media to on-platform efforts, this campaign spotlights emerging African talent in music and podcasting. 

“African creators are doing amazing things in the music and audio content creation space. Moreover, the stories of this crop of creatives are helping others find their passions and their voices,” said Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa. 

 “They’re teachers, friends, and companions on people’s daily commute. They’re ambassadors for the continent, sharing the sounds of Africa. And, at Spotify, we are committed to helping them do just that,” Jocelyne added. 

Spotify also announced the creation of the Africa Podcast Grant to help highlight voices from the continent. The $100,000 fund is open to 10 creators, and they can be up-and-coming or established. This fund aims to amplify underrepresented stories and perspectives in podcasting.

As a part of Sounds of Africa, Spotify is highlighting six African artists and six African podcasters through a digital-first campaign to drive users to their various Spotify pages. For the Record caught up with each creator to learn more about what Africa Day means to them.

Feyikemi Abudu and Jola Ayeye: I Said What I Said podcast

I Said What I Said Podcast poster

“Africa Day, for us, is a day to celebrate Africans and people of African descent all over the world. It allows us to celebrate our growing cultural impacts on the globe while highlighting our diversity in different elements of art, music, fashion, food, and culture. We should always pay homage to Africans who stand out and who have made an effort to place Africa on the map. It should be a time to celebrate the champs of African creatives, businesses, and people across the continent.”

Joan, Kibz, Nyamita, and Owen: The Sandwich Podcast

The Sandwich Club podcast poster

“Africa Day reminds us of the sense of individuality that we have been able to achieve as a continent and celebrates the uniqueness of our African culture. This is also an opportunity for different creators to interact. This brings us unity, which we have always celebrated and will always continue to celebrate each and every day.”

Eli Mwenda and Oscar Koome: Mantalk.ke podcast 

Mantalk.ke Podcast Poster

“Africa Day for us is a time of African renaissance, African celebration, and people celebrating a continent that is rich with culture and wildlife.”

Taymesan: Tea With Tay podcast 

Taymesan: Tea With Tay podcast poster

“Africa Day is for celebrating Africa’s heritage and cultural impact on the world while highlighting our uniqueness and diversity, expressed through music, art, craft, advocacy, and fashion.

“It is also very important to recognize outstanding Africans whose efforts have served to place Africa on the global map. The triumphs of African creatives, leaders of industry, and pioneers from across the continent must be celebrated as a reminder of how special we are.”

Nicole Engelbrecht: True Crime South Africa podcast 

True Crime South Africa poster

“For me, Africa Day is about celebrating the immense pool of talent we have on this continent. Whether it’s singing or podcasting, Africans have amazing stories to tell through their art, and I think Africa Day provides us with a platform for more people to hear and celebrate our uniqueness.”

Gugulethu Nyatsumba: After School Is After School with Sis G.U podcast 

Gugulethu Nyatsumba: After School Is After School with Sis G.U podcast poster

“Africa Day is a day where we get to celebrate our continent’s rich cultural identity and our many different heritages. To me, it’s a day where I get to be that much prouder of my roots, my people, and my continent. I try my best to learn something new about this beautiful environment I live in.” 

LADIPOE

LADIPOE poster

“To be honest, I feel like every day is Africa Day. But I’m grateful that it’s now a day that we’re using to celebrate the fact that there are 54 countries that make up this continent and that so much can be achieved when we move in one accord. It’s really something to celebrate.

“I feel like I became a much better writer when I began to tell the stories of my people and myself within my country and within my continent because there’s no place like Africa. The stories are a way to connect with the people. So when I sing ‘how far with Lagos on a Monday/traffic is as bad as the news on the front page/judging by my salary/I might as well be unpaid,’ trust me, the people who are living where I live understand what I’m talking about.”

Preyé

Preyé poster

“As an artist, Africa Day means reflecting on all the influences the continent has given me. There is so much raw talent here, and the range of sounds is crazy. The more I become a student of my art, the more I see how the diversity of the sounds I’m drawn to—everything from jazz to soul, funk, and folk—end up bringing me right back to this continent. 

“Living in, and listening to, Africa already affects the kinds of rhythms I come up with. When I grew up as a kid, I loved the sound of Nollywood, and the drama of it. The soundtrack literally tells you the whole story because it’s so vivid. There’s also the fact that there are so many languages here. Every language is its own song, and hearing all Nigeria’s languages has definitely influenced my melodies and harmonies—the flow, the inflections, cadences, and the drops. 

“I try to incorporate sounds from my part of Nigeria specifically, like the drum patterns, chanting vocals, and Pidgin English. My dad is from Okrika in the south of Nigeria, and my Mom is Igbo in the southeast, so I grew up hearing their languages, and they each have their own unique eclectic sound that I bring to my own music.”

Nikita Kering’

Nikita Kering' poster

“Africa Day is a time to celebrate each and every thing that comes from Africa. We have literally anything here. Very beautiful, very rich and bold. And I feel like it’s just a day to share it with the world because that sort of energy should never be contained.

“The music coming out of Africa is rich. It is bold. It is colorful. It is dramatic. And the more you listen to it, I think the more you get hooked. So I just hope that listeners can intentionally take the time to soak in the beauty that comes from here. It’s just amazing. And it’s always changing and developing into something because there are so many different tribes, cultures, and sounds from different parts of Africa that sound nothing like each other. But they all come together and sound so beautiful.”

Nomfundo Moh

Nomfundo Moh poster

“Africa Day is a special day to celebrate African pride and how diverse and unique we are.

“My music is dominated by various drums, which are symbolic of African sounds, and there’s use of vernacular on my lyrical content to invite different Africans in listening to my music.”

Zoë Modiga

Zoë Modiga poster

“Africa Day to me is such a symbolic reminder for us to reconnect with who we are as Africans and the African diaspora. 

“Our continent shows off its affluence with a plethora of resources, cultures, stories, beliefs, people, ways of living, ways of thinking, and music. All that we are makes us an abundant people who give the world so much soul, depth, character, and excitement. Though we have conquered many adversities and continue to be faced with many, we are such a gift to the global ecosystem. We are the heartbeat. 

“I would say my music represents a lot of what our constantly evolving, vast, modern sounds and stories are. Thematically, my music seeks to celebrate the human story, the Black experience, and the African glory that we are. It explores how we connect generations and explore new ideas without ever losing the essence of who we are. The perspective of life I share celebrates our diverse selves while using English and my mother tongue, isiZulu, to awaken healing, joy, and spirit. There is an inspired way my music expresses a melting pot of soundscapes while allowing the indigenous knowledge systems and sounds to take center stage.”

 

Now that you’ve had a chance to hear from these creators, check out the African Heat playlist on Spotify.

 

Creators and Experts Talk the Future of Podcasting at Spotify’s All Ears Summit in Berlin

May 6, 2022

graphic image that says the conference name "all ears" in big font

What can we learn from podcast analytics? What’s the future of podcasts? What are podcasts doing to drive change? These are just a few of the questions addressed yesterday at Spotify’s All Ears Summit in Berlin, Germany. Creators, producers, publishers, advertisers, and more convened for a conference to talk about the local and global podcast market.

The daylong summit had something for everyone. Fans had the opportunity to hear interviews from popular podcast producers and hosts like Sarah Koenig (Serial), Ira Glass (This American Life), and Tommi Schmitt (Gemischtes Hack). 

  • “I think for the kind of work I do, which is being a journalist, people have to believe that I am telling them what I know to the best of my knowledge. They have to trust me that I’ve done my homework as a reporter. . . . They have to trust you, that you’ve done your job well. That is huge for the kind of work I do.” – Sarah Koenig

Six New and Returning Shows From Spotify Sound Up Alums

April 29, 2022

6 podcast covers from shows that have come out of Spotify's Sound up program on a yellow background

Four years ago, Spotify originated a program called Sound Up to amplify women-of-color podcasters in the U.K. and arm them with the skills to create their own podcasts. That program transformed into an annual opportunity with a presence in 12 markets—Japan, Italy, the U.S., U.S. LatinX, India, Mexico, Australia, Sweden, the U.K., Germany, Brazil, and Argentina—and even prompted a new U.S. iteration geared toward creating high-quality content and co-listening experiences for kids and families.

Over the course of each four-week immersive experience (some in person, some virtual), the participants hone their storytelling skills, get more experience in audio production, and enjoy the chance to workshop their ideas. They walk away with educational resources, technical support, and pivotal relationships with fellow podcasters. Plus, after the session ends, the participants continue to receive year-round support from Spotify as they create professional pilots of their ideas, which have a chance to become a Spotify Original. 

Ever since, Sound Up alumni have brought new, innovative shows to Spotify—Dope Labs, Search Engine Sex, and FOGO: Fear of Going Outside are just a few that have entertained and informed listeners. Get to know the four newest shows—and two returning podcasts—from Sound Up alumni. 

The Newest Sound Up Shows

Lyssna Tjejer — Roba Kadhem (Sound Up Sweden 2020)

Directly from Malmö, Sweden, Roba Kadhem and her friends invite us to a fast-paced podcast with the craziest gossip from Pink Room, Scandinavia’s largest Facebook group for young women. In Lyssna Tjejer (Listen Girls) they discuss current topics, delve into crazy Facebook threads, test things, and learn things—while saying exactly what they think of it all! A filterless, entertaining, and engaging podcast for all women, you won’t want to miss Lyssna Tjejer. 

Kärleks Haverier — Aida Paridad (Sound Up Sweden 2020)

Like an odyssey dedicated to everything that can and has gone really bad in relationships, Kärleks Haverier, or “Love Crashes,” dives deep into the equally fantastic and terrible subject of love. With the help of research and popular culture, Aida Paridad analyzes her friends’ misfortunes to understand how society, history, and the present affect Stockholmers in their relationship building. Let yourself be guided by a safe and slightly manic hand into the jungle of dating, relationships, and . . . love affairs! 

Välkommen till Ön — Fatima Hellgren Camara (Sound Up Sweden 2020)

People exhibit disgusting habits, sick behaviors, and worthless personalities all the time. But is that reason enough to send them to a desert island? Fatima Hellgren Camara says yes.

In the podcast Välkommen till Ön, or “Welcome to the Island,” hear host Fatima, a happy cynic, and her sidekick, Olle, talk about troubling people and their habits and who ultimately deserves a place on a desert island, far away from the rest of us. Välkommen till Ön is a safe haven for anyone who bites their lip when people say “I really love true crime” and those who have clenched their fists in their pockets when someone on the bus has talked on the phone on speaker! Those looking for beautiful contempt can find it here. 

Looking for Esther — Esther Robertson (Sound Up UK 2019)

Looking for Esther is a Spotify Original podcast that follows Esther Robertson’s journey to piece together her past and her identity. Esther was adopted at birth and had three different names before she turned three, and this podcast is a powerful and personal memoir of her real-time search for answers, memories, and her birth mother. You can read the full For the Record interview with Esther here. 

Beloved Shows With New Seasons 

Masala Podcast — Sangeeta Pillai (Sound Up UK 2018)

Season four of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast returns with Sangeeta Pillai chatting with international comedian and TikTok star Zarna Garg. Zarna describes herself as an Indian immigrant wife, mom, lawyer, screenwriter, producer, stand-up comedian, and overbearing Indian auntie. In this episode, the hosts explore how womxn need to be valued (and paid!) for their time and efforts. They also discuss how South Asian women can really own their own voices. Masala Podcast is a Spotify Original podcast and was the winner of the British Podcast Awards for 2020 and 2021. 

You Heard Me Write — Kacie Willis (Sound Up US 2019)

Treat your ears to 30 original pieces of prose, music, and sound design never heard before. Season 2 of You Heard Me Write features artists collaborating on a multimedia group project without having any knowledge about the identities of their counterparts. Only after the project’s completion are the artists introduced to one another in a salon-style roundtable discussion. There they explore the roles of creativity and anonymity and the power of connection among people from different walks of life. It’s hosted by Sound Up alum Kacie Willis, and you can read the full For the Record interview with Kacie from the launch of season 1 here. 

Like what you hear? Stay tuned—there’s always new Sound Up shows coming to Spotify.

In ‘Looking for Esther’ One Woman Searches for Answers to Her Past

April 25, 2022

the cover art for the podcast looking for esther

Esther Robertson wasn’t born an “Esther.” In fact, the Scottish woman had three different names before she was three years old. This is just one of the unusual circumstances surrounding Esther’s adoption—and readoption—in the 1960s. Now, in a new Spotify Original podcast, Looking for Esther, she’s ready to discover the truth about her past.

The idea for the series was born out of Spotify’s 2019 Sound Up program, in which Esther was a participant. During the intensive, weeklong U.K. program, Spotify provides education, mentorship, and support to train the next generation of underrepresented voices in podcasting. Esther used this time to polish the idea for her podcast, learn from other successful podcasters, and even acquire hands-on experience with the equipment that would help bring her voice to life.

Over the last two years, Esther and Gayle Anderson, the series writer, executive producer, and Esther’s partner, have been on a search for the answers that make up Esther’s past. What they found is detailed in the eight-episode series. “What a journey it’s been working with Esther Robertson on bringing her remarkable story to life,” shared Natalie Tulloch, Sound Up Global Lead. “Our longstanding Sound Up program is all about supporting underrepresented voices in podcasting—whether in front of or behind the mic. We are so excited that the world finally gets to listen to her remarkable story.”

For the Record had the opportunity to chat with Esther about her personal journey and the challenges she faced along the way.

What prompted you to embark on this journey to discover more about your past?

A cancer diagnosis in 2018. I was told that I had stage four ovarian cancer. It was a huge shock and it gave me time to reflect on my life. I found I had a few regrets and one of my biggest regrets was not finding my birth mother. I’d made a few attempts to trace her over the years, but every time I tried, it opened up another can of worms. I suppose I was too afraid to follow it through. But this time it was different. The way I see it is, if you can face up to cancer, you can face up to pretty much anything. I’m currently in remission, by the way, and loving life.

Considering how much time had elapsed since your adoption, what challenges did you face as you searched for answers?

I had a bag full of old social work notes that I’d been given when I was in my early twenties and pretty much nothing else. I didn’t even have any pictures of me as a baby and I still don’t. Gayle and I had to basically become private investigators to try to piece the jigsaw together. This was made even more challenging as a lot of it was done during COVID restrictions. We contacted the social work department, the Church of Scotland, the Moving Image Archive of the National Library of Scotland, and hundreds of other people and organisations. I reconnected, too, with my siblings, the Robertsons, and also my Uncle Eddie Lindenberg. They were all really helpful and were able to shed light on a lot of things—but not by any means everything. 

a school photo of esther robertson at the age of 11 or 12What made you want to document your story in a podcast format?

Because I feel that it’s a very powerful medium and this is a very powerful story. The immediacy of it would allow listeners to join me on my journey, share my happiness and my disappointments along the way. They’d get a sense of the urgency of this real-time search for my mum. I’m a huge podcast fan and listen to hundreds of them. I was working on an outline for a podcast series for my story when I happened to read a tweet about Sound Up U.K. in 2019. The rest, as they say, is history!

The series writer and executive producer is your partner, Gayle Anderson. What was it like working on this project with someone you’re so close with? 

I’m not going to lie, we both found it extremely challenging at times. We’ve been together over 13 years. Getting through the cancer diagnosis and treatment had made our relationship stronger, but we did need to draw on those reserves to get us through making the podcast series. To keep it real and demonstrate just how much stress we were under, we even use a phone conversation of one of our rows in an episode. I’d accidentally recorded and we just decided to put it in. We’re totally fine now, of course, and we have zero regrets about doing it. We’re both very, very proud of what we’ve managed to produce. 

What advice do you have for anyone else who’s been in a similar situation and feels they either don’t belong or have unknowns about their past?

My advice would be, don’t be afraid to face up to the truth. It’s better to know than not to know. A sense of identity is vital. Without it, life can feel so rootless, so transient. Be yourself and speak your truth. And remember, it’s never too late to begin your journey.  

If you could rewrite the adoption or foster care systems, what are some of the changes you would make to help kids today have easier access to their histories? 

Huge changes have already been made. We talk to social workers in the podcast to find out if what happened to me in Scotland in the early 1960s could happen now, and we’re pleased to report that it definitely couldn’t. There’s a whole system of checks and balances to ensure that everyone understands the child’s circumstances and identifies the right solution for them. If that’s adoption then that’s absolutely great, but prospective adopters now require a real understanding of the impact adoption might have on a child. The preparation prospective adopters go through is really thorough. These days, many adopted children also receive “later life letters.” These are written by social workers to a child who’s being adopted to help the child make sense of their past. But they’re kept and read later in the child’s life when they’re old enough to process it all. What a wonderful idea! 

esther robertson as a flower girlCan you tell us about your experience with the Sound Up program? What part of it did you find the most valuable?

It was a week of intense podcast boot camp—but I loved it. My cohort was full of creative, talented, and super supportive women. There was a real feeling of camaraderie. Hearing their personal stories and listening to their pitches was incredibly inspiring. 

Learning to pitch was invaluable. Things like, how to get your idea across clearly and concisely, how to make it stand out, and how to make it memorable. We received lots of advice on this from established podcasters such as Tolly T from The Receipts and Chantelle Miller from the Island Girls Rock Podcast. How to use the Zoom H5 recording equipment that was supplied was incredibly important too—we recorded all of Looking For Esther on it. I left the week exhausted but with renewed confidence and determination to make Looking For Esther happen.

Now that you’ve wrapped this podcast, what are you looking forward to working on next?

First of all, this has been super emotional so I’m planning a looooooong break. Gayle and I are off to Turkey for six whole weeks in early June. We can’t wait. I’m hoping that my next project could be to trace my birth father. All I know is that he was an African American Air Force man called Bob Hubbard who was based in Scotland in 1960-1961. I do a shout-out for information on the podcast and I’m hoping it leads somewhere. I still very much need to find out about my paternal heritage.

 

Join Esther on her journey by streaming the first episode of her podcast below:

Vulnerability, Sex, Parenthood, and Podcasting With Damon Young

April 19, 2022

Where to send your child to school, the existence of God, and accountability on the internet are big and complex enough topics to make your head spin. So on Stuck with Damon Young, the award-winning author of What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker ventures into the world of podcasting to grapple with these questions. He dives deep and candidly into each of these topics and more—and he does so with some of the brightest and Blackest people he knows.

The new Gimlet and Crooked Media podcast, which debuted in mid-March, features Damon Young himself in conversation with guests like writer Samantha Irby to discuss money, comedian Roy Wood Jr. to cover religion, author Jason Reynolds to understand sexuality, and journalist Nikole Hannah Jones to dive into education. In each conversation, the guests deconstruct and explore all of these topics, as well as their intersections with race and class—and how that makes for some unrealistic expectations around human behavior. 

For the Record had the opportunity to discuss some of this with Damon and even threw a new topic into the mix: the opportunities and struggles of podcasting for the award-winning writer. 

You cover sex, parenthood, religion, and performing Blackness—what would you say is the overlying theme of all these conversations?  

The umbrella theme of the series is etiquette. When we think of etiquette, we think of silver spoons and table manners, things of that nature. But it’s really more about expected behavior and expected experience. This show is about the collision of expectation, socialization, reality, and dreams. All of these expectations of behavior, all of these actual behaviors, and all of these aspirational behaviors: When they collide and collapse into each other, what happens to your brain? Does that affect your anxiety? Does that create neuroses? For me, the answer for all of those is: definitely. The show is a very granular, even esoteric, look into topics that so many Black people are grappling with.

What’s one of the subjects listeners get to work through with you?

The sex episode features Saida Grundy, a friend of mine and professor at Boston University, and Jason Reynolds, the LeBron James of children’s books. I wanted to talk about sex with them and the anxieties that Black people bring to it. And it’s a very hetero episode—I want to make that clear, because there are many different ways to have sex, but I wanted to speak from my experience. 

And so we talked about some of those intra-racial anxieties and how, when you’re Black and male, there’s what people call a “positive stereotype” of virility—that we as Black men are aware of. And so I have this expectation to perform in a certain way too. And that can create neuroses within you even though it’s supposed to be a positive stereotype. 

That idea of the hyper-hetero, hyper-virile straight Black man, even if you recognize, “hey this is bullsh*t, this is a racist stereotype that has permeated our cultural understandings of sex and of gender and race,” or whatever, even if you have all the knowledge, education, progressive politics, it can still affect you. We have this shield we bring there, and this armor, and that armor is considered swag. It’s considered cool. But it’s still armor. Even if that’s all you see, it was still something that was constructed to protect us, to protect ourselves from the world. 

Vulnerability is a theme that is coming up in your stories, and Black men are not often given space to be vulnerable. Do you see podcasting as a medium that can expand or allow for more of those opportunities? 

What I’ve tried to do with the podcast is bring as many elements from my writing as I possibly can, and my writing does that. In my writing, particularly in the last five or six years, I’ve been very intentional with exploring all of these anxieties and neuroses and vulnerabilities. And I’ve been trying to do it with humor, trying to do it with some observational rigor. Maybe trying to tell a larger story about America, about white supremacy, about Black people, about Pittsburgh, about whatever—but that’s been a very consistent element of my writing and so there’s no other way I’d do a podcast. 

How are you enjoying the podcasting experience? What are you learning from it? 

Podcasting is not aspirational for me. Writing is my thing. I always passed on podcasts because I wanted to have a level of control. And one of the many challenges with podcasting is not necessarily the lack of control, it’s just that I don’t have as much control speaking out loud as I do when I write.

When I’m writing, sometimes words just come immediately. And I can always figure out the perfect analogy or perfect phrase, or perfect adverb, or whatever. And sometimes, speaking out loud, it takes a little bit longer. But one of the benefits of this medium is that it has expanded my writing. There are certain distinctions in the writing you do that is meant to be read, and the writing that is meant to be heard. So I’m still learning, I’m still rewriting, I’m still editing, and just being able to hear the voices in my head when I speak them out loud to myself will help me with my essay writing and my book writing too.

What are you hoping fans walk away with? 

I’m a fan of so many of the authors who are working and writing today, and I just want to create things that hit people and that f*%k up your brain, the same way some of the books that I read f*%ked up my brain in a good way. Or, “Whoa, I didn’t realize you could write a sentence like that.” And I have some of those writers—some of my favorite writers—on the show. And so again, I want to bring some of those elements to my podcast to maybe have the same effect on people.

Look out for new episodes of Stuck with Damon Young every Tuesday. This week, tune in for “Stuck on All the Shiny Sh*t I Want to Buy,” where Damon unpacks the whiplash of new money with Samantha Irby and Mehrsa Baradaran.

Spotify estrena ‘Drag Love,’ el podcast de cultura pop y vivencias LGBTQI+

April 6, 2022

Spotify celebra a todos y todas las artistas animándolos a expresarse en el ámbito que más aman, disfrutan e identifican.

Es por esto, que Spotify se enorgullece de presentar el nuevo podcast original Drag Love, dedicado a brindar un abanico completo sobre temáticas de cultura pop y vivencias LGBTQI+. Además sus hosts, Dyhzy, Fabrii Watson, y Lady Nada, analizarán la actualidad pop con una mezcla de humor, risa y diversión. 

Crear un personaje, vivir la fantasía e informar

Todo esto es Drag Love podcast. Es un espacio de encuentro para hablar sobre el movimiento LGBTQI+ en la región y dar voz a una serie de artistas, personalidades, y personajes que no aparecen en los principales medios de comunicación. Por su parte, Spotify busca que la comunidad drag queen pueda hacer ruido y dar a conocer su presencia en la sociedad en general.

Sin dudas, las hosts semanalmente brindarán una cuota de mucho humor, concientización, y noticias aseguradas.

Sus hosts, las más destacadas drag queens

Drag Love llega de la mano de tres estrellas de la cultura Drag Queen. Por un lado, Dyhzy “Drag Queen del cosmos”, como se define, Dj y diseñadora gráfica, que desde 2019 participa activamente con sus sets y performances en la movida nocturna de Buenos Aires.  Tani, como también es apodada, es una destacada activista en la lucha por los derechos de la comunidad LGBTQ+.

Por su parte, todos los oyentes también tendrán el agrado de contar con la presencia de Lady Nada, performer destacada de la noche porteña que supo abrir sus propios espacios para seguir creciendo como artista gracias a su trabajo en redes sociales en donde supo expandirse y lograr conquistar corazones de todo el mundo. Sin dudas, uno de sus programas más exitosos es Montante Darling en el cual hace vivir a sus invitados la fantasía de ser unas estrellas con todos los detalles: desde tacos hasta el último rulo de una peluca.

Y por último llega ella, Fabrii Watson, famosa en la escena excéntrica que recorre las noches de Buenos Aires, Fabrii es una de las drag queens locales más conocidas y aclamadas por sus looks originales, talento, y buena onda. Desde chica, Fabrii supo que el arte y el show eran lo suyo, por lo que poco a poco fue desarrollando sus habilidades en maquillaje, actuación, baile, peinado, y todo lo que hoy la caracteriza como una gran performer en el mundo drag.

Hablamos con Lady Nada sobre el estreno 

Le preguntamos qué encontrará de nuevo el público fan de la cultura drag queen en este podcast y Lady Nada resalta, “Primero que nada, a las drags más icónicas del país en un espacio que todavía no se había conquistado. Segundo, mucho delirio, información y, por sobretodo, love.”

Además, sobre qué esperan de este podcast, Lady Nada destaca, “Realmente pensamos que es algo super revolucionario y muy positivo para la comunidad, además de que hace mucho tiempo teníamos ganas de encabezar un proyecto como este, ni hablar de que lo mejor de todo es que somos amigas, por ende, imaginense la cantidad de chismes que vamos a largar”, y agrega acerca de mitos y desinformación sobre su cultura, “estamos para romper con todo y que nos vean como lo que somos, no solo drags sino que también somos modelos, cantantes y actrices, y ahora hosts.”

Para conocer más sobre este gran mundo, Dyhzy, Fabrii Watson y Lady Nad, te invitan a escuchar el primer podcast de habla hispana conducido por Drag Queens en Drag Love, solo en Spotify.

 

A áudiossérie Batman Despertar está pronta para voar mundo à fora no maior lançamento simultâneo do Spotify

April 5, 2022

Sempre que o cavaleiro das trevas retorna para limpar as impurezas do submundo de Gotham, a adrenalina é inevitável. É possível que você tenha esperado ansiosamente pela chegada de Batman Unburied (Batman Despertar, em Português), a próxima série de áudio do Spotify criada em parceria com a Warner Bros. e a DC. Para a sorte dos ouvintes, a espera está próxima do fim: Batman Despertar estreia simultaneamente em nove países, no dia 3 de maio. É isso mesmo! Junto com a versão original em Inglês, adaptações de Batman Unburied também chegarão em Português, Francês, Alemão, Hindi, Indonésio, Italiano, Japonês e Espanhol. Agora que o trailer em Inglês já está no Spotify, quem quiser espiar, pode conferir abaixo.

A estreia global de Batman Unburied vem logo após o lançamento do Spotify Os Últimos Dias de Maradona, em novembro, que estreou simultaneamente em seis mercados; e também da recente adaptação da áudiossérie chilena Caso 63 para Brasil, Índia e Estados Unidos. Batman Unburied segue o exemplo; desenvolvida e produzida pela Warner Bros; elencos e equipes de produção totalmente localizados garantirão que essa história realmente ganhe vida para os fãs de todo o mundo. Ele estreia como nosso maior lançamento simultâneo até hoje.

“Com o lançamento global de Batman Unburied, estamos empolgados em trazer a franquia icônica e o legado de Batman para nossas centenas de milhões de ouvintes em todo o mundo”, disse Dawn Ostroff, Diretora de Conteúdo e Publicidade no Spotify. “Por meio da nossa extraordinária parceria com a Warner Bros. e a DC, temos a oportunidade única de inaugurar uma nova era dos mundialmente amados Super-Heróis da DC pelo mundo do áudio, dublado por elencos de estrelas. O poder dos podcasts nunca foi tão evidente quanto com a obra-prima da paisagem sonora arrepiante de David Goyer, que conta a história transcendente do primeiro e único Bruce Wayne.”

Escrita pelo Produtor Executivo e roteirista de Batman Begins David S. Goyer, Batman Unburied nos leva a uma nova jornada nas profundezas da mente de Bruce Wayne, apresentando uma série de reviravoltas sombrias com vários super-vilões clássicos do Batman. Trabalhando como um patologista forense nas entranhas do Hospital de Gotham, o super-herói não deve apenas enfrentar seus próprios demônios mentais, mas superá-los para salvar os cidadãos de Gotham.

“David Goyer, esse elenco incrível e toda a equipe de Batman Despertar criaram uma experiência de Batman que estende o meio narrativo do podcast a novos níveis, juntamente com suas expectativas sobre o quão imersiva e convincente uma história do Batman pode ser”, disse Peter Girardi, Vice-Presidente Executivo, Programação Alternativa, Warner Bros. Animation. “Eu não poderia ter pedido uma maneira melhor de iniciar nossa parceria criativa com o Spotify.”

A nova série reúne um elenco poderoso. A versão em inglês de Batman Unburied apresenta Winston Duke como Bruce Wayne, cercado por um elenco de primeira linha que inclui Hasan Minhaj como The Riddler, Gina Rodriguez como Barbara Gordon, Jason Isaacs como Alfred e Lance Reddick como Thomas Wayne. 

Mas as adaptações globais de Batman Unburied conseguiram elencos próprios. E para o papel de Batman, eles trouxeram alguns dos melhores talentos internacionais. Esses atores incluem Rocco Pitanga (Brasil), Dali Benssalah (França), Murathan Muslu (Alemanha), Amit Sadh (Índia), Ario Bayu (Indonésia), Claudio Santamaria (Itália), Ryohei Otani (Japão) e Alfonso Herrera (México). O elenco para a adaptação em Português Batman Despertar ainda não está confirmado. 

Ainda não sabe o que fazer enquanto o Bat-Sinal não é acionado em 3 de maio? Que tal começar com este quiz para descobrir o quanto você conhece o elenco americano de Batman Unburied!?

La audio serie ‘Batman Desenterrado’ está listo para tomar vuelo alrededor del mundo en el lanzamiento simultáneo global más grande de Spotify

April 5, 2022

Cada vez que el Caballero Oscuro vuelve a limpiar los sórdidos rincones de Ciudad Gótica la emoción está garantizada. Los fans han estado esperando ansiosamente la llegada de ‘Batman Desenterrado’ (Batman Unburied), la nueva serie de audio de Spotify creada en colaboración con Warner Bros. y DC. 

Por suerte para los oyentes, la espera está a punto de terminar: ‘Batman Desenterrado‘ se estrena simultáneamente en nueve mercados mundiales el 3 de mayo. Así es, junto con el guión original en inglés, ocho adaptaciones de ‘Batman Desenterrado’ llegarán también en español, Portugués, francés, alemán, hindi, indonesio, italiano, japonés y portugues- Y ahora que el tráiler de Estados Unidos está en Spotify, los que quieran echar un vistazo pueden hacerlo a continuación.

Este próximo lanzamiento global de ‘Batman Desenterrado’ se produce después de que Spotify estreno en noviembre ‘Los Últimos Días de Maradona’ que se lanzó simultáneamente con seis adaptaciones, y de la reciente adaptación del chileno ‘Caso 63’ para Brasil, India y Estados Unidos. ‘Batman Desenterrado’ sigue el mismo camino y se cementa como el lanzamiento simultáneo global más grande de Spotify, hasta la fecha. Desarrollada y producida por Warner Bros., los elencos y equipos de producción totalmente localizados garantizan que los guiones adaptados, elaborados específicamente para reflejar las distintas culturas e idiomas sin dejar de ser fieles a la historia principal, darán vida a ‘Batman Desenterrado’ para los fans de todo el mundo.

‘Con el lanzamiento global de Batman Desenterrado estamos entusiasmados por llevar la icónica franquicia y el legado de Batman a nuestros cientos de millones de oyentes en todo el mundo’, dijo Dawn Ostroff, Directora de Negocios de Contenido y Publicidad. ‘A través de nuestra extraordinaria asociación con Warner Bros. y DC, tenemos la oportunidad única de inaugurar una nueva era de los universalmente queridos superhéroes de DC a través del mundo del audio, con la voz de un elenco de estrellas. El poder de los podcasts nunca ha sido más evidente que con la escalofriante obra maestra de paisaje sonoro de David Goyer que cuenta la trascendental historia de Bruce Wayne (Bruno Diaz)’.

Escrita por el productor ejecutivo y guionista de Batman Inicia, David S. Goyer, ‘Batman Desenterrado’ nos lleva a un nuevo viaje por las profundidades de la mente de Bruno Diaz, introduciendo una serie de oscuros giros con varios supervillanos clásicos de Batman. Trabajando como patólogo forense en las entrañas del Hospital de Gotham, el superhéroe no sólo debe enfrentarse a sus propios demonios mentales, sino superarlos para salvar a los ciudadanos de Ciudad Gótica.

“David Goyer, este increíble reparto y todo el equipo de Batman Unburied han creado una experiencia de Batman que lleva el medio del podcast narrativo a nuevos niveles junto con tus expectativas sobre lo inmersiva y convincente que puede ser una historia de Batman”, dijo Peter Girardi, Vicepresidente Ejecutivo de Programación Alternativa de Warner Bros. Animation. “No podría haber pedido una mejor manera de iniciar nuestra asociación creativa con Spotify”.

La nueva audio serie tendrá mucho poder estelar. La versión estadounidense de ‘Batman Unburied’ cuenta con Winston Duke como Bruce Wayne, rodeado de un reparto de primera línea que incluye a Hasan Minhaj como El Acertijo, Gina Rodríguez como Barbara Gordon, Jason Isaacs como Alfred y Lance Reddick como Thomas Wayne. 

Pero las adaptaciones globales de Batman Desenterrado también cuentan con repartos propios muy bien logrados. Y para el papel de Batman, han traído a algunos de los mejores talentos internacionales. Entre estos actores se encuentran Alfonso Herrera (México), Rocco Pitanga (Brasil), Dali Benssalah (Francia), Murathan Muslu (Alemania), Amit Sadh (India), Ario Bayu (Indonesia), Claudio Santamaria (Italia), y Ryohei Otani (Japón).

¿Todavía no sabes qué harás hasta que se emita la Bati-señal el 3 de mayo? Te recomendamos que empieces con este test y descubras hasta qué punto conoces el reparto estadounidense de Batman Desenterrado.

La série audio ‘Batman Autopsie’ prête à embarquer le monde entier

April 5, 2022

À chaque apparition de la chauve-souris pour nettoyer les bas-fonds de Gotham, l’excitation est inévitable. Les fans l’ont attendu avec impatience, Batman Autopsie, la prochaine série audio de Spotify créée en partenariat avec Warner Bros. et DC fera bientôt son apparition: elle sera diffusé simultanément dans neuf pays dès le 3 mai. En effet, outre le scénario original en anglais, huit adaptations de Batman Autopsie seront également disponibles en portugais, français, allemand, hindi, indonésien, italien, japonais et espagnol. Et dès à présent, la bande-annonce française est disponible pour ceux qui veulent un premier aperçu de la série audio tant attendue.

Le lancement mondial de Batman Autopsie fait suite à la sortie en novembre dernier de la série Les Derniers jours de Maradona, lancée simultanément sur six marchés, et à la récente adaptation de la série chilienne Caso 63 pour le Brésil, l’Inde et les États-Unis. Batman Autopsie fait de même ; développé et produit par Warner Bros, les équipes de production et les acteurs entièrement localisés garantissent que les scénarios adaptés, spécialement conçus pour refléter les différentes cultures et langues tout en restant fidèles à l’histoire principale, donneront vie à Batman Autopsie pour les fans du monde entier.

“Avec le lancement mondial de Batman Unburied, nous sommes ravis de faire découvrir la franchise emblématique et l’héritage de Batman à nos centaines de millions d’auditeurs dans le monde“, a déclaré Dawn Ostroff, Chief Content & Advertising Business Officer au sein de Spotify. “Grâce à notre partenariat extraordinaire avec Warner Bros. et DC Comics, nous avons l’occasion unique d’inaugurer une nouvelle ère des super-héros DC Comics universellement appréciés par le biais du monde de l’audio, avec des voix de stars. Le pouvoir des podcasts n’a jamais été aussi évident qu’avec le chef-d’œuvre sonore de David Goyer, qui raconte l’histoire transcendante du seul et unique Bruce Wayne.“

Écrit par le producteur exécutif et scénariste de Batman Begins, David S. Goyer, Batman Autopsie nous emmène dans un nouveau voyage au cœur de l’esprit de Bruce Wayne, introduisant une foule de rebondissements sombres avec un certain nombre de super-vilains classiques de Batman. Travaillant comme médecin légiste dans les entrailles de l’hôpital de Gotham, le super héros doit non seulement faire face à ses propres démons mentaux, mais aussi les surmonter afin de sauver les citoyens de Gotham. 

“Avec David Goyer, ce casting incroyable et toute l’équipe de Batman Autopsie ont créé une expérience Batman qui pousse le podcast narratif vers de nouveaux sommets, tout comme vos attentes quant à la façon dont une histoire de Batman peut être immersive et fascinante”, a déclaré Peter Girardi, vice-président exécutif de la programmation alternative de Warner Bros. Animation. “Je n’aurais pas pu rêver d’une meilleure façon de donner le coup d’envoi de notre partenariat créatif avec Spotify.”

La nouvelle série compte également sur de nombreux acteurs de premier-plan pour incarner cette nouvelle itération. La version américaine de Batman Unburied met en scène Winston Duke dans le rôle de Bruce Wayne, entouré d’un casting phénoménale comprenant Hasan Minhaj dans le rôle du Riddler, Gina Rodriguez dans celui de Barbara Gordon, Jason Isaacs dans celui d’Alfred et Lance Reddick dans celui de Thomas Wayne. 

Mais les adaptations mondiales de Batman Unburied ont elles aussi des castings accomplis. Et pour le rôle de Batman, elles ont fait appel à certains des meilleurs talents internationaux. Ces acteurs sont Rocco Pitanga (Brésil), Dali Benssalah (France), Murathan Muslu (Allemagne), Amit Sadh (Inde), Ario Bayu (Indonésie), Claudio Santamaria (Italie), Ryohei Otani (Japon) et Alfonso Herrera (Mexique).

Vous ne savez toujours pas ce que vous allez faire de vous-même jusqu’à ce que le Bat-Signal soit lancé le 3 mai ? Nous vous recommandons de commencer par ce quiz et de découvrir à quel point vous connaissez le casting américain de Batman Unburied.