As part of my equity practice, I continue to examine how I view the world and navigate within it by listening to voices from a variety of communities that tell stories and share information I wouldn’t hear otherwise. These voices are not yet mainstream and are from the perspective of what some might call “marginalized” people. However, I don’t want to de-emphasize their power or the space they hold in the core of my practice by using this minimizing term. Here I’ll share two podcasts spotlighting powerful and thought-provoking voices that are sources of inspiration, knowledge, and perspective for me and that I weave into my continuous learning journey.

The Red Nation podcast is incredible. These stories are from the perspective of Native people from all over the country who share their stories on topics that may sound familiar to you, but center the experiences and knowledge of their ancestors, their elders and themselves. On its website, The Red Nation it describes itself as “a coalition of Native and non-Native activists, educators, students, and community organizers advocating Native liberation. We formed to address the marginalization and invisibility of Native struggles within mainstream social justice organizing, and to foreground the targeted destruction and violence towards Native life and land.” Many of the topics covered include accounts of abuse and violence inflicted upon Native people, so listeners should be aware of that.

Black in Appalachia hosts Enkeshi El-Amin and Angela Dennis invite us along on their journey to explore their Appalachian roots on their podcast. In one episode we learn about “sundown towns'', the reality of which I think helps paint a picture of a very specific part of the experience of African-American people living in the South during Jim Crow and the Great Migration (To learn more about the Great Migration, I also highly recommend Isabel Wilkerson’s masterfully researched, Pulitzer prize-winning book, “The Warmth of Other Suns.”). Black in Appalachia’s website notes, “Having long been in this region, Black Appalachians remain mostly invisible, while the dominant narratives of Appalachia depict an overwhelming, white cultural homogeneity. The Black in Appalachia Podcast challenges these misconceptions by highlighting how Black families have shaped and have been shaped by the region.”

At FRN’s all-staff meetings, the team and I often start our meetings by sharing what we are reading, what podcasts we’re listening to, or what tv shows we are watching, and I am always so impressed with the breadth of learning that the team dives into in their time outside of work. What podcasts, books or shows inspire you? We’d love to know! Share with us on social media!