PODCASTS
Podcasting is an indispensable medium for Black people and communities; through them, Black speakers/ creators can tell their own stories, discuss racial injustices, share historical contexts, and highlight grassroots activism, fostering awareness and understanding among wider audiences. By cultivating community, empowering Black creators, and facilitating dialogues on identity and resistance, podcasts help challenge dominant narratives, inspire action, and contribute to the broader struggle for equality and justice. Below is a list of just a few of these social justice podcasting projects and episodes.
The 1619 Project
Hosted by journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, the 1619 Project is a New York Times podcast that explores the history and legacy of slavery upon which modern day America is built. The project was launched in August 2019, on the 400th anniversary of the first slave ship to arrive in Virginia–then a British colony–and aims to reframe American history through the lens of slavery. It has since been incorporated into school curriculum, see for example this listening guide created by Donnalie Jamnah for the Pulitzer Center. The podcast was criticised by high profile people on the right, including Republican Senator Tom Cotton, then US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump, who argued that the project was propaganda and inaccurate, and in 2021 the 1619 Project was banned from being taught in Florida public schools. As a result, Hannah-Jones received death threats, however the podcast and project has also been met with wide acclaim and praise. In 2020, Hannah-Jones was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. An accompanying book anthology of essays and poetry The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, followed by a children's picture book The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson, and also a six part documentary series which won an Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
Find out more about the podcast here.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
74 Seconds
74 Seconds tells the story of Philando Castile and the 74 second traffic stop that ended with his death. In this podcast series, MPR news reports on Castile, the police officer who shot him and his trial in order to investigate the impact of a death that was live streamed across the world. Episodes explore the intersection of race, law enforcement, justice and safety in America.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
The Anti-Racist Listening Project
The Anti-Racist Listening Project podcast is a call to action. Created and hosted by adult social workers Nimal Jude and Liz Howard, the podcast follows their day of anti-racist activism held online using social media (#AntiRacistSW21) in 2021. Their anti-racist activism day was primarily aimed at senior leaders in order to urge them to action, and the podcast continues this by helping people who are doing anti-racist work to connect with each other, but also to encourage and inspire others to get involved too. Each episode features conversations with social workers as well as Jue and Howard’s colleagues, family and friends who share their lived experiences.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Code Switch
Code Switch is an NPR podcast hosted by journalists of colour who explore all aspects of race and culture, featuring conversations about politics to pop culture, moments in history to contemporary events. First released in 2016, the podcast has amassed over 500 episodes (and counting!) and explores topics such as police violence, Black Lives Matter, Tupac, poetry month, friendship, book recommendations and, more recently, the Los Angeles fire, the rise of measles in America and Trump’s racist policies.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Come Through with Rebecca Carroll
Hosted by Rebecca Carroll and produced by WNYC Studios, Come Through with Rebecca Carroll is a 2020 limited podcast series that explores race, culture and identity in the United States. The podcast was produced in the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential election, and features interviews with people of colour including Don Lemon, Ava DuVernay and Elie Mystal.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
The Diversity Gap
The Diversity Gap is a podcast created by Bethaney Wilkinson and inspired by her 2021 book, The Diversity Gap: Where Good Intentions Meet True Cultural Change. Like her book, the podcast explores racial justice, intersections of community, and how to organise social change. Through a series of conversations, each episode focuses on the nuances of good intentions and their impact, organisational culture and racial diversity while also discussing organisational strategies.
Find out more about the podcast and listen to episodes here.
Driving the Greenbook
Driving the Greenbook is a podcast that charts the journey of broadcaster and educator Alvin Hall and social justice trainer Janée Woods Weber as they travel across America using the historic travel guide, The Negro Motorists Green Book. During segregation and the period of Jim Crow laws, The Negro Motorists Green Book provided an essential guide to African Americans who needed, or wanted, to travel, helping its readers to navigate roads and town as well as documenting Black-owned businesses. This is a living history podcast, and as the pair drive from Detroit to New Orleans, the episodes contain a collection of personal testimonies and memories shared by Black Americans they meet along the way.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Have You Heard George’s Podcast?
Have You Heard George’s Podcast is an award-winning and critically-acclaimed podcast from British spoken word artist, poet and rapper George the Poet. Using a mix of storytelling, music and fiction, each episode sees George offer his perspective on inner city life in London as he explores topics from Grenfell to Ghana, rap, hip hop and grime to police and crime, as well as his relationship with Uganda where his parents are from. In 2019, Have You Heard George’s Podcast became the first podcast outside of America to win a Peabody Award.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or BBC Sounds.
In Search Of Black History with Bonnie Greer
Hosted by playwright, novelist and former Trustee of the British Museum, Bonnie Greer, In Search of Black History is an eight part podcast series that uncovers stories about Black history that we aren’t traditionally taught. Across the series, Greer explores the Queens of Kush in Ancient Greece, unearths the gaps in the story of Africa’s relationship with Europe and brings to light women-led slave revolts.
Listen to the podcast on Audible.
Intersectionality Matters!
Hosted by scholar and civil rights activist Kimberlé Crenshaw, Intersectionality Matters! aims to bring intersectionality to life. The podcast is produced by The African American Policy Forum (AAPF), and features interviews with artists, activists and scholars. Each episode focuses on one topic or theme, including the #MeToo and #SayHerName movements, Critical Race Theory, politics and elections, and the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic, and explores this through the lens of intersectionality. Guests include Democratic Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Barbara Lee, writers N.K Jemisin and Saidiya Hartman, cofounder of Black Voters Matter Cliff Albright and Bob the Drag Queen.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Lynching in America
The Equal Justice Initiative was founded by Bryan Stevenson in order to challenge racial, economic and legal injustice, and its report Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror publishes the findings of their research into lynchings between the Civil War and the Second World War. Documenting over 4000 lynchings of African Americans, the Lynching in America podcast explores this history and remembers some of the many victims.
Learn more about the Equal Justice Initiative and the Lynching in America project here.
Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud or Apple Podcasts.
The Nod
Hosted by Eric Eddings and Brittany Luse, The Nod is a podcast that tells the story of Black lives that often don’t get told anywhere else. Each episode focuses on a specific topic celebrating Black lives, discussing anything from cosplaying while Black, trans lives, Black women and hip hop, Black TV and even Black tacos.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Noire Histoir
Created by Natasha Nicolo, Media Noire and accompanying podcast Noire Histoir/ Noir History celebrates Black history every day of the year. The podcast explores Black history and literature as well as featuring stories from across the Black diaspora. While it began as a series looking back to books, movies, and museums related to Black history, more recently it also delves into Black history in the making.
Find out more about Media Noire here.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Reclaiming the Narrative: The Chronicles of Black Joy
Developed by Rennae Walker, Reclaiming the Narrative: The Chronicles of Black Joy focuses not on stories of Black pain and trauma, but joy. Over seven episodes the series chronicles a diverse range of celebratory stories, and each episode features storytellers and artists who explore Blackness, identity and what Black joy looks and feels like to them.
Find out more about the podcast here.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify.
Seeing White
Edited by Loretta Williams and hosted by John Biewen, Seeing White is a fourteen episode documentary podcast series that explores whiteness and white people. Biewen is joined by leading scholars and regular guest Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika to explore the history of whiteness and the recent revival of white-identity politics and discuss topics from scientific racism and chattel slavery to police shootings of unarmed African Americans and white affirmative action.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify or the Scene on Radio website.
Slay In Your Lane: The Podcast
Hosted by award-winning authors Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinene, and following their 2018 book Slay In Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible, Slay In Your Lane is a podcast that discusses news and popular culture from a Black British female perspective. Each episode explores topics from navigating the workplace, education, health and dating and relationships as well as their experience writing a book. Some episodes also feature guests including British professional basketball player Ovie Soko, singer and songwriter Nao and Serlina Boyd, founder of the UK's first Black children's magazines Cocoa Girl and Cocoa Boy.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Somebody
The Somebody is an award-winning true crime podcast that tells the story of Shapearl Wells, a mother who launches her own investigation into the shooting and death of her son. In 2016, Wells’ son, 22-year-old Courtney, was found outside a Chicago police station with a fatal bullet wound in his back. Wells did not believe the official police account, and so she teamed up with journalists from the Invisible Institute to uncover the truth of what happened. The podcast is a co-production of Topic Studios, The Intercept, the Invisible Institute, and iHeartRadio, in association with Tenderfoot TV, and focusing on the investigation into Courtney’s murder, the series explore the racial disparities and injustices that exist in America law enforcement.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Speaking of Racism
Speaking of Racism is a podcast hosted by anti-racism educator, advocate, and activist Tina Strawn and writer, podcaster, and activist Jen Kinney that delves into honest and frank discussions about race and racism in America. In each episode, the pair are joined by a range of guests to explore topics from mental health and therapy, to anti-racism and women and the criminal justice system.
Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or the Speaking of Racism website.
Stepping Into Truth: Conversations on Social Justice and How We Get Free
Created and hosted by Omkari Williams, the Stepping Into Truth podcast features conversations with a range of guests focusing on social justice, race and cultural issues. The episodes explore topics including land justice and liberation, disability, Black athletes and being undocumented in the United States.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or the Stepping into Truth website.
Strange Fruit
Produced by Louisville Public Media, Strange Fruit is a podcast hosted by Jaison Gardner and Dr. Kaila Story that explores race, gender, and LGBTQ issues. Each episode dives into a topic from microaggressions and teaching Black students about racism, to Black Queer comics and diversity in Young Adult Fiction.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Teaching Hard History
Hosted by Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries and created by Learning for Justice, Teaching Hard History is a podcast series that uncovers parts of American history that you may not have been taught in school. Across four seasons, the podcast explores the violence and brutal legacy of chattel slavery, the victories of the Civil Rights Movement and its violent backlash and the terror of the Jim Crow Era with a range of leading scholars and educators, historians, artists and politicians joining the conversation.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
We Need to Talk About The British Empire
We Need to Talk About the British Empire is a podcast that unpicks the complicated legacy of the British Empire. Hosted by journalist Afua Hirsch, each episode features an intimate conversation with leading figures in Britain including poet Benjamin Zephaniah and British-Somali writer Nadifa Mohamed, and uncovers their own family stories and histories that intertwine with the British Empire, as well as the ways that the British colonialism continues to shape British lives today.
Listen to the podcast on Audible.
While Black
While Black is a weekly podcast that explores Black excellence and culture. Every episode features a guest who is an expert, an industry educated professional or someone with real life experience. Together with the hosts, the guests explore a range of topics from what to do if you’re stopped by police while Black and diversity in the legal system, to racial literacy, youth activism and health and self-care.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Windrush Stories
In the 1940s, people began arriving on British shores from Caribbean nations, and these people are now known as the Windrush generation. Windrush Stories is a collection of interviews from members of the Windrush generation and their descendants. These episodes explore their experiences of immigration, how they helped to rebuild Britain in the post-war period and their treatment by people in Britain. Through these conversations the important cultural influence of this generation is also highlighted and celebrated, from the introduction of reggae to monumentous contributions to British sport, literature, politics and food.
Visit the project website and accompanying resources for schools here.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Witness Black History
Part of the BBC’s Witness History podcast, Witness Black History explores important periods and individuals from Black history that are often overlooked. Episodes focus on well-known figures such as Nelson Mandela, Octavia E. Butler, and Diane Abbott, as well as important figures you may not have heard of such as Clarence Adams, an African American soldier fighting in the Korean war, Vivien Thomas, an African American lab technician whose pioneering surgery helped to save the lives of millions of babies, and Yvonne Conolly, Britain’s first Black female headteacher. Events discussed in the podcast include the bombing of a Black church in Alabama in 1963, the Bristol bus boycott and the Jamaica slave rebellion of 1831.
Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts and BBC Sounds.
Single Episodes
“The Asante Empire”. You’re Dead to Me (19 February 2021).
In this episode of the BBC’s history podcast You’re Dead to Me, host Greg Jenner is joined by historian Dr. Augustus Casely-Hayford and comedian Sophie Duker to explore the history of the Asante Empire. This Empire was established in the late 17th century in what is now modern-day Ghana and was unified by the Golden Stool of Asante.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Black Georgian England”. You’re Dead to Me (5 August 2022).
This episode of the BBC’s history podcast You’re Dead to Me dives into some of the leading Black figures in Georgian England. Host Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Gretchen Gerzina and comedian Kwame Asante to explore notable Black writers, musicians and heirs and heiresses in this period.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Chevalier de Saint-Georges”. You’re Dead to Me (19 March 2021).
In this episode of the BBC’s history podcast You’re Dead to Me, historian Professor Olivette Otele and comedian Sophie Duker join host Greg Jenner to explore the life of Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the son of a slave and a white plantation owner who lived in France became a revolutionary, a master fencer and one of the most important composers of the 18th century.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Frederick Douglass”. You’re Dead to Me (10 March 2023).
This episode of the BBC’s history podcast You’re Dead to Me is all about Frederick Douglass. Host Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Emily Bernard and comedian Toussaint Douglass to dive into the life of a man who was born into an enslaved family, but went on to gain his freedom and later become a celebrated abolitionist and writer.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Goatman”. Run, Fool! (9 January 2024).
In this episode of Run, Fool!–a weekly podcast of modern ghost stories–host Rodney Barnes shares a story about a local goat farmer first told to him by his grandma about. In this terrifying tale, the goat farmer is taken in the middle of the night and hanged off of a bridge, but this is only the beginning.
Listen to the episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“The Haitian Revolution”. You’re Dead to Me (14 August 2020).
The Haitian Revolution and revolutionary leader Toussaint Louverture are the subjects of this episode of the BBC’s history podcast, You’re Dead to Me. Host Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Marlene Daut and comedian Athena Kugblenu to explore Haiti’s violent history of enslavement, colonisation and the fight for freedom.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“The Harlem Renaissance”. You’re Dead to Me (26 March 2021).
This episode of the BBC’s history podcast You’re Dead to Me looks back to 1920s New York and the Harlem Renaissance. Professor Emily Bernard and Roy Wood Jr. join host Greg Jenner to discuss the rent parties, politics, music, literature and leading figures of this cultural movement.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Harriet Tubman”. You’re Dead to Me (12 September 2019).
In this episode of the BBC history podcast You’re Dead to Me, host Greg Jenner is joined by comedian, actor and writer Desiree Burch and historian Dr. Michell Chresfield to discuss the life of abolitionist Harriet Tubman. After escaping slavery herself, Tubman helped to rescue over 70 enslaved people using the Underground Railroad network and then later during the American Civil War became a scout and spy for the Union Army.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Jon Batiste”. Fresh Air (9 December 2024).
In this episode of NPR’s Fresh Air podcast, Terry Gross is joined by singer and songwriter Jon Batiste to talk about his album, Beethoven Blues, and his experiences from student to board member at New York’s performing Art school Juilliard.
Listen to the episode on NPR or Apple Podcasts.
“Josephine Baker”. You’re Dead to Me (13 March 2020).
This episode of the BBC history podcast You’re Dead to Me explores the life of Josephine Baker. Historian Dr. Michell Chresfield and comedian Desiree Burch join host Greg Jenner to discuss Baker’s life as a performer and entertainer, a civil rights activist and also a spy.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Madam C.J. Walker”. You’re Dead to Me (3 February 2024).
Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Noliwe Rooks and comedian Athena Kugblenu in this episode of the BBC history podcast You’re Dead to Me that delves into the life and entrepreneurship of 19th-century Black American haircare entrepreneur Madam C. J. Walker, charting her journey from sales agent to America’s first self-made millionaire.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Mansa Musa”. You’re Dead to Me (20 September 2019).
Mansa Musa, the richest man to ever live, is the subject of this episode of the BBC history podcast You’re Dead to Me. Host Greg Jenner is joined by comedian Athena Kugblenu and historian and director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Dr. Augustus Caseley-Hayford to explore Mana Musa’s life, wealth and reign as the emperor of the West African empire of Mali.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Mary Seacole”. You’re Dead to Me (5 November 2021).
In this episode of the BBC history podcast You’re Dead to Me, host Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Gretchen Gerzina and comedian Nathan Caton to explore the life of Mary Seacole. Mary Seacole was born and raised in Jamaica, and later went on to become a celebrated businesswoman and volunteer nurse in the Crimean War.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“The Monster of Grunch Road”. Run, Fool! (20 & 27 August 2024).
In these two episodes of Run, Fool!–a weekly podcast of modern ghost stories–host Rodney Barnes explores a tribe who live in the Louisiana swamps known as the Grunches.
Listen to part 1 on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Listen to part 2 on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba”. You’re Dead to Me (19 August 2022).
This episode of the BBC history podcast You’re Dead to Me explores the warrior Queen Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba. Dr. Daniel F. Silva and Athena Kugblenu join host Greg Jenner to discuss Ndongo’s reputation in European writings as a cold-hearted, bloodthirsty warlord and question how much of this is really true.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Notting Hill Carnival”. You’re Dead to Me (28 August 2020).
In this episode of the BBC history podcast You’re Dead to Me, host Greg Jenner is joined by Dr. Meleisa Ono-George and comedian Nathan Caton to explore the historical roots of the 21st century Notting Hill Carnival. Every year, Notting Hill hosts the largest street carnival in Europe, and it connects 18th century Trinidad to modern day racial injustice as well as celebrations.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Paul Robeson”. You’re Dead to Me (15 October 2021).
The life and legacy of Paul Robeson is the subject of this episode of the BBC podcast You’re Dead to Me. Host Greg Jenner is joined by comedian Desiree Burch and Professor Shana L. Redmond to discuss Robeson’s life as a celebrated baritone, an actor, an athlete, a scholar and a civil rights activist.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“The Queen of Sheba”. You’re Dead to Me (24 February 2024).
This episode of the BBC history podcast You’re Dead to Me sees Greg Jenner joined by Dr. Jillian Stinchcomb and comedian Sadia Azmat to explore the legendary Queen of Sheba. Tracing her across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, this episode dives into the various stories and legends that surround her from powerful ruler to exotic woman to half-demon.
Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“Ryan Coogler Paid A Steep Price For The Films He Made”. Fresh Air (24 April 2025).
In this episode of NPR’s Fresh Air podcast Tonya Mosley is joined by Ryan Coogler to discuss his new film Sinners. Set in Mississippi in 1932, this film adds fresh blood to the vampire genre, and in this interview Coogler explores the importance of blues music, the supernatural and why he fought to own the movie rights outright after 25 years.
Listen to the episode on NPR or Apple Podcasts.
“Suitable for Children”. This American Life (10 September 2021).
This episode of the weekly podcast This American Life–which American life through personal accounts and true stories–host Ira Glass explores childhood memories that stick with you into adulthood and that you only fully understand much later, such as what it means to give Black children toys that celebrate the Confederacy.
Listen to the episode on the This American Life website or Apple Podcasts.
You can also listen to a beeped version here.
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