The Stoop

'Have a seat in my chair..'Today we're at the braiding salon with Ghanaian American playwright Jocelyn Bioh, creator of the Tony Award-winning Broadway play,  Jaja's African Hair Braiding.We chat with her about braiding salon culture, and the different kinds of people she portrays in the play. We explore the African American-African immigrant dynamics that can happen at braiding salons, we talk immigrant life,  audiences that maybe don't get it, and the practice of Black playwrights holding "Black out" nights at the theatre.

As Black country music is having its moment, Hana has always wondered why her Sudanese mom loved Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. You can hear country music playing in cafes in African capitals. There is a love of American country music among our African elders, many say they grew up with it. While for many, country music is associated with white culture and isn't relatable, for many African elders it holds a very special place in their hearts. Why? We explore the surprising histories and the appeal, and follow the story of legendary Ivorian country music duo Peter One & Jess Sah Bi.This ain't Texas. It's Africa.

Let’s take a moment.It was a tense few months leading up to the election. Today we want to pause, and share an ode to the Black women who continue to show up. Featuring an essay by writer Stacia Brown.

We don't hear alot of personal stories about what it is to be a big man in Black spaces. Today we go there with Ronald Young Jr., award-winning podcaster and creator of the hit show “Weight for It.” We stoop it out as he takes us back in time to when he was roasted at church, and unpacks what it feels like to be on the receiving end of ridicule by those who you feel closest to. 

Ring Ring! Is anyone there? After George Floyd’s death in 2020, companies across the US were called upon to acknowledge the ways they were discriminatory and inequitable towards Black people. In response, they vowed to create space for Black voices, support Black content, and put Black people in positions of power. Black projects were greenlit and Black creators were asked to pitch their ideas. The “Black jobs” were on fire! Until it wasn’t a priority anymore. The phones stopped ringing. Today we talk about the wave that subsided and meet with PR expert Ekaette Kern to hear her story of how she navigated the promises of corporate America that many now see as a grand facade.

What if we told you there's an entire book dedicated to the things Black folk say?  Historically Black Phrases by jarett hill and Tre'vell Anderson introduces and explains sayings like "I AIN'T ONE OF YOUR LIL' FRIENDS"  to  "WHO ALL GON' BE THERE?".  The book is a blend of the many things you grew up hearing and their definitions and usage all in one place. We sit down with the authors to talk about what makes a phrase "Black" and ask, 'are some phrases reserved for only some Black people?'Join us! 

We should all be free to be, free to love, and be celebrated in that process - if not by others, then definitely by ourselves. In this episode, Hana and Leila explore three stories that center queerness and spirituality, Black drag culture, and shifting relationship structures through polyamory. Through it all, the episode guests had to wrestle with disapproval from their communities - and sift through feelings of being outcasts - to eventually accept themselves. Bob the Drag Queen, Darnell Moore, Bishop Yvette Flunder, and The Verts make an appearance.  

It's our 100th episode!We're celebrating by going back to some special episode moments over 10 seasons of the show. Some made us laugh, others made us cry, some moments made us question whether we should really go there, and others made us even question ourselves.It's a look back, behind the scenes, of what makes The Stoop, The Stoop.Thank you for Stoopin' with us for 100 episodes!

Welcome to our Mother's Day special!There are many unexpected ways that people step into parenting. In this special from The Stoop, we hear stories about redefining family on your own terms. We explore the term ‘Auntie’ and how some women find it problematic, we hear about the challenges of IVF for Black women, and we meet a family that shows us how co-parenting can evolve. 

Hana loves perfume, and there’s a long heritage of traditional perfume making in Sudan. But sometimes, sweet smells come with some controversy. As she explores the history of racism and colonialism in the global perfume industry with perfume enthusiast and historian Razan Idris, she discovers an intriguing story about an iconic Sudanese scent that has her bothered.

This is an ode to Black men's voices. Celebrating some of the voices that soothe, excite, or give us a sense of feeling grounded. Over the years, Black men’s voices have symbolized comfort, affection, and authority in pop culture. From the baritone of Barry White to the reliable tone of James Earl Jones, we're celebrating voice. We also meet voice actor and writer Kingsley Okafor of the group that became a viral sensation: Bearded Black Men Reading. Kingsley Okafor: @rukuslive

“When can we allow somebody to cry and be transparent?” WNBA player Chamique Holdsclaw asked at the height of her career as a pro basketball player. Chamique's willingness to address her mental health changed her life. In this episode, Chamique talks about the Black pride that can get in the way of healing, what she’d like for people to consider when they have loved ones struggling, and she shares her story of survival and choosing to love herself.

Hana is trying to enjoy the Sudanese music she loves, but something isn’t feeling right. The war in Sudan continues, and has destroyed with it a lot of the country’s cultural landscape, including places where the country’s music once lived. She’s wondering - what will happen to Sudan’s musical heritage? She talks it out with Leila and with Haneen Sidahmed - someone who is preserving music on her site Sudan Tapes Archive, plus she visits a Sudanese choir that’s singing the classics in California.

Many children dream of being wildlife experts after watching hours of nature shows, but as grown-ups, it’s rare to meet a Black nature ecologist. Today we hear some unbelievable nature stories with carnivore expert Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant. She shares the most fascinating challenges in her career from facing the racialized history of conservation work to the time she had to solve the mysterious death of a Black bear.

Get your popcorn! It’s movie night on The Stoop. Whether during filmmaking booms or busts, Black entertainers and filmmakers found a way to show Black love on screen. We explore the history of love in Black movies with film scholar Dr. Artel Great. From the first Black kiss filmed in the 1800s, to the 90's romance renaissance and beyond, we go down Black film memory lane to dissect some iconic moments of Black love on the silver screen.

This season we're leaning into love in all its forms — starting with the city of love, Paris. Leila meets with Sutanya Dacres, an American in France, who transformed her life after heartbreak through the joy of cooking. She also lets us in on the secret ingredient that makes French life feel so romantic.

The Stoop is back with season 10! This season, Leila and Hana are exploring love in its many forms.

Sometimes it’s easier to hold back than be completely honest, especially when talking about some of the themes that are brought up on The Stoop. Today Hana and Leila share some moments that made them uncomfortable but also made them realize the importance of sharing the discomfort.  As we approach our 100th episode, let’s be 100% real. 

Hana spends a day in Nairobi with Kenyan Instagram comedian, Hope Hajir. Hope made it to the U.S. and was living her life when a tragic event gave her pause. While many people who reach the U.S. find ways to stay, Hope decided to return to Nairobi and talks about the experience of not wanting to live the American Dream.

This summer, The Moth and The Stoop are getting cozy and sharing stories. Today, we invite special guest, Suzanne Rust, the host of The Moth storytelling series, to share a tale she loves. This story is by Ivan McClellan, a photographer who lives in Portland, Oregon. Ivan found something very unexpected in his hometown of Kansas City, Kansas when he learns about the black rodeo. In this double feature, we also stoop it out with Suzanne about The Stoop’s episode —episode 75 —“Black don’t crack?” and how we really feel about aging.

What’s it like when everyone at home speaks a language you don’t understand? That’s the story of Claudia, a Ghanaian American who grew up not speaking her home language —her ‘Mother Tongue’. But everybody else did, including her own siblings. The effects were real: disconnect, frustration, shame, and at some point a full on identity crisis. We also ask other people in the diaspora if they speak their home languages, and Hana contends with her own kids’ lack of fluency, and what it means.

Leila travels back to Cuba —and to her 20s —in this special episode about Havana, dance, hair, proud negras, and finding your voice. This story is told in collaboration with Meditative Story, hosted by Rohan Gunatillake.

It’s a term of endearment but not everybody wants to be your “Auntie.” Today, Leila and Hana unravel some of the emotions and stereotypes tied to being an “Auntie.” They did into the deeper connections to ageism, the evolving meaning of the term, and discuss the weight of “respectability handles” within Black culture.

Interest in psychedelics is ramping up. People are even claiming that psychedelics can help heal racial trauma. But should we believe the hype? Can psychedelics bring us pleasure and joy? Or is the new psychedelic gold rush perpetuating the same old harm? Producer Natalie, takes hosts, Leila and Hana, on a sonic trip to talk to a few new and seasoned psychonauts: Tonya Mosley, host of Truth Be Told and Fresh Air, decolonized psychedelic educator and practitioner, Buki Fadipe, and psychiatric nurse practitioner and organizer, Kwasi Adusei.

Today, The Stoop has a special episode. The war in Hana’s home country, Sudan, continues. Hana has been feeling the conflict here at home in the States. Today we pause and take a moment to reflect on the music that has been holding people together, and we highlight the voices of Sudanese Americans who are living through a reality that their homes may never be the same. Many thanks to the kids of SANC School in California, musician Mazin Jamal and legendary songstress Salma Elassal for her songs of longing that carry us through these hard times.

Hana has a dilemma. As a diasporan, is she basically a diluted African? This question arises when Hana and Leila travel to conduct workshops at a conference in Kenya. Hana finds that she’s questioning her place —she’s African, but she’s a diaspora African —and she wonders how she’s seen, and what her role is, as someone who flies in from the West. In Nairobi, Hana gets some advice on diaspora privilege from Africa Podfest’s Melissa Mbugua, then in California she chats with fellow diasporans who are also asking, how should we conduct ourselves in Africa?

How do you talk about death without talking about death? Discussions about succession planning, and what the future looks like when your loved one is gone, are tough. Leila explores legacy through a conversation with her mom, Vicki, who is planning to have her work as a gallerist live on for the next 100 years. We also meet Lauren Rosa Miller, who tells her personal story about taking over her family business and explains why she’s teaching others to have hard conversations.

Whether it's the way we talk,  the music we hear, or the clothes we wear- many Black people at some point were made to feel 'not Black enough’, including Leila and Hana. In this special episode, Leila explores with broadcast journalist Joshua Johnson what it means to be told she ‘talks white’, Hana talks to a psychologist as she wonders if she has to like everything Black to avoid getting called out, and we go deep with comedian W. Kamau Bell who's felt awkward in Black circles and in front of Black audiences. What does it mean to be ‘Black enough’?

Hana’s writing a book of Sudanese folktales that have been handed down through generations in her family, but some questions have been haunting her. Should they be translated? Does she even own the right to retell these stories? And the biggest question of them all- a secret within the stories that she must confront. To guide her, she talks it out with African American storyteller Diane Ferlatte, and Rwandan folklore scholar Brenda Umutoniwase- plus Hana gets honest with her Aunt Sohair..

One of the hardest practices is self-love, especially when it feels like the world is against you. Today we hear the story of Regina Louise, an author and personal growth coach, who learned how to define love on her own terms after growing up in and out of foster care.  Regina finds her voice in a story that shows us that true love doesn’t always come from the outside.

Did someone say, Afro-futuristic audio space drama? We got you. What is the problem with Duran Durag? Find out in this intergalactic Blackity-Blacktic space comedy, His Saturn Return. From Pineapple Street Studios’ production The 11th, creator, writer, and performer Sai Sion stars in a cosmic audio drama as he plays the cocky and charming, smooth and clumsy and always getting into trouble Duran Durag. It’s high time for Duran to learn some important life lessons. The all-knowing DJ Saturn is not playing when he sends this young Black space alien on a series of challenges that reveal what it is to live in a universe that doesn’t orbit around ego. Will the missions he’s sent on ground him, or will his swagger get in the way of growing up?

We don’t often hear stories about Black men struggling with infertility. Today, we meet Jared Wright and his wife Erica, who share their story about their road to parenthood.

Today, it’s personal. Leila takes a walk through a town close to her heart- Charleston, South Carolina- to discover the Black presence in the architecture, and buildings that hold countless stories and secrets from history about Blackness. As she learns about the hands that built Charleston, she also questions her role in the changes…

When we have feet in two worlds, how do we choose to live in one place, and not the other? Today we’re handing over the mic to our friends at NPR’s Rough Translation, hosted by Gregory Warner. In this episode, ‘Home is where the hustle is’, Nigerian author Chibundu Onuzo is thinking about moving from the UK to Lagos, and she’s getting advice from her big brother, filmmaker Chinaza Onuzo, about having enough “hustle” to succeed back home in Nigeria. 

‘Black don’t crack’ is said like it’s a badge of honor, but is this phrase making us more insecure about aging? Hana and Leila explore the phrase with writer Patia Braithwaite who writes, ‘Black don’t crack is stressing me out.’  We also Stoop it with Dr. Michelle Henry, a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon who explains what really happens to our skin as we age, and what she’s seeing when it comes to her Black patients. Is ‘Black don’t crack’ causing more harm than good?

We’re Stoopin it in Australia and meet Indigenous journalist Rhianna Patrick as she navigates this question- why do I call myself ‘Black’? Rhianna takes us along as she unpacks what Blackness means Down Under. It’s complicated, and we meet people along the way who help her navigate this question. Dr. Jackie Huggins digs into the history of Indigenous peoples’ relation to Blackness, artist/journalist Daniel Browning explains why some young Indigenous people are identifying as ’Blak’- without the ‘C’, and Aurora Liddle Christie ponders her Jamaican-Indigenous Australian roots. Will Rhianna get any closer to understanding her use of the term ‘Black’?

Angelica Lindsey-Ali is known to tens of thousands of Muslims worldwide as The Village Auntie. She’s a Black American Muslim therapist, wellness educator, public health professional and- sexpert. Through her platforms, she advises Muslim women on how to tap in to their femininity. She teaches them about arousal and erotic dance, and says female sexual pleasure is a neglected part of Muslim teachings, and a sacred act of worship that’s rooted in ancestral African ritual and practice. We meet Angelica, we hear how she came to this work, what she learned along the way- and the trauma, trolling, and anti-Blackness that almost led her to abandon it all. *A note to our listeners: this episode contains explicit sexual language, and a story of assault.

Why do some of us feel shame about the foods we eat? We ask people how they feel about eating foods that are used to stereotype Black people, and unpack the history behind some of this food shaming. From choosing what to drink on a flight, to a watermelon eating contest- we’re trying to get to the root of this with American Studies professor, Dr. Psyche Williams-Forson, Anthropologist Dr. Gail Myers, and award-winning chef Bryant Terry.

Hana and Leila have been doing some dreaming. What do their dreams mean? In this season finale, they talk to someone who can help - Dr. Loma Flowers, a psychiatrist and dream interviewer. Plus, they dig into the world of dreaming and the significance of dreams in Black cultures.

It’s June- and with  summer, comes Pride!  RuPaul’s Drag Race veterans Bob the Drag Queen, Shangela, and BeBe Zahara Benet join Leila and Hana to talk about appropriation, forgiveness, drag names, and culture. Y’all better sashay on over here!

Imagine you were gifted a home, in Ghana. It’s your motherland, but not the place you grew up in. Would you move? That decision proved to be one of the most challenging ones that Afia had to make. She documented some of the most difficult conversations, honest observations and some self reflection that has us asking- should Afia be telling us all of this? Yes she should, she did- and you should hear it. Today we share with you an episode of the Peabody nominated S***hole Country.

Hana's immigrant generation is called the 'one and a half'- those who came to the U.S. with their families as young children. Not 1st gen like her mom- they're more attached to their home countries. Not 2nd gen like her kids- they're settled in their Americanness. She's caught in the middle- and it's weighing on her. Where is home? We hear the stories of two women and their mothers- Khadega from Sudan, and Melly from Haiti- plus Hana ponders with her own mom and daughter.

Imagine a space where everyone’s invited to cuddle up. We’re going to a Brooklyn cuddle party, where strangers and familiar faces negotiate being close, but it’s not all about touch. Producer Natalie Peart wanted to explore closeness- and ended up learning the importance of consent. Featuring Malika Cumbie of NYC Love house- plus, we get to meet some cuddle party guests.

U.S. media companies are producing new glitzy reality TV shows in Africa. It’s a different kind of portrayal of Africa - something Hana has always wanted: a change in the narrative of poverty, war and famine. But something doesn’t feel quite right. She’s trying to just get her popcorn and enjoy the drama and messiness, but she’s conflicted and she’s wondering why. She talks it out with Nigerian writer Damilola Oyedele - someone else who is watching, and thinking at the same time. Plus, we go to Lagos, Nigeria- to hear how people there are reacting there.

You see each other from across the room. You lock eyes, slowly walk towards each other and the dance begins. We're reminiscing about slow dancing - the rhythm, the beat, the Blackness of it all- and we’re wondering- is it still alive? We talk to Chicago Steppers who break down the power of the slow jam. Let’s slow it down and snap to the beat..

You walk into a restaurant all ready for a lovely evening, and you get this feeling - an expectation - that you’ll be treated a certain way. Whether it’s being seated near the bathroom, getting asked for another glass of water, or being totally ignored- sometimes we react, sometimes not, but are we reading too much into this? Why do we sometimes go into restaurants with our guard up? From Europe to the U.S., we talk to three people about their experiences dining out. This is definitely something we need to chew on..

Jameela means beautiful in Arabic- a description Black girls seldom would hear about themselves growing up in Arab countries. Beauty standards in the Middle East have been based on white Arabness- light skin, and long silky hair. So what is it like to navigate industries where what you look like matters? We meet three Black Arab women - models and influencers - who are part of a movement to push back on racist beauty standards, and redefine what it means to be beautiful.

It’s Season 7! And it’s the annual fundraising time for Radiotopia, they’ve asked artists across the platform to weigh in on the theme “Making Trouble” and here’s our take!  We’re wondering, is it fair to charge kinkier textures more when it comes to hair braiding? We asks stylists and each other, what’s the deal with the tax on our naps? We talk with natural hair stylist Marilyn Burks in Mississippi, as well as other stylists and get their take on some of the strict requirements for 4C hair.  And we talk with writer Kovie Biakolo who has been asking many women why they’re going back to relaxers?

Welcome to the Stoop Comedy Club! It's our last episode of the season and we are laughin’ it up with three African comedians - Nigerian-American Beverly Adaeze, Kenyan-American Dubai Denis, and Sudanese-American Ahmed Abdelrahman. Each has their unique style, and each has to deal with a complicating question that has to do with their Blackness in America. Plus, Leila tries to break into the comedy scene!

We explore what it’s like to be a Black autistic adult with the story of artist, author, and illustrator Ayanna Davis, AKA ‘Phenomenally Autistic.’ We also hear from advocate and autism media consultant Diane Wright, plus special education professor Dr. Jamie Pearson breaks down why Black autistic people are diagnosed so late in life.

Black women have lower success rates when it comes to IVF (in-vitro fertilization) But why? We hear from Charissa Jackson who shares her journey about going through IVF. We also look into some of the reasons why Black women tend to have higher infertility rates, something that's explained by Dr. Michael Thomas, a reproductive endocrinologist who says one of the reasons why this is happening, is a reason many of us have heard before. 

As reparations for African Americans come closer to being a reality, the conversation has led to a question - who should get paid? We’ll explore that question of eligibility and hear different perspectives from people pondering it, and people who have clear ideas of what the answer should be. Plus- Hana, Leila and producer Natalie have an honest chat about what this all means for them.

It’s back! Sounds of Blackness. What is a sound that embodies Blackness to you? We’ve been asking high and low and the answers have us reflecting, laughing, tearing up and feeling absolute joy. Today we take a sonic dip into sounds that embody Blackness. We also sit down with poet Nikki Giovanni, and hear from many more about the sounds that move them.

There’s a renaissance of Black Horror- many love it, but some of us still have our eyes closed. With more Black horror films being made, we explore what actually defines Black Horror? We talk with scholar and filmmaker Tananarive Due, and writer Carvell Wallace, to discuss the comeback of Horror Noire and the use of Black trauma in horror films.

We get personal about our relationship with our booties. Not all of us were brought up in an era where there was so much booty appreciation. We stoop it out with hosts Josh Gwynn and Tracy Clayton from Back Issue Podcast, we talk about the booty blues, what’s wrapped up in calling a young Black girl “fast” and we meet Professor Kamille Gentles-Peart who has been studying sociology around Black women’s bodies.

Loving multiply. Polyamory. We already do it - you love your family, your friends, your pets- but what does it look like when it comes to romance? In this episode, we meet a polyamorous triad- Ambi, Ex and Intro. We also hear from Kevin Patterson, author of Love’s Not Colorblind: Race and Representation in Polyamorous and Other Alternative Communities. And, we meet Crystal Byrd Farmer, who practices solo polyamory and argues, it’s part of our Black heritage.

Getting a whooping. Whether it’s a belt or switch, the homes we grow up in may normalize corporal punishment for kids- but do we understand the aftermath? You may not leave a visible scar, but there’s always an invisible one. We hear the story of Angela, we talk to a leading pediatrician, and we hear about immigrant parents struggling with those 3 dreaded numbers- 911.

The Buffalo Soldiers- strong men from Black history. But a big part of their story has us conflicted about the role they played. In this episode, we hear their story, hear about a soldier who defected, and meet a man who ponders his own time in the military.

Season SIX is almost here y’all! Here’s a little taste of what you can expect this season from Hana and Leila. New episodes drop starting August 19th!

We hear from dads, people talking about their daddies, and we hear about the joys, and challenges, of Black fatherhood. We see you, Black dads. Featuring dads Chris Stewart, Rob Fields, and Sam Adewumi.

From joy to trauma to history, our kids are expressing their Blackness through podcasting. We celebrate Black child podcasts, featuring Jackson and Avery - hosts of the podcast ‘Hey Black Child’, and Story Jean Brown - host of the podcast ‘Story on Stories’. Today, we listen to the kids!

Why do some people feel the need to gatekeep? From the art world to the corporate world, Black gatekeeping is real. Today we hear a classic gatekeeping experience from the comedy duo Frangela, and talk to author Jennifer Farmer about the deep-seated reasons why some people still feel the need to gatekeep.

Put butter on that burn. Don't put your purse on the floor. The wives tales, sayings, superstitions & home remedies - the things we heard from our mamas, papas and grandparents are all part of our folk heritage. In this episode, we hear some, we look at why they're important, we do some fact checking, and Hana and Leila explore why we believe some of the things we believe.

Some of us who chose not to go to HBCU's have some major envy, and regret.  In this episode we hear from people about their experiences at Black colleges. Stories about when they fit in and when they didn't. Featuring Special guest: Stacey Abrams

We've heard people threaten to pack it up and move abroad, and today we to talk to two of them who followed through. Natalie Gill  now lives in Ethiopia and Noleca Radway relocated to Amsterdam. Two stories about making the move, and getting the hell out in order to redefine home. Includes interviews with: Noleca Radway, Natalie Gill,  Crishan Wright & Michael Oshindoro Crishan

It's been 33 years since the original film Coming to America, a film that gave many of us some laughs at a time when tensions were high. Now with the new film are we still laughing? We get into the African perspective and talk about what made us laugh and what made our Jheri curls feel dry.   

What is a sound that embodies Blackness?  Today we invite you to unwind, lean back, disconnect and drift while we ask some phenomenal personalities, like LeVar Burton, Stacey Abrams, David Oyelewo, Shangela and more what is a sound that is undeniably Black?  

Sellassie doesn't plan to take the Covid vaccine. He doesn't trust it. But it feels like the whole world is trying to convince him to. We unpack 'Black hesitancy' and talk to some of the people tasked with convincing their communities to vaccinate. 

Lately,  some of us have been watching our back. It's not something we always want to admit, but the current vibe is triggering. We're back, a new season, and today we get a bit personal. We meet two people with different takes on maneuvering their neighborhoods where there aren't too many Black kith and kin in sight.

African responses to the Black Lives Matter protests have been complicated and varied- some marched, others didn't. We explore some different African points of view. Let's Stoop this out.

Black is King, the visually stunning film by Beyoncé has brought up a lot of conversation. We talk to “the blue man” dancer Papi Oji about his role in the film and dig deeper into some of the praise and criticisms from Africans and African Americans. We hear from writers across the diaspora who help us take a deeper look at the art that has some of us in awe, and others conflicted. Guests: Dancer Stephen Ojo, and writers Judicaelle Irakoze and Tineka Smith

We're at that moment — again. Another black person gone, and another, and another. It hurts. Everyone seems to be watching, and everyone seems to have questions.    But this isn't new, and we're not here for everyone. We're here for 14-year-old Ima. 

For many of us, success and 'making it' also means you're expected to help out and support your family. Whether you're Black American, or a child of Black immigrants- that 'Black Tax' is often something you're going to be thinking about. Today we get personal with a story from Mwende Hinojosa who explains how What's App brings her Kenyan family together but it can also be very...taxing.  

We're getting into the myths surrounding the coronavirus and discussing how Covid-19 could have a different impact on black people. We also hear from workers in the service industry who share their stories about how they are pushing through. Let’s stoop it out together.

The pen, the mic, the camera - all powerful tools that people in media have used to get our attention, but for Black women journalists, getting a hold of that power and keeping it, has been a tough path to navigate. From how we sound, to what we look like, to how we say thangs. We explore the profession with journalist Jemele Hill, and hear about the past from veteran journalist Belva Davis, while Hana and Leila get into some of their own experiences in the field.

In this episode we meet Deborah from Brooklyn, who’s about to pack her bags and move to  Paris. It's a place she’s always adored, along with the likes of other famous African Americans; Richard Wright, James Baldwin, and Josephine Baker to name of few. Many black Americans have moved there for a particular reason, many were exhausted by the racial dynamics and conversations in the U.S. , just like Deborah,  who feels these are conversations that go in circles. France has prided itself on its citizens being “French” before identifying with an ethnicity and this is something that appealed to Deborah who’s chosen not to “lead with her blackness”. In this episode we go to France to talk about how black people are identifying and discuss some of the tensions behind a word like “noir” that can be seen as an insult for some and pure pride for others.

Why might things be different for a Black introvert? When writer Sequoia Holmes broke it down in her essay "Black Women aren't allowed to be Introverted"  we wanted to stoop this out some more. So we sent our introverted producer Jessica Jupiter out to find answers. In this episode we're digging  into how it can be different to be an introvert while Black. We also hear from nonprofit organizer and educator Kelly Wickham Hurst who has focused on correcting the ways we treat introverted Black students.

Should we support Black no matter what? We discuss the pressure to conform with liking all things Black, even when you don’t. Whether it’s Black art, the Black politician, or a hashtag. The feeling that we have to always align is tied to a psychological concept called 'social desirability bias.' We’ll break down why we do it with a Black psychologist from Stanford, hear from a culture critic who says we shouldn’t succumb to it, and hosts Hana and Leila question their own motives.

Season 4 is here! In this episode we're talking about Black folk and water. Yes, swimming.  We hear from a man who nearly lost his life while on vacation, and take a deeper look into our relationship to swimming. There are a lot  of jokes and myths within our community about why we don’t swim more, but what isn't funny is that nearly 70% of African American kids don't know how to swim. Today, we break down stereotypes that we've even heard our own family members reinforce.  Editor: Jen Chien Sound Designer: Seth Samuel Associate Producer: Natalie Peart          

It's our season finale and we're getting into issues of the fam; the things that our families say and do that have helped us or hurt us. We get into what it's like to gain a family unexpectedly and hear from a family whose cultural differences and jealousy nearly divided them. In this special episode we also stoop it with author, therapist, Netflix’ Fab 5 member, and unexpected father Karamo Brown. Keep it in the fam. We'll be back with a brand new season soon! 

Whether it's the music we hear, the clothes we wear, or the way we talk- a lot of us at some point have felt 'not Black enough.' In this episode, we go deep with comedian W. Kamau Bell who's felt awkward in Black circles and before Black audiences.

What’s a sound that embodies blackness? In this episode we ask around and then get deeper into conversation with Glory Edim, the founder of Well Read Black Girl, a Brooklyn based book club and online community. What’s it mean to be well read? This special Stoop episode was recorded live at WNYC's The GreenSpace, and goes deeper into conversations about what it means to return to Africa, how to create inclusive community, and really, how black are we?

Killer Mike is a rapper, activist and father who once tried to live 3 days buying only from black businesses -- and wasn’t happy with what he found. We sit down and stoop out what it means to buy Black; how to do love, not just say it; and why Mike doesn’t like to say “n-word” when he could straight-up say “n***er.”   We're trying new things! Check out this interview style Stoop Talk!

Being Muslim, black and a woman; that’s something that deserves some stoopin’ out. Anti-blackness in Muslim America is real, and in this episode we look at how it often seems to fall on BMW’s (Black Muslim Women). What happens when the shade or discrimination comes from your own people?  

Sometimes conversations stop when you walk into a barbershop, but sometimes they keep going no matter how uncomfortable you may feel. In this episode we unpack what it means to be a hotep; from personal experiences, to the root of the word, to online tensions. We stoop it out with producer Josh Gwynn who shares his story of maneuvering through some hotep spaces, while on a simple mission, to look fly.

What can love look like when your partner might not ‘get it’? In this episode we talk to interracial couples having difficult conversations around race, love and identity at a time when racial tensions are high. We also hear from Professor Shantel Buggs author of the study ‘Dating in the Time of #BlackLivesMatter’, who interviewed dozens of women to see whether awareness of racial issues mattered when they were choosing a partner, asking how socially aware do  you expect your non-Black partner to be?    

Thin nose, high cheekbones, kinky hair, what you got in your blood? Your blood won’t lie, but does it determine your identity? We meet two women- Uzaz Shami, a Nubian woman who didn’t expect her results, and Shonda Buchanan who has always identified as Native American but isn’t always accepted as that.  What percent of an ethnicity makes you part of that group, and does it even matter?

It's that silent acknowledgement. That "I see you," moment. But not everyone is a nodder. We send producers on the streets to see if the nod is still going strong, and hear from one hesitant nodder who breaks down why it's not always been her thing.

The Stoop goes to the low country of South Carolina to uncover some of the hidden history of the Gullah Geechee. The mix of African cultures in the deep south eventually transformed into a unique language and culture that is Gullah. Lean in for this one. We outchea!  

We end this season by going deep into how we express ourselves at the intersection where spirituality meets artistic expression - and how that intersection can be complicated.  We meet Alia Sharrief- a Black Muslim woman hip hop artist who raps about her faith, Black girl magic, and social justice - despite the haters. And Leila takes us to an Afro-Cuban dance class to get in touch with the Orisha, and has some questions about others, that lead to questioning herself.   

Our babies and their hair. We hear how two parents discuss hair with their kids. Author Robert Trujillo wrote a book about his son, Furqan's, first flat top. Then we meet  Fatima Jones and he daughter Aponi, and listen in on an intimate conversation about hair, pride and love.  To find the book Furqan's First Flat Top, by Robert Liu-Trujillo. Illustration by Robert Liu-Trujillo

It's summertime and we're sharing some stories, portraits essays and things that you've been telling us you want to hear more of. In this episode we hear from Shelton Johnson, a park ranger at Yosemite National Park who reenacts the story of a Buffalo Soldier who used to patrol the park as a ranger. A complicated history that comes with both pride and shame.

Black veganism and Joloff rice

Black homophobia is real- and we meet two influential people who are fighting it - each in their own inspiring way. Bishop Yvette Flunder, and author and activist Darnell Moore are Black, queer and free. This episode is delves into the language we use, the things that need to be said, and the celebration of black boy joy and intimacy. 

He is from Rwanda, grew up in New Zealand and lives in Australia.  Architect, Jean Yves Dushime has a unique diaspora story, not just because of where he lives but because of how he has chosen to handle situations that would make many of us very uncomfortable. In this episode we talk about the decisions of one Black Aussie to deal with tough situations in order to move forward...in his own way.    Music by JBlanked  

Who gets to choose which African stories get told? We meet three writers, each of them pushing against a mostly white US and UK-based publishing industry in their own way. Guests:Siyanda Mohutsiwa, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, & Namwali Serpell     

He was the perfect little brown baby. His name was Solomon. Thick curly hair, chubby legs and eyes closed with dark black lashes. Solomon's story is one that affects thousands of families whose babies are twice as likely to die before reaching the age of one, and Black mothers are up to four times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes. This story is personal as we go deep into a personal story behind the statistic.Two sisters remember a child lost, search for answers, and discover the answer to a lingering question.

When Oprah's longtime hairstylist Andre Walker created the hair typing system, he didn't expect it to become what it is today.  The chart has helped a lot of Black naturals understand their textures but it's also created some tensions when it comes to the lack of  representation of 4C women. From our hair history, to  hair salons, and a chat with Mr. Walker himself--we get to the bottom of why some people feel tangled up in this hair chart.    Special thanks to Author: Ayana Byrd: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America   

When a ballet teacher told co-host Leila Day that her back should be straight on the ground, no light shining through, and Leila couldn't make it happen, her dreams to be a ballet dancer disappeared. The world of classical ballet is extremely difficult to break into, and for those who do, there's a lot that comes with it, especially when you're "the only". This episode looks at breaking the line.   We talk about ballet, bodies, and skin tone with former ballerina Aesha Ashe, and dance educator and writer Theresa Ruth Howard.

Season 2 is here! We explore the history of colorism, from Compton to the markets in Sudan. Dissecting a Hollywood casting call, and asking why are Black people bleaching their skin? It gets personal.  

The Stoop is back. Warm those feeds and get ready for a full season of going deep into stories from the Black diaspora. We can't wait to show you what we've been up to!  Hosts Leila Day (the 'fro)  and Hana Baba (the scarf) 

Writer, mother and part-time hippie Stacia Brown is making our hearts sing and fingers snap with all she has to bring in this essay about the strength of Black women and the myth of the angry Black woman.   Listen in and relax. 

It's been a season! Now we wrap things up with a visit to a therapist. Talking some things out and shaking it out with some line dancing senior citizens.    Keep following us on  twitter:  @thestooppodcast  or on Facebook @thestoop  

We explore the phenomenon of African immigrants returning to the continent from the US through the stories of three 'returnees'. Guests include actress  Maame Adjei, award-winning author Yaa Gyasi, and radio entrepreneur DJ Taha Roubi.

Tone it down, Angry black woman. A conversation with two black women in the corporate world who sometimes tone it down in order to avoid stereotypes. What's behind the Angry black woman stereotype, and what's it doing to people psychologically?

Many immigrants imagine the US to be heaven. A moneymaking, perfect paradise but when they get here, it's a different story. We meet African immigrants who tell their stories of Coming to America, and what the wish they knew before they came.

When you're from an immigrant community, becoming a successful musician isn't an easy journey. We meet 3 dope diaspora musicians: Meklit Hadero, Oddisee, and AlSarah - each with their own struggle that comes with belonging to two identities- African, and American. For more about the featured artists check them out!   Alsarah and the Nubatones Odissee Meklit Hadero Episode art by: @neemascribbles

"You're black, but you ain't BLACK black." Like many African kids in the US, Stoop host Hana Baba was ridiculed for being from Africa. She was called names like "African booty scratcher." And the name calling came only from the black kids. What's behind this black disconnect and where did it come from? The Stoop explores this with a young Sudanese American and her African American friends.

What's it mean when someone says you "sound white"? In this episode we explore voice, and unpack what it means linguistically, socially, and professionally when you're black but supposedly "sound white." As always, we love you for loving The Stoop. Drop some stars on our podcast and put down a review - we appreciate every new set of ears! Contributors: @1A @jejihnson322 Chinaka Hodge (@chinakahodge)   Editor:  Sound Design: Seth Samuel Illustration: Neema Iyer (@Neemascribbles) Digital Production/PodOps: Megan Jones

Let's hit pause and take a breath. Hosts Leila Day and Hana Baba break from the chatter of stoop talk to send out a special double episode that allows for a moment of grace, a place where one can catch a breath and regroup in order to move forward. What revives and sustains your soul? For Leila, it's dance. For Hana, it's music. Like what you hear? Drop some stars on The Stoop and put down a review in iTunes or Stitcher - we thank you as always for listening. Credits Contributors: Leila Day & Hana Baba Sound Design: Leila Day  Stoop logo: Jef Cunningham Digital Production/PodOps: Megan Jones

"It's not hard for a black man of my caliber to say I love you." But is it?  Many black people say they never heard I love you much growing up, including both Leila and Hana, hosts of The Stoop. In Episodes 2, we examine the reasons why we don't hear I love you, and what that means. We talk to inmates at San Quentin state prison, a professor who studies black male emotional expression, and Stooptalk with Al Letson about I love you in his home. Did you hear I love you growing up? #blacklove #blackfamilies Want more Stoop? Go to our website www.thestoop.org. There you will find videos, audio shorts, behind-the-scenes peeks, and more. We drop preview audio clips, photos, and all kinds of interesting etcetera on social - so follow us on Twitter, and Instagram (@thestooppodcast) and on Facebook (stooppodcast) to get the latest and to see the conversations around our shows. Have an idea or question? hangout(at)thestoop.org.  Like what you hear? Drop some stars on The Stoop and put down a review - we thank you for listening. Credits: Thanks to Al Letson (@Al_Letson) and Serie McDougal (@SerieMcdougal) for contibuting to this episode. Sound Design: Chris Hoff Illustration:  Neema Iyer Digital Production/PodOps: Megan Jones    

Episode 1: An exploration into the controversy over appropriation of African cultures by African Americans. Are African Americans appropriating when they wear a dashiki, tribal markings, or a head wrap? Hosts Leila Day and Hana Baba stoop this out in the debut episode of The Stoop podcast, their first stop, Afropunk. For more info, videos, photos, illustrations and audio shorts, go to our website www.thestoop.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  

Preview Season 1 of The Stoop to hear the funk and flavor of the stories to come in Season 1, starting Summer 2017.  Subscribe now to make sure you don't miss an episode. We'll be dialoging about the diaspora all season long. The Stoop podcast digs into stories that are not always shared out in the open. Hosts Leila Day and Hana Baba start conversations and provide sound-rich stories about what it means to be black, and how we talk about blackness. Find out more and see The Stoop extras like videos, animations, and blog posts on www.thestoop.org. And follow us on social media, too - we'd love to hear from you. Facebook - facebook.com/stooppodcast/ Twitter/Instagram - @theStoopPodcast