Culturati

The Dilemma of Black Storytellers: W. Kamau Bell Opens Up

This week, Kierna kicks it with W. Kamau Bell, sociopolitical comedian, host and executive producer of CNN’s Emmy-winning documentary series United Shades of America. The two discuss the deep dilemmas of Black media makers—particularly those currently in the trenches of covering race and identity—and how telling such stories often impacts their mental and emotional well-being. We get a more private side of Bell, not only as funny-man host staying the course during some of the country's most challenging times, but as a father of daughters, and, well, how should we say this? A Black man in America.Follow W. Kamau Bell on Twitter and Instagram @wkamaubell and stream United Shades of America on HBO Max. Look for Kierna Mayo on Twitter and Instagram @kiernamayo.

Veteran media maven, editor and cultural critic Kierna Mayo hosts Culturati: Conversations with Kierna Mayo, a colorful sonic world where Black women from Gen X to Gen Z— bougie and ratchet notwithstanding—are the official standard-bearers. Culturati explores cultural hot topics from the socio-political to the not-safe-for-work through provocative conversations with an array of fascinating thought-leaders, activists and celebrated artists, such as comedian and television host W. Kamau Bell, foodie feminist Tanya Fields, Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest, and Honey magazine co-founder Joicelyn Dingle. Guided by Mayo, with her (dope AF) Hip-Hop Generation Black feminist sensibility, these candid talks flip conventional thinking on race, sex, and power. Culturati is a bi-weekly audio podcast produced in partnership with PRX. New episodes are released every other Tuesday.