Parenting in a pandemic while we work from home means that for a long time now, my only way to get true alone time was to head out for a long walk. My favorite way to do that is headphones in and getting lost in my head for awhile. And in my head lately? Learning about racism – the blatant and the type that slips right by your radar if you’re a white person not really paying attention. So I’m trying to do better about paying attention because when you know better it makes it really hard not to do better.
So here’s a list of my favorite podcast episodes I’ve found that are helping me do that and some additional resources I have bookmarked after listening and will be working my way through. A note though: yes, all but one are shows with a white host and I’m not sure how I feel about that. They’re great episodes with fantastic content, but I am mindful that I can be more intentional to bring podcasts created by Black content creators into my regular listening.
I’m learning some valuable lessons and hope you are (or already have!) too!
On Being: Resmaa Menakem ‘Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence’
Resmaa Menakem is a therapist and trauma specialist and his description of the generational trauma that is passed down biologically was fascinating. Think like this, the stress hormones produced by a mother’s body while pregnant are released into her body and can contribute to whether her baby has a sense of safety and security even after birth. Just think of how important that is to a newborn! He talked about how our bodies are always asking first am I in danger or am I safe, and I understood after listening that a black mother in this country will feel less safe far more often than a white mother.
Buy his most recent book, My Grandmother’s Hands, here / Take his course here
Unlocking Us: Ibram X. Kendi ‘How to Be an Anti-Racist’
Ibram X. Kendi a bestselling author and Director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University. He talks about racial disparities, like the ways in which we generalize the individual negativities of people of color while we individualize the individual negativities of white people. He defines the difference between not being racist and being anti-racist and it was a pretty big eye-opener for me. His voice is an important one to pay close attention to in order to learn more about what is wrong with policies and understanding how they contribute to continued inequity.
Buy his books here / read his essays here
Unlocking Us: Austin Channing Brown ‘I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness’
Surprise, surprise – another Brené Brown episode but I can’t help it, I’ve loved her work and the conversations she’s having for a long time. This episode is with Austin Channing Brown who is a writer, a speaker, and a media producer championing the work of racial justice. Her description of anti-racism broke it down real simple for me: “the work of anti-racism is becoming a better human to other humans”. Yep. Put like that, how can you not feel compelled to learn more? Listening to her made me realize that yes, I consider myself a good and kind person, but I can and should do better.
Buy her book here / Check out the show she co-hosts, The Next Question, here
Armchair Expert: Jennifer Eberhardt
I feel like people either love Dax Shephard or they can’t stand him, but I’m in the love him camp. (Being a huge Parenthood fan may have something to do with that!) In this episode he talks with Jennifer Eberhardt, a social psychologist who is a Stanford faculty member. She goes into detail about the negative impact racial bias can have on us, the factors studies have shown contribute to racial disparities within the criminal justice system, and her work in police reform.
Buy her book, Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do here / Listen to her Talk Talk, How racial bias works – and how to disrupt it here
This podcast was a favorite of mine a few years back when I was introduced to it, I think when it was newer. Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams are two hilarious Black female comedians and best friends hosting a live comedy show in Brooklyn where no topic is off limits, for real. They talk sex, romance, about their hair, and race just to name a few and for me it’s been an education on what black women deal with daily (and so many WTF moments caused by stuff white people do/say). Language and content warning though for sure! Put those headphones on and be the person laughing to themselves if you have kids or co-workers in your company.
I tune into this one when I need a good laugh and know I’ll always learn something too. Sadly their podcast is done, no new episodes anymore. But their old seasons will give you lots to listen and laugh along to!
Buy Phoebe’s books: You can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain here, and Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay here
Life in the Ordinary 