Best Racially Ambiguous Podcasts (2025)

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START HERE: Learn About Our True Colors 9:47

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3M ago9:47

9:47

MESSAGE ME HERE! Welcome to Our True Colors. This brief introduction gives you the full picture of what the show is about, who I am, and what you can expect in every season. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why I started this podcast and what “racial riddle, ethnic enigma, and cultural conundrum” really mean. How different co-hosts join me each seaso…

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Our True Colors - The Trailer 1:11

3M ago1:11

1:11

MESSAGE ME HERE! If you’re new here, this short trailer will give you a taste of Our True Colors. You’ll hear how the show explores identity, belonging, and life in the in-between spaces. Subscribe now and then check out the full Start Here episode for a deeper dive into what we’re about. If this is your first time with OTC, check out EPISODE 1: ST…

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Double Feature Season 5 Finale: Our True Colors at Home 1:15:05

5M ago1:15:05

1:15:05

MESSAGE ME HERE! For the first time, I’m joined by my full family—my husband Chad and our kids, Christian and Ariana—in a double-length finale to close out Season 5 of Our True Colors. We get into it all: Identity, hair, and insecurities What people assume about us as a couple Family culture, music, and travel How our kids make sense of their birac…

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Bloodlines and Borders: Tracing the Truth of Mixed Ancestry with Victoria Kabeya 46:01

6M ago46:01

46:01

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this rich and vulnerable episode, Dr. Shawna Gann welcomes Belgian-French author, historian, and researcher Victoria Kabeya to discuss the complexities of multigenerationally mixed identity. From the trauma of slavery to the politics of racial categorization, Victoria shares personal stories, global insights, and the intellectua…

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Conversations in Color: From Research to Real Life 59:14

6M ago59:14

59:14

MESSAGE ME HERE! This week, Dr. Shawna Gann—joined by her co-host Kat—welcomes Dr. Geoffrey Greif and Victoria Stubbs, LCSW-C, for a thoughtful and timely conversation about interracial and interethnic relationships, raising mixed-race children, and navigating identity across lines of race, culture, and experience. The discussion is rooted in resea…

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Ian Gibbs-Hall on Curiosity Architecture and Rethinking Identity 46:39

6M ago46:39

46:39

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this episode of Our True Colors, Shawna is joined by co-host Rachel Sadler and special guest Ian Gibbs-Hall—a DEI advocate, thought leader, and creator of Curiosity Architecture. With over a decade of experience creating inclusive environments, Ian offers a fresh framework that invites us to move beyond checkboxes and binaries a…

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Belonging by Design: How a Choir Became a Home 54:22

7M ago54:22

54:22

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this powerful episode of Our True Colors, Dr. Shawna Gann is joined by Cindy Ogasawara and Kara De Maine, leaders in the Resounding Love Interfaith Gospel Choir—a multiracial, interfaith, LGBTQ+ embracing choir grounded in African American musical traditions and active anti-racism practice. Together, they explore: The complexiti…

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Bridging Identities and Building Belonging: A Conversation with Hallie Pritchett 37:36

7M ago37:36

37:36

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this episode of Our True Colors, Dr. Shawna Gann is joined by Hallie Pritchett — a public health leader, facilitator, and equity strategist — for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation about identity, belonging, and the challenges of showing up fully at work. Hallie reflects on growing up mixed-race in the Pacific North…

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Masks, Mirrors, and Metamorphosis: Londell Jackson on Living Unboxed 44:27

7M ago44:27

44:27

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this episode, Shawna sits down with Londell Jackson—educator, strategist, and author of Between the Opposites—for a powerful conversation about the complexities of identity. From growing up mixed-race in Denver to navigating masculinity as a same-gender-loving Black and Latino man, Londell shares his deeply personal journey of s…

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Both/And: Belonging, Identity, and the Bridge-Building Superpower with Annemarie Shrouder 47:38

7M ago47:38

47:38

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this rich and candid episode of Our True Colors, Shawna is joined by Rachel, returning co-host and fellow deep thinker and wonderful guest Annemarie Shrouder, international speaker, facilitator, and bestselling author of Being Brown in a Black and White World. Together, they explore what it means to hold a “both/and” identity—es…

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Ornamental No More: Dr. Kalya Castillo on Identity, Hypervisibility, and Healing 52:42

8M ago52:42

52:42

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this powerful conversation, Dr. Kalya Castillo—a Black and Japanese psychologist and trauma-informed therapist—joins Shawna to explore identity, racial ambiguity, and the lived experiences of multiracial individuals. Together, they unpack what it means to grow up without cultural mirrors, the coded messages around hair and profe…

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Third Culture Stories: Identity, Belonging, and Finding Home with Urmi Hossain 41:59

9M ago41:59

41:59

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this episode, Dr. Shawna Gann and Rachel Sadler sit down with Urmi Hossain—polyglot, author, global citizen, and financial services professional—for a deep conversation about identity, cultural complexity, and belonging. Urmi, who describes herself as "Bengali by blood, Italian by birth, and Canadian by law", shares her experien…

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Untapped Leadership: Finding Your Authentic Leadership Identity with Dr. Jenny Vazquez-Newsum 39:02

9M ago39:02

39:02

MESSAGE ME HERE! What does it mean to be a leader when traditional leadership models weren’t designed with you in mind? In this episode of Our True Colors, we sit down with Dr. Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, an educator, leadership expert, and founder of Untapped Leaders, to explore how identity shapes leadership. Dr. Vazquez-Newsum shares her journey navig…

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Sensitive Curiosity: A DEI Leader’s Journey with Marcel De Jonghe 55:27

10M ago55:27

55:27

MESSAGE ME HERE! What does it mean to navigate the world as a mixed heritage individual when belonging feels just out of reach? In this episode, Shawna and co-host Kat Aragon welcome Marcel De Jonghe, Head of DEI&B for Europe’s largest local authority, to explore identity, belonging, and the intersections of race and culture. Marcel shares his pers…

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Breaking Out of the Box: Multiracial Identity, Monoracism, and Belonging with Dr. Victoria K. Malaney-Brown 45:28

11M ago45:28

45:28

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Victoria K. Malaney-Brown, a scholar-practitioner at Columbia University and the first-ever Director of Academic Integrity for undergraduates at Columbia College and Columbia Engineering, joins us to explore the nuanced realities of multiracial identity. From her deeply personal poem "Outside …

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Finding Self in a World of Assumptions: Multiracial Identity and Belonging 42:59

11M ago42:59

42:59

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this episode, Shawna Gann is joined by graduate student Brieanna Hairston cohost Rachel Sadler. Together, they explore the complexities of racial identity, inclusion, and belonging through the lens of multiracial and racially ambiguous individuals. Brieanna shares personal experiences growing up in a predominantly White area, na…

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Mixed-Race Parenting: Insights with Dr. Jenn Noble 49:01

12M ago49:01

49:01

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this thought-provoking episode, Shawna sits down with Dr. Jenn Noble, psychologist, educator, and advocate for mixed-race families, to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities in parenting mixed-race children. Together, they explore: The nuances of mixed-race identity and how it shapes a child’s experience. Why starting c…

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Between the Lines: Black Identity, Mixed Race Realities, and a Nation Divided 46:15

1y ago46:15

46:15

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this deeply reflective episode of Our True Colors, Shawna and guest Shari Baker dive into the emotional aftermath of the recent presidential election. Together, they unpack the complexities of identity, solidarity, and the nuances of navigating blackness in America. From the broader societal implications of the election to the p…

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Cafecito, Culture, and Connection: The Power of Sisterhood in DEI Spaces 40:42

1y ago40:42

40:42

MESSAGE ME HERE! Summary In this engaging conversation, Shawna, Rachel, and Kat introduce Hady Mendez, a DEI expert, who shares her journey and insights on employee resource groups, cultural wisdom, and the challenges of navigating racial identity. The discussion highlights the need for allyship, the evolving understanding of racial categories, and…

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Authenticity Under Pressure: The Evolving Role of DEI and Mixed-Race Identity 41:44

1y ago41:44

41:44

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this insightful episode, Dr. Shawna Gann sits down with DEI experts Lauren Dike and Katrina Liew Wilson for a candid discussion on the shifting landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The conversation explores the evolving role of DEI in the workplace, the pressures of being a "talking head" in the field, and the ch…

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Beyond Your Zip Code Story: Exploring Background, Bias, and Growth 54:49

1y ago54:49

54:49

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this episode, Shawna Gann and Rachel Sadler engage with author Christopher "CJ" Gross, an expert in cultural transformation, to discuss the concepts in his book, What's Your Zip Code Story? Together the group discusses implications on personal and professional experiences. They explore how one's background and community can shap…

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Meet Rachel: Examining Layers of Racial Identity 38:15

1y ago38:15

38:15

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this episode, Shawna Gann introduces co-host Rachel Sadler, and together they explore the complexities of racial identity, particularly focusing on the experiences of biracial individuals. They discuss the fluidity of identity, the impact of family dynamics on self-identification, and the societal constructs surrounding race and…

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Meet Kat: Creating Spaces for Underrepresented Voices 35:52

1y ago35:52

35:52

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this episode, Shawna Gann introduces the new season of the podcast with one of her two co-hosts, Kat Aragon. They discuss their cultural backgrounds, the importance of representation in the beauty industry, and the need for advocacy and allyship. Kat shares her experiences as a makeup artist and the challenges faced in ensuring …

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Mixed Tape 4: The Close of a Chapter 57:08

3y ago57:08

57:08

MESSAGE ME HERE! Join the cohosts and me as we reflect on this journey and enjoy the sampler platter we've prepared for you as we talk about the themes we explored, lessons learned, and incredible growth over the years during what we thought would be the last episode. But it's not! OTC is coming back for a 5th season, Fall 2024. Stay tuned! About T…

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Belonging and the Gift of Story: Discussions with Joquina Reed 44:01

3y ago44:01

44:01

MESSAGE ME HERE! This week I am joined by Joquina M. Reed, my colleague and dear friend. She is the founding steward of J Reed Consulting LLC. She is also the curator behind the Please Say Black podcast as well as the Divesting from Whiteness Podcast. Kina is deeply committed to global reparations for chattel enslavement and creating shared humanit…

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SPECIAL EPISODE: Drama and Identity Dramaturgy with Yolandie Hamilton 24:33

3y ago24:33

24:33

MESSAGE ME HERE! Yay! Yolandie is back after taking a few months to be with her little one (if you listen carefully, you'll hear a little bit from her, too! 👶). In this episode, Yolandie (and sometimes Olivia) tells us about a play she is working on and the complexities of identity and stereotypes. This all made me very curious and, despite my cong…

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Removing Your Mask to Tell Your Story: Authentic Filmmaking with Dija Henry 33:05

3y ago33:05

33:05

MESSAGE ME HERE! Prepare to be inspired! On this episode of OTC, I am talking with Dija Henry. Together we discuss her work in film and how the work supports the empowerment of authenticity all the way from the people contributing to the film to those viewing it. We go on to discuss the nuances of having a multicultural family and the connections t…

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I Belong to Me: Conversations with Velda Thomas 32:41

3y ago32:41

32:41

MESSAGE ME HERE! On this episode of Our True Colors, I had the opportunity to spend time with Velda Thomas - sharing our thoughts on identity, growth, and belonging. Velda Thomas is the author of Blended: Perspectives on Belonging. She was born and educated in England, UK with family ancestry from Africa, the Caribbean, and the America's. Healing m…

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Social Justice on the Line: Talking Civil Rights with Joseph Huang-Racalto 34:53

3y ago34:53

34:53

MESSAGE ME HERE! What a fantastic episode I have for you this week! I am joined by Joe Huang-Racalto, a Civil Rights lobbyist, who works for organizations that defend people who are enslaved in labor and sex trafficking, abused children, minorities living with HIV/AIDS, and humane animal welfare. He retired from Capitol Hill on June 1, 2017 as Chie…

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Multiracial Motherhood with Rach Kass 39:32

3y ago39:32

39:32

MESSAGE ME HERE! Rach Kass is a Nursing Station Technician (NST), life coach, and podcast host and joins us for this episode to talk about her experiences as the White mother of her five biracial children. Also joining us as a guest host, while Yolandie takes some time with her new little one, is Sarah Bacerra - a two-time former guest on OTC. Rach…

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Hey, Queen! Talking Racial Ambiguity with Christian Gann and Aimee Amour 43:43

3y ago43:43

43:43

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this very special episode, I have a one-to-one real-talk session with my son, Christian Gann and his drag persona, Aimee Amour, who is also a DJ in NYC and music producer. In this episode, Christian is back for his second interview on Our True Colors. If you missed the first interview, you can check it out here. It's linked belo…

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The Velvet Punch: Talking Transracial Adoption with Amy Daniels (Part 2) 26:37

3y ago26:37

26:37

MESSAGE ME HERE! This week we are back with Part 2 of the interview with Amy Daniels. If you missed Part 1, you can check it out here. In this episode, Amy and I continue our conversation about her lived experiences as a Korean woman who was adopted by White parents and what it's meant moving through spaces where people around you have certain expe…

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The Velvet Punch: Talking Transracial Adoption with Amy Daniels (Part 1) 31:40

3y ago31:40

31:40

MESSAGE ME HERE! This episode is the first of a 2-part interview with my friend, Amy Daniels. I'd been wanting to interview her for a couple of years now, and she happened to be hanging out my place when we were like...let's do this! Amy is a superstar recruiter in the management consulting industry in the DC Metro area - sometimes called the "DMV"…

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Confronting Anti-Blackness with Daniel Washington 35:32

3y ago35:32

35:32

MESSAGE ME HERE! Daniel Washington is an I/O Psychology Master's graduate with a passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He was born in New York City but raised in Atlanta, GA and moved back to New York City in August of 2018 to further his education in I/O Psychology. I received my Master's from Touro College in the summer of 2020. He is now…

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SPECIAL EPISODE: The Little Mermaid of Color 31:40

3y ago31:40

31:40

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this special episode of Our True Colors, Yolandie and I discuss Disney's new live action Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey as Ariel. Join us for this important conversation about social expectations and redefining norms. REFERENCES The Little Mermaid Trailer AI Technology Making Little Mermaid White Charlotte La Bouff - "Man…

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Settings and Social Identity with Guest Ashnie Butler 46:44

3+ y ago46:44

46:44

MESSAGE ME HERE! After a bit of a summer break, Yolandie and I are back with our guest Ashnie Butler. Ashnie's story starts on the island of Trinidad with roots going back to Southern India. She has lived on the east and west coast of the United States, currently residing in Portland, Oregon, with her non-binary teenager. Her passion for cooking to…

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Kickin' It with Karlton Hoskins 48:25

3+ y ago48:25

48:25

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this episode of Our True Colors, we welcome Karlton Hoskins, #1 International Best Selling Author, Business Owner, Real Estate Investor, and Strategist. In this episode we talk about business and go all the way back to roots. Do NOT miss this fascinating conversation that takes us around the world and back in time. Resources rel…

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3rd Culture Empathy with Payal Beri 33:24

3+ y ago33:24

33:24

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this fantastic episode with Payal Beri, we discuss what it's like living abroad for an extended amount of time as 3rd Culture folks. Along the way we talk about how this has equipped us to be empathetic and applying these life lessons to what we do every day. Come along for the ride! If this is your first time with OTC, check ou…

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Convos with Sandra Hunter: Stealth Aunties and Metaphorical Changing Rooms 42:09

3+ y ago42:09

42:09

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this intriguing episode of Our True Colors, Sandra Hunter joins us to talk about her work with Wild Women Leaders of Colour and shares her own experiences of identity and "herstory". Together we talk about leaning on each other...and our ancestors...for support as we as women of color navigate space historically dominated by whi…

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SPECIAL EPISODE: World v. Wade - Discourse about the Threat to Human Autonomy 35:57

3+ y ago35:57

35:57

MESSAGE ME HERE! I am so happy to welcome back Season 3 Cohost, Carmen Watson, to talk with me about the news of the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. I wanted to know her thoughts and perspectives as a Canadian and understand what conversations are happening among our neighbors to the north. Join us for this special episode as we discuss t…

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You Know What They Say About Making Assumptions...Discussion with Rahimeh Ramezany 37:21

3+ y ago37:21

37:21

MESSAGE ME HERE! In this episode, we talk with Rahimeh Ramezany about identity and making assumptions about who people are and what their lived experiences must be. Rahimeh is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Intercultural Specialist, whose work is focused on addressing the experiences of marginalized ethnic, racial, and religious communities in…

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Work-Life Harmony with Ruthie Bowles 39:54

3+ y ago39:54

39:54

MESSAGE ME HERE! Ruthie Bowles is a US Army Veteran, mom to four kids, and lives in Maryland with her family, goats, and chickens. She focuses on bringing awareness to the unethical tactics and strategies in the small business coaching and consulting industry. Ruthie is also an audiobook narrator. She joins OTC this episode to talk about the differ…

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Caught Between Worlds with Dr. Christopher Riddick 34:29

3+ y ago34:29

34:29

MESSAGE ME HERE! While Washington, DC is the city where he resides, Dr. Christopher Riddick is a proud son of North Carolina and hails from the rural county of Gates. His upbringing was significant in shaping his identity and fuels many of his passions today. Dr. Riddick is intent on helping organizations truly exhibit what they frequently say but …

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Identity Beyond Chapter Titles with Katrina Strohl 33:37

3+ y ago33:37

33:37

MESSAGE ME HERE! Katrina Strohl (they/them) served as an Aviation Structural Mechanic in the US Navy. In 2018, Katrina decided to take their own life after internalizing the behavior of an unsafe workplace. They now serve others through their work in psychological safety, mental health and boundary strategy for people who share their identities or …

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Welcome to Season 4 - Meet Yolandie! 35:02

3+ y ago35:02

35:02

MESSAGE ME HERE! Welcome to Season 4 of Our True Colors! I am happy to introduce my co-host for this season, Yolandie Hamilton. She'll be hangin' with us for the season, so get to know a little bit about her in this episode. Yolandie Hamilton is a personal style and confidence coach, mom and proud to be the very interesting mix of Jamaica and Polan…

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Qrescent Mali Mason: Uses of Ambiguity. A Black Feminist Phenomenologist Reflects on Ambiguities in the Year 2020 1:19:57

3+ y ago1:19:57

1:19:57

This talk focuses on the ambiguous dimensions of the year 2020 from the standpoint of a Black American feminist philosopher. Inheriting the existential phenomenological concept of ambiguity from Simone de Beauvoir, Qrescent Mali Mason seeks in this final episode to map the ambiguities in Beauvoir’s work and life, and in the legacies of feminist thi…

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Ana Maskalan: "I Didn't Ask for It". Women of Former Yugoslavia Vs. The Invisibility of Rape 43:50

3+ y ago43:50

43:50

Online initiative "I Didn't Ask for It" (#nisamtrazila) started in January 2021 in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia, motivated by a public confession of a young Serbian actress of being raped by a well-known Belgrade drama pedagogue. In today's lecture, Ana Maskalan offers a feminist analysis of the evolution of the above-menti…

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Catherine Raissiguier: Beauvoir, Bardot, and Burqinis. Making Sense of Modern France 46:32

3+ y ago46:32

46:32

In 1959, Simone de Beauvoir wrote a little-read essay on Brigitte Bardot, describing her as the new myth of feminity that troubles French notions of womanhood. In this episode, Catherine Raissiguier asks what BB and Beauvoir can teach us today about France's national self-understanding, as BB troubles us even more today due to her right-wing politi…

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Sonia Kruks: Old Age and Intersectionality — Beauvoir and Beyond 45:46

4y ago45:46

45:46

La Vieillesse (1970) is Beauvoir's groundbreaking work on old age, in which she describes the silencing that befalls the old. This oppressive silence still continues today, as Sonia Kruks argues in this lecture. Showing how we can benefit from Beauvoir to understand how the domination of the old is perpetuated in contemporary society, Sonia Kruks a…

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Mickaëlle Provost: A Transatlantic Existentialism — Simone de Beauvoir, Richard Wright and the Phenomenology of Racial Oppression 42:38

4y ago42:38

42:38

Simone de Beauvoir and Richard Wright embody what we could call, alluding to Paul Gilroy, 'Transatlantic Existentialism': they contributed to the circulation of ideas that constitute Black post-war thought. In this episode, Mickaëlle Provost explores the affinities between their analyses of oppression, and discusses the use of analogy in talking ab…