In Episode 20 of the Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, Talib Jasir sits with Toni Blackman to explore cultural bridges, global storytelling, and creative sovereignty through music and media.

Toni shares the vision behind her upcoming podcast TOALA, short for Travels of a Lyrical Ambassador, an audio project centered on African music, Afrobeats, hip hop culture, and diaspora connection. Drawing from her experiences traveling across Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, Angola, China, and beyond, she reflects on how artists build cultural bridges that transcend geography.

This conversation moves through African music's global impact, diaspora identity, creative discipline, and the responsibility that comes with storytelling across borders. Toni speaks about trusting intuition over validation, practicing as a daily discipline, and protecting creative sovereignty in an attention-driven media landscape.

We also discuss Bloom Afrique Microfund and her work supporting African entrepreneurs, the role of artists in shaping cultural narratives, and why global storytelling requires both humility and leadership.

This episode is for podcasters, artists, cultural strategists, and entrepreneurs interested in African music, diaspora storytelling, creative leadership, and building media platforms rooted in vision.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you stream.

Podcast: TOALA (Travels of a Lyrical Ambassador)

00:00 – Introduction: Toni Blackman, First U.S. Hip Hop Ambassador
05:00 – African Music, Senegal & Expanding the Diaspora Through Sound
10:00 – Touring Africa, Global Hip Hop & Cultural Diplomacy
15:00 – Diaspora Identity, Afrobeats & Reframing Black History
20:00 – Creative Discipline, Freestyle Speaking & Practice Over Performance
25:00 – Trusting Vision, Micro Content Strategy & Launching TOALA
30:00 – Artists vs Institutions: Why Creators Build Connection Differently
35:00 – Bloom Afrique Microfund & Investing in African Entrepreneurs
40:00 – Leadership, Fear, Mentorship & Generational Disruption
45:00 – Opening Your World Through Music & Diaspora Exploration
50:00 – Meditation Projects, Healing Work & Final Reflections

Spotify Artist Link: https://open.spotify.com/artist/48ho4Mg0LK4KH5D7y6tOEs?si=IUY1TEThT_6XSZja-tyI_g

Connect with Toni Blackman: Bloom Afrique Microfund and collaborations: hello@toniblackman.com

Follow on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/toniblackman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissBlackman1/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@toniblackman5

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toniblackman/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ToniBlackman

Check the links below to learn more about the artists Toni mentioned in the episode:

Orchestra Baobab: https://youtu.be/m4yFmRNcX3I?si=quMufW_iHbk1jPFH

M.anifest: https://youtu.be/ibEc2aLamCk?si=cdKzlWyQJPl9YeLZ

Fritz Francois: https://youtu.be/aXjYp8GIGos?si=oek_Scj_dlIT0GE5

Breez Evahflowin': https://youtu.be/pm_Zv2ZCinY?si=EVDTOYnqmoww48fc

Rhyme Like a Girl Nairobi: https://youtu.be/SYK7_JmgKkE?si=DLfn0LPw3DmDDTu9

Franck Biyong: https://youtu.be/c6nUhLVcSSk?si=CeyoLoohOWwOygeT

Fid Q: https://youtu.be/e5Imz9qzxFw?si=JS-nF-J6W5wMYjvX

In Episode 19 of the Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, Talib Jasir sits with Eteng Ettah, host of Consider This for Comfort, a podcast exploring comfort TV, media literacy, and cultural commentary.

Why do certain television shows become emotional refuge?
What does comfort TV reveal about nostalgia, connection, and identity?
How does pop culture shape the way we understand society?

Eteng is a brand and cultural strategist who examines the intersection of television, media, and social meaning. In this conversation, she explains how comfort television can regulate emotion, create communal experiences, and offer insight into what people are carrying in uncertain times.

We discuss media literacy in the age of misinformation, doom scrolling versus intentional consumption, the power of nostalgia in streaming culture, and why creators must build from what they genuinely want to make instead of chasing trends.

Eteng also shares how she structures Consider This for Comfort using a seasonal format, experiments with collaborative award-season episodes, and expands her work into a companion newsletter, Ateng's Edit, to build a broader cultural ecosystem.

This episode is for podcasters, newsletter writers, media creators, cultural commentators, and anyone interested in comfort TV, pop culture analysis, and building independent media platforms with intention.

00:00 – Introduction to Eteng Ettah & Consider This for Comfort
05:00 – Media Responsibility, Journalism & Podcasting Access
10:00 – What Is Comfort TV and Why It Resonates
15:00 – Emotional Refuge, Nervous System Regulation & Storytelling
20:00 – Creative Control, Ownership & Building a Podcast From Scratch
25:00 – Moving Beyond Friends & Family Guests
30:00 – Experimenting With Emmy Specials & Collaborative Episodes
35:00 – Creating What You Want vs Chasing Trends
40:00 – Comfort TV, Nostalgia & The Need for Connection
45:00 – Expanding Into Newsletters & Building a Cultural Ecosystem
50:00 – Collaboration, Creative Sovereignty & What's Next

To learn more about Eteng Ettah visit: https://www.etengettah.com

Listen to Consider This for Comfort on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6FyAIKf2vjkjoC7eFRYFTp?

Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/considercomfortpod

This episode is brought to you by CON417 "Where Music Never Sleeps!"

Visit: www.edgarsdiaz.com

Follow on Instagram @edgarsdiazmusic

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you stream.

In Episode 18 of the Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, Talib Jasir speaks with Dr. Briana Barner, Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Maryland and creator of the Black Podcast course.

What is a Black podcast?
How should Black podcasts be preserved?
What does it mean to study podcasting through race, identity, and cultural production?

Dr. Barner teaches a university course focused on Black podcasts as cultural artifacts. In this conversation, she explains how podcasting functions as an extension of Black oral storytelling traditions, why representation in media still matters, and how students navigate race, code-switching, and identity in academic spaces.

We also discuss:

• Defining Black podcasts beyond the race of the host
• Combat Jack and the preservation of hip hop podcast history
• Why Serial is often credited as the beginning of podcasting and what that erases
• Misogynoir, digital media, and the cancellation of Louder Than a Riot
• The politics of editing, authenticity, and "brand safety"
• Why podcast archiving is urgent in a shifting political and digital landscape

This episode is essential listening for podcast creators, media scholars, journalism students, digital archivists, and anyone interested in Black podcast history and cultural criticism.

Dr. Briana Barner's research focuses on Black podcasts, digital media, preservation, and Black feminism. She is currently writing a book on Black podcasting as cultural production.

00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Briana Barner & Black Podcast Studies
05:00 – What Makes a Podcast "Black"? Challenging Definitions
10:00 – Teaching Black Podcasting in a Majority-White Classroom
15:00 – Cultural Production, Sound, and Audience Identity
20:00 – Representation, Bad Bunny, and Cultural Moments in Media
25:00 – Students Producing Podcasts in Real Time
30:00 – Code-Switching, Identity, and Classroom Breakthroughs
35:00 – Combat Jack and Preserving Black Podcast History
40:00 – Louder Than a Riot, Misogynoir & NPR Cancellation
45:00 – Black Feminism, Digital Harm & Podcast Freedom
50:00 – Authenticity, Editing Choices & The Politics of Sound
55:00 – Why Black Podcast Archiving Matters Now
1:00:00 – Final Reflections on Media, Identity & Creator Autonomy

Listen to the Black Podclass on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/black-pod-class/id1733359998

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackpodclass

Listen, subscribe, and share.

In this episode of Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, host Talib Jasir sits down with Minista Jazz, founder of Much Different World, to examine voice ownership, consent, and intellectual property in the age of artificial intelligence.

Minista shares how a personal experience with image theft led her to build infrastructure designed to protect creators from unauthorized use of their voice and likeness. The conversation explores voice as intellectual property, how AI systems are trained on creator data, and why consent must be foundational in emerging technologies.

Talib and Minista discuss the concept of a Voice Data Trust, the Tennessee Elvis Act, digital double technology, and what creators must understand about platform agreements and IP protections. The episode centers the economic realities facing independent creators and the importance of protecting creative assets before harm occurs.

This conversation is essential listening for podcasters, audio professionals, digital creators, and founders navigating AI-driven platforms and seeking clarity around digital rights and ownership.

00:00 Introduction to Minista Jazz and Much Different World
05:00 How Image Theft Sparked a Tech Movement
10:00 Why Your Voice Is Intellectual Property
15:00 Building a Voice Data Trust
20:00 AI, Consent & Creator Power
25:00 Designing Technology for Marginalized Communities
30:00 Digital Double Case Study
35:00 Protecting Your Voice Before It's Cloned
40:00 The Tennessee Elvis Act and Legal Protections
45:00 The Future of Voice Technology
50:00 What Creators Must Do Now
55:00 Final Reflections and Call to Action

Protect Your Voice. Own Your IP.

Minista Jazz is offering a limited opportunity for podcasters to register and protect their voice inside the Sisterhood Voice Data Trust.

The first 10 podcasters can register their voice for free using Afros & Audio's promo code mentioned in the episode. Use code AFROSANDAUDIO when you register your voice at: https://muchdifferentworld.com

Explore the Sister Safe Registry: https://sisterhoodsitin.com

Support Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest: https://bwiclafffest.com/

Follow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ministajazz

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred streaming platform.

Paid Promo Ad: CON417 Where Music Never Sleeps!

Visit: www.edgarsdiaz.com

Follow on Instagram @edgarsdiazmusic

In this episode of Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, host Talib Jasir sits down with Christabel Nsiah-Buadi, founder of Your Podcast Pipeline and executive editorial strategist, to discuss narrative clarity, audience development, and building sustainable podcast ecosystems.

Christabel shares insights from her background in journalism and major media institutions, offering a grounded perspective on why many creators stall after launching, how burnout often begins early, and why editorial direction must precede marketing tactics. The conversation centers on filling the narrative gap, defining audience alignment, and building authority through intentional storytelling rather than chasing visibility.

Talib and Christabel explore the long-term nature of podcasting, the importance of maintaining message integrity, and what it means to create public conversations that endure beyond trends. This episode is especially relevant for founders, nonprofit leaders, podcasters, and content creators seeking clarity and sustainability in their work.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
05:00 Narrative Clarity, Audience Trust & Filling the Narrative Gap
10:00 Podcasting as a Long Game and the Myth of Overnight Growth
15:00 Editorial Direction vs. Marketing Tactics
20:00 From Large Media Institutions to Independent Strategy
25:00 Building an Ecosystem Around Your Podcast
30:00 The Danger of Softening Your Message
35:00 Burnout, Prototyping & Sustainable Content Creation
40:00 Launching Closing the Narrative Gap Program
45:00 Owning Your Voice and Creating Public Conversations

Connect with Christabel Nsiah-Buadi Website: yourpodcastpipeline.com

Social Media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christabelnsiahbuadi/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christabelnsiahbuadi

Subscribe for more conversations with founders, creators, and audio professionals building sustainable platforms.

Watch on YouTube or listen on your preferred streaming platform.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred streaming platform.

In this episode of Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, host Talib Jasir sits down with Derrick Young, co-founder of MahoganyBooks, to discuss Black literature, media ownership, book bans, and building a lasting cultural institution.

Mahogany Books began as an online Black-owned bookstore and has grown into a physical retail space, community hub, and podcast network committed to preserving and amplifying Black voices. Derrick shares how access to Black literature shapes identity, why storytelling influences freedom, and how gathering in joy becomes an act of cultural affirmation.

The conversation explores narrative control, the decline of Black bookstores, the rise of book banning across the country, and how independent Black businesses can scale without losing mission alignment. Derrick also discusses launching a podcast network from a bookstore, building brand trust through community economics, and maintaining long-term vision in a culture driven by speed.

This episode is essential listening for creators, entrepreneurs, educators, and anyone invested in Black media, publishing, podcasting, and cultural preservation.

00:00 Introduction and Meeting Derrick Young
05:00 From Bookstore to Podcast Network
10:00 Miseducation, Narrative Control & Black History
15:00 Fiction, Heritage & Cultural Memory
20:00 Technology, AI & Disrupting the Book Industry
25:00 Black Resilience & Historical Publishing Resistance
30:00 Joyful Gathering as Cultural Affirmation
35:00 Community Economics & Brand Trust
40:00 Long-Term Vision vs Hustle Culture
45:00 Afros & Audio, Media Expansion & Scaling
50:00 Mahogany Books Locations & Final Reflections

To learn more visit: www.MahoganyBooksMedia.com

Visit MahoganyBooks Retail Store: 121 American Way Oxon Hill, MD 20745

Follow on Social Media: IG: @derrickyoung.dc, @mahoganybooks, @mahoganybookspodcastnetwork

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred streaming platform.

Brandon Collins on Drunk Black History, Comedy, and Building a Live Podcast Audience | Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series – Season 4

In this episode of Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, host Talib Jasir sits down with writer, comedian, and producer Brandon Collins, creator of Drunk Black History, to explore how comedy, education, and live podcasting intersect to tell powerful Black stories.

Brandon shares how a casual idea turned into a nationally touring live show and podcast, how he built a loyal audience from the ground up, and why blending humor with Black history creates both connection and clarity. The conversation moves through live event production, audience development, sustainability in independent podcasting, and the responsibility of telling stories that matter.

They discuss:

• The origin of Drunk Black History
• Turning live shows into a scalable podcast format
• Building trust through consistency
• Producing independent events and marketing strategy
• Navigating controversy in media
• Creative resilience and staying adaptable
• The business realities of independent podcasting

This episode offers practical insight for podcasters, producers, comedians, and creative entrepreneurs who want to grow their audience while maintaining authenticity and impact.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
05:00 The Origin of Drunk Black History
10:00 Why Podcasting Became Essential
15:00 Mixing Comedy with Black History
20:00 Producing Live Events and Marketing Strategy
25:00 Consistency, Audience Trust, and Growth
30:00 Navigating Controversy in Podcasting
35:00 This Week in Black History Segment
40:00 Evolving the Format and Staying Innovative
45:00 Creative Resilience and Generational Shifts
50:00 The Business of Independent Podcasting
55:00 Final Reflections and Advice for Creators

To learn more about Brandon Collins and Drunk Black History visit: www.drunkblackhistory.com

Check out Drunk Black History's Upcoming Shows: www.drunkblackhistory.com/upcoming-shows

Listen to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drunk-black-history/id1535495844

Follow in Instagram: @officialdrunkblackhistory

Subscribe to Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series for more conversations with podcast creators, media entrepreneurs, and storytellers shaping the future of audio.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred streaming platform.

Watch on YouTube or stream on your preferred platform.

In Episode 13 of Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, host Talib Jasir speaks with Fanshen Cox, Charlie T. Savage, and Ashanti Groves, the creators of Sista Brunch to explore how intentional conversation builds community through podcasting.

This episode centers the power of Black women-led audio platforms, the responsibility of holding space in public dialogue, and the balance between creativity, entrepreneurship, and sisterhood. From documenting lived experiences to sustaining meaningful conversations over time, this discussion highlights how podcasting becomes both archive and connective tissue.

Talib and the Sista Brunch team discuss growth, collaboration, visibility, and what it means to create something rooted in culture while navigating expansion. The conversation offers insight for podcasters, creators, and anyone building community through media.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
05:00 The Origin of Sista Brunch
10:00 Creating Space for Honest Conversations
15:00 Sisterhood, Entrepreneurship, and Balance
20:00 Building Community Through Podcasting
25:00 Challenges of Visibility and Growth
30:00 The Responsibility of Holding Space
35:00 Collaboration and Expanding the Platform
40:00 Lessons Learned in Podcasting
45:00 The Future of Sista Brunch
50:00 Final Reflections and Where to Connect

Subscribe to Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred streaming platform. Leave a review to support the show and help new listeners discover these conversations.

To learn more about Sista Brunch visit: https://www.sistabrunch.com

To donate to Season 7 of Sista Brunch: https://givebutter.com/sistabrunch

Subscribe to TruJuLoMedia https://www.youtube.com/@TruJuLoMedia

Join the Sista Brunch Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/sistabrunch

Follow on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/sistabrunchpodcast

https://www.facebook.com/sistabrunchpodcast

🎧 Listen on YouTube or your preferred streaming platform.

💬 Leave a comment sharing what resonated with you.

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