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DIGITAL OASIS

AN INTRO TO SOME OF THE BEST PODCAST SHOWS ON THE PLANET

Podcasting is a big business and one that is expected to keep growing. According to Podcast Insights, there are currently over 660,000 podcasts and over 28 million episodes as of last month. Black people have a steadily-growing podcast presence, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why. As usual Black people are at the forefront of diversifying the growing medium. From pop culture to politics to outer space—there are a ton of smart, enjoyable podcasts out there featuring a bevy of brilliant Black folks. Even major podcast platforms including Spotify and Google are holding competitions in an effort to increase podcast diversity. There is anecdotal evidence, though, that more black people are turning to podcasting as a way to amplify their voices. With that in mind, here are 3 podcasts that are sure to inspire, spark joy, and give you a few giggles.

Baller Alert

he pop-culture podcast airs weekly on Mondays, discussing and dissecting entertainment news, opinion and gossip. The latest innovation from the mega-successful Baller Alert Brand, “The Baller Alert Show” is hosted by lifestyle specialist, culture curator and industry vet Kenny Burns, entrepreneur/influencer and brand ambassador Su Solo, party host/ radio personality Ferrari Simmons of Atlanta’s 94.5 The Streetz and Podcast producer iHandlebars. This dynamic dream team’s high-energy interplay will have viewers engaged from start to finish. The Miami-based Baller Alert enterprise founded in 2008 boasts a combined reach of more than 200 million impressions a week, according to the company. T

Black Girl

lack Girl Podcast is the dose of melanin magic that everyone needs in their day. Rebecca “Bex” Francois, Sapphira Martin, Alysha Pamphile, Gia Peppers, and Deanii “Scottie Beam” Scott come together to give their opinions on everything pop culture and life experiences, giving us the girl talk that is sorely needed in the podcast world. Each episode is a kiki that bolsters your soul and invites you into the lives of your five new best friends who just want you to be the best version of yourself every day. “It’s about being bare for other girls to know that we’re all going through the same things, talking about the same things. We’re not all that different,” says Peppers. So, what’s the end goal for this hard-working quintet? While they all admit that Black Girl Podcast can materialize into more, for now, they’re focused building a voice for the black women in this generation. B

Code Switch

PR’s award-winning Code Switch podcast explores how race and culture collide with everything else in people’s lives. With a rotating cast of Code Switch reporters, editors and guest contributors, the podcast invites listeners to re-examine their perspectives about race and identity in ways that might inspire, entertain and challenge them. Launched in 2013, NPR’s Code Switch team has made its mark as a blog on NPR.org and with segments on NPR’s signature shows. The reporting team has tackled the constantly-shifting and overlapping themes of race, ethnicity and culture and how they play out in people’s lives and communities. Named after the many ways people shift how they express race and culture in daily life, Code Switch aims to deepen the coverage of these topics and capture the issues that define an increasingly diverse America. N