In the Nation's Capital, music and sports have played a central role in the lives of African Americans, often serving as a barometer of social conflict and social progress―for sports clubs and ball games, jam sessions and concerts, offered entertainment, enlightenment, and encouragement. At times, they have also offered a means of escape from the harsh reali ... Show More
Aug 15
Inna Faliks, "Weight in the Fingertips: A Musical Odyssey from Soviet Ukraine to the World Stage" (Backbeat Books, 2023)
Adventurous and passionate” (The New Yorker) Ukrainian-born pianist Inna Faliks has established herself as one of the most communicative, and poetic artists of her generation. She has made a name for herself through commanding performances of standard piano repertoire, as well ge ... Show More
45m 38s
Aug 13
Richard Mainwaring, "What the Ear Hears (And Doesn't): Inside the Extraordinary Everyday World of Frequency" (Sourcebooks, 2022)
What do the world's loneliest whale, a black hole, and twenty-three people doing Tae Bo all have in common? In 2011, a skyscraper in South Korea began to shake uncontrollably without warning and was immediately evacuated. Was it an earthquake? An attack? No one seemed quite sure. ... Show More
1h 10m
May 4
Aaron Robertson, "The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America" (FSG, 2024)
How do the disillusioned, the forgotten, and the persecuted not merely hold on to life but expand its possibilities and preserve its beauty? What, in other words, does utopia look like in black? These questions animate Aaron Robertson’s exploration of Black Americans' efforts to ... Show More
54m 58s
Dec 2018
Kellie Jones, "South of Pico: African American Artists in the 1960s and 1970s" (Duke UP, 2017)
New York City might have been the epicenter of the twentieth century American art scene, but Los Angeles was no slouch either, writes Kellie Jones in South of Pico: African American Artists in the 1960s and 1970s(Duke University Press, 2017). Dr. Jones, Professor of Art History a ... Show More
49m 8s
Feb 2024
The Notorious PhD: Dr. Todd Boyd
Explore the depths of hip-hop's transformative power with Dr. Todd Boyd, the "Notorious PhD," as he takes us on a 50-year journey through the genre's history in his latest book, "Rappers Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made the World." As a pioneer in the academic study of hip-hop and a true ... Show More
1h 8m
Mar 2025
Anthony Mackie: Captain America takes us behind the scenes from New Orleans to Hollywood icon, challenges faced by black actors, being mentored by Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle love, breakout roles,
“I don't think it's a question of convincing people or convincing the world. My biggest hurdle was convincing myself.” Anthony Mackie on role of Captain America
Pivot Family, We are back in New Orleans like we never left! Sitting with NOLA’s hometown hero who’s Hollywood’s new C ... Show More
1h 5m
Aug 2021
THE KING OF CRENSHAW Episode 1: To Live and Die in LA
When Nipsey Hussle was murdered on March 31, 2019 in front of his South LA clothing store, the tragedy elicited immediate tributes across industries, walks of life, and international borders. One world in particular where the news resonated on a personal level — the NBA, where Hu ... Show More
46m 25s
May 1
Craig Hodges: From Michael Jordan's Teammate to Blackballed From The NBA, 2x Champion Speaks out
Delve into the untold story of Craig Hodges, the Chicago Bulls sharpshooter who went from winning championships alongside Michael Jordan to being ostracized from the NBA following his political activism. In this powerful interview, Hodges discusses his Chicago upbringing, coachin ... Show More
1h 58m