Shows
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisInside Kokomo with Ria and Kevol Graham on Caribbean Food and HospitalityRia and Kevol Graham join Chrystal Genesis for cocktails and conversation at Kokomo, their family-run, acclaimed Caribbean restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Partners in life and work, the couple talk about opening Kokomo just before the Covid pandemic and building a hospitality business while raising three children in New York City. They discuss Caribbean food as layered and plural rather than singular, their approach to hospitality as an extension of family, and how community, multicultural identity, care, and creativity shape the Kokomo experience. Ria and Kevol reflect on blending Caribbean heritage with New York...
2026-01-0720 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisVisual Artist Brittney Leeanne Williams on Color, the Body, and the Art of PresenceArtist Brittney Leanne Williams joins Chrystal Genesis to talk about her evocative figurative work, where architecture, landscape, and color blur together, and the body opens into a space of transcendence, memory, revelation, suffering and the mystical. Based in Los Angeles and born in Pasadena, Brittney has steadily built a reputation as one of today's most exciting, thoughtful figurative painters. In this wide-ranging conversation, they discuss how Brittney explores spirituality and how she uses the color red as a signal for the Black experience. They trace the evolution of her practice, from portals and prayer to layered storytelling that engages...
2025-11-2527 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisArtist and DJ Elijah on Independence, Creativity, and Closing the AppWriter, DJ, lecturer and creative provocateur Elijah joins Chrystal Genesis to talk about his new book Close The App, Make The Ting: Transformative Prompts For The Modern Artist. In this wide-ranging conversation, they chat about how his Yellow Squares project has grown from Instagram prompts into a global project of installations, lectures, billboards, and collaborations. They dig into his early story in London's independent music and art scenes, co-founding influential grime label Butterz, his thoughts on his Jamaican heritage, and the complex beauty of Black British identity. Together, they chat about creative sustainability, echo chambers...
2025-06-3034 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisSinger and Multi-Instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray on Owning Her Inner WeirdoSinger, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray joins Chrystal Genesis to talk about her new album, Weirdo, an ambitious, deeply personal project written, performed, produced, mixed, and arranged entirely by Emma-Jean in her South London flat. In this episode, they discuss how grief, neurodivergence, and resilience shaped the record, which blends elements of jazz, funk, soul, grunge, and pop. They explore her early path into musicianship, how isolation and creativity came together in the making of Weirdo, and why embracing your weirdness can create a powerful sense of self. The conversation touches on vulnerability, community, a...
2025-04-2514 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisStyle, Sound & Self-Expression w/ Musician & Artist Goya GumbaniMusician and artist Goya Gumbani joins Chrystal Genesis in New York's East Village ahead of his live show to talk sound, style, Miles Davis, and his new album, Warlord of the Weejuns. In this episode, the Brooklyn-born, South London-based artist reflects on the cultural influences behind his dreamy, laid-back record, where the storytelling of New York hip-hop meets London's jazz edge. Recorded just after soundcheck, their conversation glides through fashion, food trucks, friendship, and family, with Warlord of the Weejuns, out via Ghostly International, threaded throughout. The album features contributions from Fatima, Yaya Bey, Joe Armon-Jones, and...
2025-04-1218 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisCooking, Culture & Caribbean Cuisine w/ Chef Marie MitchellMarie Mitchell joins Chrystal Genesis at home in Harlem for a cooking lesson and conversation, drawn from her debut cookbook, KIN: Caribbean Recipes for the Modern Kitchen. In this episode, Marie teaches Chrystal how to finally master a classic Caribbean staple while sharing the stories, memories and legacy behind the food. As the daughter of Jamaican-born parents, Marie's approach to cooking is about bringing people together through flavor, history and conversation. Her debut book KIN goes far beyond the usual jerk chicken with rice and peas, weaving together more than 80 recipes from saltfish fritters and aubergine curry to dumplings...
2025-03-2837 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisExploring Tate Britain's 80s Exhibition Through a Black Queer Lens w/ Campaigner Marc ThompsonStance visits London to explore the Tate Gallery show The 80s: Photographing Britain with campaigner Marc Thompson. The exhibition examines how photographers used the camera to respond to the seismic social, political, and economic shifts of the era, including the rise of Thatcherism, race uprisings, and the AIDS epidemic. It highlights photography as a vital tool for social representation, cultural celebration, and artistic experimentation, spanning landscapes, self-portraiture, and social documentary during this pivotal and highly creative period. Marc Thompson, a Brixton-born cultural leader and prominent British campaigner with over three decades of experience in HIV activism and education, joins...
2024-12-2019 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisIntroducing South African musician and dancer Moonchild SanellyStance is back with singer and dancer Moonchild Sanelley as we approach our 8th year on air! In Season 4, Chrystal Genesis explores the people, places, stories, and ideas shaping our creative world. And with that, we head to South Africa to hear about Full Moon, the upcoming album from Port Elizabeth-born, Jo'burg-based singer, dancer and businesswoman Moonchild Sanelly. Born Sanelisiwe Twisha, she was raised on dance routines and church choirs and has since created a sound that's entirely her own, which she calls Future Ghetto Funk—an eclectic fusion of hip hop, punk rock, house, an...
2024-11-1328 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisStance's Final Episode! Musician Kamaal Williams, Author LaToya Watkins, Artist Cochemea, Musician SinkaneAfter seven years of Stance which has spanned over 64 episodes of arts, culture and current affairs, 8 insightful Stance Takes shows, the growth of Stance Studios, multiple awards, and over 30 in-person events across the globe, we present our final show from season 3! In this episode, Chrystal Genesis takes a look at creativity, storytelling and what it means to be human through literature, music, history and culture. We speak with musician and producer Kamaal Williams who chats about his latest album, Stings, his enduring faith, and the layered creative influences behind his music. Author LaToya...
2024-02-151h 11
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisMusic w/Enji; US Jews of Color: Celebrating Sukkot, Journalist Robin Washington, Writer Hanah Bloom, Jews of Color Initiative CEO Ilana Kaufman & Philosopher Lewis R. GordonOn Stance, we explore the question: what does it mean to be a Jewish person of color in America today? We chat with a range of voices from this growing demographic, in the worlds of philosophy, pop culture, community organizing, and journalism. Plus, we cover music with Jazz Musician Enji to learn more about her mesmerizing new record, Ulan. At a Sukkot celebration, a few members of the Jews of Color Initiative team, Jade Groobman, Sarah Starks and Riki Robinson, discuss their hopes, dreams and their work building more community in Jewish spaces.
2024-01-191h 15
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisHarlem Raised: Film w/ Maysles Documentary Center, Food w/Sugar Hill Creamery, Nature w/Brotherhood Sister Sol; Music w/ VagabonThis show explores Harlem, one of New York City's most historic and noteworthy places. Co-hosted by special guest, Vita, she joins her mum, Stance's host and founder Chrystal Genesis to highlight some of their favorite places. As residents of the area, they visit a handful of their favorite spots, spanning film, food and nature to uncover what continues to make Harlem one of the most distinctive pockets of NYC. Through independent filmmaking at Maysles Documentary Center, we chat with lead educator Art Jones about their one of a kind cinema space, filmmaking as a creative m...
2023-12-0157 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisOn Humanity w/ Philosopher & Historian Professor Lewis R. Gordon; Poet & Writer Fariha Róisín; Music w/Soul Singer-songwriter Danielle PonderHow do we tap into sources of hope, compassion and humanity during such turbulent times? This episode of Stance explores this question through the lenses of philosophy, poetry, and music. Professor Lewis R. Gordon is a philosopher, musician, and historian whose areas of focus include existentialism, Africana philosophy, social and political theory, theories of race, and philosophies of liberation and education. He speaks with us about compassion, politics and power during periods of uncertainty and upheaval. Poet, writer and multidisciplinary artist, Fariha Róisín shares her latest poetry collection, Survival Takes A Wild Imagination, an...
2023-11-0143 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisCelebrating ESG w/ Co-Founder, Singer & Guitarist Renee Scroggins; Journalist, Cultural Critic & Professor Carol CooperWe're back from our summer break to bring you a special show all about the seminal funk-punk dance band, ESG. Join us on this immersive musical journey through New York City exploring the 70's, 80's and beyond, following ESG and their unique sound and story. Starting in the South Bronx, sisters, Valerie, Renee, Deborah, and Marie Scroggins formed ESG with Tito Libran in the late 70's. They went on to perform across the world and record dozens of records influencing artists in all genres, with their music being sampled over 500 times. The band's body of work is rooted in...
2023-10-0134 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisTribeca Festival, NYC's Celebration of Film w/ actors Claire Danes, Zazie Beetz, CCH Pounder and filmmakers Steve Buscemi, So Young Shelly Yo, Guo Guo, Noam Kaplan, and Jennifer EspositoWe take you to Tribeca Film Festival celebrating creative storytelling from the heart of NYC's lower Manhattan. Chrystal Genesis interviews actors and filmmakers on the red carpet and backstage to cover some of the most exciting films and TV premiering at Tribeca. We catch up with actors including Zazie Beetz, CCH Pounder and Claire Danes to find out more about the mystery thriller TV show, Full Circle, directed by Steven Soderbergh. Prolific actor Steve Buscemi chats about his directorial project The Listener. It is an intimate look at the experiences of calling a helpline, as we follow o...
2023-06-3056 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisHot Docs 30th Anniversary: Canada's International Documentary Film FestivalStance visits Toronto to cover Hot Docs, the largest documentary film festival in North America, known for its bold and outspoken programming. Founded in 1993 by Canadian filmmakers and producers, the festival now showcases over 200 films from across 72 countries. While at the festival, Stance views visually arresting, thought-provoking, experimental and investigative documentaries premiering in Toronto from across the world. Chrystal Genesis interviews makers of the films including Who's Afraid of Nathan Law?, covering Hong Kong's fight for democracy through the political rise of lawmaker and activist Nathan Law to becoming most wanted by the age of 26. This World i...
2023-05-3149 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisTouring and Cooking in NYC's Chinatown w/ Culinary Historian, Cookbook Author and Award-winning Campaigner, Grace YoungWe visit New York City's Chinatown with culinary historian, cookbook author, and campaigner Grace Young. The largest in the US, it is known for an abundance of markets, eateries, multi-generational businesses, and independent stores serving New Yorkers and tourists from all over the world. It is home to a predominantly Chinese Asian diaspora dating back to the mid-1800s and today this area includes communities from Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and more. On a tour through the area, Grace guides Chrystal around Chinatown's streets and landmarks. They begin at 65 Mott Street, the oldest tenement building in NYC, followed b...
2023-05-0153 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisExcavating Spirituality w/ Poet aja monet, Writer Emma Warren, Visual Artists Senga Nengudi Fittz & Kaylynn Sullivan TwoTreesStance delves into the spiritual realm and how it manifests through the visual arts, dance, music and poetry. An ever-evolving topic, we cover the power of spirituality through ancestral connections, imagination, movement, humor and joy. To start, we speak with surrealist blues poet, aja monet on the artistic movements shaping her writing and community organizing. We discuss her upcoming poetry collection Florida Water, and album When The Poems Do What They Do. We cover writer and journalist Emma Warren's book Dance Your Way Home: A Journey Through the Dance Floor, an intimate look at movement th...
2023-04-0156 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisWhy You Should Care About Caste w/ Author Anindita Ghose, Activist & Storyteller Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Model & Engineer Seema HariHave you heard of Caste? Whether you know it well or not at all, Caste in South Asia and around the world influences everything from politics, education, media, and family relationships. It's a system which dates back centuries and today affects around 1.9 billion people. So how do we become Caste aware? We explore this and more through the lenses of literature, tech and the arts. We speak with Mumbai based author and journalist Anindita Ghose about her highly praised debut novel The Illuminated. A lyrical, human and provocative story set against India's tense contemporary political la...
2023-03-0144 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisAccra, Ghana: Music with SuperJazzClub; Freedom Skatepark Founder Sandy Alibo; Culinary Sundown Experience at Palm MomentsStance is back with its sixth anniversary episode, a celebration of all things Stance loves: culture, food, music and art. In this show, Chrystal Genesis travels to the buzzing, complex and vibrant capital of Ghana: Accra. An epicenter of creativity, innovation and youth culture. While in Accra, Chrystal meets Ghanaian music collective SuperJazzClub, made up of artists, producers, filmmakers and DJs to find out more about their alternative sounds of the city. In conversation with Sandy Alibo, founder of social enterprises including Freedom Skatepark, we go for a tour of the park and hear how community-led projects...
2023-02-0147 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisLive from Glastonbury Festival w/Producer, DJ and Vocalist Sofia KourtesisStance celebrates the summer with a live show from Glastonbury. The most iconic music and performing arts festival in the UK. Stance takes in the sounds of the festival atmosphere and speaks with Lima-born, Berlin-based producer, DJ and vocalist Sofia Kourtesis before her show at Glastonbury's Sonic Stage. Sofia chats about her bittersweet house music, her Peruvian roots, and playing Glasto for the first time. Her recent EP Fresia Magdalena features tracks influenced by family relationships, loss, community, and hope. Before hitting the stage at Glastonbury, Sofia chats with Stance about how nature, joy, and a...
2022-06-3016 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisSex, Desire & Pleasure w/ Author Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Poet Samiya Bashir, Artist Lady Skollie, Journalist Kemi Alemoru; Music w/ The Twilite ToneWe examine sex, desire, and pleasure through visual art, literature, culture and musical critique to uncover how black women, and women of colour, navigate their sexual needs and wants. Stance hears from Ghanaian non-fiction author Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah on her book, The Sex Lives of African Women which shares stories of over 30 African women across the continent and its diaspora. We discuss sexual expression through poetry, performance and visual art with American poet and editor of erotica Samiya Bashir & South African visual artist Lady Skollie. UK based Journalist and culture editor at gal-dem, Ke...
2022-06-0159 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisIsland Life w/ Musician Leyla McCalla; Professor Godfrey Baldacchino; Author Mary Taylor Simeti; Writer Alice Albinia; Mitchell Kuga, Maura Walz & Yung Kha on HBOs White LotusStance explores Island Life through music, food, culture, and literature as well as where they sit within our imaginations. From representations on telly to Sicily's diverse culinary food history, and Haiti's culture and politics through sound, Stance attempts to get to the roots of Island Life. We hear the arresting music of Haitian American artist Leyla McCalla, as she speaks with Stance about her new album Breaking The Thermometer. We have an energetic conversation dissecting all things White Lotus set in Maui, Hawai'i, in a group chat with journalist Mitchell Kuga based in...
2022-05-011h 14
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisUkraine & the Narratives of War w/ Daemeah Karbeah, Cynthia Enloe, Daniel Trilling, Ahmed Shihab-Eldin; Hercules & Love Affair.In light of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, we examine how narratives of war shape how we see and experience conflict. Stance explores the tropes of war, racist media coverage, war as entertainment, and the current and future issues refugees fleeing Ukraine are likely to face. Plus, the impact this has on global politics and policy with Daemeah Karbeah, the co-founder of grassroots collective @BlackPeopleInUkraine, research professor of women & militarism Cynthia Enloe, and award winning journalist and author Daniel Trilling. We also speak with award winning journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin to get his take on international law and the concept...
2022-03-311h 01
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisInnovative Musicians w/Joviale, Planningtorock, KALLITECHNIS; Summer of Soul Director, QuestloveStance speaks with Summer of Soul Director Questlove and highlights the innovative musicians making their mark on music right now. We discover how the arts, introspection, sound, society, and heritage influence these artists and their crafts. Grammy winner, Oscar and BAFTA nominee, director Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson discusses his spellbinding and vital documentary Summer of Soul, highlighting the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Stance speaks with London-based multidisciplinary artist Joviale about their otherworldly, immersive alt-pop sound, and their latest EP Hurricane Belle. We chat with Tallinn-based singer, producer, and composer Planningtorock about celebrating queer happiness, fashion...
2022-02-281h 25
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisBeyond the Studio: In Conversation with Artists Antony Gormley and Nari WardStance Podcast goes beyond the studio in conversation with world-renowned sculptors Antony Gormley & Nari Ward. From London and New York, they share unique, considered opinions on their own practices and each other's work, and highlight themes at the forefront of their creativity. We cover the subversive nature of art, architecture, fatherhood, the human body, the island nations they're from, and the role of community within their practice. It's a powerful discussion between two visual artists who have shaped the landscape of contemporary art as we know it. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @s...
2022-01-281h 05
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisStance Takes Montreal: Where Music Meets Art w/ Musician Gayance; Visual Artist Yannis Guibinga; Art Collector Dr. Kenneth MontagueStance Takes is back with a special show taking you around Montreal's creative scene. Known for its independent and eclectic music and visual arts, Montreal is a striking and dynamic French speaking multicultural city. In this immersive episode where music and art collide, Stance profiles Haitian Canadian musical artist, programmer and DJ Gayance. She invites Stance into her home for pancakes and a chat about her latest EP No Toning Down, and the cross-cultural influences behind her nostalgic and joyful sounds. We speak to Dr. Kenneth Montague, founder of Wedge Collection about his long-standing work...
2021-12-1651 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisStance Takes: MFest Muslim Knowledge & Creativity w/ Author Nadifa Mohamed; Journalist Rokhaya Diallo; MP Zarah Sultana; TV Director Nida Manzoor; Historian Blair Imani and more.Stance Takes is back covering MFest, a multi-arts festival of Muslim knowledge and creativity with Maslaha with The British Library. We bring highlights from the festival, sharing an immersive glimpse from its programme, and speak with award-winning Somali-British author Nadifa Mohamed. The Fortune Men, covers the true story of the wrongful imprisonment and execution of Mahmood Hussein Mattan, a Somali seaman, in Wales. The book is a reimagined version of Mahmood Hussein Mattan's real life. We connect anti-racist struggles internationally with France-based journalist Rokhaya Diallo, UK Labour MP Zarah Sultana and US-based writer Hoda Katebi.
2021-07-2040 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisThe Bronx w/ Yayoi Kusama at New York Botanical Garden; Artist Tasha Dougé; Rapper Kemba; Food: Togo's Bognan International & Italian Madonia Brothers BakeryStance visits The Bronx to spotlight its rich history and contemporary landscape to dissect how it's one of the city's most unique and overlooked boroughs in New York City. Through visual art, global cuisine, and music, Stance uncovers just some of the individuals, scenes and places that make up The Bronx. For generations, The Bronx has been a point of entry for people from all over the world from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico call The Bronx their home. The birthplace of hip hop, The Bronx has been and still is a world renowned hub for...
2021-07-0154 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisEast Africa: Past, Present & Reimagined Futures w/ Author Nanjala Nyabola, Architect Omar Degan, Archaeologist Sada Mire, Journalist Abdi Latif Dahir, Artist Eltayeb DawelbaitOn Stance, Chrystal Genesis is joined by award-winning journalist and writer Ismail Einashe to explore the people and stories of East Africa. Inspired by migration, culture, music and history, the episode traverses through Kenya, Sudan, and Somalia, examining the contemporary hubs and ancient histories of East Africa. Starting in Kenya, we chat with political analyst and author of Travelling While Black: Essays Inspired by Life on the Move, Nanjala Nyabola about her experiences and observations of global travel as an African woman. Stance looks at archaeology, architecture, and cultural heritage in the Horn of Africa...
2021-06-011h 15
Stance Podcast with Chrystal Genesis(Un)learning for Liberation w/ Joshua Virasami, Dylan Rodriguez, Sonya Childress, Asher Gamedze, Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Kelsey Mohamed, Camille Barton, Aditi JaganathanIn this episode of Stance, Chrystal Genesis is joined by film programmer and cultural researcher Jemma Desai. Together they examine the practices of (Un)learning for Liberation as they highlight the many forms of abolitionist thinking through literature, music, activism and film. We speak with London based artist, writer and political organiser Joshua Virasami about his book How to Change It from #Merky books and Penguin, an accessible step by step guide to activism and campaigning work to provoke change. California based Cultural strategist and film producer Sonya Childress, and Professor of Media and Cultural...
2021-04-301h 40
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisBrixton Uprising w/ Singer Carroll Thompson, Novelist Alex Wheatle, Poet Linton Kwesi Johnson, Musician Asher Senator, Dr Rebekah Delsol; Singer Rachel ChinouririMarking the 40th anniversary of the 1981 Brixton Uprising, Stance explores the moments leading up to the uprising and the activism that inspired it, their connections to the Windrush scandal, and the 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and subsequent #KillTheBill protests in Bristol. Looking at the uprising through film, academia, literature, and music, we explore political activism through poetry with globally renowned Jamaican poet, Linton Kwesi Johnson. Stance delves into Soundsystem Culture and the Smiley Culture collaboration with founder of Code 7 youth charity, DJ and musician Asher Senator. Novelist Alex Wheatle shares his...
2021-03-311h 20
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisStance Podcast Trailer with Chrystal GenesisStance is an independent award-winning arts, culture and politics podcast run by journalist and curator Chrystal Genesis. Guests so far include musicians Four Tet, Jamila Woods, Chassol, Róisín Murphy, Amber Mark, Caribou, Ebo Taylor, Kaytranada, Jessie Ware and Nao, authors Yaa Gyasi, Elif Shafak, Saidiya Hartman, Sayaka Murata & Valeria Luiselli, lawyer & campaigner Gina Miller, politician Bobi Wine, poets Fatimah Asghar, John Cooper Clarke & Kae Tempest, actor Riz Ahmed, Me Too founder Tarana Burke, playwrights Inua Ellams & Natasha Gordon, writer and activist Janet Mock, choreographers Akram Khan, Deborah Colker and Hofesh Shechter, fashion designer Duro Olowu, Ph...
2021-03-3002 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisMusician Genesis Owusu; Pandemic Birthing w/ Maiysha Campbell Kramer & Milli Hill; Pregnant: Visible and Invisible Disabilities; Vertical Birthing w/ AMUPAKIN in EcuadorIn Stance, Chrystal Genesis is joined by actor and activist Alix Wilton-Reagan to unpack pregnancy and birthing experiences right now. Bringing to the forefront women's voices from around the world, we explore what it means to be pregnant during the pandemic with Doula Maiysha Campbell Kramer, and Positive Birthing Movement Founder and Author Milli Hill. We exchange views on pregnancy while living with a visible or invisible disability with Tania Akbarali on anxiety, on autism and neurodiversity with Samantha Stein, and physical disability and pregnancy with Dr. Erin Andrews. Next, we head to Ecuador, speaking...
2021-03-011h 09
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisJamaica Jamaica! Musician Judy Mowatt; Art w/ National Gallery of Jamaica & Suzie Wong Presents; Environmentalist Donna Blake; Producer Iotosh & Comedian Raul BlazeCome with Stance to Jamaica to explore the old and new currents shaping the shifting arts and cultural scene. We speak with musicians, creatives, artists, and activists to discuss the Jamaica of today We head to the National Gallery of Jamaica to explore Jamaica Jamaica, a touring exhibition highlighting the islands fascinating and storied celebrated music history from mento to dancehall. Iconic reggae singer Judy Mowatt, a member of Bob Marley's I-Threes, chats with us about her life's philosophy and her formidable musical career thus far. We catch up with comedian, law grad...
2021-02-011h 23
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisStance Takes: Reframing The Black Image - Pioneers of The Past w/ Alayo Akinkugbe; Renata Cherlise; Theo Imani & Osei BonsuTo mark our fourth birthday Stance Takes is here with a special programme celebrating the black image in visual arts. Tired of the old interpretations of the black image and inspired by new forces that are redefining who gets to choose, view and critique the Black image, Stance brings you a podcast profiling the curators and visual researchers who are remapping how it's presented in art and culture. We juxtapose the work of two archivists - Alayo Akinkugbe from @ABlackHistoryOfArt in the UK, and Renata Cherlise from BlackArchives.co in the US - who are challenging dominant narratives surrounding t...
2021-01-1542 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisStance Takes on Forces of Art: Colombia, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Uganda and KenyaTo mark the New Year Stance Takes is back with a special programme celebrating a new book Forces of Art which champions the work of artists and arts organisations across the world. We travel to the Choco region of Colombia to look at the work of Más Arte más Acción, who are using art and the rainforest to innovate change. We cover Syrian artists in exile displaced after a decade of war and revolution to explore how it has redefined their lives and artistic practice. In Central Asia we discuss how successive generations of post-soviet creatives are...
2021-01-0159 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisElif Shafak; Tricky; 2020: Failing Up or Tearing Down? w/ Chryl N. Laird; Taylor Small; Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic; Sarah Kendzior; Kwame Anthony AppiahIn this episode of Stance, we cover music, literature and politics by asking whether 2020 marks a tipping point for the system of Failing Upwards. Are we seeing the beginning of a Tearing Down as the incompetence of populist leadership is laid bare? We chat with academics, authors and politicians including Chryl N. Laird, Taylor Small, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Sarah Kendzior and Kwame Anthony Appiah. We speak with rapper, singer, and producer Tricky about his new album Fall to Pieces and his illustrious career in music. Chrystal Genesis is joined by writer and journalist Komal Thakur based...
2020-12-011h 19
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisMusician Ebo Taylor; 1-54 Founder Touria El Glaoui; Artist Hassan Hajjaj; Zimbabwean film Cook Off; #EndSARS; NYC: Hopes and FearsIn this episode of Stance, Chrystal Genesis covers the creatives and change-makers on the African continent through music, visual art, politics and film. We speak with the iconic Ghanian musician and father of Highlife and Afrobeat, Ebo Taylor, and his son Kweku about his life's work. We head to Morocco to discuss the continent's dynamic and evolving art scene with 1-54 International African Contemporary art fair founder, Touria El Glaoui. The Morrocan-British visual artist and photographer Hassan Hajjaj shares his journey and striking art works. We speak with actors Jesesi Mungoshi...
2020-11-011h 20
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisThe New Paris w/ Jean-Pascal Zadi; Lindsey Tramuta; Lucie Camara & Celine Leroy; CHASSOL and Podcasts: Melting Pot, Dinner For One & VOXXXIn this special show, Stance visits Paris to explore the fresh and creative cultural landscape of this iconic, global city. We discuss literature, film, music and podcasts as Chrystal Genesis is joined by Lory Martinez, host of Mija Podcast and Founder of the Paris based Studio Ochenta. We speak with comedian and director Jean-Pascal Zadi about his new comedy-drama Tout Simplement Noir. We catch up with writer Lindsey Tramuta who talks us through her book The New Parisienne: The Women & Ideas Shaping Paris. We dissect French culture, new writing and the power of translation with Coven bookshop owner Lucie...
2020-10-011h 20
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisOn The Record; Dancer and Choreographer Akram Khan; Singer Songwriter Róisín Murphy; Writer Zalika Reid-BentaWe cover film, literature, music and dance starting with the documentary On The Record, which charts decades of abuse at the hands of US Hip Hop Mogul Russell Simmons. We discuss this and more with the author of Miseducation: A Woman's Guide to Hip Hop Shanita Hubbard, Kierna Mayo, an exec at The Lena Horne Prize and former editor-in-chief of Ebony and The Source and feminist cultural critic, author and journalist Dr Joan Morgan. We speak with dancer and choreographer Akram Khan who talks us through his prolific career as well as his thoughts on politics, movement and family...
2020-07-011h 14
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisBlack in the time of Corona; Pastry Chef and TV Judge Cherish Finden; Performance Artist Travis Alabanza; Musician Samantha CrainIn this show we cover health, food, performance art and music as Stance starts off by asking what lies behind the loss of black lives during COVID-19 as Chrystal Genesis is joined by Shanae Dennis, a biochemist, journalist & campaigner and by Charlene Prempeh, who runs A Vibe Called Tech, set up to address the absence of black voices in conversations about technology. In this informative and eye-opening interview, they discuss the weakness of existing data when it comes to understanding health inequalities and what urgent actions need to be taken. Stance speaks with award-winning pastry chef and TV Judge Ch...
2020-06-011h 34
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisPolitician Bobi Wine; Visual artist Shirin Neshat; Singer Ghostpoet; Filmmaker Elizabeth Carroll on Diana KennedyIn this episode of Stance we have visual arts, music, politics and film featuring Bobi Wine, the Ugandan politician and musician hoping to be the country's next president; Iranian visual artist Shirin Neshat guides us through her work culminating in her new exhibition, Land of Dreams. British singer Ghostpoet introduces his new album I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep; and finally, we are off to Mexico with filmmaker Elizabeth Carroll who talks to us about her debut documentary Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy. It explores the life of this culinary legend and authority on Mexican cooking. As we...
2020-04-301h 14
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisIs This For Real? w/ Lab vs Mined Diamonds, Psychiatric Misdiagnosis and Deepfakes; Comedian and Writer Sophie DukerStance asks: Is This For Real? as we explore authenticity through the growth of lab-grown diamonds within the jewellery industry with filmmaker and journalist Harriet Constable and with 77Diamonds co-founder Tobias Kormind; we speak with bestselling author Susannah Cahalan about her book Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness which uncovers mental health misdiagnosis and her new book The Great Pretender which investigates a famous study about the line between sanity and insanity; and we end our topic with a conversation about the growth of Deepfakes - digitally manipulated content, oftentimes, used for nefarious purposes - and touch on...
2020-04-011h 20
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisStance Takes - Nightclubs: Counterculture and ResistanceTo celebrate our 3rd birthday, Stance Takes is back bringing you two live discussions on nightclub culture. We start with Beats, Racism and Strife as we explore prejudice and discrimination in the nightclub space over the decades. We examine how the commodification of black music intersects with racist door policies and politicized dance floors. We were joined by Grime legend Marci Phonix, writer and journalist Emma Warren, UK Father of the vogue house of Comme des Garçon Kartel Brown, and Soundsystem elder Clive Curniffe. The second talk covers the architecture and design of nightclubs. We talk about how t...
2020-01-2055 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisThe Disappeared; Singer & Producer Amber Mark; Philadelphia: City Of MuralsWe explore film, music, literature and visual art as Chrystal Genesis is joined by guest editor, journalist and director of Bare Lit Festival, Mend Mariwany. We investigate the theme of The Disappeared as we head to Iraq to cover an estimated 250,000 to 1 million people who have disappeared without a trace. We look at the forgotten histories of those that have reappeared through the writer and academic Saidiya Hartman's new book Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments. Plus, we visit Mexico City, often referred to as The Sinking City which may soon disappear if radical action isn't taken. Stance profiles NYC singer...
2019-11-011h 14
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisRevolutionary Mothering; Kindness; Puppetry in Sri LankaChrystal Genesis welcomes guest editor Jemma Desai, film curator and writer. We explore mothering as a radical and transformative force in the world, with reports from Cape Town, Leeds, Seattle and London. We talk to musician and producer Kindness, whose new album celebrates joy, resilience and community through funk, pop, Indian folk, deep house and nineties girlgroup harmonies. Finally, we head to Sri Lanka to learn how its rich history of puppetry is helping to heal wounds, a decade on from the civil war. Join the conversation @stancepodcast and do subscribe and write us a review.
2019-10-011h 33
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisBrazilian Dance with Deborah Colker; Low Born by Kerry Hudson; Wasfi Kani on Porgy and Bess.In this special summer episode, Stance features Deborah Colker, the legendary Brazilian choreographer and creative mind behind the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. We speak to writer Kerry Hudson about her memoir, Low Born, that charts life growing up poor in 80's & 90's Britain. And Stance heads to Grange Park Opera to speak to Wasfi Kani, the woman bringing South Carolina's Porgy and Bess, to the English countryside. Visit stancepodcast.com
2019-07-0143 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisActor & Director Adjoa Andoh; Norway's Borealis Festival feat Juliana Huxtable; Colin Self; Last Yearz Interesting Negro + moreStance catches up with actor and director powerhouse Adjoa Andoh to find out more about her production of Shakespeare's Richard II showing at the Globe Theatre in London. It's the first UK show to be produced entirely by people of colour - front and backstage. Stance flew to Bergen in Norway to check out Borealis, an experimental music festival showcasing everything from music to performance art to dance. Voices featured include Last Yearz Interesting Negro, Juliana Huxtable, Colin Self, B L A C K I E and more. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast
2019-04-0154 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisNAO + Demystifying YogaIn this episode, we catch up with London singer and producer NAO to hear about her acclaimed second album, Saturn. Plus, we explore the many faces of modern yoga - including the voices driving for greater representation in the wellness space, the people that call themselves 'yogis', the cult-like controversy surrounding the founder of Bikram yoga, LA's first instructor that teaches from a wheelchair, and the artist that started the movement #WhitePeopleDoingYoga. Stance is an award-winning arts, culture and current affairs podcast. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast
2019-02-281h 03
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisHer Islam; Actor and MC Paigey Cakey; Kader Attia's La Colonie in ParisIn our Women + Islam feature - we examine the rise of US political figures like Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib; have a discussion with women from the Arab Diaspora; we uncover the practice of Islam shrouded in mystery - Sufism; and we hear from one of the writers in a seminal new essay collection called It's Not About the Burqa. This month, we are in conversation with actor and rapper, Paigey Cakey, from Hackney, East London. Lastly, Stance reports from La Colonie - a radical art space and haven for young artists and intellectuals in Paris looking to open...
2019-02-011h 02
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisWay With Words; Armina Mussa, Artist & Creative Director of Saint Heron; Mind: Creativity in the CityThis month, we kick off the new year with an exploration of language in our feature, "Way With Words". How do we preserve our most endangered languages? How does a dialect become a language? Do labels like "Womxn", "LGBTQIA", "people of color" and "Latinx" empower or hold people back? What happens when a command of written and verbal language no longer separates robots from humans? We'll dig into these questions and more with Animesh Garg, Robotics research scientist at Stanford; Dr. Helen Beer, Yiddish teacher at University College London; Genesee Johnson, professor at Harvard; Mel Y Chen, Associate Professor of...
2019-01-011h 04
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisOn Beauty; Turner Prize Nominee Naeem Mohaiemen; Mind: Design in the CityOn Beauty - Stance explores its value in society, the ethics surrounding beauty ideals, the objects we treasure, and the beauty rules of Drag. Stance speaks with artist Naeem Mohaiemen, Turner Prize Nominee, to find out more about his work. And in our current affairs piece, we investigate how neuroscience is being used to promote greater wellbeing in cities, with a new generation of scientists, architects and policymakers. stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast
2018-12-011h 33
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisStance Takes: The Power of Culture with Tarana Burke, Janet Mock, Rafael Casal, Nnedi Okorafor & Marc Bamuthi-JosephHow can we re-imagine political power? What is the role of culture in the current political climate? These were the questions framing the YBCA 100 Summit in San Francisco - an event recognizing some of the most exciting people, organizations and movements changing society for the better. Stance caught up with this year's honorees Janet Mock; Tarana Burke; Nnedi Okorafor; Rafael Casal, as well as YBCA's Marc Bamuthi-Joseph to hear their takes. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast ybca.org Music Credits: Janelle Monae - I Like That Blood Orange - Jewelry ft Janet Mock J Dilla - R...
2018-11-1518 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisVoting… Power to the People?; Sayaka Murata; Fatimah Asghar & John Cooper ClarkeIn our first ever podcast, as President Trump took office we talked about the rise of the demagogue. Nearly two years on, the bitter fight for control of Congress is playing out in front of our eyes. Stance looks at how global relationships with democratic participation has changed and is shifting in a period of rapid technological and political upheaval. We profile Sayaka Murata, a multi-award winning author in Japan who's making waves with her acclaimed novel Convenience Store Woman. And for our arts piece, we speak to two poets from opposite sides of the Atlantic, Fatimah Asghar and...
2018-11-011h 10
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisStance Takes: Black History Month - The DebateIn this episode of Stance Takes - we celebrate Black History Month in the UK and hear whether new ideas around representation and diversity are challenging the old stale orthodoxy. Stance co-host Chrystal Genesis takes her son to the British Library's exhibition celebrating 70 years since the Empire Windrush. They share stories of their history against a backdrop of Marcus Garvey, Darcus Howe and Una Marson. We speak to Farzana Khan, a producer and award-winning arts educator currently coordinating the Black Cultural Activist Map with the Stuart Hall Foundation, to celebrate and restore stories of forgotten cultural activists. We also...
2018-10-2322 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisMagnifying Masculinity, Kate Tempest, Desiree AkhavanThis month, Stance explores what has been hailed as a new era in masculinity, a year on from the launch of the #metoo movement. Stance dissects society's idea of masculinity and how this is being challenged and reshaped, with voices including Emmy-winning filmmaker Deeyah Khan. Stance profiles the award-winning acclaimed poet, musician and writer Kate Tempest, and speak with Emmy award-winning director and actor and winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, Desiree Akhavan, ahead of the launch of her highly anticipated new TV show, The Bisexual. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast
2018-10-011h 16
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisStance Takes: Donald Glover's AtlantaIntroducing Stance Takes: an experimental mini episode outside of Stance's regular format, covering entertainment, in-depth interviews and the ideas framing co-founders, Chrystal Genesis and Heta Fell's conversations. The first Stance Takes will explore the cultural significance of award-winning surrealist TV drama comedy, "Atlanta" by FX. Donald Glover has been described as a "one of Hollywood's most exciting and in-demand creative minds" today and he recently made history as being the first black person to win an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a comedy series. Expect an immersive audio experience filled with music, expert analysis and snippets from the hit...
2018-08-1431 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisComing of Age, Playwright & Poet Inua Ellams, Ibibio Sound MachineStance explores the notion of Coming of Age, what it means to young people, how it's expressed and celebrated across many cultures and depicted through film and felt through music. We speak to award-winning playwright and poet Inua Ellams about his critically acclaimed play Barber Shop Chronicles which is now touring internationally. And, lastly we catch up with Eno Williams, the lead singer of African Electronic 8-piece band, Ibibio Sound Machine. Note: This episode contains occasional swearing. Find out more: Stancepodcast.com
2018-07-311h 05
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisClass Ceiling in the Arts, Jessie Ware, Hofesh ShechterStance explores the great British obsession, class, with an in-depth report focusing on class and culture. We interview Mercury-nominated singer and songwriter Jessie Ware and we catch up with star of the dance world, Hofesh Shechter, ahead of his mammoth community-led project set in the Tower of London. Stance is an award-winning independent arts, culture and current affairs podcast, exploring diverse, global perspectives. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast
2018-07-011h 13
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisEpisode 16: The Future of Drugs; Choreographer Holly Blakey; Writer Nikesh ShuklaStance looks at the changing face of drugs, including a special report from California on LSD and the reality of the legalization of cannabis. Plus, we hear about Iboga, from Gabon, known as one of the strongest psychedelic drugs on the planet, but also believed to be a cure for opioid addiction. We meet with award-winning choreographer and director Holly Blakey, ahead of her London show with Oscar-nominated composer Mica Levi, Cowpuncher. And we speak to the brilliant writer Nikesh Shukla to find out more about his new novel, The One Who Wrote Destiny. Named in Guardian's...
2018-04-0159 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisAlternative Realities - Witches?, Kamila Shamsie, KaytranadaStance returns with its Alternative Realities series investigating the perception of Witches and what it means to be a be a witch in the UK, the US and India. Stance profiles the author Kamila Shamsie, whose most recent novel, Home Fire was Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Finally, we catch up with critically acclaimed DJ and Producer, Kaytranada. Stance is an independent arts, culture and current affairs podcast, exploring diverse, global perspectives. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast
2018-03-0149 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisFrench Artist JR, Palestinian Filmmaker Maysaloun Hamoud, Future of CentrismStance met up with elusive French artist, JR, known for creating huge black-and-white photographic images as murals in public places all over the world. We spoke to the exciting new award-winning director, Maysaloun Hamoud, to find out more about her first feature film, In Between, set in Israel telling the story of three Palestinian women. Lastly, we explore the future of centrism. What hope is there for the middle in the current extreme UK and US political climate? @stancepodcast
2018-02-0150 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisHome; Mehereta Baruch-Ron; IbeyiIn the 12th episode of Stance - Heta Fell and Chrystal Genesis explore four distinct takes on Home, covering the Grenfell fire six months on; the Rohingya crisis; Venezuela; and Homelessness among the LGBTQ community in San Francisco. They speak to Mehereta Baruch-Ron, the Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv. An Ethiopian-born Jew who went from illiterate child refugee to heart of the Israeli political elite. They hear her unique story and find out more about her political ambitions. And they meet Ibeyi - the French-Cuban twins, signed to XL Recordings, to discuss their latest album, Ash. They cover the...
2017-12-0151 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisSport & Revolution; Four Tet; The SeaWe cover Sport and Revolution with Women's NBA player, Kelsey Bone; writer and journalist, Musa Okwonga; and they go for a run with Goodgym founder, Ivo Gormley. They speak exclusively to Four Tet. Hailed as one of the 21st-century's finest electronic musicians, he speaks to Stance in his first and only interview about his album, New Energy. They also discuss the sea with Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE and Young Vic Theatre's new Artistic Director and Bafta-nominated actor, Nikki Amuka-Bird, who tell us about their adaptation of Ibsen classic, The Lady From The Sea, for the stage in London. Lastly, they...
2017-11-0156 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisOutnumbered in Silicon Valley; Sabrina Mahfouz; War in YemenIn this episode, Stance hears about the epidemic of sexual harassment facing the tech world, with a female entrepreneur who shares her alleged experience of sexual harassment at the hands of a renowned investor. Heta and Chrystal explore the tech industry at large looking at what needs to change with regards to representation in gender and race, and why it is critical to the future of tech. They profile Sabrina Mahfouz, one of London's most promising playwrights, poets and screenwriters. Lastly, they hear two Yemeni voices on the war in Yemen and how it has become one of the...
2017-08-0150 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisRiz Ahmed; Crossing Borders; California's Afro House SceneIn this episode of Stance Podcast, we speak to actor and MC, Riz Ahmed, one of Time's 100 Most Influential People, over Skype; they hear three unique perspectives on what it means to cross borders; and they explore Oakland, California's booming Afro House scene and why it is under threat. Join the conversation @stancepodcast on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
2017-07-0150 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisColourism; Artists Singh Twins MBE; Yaa Gyasi on HomegoingIn this episode of Stance Podcast, we explore the issue of colourism with live guests, Kay Montano and Dr Aisha Phoenix at London's Ace Hotel; they profile internationally acclaimed artists, The Singh Twins MBE; and they interview Yaa Gyasi about her extraordinary debut novel, Homegoing. Join the conversation @stancepodcast on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
2017-06-0140 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisUntold North Korea; Actor Pearl Mackie of Dr Who; Artist Charlotte ColbertIn this episode we revisit our alternative reality theme by exploring what life is like for the North Korean refugees trying to escape one of the most oppressive political regimes on earth; we profile the exciting new Dr Who companion, actor Pearl Mackie; and we speak to rising star of the art world, Charlotte Colbert, about her latest exhibition at London's Saatchi Gallery. Join the conversation @stancepodcast on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. stancepodcast.com
2017-05-0138 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisThe Female Prison Experience; Award-Winning Alvin Ailey Dancer; Trauma & CreativityIn this episode of Stance Podcast, Chrystal Genesis and Heta Fell investigate the female prison experience in the US and UK; hear about how a traumatic experience drove one woman to create her entire wardrobe from scratch; and interview award-winning choreographer and lead dancer of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Co, Jeroboam Bozeman. Join the conversation @stancepodcast on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
2017-04-0153 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisAlternative Realities-Kids in Cults; Shappi Khorsandi; Women Of The World FestivalIn this episode of Stance Podcast: We explore Alternative Realities. In an era of alternative facts, fake news, border bans and protectionism - we have decided to explore the concept of growing up in an alternative reality, with a focus on cults. We host a profile interview with Iranian refugee - comedian and author - Shappi Khorsandi. We hear from Jude Kelly CBE, the Artistic Director of London's iconic Southbank Centre who started the international Women of the World festival (aka WOW), which features speakers including Angela Davis, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Gillian Anderson. Lastly, we hear from BBC...
2017-02-2857 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisThe Denigration of Care; Fazeelat Aslam; DIY Movements in a Social Media AgeIn this episode we discuss what society's attitude to caring says about us, we speak with Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Fazeelat Aslam, and we explore the exciting world of DIY movements in a social media age with gal-dem and Sad Asian Girls Club. Stance aims to inform, entertain and inspire action. Join the conversation @stancepodcast on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
2017-01-1934 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisVirtual Reality for Good; Phoebe Collings-James; Short Film, MumIn this episode of Stance, we discuss how virtual reality is being used to create good in the world, we speak to new wave British artist, Phoebe Collings-James; and we discuss the moving new short film, MUM, which challenges traditional transgender stereotypes. Join the conversation @stancepodcast on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and check us out at stancepodcast.com
2017-01-1927 min
Stance Podcast with Chrystal GenesisWhite Racial Identity; Alix Wilton-Regan; The Rise of the DemagogueIn the first episode of Stance, we explore white racial identity; we meet actress and activist, Alix Wilton-Regan; and we discuss the rise of the demagogue. Join the conversation @stancepodcast on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit us at stancepodcast.com
2017-01-1735 min