Ep. 33: Notions of Happiness; Actor & Producer Zackary Momoh; Rites of Passage with Andi Oliver & Nikesh Shukla

After 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!

In this episode, Chrystal Genesis takes one last 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 Watkins discusses her new collection of short stories Holler, Child, set in Texas, and talks about how using method acting brings her closer to the the characters she writes about.

Artist and composer, Cochemea discusses working with Sharon Jones as part of the Dap-Kings, and his album Vol. II Baca Sewa, which connects ancestry, memory and improvisation.

Musician and multi-instrumentalist, Sinkane shares the inspirations behind his new upcoming record, We Belong, celebrating black creativity and joy.

Ahead of retirement, we hear from some of our guest editors who reflect on their experiences collaborating with Stance.

If you like what you heard, please write us a review and check out more of our work at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast

On 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.

CEO of Jews of Color Initiative, Ilana Kaufman takes us through their mission to build a professional, organizational and communal space for Jews of Color. She discusses the importance of accurately capturing data about Jews of Color, and of empowering them into leadership roles.

Writer, Hanah Bloom, tackles the model minority myth twice over in her essay about being a Japanese American Jew, published in Hey Alma, a contemporary online community. She reads her essay and chats about some of the responses that followed.

Professor of Philosophy and Global Affairs, Lewis R. Gordon offers us another glimpse into the diverse history of Jewish peoples, as he shares his experience navigating between the Jewish community in Jamaica and the Jewish community in the US.

We end this topic with Robin Washington, a journalist and Editor-At-Large for The Forward, a US Jewish news and culture publication founded in 1897. He reflects on what it means to be a Black Jew after the horrors of October 7.

We chat with vocalist and composer Enji about her musical journey and the inspiration behind her third solo album, Ulaan. Enji’s unique and expansive sound combines jazz, contemporary folk, and the ancient Mongolian musical tradition of Long Song. She talks with us about how combining the creative freedom of jazz with her Mongolian heritage enables her to express more of her authentic self.

If you like what you heard, please write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

This 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 medium and the importance of community-first programming.

At Sugar Hill Creamery we speak with co-founder Petrushka Bazin Larsen about founding Harlem’s only family owned ice cream store, the relationship between ice cream and Harlem’s community, and Vita gets to taste test a few of their seasonal flavors.

Stance connects with The Brotherhood Sister Sol, a social justice organization empowering young people of color through community and environmental change. Chrystal and Vita visit their Green Youth Market and meet with senior manager, Nando Rodriguez, to find out how urban farming enriches the Harlem community.

We end with music from New Yorker, Cameroonian American musician and songwriter, Vagabon, on her new record Sorry I Haven’t Called exploring joy after grief.

All music used in this podcast is from Vagabon’s new album Sorry I Haven’t Called. With thanks to Nonesuch Records. 

This show was producer Zara Martin. 

If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Visit Stance's website at stancepodcast.com .com for more info and links from this episode. 

How 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, and reflects on hope, humanity, and imagining new futures.

Soul artist, singer-songwriter and lawyer, Danielle Ponder introduces to us her compelling debut album, Some Of Us Are Brave, an anthem of resilience and hope.

This show was producer Zara Martin. Special thanks to Im Genesis and Etay Zwick.

If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Visit Stance's website at stancepodcast.com for more info and links from this episode. 

We’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 New York City’s electric music scene, which spans Latin groove, hip-hop, rock, funk and more. In conversation with Chrystal Genesis, the band’s lead vocalist, guitarist and co-founder Renee Scroggins, shares her perspective on ESG’s origins, era-defining sound, and future. We find out more about the band’s new documentary “Are You Serious?”, new album and plans for their farewell tour. Stance hears from Carol Cooper, a journalist, professor and cultural critic,  who was there to document ESG hitting New York City’s vibrant music scene for the first time. They both discuss the city’s booming creativity and crumbling economy, as well as what made 70-80’s NYC so unique.

If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis Special thanks to producer Zara Martin.

Visit Stance's website at stancepodcast.com for more info and links from this episode. 

We 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 one night in the life of volunteer helpline worker Beth, played by Tessa Thompson. Filmmakers So Young Shelly Yo and Guo Guo discuss their Korean American coming-of-age drama, Smoking Tigers, following the life of teenager Hayoung who navigates her shifting identity and working-class reality. Writer-director Noam Kaplan's drama covers Israeli politics, the struggle for liberation and womanhood in his engrossing new drama, The Future. Jennifer Esposito chats with Chrystal about reinventing the organized crime genre, by centering women, in her directorial debut film, Fresh Kills. A powerful, layered drama exploring the complicated dynamics of a mob family. 

If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis
Visit Stance's website for more info and links from this episode. 

Stance 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 is Not My Own is an innovative portrait of self-taught visual artist Nellie Mae Rowe in 20th century Georgia, USA, through vivid dreamscapes and animation. The Homes We Carry follows Sarah, an Afro-German mother to a newborn, who dreams of being united with her family having been separated by two continents, Africa and Europe, in a moving search for home. Echo Of Everything explores the transformative power of music across cultures through science, history and philosophy. Plus we share a list of other compelling and important international films for you to check out. 

If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis
Visit Stance's website for more info and links from this episode. 

We 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 by a visit to Mee Sum Cafe, a local hangout since 1967 and now a household name known for its casual setting, Zongzi Chinese tamales, ginger tea, and small plates. Together they explore Grace’s favorite food markets, fishmongers and bakeries in the area. 

To end, Chrystal visits Grace’s home where she learns about the art and history of the wok, and how to make the perfect stir fry. In conversation with Chrystal, Grace shares why Chinatown is a living encyclopedia, the still felt impact of COVID-19 and anti-Asian racism, and the importance of supporting Chinatown’s history and future. 

If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at Stance Podcast and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis and visit Stance's website for more info and links from this episode. 

Stance 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 through the personal, social and cultural history of dance. 

We speak in conversation with visual artists Senga Nengudi Fittz and Kaylynn Sullivan TwoTrees who were both members of the Just Above Midtown (JAM) creative space which centered African American creatives in the 1970s and 80s in NYC. We explore the spiritual links between art, history and tradition, and their collaborative performance piece Tying & Un-tying at the MoMA in New York. 

This episode is guest-edited by Tamika Abaka-Wood, a cultural anthropologist, creative strategist, and founder of Dial An Ancestor.

If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Have 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 landscape. 

Dalit rights activist, Thenmozhi Soundararajan discusses her powerful debut publication The Trauma of Caste: A Dalit Feminist Meditation on Survivorship, Healing and Abolition. She is joined in conversation by Model, engineer & DJ Seema Hari who shares their experience of caste oppression and the power of travel and transformation.

If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis