Best Racially Ambiguous Podcasts (2025)

1
Masks, Mirrors, and Metamorphosis: Londell Jackson on Living Unboxed 44:27

18h ago44:27

44:27

Send us a text In this episode, Shawna sits down with Londell Jackson—educator, strategist, and author of Between the Opposites—for a powerful conversation about the complexities of identity. From growing up mixed-race in Denver to navigating masculinity as a same-gender-loving Black and Latino man, Londell shares his deeply personal journey of sel…

1
Both/And: Belonging, Identity, and the Bridge-Building Superpower with Annemarie Shrouder 47:38

8d ago47:38

47:38

Send us a text In this rich and candid episode of Our True Colors, Shawna is joined by Rachel, returning co-host and fellow deep thinker and wonderful guest Annemarie Shrouder, international speaker, facilitator, and bestselling author of Being Brown in a Black and White World. Together, they explore what it means to hold a “both/and” identity—espe…

1
Ornamental No More: Dr. Kalya Castillo on Identity, Hypervisibility, and Healing 52:42

22d ago52:42

52:42

Send us a text In this powerful conversation, Dr. Kalya Castillo—a Black and Japanese psychologist and trauma-informed therapist—joins Shawna to explore identity, racial ambiguity, and the lived experiences of multiracial individuals. Together, they unpack what it means to grow up without cultural mirrors, the coded messages around hair and profess…

1
Third Culture Stories: Identity, Belonging, and Finding Home with Urmi Hossain 41:59

1M ago41:59

41:59

Send us a text In this episode, Dr. Shawna Gann and Rachel Sadler sit down with Urmi Hossain—polyglot, author, global citizen, and financial services professional—for a deep conversation about identity, cultural complexity, and belonging. Urmi, who describes herself as "Bengali by blood, Italian by birth, and Canadian by law", shares her experience…

1
Untapped Leadership: Finding Your Authentic Leadership Identity with Dr. Jenny Vazquez-Newsum 39:02

2M ago39:02

39:02

Send us a text What does it mean to be a leader when traditional leadership models weren’t designed with you in mind? In this episode of Our True Colors, we sit down with Dr. Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, an educator, leadership expert, and founder of Untapped Leaders, to explore how identity shapes leadership. Dr. Vazquez-Newsum shares her journey navigat…

1
Sensitive Curiosity: A DEI Leader’s Journey with Marcel De Jonghe 55:27

3M ago55:27

55:27

Send us a text What does it mean to navigate the world as a mixed heritage individual when belonging feels just out of reach? In this episode, Shawna and co-host Kat Aragon welcome Marcel De Jonghe, Head of DEI&B for Europe’s largest local authority, to explore identity, belonging, and the intersections of race and culture. Marcel shares his person…

1
Breaking Out of the Box: Multiracial Identity, Monoracism, and Belonging with Dr. Victoria K. Malaney-Brown 45:28

3M ago45:28

45:28

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Victoria K. Malaney-Brown, a scholar-practitioner at Columbia University and the first-ever Director of Academic Integrity for undergraduates at Columbia College and Columbia Engineering, joins us to explore the nuanced realities of multiracial identity. From her deeply personal poem "Outside of…

1
Finding Self in a World of Assumptions: Multiracial Identity and Belonging 42:59

4M ago42:59

42:59

Send us a text In this episode, Shawna Gann is joined by graduate student Brieanna Hairston cohost Rachel Sadler. Together, they explore the complexities of racial identity, inclusion, and belonging through the lens of multiracial and racially ambiguous individuals. Brieanna shares personal experiences growing up in a predominantly White area, navi…

1
Mixed-Race Parenting: Insights with Dr. Jenn Noble 49:01

5M ago49:01

49:01

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode, Shawna sits down with Dr. Jenn Noble, psychologist, educator, and advocate for mixed-race families, to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities in parenting mixed-race children. Together, they explore: The nuances of mixed-race identity and how it shapes a child’s experience. Why starting con…

1
Between the Lines: Black Identity, Mixed Race Realities, and a Nation Divided 46:15

5M ago46:15

46:15

Send us a text In this deeply reflective episode of Our True Colors, Shawna and guest Shari Baker dive into the emotional aftermath of the recent presidential election. Together, they unpack the complexities of identity, solidarity, and the nuances of navigating blackness in America. From the broader societal implications of the election to the per…

1
Cafecito, Culture, and Connection: The Power of Sisterhood in DEI Spaces 40:42

6M ago40:42

40:42

Send us a text Summary In this engaging conversation, Shawna, Rachel, and Kat introduce Hady Mendez, a DEI expert, who shares her journey and insights on employee resource groups, cultural wisdom, and the challenges of navigating racial identity. The discussion highlights the need for allyship, the evolving understanding of racial categories, and t…

1
Authenticity Under Pressure: The Evolving Role of DEI and Mixed-Race Identity 41:44

7M ago41:44

41:44

Send us a text In this insightful episode, Dr. Shawna Gann sits down with DEI experts Lauren Dike and Katrina Liew Wilson for a candid discussion on the shifting landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The conversation explores the evolving role of DEI in the workplace, the pressures of being a "talking head" in the field, and the chal…

1
Beyond Your Zip Code Story: Exploring Background, Bias, and Growth 54:49

7M ago54:49

54:49

Send us a text In this episode, Shawna Gann and Rachel Sadler engage with author Christopher "CJ" Gross, an expert in cultural transformation, to discuss the concepts in his book, What's Your Zip Code Story? Together the group discusses implications on personal and professional experiences. They explore how one's background and community can shape …

1
Meet Rachel: Examining Layers of Racial Identity 38:15

8M ago38:15

38:15

Send us a text In this episode, Shawna Gann introduces co-host Rachel Sadler, and together they explore the complexities of racial identity, particularly focusing on the experiences of biracial individuals. They discuss the fluidity of identity, the impact of family dynamics on self-identification, and the societal constructs surrounding race and g…

1
Meet Kat: Creating Spaces for Underrepresented Voices 35:52

8M ago35:52

35:52

Send us a text In this episode, Shawna Gann introduces the new season of the podcast with one of her two co-hosts, Kat Aragon. They discuss their cultural backgrounds, the importance of representation in the beauty industry, and the need for advocacy and allyship. Kat shares her experiences as a makeup artist and the challenges faced in ensuring di…

1
Mixed Tape 4: The Close of a Chapter 57:08

2+ y ago57:08

57:08

Send us a text Join the cohosts and me as we reflect on this journey and enjoy the sampler platter we've prepared for you as we talk about the themes we explored, lessons learned, and incredible growth over the years during what we thought would be the last episode. But it's not! OTC is coming back for a 5th season, Fall 2024. Stay tuned! About Thi…

1
Belonging and the Gift of Story: Discussions with Joquina Reed 44:01

2+ y ago44:01

44:01

Send us a text This week I am joined by Joquina M. Reed, my colleague and dear friend. She is the founding steward of J Reed Consulting LLC. She is also the curator behind the Please Say Black podcast as well as the Divesting from Whiteness Podcast. Kina is deeply committed to global reparations for chattel enslavement and creating shared humanity.…

1
SPECIAL EPISODE: Drama and Identity Dramaturgy with Yolandie Hamilton 24:33

2+ y ago24:33

24:33

Send us a text Yay! Yolandie is back after taking a few months to be with her little one (if you listen carefully, you'll hear a little bit from her, too! 👶). In this episode, Yolandie (and sometimes Olivia) tells us about a play she is working on and the complexities of identity and stereotypes. This all made me very curious and, despite my conges…

1
Removing Your Mask to Tell Your Story: Authentic Filmmaking with Dija Henry 33:05

2+ y ago33:05

33:05

Send us a text Prepare to be inspired! On this episode of OTC, I am talking with Dija Henry. Together we discuss her work in film and how the work supports the empowerment of authenticity all the way from the people contributing to the film to those viewing it. We go on to discuss the nuances of having a multicultural family and the connections tha…

1
I Belong to Me: Conversations with Velda Thomas 32:41

2+ y ago32:41

32:41

Send us a text On this episode of Our True Colors, I had the opportunity to spend time with Velda Thomas - sharing our thoughts on identity, growth, and belonging. Velda Thomas is the author of Blended: Perspectives on Belonging. She was born and educated in England, UK with family ancestry from Africa, the Caribbean, and the America's. Healing mod…

1
Social Justice on the Line: Talking Civil Rights with Joseph Huang-Racalto 34:53

2+ y ago34:53

34:53

Send us a text What a fantastic episode I have for you this week! I am joined by Joe Huang-Racalto, a Civil Rights lobbyist, who works for organizations that defend people who are enslaved in labor and sex trafficking, abused children, minorities living with HIV/AIDS, and humane animal welfare. He retired from Capitol Hill on June 1, 2017 as Chief …

1
Multiracial Motherhood with Rach Kass 39:32

2+ y ago39:32

39:32

Send us a text Rach Kass is a Nursing Station Technician (NST), life coach, and podcast host and joins us for this episode to talk about her experiences as the White mother of her five biracial children. Also joining us as a guest host, while Yolandie takes some time with her new little one, is Sarah Bacerra - a two-time former guest on OTC. Rachel…

1
Hey, Queen! Talking Racial Ambiguity with Christian Gann and Aimee Amour 43:43

2+ y ago43:43

43:43

Send us a text In this very special episode, I have a one-to-one real-talk session with my son, Christian Gann and his drag persona, Aimee Amour, who is also a DJ in NYC and music producer. In this episode, Christian is back for his second interview on Our True Colors. If you missed the first interview, you can check it out here. It's linked below,…

1
The Velvet Punch: Talking Transracial Adoption with Amy Daniels (Part 2) 26:37

2+ y ago26:37

26:37

Send us a text This week we are back with Part 2 of the interview with Amy Daniels. If you missed Part 1, you can check it out here. In this episode, Amy and I continue our conversation about her lived experiences as a Korean woman who was adopted by White parents and what it's meant moving through spaces where people around you have certain expect…

1
The Velvet Punch: Talking Transracial Adoption with Amy Daniels (Part 1) 31:40

2+ y ago31:40

31:40

Send us a text This episode is the first of a 2-part interview with my friend, Amy Daniels. I'd been wanting to interview her for a couple of years now, and she happened to be hanging out my place when we were like...let's do this! Amy is a superstar recruiter in the management consulting industry in the DC Metro area - sometimes called the "DMV" s…

1
Confronting Anti-Blackness with Daniel Washington 35:32

2+ y ago35:32

35:32

Send us a text Daniel Washington is an I/O Psychology Master's graduate with a passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He was born in New York City but raised in Atlanta, GA and moved back to New York City in August of 2018 to further his education in I/O Psychology. I received my Master's from Touro College in the summer of 2020. He is now I…

1
SPECIAL EPISODE: The Little Mermaid of Color 31:40

2+ y ago31:40

31:40

Send us a text In this special episode of Our True Colors, Yolandie and I discuss Disney's new live action Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey as Ariel. Join us for this important conversation about social expectations and redefining norms. REFERENCES The Little Mermaid Trailer AI Technology Making Little Mermaid White Charlotte La Bouff - "Man C…

1
Settings and Social Identity with Guest Ashnie Butler 46:44

2+ y ago46:44

46:44

Send us a text After a bit of a summer break, Yolandie and I are back with our guest Ashnie Butler. Ashnie's story starts on the island of Trinidad with roots going back to Southern India. She has lived on the east and west coast of the United States, currently residing in Portland, Oregon, with her non-binary teenager. Her passion for cooking took…

1
Kickin' It with Karlton Hoskins 48:25

3y ago48:25

48:25

Send us a text In this episode of Our True Colors, we welcome Karlton Hoskins, #1 International Best Selling Author, Business Owner, Real Estate Investor, and Strategist. In this episode we talk about business and go all the way back to roots. Do NOT miss this fascinating conversation that takes us around the world and back in time. Resources relat…

1
3rd Culture Empathy with Payal Beri 33:24

3y ago33:24

33:24

Send us a text In this fantastic episode with Payal Beri, we discuss what it's like living abroad for an extended amount of time as 3rd Culture folks. Along the way we talk about how this has equipped us to be empathetic and applying these life lessons to what we do every day. Come along for the ride! Don't forget to subscribe and follow us on Inst…

1
Convos with Sandra Hunter: Stealth Aunties and Metaphorical Changing Rooms 42:09

3y ago42:09

42:09

Send us a text In this intriguing episode of Our True Colors, Sandra Hunter joins us to talk about her work with Wild Women Leaders of Colour and shares her own experiences of identity and "herstory". Together we talk about leaning on each other...and our ancestors...for support as we as women of color navigate space historically dominated by white…

1
SPECIAL EPISODE: World v. Wade - Discourse about the Threat to Human Autonomy 35:57

3y ago35:57

35:57

Send us a text I am so happy to welcome back Season 3 Cohost, Carmen Watson, to talk with me about the news of the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. I wanted to know her thoughts and perspectives as a Canadian and understand what conversations are happening among our neighbors to the north. Join us for this special episode as we discuss thi…

1
You Know What They Say About Making Assumptions...Discussion with Rahimeh Ramezany 37:21

3y ago37:21

37:21

Send us a text In this episode, we talk with Rahimeh Ramezany about identity and making assumptions about who people are and what their lived experiences must be. Rahimeh is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Intercultural Specialist, whose work is focused on addressing the experiences of marginalized ethnic, racial, and religious communities in t…

1
Work-Life Harmony with Ruthie Bowles 39:54

3y ago39:54

39:54

Send us a text Ruthie Bowles is a US Army Veteran, mom to four kids, and lives in Maryland with her family, goats, and chickens. She focuses on bringing awareness to the unethical tactics and strategies in the small business coaching and consulting industry. Ruthie is also an audiobook narrator. She joins OTC this episode to talk about the differen…

1
Caught Between Worlds with Dr. Christopher Riddick 34:29

3y ago34:29

34:29

Send us a text While Washington, DC is the city where he resides, Dr. Christopher Riddick is a proud son of North Carolina and hails from the rural county of Gates. His upbringing was significant in shaping his identity and fuels many of his passions today. Dr. Riddick is intent on helping organizations truly exhibit what they frequently say but ar…

1
Identity Beyond Chapter Titles with Katrina Strohl 33:37

3y ago33:37

33:37

Send us a text Katrina Strohl (they/them) served as an Aviation Structural Mechanic in the US Navy. In 2018, Katrina decided to take their own life after internalizing the behavior of an unsafe workplace. They now serve others through their work in psychological safety, mental health and boundary strategy for people who share their identities or th…

1
Welcome to Season 4 - Meet Yolandie! 35:02

3y ago35:02

35:02

Send us a text Welcome to Season 4 of Our True Colors! I am happy to introduce my co-host for this season, Yolandie Hamilton. She'll be hangin' with us for the season, so get to know a little bit about her in this episode. Yolandie Hamilton is a personal style and confidence coach, mom and proud to be the very interesting mix of Jamaica and Poland,…

1
Qrescent Mali Mason: Uses of Ambiguity. A Black Feminist Phenomenologist Reflects on Ambiguities in the Year 2020 1:19:57

3y ago1:19:57

1:19:57

This talk focuses on the ambiguous dimensions of the year 2020 from the standpoint of a Black American feminist philosopher. Inheriting the existential phenomenological concept of ambiguity from Simone de Beauvoir, Qrescent Mali Mason seeks in this final episode to map the ambiguities in Beauvoir’s work and life, and in the legacies of feminist thi…

1
Ana Maskalan: "I Didn't Ask for It". Women of Former Yugoslavia Vs. The Invisibility of Rape 43:50

3y ago43:50

43:50

Online initiative "I Didn't Ask for It" (#nisamtrazila) started in January 2021 in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia, motivated by a public confession of a young Serbian actress of being raped by a well-known Belgrade drama pedagogue. In today's lecture, Ana Maskalan offers a feminist analysis of the evolution of the above-menti…

1
Catherine Raissiguier: Beauvoir, Bardot, and Burqinis. Making Sense of Modern France 46:32

3y ago46:32

46:32

In 1959, Simone de Beauvoir wrote a little-read essay on Brigitte Bardot, describing her as the new myth of feminity that troubles French notions of womanhood. In this episode, Catherine Raissiguier asks what BB and Beauvoir can teach us today about France's national self-understanding, as BB troubles us even more today due to her right-wing politi…

1
Sonia Kruks: Old Age and Intersectionality — Beauvoir and Beyond 45:46

3y ago45:46

45:46

La Vieillesse (1970) is Beauvoir's groundbreaking work on old age, in which she describes the silencing that befalls the old. This oppressive silence still continues today, as Sonia Kruks argues in this lecture. Showing how we can benefit from Beauvoir to understand how the domination of the old is perpetuated in contemporary society, Sonia Kruks a…

1
Mickaëlle Provost: A Transatlantic Existentialism — Simone de Beauvoir, Richard Wright and the Phenomenology of Racial Oppression 42:38

3y ago42:38

42:38

Simone de Beauvoir and Richard Wright embody what we could call, alluding to Paul Gilroy, 'Transatlantic Existentialism': they contributed to the circulation of ideas that constitute Black post-war thought. In this episode, Mickaëlle Provost explores the affinities between their analyses of oppression, and discusses the use of analogy in talking ab…

1
Dana F. Miranda: Repossession — The Ambiguity of Decolonization 47:00

3y ago47:00

47:00

In decolonial struggles for independence, there is a constant effort to combat unfreedom at multiple levels, including the internal transformations that deal with alienation. In this episode, Dana F. Miranda crossreads Fanon, Cabral and Beauvoir to show how Beauvoir's notion of ambiguity enriches the possession and repossession of freedom. The Q&A …

1
Adam Kjellgren: Beauvoir the Mythmaker 38:05

3y ago38:05

38:05

Simone de Beauvoir is often portrayed as a sworn enemy of myth because of her critical discussion of the myth of feminity in The Second Sex. Yet, in this episode, Adam Kjellgren argues that Beauvoir does not repudiate myth, but makes use of it herself. This lecture is moderated by Deva Waal. This podcast serie is hosted by Ashika Singh and Liesbeth…

1
Filipa Melo Lopes: What do incels want? Explaining Incel Violence Using Beauvoirian Otherness 44:13

3y ago44:13

44:13

In recent years, incel violence has moved from obscure corners of the internet onto mainstream news. In this episode, Filipa Melo Lopes discusses why most feminist explanations fail to grasp the specificity of this violence because these explanations focus on either the objectification of women or the perpetrator's sense of entitlement to sex. Inst…

1
Dianna Taylor: Counter-violence — A Beauvoirian Response to Sexual Violence? 47:11

3y ago47:11

47:11

In this episode, Dianna Taylor argues in favour of feminist counter-violence as responses to the sexual violence that both underpins and is reproduced by gender oppression. Beauvoir provides a concept of counter-violence in her discussion of resistance against fascist and colonial violence — and even if Beauvoir does not do so herself, we can exten…

1
Heli Mahkonen: Love: Patriarchal oppression or emancipatory potential? Aspects of feminist love critique 37:28

3y ago37:28

37:28

In this second episode, Heli Mahkonen elaborates on a key aspect of Beauvoir's Second Sex, namely her critique of romantic love. How does that classic, feminist critique relate to Black feminist thought on romantic love? Hosted by Ashika Singh and Liesbeth Schoonheim More reading..... Collins, Patricia Hill (2000): Black Feminist Thought, London/Ne…

1
Jennifer McWeeny (with Tessel Veneboer): How Does Your Mind Grasp Your Body? 1:14:38

3+ y ago1:14:38

1:14:38

In this first episode, Jennifer McWeeny elaborates on an important yet frequently mistranslated distinction found in Le Deuxième Sexe between saisir, se faire objetand se faire femme. Attending to the technical language of phenomenology that Beauvoir employs in these distinctions yields a new, 21st Century reading of Beauvoir’s philosophy of woman …

1
Another "Mixed" Tape: Wrapping up Season 3 33:39

4y ago33:39

33:39

Send us a text Join Carmen and me as we talk about our experiences, what we've learned, and the takeaways from Season 3. Don't forget to subscribe and follow us on Instagram and new for Season 5, check us out on and YouTube and keep up with True Culture on LinkedIn. If this is your first time with OTC, check out EPISODE 1: START HERE for more backg…

1
Revisiting Intersectionality with Stefanie Kurgatt 35:36

4y ago35:36

35:36

Send us a text Our guest this week is Stefanie Kurgatt. Stefanie was born in Eldoret, Kenya but moved to the states at a young age and most of her childhood was spent in Tallahassee, Fl. She attended Georgetown University, where she earned her B.S. in Healthcare Management/Policy and M.S. in Health Systems Administration. She holds a great interest…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Racially Ambiguous Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen