February 27, 2024 • 18 mins
As we close out Black History month , Host Ramses talks with Black storytellers Yves Jeffcoat and Katie Mitchell about their IHeart Podcast "On Theme".
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Here on the Black Information Network, we highlight black voices.
Black narratives are chronicled here, and Black stories are shared,
often by the fantastic people behind the very stories themselves.
During Black History Month, we naturally have to further exalt
these Black storytellers, as is our duty. But as we
will learn today, with respect to Black storytelling, there's levels
(00:22):
to this. Eve's Jetcote is a writer and podcast host
and producer. A writing has appeared or is forthcoming in
The New York Times, Art in America, Paper Monument, and
many others. In addition, she has hosted several podcasts, including
This Day in History, Class Unpopular, and Afropunk Solution Sessions,
(00:42):
and she has produced and executive produced many others. Katie
Mitchell is a writer and the owner of the bookstore
Good Books. Inspired by the stories she heard growing up
that were passed down by her very Southern and very
black family, she joined Voces with Eves to create the
quintessential podcast about Black storytelling on theme, and we are
(01:03):
fortunate to have them both as our guest today. This
is the Black Information Network Daily Podcast, and I'm your
host Rams This jah all right, Eves and Katie, Welcome
to the show. It's been a long time coming. How
are you both feeling.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Today, Yes, it has Thank you for having us today, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Thank you for having us. I'm excited to talk to you.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
All right, let's get to it. So around here we
start our stories in the beginning, So give us a
little bit about your background and sort of what led
you to your career, path, to your podcast and to
this conversation today. Eves will start with you and then
Katie will follow up with you.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
So, yeah, So I grew up in the Atlanta area.
I grew up in College Park and on the south
side of Metro Atlanta, and I've just always loved storytelling,
always loved being a consumer of stories and a writer
of stories.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Was really interested in being a writer. It was like
my childhood dream.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So it's been something that I've been connected to for
a really long time, always invested in black stories and invested.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
In black lives.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
And this podcast came about after doing a lot of
other podcast work. As everyone heard before, I have been
podcast hosting and producing for several years now and talking
about history a lot, talking about black stories and the
importance of being socially engaged in those podcasts and so
it was natural for me to do this podcast with Katie,
(02:29):
who I've been friends with for a very long time
I guess like two decades or something like that at
this point. So as both of us love black stories
and have a history together of caring about these similar
things together, it was very natural for us to work
on a show about black storytelling. So we ended up
(02:50):
here because we know how important it is to uplift
and elevate the voices of people who are sharing black
stories and who are creating amazing work in general.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Fantastic, All right, Katie, tell us a bit about yourself.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Yeah, as you mentioned, I own the bookstore Good Books,
atl And one of my favorite writers, Tony Morrison, always says,
if there's a book that you want to read and
it doesn't exist, then you must write it. And there
was a void I felt in the podcasting world and
the podcast I was listening to, and I really wanted
to have a show that talked about black storytelling all
(03:29):
the time, not just in February, not just during Juneteenth,
not just when something really tragic happened, and you know,
they're giving the black people their hour to tell their stories.
But I wanted it to be a weekly thing where
black people could come and hear about different stories, whether
it's you know, stories they've always known or stories they're
just now hearing. And that's when I asked Eves, like, Hey,
(03:50):
I know you're into podcasting, what do you think about this?
And it kind of went from there.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Okay, So in short, we'll keep going with you, Katie,
tell us a little bit about on and give our
listeners a little bit more about it.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Sure. So on theme is about black storytelling in all
its forms, and so it's not just movies, it's not
just books. Sometimes we're talking about obituaries. Sometimes we're talking
about haters in black horror and why black people are
always seen running away from the danger. So we really
go deep and why we want to, and we go
(04:26):
not just American stories. We're talking about Black people across
the diaspora. So we're we're going deep on all the mediums,
all the topics, and I think sometimes you'll be able
to tell which topics are mine and which topics are
eaves because we have like different interests which I really
like and how we operate with the storytelling. So there's
something for everyone if you love black storytelling.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Okay, all right, Eves, Well, give me give me an
example of some some topics that you like, because now
my interest is peaked.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
So I really love historical ones. As I mentioned earlier,
I really like to go do deep dives into his So,
for instance, we had one about regret. So we did
an episode that was based around some research that I
was doing on Ernest Hogan, who was a composer who
created coon songs back at the end of the eighteen
hundreds in the early nineteen hundreds, and it made me
(05:15):
think about regret and how there are a lot of
race related topics that we focus on, all the race
related regret that black storytellers and black artists have to
deal with, And so we kind of threat that through
line for what regret feels like and what it looks
like for people like Ernest Hogan who were put in
positions where they were doing work in the time that
(05:37):
they had to do.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
They had to make money, they had to sustain a living.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
There were still artists, but also there were all these
other opplicant implications of the work that they were doing.
So that's one example of the type. In the horror
episode that Katie mentioned earlier, it was this whole idea
in my head that I had of horror being like
so frequently seeing black people run away from the danger,
when in real life and in non fictional times, we
(06:03):
so often go toward the danger, like it's what we
do is like stand up to things. We're very resilient,
we have all these forms of resistance. So I had
to reckon with that and did so with doctor Robin
Armin's coleman, who wrote the book The Black Guy Dies
First and also horror and noir and has done a
bunch of research way more than I have on black horror,
(06:24):
and we talked to her about that, and I think
Katie's episodes are like really fun. She does stuff on rap.
We did one on rappers, and we've done one on
through lines of like rap to act.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
So I think.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Katie's are really like heartfelt and like oftentimes you know,
obviously involve a lot of like narrative storytelling and research
and history into things like that too, So I think we.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Balance each other out well in that regard.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
And I tend to do things that are just like
I don't know, like I have these theories in my head,
and I think it's really fun to tease them out
through storytelling in the podcast.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
So, Katie, earlier you mentioned something about you didn't want
to just have those special episodes during Black History Month
or Juneteenth or Kwanza or you know, a tragedy or
something like that, and that made me think about, you know,
(07:28):
who would tune in because there's a lot of people,
there's a lot of interest particularly around those times, especially
from non black people. And I wanted to ask, you know,
who's in your mind when you create an episode of
on Theme? Who is your listener? Is your listener an
old person, a young person? Is this listener? Look like
(07:50):
this is it come from this background? You know how
much money they make? You know who's in your brain?
Who all do you make the show for?
Speaker 3 (07:59):
When I think about our listener, I think of someone
who is just very curious and loves black culture on
a deep level and not a superficial Oh I'm going to,
you know, put on a pin and that says black
lives matter, and I've done I've done what I had
to do for black people, and so that can be
anyone of any race. Obviously, we're black women and we
(08:20):
are going to center black women black folks generally, but
I think our audience is just curious and loves black culture,
and it's interested in diving deep into that each week
on different topics. And we hope that when people listen
to the episode, they don't just sit there and keep
all the new things that they learned, but they actually
go out and talk to different people and say, hey,
(08:42):
I just really learned about this guy named Ernest Hogan
and he sound coon songs and he kind of regretted
it afterward, but you know, he felt like he had
to make his bag and what do you think about that?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
All right, I'll take that Black Information Network.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
I think it's caused us to really to focus on
the equity and inclusion.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Piece and not just the diversity piece celebrating black history.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
The die is classed.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
As I said, we're not asking, We're saying this is
the way it's.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Going to be.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
And now making sure that yeah, that was a first,
but it will be the only time that that's happened.
We want to make sure that we can continue to
do new things because our story continues. We are here
today with Eves, Jeffcote, and Katie Mitchell posts of on Theme,
(09:30):
a podcast about black storytelling. So how about this eves
talk us through what it is. You hope that at
first time listener of on Theme will walk away from
(09:51):
the show having learned not just about an episode, not
just about a character, but about themselves, maybe about the show,
or maybe about you, per what do you want to
listen or lead the show with?
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Yeah, so I guess I will start by saying, I
definitely like if they learn some of something about me,
that's fine and well, but I really want them to
learn about black stories. I want them to learn about
the people that we're talking about in the episodes. I
want them to walk away more open and receptive to
new ways of thinking about black stories. I want them
(10:23):
to walk away and maybe learning about new books and
new films and new plays and new forms of media
that they haven't enjoyed that are by black people. And
I just want them to walk away with like understanding
the totality the breath of the narrative that we do
have and how expansive it is, because you know, this
show is anybody can listen to this and learn something,
(10:46):
and I think that it's really important to understand that.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
Like, I know, one thing we kind of rag on.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
In the show is that you know, there's this saying
that a lot of people like to say, is that
black people are not a monolith. But the reality is
is that it's it's true. There are so many different
stories that we have. And I hope that people walk
away understanding that and walk away knowing that if they
need to say I don't know at any point in time,
that that's okay, and that if they want to change
(11:14):
their ideas or their minds about something, then that's something
that they can do as well. And yeah, and that
black stories are important, and that the ones in the past,
the present, and the ones that are to come are
all like adding to the total narrative of all the
things we have to say in the diaspor around the world.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Okay, So let's go with the ones to come, the
ones that have not yet been recorded. So a recent
episode you had had been both of you talking to
Ambar Johnson. So give us let's say, two guests each
(11:56):
that you'd like to have or no, let's go with
two guests, one guests each that you'd like to have
in the future. So we'll start with you, Katie, give
us a guest and then we'll come back to you, Eves. Okay,
I would.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Love to have Nikki Giovanni on the show. She actually
is writing before to my book, and she has been
someone who I admired for a really long time, and
she's done a ton of interviews, so I would have
loved to get to talk to her about something that
she's never talked about before, which when my grandfather died,
(12:29):
I went through this period of time where I was
just reading a lot of obituaries and I found her
sister's obituary, which she wrote, and it was just so beautiful.
And I would like to talk to her about the
process of writing obituaries and the storytelling that goes into
telling someone on story possibly for the last time. For
a lot of us who aren't well known and not
super famous, that might be the last time anyone writes
(12:51):
about us. So I would love to dig deep with
her about what that process was like for her and
what she thinks about the storytelling aspect of writing optuories.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Okay, and eats a guest from you, I guess I'll say.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Someone who we've been thinking about having on is Raquel Willis.
She has a recent memoir and we'd love to talk
to her about that and just learn more about her
story and get to talk to her about what it
means for trans people to tell their stories in media.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Okay, I would say fantastic. All right. Well, besides on Theme,
you know you too are very accomplished individuals, and now
that our listeners are getting to know who you are,
let's talk about something else you're working on or what's
next for either you or for on Theme. So we'll
(13:46):
keep going with you, Eaves, and then we'll come back
to you, Katie.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
So we have a lot of cool episodes coming up
on on Theme. We have one where we talk to
the niece of Rosa Parks about who Rosa Parks really
is because a lot of times we have these conceptions
of these big.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Figures that are that have narratives.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
That seem like they've been really well defined in Black history,
that are often just not the full story.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
So we're talking to Rosa Parks.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
We have a lot of cool episodes coming up that
where Katie and I get to talk about things that
we like about in in black storytelling and narratives, like
storytellers on the internet, black haircare YouTubers, and many others
that we're excited about but just looking forward to being
(14:32):
able to touch different parts of media, some that we
haven't touched on, touching on the more like poetry, like plays,
like podcasts, and all different kinds of media.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Okay, right, and Katie, any anything in the pipeline for you.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Yeah, I'm super excited about elishaw that we're going to
be doing in June in Atlanta. It's called White Club,
and we'll be letting different writers, local writers kind of
compete kind of like Fight Club but rite club, so
they're competing and their crowd decide two wins based on
who cheers the loudest. So that's going to be a
(15:12):
really fun thing for us, our first time doing a
live show in a collaboration with someone. I really love
working with other writers and other artists, especially in the
Atlanta area, because for me, this is all about building
community and having conversations. So when we're able to take
that out of the studio, when it's not just us,
which I love having just conversations with us, they're bringing
(15:33):
it to a larger audience, and an in person audience
is always fun. And for me personally, I'm writing a
book called Pose Stupid People, which is about black bookstores
in the United States, so I've had the opportunity to
travel across the country and talk to folks that have
had bookstores all the way from the sixties to twenty
(15:53):
twenty four. And so that book will be coming out
next year.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Nice, okay, all right, Well, listen, you're gonna need to
put down some roots here. You're gonna have to create
some connective tissue for our listeners. So let's keep going.
Let's let our listeners know how we can keep up
with everything that you're doing, your social media websites, anything
like that, and of course how they can get on theme.
(16:19):
So please continue, and then Eaves will come back to
you for your content as well, so.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
They can listen to this show on any streaming platform
on Theme Show, and our Instagram is also on Theme Show.
We love getting letters from our listeners so they can
message ut it hello at on them dot show, and
our website is on Theme dot Show.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Nice okay, all right, And Eve's.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
So yeah, the easiest way to find me personally is
on Instagram at not Apologizing. You can also head to
my website which is Evesjeffcoat dot com. And I know
how you spell that is y V E S. And
then Jeff Cote j E F F C O A T.
You can find me there and I would love to
(17:09):
talk to anybody if anybody has any messages about anything
that was said on the show. We love feedback and
love having conversations with people.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
So that's all right, that's definitely going to stand out
not apologizing. I dig that.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
Thank you all right.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Well, I'll be sure to give you a follow, and
I know our listeners will do the same. I'd like
to thank you both, uh of course for coming onto
the show, but also for you know, the work that
you're doing. This is fantastic. You know, obviously these stories
need to be told, and I feel like you're a
justitude to be doing it. I of course got a
chance to listen to to a couple of your episodes,
(17:46):
so you have a fan in me and you know,
come back sometime and let's do it again. All right,
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
And thanks thank you for what you do with spreading
spreading the word about other people's podcast and you know,
get it, getting the information out about what Black Books
are doing.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Absolutely yes, you as well, you know I got you.
Don't even worry about it. Well once again, Today's guests
are Eves, Jeff Cote and Katie Mitchell, hosts of On Theme,
a podcast about black storytelling. This has been a production
of the Black Information Network. Today's show is produced by
Chris Thompson. Have some thoughts you'd like to share, use
(18:23):
the red microphone talkback feature on the iHeartRadio app. While
you're there, be sure to hit subscribe and download all
of our episodes. I am your host Ramse's Jaw on
all social media and join us tomorrow as we share
our news with our voice from our perspective right here
on the Black Information Network Daily Podcast
Here on the Black Information Network, we highlight black voices.
Black narratives are chronicled here, and Black stories are shared,
often by the fantastic people behind the very stories themselves.
During Black History Month, we naturally have to further exalt
these Black storytellers, as is our duty. But as we
will learn today, with respect to Black storytelling, there's levels
(00:22):
to this. Eve's Jetcote is a writer and podcast host
and producer. A writing has appeared or is forthcoming in
The New York Times, Art in America, Paper Monument, and
many others. In addition, she has hosted several podcasts, including
This Day in History, Class Unpopular, and Afropunk Solution Sessions,
(00:42):
and she has produced and executive produced many others. Katie
Mitchell is a writer and the owner of the bookstore
Good Books. Inspired by the stories she heard growing up
that were passed down by her very Southern and very
black family, she joined Voces with Eves to create the
quintessential podcast about Black storytelling on theme, and we are
(01:03):
fortunate to have them both as our guest today. This
is the Black Information Network Daily Podcast, and I'm your
host Rams This jah all right, Eves and Katie, Welcome
to the show. It's been a long time coming. How
are you both feeling.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Today, Yes, it has Thank you for having us today, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Thank you for having us. I'm excited to talk to you.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
All right, let's get to it. So around here we
start our stories in the beginning, So give us a
little bit about your background and sort of what led
you to your career, path, to your podcast and to
this conversation today. Eves will start with you and then
Katie will follow up with you.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
So, yeah, So I grew up in the Atlanta area.
I grew up in College Park and on the south
side of Metro Atlanta, and I've just always loved storytelling,
always loved being a consumer of stories and a writer
of stories.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Was really interested in being a writer. It was like
my childhood dream.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So it's been something that I've been connected to for
a really long time, always invested in black stories and invested.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
In black lives.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
And this podcast came about after doing a lot of
other podcast work. As everyone heard before, I have been
podcast hosting and producing for several years now and talking
about history a lot, talking about black stories and the
importance of being socially engaged in those podcasts and so
it was natural for me to do this podcast with Katie,
(02:29):
who I've been friends with for a very long time
I guess like two decades or something like that at
this point. So as both of us love black stories
and have a history together of caring about these similar
things together, it was very natural for us to work
on a show about black storytelling. So we ended up
(02:50):
here because we know how important it is to uplift
and elevate the voices of people who are sharing black
stories and who are creating amazing work in general.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Fantastic, All right, Katie, tell us a bit about yourself.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Yeah, as you mentioned, I own the bookstore Good Books,
atl And one of my favorite writers, Tony Morrison, always says,
if there's a book that you want to read and
it doesn't exist, then you must write it. And there
was a void I felt in the podcasting world and
the podcast I was listening to, and I really wanted
to have a show that talked about black storytelling all
(03:29):
the time, not just in February, not just during Juneteenth,
not just when something really tragic happened, and you know,
they're giving the black people their hour to tell their stories.
But I wanted it to be a weekly thing where
black people could come and hear about different stories, whether
it's you know, stories they've always known or stories they're
just now hearing. And that's when I asked Eves, like, Hey,
(03:50):
I know you're into podcasting, what do you think about this?
And it kind of went from there.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Okay, So in short, we'll keep going with you, Katie,
tell us a little bit about on and give our
listeners a little bit more about it.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Sure. So on theme is about black storytelling in all
its forms, and so it's not just movies, it's not
just books. Sometimes we're talking about obituaries. Sometimes we're talking
about haters in black horror and why black people are
always seen running away from the danger. So we really
go deep and why we want to, and we go
(04:26):
not just American stories. We're talking about Black people across
the diaspora. So we're we're going deep on all the mediums,
all the topics, and I think sometimes you'll be able
to tell which topics are mine and which topics are
eaves because we have like different interests which I really
like and how we operate with the storytelling. So there's
something for everyone if you love black storytelling.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Okay, all right, Eves, Well, give me give me an
example of some some topics that you like, because now
my interest is peaked.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
So I really love historical ones. As I mentioned earlier,
I really like to go do deep dives into his So,
for instance, we had one about regret. So we did
an episode that was based around some research that I
was doing on Ernest Hogan, who was a composer who
created coon songs back at the end of the eighteen
hundreds in the early nineteen hundreds, and it made me
(05:15):
think about regret and how there are a lot of
race related topics that we focus on, all the race
related regret that black storytellers and black artists have to
deal with, And so we kind of threat that through
line for what regret feels like and what it looks
like for people like Ernest Hogan who were put in
positions where they were doing work in the time that
(05:37):
they had to do.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
They had to make money, they had to sustain a living.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
There were still artists, but also there were all these
other opplicant implications of the work that they were doing.
So that's one example of the type. In the horror
episode that Katie mentioned earlier, it was this whole idea
in my head that I had of horror being like
so frequently seeing black people run away from the danger,
when in real life and in non fictional times, we
(06:03):
so often go toward the danger, like it's what we
do is like stand up to things. We're very resilient,
we have all these forms of resistance. So I had
to reckon with that and did so with doctor Robin
Armin's coleman, who wrote the book The Black Guy Dies
First and also horror and noir and has done a
bunch of research way more than I have on black horror,
(06:24):
and we talked to her about that, and I think
Katie's episodes are like really fun. She does stuff on rap.
We did one on rappers, and we've done one on
through lines of like rap to act.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
So I think.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Katie's are really like heartfelt and like oftentimes you know,
obviously involve a lot of like narrative storytelling and research
and history into things like that too, So I think we.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Balance each other out well in that regard.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
And I tend to do things that are just like
I don't know, like I have these theories in my head,
and I think it's really fun to tease them out
through storytelling in the podcast.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
So, Katie, earlier you mentioned something about you didn't want
to just have those special episodes during Black History Month
or Juneteenth or Kwanza or you know, a tragedy or
something like that, and that made me think about, you know,
(07:28):
who would tune in because there's a lot of people,
there's a lot of interest particularly around those times, especially
from non black people. And I wanted to ask, you know,
who's in your mind when you create an episode of
on Theme? Who is your listener? Is your listener an
old person, a young person? Is this listener? Look like
(07:50):
this is it come from this background? You know how
much money they make? You know who's in your brain?
Who all do you make the show for?
Speaker 3 (07:59):
When I think about our listener, I think of someone
who is just very curious and loves black culture on
a deep level and not a superficial Oh I'm going to,
you know, put on a pin and that says black
lives matter, and I've done I've done what I had
to do for black people, and so that can be
anyone of any race. Obviously, we're black women and we
(08:20):
are going to center black women black folks generally, but
I think our audience is just curious and loves black culture,
and it's interested in diving deep into that each week
on different topics. And we hope that when people listen
to the episode, they don't just sit there and keep
all the new things that they learned, but they actually
go out and talk to different people and say, hey,
(08:42):
I just really learned about this guy named Ernest Hogan
and he sound coon songs and he kind of regretted
it afterward, but you know, he felt like he had
to make his bag and what do you think about that?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
All right, I'll take that Black Information Network.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
I think it's caused us to really to focus on
the equity and inclusion.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Piece and not just the diversity piece celebrating black history.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
The die is classed.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
As I said, we're not asking, We're saying this is
the way it's.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Going to be.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
And now making sure that yeah, that was a first,
but it will be the only time that that's happened.
We want to make sure that we can continue to
do new things because our story continues. We are here
today with Eves, Jeffcote, and Katie Mitchell posts of on Theme,
(09:30):
a podcast about black storytelling. So how about this eves
talk us through what it is. You hope that at
first time listener of on Theme will walk away from
(09:51):
the show having learned not just about an episode, not
just about a character, but about themselves, maybe about the show,
or maybe about you, per what do you want to
listen or lead the show with?
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Yeah, so I guess I will start by saying, I
definitely like if they learn some of something about me,
that's fine and well, but I really want them to
learn about black stories. I want them to learn about
the people that we're talking about in the episodes. I
want them to walk away more open and receptive to
new ways of thinking about black stories. I want them
(10:23):
to walk away and maybe learning about new books and
new films and new plays and new forms of media
that they haven't enjoyed that are by black people. And
I just want them to walk away with like understanding
the totality the breath of the narrative that we do
have and how expansive it is, because you know, this
show is anybody can listen to this and learn something,
(10:46):
and I think that it's really important to understand that.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
Like, I know, one thing we kind of rag on.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
In the show is that you know, there's this saying
that a lot of people like to say, is that
black people are not a monolith. But the reality is
is that it's it's true. There are so many different
stories that we have. And I hope that people walk
away understanding that and walk away knowing that if they
need to say I don't know at any point in time,
that that's okay, and that if they want to change
(11:14):
their ideas or their minds about something, then that's something
that they can do as well. And yeah, and that
black stories are important, and that the ones in the past,
the present, and the ones that are to come are
all like adding to the total narrative of all the
things we have to say in the diaspor around the world.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Okay, So let's go with the ones to come, the
ones that have not yet been recorded. So a recent
episode you had had been both of you talking to
Ambar Johnson. So give us let's say, two guests each
(11:56):
that you'd like to have or no, let's go with
two guests, one guests each that you'd like to have
in the future. So we'll start with you, Katie, give
us a guest and then we'll come back to you, Eves. Okay,
I would.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Love to have Nikki Giovanni on the show. She actually
is writing before to my book, and she has been
someone who I admired for a really long time, and
she's done a ton of interviews, so I would have
loved to get to talk to her about something that
she's never talked about before, which when my grandfather died,
(12:29):
I went through this period of time where I was
just reading a lot of obituaries and I found her
sister's obituary, which she wrote, and it was just so beautiful.
And I would like to talk to her about the
process of writing obituaries and the storytelling that goes into
telling someone on story possibly for the last time. For
a lot of us who aren't well known and not
super famous, that might be the last time anyone writes
(12:51):
about us. So I would love to dig deep with
her about what that process was like for her and
what she thinks about the storytelling aspect of writing optuories.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Okay, and eats a guest from you, I guess I'll say.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Someone who we've been thinking about having on is Raquel Willis.
She has a recent memoir and we'd love to talk
to her about that and just learn more about her
story and get to talk to her about what it
means for trans people to tell their stories in media.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Okay, I would say fantastic. All right. Well, besides on Theme,
you know you too are very accomplished individuals, and now
that our listeners are getting to know who you are,
let's talk about something else you're working on or what's
next for either you or for on Theme. So we'll
(13:46):
keep going with you, Eaves, and then we'll come back
to you, Katie.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
So we have a lot of cool episodes coming up
on on Theme. We have one where we talk to
the niece of Rosa Parks about who Rosa Parks really
is because a lot of times we have these conceptions
of these big.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Figures that are that have narratives.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
That seem like they've been really well defined in Black history,
that are often just not the full story.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
So we're talking to Rosa Parks.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
We have a lot of cool episodes coming up that
where Katie and I get to talk about things that
we like about in in black storytelling and narratives, like
storytellers on the internet, black haircare YouTubers, and many others
that we're excited about but just looking forward to being
(14:32):
able to touch different parts of media, some that we
haven't touched on, touching on the more like poetry, like plays,
like podcasts, and all different kinds of media.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Okay, right, and Katie, any anything in the pipeline for you.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Yeah, I'm super excited about elishaw that we're going to
be doing in June in Atlanta. It's called White Club,
and we'll be letting different writers, local writers kind of
compete kind of like Fight Club but rite club, so
they're competing and their crowd decide two wins based on
who cheers the loudest. So that's going to be a
(15:12):
really fun thing for us, our first time doing a
live show in a collaboration with someone. I really love
working with other writers and other artists, especially in the
Atlanta area, because for me, this is all about building
community and having conversations. So when we're able to take
that out of the studio, when it's not just us,
which I love having just conversations with us, they're bringing
(15:33):
it to a larger audience, and an in person audience
is always fun. And for me personally, I'm writing a
book called Pose Stupid People, which is about black bookstores
in the United States, so I've had the opportunity to
travel across the country and talk to folks that have
had bookstores all the way from the sixties to twenty
(15:53):
twenty four. And so that book will be coming out
next year.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Nice, okay, all right, Well, listen, you're gonna need to
put down some roots here. You're gonna have to create
some connective tissue for our listeners. So let's keep going.
Let's let our listeners know how we can keep up
with everything that you're doing, your social media websites, anything
like that, and of course how they can get on theme.
(16:19):
So please continue, and then Eaves will come back to
you for your content as well, so.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
They can listen to this show on any streaming platform
on Theme Show, and our Instagram is also on Theme Show.
We love getting letters from our listeners so they can
message ut it hello at on them dot show, and
our website is on Theme dot Show.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Nice okay, all right, And Eve's.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
So yeah, the easiest way to find me personally is
on Instagram at not Apologizing. You can also head to
my website which is Evesjeffcoat dot com. And I know
how you spell that is y V E S. And
then Jeff Cote j E F F C O A T.
You can find me there and I would love to
(17:09):
talk to anybody if anybody has any messages about anything
that was said on the show. We love feedback and
love having conversations with people.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
So that's all right, that's definitely going to stand out
not apologizing. I dig that.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
Thank you all right.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Well, I'll be sure to give you a follow, and
I know our listeners will do the same. I'd like
to thank you both, uh of course for coming onto
the show, but also for you know, the work that
you're doing. This is fantastic. You know, obviously these stories
need to be told, and I feel like you're a
justitude to be doing it. I of course got a
chance to listen to to a couple of your episodes,
(17:46):
so you have a fan in me and you know,
come back sometime and let's do it again. All right,
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
And thanks thank you for what you do with spreading
spreading the word about other people's podcast and you know,
get it, getting the information out about what Black Books
are doing.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Absolutely yes, you as well, you know I got you.
Don't even worry about it. Well once again, Today's guests
are Eves, Jeff Cote and Katie Mitchell, hosts of On Theme,
a podcast about black storytelling. This has been a production
of the Black Information Network. Today's show is produced by
Chris Thompson. Have some thoughts you'd like to share, use
(18:23):
the red microphone talkback feature on the iHeartRadio app. While
you're there, be sure to hit subscribe and download all
of our episodes. I am your host Ramse's Jaw on
all social media and join us tomorrow as we share
our news with our voice from our perspective right here
on the Black Information Network Daily Podcast
Popular Podcasts
Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes present: Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial
Introducing… Aubrey O’Day Diddy’s former protege, television personality, platinum selling music artist, Danity Kane alum Aubrey O’Day joins veteran journalists Amy Robach and TJ Holmes to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation. Join them throughout the trial as they discuss, debate, and dissect every detail, every aspect of the proceedings. Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise, as only she is qualified to do given her first-hand knowledge. From her days on Making the Band, as she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be the opposite of the glitz and glamour. Listen throughout every minute of the trial, for this exclusive coverage. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes present Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial, an iHeartRadio podcast.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!