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. We examine the practice of loving through the eyes of Muslim women with Founder of Amaliah Magazine, Selina Bakkar, creative producer Haja Fanta, political academic Hudda Khaireh, and journalist Myriam François. Stance explores the work being done to subvert narratives through comedy, with writer and director of Channel 4’s We Are Lady Parts, Nida Manzoor. We hear about the importance of wide-ranging Queer and Trans Muslim stories with poet Fatimah Asghar, author Zeyn Joukhadar, historian Blair Imani, and writer Faryal Velmi. To end, we discuss the process of creating fictional realities through fantasy novels for young adults with authors Reni Kosi Amayo, Intisar Khanani and Taherah Mafi. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis stancepodcast.com

Stance Podcast

Stance 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 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 creativity and collaboration, despite chronic underfunding. Stance views the Yayoi Kusama exhibition, Cosmic Nature at the New York Botanical Garden - the largest botanical garden in a US city. We tour The Bronx and chat with mixed media performance artist Tasha Dougé on creating work as an act of resistance, and rewriting existing narratives. We visit forth generation Italian bakehouse on Arthur Avenue’s Little Italy, Madonia Brothers Bakery, and taste West African cuisine from Togo at Bognan International. To end, we speak with South Bronx hip hop artist Kemba about the rare energy of The Bronx in shaping his personal and creative evolution. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis stancepodcast.com

Ep 48: The Bronx w/ Yayoi Kusama at New York Botanical Garden; Artist Tasha Dougé; Rapper Kemba; Food: Togo’s Bognan International & Italian Madonia Brothers Bakery

On 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 with Somali-Italian architect, Omar Degan and Somali-Swedish archaeologist, Sada Mire. Abdi Latif Dahir, East Africa Correspondent for the New York Times pens an essay love letter to Mogadishu exclusively on Stance, paying homage to renowned Somali musician, Fadumo Nakruma, who recently died of COVID-19. To end, Stance speaks with Sudanese artist Eltayeb Dawelbait about his art practice, reflecting on Nairobi as a hub for connections, and the growth of the art scene in Sudan. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Ep. 47: East Africa: Past, Present & Reimagined Futures w/ Author Nanjala Nyabola, Architect Omar Degan, Archaeologist Sada Mire, Journalist Abdi Latif Dahir, Artist Eltayeb Dawelbait

In 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 Studies at University of California, Riverside, Dylan Rodriguez, discuss their work, highlighting the intersections of culture, movement building and the radical nature of abolition. Heading to Cape Town, Stance chats with musician, educator and organiser Asher Gamedze about his soulful and political Jazz album, Dialectic Soul. Between New York and London, we speak with Dalit rights activist and founder of Equality Labs Thenmozhi Soundararajan, and Kelsey Mohamed of London based Cradle Community about the links between caste and white supremacy. To end, we chat with Berlin based interdisciplinary artist and educator Camille Barton, and educator focused on radical pedagogies and spaces, London based Aditi Jaganathan about their work as facilitators and educators in enacting change. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Ep. 46: (Un)learning for Liberation w/ Joshua Virasami, Dylan Rodriguez, Sonya Childress, Asher Gamedze, Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Kelsey Mohamed, Camille Barton, Aditi Jaganathan

Marking 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 firsthand account of being part of the uprising, going to prison and how it led to the collaborative partnership with director Steve McQueen in producing the hit drama series, Small Axe. We chat with Queen of Lovers Rock, Carroll Thompson about her record-breaking album, Hopelessly in Love released in 1981, and her campaigning work around the Windrush Scandal. But how far have we actually come? We discuss policy and fair policing with Dr. Rebekah Delsol of StopWatch. To end, Stance looks to new wave Croydon born singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri, and her upcoming EP Four° In Winter. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Ep. 45: Brixton Uprising w/ Singer Carroll Thompson, Novelist Alex Wheatle, Poet Linton Kwesi Johnson, Musician Asher Senator, Dr Rebekah Delsol; Singer Rachel Chinouriri

Stance 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, Philosophers Kwame Anthony Appiah & Angie Hobbs, and visual artists Shirin Neshat, Larry Achiampong, The Singh Twins, Hassan Hajjaj, JR & Juliana Huxtable. Topics covered include Is This for Real?, Black in the Time of Corona, Manchesters LGBTQ+ Story, On Beauty, The Class Ceiling in the Arts, Modern Mumbai, Sex, The Female Prison Experience, Revolutionary Mothering, Demystifying Yoga & Donald Glover’s Atlanta. Stance loves to explore and has visited locations including Mumbai in India, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Bergen in Norway, Kingston in Jamaica, Paris in France and New York, LA, SF & Philadelphia in the US in search of original stories and fresh perspectives. Stance won Bronze for Best Current Affairs at The British Podcast Awards 2020. Stance won Best Arts & Culture Show and Rising Star in the Mixcloud Online Radio Awards 2018, nominated for Best Arts and Culture and Best Current Affairs as part of the British Podcast Awards 2019, included in The Observer and The Times annual Best Podcasts list, and has been Podcast of the Week in publications including The FT, Grazia, The Guardian and The Independent. Visit stancepodcast.com for more info and @stancepodcast on socials.

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In 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 to Ofelia, Olga and Maria, three Kichwa midwives at the AMUPAKIN clinic to explore the power and history of vertical birthing. We are also joined by Dr. Nina Moeller, a longtime associate of AMUPAKIN to find out more. Ending the show, Stance speaks with Ghanaian Australian musician Genesis Owusu about his album Smiling With No Teeth. He takes us through his musical influences, creative process and shares his joy at playing live just recently. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Ep. 44: Musician Genesis Owusu; Pandemic Birthing w/ Maiysha Campbell Kramer & Milli Hill; Pregnant: Visible and Invisible Disabilities; Vertical Birthing w/ AMUPAKIN in Ecuador

Come 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 and educator, Raul Blaze about his comedic expressions and musings on Jamaican culture. We meet with Donna Blake, the island’s director of The Nature Conservancy to understand the island’s lush and fertile ecosystem, the effects of climate change, and the efforts in conserving ecology in the Caribbean. We chat with founder and art consultant Susanne Fredricks about her visual art platform Suzie Wong Presents, one of the most comprehensive platforms promoting artists from the region. Finally, we catch up with music producer and record owner iotosh to get to know the contemporary sounds and hottest tunes shaping Jamaica right now. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Ep. 43: Jamaica Jamaica! Musician Judy Mowatt; Art w/ National Gallery of Jamaica & Suzie Wong Presents; Environmentalist Donna Blake; Producer Iotosh & Comedian Raul Blaze

To 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 the Black image in visual art. We hear from Italy, where visual researcher Theo Imani finds echoes between African and European imagery. We delve into the world of curation with Osei Bonsu of Tate Modern and discuss the challenge of making artistic space that includes all types of Black expression. Pioneers of the Past celebrates the revolution in agency these curators and researchers represent. Made in Partnership with Vibe Called Tech for The North Face and Gucci collaboration. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Stance Takes: Reframing The Black Image - Pioneers of The Past w/ Alayo Akinkugbe; Renata Cherlise; Theo Imani & Osei Bonsu

To 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 forging new artistic space in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. And finally, we hear from Queer poets in Uganda and Kenya on how they’re thriving despite living in societies virulently hostile to their very identities. Forces Of Art: Perspectives from a Changing World takes the reader on a dizzying journey across the globe with the analysis of more than 30 researchers given free rein to write about the radical role art plays in societal change. Made in collaboration with The European Cultural Foundation, The Prince Claus Fund, Hivos and Valiz. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Stance Takes on Forces of Art: Colombia, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Uganda and Kenya

In 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 in Mumbai to chat with the award-winning author and essayist, Elif Shafak, now based in London about her latest book How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division, a stirring reflection on the current state and future of modern politics and society.  Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Ep. 42: Elif Shafak; Tricky; 2020: Failing Up or Tearing Down? w/ Chryl N. Laird; Taylor Small; Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic; Sarah Kendzior; Kwame Anthony Appiah

In 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 and Tendaiishe Chitima and producer Joe Njagu, of Zimbabwean feature film Cook Off to discuss the country's cinema industry and cultural scene past and present. We head to Nigeria to report on the End SARS movement, speaking to filmmaker Ifeoma Chukwuogo about the ongoing protests against police brutality. Finally, we highlight the mood in New York City amidst the upcoming Presidential election and COVID-19, speaking to voters at a Manhattan polling station.  Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Ep. 41: Musician Ebo Taylor; 1-54 Founder Touria El Glaoui; Artist Hassan Hajjaj; Zimbabwean film Cook Off; #EndSARS; NYC: Hopes and Fears

In 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 Camara and non-fiction translator Celine Leroy. Musician and composer Chassol tells us about his new record Ludi and we cover the boom in French podcasts coming out of Paris with Melting Pot exploring French identity, Dinner For One showcasing the healing power of food and VOXXX, an innovative audioporn podcast. Join the conversation at stancepodcast.com This episode contains adult themes and explicit references to sex

Ep. 40: The New Paris w/ Jean-Pascal Zadi; Lindsey Tramuta; Lucie Camara & Celine Leroy; CHASSOL and Podcasts: Melting Pot, Dinner For One & VOXXX

We 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; we talk to singer and songwriter Roisin Murphy who discusses new music and creativity; we head to Canada to meet author Zalika Reid-Benta to discuss her critically acclaimed first short story collection Frying Plantain. We also highlight new writing from The Commonwealth Short Story Prize and head to Oklahoma through the thoughts, and music, of Tulsa’s Steph Simon on the legacy of Black Wall Street. Join the conversation @stancepodcast.com

Ep 39 On The Record; Dancer and Choreographer Akram Khan; Singer Songwriter Róisín Murphy; Writer Zalika Reid-Benta

In 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 Cherish Finden. We talk taste, baking and experimentation during lockdown as well as life in Singapore, judging on TV and being a perfectionist. Performance artist and writer Travis Alabanza discusses their most recent work Burgerz and their views on arts and outreach as well as reflecting on life growing up in Bristol. We head to Oklahoma where Choctaw singer and producer Samatha Crain explores ideas of renewal and hope on her new record, A Slow Death. And finally listeners from around the world to share quarantine journals from Guadalajara, Sao Paulo, Hong Kong, La Drome, Ubud and Kampala. Join the conversation @stancepodcast.com

Ep. 38: Black in the time of Corona; Pastry Chef and TV Judge Cherish Finden; Performance Artist Travis Alabanza; Musician Samantha Crain

Stance is an independent award-winning arts and culture podcast run by journalist and curator Chrystal Genesis. Guests so far include musician Four Tet, singer-producer Nao, authors Yaa Gyasi, Sayaka Murata and Valeria Luiselli, lawyer and campaigner Gina Miller, singer Jessie Ware, poets Fatimah Asghar, John Cooper Clarke & Kate Tempest, actor Riz Ahmed, Me Too founder Tarana Burke, playwrights Inua Ellams, Natasha Gordon & Sabrina Mahfouz, writer and activist Janet Mock, DJ-producer Kaytranada, Choreographer Hofesh Shechter and artists Larry Achiampong, The Singh Twins and Juliana Huxtable. Topics covered include Manchesters LGBTQ+ Story, Beauty, The Class Ceiling in the Arts, Modern Mumbai, Sex, The Female Prison Experience, Demystifying Yoga and Donald Glover’s Atlanta. Stance loves to explore and has visited locations including Mumbai in India, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Bergen in Norway, Paris in France and New York, LA & Philadelphia in the US in search of original stories and fresh perspectives. Stance was awarded Best Arts & Culture Show and Rising Star in the Online Radio Awards 2018, nominated for Best Arts and Culture and Best Current Affairs as part of the British Podcast Awards 2019, included in The Observer and The Times annual Best Podcasts list, and has been Podcast of the Week in publications including The FT, Grazia, and The Guardian. Join the conversation @stancepodcast on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Stance is produced by Chrystal Genesis and Rachel Porter. The website editor is Rene Katiisa. Music by Rikette Genesis and Stance branding by Edward Vince.

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Stance Podcast

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