Podcast
Black Market Reads
Episodes
- Episode 111 - Katie Sample, All Things Work Together for Good
In this deeply personal episode of Black Market Reads, host Lissa Jones sits down with revered Twin Cities educator, social worker, author, and community elder Katie Sample to dis…
- Episode 110 Literacy and Liberation: Benjamin E. Mays Afrocentric Academy (S12 E4)
In this special episode of Black Market Reads, Lissa Jones turns the conversation from the authors who write our stories to the young readers who will carry them forward. Recorded…
- Episode 108 - Justin Ellis, The Cruelty of Nice Folks: Why Minneapolis Is the Story of America
In this powerful hometown conversation, journalist Justin Ellis returns to Minneapolis to discuss his debut book, The Cruelty of Nice Folks: Why Minneapolis Is the Story of America…
- Episode 109 - 100 Years of Black Freedom with performance by Phillis Wheatley
To mark the 100th Anniversary of Carter G. Woodson's Black History Month (previously known as Negro History Week) and the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence the c…
- Episode 107 - Kevin Lindsey, Minnesota Humanities Center
Welcome to a very special edition of Black Market Reads, brought to you by the Givens Foundation for African American Literature, in proud partnership with the Minnesota Humanities…
- Episode 106 - Michael Richards, Are You Down?
Recorded live at Franconia Sculpture Park, this episode of Black Market Reads brings listeners into a powerful, place-based conversation about the life, work, and legacy of artist…
- Episode 105 - Michael Kleber-Diggs, Worldly Things
In this powerful episode of Black Market Reads, host Lissa Jones sits down with award-winning poet Michael Kleber-Diggs to explore the depth and intention behind his collection Wor…
- Episode 104 - Vanessa Riley, Fire Sword & Sea
In this episode, recorded during Women's History Month, Lissa talks with author Vanessa Riley about her latest historical novel. Riley—whose works have received high praise from Ne…
- Episode 103 -Antonio Michael Downing, Saga Boy and Black Cherokee
Antonio Michael Downing is an author, speaker, and musical artist. His memoir Saga Boy was called "singularly dazzling" by Kiese Laymon and "the triumph of Blackness everywhere" by…
- Episode 102 - Ethelene Whitmire, The Remarkable Life of Reed Peggram
The Remarkable Life of Reed Peggram by Ethelene Whitmire tells the true story of Reed Peggram, a brilliant Black, queer Harvard scholar who went to Paris in 1937 and stayed through…
Episode 101 - C.J. Farley - Who Knows You By HeartKicking off Season 11 and Black History Month- This conversation could not be more timely. Part social thriller, part modern love story, Who Knows You by Heart by CJ Farley is a sl…
Episode 100: A Landmark Celebration of Black Stories, Voices, and LegacyHosted by Lissa Jones, the 100th episode is an expansive, deeply moving celebration that honors the elders, the artists, the activists, and the community that built—and continues t…
Episode 99 - Debra Stone, The House on RondoIn Episode #99 Lissa talks with Author Debra J Stone about her new middle grade novel, The House on Rondo (University of Minnesota Press). Rooted in the lived histories of Minnesot…
- Episode 98 - Leila Mottley, The Girls Who Grew Big
Adela Woods is sixteen years old and pregnant. Her parents banish her from her comfortable upbringing in Indiana to her grandmother's home in the small town of Padua Beach, Florida…
- Episode 97 - Valerie Burns, Icing on the Murder
Looking forward to an intriguing summer read, Lissa talks with author Valerie Burns about her latest work. Packed with a delicious mix of cake, chaos, and crime, Icing on the Murde…
- BONUS EPISODE: Ink, Identity, and Imagination: Literature as a Catalyst for Black DeterminationBonus
Ink, Identity, and Imagination: Literature as a Catalyst for Black Determination was the plenary discussion for From Resistance to Resilience: The Evolution of African American Rea…
- BONUS EPISODE: Banned Books: The Duchess Harris CollectionBonus
Duchess Harris, professor and author, was a presenter at From Resistance to Resilience: The Evolution of African American Reading, The Givens Foundation for African American Liter…
- Episode 96 - From Resistance to Resilience, Dr.Luke Wood
Dr. Luke Woods was the Keynote speaker at the Givens Foundation's annual conference conference, Dr. Luke Wood returned to his alma mater, Sacramento State to become its ninth pr…
- Episode 95 - Rickey Fayne, The Devil Three Times
In this episode Lissa talks with author Rickey Fayne about deep philosophical questions inspired by his latest novel The Devil Three Times (Hachette Book Group, May 2025). Rickey F…
- Episode 94 - Pearl Cleage, The Nacirema Society
In this episode, Lissa Jones welcomes playright Pearl Cleage back to Black Market Reads as they talk about her play The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Ce…
