Podcast
Rooted
Episodes
Could Gary's power crisis spark a national reckoning on climate resilience and energy justice?Following a catastrophic derecho that left thousands of residents in Gary, Indiana, without power for days and, in some cases, weeks, questions are mounting about utility accountab…
- Are Black student-athletes being protected from racism in high school sports?
Teamwork, discipline, belonging. Those are the promises of youth sports. But for some student-athletes, the game comes with racism, intimidation and lasting trauma. GBH News invest…
The difference between 'Black horror' and 'Black in horror' with Robin R. Means ColemanBlack horror is evolving beyond survival stories rooted solely in racial trauma. As filmmakers reimagine the genre, Black characters are no longer just confronting racism as the mo…
What was Spike Lee warning Hollywood about when he released Bamboozled?For Spike Lee, the biggest question isn’t “What is Black?” but “Who gets to decide?” He pushes back on stereotypes, questions who controls the culture, and argues that better repre…
What does losing the SAVE plan mean for current borrowers?Student debt was supposed to be a bridge to opportunity. For millions of borrowers, it’s become a decades-long financial roommate that never moves out. As repayment rules shift aga…
- Are Black voters being taken for granted by the political system?
Political philosopher and democracy scholar Danielle Allen joins Rooted to discuss whether ballot initiatives are one of the most effective tools for political change, particularly…
- How are churches using AI to reach Gen Z?
Can AI help fill church pews without replacing the people in them? Paris Alston talks with Rev. Chris Hope about his new app “100 Days,” an AI-powered tool designed to support new…
- Why are curves celebrated on some women but stigmatized on others?
In this episode created by GBH News interns, Ava Francin and Autumn Greene, Rooted explores the psychology of the BBL. Host, Paris Alston discusses the obsession with the butt and…
Chains to Change Part 2: What hidden Black history still lives across Boston today?Part 2 of Chains to Change follows the fight for freedom through the experiences of Black Bostonians who served their country, built strong communities, and challenged the barriers…
Chains to Change Part #1: How did Black Bostonians help shape America's fight for freedom?Produced by The Loop Lab and hosted by GBH News Rooted, Chains to Change uncovers the stories that often get left out of Boston's revolutionary narrative. As America marks 250 year…
Why are Black men still the most misunderstood voters in America?For decades, Black men have been treated as one voting bloc—but the reality is far more complex. This week on Rooted, Tyree Rush sits down with Michael Bland, executive director of…
Has Black music been exploited for decades—and who really deserves the credit?Award-winning composer and vocalist Candice Hoyes joins Paris Alston to explore how Black artists can preserve, reclaim, and honor their musical legacy. From the story of “Hound Do…
Should Black women be on PrEP? Why HIV prevention is still failing the women most at riskDespite major advances in HIV prevention, Black women remain disproportionately affected and often overlooked in conversations about PrEP. In this episode of Rooted, researcher Dr.…
Can 300,000 voices redefine democracy for Black America?Alexsis Rodgers explains how the Black Census Project is helping Black communities turn their experiences into real policy change. Instead of just counting people, it asks what the…
Is the World Cup in the U.S. covering up serious human rights issues?Political activist Ajamu Baraka and the Black Alliance for peace is calling for a boycott of the U.S.-hosted World Cup arguing the tournament is helping “normalize” global human ri…
- Is the DNC 2024 autopsy a warning sign for Black voters?
In an exclusive sit down with Rooted, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley breaks down the Democratic Party’s 2024 election autopsy and what it reveals about shifting Black voter support,…
- For Black women farmers, tending the land is ancestral and healing
A lineage rooted in soil stretches from ancestral farmland to modern city plots, where Black women are reclaiming their role as stewards, healers, and innovators. Generations of kn…
Can kink be the safest space for Black disabled women?Rooted digs into the overlooked intersection of Black womanhood, disability, and sexual autonomy—spaces where desire is policed, consent is unevenly taught, and safety is too often…
What does 'AI literacy' really mean for the future of work and education?As Boston Public Schools moves to introduce AI literacy districtwide, Rooted examines what artificial intelligence education really means for Black and brown students whose futures…
Can the World Cup really unite Haiti while the U.S. bans Haitians?Can the World Cup really unite Haiti while the U.S. bans Haitians?
