Podcast
Rooted
Episodes — page 2
Why are Black women in reality TV held to a higher standard of accountability?Rooted digs into reality TV accountability, revisiting America’s Next Top Model through a critical lens that centers Black women and power. Our panel unpacks the now‑iconic “We wer…
Is America losing its history? Fired librarian of Congress warns of the risks under a Trump 2.0 presidencyJust days before she was fired by President Trump, Carla Hayden - the first woman and the first African American to serve as the librarian of Congress - warned about the risk of l…
A new era? What the 2026 Oscars mean for Black cinema, representation, and Hollywood’s futureCallie Crossley guest hosts Rooted in leading a panel that breaks down the biggest surprises of the 2026 Oscars, from Michael B. Jordan’s groundbreaking win and Ruth E. Carter’s hi…
Bluey to Baddies: Why is there no 'tween' media?On Rooted, we’re unpacking the “Bluey‑to‑Baddies” pipeline—and why tween media feels impossible to find in a world drowning in YouTube algorithms and AI‑generated slop. Paris taps…
88% Women, Majority Women of Color — So of Course Their Degrees Got DevaluedThe federal government just slashed how much future nurses, counselors, educators, and social workers can borrow — a move that hits women, Black students, and entire communities li…
Are we drifting away from Black History Month? The conversation no one is having!In this episode, we mark 100 years since Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week by asking what Black History Month truly means today—and whether it still matters. We hit the…
Ivory Tower, Broken Workers: The Academic Labor Crisis No One Wants to OwnGraduate student workers are the engine of American universities—teaching classes, grading papers, running labs—and many are doing it while earning less than a barista’s paycheck.…
Bad Bunny shut the whole Super Bowl down — the culture, the unity, the backlashA raw, cultural breakdown of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl takeover — from the unity message and Latino representation debate to the nostalgia‑heavy ads that fell flat. Our roundtable fea…
Losing Recipes, Keeping Trauma: The Family Secrets Behind Our Favorite DishesBlack families love to joke that “we’re losing recipes,” but what we’re really losing—and sometimes finally confronting—are the unspoken histories baked into every pan of mac and c…
3800 New Voters, Same Old Question: Do the Grammys Still Matter?The 2026 Grammys rolled out 3,800 new voters, diverse nominees, and a whole lot of “we promise we’ve changed” energy — but in a world where careers are built on TikTok loops and vi…
We’re Not Afraid of the Water—We’re Afraid of What America Put in ItBlack folks have always had a complicated relationship with water—from West African aquatic cultures to the terror of the Middle Passage, from segregated pools to Flint and Jackson…
Data do it! AI’s Harsh Trade-Off for Black AmericaTech giants are cashing in on our data while Black communities face the environmental fallout of data centers and the job‑shifting wave of AI. Paris Alston talks digital sharecropp…
What it’s like to be young and biracial in America today?Kendrick Lamar has taken aim at his rival Drake’s biracial identity. President Trump did the same against his rival former Vice President Kamala Harris. Bridging identities and cul…
Should Black women stop using synthetic hair?Braids are a way to get 'hang time' but there's new evidence that synthetic hair often contains chemicals - including lead and benzene - associated with cancer. Zina Thompson of…
Why Rep. Ayanna Pressley is pushing for reparations nowThe Trump administration is dismantling DEI programs, the Republicans control congress, and Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley says the time is right for reparations. Why now…
Black Stories, White Comfort: Who’s Still Controlling the Narrative?From Harlem Renaissance rebels to Hollywood stereotypes, Black storytelling has always been a battleground for power. Today, the pen, the lens, and the mic are finally in Black han…
Why are Black survivors still invisible in the Digital Age?Every minute, someone is abused and tech is at the center of it all. From stalking through smart devices to survivors fighting back with screenshots, this episode exposes how techn…
Who Holds the Keys? Conservatorships, Mental Health & Black Men’s AutonomyInspired by Gucci Mane’s candid Breakfast Club interview, Rooted dives deep into the complex world of conservatorships and Black men’s autonomy over their lives when living with a…
Beyond the Headlines: Who Gets to Tell America’s Story?As the political climate intensifies under the Trump administration, journalists and media leaders from historically Black-owned outlets and public media’s equity and justice units…
Edges of Empowerment: The Politics of Black HairParis speaks with a panel of experts to explore how Black haircare serves as a powerful tool for community care, social activism, and civil liberties in America.Find more content a…
