Stance

In this special summer episode, Stance features Deborah Colker, the legendary Brazilian choreographer and creative mind behind the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. We speak to writer Kerry Hudson about her memoir, Low Born, that charts life growing up poor in 80’s & 90’s Britain. And Stance heads to Grange Park Opera to speak to Wasfi Kani, the woman bringing South Carolina’s Porgy and Bess, to the English countryside. Visit stancepodcast.com

Stance travels to Manchester to explore and celebrate its extraordinary LGBTQ+ history and why it’s been consistently judged as one of the best places in the world to be LGBT. We catch up with Chicago born singer, songwriter and poet Jamila Woods to find out more about her album LEGACY! LEGACY! that celebrates 12 of her heroes and icons from the African diaspora, along with the cultural lineage they have created for her. Lastly, Stance covers Smack That, a play currently touring the UK, inspired by real stories of domestic violence and abuse.

Stance meets award-winning writer Valeria Luiselli. We speak to her about her life and what influenced her new book The Lost Child Archive, which has been longlisted for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction. We head to the East Bay, California, to learn about the disability rights movement for artists and we visit Creative Growth, the world’s first and largest non-profit centre dedicated to artists with disabilities. And lastly, we profile electronic music collective KOKOKO!. Formed in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, they have been hailed as creating a new and exciting sound that is radical and energetic in a country where political instability has been almost consistent.

Stance catches up with actor and director powerhouse Adjoa Andoh to find out more about her production of Shakespeare’s Richard II showing at the Globe Theatre in London. It’s the first UK show to be produced entirely by people of colour - front and backstage. Stance flew to Bergen in Norway to check out Borealis, an experimental music festival showcasing everything from music to performance art to dance. Voices featured include Last Yearz Interesting Negro, Juliana Huxtable, Colin Self, B L A C K I E and more. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast

In this episode, we catch up with London singer and producer NAO to hear about her acclaimed second album, Saturn. Plus, we explore the many faces of modern yoga - including the voices driving for greater representation in the wellness space, the people that call themselves ‘yogis’, the cult-like controversy surrounding the founder of Bikram yoga, LA’s first instructor that teaches from a wheelchair, and the artist that started the movement #WhitePeopleDoingYoga. Stance is an award-winning arts, culture and current affairs podcast. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast 

In our Women + Islam feature - we examine the rise of US political figures like Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib; have a discussion with women from the Arab Diaspora; we uncover the practice of Islam shrouded in mystery - Sufism; and we hear from one of the writers in a seminal new essay collection called It’s Not About the Burqa. This month, we are in conversation with actor and rapper, Paigey Cakey, from Hackney, East London. Lastly, Stance reports from La Colonie - a radical art space and haven for young artists and intellectuals in Paris looking to open up the debate and challenge France’s post-racial stance, created by artist Kader Attia. Stance is an international award-winning arts, culture and current affairs podcast.  Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast

This month, we kick off the new year with an exploration of language in our feature, “Way With Words”. How do we preserve our most endangered languages? How does a dialect become a language? Do labels like “Womxn”, “LGBTQIA”, “people of color” and “Latinx” empower or hold people back? What happens when a command of written and verbal language no longer separates robots from humans? We’ll dig into these questions and more with Animesh Garg, Robotics research scientist at Stanford; Dr. Helen Beer, Yiddish teacher at  University College London; Genesee Johnson, professor at Harvard; Mel Y Chen, Associate Professor of Gender & Women's Studies at UC Berkeley, and writer, Yara Rodrigues Fowler. We also speak with Armina Mussa, visual artist and creative director of Saint Heron - a multidisciplinary creative agency founded in 2013 by Solange Knowles. Armina shares how a life-changing incident has helped her find her voice in her art. Lastly, we revisit our MIND series exploring links between design and mental he

On Beauty - Stance explores its value in society, the ethics surrounding beauty ideals, the objects we treasure, and the beauty rules of Drag. Stance speaks with artist Naeem Mohaiemen, Turner Prize Nominee, to find out more about his work. And in our current affairs piece, we investigate how neuroscience is being used to promote greater wellbeing in cities, with a new generation of scientists, architects and policymakers. stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast 

How can we re-imagine political power? What is the role of culture in the current political climate? These were the questions framing the YBCA 100 Summit in San Francisco - an event recognizing some of the most exciting people, organizations and movements changing society for the better. Stance caught up with this year’s honorees Janet Mock; Tarana Burke; Nnedi Okorafor; Rafael Casal, as well as YBCA's Marc Bamuthi-Joseph to hear their takes. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast ybca.org   Music Credits: Janelle Monae - I Like That Blood Orange - Jewelry ft Janet Mock J Dilla - Rebirth is Necessary Sun Ra - Space is the Place Public Enemy - Fight the Power

In our first ever podcast, as President Trump took office we talked about the rise of the demagogue. Nearly two years on, the bitter fight for control of Congress is playing out in front of our eyes. Stance looks at how global relationships with democratic participation has changed and is shifting in a period of rapid technological and political upheaval. We profile Sayaka Murata, a multi-award winning author in Japan who’s making waves with her acclaimed novel Convenience Store Woman. And for our arts piece, we speak to two poets from opposite sides of the Atlantic, Fatimah Asghar and John Cooper Clarke, about their new collections. Stance is an award-winning arts, culture and current affairs podcast. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast

In this episode of Stance Takes - we celebrate Black History Month in the UK and hear whether new ideas around representation and diversity are challenging the old stale orthodoxy. Stance co-host Chrystal Genesis takes her son to the British Library’s exhibition celebrating 70 years since the Empire Windrush. They share stories of their history against a backdrop of Marcus Garvey, Darcus Howe and Una Marson. We speak to Farzana Khan, a producer and award-winning arts educator currently coordinating the Black Cultural Activist Map with the Stuart Hall Foundation, to celebrate and restore stories of forgotten cultural activists. We also meet the people behind Knights Of, a new publishing house overturning conventional wisdom in literature. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast Stance Takes is a new experimental series outside of Stance Podcast’s regular format, covering entertainment, in-depth interviews and the ideas framing our conversations. Our first episode of Stance Takes was selected as “Podcast of the Week”

This month, Stance explores what has been hailed as a new era in masculinity, a year on from the launch of the #metoo movement. Stance dissects society’s idea of masculinity and how this is being challenged and reshaped, with voices including Emmy-winning filmmaker Deeyah Khan. Stance profiles the award-winning acclaimed poet, musician and writer Kate Tempest, and speak with Emmy award-winning director and actor and winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, Desiree Akhavan, ahead of the launch of her highly anticipated new TV show, The Bisexual.  Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast 

Introducing Stance Takes: an experimental mini episode outside of Stance's regular format, covering entertainment, in-depth interviews and the ideas framing co-founders, Chrystal Genesis and Heta Fell’s conversations. The first Stance Takes will explore the cultural significance of award-winning surrealist TV drama comedy, “Atlanta” by FX. Donald Glover has been described as a “one of Hollywood’s most exciting and in-demand creative minds” today and he recently made history as being the first black person to win an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a comedy series. Expect an immersive audio experience filled with music, expert analysis and snippets from the hit series as its second season comes to a close. Stance is an award-winning podcast exploring arts, culture and current affairs, from diverse, global perspectives. Stancepodcast.com

Stance explores the notion of Coming of Age, what it means to young people, how it's expressed and celebrated across many cultures and depicted through film and felt through music. We speak to award-winning playwright and poet Inua Ellams about his critically acclaimed play Barber Shop Chronicles which is now touring internationally. And, lastly we catch up with Eno Williams, the lead singer of African Electronic 8-piece band, Ibibio Sound Machine. Note: This episode contains occasional swearing. Find out more: Stancepodcast.com

Stance explores the great British obsession, class, with an in-depth report focusing on class and culture. We interview Mercury-nominated singer and songwriter Jessie Ware and we catch up with star of the dance world, Hofesh Shechter, ahead of his mammoth community-led project set in the Tower of London. Stance is an award-winning independent arts, culture and current affairs podcast, exploring diverse, global perspectives. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast

Stance explores PTSD and how people living in violent neighborhoods are developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at rates as high, if not higher, than veterans who served on the frontline in Iraq. With alarmingly high rates of violent crime in the UK capital, Stance wanted get to the heart of this issue and find out what needs to change. We also explore intergenerational trauma and how, if left untreated, PTSD can be transmitted to future generations. We hear from filmmaker and photographer Khalik Allah about his highly acclaimed new film, Black Mother. The New Yorker described Khalik Allah as 'one of the most original documentary filmmakers working today' and he was a cinematographer on Beyonce's Lemonade.  Finally, we speak to the thorn in government of China's side, activist and member of the famed Feminist Five, Li Maizi. We find out more about feminism and the LGBTQ community in China, and the impact of Government enforced censorship on movements like #metoo.

Stance visits India with a cultural trip that takes us beyond the National Geographic lens, to meet street educators, young LGBTQ activists and visual artists that are all changing the face of modern Mumbai. Stance meets Grammy Award-winning musician, Zakir Hussain, and visionary choreographer, Alonzo King, at the world premiere of their new co-creation, Sutra. They discuss the importance of artistic collaboration. Finally, we speak to actor and playwright, Natasha Gordon. The first play she has ever written, Nine Night, is debuting at London's prestigious National Theatre. She explores rituals defined by her Jamaican heritage and the complexity of family relationships in this extraordinary stage debut.

Stance looks at the changing face of drugs, including a special report from California on LSD and the reality of the legalization of cannabis. Plus, we hear about Iboga, from Gabon, known as one of the strongest psychedelic drugs on the planet, but also believed to be a cure for opioid addiction. We meet with award-winning choreographer and director Holly Blakey, ahead of her London show with Oscar-nominated composer Mica Levi, Cowpuncher. And we speak to the brilliant writer Nikesh Shukla to find out more about his new novel, The One Who Wrote Destiny. Named in Guardian's 'Best Podcasts 2017', Stance is an arts, culture and current affairs podcast, exploring diverse, global perspectives. Stancepodcast.com

Stance returns with its Alternative Realities series investigating the perception of Witches and what it means to be a be a witch in the UK, the US and India. Stance profiles the author Kamila Shamsie, whose most recent novel, Home Fire was Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Finally, we catch up with critically acclaimed DJ and Producer, Kaytranada. Stance is an independent arts, culture and current affairs podcast, exploring diverse, global perspectives. Stancepodcast.com @stancepodcast

Stance met up with elusive French artist, JR, known for creating huge black-and-white photographic images as murals in public places all over the world. We spoke to the exciting new award-winning director, Maysaloun Hamoud, to find out more about her first feature film, In Between, set in Israel telling the story of three Palestinian women. Lastly, we explore the future of centrism. What hope is there for the middle in the current extreme UK and US political climate? @stancepodcast