The Institute of Black Imagination.

In today’s episode, Justin educates us on the questions we should be asking about our neighborhoods. He shares how to find your voice while …

Show notes

In today’s episode, Kevin shares with us his life-long pursuit of creative curiosity. He reminds us that what may seem like a career pivot from the outside, is really an internal expansion; as each new …

Today’s episode is with award-winning choreographer + director Camille A. Brown. 

Do you know Camille?  You know Camille. You may recognize her work, on Broadway in Once On This Island or on television choreographing …

Today’s episode is with sneaker designer and tech entrepreneur Jason Mayden. Jason is the founder of Super Heroic, a footwear brand empowering children to be their own heroes. He’s also the CEO of Trilicon Valley– a …

This special edition of the podcast is our final episode of 2022. 

Today we are revisiting our conversations with thirteen of our guests from this year as they illustrate what happens when you lead with love. Our guests …

Today’s episode is with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and Author Rita Dove. Rita is a US Poet Laureate, the recipient of 29 honorary degrees…Yes, you …

Today's episode is with architect Sekou Cooke. Sekou is one of the leading advocates for the study and practice of Hip-Hop Architecture, a practice that poses hip-hop as architecture and uses the language of design to …

Today’s conversation is with creative director, and architectural archivist Jerald “Coop” Cooper. Coop is the founder of Hood-century Modern — an Instagram account that sparked a preservation movement by highlighting …

Today’s episode is with award-winning writer, scholar and activist Frank B. Wilderson III. Frank is known as the Godfather of Afropessimism: a …

Today’s episode is with award-winning writer, scholar and activist Frank B. Wilderson III. Frank is known as the Godfather of Afropessimism: a …

Today’s conversation is with food enthusiast, storyteller, and creative strategist Jon Gray. Jon is the co-founder and self-proclaimed dishwasher of …

Today’s conversation is with creative director, designer and stylist Jerome Lamaar. Jerome is a trendsetter whose perspective on art, culture, …

Today’s conversation is with designer and creative director June Ambrose. June is an award-winning creative director, stylist, costume designer, and …

Today’s episode is with choreographer and dancer Bill T. Jones. Jones is an award winning artist and legendary dancer. His work uses storytelling, …

Today’s episode is with landscape architect, designer, urbanist, and public artist Sara Zewde. Sara is the co-founder of Studio Zewde– a design firm practicing landscape architecture, urban design, and public art, as …

Today’s episode is with Chef, Fermenter, Food Scientist, Photographer, and New York Times best-selling author David Zilber. David is the former Director of Fermentation for “NOMA” Copenhagen; known as one of the most …

Today’s episode is with food writer, producer, and media entrepreneur Stephen Satterfield. Stephen is the host of Netflix’s critically acclaimed docuseries “High on the Hog” and the founder of Whetstone, a magazine and …

Today’s episode is with author, podcast host, and speaker Luvvie Ajayi Jones. Luvvie is a New York Times-Bestselling author and in this conversation, she lays out what it takes to become a professional troublemaker: …

In this conversation, we discuss a wide range of topics from Eboni’s experience growing up in Brooklyn during the ’80s, to her studies of Black …

Today’s episode is with contemporary artist Kenturah Davis. Exploring language, looms, and listening beyond the limen, Kenturah's work reminds us that identity requires an intimacy with the unknown and oftentimes hidden …

Today’s conversation is with chef and activist Zoe Adjonyoh. Zoe is the founder and creative brainchild behind Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen and author of one of New York Times most notable cookbooks of 2021. Exploring identity, …

Today’s episode is with Estelle; a Grammy-award winning singer, song writer, and record producer.  A woman clearly comfortable with who she is, how she loves, and the boundaries she erects to express said love, Estelle …

Today’s episode is with Jericho Brown, a Pulitzer-prize winning poet, scholar, and the Director of Creative Writing at Emory University in Atlanta, …

Show Notes 

Timnit Gebru is an artificial intelligence researcher.  Timnit advocates for fair and just use of the technology we use everyday. A former …

In today’s conversation, Dario sits with urbanist and architect Toni Griffin. Toni’s work asks us to question the design of our neighborhoods, communities, and cities. From values of belonging to voices of protection, …

In today’s conversation, Dario sits with fiber artist and storyteller Bisa Butler. Bisa tells the stories of African heritage and American home through an artistry and craft we all know as quilts. Her use of vibrant …

Today’s episode is a special one.  This time, it's me in the hot seat, in an extremely candid conversation with our inaugural IBI Fellow, Adam Saleh, an anti-disciplinary designer and current senior at UC Berkeley …

Today’s episode is with the ineffable Bethann Hardison. Bethann is known to the world as a model, activist, and the grand dame of the fashion and design industry.

Today’s conversation is one of iconoclastic voice and …

In today’s episode Dario sits with poet, independent scholar, and self-ascribed cousin to all sentient beings, Sista Docta Alexis Pauline Gumbs.  As …

In today’s episode Dario sits with poet, independent scholar, and self-ascribed cousin to all sentient beings, Sista Docta Alexis Pauline Gumbs.  As …

In today’s conversation, Dario sits with fashion editor and Pulitzer prize winning writer Robin Givhan. Robin’s love for the written word and the …

In today’s conversation, Dario sits with celebrated community activist, restauranter, and poet, Omar Tate. Hailing from West Philadelphia, Omar’s …

Show Notes. 

Today’s episode Dario sits with art curator, writer, and social activist Kimberly Drew. Hailing from Orange, New Jersey, Drew was taught by her parents to trust her own voice at an early age. In a family …

In this episode, Dario sits with award-winning author and activist Darnell Moore. Moore’s scholarship weaves effortlessly between the role of the …

In this episode, Dario sits with writer and MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellow, Jacqueline Woodson. Woodson’s work reflects the prose, poetry, and undying possibilities that exist within the lives of young Black people. …

Today’s episode is with conceptual artist, Hank Willis Thomas. Hailing from the mean streets of Plainfield, NJ… That’s a joke, by the way,. Hank’s body of work  explores themes related to perspective, identity, …

Today’s episode is with artist and graphic designer, Brandon Breaux. Hailing from Chicago’s South Side, Brandon is one of those rare artists whose body of work  sits comfortably at both the personal and at commercial …

Todays episode is with former chairman and the first and only woman to lead the Black Panther Party, Sister Elaine Brown. Elaine is a activist, writer, speaker, and songwriter known for her sharp wit and sheer …

Today’s episode is with fencer and  three-time Olympian, Daryl Homer.Hailing from the U.s. virgin islands, Daryl, along with  his mother and sister relocated to the Gun Hill section of the Bronx when he was five.  His …

Today’s Episode is with actress, choreographer and dance legend, Carmen De Lavallade.  Raised by a single father in post-depression Los Angeles, Carmen began her formal training at 14, a bit late for female dancers, but …

Heather McGhee designs and promotes solutions to inequality in America.  Do you know Heather?  You might know Heather. Maybe you saw her on NBC’s …

Why open a school? To close a prison.  That is the title of the Ted talk given by today’s guest, Educator Dr. Nadia Lopez.  The award-winning …

Today’s episode is with the award-winning chef and restaurateur, Marcus Samuelsson.

Hailing from a tiny Ethiopian village where tuberculosis had …

Today’s episode is board-certified Dermatologist, and skincare expert to the stars, Dr. Rose Marie Ingleton. Long before caring for the faces of …

Today’s episode is with systems thinker and design maverick, Marquise Stillwell. 

Born and raised in Ohio, into a family of community activists, Marquise learned the power of owning one’s story at an early age. He is the …

Today’s episode is with conceptual and multimedia installation artist, Kenseth Armstead. Born and raised in Washington DC, Kenseth found his artistic …

Today’s episode is with bespoke tailor and designer, T-Michael. Born in Accra, Ghana, T-Michael spent the majority of his adolescence in London, …

A lot of time,  the conversations I have with guests offline are JUST as interesting as the interview itself. So today, we’re trying something a little different...  The tables are turned! Today’s episode is well, not …

Today’s episode is with fiber artist and cultivator of funk, Xenobia Bailey.

Born in Seattle Washington, into a family that survived off of a material …

Today’s episode is with American dancer and choreographer, Kyle Abraham. Born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, into a home of loving and supportive …

Today’s episode is with Harlem socialite and style icon, Lana Turner. Born at the Women’s Hospital on West and 110th st. and still residing in the neighborhood 70 years later, Ms.Turner is quintessential Harlem, a …

Today’s episode is with Harlem socialite and style icon, Lana Turner. Born at the Women’s Hospital on West and 110th st. and still residing in the neighborhood 70 years later, Ms.Turner is quintessential Harlem, a …

Tarik ‘Black Thought’ Trotter on his origin story: “I think often in the case of heroes or of a character, a protagonist who sort of rises to greatness there is some trauma Yeah. And you know my life is was no …

Diedrick Brackens on his first encounter with creativity: “Moving my hands in the pursuit of language feels important and to me, it’s so relative to the way that I build narratives with textiles. (10:33)

What is a Fiber …

Episode number 10, with playwright, Tarrell Alvin McCraney

Tarell Alvin McCraney on living freely: “I’m starting a new chapter where I try to live and be as free as possible rather than be chained to survival mode.”

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Today’s episode is with management consultants and two of the three founders of MyUberLife, Jey Van Sharp and Kwasi Gyasi. With combined degrees in …

Today’s episode is with painter, sculptor, and multi-hyphenated artist, Torkwase Dyson.

Born in Chicago Illinois, into a family embedded with …

This is Part Two of our conversation with Andre Leon Talley. In this episode, we discuss how Andre’s crippling childhood experiences resulted in him …

Today’s episode is with titan of American fashion, André Leon Talley.

Raised in Durham North Carolina by his grandmother, Andre’s love for fashion …

Today’s episode is with the provocative artist and photographer, Renee Cox. Born in Colgate, Jamaica, into a West Indian heritage that instills …

Today’s episode is with Kerby Jean-Raymond, founder of the fashion brand, Pyer Moss. Hailing from East Flatbush, Brooklyn. Kerby has taken the hutzpah of self-resilience and toughness and has woven it into the fabric of …

In today’s episode we chat with psychologist, Dr. Courtney Cogburn.  Hailing from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Doctor Cogburn’s research focuses on how …

Today’s episode is with writer Casey Gerald. Born in Oak Cliff Texas, Casey’s life reads like a textbook definition of The American Dream.  Oh you know, Small town boy from troubled home makes good and lands in the Ivy …

Today’s episode is with architect, designer, and scholar, Dr. Mabel O. Wilson. Doing double-duty as a  Professor of Architecture  and as Associate …

Today’s episode is with TJ Walker, one of the co-founders of the pioneering streetwear brand, Cross Colours.  Cross Colours blasted onto the urban …