Explore every episode of the podcast The Institute of Black Imagination.

E101: Answering The Call with Rev. Dr. Norvel Goff, Sr.

In this episode of The Institute of Black Imagination, host Dario Calmese sits down with Rev. Dr. Norvel Goff, Sr., pastor, civic leader, and former interim pastor of Mother Emanuel AME Church following the tragic massacre of the Emanuel Nine.

From his upbringing in Georgetown, South Carolina, during the Jim Crow era to his leadership within the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Goff reflects on a life devoted to faith, service, justice, and community building. He shares lessons from his journey through ministry, civil rights advocacy, and public leadership, offering a powerful meditation on what it means to serve others, create meaningful change, and imagine a more just future.

Together, Dario and Rev. Goff explores leadership, the role of the Black church, intergenerational wisdom, community organizing, healing after tragedy, and the importance of creating a table where everyone has a seat.

Key Takeaways

Service Is the Highest Form of Leadership

Rev. Goff believes leadership begins with serving others. Throughout the conversation, he returns to the idea that greatness is measured not by status, but by a willingness to meet needs, uplift communities, and pour into others.

Community Change Requires Participation

From growing churches to organizing with the NAACP, Rev. Goff emphasizes that transformation happens when people engage directly with their communities, build relationships, and work collectively toward solutions.

We Are Stronger Together

One of the defining themes of the conversation is unity. Whether discussing Charleston, church leadership, or civic engagement, Rev. Goff reminds us that meaningful progress requires collaboration across generations, backgrounds, and institutions.

Leadership Begins with Listening

Rev. Goff offers a simple framework for leadership: listen, learn, and then lead. Before we can guide others, we must be willing to hear their stories, understand their realities, and remain open to new ideas.

Vision Creates Possibility

"Without a vision, the people perish." Rev. Goff reflects on the importance of imagination, strategic thinking, and shared purpose in creating better futures for communities and future generations.

• Growing up in Georgetown, South Carolina, during segregation
• Family, faith, and community as foundations for leadership
• Answering the call to ministry
• Building congregations and community institutions
• The role of the Black church in civic life
• Leadership during the aftermath of the Mother Emanuel tragedy
• Faith, justice, and public service
• Intergenerational wisdom and mentorship
• The importance of listening, learning, and leading
• Black imagination, vision, and the future of community

1. "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" – Mahalia Jackson - A timeless hymn of faith, perseverance, and spiritual guidance that reflects the heart of Rev. Goff's ministry.

2. "Optimistic" – Sounds of Blackness - A reminder that hope remains possible even during difficult times.

3. "I Need You to Survive" – Hezekiah Walker - An anthem of collective responsibility and community support.

4. "A Change Is Gonna Come" – Sam Cooke - A civil rights era classic that echoes the themes of justice, faith, and perseverance woven throughout this conversation.

5. "Total Praise" – Richard Smallwood - A song of gratitude and surrender that embodies Rev. Goff's unwavering faith.

6. "We Shall Overcome" – The Freedom Singers - A reminder that collective action and hope have always been at the heart of social transformation.

1. The Strength to Love — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - A collection of sermons exploring faith, justice, and moral leadership.

2. The Cross and the Lynching Tree — James H. Cone - A profound examination of Christianity, race, suffering, and liberation.

3. Walking with the Wind — John Lewis - A powerful memoir of faith, courage, and the Civil Rights Movement.

4. Moral Leadership for a Divided Age — David P. Gushee - An exploration of ethical leadership in times of social division.

5. My Soul Looks Back — Jessica B. Harris - Reflections on culture, memory, ancestry, and community.

"We must create a table where everyone has a seat."

"If you want to be great in the kingdom, be a servant."

"We are stronger together."

"Listen. Learn. Lead."

Ep. 26 Sister Elaine Brown — A Revolutionary Life - Former Chairwoman of the Black Panther Party, Elaine Brown reflects on power, justice, political organizing, and what it means to lead during periods of profound social change. Like Rev. Dr. Goff, she challenges listeners to consider the responsibilities that come with leadership and community stewardship.

Ep. 23 Dr. Heather McGhee — The Hidden Cost of Racism - Economic policy expert and author of The Sum of Us, Dr. McGhee explores the connections between racial justice, collective prosperity, and civic responsibility. Her vision of shared flourishing resonates deeply with Rev. Dr. Goff's belief that we are stronger together.

Ep. 29 Jacqueline Woodson — Scripting Your Life - National Book Award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson examines how family, history, and place influence who we become. This conversation complements Rev. Dr. Goff's reflections on upbringing, mentorship, and the power of intergenerational wisdom.

Ep. 99 Gina Paige — Blood Memories - Gina Paige's exploration of ancestry, belonging, and identity offers a powerful companion to Rev. Dr. Goff's discussion of roots, heritage, and the importance of understanding where we come from in order to imagine where we're...

Episode Overview:

In this milestone 100th episode of the Institute of Black Imagination podcast, we sit down with the incomparable Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson—marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and visionary climate futurist. Co-founder of Urban Ocean Lab, The All We Can Save Project, and co-creator of the podcast How to Save a Planet, Dr. Johnson is at the forefront of reimagining a climate future rooted in justice, imagination, and care.

In this expansive conversation, we explore how the ocean is central to climate solutions, how storytelling intersects with science, and what’s possible when we lead with joy. From co-authoring the Blue New Deal to her most recent book, What If We Get It Right?, Dr. Johnson invites us to reframe our climate fears into courageous vision.

• Imagination is a political tool for climate justice
• Hope is strategy in What If We Get It Right?
• Urban Ocean Lab is rethinking coastal cities
• Women’s leadership drives climate solutions
• Black imagination reshapes the ocean’s narrative

E93. Imagining Diasporic Retrofutures with Olalekan Jeyifous Explore speculative architecture and Afro-futurism as artist Olalekan Jeyifous reimagines urban landscapes, challenging conventional notions of beauty and success in architecture.

E38. Toni L. Griffin: The Just City Urban planner Toni L. Griffin discusses the concept of "The Just City," focusing on designing urban spaces that are equitable, inclusive, and reflective of diverse communities.

E48. Sara Zewde: Parks and Liberation Landscape architect Sara Zewde delves into the intersection of public spaces and cultural narratives, emphasizing how parks and landscapes can serve as platforms for liberation and community identity.

E55. Sekou Cooke: Creation of Hip-Hop Architecture Architect Sekou Cooke introduces the concept of Hip-Hop Architecture, exploring how the ethos of hip-hop culture can inform and transform architectural practices and urban design.

E61. Justin Garrett Moore: Imagining Black Space Urban designer Justin Garrett Moore discusses the importance of imagining and creating Black spaces that honor cultural heritage, foster community, and challenge systemic inequalities.

A Playlist Inspired by the Conversation

1. Optimistic – Sounds of Blackness – Because joy and action can coexist.
2. Everything Is Everything – Lauryn Hill – A nod to interconnectedness and time.
3. Swim Good – Frank Ocean – A deep and symbolic dive into the currents of escape, healing, and emotional truth.
4. Alright – Kendrick Lamar – The rally cry that keeps communities moving.
5. Freedom – Beyoncé ft. Kendrick Lamar – For the fierce spirit of climate justice.

Books to Complement This Conversation

1. What If We Get It Right? – Ayana Elizabeth Johnson  A visionary call to imagine and build the world we want to live in, rather than focusing solely on preventing disaster.
2. All We Can Save – Edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine Wilkinson A powerful anthology of essays, poetry, and art by women climate leaders offering climate solutions with heart.
3. The Climate Book – Edited by Greta Thunberg (featuring Johnson’s essay) An essential compendium of climate insights from global experts, including a compelling essay by Dr. Johnson.
4. Emergent Strategy – adrienne maree brown – On adaptation as revolution A guide to building movements and futures through adaptability, decentralization, and relational work.
5. The Intersectional Environmentalist – Leah Thomas – For deeper equity in ecology A foundational text on climate justice that centers marginalized voices and offers inclusive strategies for ecological action.

Resources & Links: 

🔗 Urban Ocean Lab

🔗 All We Can Save Project

🔗 Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s Website

🔗 What If We Get It Right Podcast www.getitright.earth/podcast

🔗 Instagram @ayanaeliza

🔗 X @ayanaeliza

If this dialogue resonated with you, sparked inspiration, or offered a new perspective, we’d love your support! Here’s how you can help us keep these powerful stories alive:

🎧 Subscribe & Review – Follow us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review! Your words help more people discover these conversations. Subscribe to our newsletter.

📢 Spread the Word – Share this episode with your friends, family, and community. Let’s keep the dialogue going!

💬 Engage With Us – Follow us on social media and join the conversation @blackimagination on Instagram & Twitter. We’d love to hear your thoughts, takeaways, and what topics you want to explore next.

💜 Support the Work – Love what we’re creating? Help us sustain and grow by making a contribution! Whether it’s a one-time donation or becoming a patron, every bit fuels our mission. Click here to support us.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your voice, your presence, and your support make all the difference! ✨

Until next time, stay curious, and keep dreaming.

In this episode of The Institute of Black Imagination, host Dario Calmese sits down with Gina Paige, the co-founder of African Ancestry, to explore the transformative power of knowing your roots. For over two decades, Gina has pioneered DNA ancestry tracing for people of African descent, helping countless individuals reclaim their lineage and reshape their identities.

Gina shares her personal journey—what sparked her passion for genealogy, how her work is changing lives, and why ancestry is more than just science—it’s a cultural and spiritual homecoming. If you’ve ever wondered where you come from or how your history shapes your future, this conversation is for you.

• Knowing Your Roots Shapes Your Identity 
• DNA Can Reconnect Us to Lost Histories 
• Ancestry is More Than Just Genetics—It’s Culture 
• Representation in Genealogy Matters 
• Knowing Your Past Helps Shape Your Future 

1. “I Am Light” – India.Arie-  A soulful meditation on self-worth and inner identity, this song beautifully echoes the idea that we are more than just our history—we are light, love, and legacy.

2. “Black Man” – Stevie Wonder-  A powerful anthem celebrating the global contributions of Black people throughout history, reinforcing the importance of knowing where we come from.

3. “My People” – Angie Stone -  This song is a love letter to the African diaspora, reminding us of our strength, resilience, and connection to one another.

4. “Back to Africa” – Dennis Brown - A reggae classic that speaks directly to the desire to reconnect with one’s ancestral homeland, much like what African Ancestry makes possible.

5. “I’m Coming Home” – The Staple Singers - A gospel-infused track that captures the spiritual and emotional essence of returning to one’s roots and embracing one’s heritage.

6. “I Gotta Find Peace of Mind - LIVE" – Ms. Lauryn Hill - A haunting echo of Gina Paige’s journey—where reclaiming ancestry becomes a path to inner peace, and remembering becomes a form of healing.

1. The Healing Wisdom of Africa – Malidoma Patrice Somé

This book explores African spiritual traditions and the importance of reconnecting with ancestral wisdom to find purpose and healing in the modern world.

2. Roots: The Saga of an American Family – Alex Haley

A groundbreaking classic that traces a family’s lineage from Africa to America, demonstrating the power of ancestral storytelling and reclaiming lost histories.

3. Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" – Zora Neale Hurston

Based on interviews with the last known survivor of the transatlantic slave trade, this book offers a firsthand account of the forced displacement of African people and the longing for ancestral connection.

4. Finding Your Roots: The Official Companion to the PBS Series – Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Inspired by the TV series, this book provides a compelling guide to genealogy research and the cultural significance of tracing one’s ancestry.

5. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration – Isabel Wilkerson

Though focused on migration within the U.S., this book powerfully illustrates the deep impact of displacement, identity, and reclaiming one’s place in history.

🔗 Learn more about African Ancestry: www.africanancestry.com (use code black imagination for 10% off your kit)

📖 Follow Gina Paige on social media: @AfricanAncestry

If this conversation inspired you, visit AfricanAncestry.com to begin your own journey of self-discovery. Take a DNA test to uncover your African roots and connect with your heritage.(use code black imagination for 10% off your kit)

If this dialogue resonated with you, sparked inspiration, or offered a new perspective, we’d love your support! Here’s how you can help us keep these powerful stories alive:

🎧 Subscribe & Review – Follow us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review! Your words help more people discover these conversations. Subscribe to our newsletter.

📢 Spread the Word – Share this episode with your friends, family, and community. Let’s keep the dialogue going!

💬 Engage With Us – Follow us on social media and join the conversation @blackimagination on Instagram & Twitter. We’d love to hear your thoughts, takeaways, and what topics you want to explore next.

💜 Support the Work – Love what we’re creating? Help us sustain and grow by making a contribution! Whether it’s a one-time donation or becoming a patron, every bit fuels our mission. Click here to support us.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your voice, your presence, and your support make all the difference! ✨

Until next time, stay curious, and keep dreaming.

In this deeply moving and insightful episode, we sit down with activist, organizer, and founder of the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, Elle Moxley. Elle takes us on a journey through the heart of activism, the lessons learned from movement-building, and the power of Black trans leadership. She shares her experiences with Black Lives Matter, the founding of her own organization, and her reflections on love, resilience, and desire. This conversation is one of power, truth, and transformation.

• Finding Community in Black Love 
• Navigating Activism and Identity 
• The Birth of Black Lives Matter & Elle’s Role 
• Reflections on Organizing & Movement Building 
• The Creation of the Marsha P. Johnson Institute 
• Desire, Politics, and the Hidden Truths 
• Lessons from Love & the Future We Imagine 

1. "Brown Skin Girl" by Beyoncé, SAINt JHN, WizKid, and Blue Ivy Carter – An empowering anthem celebrating Black beauty and heritage.
2. "Peng Black Girls Remix" by ENNY featuring Jorja Smith – A vibrant track highlighting the diversity and strength of Black women. 
3. "Alright" – Kendrick Lamar - A revolutionary anthem of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.
4. "Stand Up" – Cynthia Erivo - A powerful ballad from Harriet that speaks to perseverance and justice.
5. "Golden" – Jill Scott - A song about embracing joy, self-love, and living life on your terms.

1. "Sister Outsider" by Audre Lorde – A powerful collection of essays and speeches exploring Black identity, feminism, and the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. 
2. "The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart" by Alicia Garza – A deeply insightful memoir and guide from one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, examining the power of collective organizing. 
3. "The Transgender Issue: Trans Justice Is Justice for All" by Shon Faye – A bold and necessary examination of the systemic issues facing trans people and how true justice benefits all of society. 
4. "Black Futures" by Kimberly Drew & Jenna Wortham – A stunning collection of essays, art, and reflections that explore the possibilities of Black culture, activism, and imagination. 
5. "Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson" by Tourmaline (upcoming release) – A forthcoming deep dive into the first definitive biography of the revolutionary activist Marsha P. Johnson, one of the most important and remarkable figures in LGBTQIA+ history, revealing her story, her impact, and her legacy.

🔗 Marsha P. Johnson Institute – marshap.org

🔗 Virtual Exhibitions - Ellemnop Art

🔗 Follow Elle Moxley on Social Media 

IG: Elle Moxley (@elle_moxley)

FB: Elle Moxley

TikTok: Elle Moxley (@elle_moxley) Official

If this conversation inspired you, consider supporting MPJI through donations, advocacy, or simply spreading awareness. Every action, big or small, helps carry the movement forward.

If this dialogue resonated with you, sparked inspiration, or offered a new perspective, we’d love your support! Here’s how you can help us keep these powerful stories alive:

🎧 Subscribe & Review – Follow us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review! Your words help more people discover these conversations. Subscribe to our newsletter.

📢 Spread the Word – Share this episode with your friends, family, and community. Let’s keep the dialogue going!

💬 Engage With Us – Follow us on social media and join the conversation @blackimagination on Instagram & Twitter. We’d love to hear your thoughts, takeaways, and what topics you want to explore next.

💜 Support the Work – Love what we’re creating? Help us sustain and grow by making a contribution! Whether it’s a one-time donation or becoming a patron, every bit fuels our mission. Click here to support us.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your voice, your presence, and your support make all the difference! ✨

Until next time, stay curious, and keep dreaming.

In this monumental 97th episode—our first-ever live recording—we welcome legendary costume designer and visual storyteller Paul Tazewell, just one week after his historic win as the first Black man to receive the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Wicked. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Space 001, the Institute’s newly opened physical space, Paul and host Dario Calmese delve into a deeply moving, expansive conversation about storytelling through clothing, the power of design, Black imagination, and the long road to recognition.

From his early days sewing dashikis and puppets in Akron, Ohio, to crafting iconic looks for Hamilton, The Wiz Live!, Harriet, West Side Story, and now Wicked, Paul shares the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual layers that shape his work. This episode is a masterclass in creative process, artistic evolution, and how style becomes a vessel for history, identity, and transformation.

• A Historic Win: Paul reflects on becoming the first Black man to win an Oscar for costume design.
• Roots & Influence: His upbringing in Akron and support from his two moms shaped his creative path.
• Finding His Lane: He learned to trust design as his true calling while navigating multiple talents.
• Design as Story: Paul reveals how costumes—like those in Wicked—carry emotion, science, and symbolism.
• Legacy & Access: He honors Black creative lineage and shares his vision for mentoring future storytellers.

“Clothing is never just about what you wear. It’s about the story you tell.”

— Paul Tazewell

“Being visible, taking up space, allows you access to investigate what’s next.

— Paul Tazewell

“Beauty is the antidote to the ugliness in the world.”— Paul Tazewell

Paul Tazewell is a Tony, Emmy, BAFTA, and now Academy Award-winning costume designer whose breathtaking work has helped shape the visual identity of contemporary theater and film. From Hamilton to Wicked, his designs transcend aesthetics—they are blueprints for character, history, and emotion.

Follow Paul on Instagram: @paultazewell

• Space 001 – A concept store, research lab, and living archive in the Oculus, NYC
• Geoffrey Holder – Legendary Black artist and costume designer for The Wiz
• Wicked (Film) – Now featuring Oscar-winning costume design
• North Carolina School of the Arts, NYU, and Pratt Institute – Key touchstones in Paul’s training
• Mellon Foundation – Supporting imagination and justice through the arts

1. "Home" – Stephanie Mills (from The Wiz) - A soulful ode to identity, memory, and belonging—an emotional anchor for Paul’s early influence and connection to The Wiz.
2. "Defying Gravity" – Cynthia Erivo (from Wicked) - A triumphant anthem of transformation, resistance, and rising above—mirroring Paul’s groundbreaking win and Elphaba’s journey.
3. "Back to Life" – Soul II Soul - An Afro-futurist groove echoing Paul’s ability to breathe story into garments—rooted in culture, yet futuristic.
4. "Optimistic" – Sounds of Blackness - A call to persevere, perfect for honoring Paul’s long and winding path through doubt, brilliance, and breakthrough.
5. "Mood Indigo" – Nina Simone - A textured, moody classic that reflects the complexity and emotion Paul brings to characters through costume and color.

1. Costume and Fashion: A Concise History by James Laver - A beautifully illustrated guide tracing the evolution of dress—perfect for those curious about how fashion and costume shape culture.
2. Black Futures by Kimberly Drew & Jenna Wortham - A multi-dimensional exploration of Black creativity, possibility, and presence—mirroring the ethos of this episode and the IBI. (check out our episode with Kimberly Drew)
3. Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World by Paul Stamets - Dive deeper into the mycelium metaphor Paul used for Elphaba’s costume—a poetic and scientific lens on connection and transformation.

If this dialogue resonated with you, sparked inspiration, or offered a new perspective, we’d love your support! Here’s how you can help us keep these powerful stories alive:

🎧 Subscribe & Review – Follow us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review! Your words help more people discover these conversations. Subscribe to our newsletter.

📢 Spread the Word – Share this episode with your friends, family, and community. Let’s keep the dialogue going!

💬 Engage With Us – Follow us on social media and join the conversation @blackimagination on Instagram & Twitter. We’d love to hear your thoughts, takeaways, and what topics you want to explore next.

💜 Support the Work – Love what we’re creating? Help us sustain and grow by making a contribution! Whether it’s a one-time donation or becoming a patron, every bit fuels our mission. Click here to support us.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your voice, your presence, and your support make all the difference! ✨

• Host & Creator: Dario Calmese
• Producer: KT Thompson
• Executive Producer: Chrystal Genesis
• Engineering & Original Music: Adam Radice
• Presented by: The Institute of Black Imagination, with support from The Mellon Foundation

Until next time, stay curious and keep dreaming.

About The Guest

Today we're honored to introduce our guest, Professor Lesley Lokko. A distinguished Ghanaian-Scottish architect, educator, and bestselling novelist, Dr. Lokko most recently served as the Curator of the 18th Venice Biennale of Architecture, becoming the first Black-identified person to hold the position. She’s also the founder and Director of the African Futures Institute (AFI) a pioneering postgraduate school of architecture in Accra, Ghana.

Dr. Lokko is also a best-selling novelist with 12 titles under her belt.  Her novels have been translated into sixteen languages dealing with themes of love, loyalty, class,  race, and cultural identity, transforming the “beach-read” genre into an extension of her architectural, world-building practice. For her contributions to the fields of Architecture and education, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2023 and 2024 won the Gold Medal Award, by the Royal Institute of British Architects, one of the highest honors in the world of architecture. 

And in many ways, that’s where today's conversation with Prof. Leslie Lokko begins. The reality of appearing to be at the top, juxtaposed against the sweat and elbow grease required in institution-building and well… being a human being. Prof. Lokko joyfully and deftly takes us on a journey of triumph, career pivots, culture shock, womanhood, and becoming. 

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com. Now, And now, the indefatigable Professor Lesley Lokko. 

Key Links

Darren Walker - president of the Ford Foundation

African Futures Institute - a new model for architectural education centered on three areas: teaching, research and public events.

La Biennale di Venezia - Venice Biennale - an international cultural exhibition hosted annually in Venice, Italy by the Biennale Foundation.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire ( OBE )- This is awarded for having a major local role in any activity, including people whose work has made them known nationally in their chosen area.

Mellon Foundation -Mellon makes grants to support communities through the power of the arts and humanities.

Key Readings

Biennale Architettura 2023: The Laboratory of the Future - Lesley Lokko

Saffron Skies - Lesley Lokko

The Black Experience in Design: Identity, Expression & Reflection - Jennifer Rittner (Editor)  Lesley-Ann Noel (Editor)  Kelly Walters (Editor)  Anne H Berry (Editor)  Kareem Collie (Editor)  Penina Acayo Laker (Editor)

What to listen to

One World - Guy Warren

Ghana -  Becca

Canopy - Kuami Eugene

Into The Future - Stonebwoy

No Competition - Okyeame Kwame

Previous IBI Episodes to check out

E61. Justin Garrett Moore: Imagining Black Space.

E90. Space Agency. with Brigette Romanek

E95. Designing In Place. with Nifemi Marcus-Bello

E60. Kevin Bethune: Dreams, Design and Life.

Who to follow

W: African Futures Institute

IG: Lesley Lokko (@lesleylokko)

X: Lesley Lokko (@LokkoLesley) / X

This conversation was recorded on March 26, 2024.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Lead Designer:  Elliott McKnight

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Archivist & Research: Cyle Warner

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com

Welcome to the Institute of Black Imagination podcast, beaming in conversations from the galaxy of Black genius. I'm your host, Dario, and today, we have the pleasure of chatting with Nifemi Marcus-Bello, a visionary design director and founder of Nmbello Studio. Renowned for his community-centric and ethnographically-conscious design ethos, Nifemi’s practice exemplifies how obstacles are merely opportunities in disguise.

In this conversation, we explore the journey of a designer deeply rooted in his Nigerian upbringing. Nifemi shares how he overcame societal pressures that attempted to sway him from his creative path, how reimagining local materials and processes expanded his own design language, and we even get into blood memory and ancestral wisdom. Yeah, it’s one of those episodes. 

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com. Now, beaming in from across the Atlantic, design director and industrial designer,  Nifemi Marcus-Bello.

Key Links

nmbello Studio - is a design studio currently based in Lagos, Nigeria. Our design ethos is rooted in empathy.

Ethnographic Museum of Trocadero - first anthropological museum in Paris

Kwali - acts as a portable shop, weaving through Lagos traffic

Kerry James Marshall- American artist

Salone del Mobile Milano -The global benchmark event for the furnishing and design sector.

Anna Karnick - Design Miami Curator 2023

Tavares Strachan - a Bahamian-born conceptual artist

Tahir Carl Karmali - Artist

Samuel Ross - Fashion designer

What to Read

Dieter Rams: Ten Principles for Good Design - Cees W. de Jong (Editor)

Dieter Rams: The Complete Works - Klaus Klemp

What to listen to

Tested, Approved & Trusted - Burna Boy

Drogba (Joanna) -  Afro B

Kontrol - Maleek Berry

All Over - Tiwa Savage

Ginger - Burna Boy

Previous IBI Episodes to check out

E38. Toni L. Griffin: The Just City.

E48. Sara Zewde: Parks and Liberation.

E55. Sekou Cooke: Creation of Hip-Hop Architecture.

E61. Justin Garrett Moore: Imagining Black Space.

Who to follow

W: nmbello Studio

IG: Nifemi Marcus-Bello (@nmbello1)

X: nmbello Studio (@nmbello_Studio) / X

This conversation was recorded on April 30, 2024.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Lead Designer:  Elliott McKnight

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Archivist & Research: Cyle Warner

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Welcome to the Institute of Black Imagination, beaming in conversations from the galaxy of black genius. Today, we're thrilled to present Shani Peters and Joseph Cuillier III, the co-founders of The Black School—an innovative art institution dedicated to teaching radical Black politics through experimental approaches to art and design education.

Both artists and organizers in their own right,  Founded by Joseph Cuillier and Shani Peters, they're mixing art with talks about Black politics and community projects. Inspired by past community-run schools, like those from the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, they're making a difference today.

The Black School has three parts: the School itself, the Festival where students show off their work, and the Studio, where students learn about design and get job training. It's all about helping students understand their neighborhoods, make art that matters, and get ready for the future. 

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com. Join us as we explore how organizations like The Black School are changing the game in education and beyond. Now, let's warmly welcome Shani Peters and Joseph Cuillier, the Co-Founders of The Black School, to our conversation.

Key Links

Joseph A. Cuillier Career Center - We are a school dedicated to providing an education that empowers our students to succeed in the workforce and beyond.

bell hooks - American author

Alma Thomas - American artist and teacher

Rosenwald/Booker T. Washington Schools- Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Institute and Julius Rosenwald, philanthropist and president of Sears Roebuck, built state-of-the art schools for African American children across the South.

Augusta Savage -American sculptor

Harlem Community Art School - The Center was a place for the Harlem community to receive education in the arts for free or little charge.

Oakland Community School - was a Black Panther-run liberation school that operated in Oakland from 1973 to 1982.

Emory Douglas - The former Minister of Culture and Revolutionary Artist for the Black Panther Party

Black Love Festival- presented by The Black School, is an art and music festival promoting a cultural movement for Black love.

Project Row Houses - a community platform that enriches lives through art with an emphasis on cultural identity and its impact on the urban landscape.

Booker T. Washington - American educator and author

What to Read

Salvation: Black People and Love - bell hooks

The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations - Toni Morrison

Character Building: Education that Educates -  Booker T. Washington

What to listen to

DNA. - Kendrick Lamar

Seize The Time-  Elaine Brown

This Is America - Childish Gambino

F.U.B.U. - Solange Knowles

We The People - A Tribe Called Quest

Previous IBI Episodes to check out

E2. Dr. Mabel O. Wilson, Architect and Scholar 

E26. A Revolutionary Life with Black Panther Chairman, Elaine Brown 

E86. Sketching a Revolution with Emory Douglas 

E53a. Frank Wilderson III: On Afropessimism I 

E53a. Frank Wilderson III: On Afropessimism II

Who to follow

W: The Black School

IG: Joseph Cuillier (@josephcuillier)

IG: Shani Peters (@shanipeters)

Linktree: The Black School

This conversation was recorded on March 21, 2024.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Lead Designer:  Elliott McKnight

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Archivist & Research: Cyle Warner

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Welcome to the Institute of Black Imagination podcast, beaming in conversations from the galaxy of Black genius. I am your host, Dario. Today, we're excited to introduce Olalekan Jeyifous, an innovative artist and architect whose world-building practice reimaginations the relationship between community, urbanity, nature, and time; It’s very much giving Main Character Energy, and citizens of the Black Atlantic take centerstage.

In today's conversation, Olalekan and I discuss how architecture alone is rarely sufficient in solving problems in the urban landscape, we reimagine what the continent of Africa COULD have looked like if colonial powers were expelled post-independence, and Lek challenges conventional notions of beauty and success in architecture and why storefront churches and bodegas deserve a shoutout. 

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com. And now, take a breath, as we take a ride with artist and architect Olalekan Jeyifous.

Key Links

Lebbeus Woods - American architect and artist

Silver Lion - an annual award presented for best directing achievements in a feature film at official competition section of the Venice Film Festival since 1998.

Saul Williams - American singer-songwriter and musician

The Apocryphal Gospel of Oakland- A discussion between artist, Olalekan Jeyifous and UC Berkeley assistant professor of Geography, Dr. Brandi T. Summers on the generative power of collaboration and the potential for speculative architecture as a means to develop comprehensive constructions of urban Utopias/Dystopias that engage with a variety of social, political, and environmental realities.

Black Reconstruction Collective -American architecture collective

Black Quantum Futurism  - A literary and artistic collective

Amanda Williams - Visual Artist

Justin Garrett Moore- a transdisciplinary designer and urbanist.

Torkwase Dyson - Interdisciplinary artist

Norma Merrick Sklarek - American architect

Grace Wales Bonner - London-based designer

Venice Biennale - an international cultural exhibition hosted annually in Venice, Italy

What to Read

Now You See Me: An Introduction to 100 Years of Black Design - Charlene Prempeh

Mickalene Thomas: All about Love - Mickalene Thomas 

Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry - Camille T. Dungy (Editor)

What to listen to

A Possibility (Back Home) - Wanda Robinson

Wake Me When I'm Free-  Babatunde Olatunji

Viva Nigeria - Fela Kuti

All Over - Tiwa Savage

Sittin On Top Of The World - Burna Boy

Previous IBI Episodes to check out

E8. Torkwase Dyson, Artist.

E38. Toni L. Griffin: The Just City.

E48. Sara Zewde: Parks and Liberation.

E55. Sekou Cooke: Creation of Hip-Hop Architecture.

E61. Justin Garrett Moore: Imagining Black Space.

Who to follow

W: V5

IG: kidcadaver - Olalekan Jeyifous

LinkedIn: Olalekan Jeyifous - Designer, Artist, Illustrator - Vigilism

X: Olalekan Jeyifous (@OJeyifous) / X

This conversation was recorded on March 20, 2024.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Lead Designer:  Elliott McKnight

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Archivist & Research: Cyle Warner

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Hey explorers, it's Dario. Welcome to the IBI podcast, beaming in conversations from the galaxy of Black genius. Today, we browse the mind of Dr. Carla Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress, appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama. Dr. Hayden is the first woman and the first African American to hold this position at the National Library. As an actual librarian, Dr. Hayden is known for advocating for the privacy of library users and for her initiatives to promote broad access to public libraries and their resources. 

Our dialogue today, much like the Library of Congress itself, is a treasure trove of literary jewels. We discuss how the Library of Congress is not your mother’s library, containing priceless artifacts like the Bayard Rustin papers, and a handwritten letter from Nina Simone to Hazel Scott. We talk American literacy rates, how parents can engage reluctant readers, and we even get personal, as Dr. Hayden and i discuss the health challenges black women face in the workplace, especially in positions of power.

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com. So grab your library card and a snack… It’s time to check into the people’s university, with Dr. Carla Hayden.

Key Links

Library Of Congress - the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.

Nina Simone - American singer-songwriter, pianist, and activist.

Hazel Scott - Jazz pianist and singer

Enoch Pratt Free Library- the free public library system of Baltimore, Maryland.

American Library Association - largest membership association in the world for the library industry.

August Wilson - American playwright

André Leon Talley - American fashion journalist

Citizen DJ - Make music using the free-to-use audio and video materials from the Library of Congress

Jessye Norman - American opera singer

What to Read

Seven Guitars - August Wilson

A Library - Nikki Giovanni

Library of Congress "Books That Shaped America"  

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants- Robin Wall Kimmerer

Behind the Scenes: Or Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House - Elizabeth Keckley

A History of Reading - Alberto Manguel

Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum - Antonia Hylton

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents - Isabel Wilkerson

What to listen to

Wild Is The Wind - Nina Simone

Round Midnight - Hazel Scott

Amazing Grace - Jessye Norman

Process - Samora Pinderhughes

Previous IBI Episodes to check out

E2. Dr. Mabel O. Wilson, Architect and Scholar.

E7. André Leon Talley, Fashion Icon (part one).

E7. André Leon Talley, Fashion Icon (part two).

E56. Rita Dove: The Pleasure of Text.

E79. Liberation Through Libraries. with (Reginald) Dwayne Betts

Who to follow

W: https://www.loc.gov/

IG: Library of Congress (@librarycongress)

TW: Carla Hayden (@LibnOfCongress) · X

This conversation was recorded on January 30, 2024.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Lead Designer:  Elliott McKnight

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Welcome to the Institute of Black Imagination, where we beam in conversations with iconoclasts from the galaxy of Black genius. I am your host, Dario.  Today, we're thrilled to welcome Jawara, a cutting-edge visionary in all things hair, fashion, and beauty. His work graces the pages of British Vogue, American Vogue Italian Vogue, OK, all the Vogues.., i-D Magazine, T Magazine, and W Magazine… all the lettered magazines.  Not to mention the runways of Burberry, Gucci, Chanel. You understand what I’m saying. 

In today’s conversation, Jawara discusses the historical challenges within the industry around the styling and care of black women's hair, how the rituals of haircare can allow us a bit of reprieve from an ever-increasing pace of life, some practical styling tips, and how hair indeed can bring you closer to God. 

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com. And now, a beautifully candid conversation with the maestro, Jawara.

Key Links

Sister Carol- Jamaican musical artist

Kingston, Jamaica- Capital city and chief port of Jamaica

Dancehall - genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s

Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)- Public college in New York City with focuses on art, business, design, mass communication, and technology connected to the fashion industry.

Tyler Mitchell - American photographer, best known for his cover photo of Beyoncé for the cover of Vogue.

Micaiah Carter - American photographer/director

What to Read

Crowns: My Hair, My Soul, My Freedom: Photographs - Sandro Miller

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America - Ayana Byrd

On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker - A'Lelia Bundles

You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain- Phoebe Robinson

What to listen to

Dread Natty Congo - Sister Carol

I Am Not My Hair - India.Arie

Black Cinderilla (Album) - Sister Carol

Don't Touch My Hair - Solange feat. Sampha

Kontrol - Maleek Berry

Who to follow

IG: JAWARA (@jawaraw)

LinkedIn: Jawara Wauchope

This conversation was recorded on December 19, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Welcome to the IBI podcast, beaming in conversations from the galaxy of Black genius. Today, we explore the mind of Brigette Romanek, one of LA’s foremost Interior designers. As the founder of Romanek Design Studio, some of her notable clients include Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Demi Moore, and even the queen herself, Beyonce. (a fact we can neither confirm nor deny). Known for her “Livable Luxe” Gucci meets Gap aesthetic, Brigette's illustrious career affirms the power and value of the black feminine gaze, and that space is indeed the place. 

Our conversation today is full of gems, like simple, affordable tips on sprucing up your space, and discovering your design aesthetic, to more existential questions about what it looks like to refuse the expectations of others, and how to know when it’s time to move on. 

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com. And here we go… space agency, with Brigette Romanek.

Key Links

Paulette McWilliams- American Jazz Singer 

Mark Romanek- American filmmaker and photographer

Harvey Nichols - British luxury department store chain

Romanek Design Studio- Interior designer in Los Angeles, California

Carpenters Workshop Gallery - a contemporary art gallery, focused on redefining the boundaries between art, sculpture, and design.

The Future Perfect - a leading platform for collectible contemporary design that curates' unique pieces from global designers.

What to Read

Livable Luxe - Brigette Romanek

Iconic Home: Interiors, Advice, and Stories from 50 Amazing Black Designers - Black Interior Designers Inc, June Reese 

The New Bohemians: Cool and Collected Homes - Justina Blakeney

Wild Interiors: Beautiful Plants in Beautiful Spaces- Hilton Carter

What to listen to

Mellow Madness - Quincy Jones, Paulette McWilliams

Live Recording in Amsterdam (Album) - Paulette McWilliams & The Beets Brothers

Work It - Missy Elliott

It's Your Thing - The Isley Brothers

Respect - Aretha Franklin

Who to follow

W: https://romanekdesignstudio.com/ 

IG: Brigette Romanek (@brigetteromanek)

FB: Brigette Romanek

This conversation was recorded on February 01, 2024.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Welcome to Semester 6 of the IBI podcast, your Tribe of Mentors, from the Pool of Black Genius. Speaking of Black genius, today’s guest needs no introduction, but we will go ahead and introduce him anyway. Y’all it’s Kirk Franklin. Yes, THAT Kirk Franklin. 19 Grammy Award-winning Kirk Franklin. Contemporary Gospel innovator Kirk Franklin. .. The gifted singing, songwriting, piano-playing, producing, and yes, a rapping, Mr. Kirk Franklin! In case there was any confusion. 

We talk about personal pain and trauma. We dismantle the Black church and the traditions that keep us fractured and apart, we wrestle with the notion that life is composed of both moments of happiness and sorrow, but with the unwavering presence of God, regardless of the circumstances, anything is possible.

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com. And now, without further ado, the musical luminary, Kirk Franklin.

Key Links

Thomas A. Dorsey- Widely regarded as the father of gospel music

Good Words with Kirk Franklin- Kirk Franklin Podcast welcomes people, from all walks of life, seeking inspiration and empowerment.

The Dead Sea Scrolls - ancient, mostly Hebrew, manuscripts (of leather, papyrus, and copper) first found in 1947 on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea.

Southern Baptists Apologize For Slavery Stance - NPR, August 28, 2009 

2 Corinthians 12:6-10 (NIV) - Biblical Scripture reference

Dr. Charles Stanley - American Southern Baptist pastor and writer

Father's Day: A Kirk Franklin Story - YouTube · Kirk Franklin Sep 15, 2023

What to Read

The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life's Storms - Kirk Franklin 

The Evolution of African-American Worship: From the Thomas Dorsey to Kirk Franklin Era  - Dr. Antonia Arnold-McFarland

Church Boy - Kirk Franklin

What to listen to

Precious Lord, Take My Hand - Thomas Dorsey

Now Behold The Lamb Live - Kirk Franklin & The Family

Bless Me - Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin

Could've Been Me - Kirk Franklin ft J.Moss & Tye Tribbett

Joy - Kirk Franklin, Donald Malloy

Kirk Franklin Discography 

Who to follow

W: https://www.kirkfranklin.com/ 

IG: Kirk Franklin (@kirkfranklin)

X: Kirk Franklin (@kirkfranklin)

TikTok: Kirk Franklin (@thekirkfranklin) Official

This conversation was recorded on January  09, 2024.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Well friends, we made it. 2023 had its share of joys and challenges, individually and collectively, but we are here. Together. In community. This special podcast edition is our final episode of the year, and you’re in for a treat! Not only will you hear from me, but you will also hear from 6 IBI team members, in their own words, as they introduce a snippet from their favorite episode of 2023.

We begin with a conversation from Choreographer and Director Camille A. Brown.

Followed by Former Minister of Culture, Black Panther Party Emory Douglas

Up next will be Chorographer & Producer George Faison

Then a chat with Director and writer Milisuthando Bongela

Next, we hear from Producer, writer, and actress Lena Waithe

Followed by Photographer and artist Andre D. Wagner

And conclude with Dancer, Choreographer, and Artistic Director Robert Battle. 

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com.

Featured Episode Links

E59. Camille A. Brown: For Colored Girls

E86. Sketching A Revolution with Emory Douglas

E82. Dancing Through the Archive with the Legendary George Faison

E66. Inside Apartheid's Wish with Milisuthando Bongela

E85. Mastering Your Story - Lena Waithe

E84. Life on the Streets with Andre D Wagner

E62. Robert Battle: The Power of Community

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Today’s conversation is with the legendary photographer, Chester Higgins. I’ve admired Chester’s work for years… he’s a master of his craft, and a technician to the Nth degree. But it’s one thing to appreciate the work of an artist, it’s another to delve into their worldview: the work we see simply being an artifact of a greater pursuit. Well, that’s what today’s holds. What appears to be captured images, is actually Chester’s attempts at in all actuality, capturing God.  

In today’s episode, Chester reflects on the near-death childhood experience at the age of 9 that opened his eyes to a parallel reality, introducing him to the spirit that shapes existence. He shares his insights on the interconnectedness of life, the continuous cycle of energy, and the pursuit of capturing the elusive spirit in his photographs.

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com.

Key Links

Haile Selassie I- Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974

Tuskegee University- a private, historically black land-grant university in Tuskegee, Alabama.

P. H. Polk - American photographer known for his portraits of African Americans.

Andrew Young -  American politician, civil rights leader, and served in the U.S. House of Representatives

What to Read

Sacred Nile - Betsy Kissam, Chester Higgins Jr. 

Feeling the Spirit - Chester Higgins Jr.

Elder Grace: The Nobility of Aging - Maya Angelou, Chester Higgins 

THROUGH THESE EYES: The Photographs of P. H. Polk - Chester Higgins Jr., Deborah Muirhead, Amalia Amaki, Meredith Soles

What to listen to

Water No Get Enemy - Fela Kuti

Grazing In The Grass - Hugh Masekela

Mighty God (Remix) - Soweto Gospel Choir

African Drums - African Tribal Orchestra

Who to follow

W: https://www.chesterhiggins.com/ 

IG: Chester Higgins (@chesterhiggins12)

This conversation was recorded on October 12, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Today, we embark on a profound journey with the iconic Emory Douglas. As the former Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party, Emory's art ignited a revolution. Today, we ask you to reorient your ears… this is history. There’s an old African proverb that states when a person transitions, a library burns to the ground. Well, today’s conversation with Emory Douglass is a living archive revealing itself. It’s what we here at the Institute call Archival Intelligence. Take notes. Research the names. Refer back. Today’s conversation is a retelling of artmaking in revolutionary times, and what it means to create new identities within a community. 

Join us in this safe space as Emory candidly shares tales of rebellion, societal exchanges, and the intricate web of connections in his formative years. This episode is not just an interview; it's a voyage through the corridors of time, shedding light on the profound interplay of art, activism, and the Black experience. And to hear another side of this story, be sure to check out episode 26 with Elaine Browne, the only woman to serve as Chair of the Black Panther party. 

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. Visit our YouTube channel, 'The Institute of Black Imagination,' and explore more content on blackimagination.com.

And now, join us as Emory Douglas navigates through the intersections of art, activism, and the enduring quest for justice. 

Key Links

The Black Panther Party-  African American revolutionary party

Bobby Seale - African American political activist and co-founder and national chairman of the Black Panther Party.

Huey P. Newton- African American revolutionary and political activist and co-founder of ‘The Black Panther Party 

Zapatista National Liberation Army - A group of mostly indigenous activists from the southern Mexican state of Chiapas

The Black Arts Movement (1965-1975)  -  Black nationalism movement that focused on music, literature, drama, and the visual arts made up of Black artists and intellectuals.

Eldridge Cleaver- member of The Black Panther Party, he served as the first Minister of Information.

Dr. Betty Shabazz - an American educator and civil rights activist, wife of Malcolm X

Charles W. White - African American painter, printmaker, and teacher

What to Read

Zapantera Negra: An Artistic Encounter Between Black Panthers and Zapatistas- Emory Douglas

Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas - George Alexander

Seize the Time: The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton - Bobby Seale

What to listen to

IBI Episode 26 w/ Sis. Elaine Brown

Say it Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud - James Brown

Am I Black Enough for You- Billy Paul

Ghetto Child - The Spinners

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott-Heron

Who to follow

W: MoMA.org 

TW: Emory Douglas Art (@emorydouglasart)

This conversation was recorded on October 17, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Today, we're honored to sit down with the incredible Lena Waithe, a trailblazing writer, producer, and actress who's reshaped film and TV.

In this enlightening chat, Lena shares her roots, tracing back to her grandmother's brave journey from Arkansas to Chicago. We explore the concept of identity, her take on 'ladylike,' and how she's embraced her individuality.

Lena reflects on how societal expectations shape identity and the importance of curiosity and meaningful conversations. We also delve into her creative process and the genesis of 'Queen & Slim,' a film challenging conventions and examining Black identity.

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. Visit our YouTube channel, 'The Institute of Black Imagination,' and explore more content on blackimagination.com.

Stay tuned as Lena Waithe shares insights on self-transformation, overcoming naysayers, and the power of community in her journey from Chicago to Hollywood. Don't miss this captivating conversation on the Institute of Black Imagination.

Key Links

Queen & Slim-  2019 American romantic road crime drama film

Ready Player One- 2018 American science fiction action film 

The CHI - An American drama television series created by Lena Waithe 

Michael G. Fry -  Chicago born, Emmy nominated television writer, actor and producer

Mara Brock Akil- American screenwriter and television producer 

Gina Prince-Bythewood - American film director and screenwriter

Ava DuVernay - American filmmaker

Yvette Lee Bowser - American television written 

What to Read

Black Directors in Hollywood- Melvin Donalson

Why We Make Movies: Black Filmmakers Talk About the Magic of Cinema  - George Alexander

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years - Sarah L. Delaney & A. Elizabeth Delaney

What to listen to

Homecoming - Kanye West

The Light- Common

No Problem - Chance the Rapper (feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)

Through the Fire - Chaka Khan

Who to follow

W: Hillman Grad 

IG: Lena Waithe (@lenawaithe)

IMDB: Lena Waithe

This conversation was recorded on September 5, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Our guest today is none other than the visionary photographer, Andre D. Wagner. With a lens that tells stories in a way that words cannot, Andre has made a significant mark in the world of photography. He has been commissioned by The New Yorker, The New York Times, Esquire, W Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Vogue, well, YouTube the picture. In addition to his editorial work, he was the creative force behind the promotional imagery for the film "Queen & Slim" in 2019.

His first monograph, Here for the Ride, was published by Creative Future in 2017 and he is currently editing a 10-year body of work titled New City, Old Blues. In 2022, he was awarded the Gordon Parks fellowship, and His photographs have appeared in several solo exhibitions and group shows in Los Angeles, New York, and North Carolina.

Be sure to share some of your thoughts on today's episode with us on Instagram at @blackimagination. If you want to stay updated on all our latest news and exclusive content, click on this newsletter link. If you love what we do and like to support the show, click this support link. 

Key Links

The Gordon Parks Foundation- permanently preserves the work of Gordon Parks

Gordon Parks - one of the greatest photographers of the twentieth century, was a humanitarian with a deep commitment to social justice.

Andre D. Wagner: New City, Old Blues - Exhibition runs through November 17, 2023

Gordon Parks Fellowship 

The Strivers Row- A multi-cultural marketing agency specializing in content development, talent relations, and event production.

Queen & Slim - Stylish, provocative, and powerful, Queen & Slim tells a gripping fugitive story steeped in timely, thoughtful subtext.

What to Read

Voices in the Mirror: An Autobiography (Harlem Moon Classics) - Gordon Parks

A Choice of Weapons - Gordon Parks

The Camera - Ansel Adams

The Negative - Ansel Adams

The Print - Ansel Adams

What to listen to

Livin' For The City - Stevie Wonder

Empire State of Mind- Jay-Z, Alicia Keys

Autumn In New York - Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald

Who to follow

W: https://www.andredwagner.com/ 

IG: Andre D. Wagner (@photodre)

TW: Andre D. Wagner (@photoDre) / X

This conversation was recorded on October 19, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Today, we have a truly remarkable guest. Joining us today is the brilliant Dr. Joy Buolamwini, a computer scientist, digital activist and self-described “Poet of Code” whose journey began at that Temple of Technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT for short. She's the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, a place where art and activism intersect to illuminate the social implications of AI. She also has a book dropping on Halloween called, wait for it, Unmasking AI. How fitting is that for Halloween?

But her story isn't just about her prestigious academic credentials; it's about the extraordinary transformation her creative journey has taken. In today’s conversation, she reveals how her quest to create a digital filter, one that could change the reflection of herself in a mirror, led to a profound exploration of technology's hidden biases. 

Be sure to share some of your thoughts on today's episode with us on Instagram at @blackimagination. If you want to stay updated on all our latest news and exclusive content, click on this newsletter link. If you love what we do and would like to support the show, click this support link. 

Key Links

Kimberlé W. Crenshaw- American activist, intersectionality

Single axis analysis

Niles Luther - Cellist & Composer

Robert Williams- man arrested through skewed AI detection

Coded Bias- a film on Netflix

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

What to Read

Unmasking AI- Dr. Joy Buolamwini

Breaking the Code: Thriving as Black Individuals in the Era of Artificial Intelligence - Rayshaun "Chu" Smith

Black in White Space: The Enduring Impact of Color in Everyday Life - Elijah Anderson

What to listen to

Somebody’s Watching Me - Rockwell

Thriller - Michael Jackson

Computer Love - Zapp & Roger

Who to follow

Website: Algorithmic Justice League

TW: Dr. Joy Buolamwini (@jovialjoy) / X

Linked In: Dr. Joy Buolamwini 

This conversation was recorded on September 19, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Today, we have a very special interview with the legendary choreographer and producer, George Faison. In this conversation, George takes us on a journey through his remarkable life, from his early days in Washington, D.C., to his experiences dancing with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and mostly, and his iconic role as the choreographer of the "The Wiz" on Broadway. For which he won a Tony. Becoming the first Black person to do so.

George shares stories of his encounters with great artists like Maya Angelou and Stevie Wonder and the incredible impact they had on his life. But perhaps the most captivating part of this interview is George's vivid description of creating the Emerald City sequence in "The Wiz." He also shares the role books play in his creative process. For George, it all begins with the archive.

Be sure to share some of your thoughts on today's episode with us on Instagram at @blackimagination. If you want to stay updated on all our latest news and exclusive content, click on this newsletter link. If you love what we do and want to support the show, click this support link. 

Things Mentioned

Maya Angelou - an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist.

The Wiz - The musical version of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"

Dick Gregory - an American comedian, actor, writer, activist and social critic.

Gazelle - George Faison ballet - Dedicated to the Free Spirit in All of Us.

1967 Detroit riot - The 1967 Detroit Riots were among the most violent and destructive riots in U.S. history.

Alvin Ailey - American dancer, director, choreographer, and activist. 

American Light Opera Company - semi-professional theatre company performing light operas and musicals in Washington, D.C. from 1960 to 1968.

Suite Otis - Otis Redding's sassy, sizzling music sets the stage for George Faison's playful battle of the sexes.

What to Read

All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes - Maya Angelou

Giovanni's Room - James Baldwin

The Color Purple - Alice Walker

The Incredible Lightness of Being - Camie J. Davis

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration - Isabel Wilkerson

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou

The Bluest Eye - Toni Morrison

What to listen to

Take My Hand, Precious Lord – Mahalia Jackson

Someday We'll All Be Free – Donny Hathaway

Where Is The Love– Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

Stand By Me - Otis Redding

The Wiz - Original Movie Soundtrack - (1978) Various Artists

Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder

Who to follow

Website: https://www.faisonfirehouse.org/

IG: George Faison (@therealgeorgefaison)

TW: George Faison (@GeorgeFaison) / X

This conversation was recorded on August 15, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

In today's episode, we're joined by Tarriona ”Tank” Ball and Norman Spence of the Grammy-nominated Tank & The Bangas, a band hailing from the vibrant, swampy, and swinging coastal town of New Orleans. They've been wowing audiences since 2011 with their eclectic fusion of funk, soul, hip-hop, and spoken word. Today, we explore their dynamic journey from open mic nights to Grammy nominations; diving into the inspiration behind their genre-blurring music.

To date, they’ve released three studio albums, Thinktank (2013), Green Balloon (2019), and Red Balloon (2022). With two Grammy nominations under their belt, they are just getting started. Also, a note, the audio quality of this episode gets a little bonkers as Norman’s headphones begin to fail and Tank’s phone dies. But it’s all a part of the journey to becoming, so we left it in. 

Be sure to share some of your thoughts on today's episode with us on Instagram at @blackimagination. If you want to stay updated on all our latest news and exclusive content, click on this newsletter link. If you love what we do and want to support the show, click this support link. 

Current members.

Tarriona "Tank" Ball – lead vocals (2011–present)

Norman Spence II – bass, keyboards, guitar (2011–present)

Joshua Johnson – drums, musical director (2011–present)

Albert Allenback – alto saxophone, flute (2014–present)

Band History:

Members of Tank and the Bangas met at a New Orleans open mic show called Liberation Lounge and formed the group in 2011.

The band won the 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest and in November 2019, they were nominated in the Best New Artist category for the 2020 Grammy Awards. They have released three studio albums, Thinktank (2013), Green Balloon (2019), and Red Balloon (2022).

Throughout their career, the group has performed on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Austin City Limits” and “The Today Show.” Tank and The Bangas have toured non-stop, selling out venues both stateside and abroad including festival appearances at Coachella, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo and the Newport Jazz Festival.

Key Links:

Tank and The Bangas - Wiki

Tank And The Bangas: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Tarriona “Tank” Ball | geauxgirlmagazine

Tank and the Bangas Unveil 'Black Folk (Remix)' Featuring Kota the Friend, Rapsody & More

Alumnus Albert Allenback Is Living His Music Dreams As A Member of the Grammy-Nominated Band Tank and The Bangas | The University of New Orleans

What To Listen To:

Hands by Tank and The Bangas

Cafe Du Monde by Tank and The Bangas (feat. Jamison Ross, Trombone Shorty, Rachel Robinson

In The 6th by Trombone Shorty

Mo’ Better Blues by Branford Marsalis Quartet (feat. Terence Blanchard) 

Who to Follow:

 TARRIONA TANK BALL (@thinktank20) • Instagram photos and videos

Norman Spence (@namronyoccm) • Instagram photos and videos

Joshua Johnson (@1drum) • Instagram photos and videos

Albert (@albthebuilder) • Instagram photos and videos

This conversation was recorded on June 05, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Today we have a truly inspiring conversation that delves into the power of self-discovery, resilience, and the transformational journey of one extraordinary individual, photographer, entrepreneur, and social activist, Misan Harriman, a name that has become synonymous with the art of storytelling through the lens. The first brother to shoot a cover for British Vogue in its 104-year history. Misan's incredible journey from self-doubt to becoming a global voice of the moment is a testament to the indomitable human spirit. His iconic protest images became a voice for the voiceless, igniting a conversation that asks, "Why is ending racism still a debate?"

Hailing from Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State in Nigeria, Misan was raised in England, yet didn’t formally begin his photographic career until the age of 40. Gifted a camera by his wife, who recognized his passion for the image, Misan taught himself the ins and outs of image-making.  A burgeoning portraitist, it was his protest images during the 2020 global reckonings for Black Lives that caught the attention of British Vogue editor-in-chief, Edward Enningful, and the rest, as they say… is history. 

Be sure to share some of your thoughts on today's episode with us on Instagram at @blackimagination. If you want to stay updated on all our latest news and exclusive content, click on this newsletter link. If you love what we do and want to support the show, click this support link. 

Things mentioned

Gordon Parks- American photographer and activist

Eve Arnold- American photojournalist

Sally Mann- American photographer

David LaChapelle- American photographer and director 

George Floyd- American man who was killed through police brutality

Mohamed Amin- Kenya photojournalist

Web3 - is a possible future version of the internet based on public blockchains, a record-keeping system best known for facilitating cryptocurrency transactions.

Tezos Foundation- financial literacy with blockchain and crypto art

Sykes-Picot agreement- secret convention made during World War I between Great Britain and France, with the assent of imperial Russia, for the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire. 

Balfour agreement- It was made in a letter from Arthur James Balfour, the British foreign secretary, to Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild (of Tring), a leader of the Anglo-Jewish community. 

What to Read

A Choice of Weapons - Gordon Parks

The Art of Protest: A Visual History of Dissent and Resistance - Jo Rippon

Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America - Daniel Black

What to listen to

Legend (album) – Bob Marley

A Change is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke

Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson

We Insist (album)- Max Roach

Who to follow

Website: https://www.misanharriman.com/

IG: Misan Harriman (@misanharriman)

TW: Misan Harriman (@misanharriman)

This conversation was recorded on July 05, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Sound Engineer:  Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Today we are diving into the captivating life story of Attorney, Artist & Activist (Reginald) Dwayne Betts, a man whose path took unexpected turns, leading him to discover the boundless potential within himself.

As we journey through Dwayne's life, we'll explore the profound impact of literature on his transformation, his encounters with influential poets like Sonia Sanchez, and the survival strategies that poetry offered him during his incarceration.

Be sure to share some of your thoughts on today's episode with us on Instagram at @blackimagination. If you want to stay updated on all our latest news and exclusive content, click on this newsletter link. If you love what we do and want to support the show, click this support link. 

Things mentioned

Freedom Reads- Organization founded by Dwayne Betts that aims to place millions of books into prisons

Kiese LeMond- ambassador of Freedom Reads

Traci Thomas-  podcast host of the Stacks

Sherley Anne Williams - American Poet

Lucille Cliffton- American poet

Eldridge cleaver- author and activist

What to Read

Makes me Wanna Holler - Nathan McCall

The Black Poets- Dudley Randall

Homegirls and Hand Grenades- Sonia Sanchez

The Art of War- Sun Tzu

Crazy as Hell, (the best book on black history you'll ever read)- Dwayne Betts  coming soon

What to listen to

We the People - A Tribe Called Quest

Living For The City - Stevie Wonder

The Message - Grandmaster Flash

Who to follow

Website: https://www.dwaynebetts.com/

IG: Reginald Betts (@dwaynebetts)

TW:  Dwayne Betts (@dwaynebetts)

This conversation was recorded on July 13, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Our guest today, Dr. Danielle Wood, is a shining example of how passion and perseverance can lead you to the stars. She defied the odds, shattered expectations, and carved her own path to become a leader in the world of space exploration and technology.

So, join us as we embark on this cosmic voyage with Dr. Danielle Wood and discover how she unveiled the universe, one challenge at a time.

Be sure to share some of your thoughts on today's episode with us on Instagram at @blackimagination. If you want to stay updated on all our latest news and exclusive content, click on this newsletter link. If you love what we do and want to support the show, click this support link. And without further ado, Dr. Danielle Wood.

Things Mentioned

India south pole Moon landing- After a failed attempt to land on the moon in 2019, India now joins the United States, the Soviet Union and China as only the fourth country to achieve this milestone.

The Outer Space Treaty- 

• the exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries and shall be the province of all mankind;
• outer space shall be free for exploration and use by all States;
• outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means;
• States shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner;
• the Moon and other celestial bodies shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes;
• astronauts shall be regarded as the envoys of mankind;
• States shall be responsible for national space activities whether carried out by governmental or non-governmental entities;
• States shall be liable for damage caused by their space objects; and
• States shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies.

Chandra Xray observatory telescope - NASA's sophisticated telescope is specially designed to detect X-ray emission from very hot regions of the Universe

Systems architecture- A system's architecture reflects how it is thought about in terms of its structure, functions, and relationships.

TNW Conference - is a website and annual series of conferences focused on new technology and start-up companies in Europe.

Phillis Wheatley- American poet and author, the first black woman to publish a book (as an American woman, but the book was published in the UK).

Henrietta Cordelia Ray- American poet and teacher.

Katherine Johnson- American mathematician and NASA worker

Dogon Tribe- an ethnic group indigenous to the central plateau region of Mali, in West Africa, south of the Niger bend, near the city of Bandiagara, and in Burkina Faso.

Octavia Butler- American science fiction writer

Audre Lorde- black feminist philosopher and intersectional thought

What to Read

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America - by Ibram X. Kendi

Minor Notes Volume 1- byJoshau Bennett and Jesse McCarthy

Overstory- by Richard Powers

What to listen to

Saturn - Stevie Wonder

There’s a Star for Everyone - Aretha Franklin

The Space Program - A Tribe Called Quest

Who to follow

Follow Dr. Danielle Wood on IG @space_enabled and by visiting her website.

This conversation was recorded on August 31, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer:  K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Production Asst:  Noa Lesche

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Welcome back to another exciting episode of The Institute of Black Imagination. Today we're taking a little detour, podcast inception if you will! We're sharing with you another podcast that featured yours truly as a guest.

Get ready to embark on a journey with The Future of Storytelling and my good friend host Charlie Melcher, where we explore my personal journey and delve into the heart of the Institute of Black Imagination.

We have so many wonderful gems coming this Fall, and we’re not just talking about our Semester 5 lineup… but our upcoming physical space at the Oculus in NYC. That’s right. We’re not just a podcast. 

If you’d like to know more about the upcoming Oculus space, or just want the inside scoop on what we’ve got cooking over here, be sure to click on this newsletter link.

And if you love what we’re up to, click this support link.

Things that we mention

Pyer Moss Fall 2021 Couture Show

Vanity Fair Cover w/ Viola Davis - Dario 1st black photographer to shoot the cover

The Institute of Black Imagination - Interactive website

Geoffrey Holder - Trinidadian American actor, dancer, musician, and artist

André Leon Talley - an American fashion journalist, stylist, creative director, and editor-at-large of Vogue magazine.

Originally Aired on February 24, 2022, on Future of Storytelling

FoST Audio Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

With special thanks to Charles Melcher, Madison Brown, Eitan Wolf, and the entire FoST Team

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: K.T. Thompson

Visual Art Direction and Designs: River Wildmen, Cyle Warner

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is part 1 of episode 13 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 landmark unto herself. A mathematician of dressing, Ms. Turner does not just put clothes on but uses her body as a medium in which she expresses her appreciation and preservation of life, style, and beauty, or as she likes to refer to it: “Painting the body canvas.”

A doyenne of mid-20th century fashion, and muse of New York Times Street style photographer Bill Cunningham, Lana Turner and I were introduced almost a decade ago at the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem when I was looking for a few hats for a fashion story while in grad school. Upon meeting and chatting with her, I realized quite quickly that it was SHE who needed to be photographed, in her wardrobe, and in her hats… of which there are upwards of, wait for it… 500. Actually, I believe the exact number is 638.

Here are some highlights:

On the discovery of self: “You know a single woman, single mother, taking care of all of that. But when he got old enough to fly away from the nest, it allowed me to expand my sense of self. Prior to his leaving, however, that sense of self was always in play.” (19:46)

“That sense of self was one thing that allowed for, for example, deciding to change say the furniture in my room, and I woke up one morning and I said, No everything should not only be functional, it should also be beautiful.”(20:09)

On her love for archiving: “I think the archiving element is in my DNA, it seems to have always been there without you know, want for formalizing that as an educational piece in my life, and it's always been there.” (4:28)

On the theatricality of the black church: “But of course, with the black church we are looking at, or at least I'm looking at it as the as a critical foundation for our deliverance from the slavery, both external and internal. I look at church as a way to release the notion of what it means as a collective, to breathe and to pray. I look at the black church in particular for all the things that go on in it that have more theatricality attached.-But I love the collective energies that black people bring to anything. And when it comes to church, oh my goodness. (39:29)

On the art of living: I don’t know what the formula is I don't know if I could articulate it all. So let's see, I can start, I can try. There's things that I love. So I love and I don't need other people to do it. I just like being myself. (27:04)

Thank you for tuning in! Please don't forget to rate, comment, subscribe and SHARE with a friend.

Visit us on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Connect with us on Instagram at @blackimagination

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Editorial content provided by Kalimah Small.

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 25 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 interest in fencing began at an early age, after encountering the word “Fencing” in a pictorial dictionary that his mother gave him.  Inspired, he begged his mother to begin lessons, but it wasn’t until a chance encounter with an advertisement featuring two black fencers did Daryl’s Mother finally cave into her son’s growing obsession.

And so, at the ripe old age of eleven, Daryl was enrolled at the Peter Westbrook Foundation, an organization founded by its namesake, Peter Westbrook, who took home the bronze in fencing in the 1984 Olympics, quickly seeing his potential, Daryl was placed on the Olympic track just one year later, and his path to the games began. 

By the age of 17, he’d already medaled in the Cadet World fencing championships, later, taking home gold in 7 Pan American championships, also competing in the 2012 Olympics in London, the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and most recently the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.  At the Rio Games, Daryl took home the silver medal in men’s individual saber fencing, surpassing his mentor Mr. Westbrook, and thereby making him the highest-medaled Olympic fencer in American history.

In today’s episode, we discuss Daryl’s early beginnings in the Bronx, what it takes to have a champion mindset, how to recover from failure, and the power of imagination and visualization to overcome obstacles.  This is such a powerful episode, as we chart the sheer will and tenacity needed to accomplish big dreams. I learned so much, and I’m sure you will too.  Be sure to subscribe wherever you receive your podcasts, and leave us a review over on Apple Podcasts, we love to hear your thoughts and be sure to follow us over on Instagram at Blackimagination. And now I invite you to pull out your notepads, Daryl’s about to drop some wisdom.

Follow Daryl on Instagram: @daryldhomer

Visit us on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Connect with us on Instagram at @blackimagination

‘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 different.”

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 12 with a man who needs no introduction, but I’m going to introduce him anyway:  Tariq Luqmaan Trotter, better known as Black Thought, lead MC and co-founder of the hip-hop band, The Roots. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Tariq faced some early hardships– losing both of his parents to homicide before the age of 16, but he found his path in the arts, attending Philadelphia’s High School for creative and performing arts, also known as ‘the fame school of Philly’, notable alumni include Boys to Men, Erika Alexander, Leslie Odom Jr., Joey de Francesco, Jasmine Sullivan, and many more. While immersed in this brilliant world of musicianship, Black Thought encountered yet another now-famous alum and co-founder of The Roots, Questlove.

Emerging from the Philly soul scene in the late eighties and early 90s, The Roots created a space for themselves that didn’t exist during that era:  A live, hip hop band. Known for their jazzy and eclectic approach to the genre, their debut album Organix was released and sold independently and were quickly signed to DGC/Geffen. Today, they serve as the house band for the Tonight show, while still touring extensively, and producing projects both collectively and individually, including an upcoming Broadway musical, “Black NO More”, penned by today’s guest, Mr. Trotter.

Here are some highlights…

On His Origin Story: “That's, that's sort of my, my origin story is I am, you know, I grew up in Philadelphia, I lost my father at a very, very young age before I was two years old, and, you know, to murder to homicide in the streets of Philly and I lost my mother to the same at 15 or 16. So, yeah, I feel like that is my origin”

On Trauma being a motivating factor in his life: “It's the ways in which we allow that internalization to, you know, compel us, and sometimes you're compelled to, you know, to quit, or in that pause to, you know, to give up, or sometimes it becomes a huge motivating factor for you. And, in my experience, that's, that's, you know, the purpose that it has served is as a, as a motivator”

On The Notorious Roots Jam Sessions: “I remember John Legend, you know, he was a student at the University of Penn, he would come and, you know, try and get into our jam sessions and would often be turned away, for whatever reason, like, you know, go figure. I wasn't at the door had I been at the door, that would never have been the case, but I know people who remember turning him away, and I feel like that was a motivating factor for him and you know, that that's part of what propelled him to greatness”

Links we mention in the episode:

Tariq's Instagram: @blackthought

Link to "Black No More" info: deadline.com

Thank you for tuning in! Please don't forget to rate, comment, subscribe and SHARE with a friend.

Visit us on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Connect with us on Instagram at @blackimagination

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Editorial content provided by Kalimah Small.

In today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 4 with psychologist, Dr. Courtney Cogburn.  Hailing from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Doctor Cogburn’s research focuses on how racism contributes to health disparities amongst Black Americans and in particular how over time, blatant and subtle racism in media stresses and literally wears down Black bodies—a phenomenon also known as “weathering”—something we have all witnessed to during the current outbreak of Covid-19 in the United States, and its devastating effects on communities of color.

An associate professor at Columbia’s School of Social Work, Dr. Cogburn’s racial immersion VR experience, 1000-Cut Journey, debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018. Developed in collaboration with the Virtual Human Interaction Lab at Stanford University, It allows for the viewer to experience life as a Black man, from adolescence through adulthood, and has been featured on TEDx, CBS, and Forbes.

In this conversation we discuss when she first began to notice the correlation between race and academic achievement (5:00), the effects of "breathing racism" (13:00), how watching videos of police brutality is bad for our health (18:46), how reason rarely works as well empathy (22:00), a step-by-step explanation of her racial VR experience (28:04), how her lack of experience with virtual reality didn't keep her from pursuing her goals (34:22), her biggest failure as a researcher (41:40), how her own son changed the way she works (43:18), why higher education has health benefits for every demographic, except for those of African decent (46:48), and the ways in which VR is being used to help Black people begin to heal from a lifetime of racial stress (59:26). Given where we are as a country and a people, I found this conversation to be right on time.

Links we mention in the episode:

Courtney's Twitter Account: @courtneycogburn

Her Racial VR Experience: 1,000-Cut Journey

Hyphen Labs: Neurospeculative Afrofeminism

Thank you for tuning in! Please don't forget to rate, comment, subscribe and SHARE with a friend.

Visit us on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Connect with us on Instagram at @blackimagination

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 39 with Timnit Gebru an artificial intelligence researcher.  Timnit advocates for fair and just use of the technology we use everyday. A former employee of Google, Timnit consistently calls in and calls out a Big Tech industry that leverages power, capital, and bias in favor of, well, themselves and their wallets. From language to surveillance- Timnit knows the potential harms of artificial intelligence know no bounds.

In a time when we’re at war, today’s episode calls into question for whom we are fighting? Whose wars are worthy of discussion and what harms are so deeply ingrained within our consciousness that we ignore our own civilian casualties. As the world witnesses the 16th month of a war in Ethiopia, Timnint’s journey reminds us of the refugee, the warrior, and the heroes we often dismiss and determine unworthy of home. 

This conversation was recorded on Jan 27, 2022

Learn More about this topic 

• Rhua benjamin
• Simone browne (Dark Matters: on Surveillance of Blackness) 
• Coded bias 
• Tawana petty
• Support regulations to safeguard 
• Mar Hicks wrote op ed for Wired (tech historian)

Who to follow? 

• Algorithm justice league 
• Data society 
• Data for black lives
• AI Now 
• DAIR 

Other Things we mention 

 contentauthenticity.org 

The fairness doctrine  

Fairness doctrine washington post article 

Visit us on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Connect with us on Instagram at @blackimagination

Host Dario Calmese 

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 2 with architect, designer, and scholar, Dr. Mabel O. Wilson. Doing double duty as a Professor of Architecture and as Associate Director of the Institute for Research in African American Studies, both at Columbia University, Dr. Wilson is not your traditional designer of buildings. Her trans-disciplinary practice extends well beyond the built environment into the worlds of curation, performance, art, and cultural history.

We discuss how Mabel’s problems fitting in as a young architect led to designing her own path to success (5:40), her advice for young architectural students (9:00), what Beyonce stole from her (21:30), the ways in which design and structures have been used to create the concepts of both blackness and whiteness (26:26), the radical change needed for an equitable America (32:27), the invisibility of Black women (35:00) and how mass incarceration not only tied a generation of Black men to a failing capitalist state, but left a generation of Black women without partners (49:40).

Links we mention in the episode:

Mabel's Instagram: @studio_and

Her new book: Race and Modern Architecture: A Critical History from the Enlightenment to the Present 

Thank you for tuning in! Please don't forget to rate, comment, subscribe and SHARE with a friend.

Visit us on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Connect with us on Instagram at @blackimagination

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 3 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 a troubled home makes good and lands in the Ivy Leagues—Yale to be exact. Casey later goes off to Harvard Business school and co-founds the nonprofit MBAs Across America, for which he is  listed as one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People.  All of this and more can be found in his memoir, There Will be No Miracles Here, which was listed by both NPR and The New York Times as one of the best books of 2018.  His Ted Talk, “The Gospel of Doubt” has over 2.1 million views. Did I mention he was also a Rhodes Semifinalist?

Recorded via Zoom while under lockdown,  we speak about when Casey realized the "American Dream" was a scam (16:35), how he rediscovered his inner child (19:30), the malleability of time (26:10), the first boy he ever loved (40:15), the gift of being gay (47:25), what prisons and the coronavirus have in common (50:30), the joy of blackness (56:07), why it's always a good idea to leave New York City (59:30), and the path to finding internal joy (1:02:43) We cover so many amazing topics, and Casey shows us a side of himself he rarely ever does.   This episode takes on a more conversational tone, and a few F-bombs are dropped, be warned, lol.

Links we mention in the episode:

Casey's Instagram and Twitter: @caseygerald

Casey's book: There Will Be No Miracles Here

Abraham Hicks:  https://www.abraham-hicks.com

Marianne Williamson's A Return to Love

Bell Hook's All About Love: New Visions

Thank you for tuning in! Please don't forget to rate, comment, subscribe and SHARE with a friend.

Visit us on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Connect with us on Instagram at @blackimagination

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 23 with Heather McGhee. Heather designs and promotes solutions to inequality in America.  Do you know Heather?  You might know Heather. Maybe you saw her on NBC’s Meet the Press, or MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Or perhaps you saw her sparring with Republican Senator John Kennedy during the confirmation hearings of supreme court Justice Neil Gorsuch, or it just may have been that time when, while on C-Span, an older white gentleman called in to acknowledge his own racism and prejudice, and wanted Heather’s advice on how to change, how to be a better American Citizen, and Heather’s response went… viral. 

Born on the south side of Chicago, and raised in the suburbs of Evanston IL, Heather McGhee has made a career out of fighting for a more equal America. She holds a B.A. in American Studies from Yale University and a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and for the last two decades, helped build the nonpartisan “think and do” tank, Demos, later serving as president for four years. She’s argued before the Supreme Court to protect voting rights. She’s helped Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz design anti-bias training for its 250,000 employees. She’s lead research campaigns behind successful wage increases for low-wage workers on federal contracts as well as at Walmart and McDonalds.

And that’s like, 5% of her resume. But of course, Heather is so much more than her work. She’s also a wife and mother of a beautiful two-year-old, who makes a small cameo in this episode. 

Her new book being released this week, and also partially written while carrying the aforementioned toddler, is called The Sum of Us. It unravels the mystery of how. How the wealthiest country on earth suffers some of its worst health disparities, and has a collapsing infrastructure, all while its citizens are crippled by insurmountable levels of debt. One word: Racism. And you know who actually suffers most?  White people. 

In this episode we discuss Heather’s journey into the hallowed halls of our country’s government, How motherhood has changed her view of the world, what parents can do to ensure their children receive good educations, even while under lockdown, and how we ALL lose in the zero-sum game of racism. 

Heather's website: https://heathermcghee.com

Get your copy of "The Sum of Us" here.

Thank you for tuning in! Please don't forget to rate, comment, subscribe and SHARE with a friend.

Visit us on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Connect with us on Instagram at @blackimagination

And now a word from our Founder & Host Dario Calmese. Thank you for your support and being a part of our community. We are taking a break, but we will not leave you wanting. Class is still in session. This Summer School Semester we will be sharing some of our favorite previous episodes. In case you missed it, or want to revisit and catch more pearls of wisdom with us. 

We are looking forward to seeing you in person this fall at our physical location at the Oculus at World Trade Center in New York.  But you don't have to wait until then to connect with us. All of our links are listed below. 

The world we live in has been designed and we must design our way out of it.

Stay Curious and Keep Dreaming!

Connect with us

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Stay Informed sign up for our Newsletter

Be Social IG: @blackimagination LinkedIn: The Institute of Black Imagination.

For any question or potential interview requests, write to: info@blackimagination.org

Today’s episode is an odyssey through Mili’s own journey through ancestral ties, personal identity, and relationships. She walks us through the process of engaging our ancestors in our everyday lives. We explore the necessity for connection and healing between Africans and African Americans. And we delve into the lessons one learns by simply sitting with questions that may never be answered. Tell us what you think about today’s episode. Don’t be shy, share your favorite moment with us on Twitter and Instagram at @blackimagination. Remember, you can view this episode and others on our YouTube channel The Institute of Black Imagination. If you’re interested in getting lost in what else we have going on, visit us on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com where this and other content live. 

Things Mentioned

Transkei - Officially the Republic of Transkei, was an unrecognized State in the Southeastern Region of South Africa from 1976 to 1994

Apartheid in South Africa -  a system of institutionalized racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s.

Bantu - a general term for over 400 different ethnic groups in Africa, from Cameroon to South Africa

Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground - It was the first municipal burial ground of the city of Richmond, VA. It was historically known as the "Burial Ground for Negroes".

Milisuthando - Sundance Film Festival 2023

What to Read

South Africa: The Rise and Fall of Apartheid by Nancy L. Clark, William H. Worger

The Bantu, Past and Present; an Ethnographical and Historical Study of the Native Races of South Africa  by Sm Molema

The Inheritors: An Intimate Portrait of South Africa's Racial Reckoning by Eve Fairbanks

What to listen to

Grandma’s Hands by Bill Withers

Sounds From The Ancestors by Kenny Garrett

It’s Wrong (Apartheid) by Stevie Wonder

African Secret Society by Hugh Masekela

Who to follow

Follow Milisuthando Bongela on IG @msmillib and by visiting her website.

Learn more about her film at Milisuthando Bongela.

This conversation was recorded on March 16th, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Today’s episode is an odyssey through Mili’s own journey through ancestral ties, personal identity, and relationships. She walks us through the process of engaging our ancestors in our everyday lives. We explore the necessity for connection and healing between Africans and African Americans. And we delve into the lessons one learns by simply sitting with questions that may never be answered. Tell us what you think about today’s episode. Don’t be shy, share your favorite moment with us on Twitter and Instagram at @blackimagination. Remember, you can view this episode and others on our YouTube channel The Institute of Black Imagination. If you’re interested in getting lost in what else we have going on, visit us on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com where this and other content live. 

Things Mentioned

Transkei - Officially the Republic of Transkei, was an unrecognized State in the Southeastern Region of South Africa from 1976 to 1994

Apartheid in South Africa -  a system of institutionalized racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s.

Bantu - a general term for over 400 different ethnic groups in Africa, from Cameroon to South Africa

Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground - It was the first municipal burial ground of the city of Richmond, VA. It was historically known as the "Burial Ground for Negroes".

Milisuthando - Sundance Film Festival 2023

What to Read

South Africa: The Rise and Fall of Apartheid by Nancy L. Clark, William H. Worger

The Bantu, Past and Present; an Ethnographical and Historical Study of the Native Races of South Africa  by Sm Molema

The Inheritors: An Intimate Portrait of South Africa's Racial Reckoning by Eve Fairbanks

What to listen to

Grandma’s Hands by Bill Withers

Sounds From The Ancestors by Kenny Garrett

It’s Wrong (Apartheid) by Stevie Wonder

African Secret Society by Hugh Masekela

Who to follow

Follow Milisuthando Bongela on IG @msmillib and by visiting her website.

Learn more about her film at Milisuthando Bongela.

This conversation was recorded on March 16th, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

In today’s episode, Rayvon gives us a peek into the locker room, revealing how athletic teams use biometric data to craft game day strategy. He also shares the drawbacks of using technology and Artificial Intelligence not only on the playing field but also in the courtroom.  He shines a light on the importance of creating pathways for black and brown individuals to gain access to research funding, and why our future depends on it. Let us know what your favorite moment was in today’s episode on Twitter and Instagram at @blackimagination. To view this full episode and others, head over to our YouTube channel The Institute of Black Imagination. For this and more content visit us on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com.

Things Mentioned

Granville T. Woods - American inventor

Lewis H. Latimer - American inventor, Draftsman

Shelby J. Davidson - American lawyer and inventor.

Nike Alphaflys - sneakers banned from Tokyo Olympics

National Science Foundation

What to Read

Game Changer: The Technoscientific Revolution in Sports by Rayvon Fouché

Black Inventors in the Age of Segregation  by Rayvon Fouché

Plant, Performance and the Endocannabinoid System: 21st Century Sports Medicine by Doug Brown,  Don McLaughlin

Sports Science and Technology in the Real World by Janet Slingerland

What to listen to

Black Man - Stevie Wonder

I’m The One - DJ Khaied ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne

We Win (Space Jam: A New Legacy) - Kirk Franklin and Lil Baby

Who to follow

Connect with Rayvon Fouché on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Rayvon Fouché by visiting his website Rayvon Fouché or through his work at the NSF - National Science Foundation.

This conversation was recorded on March 30th, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah 

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

In today’s episode, Alia gives us a rundown on the role of the gallery and gallery representation. She shares what young artists should be considering when starting their careers, and helpful guidance on how to price their work. She weighs in on the impacts and pitfalls of social media for artists, the direction of NFT’s and what the art world needs to do to become more egalitarian. We’re trying something new with today’s episode, so we want you to weigh in. Let us know what you think on Twitter and Instagram at @blackimagination. To view this episode and others head over to our YouTube channel The Institute of Black Imagination. For this and more content visit us on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com. 

Things mentioned

Jeffrey Deitch - Art Gallery

Jeffrey Deitch -  American art dealer and curator

Vernissage - a private viewing of paintings before public exhibition.

Shibboleth - a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people

Sotheby's Institute of Art  

What to Read

Clay Pop by Alia Dahl

The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art by Donald Thompson

Talking Prices: Symbolic Meanings of Prices on the Market for Contemporary Art by Olav Velthius

Blk Art: The Audacious Legacy of Black Artists and Models in Western Art by Zaria Ware

The Black Market: A Guide to art collecting by Charles Moore

What to listen to

Respect - Aretha Franklin

Alright - Kendrick Lamar

Picasso Babe - Jay-Z

Rich Nigazz - J. Cole

Who to follow

Follow Alia Dahl on IG @aliajessenia and @jeffreydeitchgallery

Learn more about her at Alia Dahl 

This conversation was recorded on March 24th, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

Today's episode is an exploration of the stars, so get your notebooks out.  Dossé-Via walks us through the African origins of modern astrology, how star-gazing is actually compatible if not embedded within Christianity, Islam, and other religious practices, and what compatibility REALLY means. Not to mention breaking down all those astrological houses and alignments and, well, you get the picture. Grab your paper and sharpen your pencils, today’s episode will be out of this world.(who writes this stuff?) We want to hear from you, share your favorite moment with us on Twitter and Instagram at @blackimagination. Be sure to check out our YouTube channel The Institute of Black Imagination and soar through the galaxy of IBI Digital at blackimagination.com where this and other content resides.

Things mentioned

ScorpioMystique - Where Scorpios Come to Soar

Magic & Melanin - African Travel Experience

The Houses in Astrology and Their Meaning

Epistemology - the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. 

Trace Your African Roots - African Ancestry

What to Read

Signs Skymates: The Ultimate Guide to Astrological Compatibility by Dossé-Via Trenou

You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance by Chani Nicholas

What to listen to

Dream with Dossé-Via by Dossé-Via

Signs by Beyonce

Written in the Stars from AIDA on Broadway sung by Heather Headley & Adam Pascal

Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In by The 5th Dimension

Who to follow

Follow Dossé-Via on IG @dossevia and @scorpiomystique

Learn more about her at Dossé-Via

This conversation was recorded on January 19th, 2023.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah, Will Domingue

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

In today's episode, Robert explores what it means to lead with legacy in mind. We talk through the lessons learned from fully immersing oneself in their craft and the importance of building a community. Today’s episode is sure to leave you inspired so be sure to share your most motivational moments with us over on Twitter and Instagram at @blackimagination. You can also view this episode and catch up on others by visiting and subscribing to our YouTube channel The Institute of Black Imagination. You can find this and more content on IBI Digital at blackimagination.com.

Things Mentioned

Robert Moses - “The Master Builder” 

History of Hip-Hop

Miami (Liberty City) Riot, 1980

Liberty City Riots 1968

What to Read

My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle's Journey to Alvin Ailey by Lesa Cline-Ransome (Author)  Robert Battle (Foreword)

Dancing Revelations: Alvin Ailey's Embodiment of African American Culture by Thomas F Defrantz

Black Bodies, White Gazes: The Continuing Significance of Race in America by George Yancy

I Am Dance: Words and Images of the Black Dancer by Hal Banfield 

What to listen to

Saving All My Love - Whitney Houston

Living For The City - Stevie Wonder 

Miami - Will Smith

Revelations - Album by Alvin Ailey

Who to follow

Follow Robert Battle on IG @alvinailey

Learn more about Robert at Robert Battle 

This conversation was recorded on October 7th, 2022.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah, Will Domingue

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at 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 highlighting the important role black and brown people can play in the world of philanthropy. Today’s episode will be full of gems so make sure to share your favorite moment with us over on Twitter and Instagram at @blackimagination. You can also view this episode and catch up on others by visiting and subscribing to our youtube channel The Institute of Black Imagination. You can find this and more content on IBI Digital at, blackimagination.com. And without further ado, the exceptional, Justin Garrett Moore.

Things mentioned

Meridian-Kessler - neighborhood

Cleo W. Blackburn- Educator

Hilyard Robinson - Architect

Elizabeth Alexander - American poet and the president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

What to Read

Multitude: War and Democracy in the Age of Empire  by Michael Hardt & Antonio Negri 

The Trayvon Generation by Elizabeth Alexander

Urban Planning and the African-American Community: In the Shadows by June Manning Thomas, Marsha Ritzdorf 

What to listen to

The Ghetto - Donny Hathaway

Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder

Alright - Kendrick Lamar

Who to follow

Follow Justin Garrett Moore on IG @j.g.moore

Learn more about him at Justin Garrett Moore

This conversation was recorded on August 6th, 2022.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah, Will Domingue

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination

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 acquired skill makes you uniquely qualified for the problems you aim to solve. It encourages us to tap into the path of experimentation and how pursuing “stretch assignments” can test the limits of our creativity, provide evidence that you're on your path, ultimately getting us closer to where we want to be. 

Things mentioned

UK Design Council

Jason Mayden - Designer

Dr. D’wayne Edwards - Designer

What to Read

Reimagining Design: Unlocking Strategic Innovation - Kevin Bethune

The Laws of Simplicity (Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life) - John Maeda

What to Listen To

If I Could Build My Whole World Around You – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

I'm in a Different World – The Four Tops

Who to follow

Follow Kevin Bethune on IG @kevinbethune

Learn more about him at Kevin Bethune

This conversation was recorded on October 20th, 2022.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah, Will Domingue

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

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 Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert! Camille’s work is an ode to reclamation and staying connected to ancestral ties with her deep passion to empower Black bodies by allowing them to tell their own stories. Camille is literally history in the making. In 2021 she became the first Black artist to direct a mainstage production at the Metropolitan Opera, doing double-duty as co-director and choreographer. She repeated this dual act in the latest adaptation of Ntozke Shange’s “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf,” making her the first Black woman to Direct and Choreograph a Broadway show in 67 years.

In today’s episode, Camille reminds us just how vital resilience and listening to your own voice can be. She shares lessons from rejection and struggle and encourages us to be ourselves regardless of the stakes.

Things mentioned

Darius Barnes - Dancer + Choreographer

Fire Shut Up in My Bones - Camille A. Brown performed at the Met Opera

DeVore Dance Center, founded by Choreographer + Dancer Carolyn DeVore 

Ronald K. Brown/ EVIDENCE, A Dance Company

Roger Jeffrey - School of Dance - George Mason University

What to Read

Katherine Dunham: Dance and the African Diaspora by Joanna Dee Das

Modern Dance, Negro Dance: Race in Motion by Susan Manning

Alvin Ailey: A Life in Dance by Jennifer Dunning

What to listen to

Mo’ Better Blues - Branford Marsalis Quartet (feat. Terence Blanchard)

Rhythm Nation - Janet Jackson

Remember The Time - Michael Jackson 

Dancing In The Street - Martha and The Vandellas

So into You - SWV

Who to follow

Follow Camille A. Brown on IG @camilleabrown

Learn more about her upcoming events at Camille A. Brown

This conversation was recorded on August 20th, 2022.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah, Will Domingue

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

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 modern design collective made up of entrepreneurs, designers, athletes, and all-around creatives. You may recognize him from his time spent at Nike in their digital sports division serving as the senior global design director as well as the director of innovation. During his tenure, he designed  iconic footwear for athletes and cultural icons such as Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, and living legend Michael Jordan.

In today's episode, Jason shares how unquenchable desire and focus set the foundation for pursuing his various ambitions. He reminds us about the power of transmuting our own painful experiences, using them as fuel to manifest our dreams and desires. We also discuss why holding your inner child close is important to the overall well-being of your big adult self. 

Things mentioned

DC Comics Dr. Lucius Fox

Trillicon Valley

Jason’s SUPER HEROIC collection 

Cointelpro

What to listen to

Jay-Z - Show You How 

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme, Pt I (Acknowledgment)

YoYo Get Funky - Fast Eddie

Who to follow

Follow Jason Mayden on IG @jasonmayden

Learn more about Trilicon Valley on IG @trilliconvalley

This conversation was recorded on August 4th, 2022.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah, Will Domingue

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch this and other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

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 not only talk about romantic love but also highlight what it means to be madly in love with your work, what it can teach us about ourselves, and how important it is to fall head over heels for the process. We will close today’s episode with the kind of love they imagine for the future. 

We begin with dedications from Grammy-award-winning singer + songwriter Estelle, Chef + Activist Zoe Adjonyoh, Preacher + Scholar Eboni Marshall Turman, Choreographer and Dancer Bill T. Jones, and finally, Culinary Entrepreneur Jon Gray of Ghetto Gastro. They remind us of their “why” as we open the floodgates to allow love to flow freely through the conversation. 

Episodes to listen to

Dedication:

E41. Estelle: Becoming the Love of Your Life.

E42. Zoe Adjonyoh: Exploring Identity Through Cuisine.

E44. Rev.Eboni Marshall Turman: Redefining God's Body

E49. Bill T. Jones: The Artist is Present.

E52. Ghetto Gastro (Jon Gray): 15 Seconds to Decide.

Love:

E37. Bisa Butler: The Realization of Memory

E49. Bill T. Jones: The Artist is Present.

E40. Jericho Brown: Shaping Reality with Words.

E47.David Zilber: A Fermenter's Guide to the Universe.

E56. Rita Dove: The Pleasure of Text.

Imagine for the future:

E36. Dario Calmese: Designing Consciousness with IBI Founder.

E41. Estelle: Becoming the Love of Your Life.

E50. June Ambrose: The Style Architect.

E46. Stephen Satterfield: The Origins of Food.

E39. Timnit Gebru: Asylum From A.I.

What to read

All about Love: New Visions by bell hooks

Playlist for the Apocalypse: Poems by Rita Dove 

Story/Time: The Life of an Idea by Bill T. Jones

The Seven Levels of Intimacy: The art of loving and being loved by Matthew Kelly

What to listen to

Feeling Good - Nina Simone

Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald

September by Earth, Wind & Fire

You Bring Me Joy-Anita Baker 

Better-Estelle

These conversations were recorded for our 2022 season. 

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Producer for episodes in the first half of 2022: Carmen D. Harris

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah, Will Domingue

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch this and other episodes on YouTube at The Institute of Black Imagination.

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 heard correctly…29, and the only poet to be honored with both the National Humanities Medal and the National Medal of Arts. Her portfolio of work is timeless, precise, and captures the complexity of life. 

In today’s episode, we explore the pleasure of the text. We also journey through how using your imagination can help to get what you want, the role writing can play in the midst of chaos, and how Rita’s lived experience as a Black woman has shaped her understanding of the world.

Things mentioned

Award Winning Poet Nikki Giovanni 

Dawn Revisited, a poem written by Rita Dove

American Poet Michael S. Harper 

What to read

Playlist for the Apocalypse: Poems by Rita Dove 

Thomas and Beulah by Rita Dove

The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni: 1968-1998 by Nikki Giovanni

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou  

The Pleasure of the Text written by Roland Barthes and translated by Richard Miller 

Dear John, Dear Coltrane: Poems by Michael S Harper

Staged Otherness: Ethnic Shows in Central and Eastern Europe, 1850–1939 by Dagnosław Demski and Dominika Czarnecka

What to listen to

Feeling Good - Nina Simone

So What - Miles Davis

Take the "A" Train - Duke Ellington 

Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald

This conversation was recorded on August 20th, 2022.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah, Will Domingue

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch this and other episodes on YouTube at: The Institute of Black Imagination.

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 investigate its construction.

In today's episode, we explore why urban design cannot exist without hip-hop. We lean into what can happen if we start to understand the nature of urban environments, and Sekou reminds us that whether it is hip-hop, your career, or practice, it's essential to make sure love is at the center of what you do. 

Things mentioned

Artist, Architect, and Fashion designer Virgil Abloh

“Figures of Speech” exhibition at Brooklyn Musuem dedicated to the work of Virgil Abloh

Artist Theaster Gates

Artist Lauren Halsey 

Urban Planner Robert Moses

Post–World War II development StuyTown 

Architect Beverly Lorraine Greene 

Bricolage is the construction of a sculpture, or a structure of ideas achieved by using whatever comes to hand

What to read

Hip-Hop Architecture by Sekou Cooke

Abloh-Isms by Virgil Abloh 

Virgil Abloh. Nike. Icons by Virgil Abloh

Theaster Gates: Black Madonna by Elvira Dyangani Ose, Theaster Gates (Artist)

The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York by Robert A. Caro

Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Esther Hicks and Jerry Hicks

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

What to listen to

Champion - Buju Banton 

One Dance - Drake 

One Love -  Bob Marley and the Wailers

The Breaks - Kurtis Blow 

Your Wish is Your Command - Kevin Trudeau 

Who to follow

Follow Sekou Cooke on IG @sekou21

You can also find his studio here.

This conversation was recorded on July 16th, 2022.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Selah, Will Domingue

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Watch this and other episodes on YouTube at: The Institute of Black Imagination.

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 the iconic and unique designs of mid-century buildings in Black neighborhoods; connecting modern architecture to Black culture. A hip-hop aficionado and curious soul, Coop reminds us to get in touch with our spirit, take ownership of our neighborhood, and challenges us to develop a deeper understanding of how design affects our everyday experience. 

In today’s conversation we explore our relationship to land, the importance of being attuned to spirit, what architects can learn from hip-hop, and the importance of not just repping your block, but understanding how it was made.

Things mentioned

College Hill, OH 

Maria Montessori Creator of Montessori School Structure

Buckminster Fuller - Architect

Molefi Kete Asante - Professor & Philosopher

Robert Moses - Urban Planner

What to read

Beloved by Toni Morrison

R. Buckminster Fuller: Pattern-Thinking by Daniel López-Pérez and R Buckminster Fuller

Afrocentricity: The Theory of Social Change  by Molefi Kete Asante

Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal by Julia Dolan, Sara Krajewski, Bobby Martin, Hank Willis Thomas (Photographer)

The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon by Brad Stone

What to listen to

This Can’t Be Life - Jay-Z

Get By - Talib Kweli

Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth - 24-Carat Black

The Heat is On - The Isley Brothers

Who to follow

Follow Jerald “Coop” Cooper on IG @hoodmidcenturymodern

You can also find more of Hood Century here.

This conversation was recorded on August 13th, 2022.

Host: Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, AfroVisualism, Adam Selah, Will Domingue

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Original Music composed by Adam Radice

Audio Edited by Adam Radice

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Today’s episode is with award-winning writer, scholar and activist Frank B. Wilderson III. Frank is known as the Godfather of Afropessimism: a critical theory that positions anti-blackness as the antidote for the psychic well-being of society. Did that sound heady? Well, pull out our pen and paper. Frank’s curiosity and fearlessness in revealing hard truths, takes us on a scholarly journey that will surely require some unpacking.  

In part two of today’s episode, Frank reminds us to be fearless in the pursuit of knowledge, even if that knowledge reveals unhealthy truths. 

Strap in, as Frank takes us on a ride exploring the foundational tenets Afropessimism along with his own thoughts about reconciliation, activism, and what it means to be a Black individual living in a state of social consciousness and racial reckoning. 

Please share some of your thoughts on today's episode with us over on twitter and instagram at @blackimagination. To watch this episode go, visit, and subscribe to our youtube channel The Institute of Black Imagination. You can find this and more content over on IBI Digital at, blackimagination.com. And without further ado, the profound Frank B. Wilderson III.

People and ideas mentioned

More information on what is Afropessimism

Jared Sexton - Professor, African American Studies

Marxism thought of Karl Marx

Professor David Marriott History of Consciousness

Historical and cultural sociologist Orlando Patterson

What to Read

Afropessimism by Frank B. Wilderson

Incognegro: A Memoir of Exile and Apartheid by Frank B. Wilderson III

The Future Is Black: Afropessimism, Fugitivity, and Radical Hope in Education by Michael J. Dumas, Carl A. Grant, Ashley N. Woodson

Whither Fanon?: Studies in the Blackness of Being by David Marriott 

Slavery and Social Death: A Comparative Study, with a New Preface by Orlando Patterson

The Autobiography of Medgar Evers: A Hero's Life and Legacy Revealed Through His Writings, Letters, and Speeches by Manning Marable, Myrlie Evers-Williams 

What to listen to

Fight the Power – Public Enemy

Hell You Talmbout – Janelle Monae and Wondaland Records

This is America – Childish Gambino

Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye

Who to follow

Follow Frank B. Wilderson III on IG @frank_wilderson

Visit his website here.

This conversation was recorded on August 11th, 2022.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Saleh, Will Dominique, Sablā Stays

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Audio Engineer + Composer: Adam Radice

Original music composed by Adam Radice.

Visit us at blackimagination.com 

Today’s episode is with award-winning writer, scholar and activist Frank B. Wilderson III. Frank is known as the Godfather of Afropessimism: a critical theory that anti-blackness is “necessary for world-making at every level of abstraction.” Did that sound heady? Well, get ready. Frank’s curiosity, appetite for knowledge and nuance, along with his fearlessness to explore what is, in the absence of what isn’t, reminds us of the importance of inquiry and the power of examining the world around us. 

In part one of today’s episode, Frank reminds us to be fearless in the pursuit of knowledge, even if that knowledge reveals unhealthy truths. Strap in, as Frank takes us on a ride exploring Afropessimism and themes of reconciliation, activism, and what it means to be a young Black man living in a state of social consciousness and racial reckoning. Please share some of your thoughts on today's episode with us over on twitter and instagram at @blackimagination. To watch this episode go, visit, and subscribe to our youtube channel The Institute of Black Imagination. You can find this and more content over on IBI Digital at, blackimagination.com. And without further ado, the profound Frank B. Wilderson III.

People and ideas mentioned

More information on what is Afropessimism

Jared Sexton - Professor, African American Studies

Marxism thought of Karl Marx

Professor David Marriott History of Consciousness

Historical and cultural sociologist Orlando Patterson

What to Read

Afropessimism by Frank B. Wilderson

Incognegro: A Memoir of Exile and Apartheid by Frank B. Wilderson III

The Future Is Black: Afropessimism, Fugitivity, and Radical Hope in Education by Michael J. Dumas, Carl A. Grant, Ashley N. Woodson

Whither Fanon?: Studies in the Blackness of Being by David Marriott 

Slavery and Social Death: A Comparative Study, with a New Preface by Orlando Patterson

The Autobiography of Medgar Evers: A Hero's Life and Legacy Revealed Through His Writings, Letters, and Speeches by Manning Marable, Myrlie Evers-Williams 

What to listen to

Fight the Power – Public Enemy

Hell You Talmbout – Janelle Monae and Wondaland Records

This is America – Childish Gambino

Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye

Who to follow

Follow Frank B. Wilderson III on IG @frank_wilderson

Visit his website here.

This conversation was recorded on August 11th, 2022.

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer: Coniqua Johnson 

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, Adam Saleh, Will Dominique, Sablā Stays

Director of Digital Content: Vicky Garcia

Bookings: K.T. Thompson

Audio Engineer + Composer: Adam Radice

Original music composed by Adam Radice.

Visit us at blackimagination.com