Stance Podcast with Chrystal Genesis - Ep.57: Excavating Spirituality w/ Poet aja monet, Writer Emma Warren, Visual Artists Senga Nengudi Fittz & Kaylynn Sullivan TwoTrees

Ep.57: Excavating Spirituality w/ Poet aja monet, Writer Emma Warren, Visual Artists Senga Nengudi Fittz & Kaylynn Sullivan TwoTrees

04/01/23 • 56 min

Stance delves into the spiritual realm and how it manifests through the visual arts, dance, music and poetry. An ever-evolving topic, we cover the power of spirituality through ancestral connections, imagination, movement, humor and joy.

To start, we speak with surrealist blues poet, aja monet on the artistic movements shaping her writing and community organizing. We discuss her upcoming poetry collection Florida Water, and album When The Poems Do What They Do.

We cover writer and journalist Emma Warren’s book Dance Your Way Home: A Journey Through the Dance Floor, an intimate look at movement through the personal, social and cultural history of dance.

We speak in conversation with visual artists Senga Nengudi Fittz and Kaylynn Sullivan TwoTrees who were both members of the Just Above Midtown (JAM) creative space which centered African American creatives in the 1970s and 80s in NYC. We explore the spiritual links between art, history and tradition, and their collaborative performance piece Tying & Un-tying at the MoMA in New York.

This episode is guest-edited by Tamika Abaka-Wood, a cultural anthropologist, creative strategist, and founder of Dial An Ancestor.

If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

We cover writer and journalist Emma Warren’s book Dance Your Way Home: A Journey Through the Dance Floor, an intimate look at movement through the personal, social and cultural history of dance.

This episode is guest-edited by Tamika Abaka-Wood, a cultural anthropologist, creative strategist, and founder of Dial An Ancestor.

If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Previous Episode

undefined - Ep.56: Why You Should Care About Caste w/ Author Anindita Ghose, Activist & Storyteller Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Model & Engineer Seema Hari

Ep.56: Why You Should Care About Caste w/ Author Anindita Ghose, Activist & Storyteller Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Model & Engineer Seema Hari

Have you heard of Caste? Whether you know it well or not at all, Caste in South Asia and around the world influences everything from politics, education, media, and family relationships. It’s a system which dates back centuries and today affects around 1.9 billion people. So how do we become Caste aware? We explore this and more through the lenses of literature, tech and the arts.

We speak with Mumbai based author and journalist Anindita Ghose about her highly praised debut novel The Illuminated. A lyrical, human and provocative story set against India’s tense contemporary political landscape.

Dalit rights activist, Thenmozhi Soundararajan discusses her powerful debut publication The Trauma of Caste: A Dalit Feminist Meditation on Survivorship, Healing and Abolition. She is joined in conversation by Model, engineer & DJ Seema Hari who shares their experience of caste oppression and the power of travel and transformation.

If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at stancepodcast.com and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis

Next Episode

Ep.58: Touring and Cooking in NYC’s Chinatown w/ Culinary Historian, Cookbook Author and Award-winning Campaigner, Grace Young

We visit New York City’s Chinatown with culinary historian, cookbook author, and campaigner Grace Young. The largest in the US, it is known for an abundance of markets, eateries, multi-generational businesses, and independent stores serving New Yorkers and tourists from all over the world. It is home to a predominantly Chinese Asian diaspora dating back to the mid-1800s and today this area includes communities from Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and more.

On a tour through the area, Grace guides Chrystal around Chinatown’s streets and landmarks. They begin at 65 Mott Street, the oldest tenement building in NYC, followed by a visit to Mee Sum Cafe, a local hangout since 1967 and now a household name known for its casual setting, Zongzi Chinese tamales, ginger tea, and small plates. Together they explore Grace’s favorite food markets, fishmongers and bakeries in the area.

To end, Chrystal visits Grace’s home where she learns about the art and history of the wok, and how to make the perfect stir fry. In conversation with Chrystal, Grace shares why Chinatown is a living encyclopedia, the still felt impact of COVID-19 and anti-Asian racism, and the importance of supporting Chinatown’s history and future.

If you like what you heard, please subscribe, write us a review and join the conversation at Stance Podcast and all podcasting apps @stancepodcast @chrystalgenesis and visit Stance's website for more info and links from this episode.