The Black Landscape

Send us Fan MailThe SF International Arts Festival is here and we are taking a look behind the scenes with some of its featured Black artists!Duane Forrest is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter and multimedia artist. Over the past decade, he has released two full-length albums and toured extensively across Canada, Europe, and Central America, with his music receiving international radio play in countries including Canada, Germany, Honduras, Iceland, Italy, Nicaragua, and the U.S.Duane’s interdisciplinary work blends music, storytelling, and visuals.Shows: *Thursday, April 30, 7pm, Monkeybrains, SF*Friday, May 1, 7:30pm, Theatre of Yugen*Saturday, May 2, 3pm, Monkeybrains, SF*Sun, May 3, 6:30pm, Theatre of Yugenhttps://www.sfiaf.org/https://www.duaneforrest.com/Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailMichael Simeon, widely known as BlackGayComicGeek, is a NYC-based media personality and pop culture critic who champions Black LGBTQ+ representation in fantasy, sci-fi, comics, and horror. Frustrated by the lack of diverse voices in fandom, he launched BGCG to create a “Safe Gayven” — a space where Black queer nerds can see themselves in the stories they love. Across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and podcast guest spots, Michael breaks down the latest in genre media with humor, heart, and sharp analysis. Whether he’s reviewing superhero films, dissecting fantasy tropes, or highlighting overlooked queer characters, his content blends cultural critique with fandom celebration. Michael is also a member of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, where he advocates for more authentic, inclusive storytelling across entertainment. His work has been featured in CanvasRebel, Shoutout Atlanta, and Gaye Magazine. Through BlackGayComicGeek, Michael offers more than just commentary — he’s building a movement for visibility, joy, and justice in genre storytelling.Instagram: @blackgaycomicgeekTikTok: @blackgaycomicgeekYouTube: @blackgaycomicgeekSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailTrigger warning! - This episode discusses suicide ideation/self harm.In an autobiographical and music-filled tour-de-force, award-winning performer Jacob Ming-Trent dares to rescue himself from the “slings and arrows” of his past. Born with a gift for poetry but rejected as unfit to play the poet, his search for home yields results both hilarious and tragic. Invoking artistic geniuses like Biggie, Tupac, and Basquiat, he takes us on a propulsive ride that reaffirms the power of language and music. Directed by Tony Taccone, How Shakespeare Saved My Life begins with the Bard but becomes a ritual of communal salvation.Instagram: @jmingsdynastyiMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2850805Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailFrom young bright-eyed model to PR Maven, Monique Webber embarked on her fashion PR journey with BCBGMAXAZRIA Group in 2000. After 12 years of successfully building BCBGMAXAZRIA Group into a Go-To brand for A-listers like Halle Berry, Katy Perry, Charlize Theron, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and more, her VIP expertise was highly coveted and she rose to prominence at leading PR agencies.However, it was during the George Floyd movement that Monique recognized the need for proactive diversity efforts in the industry. This pivotal moment inspired her to launch MLWPR in August 2020, focusing on minority-owned, women-owned, and locally-owned businesses. MLWPR has been a beacon of hope for emerging brands, providing them with the platform and recognition they richly deserve. Join the Patreon family to get the full length interview!Patreon.com/theBlackLandscapeSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailAs a published author, adjunct professor, organizational development specialist, and former school district educator with over 30 years of experience, Dr. Rachelle Rogers-Ard specializes in coaching agency leaders to dismantle racist policies, practices, and procedures that threaten organizational health. As principal lead of Harvest Consulting, she designs and facilitates customized leadership and racial bias training utilizing Social-Emotional best practices. As a certified Dare to Lead and The Leadership Challenge trainer, her work showcases the necessity for organizational Core Values to drive employee retention and outcomes.She also showcases her talent as the director of the illustrious East Bay Anointed Voices, traveling Bay Area choir.www.rachellerogersard.com Instagram: @dr.rachellerogersard www.linkedin.com/in/rr-ahcSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailChristopher “Chris” Chatmon is CEO and Founder of Kingmakers of Oakland (KOO) an award winning nonprofit that supports school districts around the country to improve the educational and life outcomes of Black Boys. For 10 years Chatmon served as the first Executive Director, African American Male Achievement (“AAMA”) for the Oakland Unified School District (“OUSD”). The office of AAMA was the first of its kind in the country to operate within a Public School district. Chatmon also served as the first Deputy Chief of Equity and Sr. Advisor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in OUSD, Oakland, CA.Chatmon is passionate about uplifting the African-American community and has dedicated his career and life work to creating pathways of success for Black Youth within Oakland and beyond. Chatmon has received numerous local and national awards and accolades for his work and service to Black Youth and the City of Oakland, CA. In 2023 The CAFE Group selected Founder and CEO, Chris Chatmon, to receive a 1954 Project Luminary Award in the category of Innovation in Teaching & Learning. In 2020 Chatmon was awarded the Oscar Wright Lifetime Achievement Award from OUSD and Oakland, CA Mayor Libby Schaaf honored Chatmon with The City of Oakland Mayor’s Proclamation July 1st “Chris Chatmon Day”. Education Week Magazine named Chatmon as a “Leader to Learn From” and Campaign for Black Male Achievement selected him as a “Social Innovation Accelerator” because of his commitment to improving life outcomes for all youth and especially African American males.IG - KingmakersofOakland & KingmakersMusicFB - Kingmakers of Oakland https://linktr.ee/Kingmakersofoakland www.kingmakersofoakland.orgSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailCatch full episodes on Patreon! Become a member today at Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscapeMeet Gina Woods!She's a serial entrepreneur, investor, and business advisor, bringing a wealth of experience cultivating successful beauty brands with a focus on community reinvestment.As the Co-Founder/Owner of Donna’s Recipe with Tabitha Brown, a renowned vegan beauty brand known for its premium ingredients and commitment to enhancing the hair and beauty care experience. Woods has introduced innovative concepts like the Allure award-winning Sweet Potato Pie Collection. Woods' business, Donna’s Recipe, is available in over a thousand Target stores and all Ulta Beauty locations nationwide and remains 100% self-funded. The brand’s sensational retail success resulted in its being honored as Ulta Beauty's Black Owned Brand of the Year.In her capacity as a business mentor, she leads a business mastermind program empowering women to establish and expand their enterprises, contributing to the growth of numerous multi-million dollar ventures. Additionally, Woods established the LA Kids Entrepreneur Camp, a hands-on educational platform enabling young individuals to engage with experienced entrepreneurs and delve into the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.Stay connected with Gina: Website: Ginalosangeles.comInstagram: @ginalosangelesSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailAugust 9-September 13Candace Johnson’s Scat-ter Brain: The Music of ADHD  <<Ticket Link!A musical celebrating neurodivergence, blending storytelling and song to challenge stigma and reframe ADHD as a creative superpower. Candace Johnson is a singer, actress, poet, voice instructor, and director of the University of California Berkeley’s Gospel Choir. She is also a voice coach for the Formally Incarcerated People’s Performance Project (FIPPP), a theater organization supporting artists impacted by incarceration. Johnson excels in opera, musical theater, gospel, and jazz. In 2018, she premiered her first one-woman show, VOX in a BOX, a musical biography about discovering her voice. Since then, she has written and performed seven original shows and continues to create new works.Website: https://cjsings.comInstagram: @iamcjsingsSubscribe to the Patreon at Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscapeSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailSubscribe to hear the FULL interview and more! Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscapeSelena Wilson is a community-centered collectivist dedicated to giving back to the village that raised her--East Oakland. She currently serves as the CEO of the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC) where she attended programming as a youth. In this role, Selena has leveraged her multifaceted skill set to enhance program effectiveness through evidenced-based practices, with a focus on trauma-informed, healing-centered care for Black and Brown youth.Website: https://eoydc.org/Org handle: @eoydc Personal handle: @selenasmusingsSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailThis is the FINAL WEEK to see "Fat Ham" directed by Margo Hall. A very Black, very Southern, very modern reimagining of Hamlet. Get TICKETS to "Fat Ham" at San Francisco Playhouse. https://www.sfplayhouse.org/sfph/2024-2025-season/fat-ham/Margo Hall is the artistic director of Lorraine Hansberry Theatre and an award-winning actor/director/playwright. She returns to San Francisco Playhouse, where she directed [hieroglyph], Barbecue, Red Velvet, The Story, and most recently Nollywood Dreams. Other directing credits include Garuda’s Wing for The Magic Theatre, In the Evening by the Moonlight, Thurgood, and Soulful Christmas for Lorraine Hansberry Theatre; Friend of My Youth and Sonny’s Blues for Word for Word; and Brownsville Song, B-Side for Tray for Shotgun Players, where she also co-directed Bulrusher with Ellen Sebastian Chang.Website: https://www.margohall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margogot/Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailGo see Kathryn Seabron in her 1-woman show "Angry Black Woman 101" at The Marsh in Berkeley, March 15 - April 13. https://themarsh.org/shows_and_events/marshstream/kathryn-seabron/Subscribe to the Patreon for $5/month to access the full length episodes, exclusive merch, and behind the scenes content! Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscapeKathryn Seabron (Playwright/Performer) began her theatrical journey as a stage manager for the legendary Lorraine Hansberry Theatre before expanding into directing for the Asian American Theatre, African American Theater Company, and Oakland Ensemble Theatre Company. Seabron later stepped into the spotlight, joining the cabaret and burlesque community, where she is widely known as Juicy D. Light. Under this persona, she has gained international recognition as a burlesque performer, choreographer, and leader of the award-winning troupe Rubenesque Burlesque. Her performance credits include AfroSolo, Playground SF, National Women’s Theater Festival, and San Francisco Fringe Festival, where she received a “Best of the Fringe” award. She also presented Angry Black Woman 101 at the Atlanta Black Theater Festival in 2024. IG: @juicydlightSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan Mail*Please excuse my voice, I was at the tail-end of a cold.J.R. Rice is a Black man, writer, teacher, event host & curator, and spoken word artist, born and raised in Oakland, California. He has a B.A in Creative Writing and an English Education teaching credential from California State University of Long Beach. While studying abroad in Greece, he was mentored by the author, George Crane. His novel, Broken Pencils earned the 2024 Literary Titan Gold Book Award, 2024 Pencraft Summer Best Book Award winner for Young Adult Coming of Age Fiction, and the 2024 Hawthorne Prize Finalist for Best Fiction. W: www.jrrice.comIG: @imjriceSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailLance Gardner is an award-winning actor, who was last seen on stage in 2019 in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s production of "The 39 Steps" as well as the co-production of "Skeleton Crew" at Marin Theatre and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. More details about his current role as the lead in "Waste" at Marin Theatre (Feb. 6 - Mar. 2) and photos can be found here: https://cbpr.co/press/waste/He has previously performed with Marin Theatre in "Shakespeare in Love," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Equivocation," and more. Gardner has been seen on many Bay Area stages including Berkeley Repertory Theatre, California Shakespeare Company, San Francisco Playhouse, Magic Theatre, Aurora Theatre Company, and City Lights Theatre Companyy, among others. Gardner was appointed Artistic Director of Marin Theatre in fall of 2023.Well known for his many leading appearances on stage at major theatres around the Bay, he also served as president of the Board of Trustees at Aurora Theatre and was a live event producer at KQED before assuming this role at Marin Theatre. Marin Theatre’s 2024/25 season is the first programmed by Gardner, who has assembled a collection of acclaimed plays that offer Bay Area audiences their first looks at funny, engaging, entertaining, and compelling works that have been hits in Canada, the U.K., New Zealand, and in other parts of the U.S.For full length episodes, become a member of the Patreon for $5 a month at Patreon.com/theblacklandscape. Members have access to full episodes, exclusive merch, giveaways, behind the scenes content and more.Subscribe to the Patreon today.Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailRobert Townsend, hailed as one of the "Godfathers of the Independent Film World," is a trailblazing actor, director, writer, and filmmaker with over 30 years in show business. Townsend is set to star in his solo show, Living the Shuffle, running at The Marsh Berkeley from January 31 to March 9. For full length episodes, become a member of the Patreon for $5 a month at Patreon.com/theblacklandscape. Members have access to full episodes, exclusive merch, giveaways, behind the scenes content and more. Subscribe to the Patreon today.Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailZuhairah Washington is a Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School graduate and the former CEO of Otrium, a global, sustainable fashion marketplace recognized as one of the The Most Innovative Companies of 2023 by Fast Company Magazine.  She has scaled four multi-billion dollar companies and is widely recognized as a dynamic and visionary leader in technology.  She has over 20 years of business experience under her belt including executive roles as a Senior Vice President at Expedia Group, where she led a 1,000 person global team, steering billions in revenue and General Manager at Uber where she grew revenue for Uber’s fifth largest market from tens of millions to over $1B in under three years.  Website: Zuhairahwashington.comInstagram: @zuhairahwashingtonSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailDiann Valentine founded SLAYYY Hair in 2021 after years of wearing braids and experiencing increased itching, scalp irritation, scabbing, and breakage regularly with her own scalp. Determined to find a healthier and non-toxic solution, she started developing what has become known as the SLAYYY Secret Sauce. After two years of intense research, trial and error, and invaluable feedback from the strong community of braiders around the country, SLAYYY was born. “Women deserve more care and respect for our contribution to the hair and beauty industry, and I’m so proud to champion this movement on behalf of my sisters and now able to offer black women a superior product while wearing protective styles.," says Diann.In addition to SLAYYY, Diann is also the President and Creative Director of Glow + Flow Beauty, a beauty retail concept store with locations in Inglewood and Hawthorne, California. Glow + Flow Beauty is reimagining the shopping experience for black women and creating an environment in urban neighborhoods where they feel at home as valued customers. The expansion plan for Glow + Flow Beauty involves a franchise model of land and business ownership through collaborating with black women, financiers, and organizations. Diann believes that the best way to change the trajectory of a community is for the residents to own it, and every urban community needs a Glow + Flow.Before entering the beauty space, Diann enjoyed an illustrious career as an internationally acclaimed wedding and event designer, having produced a plethora of celebrations for celebrities, high-net-worth individuals, and Fortune 500 companies across the globe. Her achievements include being a two-time author, international public speaker, and television host working to turn dreams into reality for women in love and those looking for love. With a flourishing business and career, Diann has achieved numerous accomplishments and has inspired many during numerous domestic and international public speaking engagements. Her love of personal touch and human interaction allows her to excite audiences and mesmerize them with her years of production and life experiences wrapped in an electrifying smile.Website: https://www.slayyyhair.com/ Slay Hair IG: @slayyy_hair_Glow + Flow IG: @glowandflowbeautySupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailDestiny Muhammad is a Recording/ Performing Artist | Band Leader | Composer & Producer. Her genre ‘Celtic to Coltrane’ is cool and eclectic with a feel of Jazz & Storytelling to round out the sonic experience. Destiny  collaborations, curations and commissioning  include: Grace Cathedral Christmas Concert Series Stanford Jazz Festival featured Artist,  Santa Cruz Symphony Recital Series, a San Jose Jazz Fest Jazz Aid Commissioned Artist, Guest/ Collaborator with Composer Marcus Shelby for Zaccho Dance ‘The Peoples Palace’ and  featured on KQED Podcast & Sunday Music DropDestiny is an Elected Governor  of the The Recording Academy, San Francisco Chapter, SFJAZZ Teaching Artist, ASCAP Songwriter Awardee, Chamber Music America/ Doris Duke Foundation Performance Plus Awardee and  California Arts Council Legacy Fellow.Website: Destinymuhammad.netIG: destinymuhammadmusictiktok: destinymuhammadmusicyoutube: DestinyHarpMeta: Destiny Muhammad & Harpist from the HoodSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailRohan DaCosta is a multi-disciplinary artist from Chicago, based in Oakland, working primarily through photography, writing, and song. His book, The Edge of Fruitvale, was published by Nomadic Press on April 28, 2018, and has been since  nominated for a California Book Award and a Pushcart Prize. His portrait photography has been featured at The Flight Deck Gallery, Root Division Gallery, and Joyce Gordon Gallery, and Mercury Twenty Gallery. In 2018, he was awarded the Individual Artist Funding Grant by the City of Oakland for his arts exhibition, Trap : Trauma : Transformation. Rohan just completed his first term as a board member on the Alameda County Arts Commission.Email: [email protected]: @PlaydatePhotoSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailChi Chi Okonmah lives and breathes her passion as an established Bay Area Artist, Production & Stage Manager, Cultural Strategist, & CA Real Estate Broker. Since moving to California in 2000, Chi Chi has successfully held management and consulting positions for some of the most prominent individuals & organizations in the Bay Area Performing Arts & Activists communities. Chi Chi's work as a Cultural & Network Strategist aims to support & develop equitable, profitable, sustainable arts communities. She actively seeks opportunities to partner and collaborate with Artists, Arts Organizations and Supporters to create & promote radical change that positively & sustainably impacts BIPOC peoples and communities.Websites: www.c2orhythmandarts.comIG: @C2ORhythm&Arts; @c2o_realtyFB: /C2Orhythmandarts; /c2orealty1YT: @c2orhythmandarts167; @c2orealty204Linked In: chi-chi-okonmahSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailSeen in "A Distinct Society," Kenny Scott (he/him) returns to TheatreWorks Silicon Valley as Shawn, an avid basketball fan pursuing a career as a writer. An artistic company member of Oakland Theater Project and Shotgun Players, Scott has appeared in productions at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Marin Theatre, Magic Theatre, California Shakespeare Theater, Z Space, Crowded Fire Theater, Cutting Ball Theater, and New Conservatory Theatre Center. IG: @kenny_scxttGet your ticket for TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's "King James" here.Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailBosko Kante is a music producer, inventor, and mechanical engineer who has written and performed talkbox on Grammy Winning Albums by Dua Lipa and Kanye West including the #11 streaming song of all time “Levitating”. When he was forced to lip sync his talkbox part instead of performing live on the American Music Awards with Kanye West, he decided to reinvent the talkbox and make it mobile. He co-founded music tech company ElectroSpit Inc., invented the Guthman Award winning ElectroSpit ESX-1 talkbox used by David Guetta and Stevie Wonder, produced and performed on songs with E40, Drake, Bruno Mars, and Big Boi, and gives back by helping musicians create their own music tech businesses that leverage AI and AR technology at the nonprofit Black music incubator “HiiiWAV” he founded in Oakland, California.Instagram: @boskolive , @hiiiwav , @electrospitSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailPHER, the Oakland native and global singing phenomenon formerly known as Chris Turner, is a rare artist fully versed in both the jazz tradition and classic soul, and equally comfortable in either universe. As a Soul, R&B and Jazz artist, PHER is taking center stage with his upcoming album “Songs by PHER” complete and ready to be marketed to the world soon. For now, we are releasing singles from the album with the latest single releases, “Spice” and “Tomorrow Is Too Late” featuring Jesse Boykins III already making waves. He gained invaluable experience in the Bay Area scene before decamping to New York, studying at the New School, and working with a staggering list of major jazz, soul, R&B and Hip Hop artists. Pher joined the faculty of his alma mater in 2013, the New School University Jazz program teaching voice, ranging from beginner singers to college students to pop artists that include Sean Kingston, 070Shake, and WolfTyla.Pher’s 2013 debut LOVElife is a Challenge was a wildly successful mixtape documenting the evolution of his life as a man and as a father. He made a standout appearance on Snarky Puppy’s 2016 release Family Dinner Volume Two, performing his smash single, “Liquid Love.” PHER’s latest single, “Murky,” is close to surpassing 2 million streams on Spotify. It is an audio representation of a light at the end of the tunnel. It embodies the faith that it takes to continue on the journey of unconditional love.Pher is honored to be a part of 3 Grammy awards as a vocalist, 2 awards on Esperanza  Spalding’s “Radio Music Society” album and 1 Grammy award for Jon Batiste’s “Hollywood Africans.” He has also toured and recorded internationally with his own group, as well as with music industry legends like Usher, The Roots, Robert Glasper, Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, Bootsy Collins, Sam Smith, Disclosure, Mike Posner, Bilal, Harvey Mason Sr., Eddie Palmeri, Eric Harland, Kris Bowers, Sean Kingston, Chrisette Michelle, Consequence, Lupe Fiasco and many more.W: Linktr.ee/pher510 IG: @PHER510Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailNazelah Jamison (she / her) is a Bay Area-based performance poet, author, actor, vocalist and emcee. Her first book of poetry, Evolutionary Heart, was released on Nomadic Press in 2016, and reprinted and re-released on Black Lawrence Press in Fall 2023. Her work can also be found in The Racket Journal: Issue Fifteen (2020), Culture Counts Magazine (2021), La Raiz Magazine (2022),  Better Ancestors, Sparkle + Blink 115 (Quiet Lightning 2022) and others. In her spare time, Nazelah enjoys writing horror screenplays and saving the day. She hosts Thee Virtual Open Mic every 1st & 3rd Friday on zoom.W: Nazelah.wixsite.com/nazelahIG:  @supernaz_your_superfriendSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailNora Free is a Bay Area based artist (saxophone and flute) from a multiracial background. She's a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and did her PhD in Composition at the University of Pittsburgh. Free is returning to music after a long illness and the work she's now doing with Tiffany Austin at Wyldflowr is essential to her growth as an artist and her approach to working with the Oakland community which has embraced her. W: Norafree.netIG: @norafree.music W: Wyldflowrarts.comIG: @wyldflowrartsSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailOakland Black Music Week Artist!Tiffany Austin is a vocalist, composer, educator, impresario and philanthropist, whose life's work is the liberation and inspiration of people of African descent. She has released two critically acclaimed jazz/soul albums, holds a Berkeley Law JD and is cofounder of The Diaspora Sessions (an immersive Black Art experience series), and the newly launched Wyldflowr Arts space in Oakland. W: Tiffanyaustin.comIG: @tiffanyaustinmusicW: Wyldflowrarts.com IG: @wyldflowrartsSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailMonique and Angela, owners of The Pour Up wine company, started their wine company during the pandemic and have continued blossoming ever since. They have five different wine varietals that they sell online and at pop ups around the Bay Area. Their journey continues to an upcoming wine bar set to open in 2024. W: https://linktr.ee/thepourupwineIG: @thepourupwine IG: @thepourupwinebarSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailAshlie Kego is a Nigerian-American self-taught artist based out of Pleasanton, CA.  She is known for her vivid, eye-catching Afro Cubism Art.She discovered her new talent of painting during covid, November 2020. With being locked up and nothing to do she decided to pick up a paintbrush and paint on a shirt. With the amount of positive feedback she received and the demand for people wanting their own painted shirts, she decided to start painting large canvases as statement pieces. What inspired her style of art, was her love for her Nigerian roots, African masks, bright colors and prints and patternsW: https://ashliekegoart.comIG: @AkegoartSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailNadine Rambeau is the Executive Director of EPACENTER (@epacenterarts), a creative youth development organization that works with East Palo Alto youth to amplify their talents and impact their world through art and design. EPACENTER is a LEED certified, 21,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art arts and cultural center featuring classrooms, a gallery, cafe, recording studio, dance studio, theater, and outdoor amphitheater. The name (pronounced “epicenter”) refers to the rich cultural energy of its home, the City of East Palo Alto (EPA). Along with an engaged community of residents, local leaders and dedicated staff, Nadine oversees the development of vibrant programming including digital, visual, and performing arts classes for youth, artist residencies, public art projects, cultural events, and educational and community partnerships.Nadine has spent the past 25 years activating creativity as a catalyst for empowerment, economic equity, and social change in multiple communities across the United States. Prior to EPACENTER, she served as the managing director of the community arts and education division at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles. Before arriving in California, she played key roles in establishing accessible arts education programs for vulnerable youth at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago Chernin’s Center for the Arts.W: https://epacenter.orgIG: @epacenterartsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/epacenter-artsSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailQing Qi is a notable Bay Area Rap Star and acclaimed performer. She makes grassroots anthems like “IDWIW” & “Big D” that permeate. Visual Artist, director, promoter, actor, Founder of femme rap community Putang Clan and events team #PuTangParty, Qing Qi is a Bay Area staple like beans and rice! Using her life experiences as inspiration, she speaks candidly about taboo topics with witty lyrics, catchy hooks, and authentic Hyphy energy over hard hitting beats. A Return to Black Wall Street Fellow, SFAC Cultural Ambassador, and advocate of cooperative economics, she is working to earn her descendants a lifetime of rest.Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@qingqimusic1186IG: @allhailtheqingTerrence Paschal is an originally self taught dancer from Stockton California. His first influences were street dance forms that originated in Oakland, Turfing and Popping. He was also inspired by Brooklyn street dance forms such as Bruk up and Flexn. It was through exposure to these forms and fascination with Micheal Jackson that led him to explore Ballet and modern dance forms. Later on he worked with Embodiment Project where he was exposed to house dance and new methods of narrative based story telling; through movement and spoken word. Today he utilizes various different street dance modalities to find freedom in expression and through teaching he aims to help others find their own unique voice as well.IG: @toonworld1990HART ShowcaseMarch 23, 2024 5pm & 8pm The Ruth Williams Memorial Theater, Bayview Opera House, SFTicket Link: pushdance.org/hartFREE AdmissionSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailJewelle Gomez (Playwright, Cabo Verdean/Ioway/Wampanoag, pronouns: she/her) is a novelist, poet, and playwright. She is the author of seven books including the double Lambda Literary Award-winning, Black lesbian vampire novel, The Gilda Stories. Waiting for Giovanni, her play about James Baldwin, and Leaving the Blues, about Alberta Hunter, were commissioned and premiered at NCTC. She has written for numerous publications including The Village Voice, MS Magazine, The Advocate, San Francisco Chronicle, and Black Scholar.Unpacking in P’town Tickets: https://nctcsf.org/event/unpacking-in-ptown/IG: @vampyrevampSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailMeet San Francisco resident, Fred Pitts. His solo show “Aren’t You…?” recounts his hilarious journey to visit all 21 California Mission churches, where he discovers that being Black makes him an instant celebrity – the question is which one?  Pitts has been performing in the Bay Area for over 20 years. He has worked with numerous regional theatres, including Shotgun Players, Altarena Playhouse, The Pear Theatre, Palo Alto Players, African-American Shakespeare Company, Custom Made Theatre Company, Contra Costa Civic Theatre, and EXIT Theatre, among others. Pitts also has numerous film and commercial credits. After being an Emergency Medicine physician for 20 years, he now works in drug safety. Aren’t You…? is playing at The Marsh Berkeley February 10 – March 2, 2024.Ticket Link: https://themarsh.org/shows_and_events/marshstream/fred-pitts-arent-you/Facebook: Fred PittsInstagram: @frdpttsjnrSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailOYSTERKNIFE—a name derived from Zora Neale Hurston’s essay “How It Feels To Be a Colored Me”—was formed in late 2017 out of a longtime creative friendship between Gabriele Christian and Chibueze Crouch. Nourishing a desire to subvert their collegiate theatrical training, which often ignored the complex Afro-Diasporic queer experiences, they found that interdisciplinary, somatic-based, experimental approaches made for fuller work, allowing them to interrogate sociohistorical norms and institutions while freeing their bodies. Both members of OYSTERKNIFE bring a wealth of creative experiences, meshing theater, ritual masquerade, video, extemporaneous movement, song, and text. Central to every work they co-create are: an attention to archives (documenting the voices both seen and unseen), collectivism (who is here and who is missing that we need to invite), and multimedia immersion (seamlessly blending disciplines and breaking the audience/performer divide). They have produced three full-length shows in the Bay: “mouth full of sea” dug into presumptions around complicity in the transatlantic slave trade; “mouth//full” excavated BlaQ testimony and African indigenous spiritual practices in the Christian Church; and the site-specific “Time of Change” narratively reanimated the majority Black Haight-Ashbury neighborhood that was eclipsed by the counterculture movement of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Email: [email protected]: @_oysterknife_Jan 28, 2-4:30pm – BlaQ Benedictions Workshop with brontë velez: black rapture – performance, discussion and storytellingFeb 2-4, mouf//full  PerformancesSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan Mail**Trigger Warning! This interview includes topics of suicide & depression**Toni Rochelle was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 2005, she relocated to the Bay Area and immediately started modeling, appearing in fashion shows, magazines, and several (music) videos. Soon after, she started landing roles in independent films and stage plays.Her biggest accomplishments were a Honda commercial and the opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Theater Festival in Scotland. Toni has established herself as a talk show host for the entertainment show Off Tha Hook TV, where she shined interviewing celebrities on the red carpet at The ASCAP awards, BET Awards press rooms, and different events in Los Angeles.She recently launched her platform called Ascending with Toni Rochelle. She believes that the platform, Ascending, presents people and energy that prevails through the struggle and continues to rise, thrive, and prosper. Moving on past pain, and hurt and still helping to build community and overcoming all obstacles will help with healing and wellness in the community.W: https://ascendingwithtonirochelle.com IG: AscendingwithtonirochelleYouTube: Ascending with Toni RochelleSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailUnique Derique is a longtime San Francisco Bay Area favorite whose dual careers merge the performing arts and healing with the belief that the world can be a brighter place, one breath—and one laugh—at a time. Internationally acclaimed “Clown Prince'' Unique Derique’s appearances have spanned the globe from South Africa to Scotland, Taipei, London, Paris, and Tokyo— and he has shared the stage with entertainers such as Bobby McFerrin, The Temptations, Laura Nyro, Jim Nabors, Tuck and Patti, Lou Rawls, and Sammy Davis, Jr. His clowny past includes the famed Pickle Family Circus, Children’s Fairyland, Prescott Circus Theatre, and Bread and Roses Presents. Past television credits include PBS-KQED, Univision, and the Disney Channel. Derique’s Fool La La plays annually at The Marsh with a delightfully different twist each season. When not entertaining audiences as Unique Derique, Lance McGeeis a Trauma-Informed Wellness Consultant and Mindfulness Coach providing support to school educators, administrators, staff and students. He also leads workshops on trauma-informed care practices and mindfulness for non-profit organizations, health clinics, colleges and educationalsystems.W: https://linktr.ee/uniquederiqueSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailNPR award-winning storyteller Don Reed (Writer/Performer/Director) was a 2018 nominee for the Theatre Bay Area (TBA) Outstanding Solo Production, as well as the 2016 TBA winner and the 2017 TBA nominee for the same award. The playwright/performer/director is also a SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle nominee and NAACP triple nominee for Best Actor and Best Playwright. His past works at The Marsh include East 14th, The Kipling Hotel, Can You Dig It?, That Don Reed Show, and Going Out. Reed can be seen in the Amazon Prime series Bartlett, where Reed plays the boss in a struggling ad agency alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton creator and star). He has worked in various roles in front of and behind the camera forWarner Bros, Disney+, Marvel, Pixar, The CW, Sony, Lionsgate, and more. Reed has alsoperformed, written, and directed for film, television, and theater. As a producer, Don has coproduced noted director/writer Robert Townsend's (Hollywood Shuffle, The 5 Heartbeats, Eddie Murphy's Raw, The Last OG) one-man show Living the Shuffle for The Marsh. FB: https://www.facebook.com/don.reed.7796IG: https://www.instagram.com/donreedwowSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailCourtney Jones (she/her) is a 3rd generation Oaklander who is passionate about diversity, inclusion, giving back, and providing resources to distressed communities. Courtney is a co-parent of two daughters and the Fine Art Museums of San Francisco’s first Associate Director of Diversity & Inclusion. Her professional career includes the previous operator of an independent consulting company and the Senior Business Strategy Consultant for Managing Diversity Together, LLC. As an advocate for social justice and racial equity, Courtney helped found and co-chaired the Chabot Elementary Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Equity and Inclusion Committee and was the previous PTA President.  Courtney co-founded Girl Scout Troop 32099 eight years ago, and she enjoys leading her troop, which currently has over ninety girls. Courtney is a Commissioner and Communications officer for the City of Oakland's Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Community Tax Advisory Board. She is a 2023 Black Citizen’s Change Maker, a 2022 New Leader’s Council – Oakland cohort alumna, a 2021 Emerge California alum, the Emerge 2021 Northern California Class Vice Representative, and is running for Alameda County Board of Supervisors in District 4, in 2024.Facebook: courtney,jones1211Instagram: courtneyj_alldaySupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailBorn & raised in Oakland, CA.Actor, Model, Costume Designer, Writer.A Meisner trained actor who has the ability to transform himself into a variety of characters with strong ideologies.Growing up in the diverse Bay Area, he was exposed to many different shades of people at a young age. That is where he found his love for people and their stories. In high school he participated in his first plays and musicals.After college, Ryan worked as a stylist and costume designer, commercial actor. In the wake of 2020's pandemic, he decided to return to acting as his main love enrolling in the Meisner technique studio in San Francisco where he continues to study today.Music Video: Reggie Becton "SADBOY"IG: @Sir.thurstonSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailAshley Jemison is bringing a new school vibe to smooth jazz. Covering the current styles of R&B and pop music of today while adding a unique improvisational twist leaves her audiences wanting more. With a mother and father who were musicians it was inevitable that Ashley would follow in their footsteps. Working tirelessly to be at her own personal best she excelled quickly at playing the saxophone. In pursuit of her dream of playing music she continued her journey through studying music at California State University Los Angeles where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree. Despite studying music, her career was not fully realized until after her battle with Breast Cancer. Experiencing such a life changing diagnoses Ashley made it her mission that when she made it to the other side of the battle, she would wholeheartedly pursue her dream of playing music for the world. Since making her career shift she has been invited back for performances spanning from the Bay Area to Los Angeles. With the back drop of smooth and soulful saxophone tone of Ashley easily takes the ambience to a new level. Provoking great emotion with every note she plays, it is guaranteed that you will not leave an Ashley Jemison performance without feeling moved to dance, smile or even to tears.  Uplifting the spirits and moving people is what truly pushes Ashley to give performances of a lifetime.FB: www.facebook.com/ashleyjsaxIG: www.instagram.com/ashleyjsaxYouTube: www.youtube.com/ashleyjsaxSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailMélia Mills is an Oakland native. She graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts and is and is a writer, comedian, actress, and rapper. Mélia co-hosted the podcast “TALK LIKE A GIRL” on Feral Audio and was selected by Anna Deavere Smith to take part in her Performing Personal Narratives, Global Identities workshop. She has opened for Dave Chappelle, the “Jerry Seinfeld of France,” Gad Elmaleh, and collaborated with Sacha Baron Cohen on script and character development. Mills created, wrote, produced, directed, and acted in her ensemble piece, JUNETEENTH - An Emancipation Celebration! to a sold-out crowd at UCB. She was a writer and performer on UCB’s House Team, CHARACTERS WELCOME.  Website:  Meliamills.comInstagram: @meliamillsSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailFor over a decade, David Mack has managed some of California's most innovative dance, opera and theatre companies, including: The Industry, Joe Goode Performance Group and Watts Village Theater Company. Additionally, he has consulted for a variety of performing arts organizations, including: Center Theatre Group, L.A. Dance Project and Ate9 Dance Company. Currently, Mack serves on the Boards of the Western Arts Alliance and San Francisco Arts Alliance.  Mack is Founder and Strategic Executive Officer of Artist Magnet, a social network for theatre and dance artists (which includes Theatre Magnet, a consulting firm for emerging arts administrators, and Artist Magnet Justice Alliance, an advocacy, professional development and fiscal sponsorship organization for emerging arts leaders). Website: Artistmagnet.comIG: @artistmagnetSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailEzra Myles (IG: @ezramyles) is a Multidisciplinary Artist, Arts Educator and Event Producer based in Oakland, CA. Much like his birthplace of Newark, NJ, Ezra creates and curates art experiences that bridge the gap between the shared cultural legacies of the African Diaspora. As the Executive Director of MylesBeyond Entertainment (@mylesbeyondmedia)  an event and media production company, and Artistic Director of the Carnival Dance Fusion Collective, MasFX Dance (@masfxdance), Ezra weaves visual art, digital media, spoken word, and dance to engage and empower BIPOC communities through the lens of Carnival as a multiethnic celebration of liberation, resilience, joy, and heritage. You can find more information about Ezra and his work at https://www.mylesbeyond.comSupport the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailPendarvis Harshaw is a writer from Oakland. He currently works at KQED where he hosts the Rightnowish podcast and radio show that covers the arts, culture, prisons & people. Penn is currently really focused on Bay Area hip-hop history. Rightnowish Instagram: @ogpennTwitter: @ogpennAD:Review the show on Apple PodcastsWant to promote your business? Email us at [email protected] the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailNetta Brielle is a R&B/ soul singer from Oakland. She was born in Berkeley and started performing at the age of five. Netta graduated from San Jose State University with a major in Musical Theater.Netta released her first album, Electrik Rebel Sounds- The EP in 2009; the following year OMW 980 was released, followed by Love, Pain & Music Mixtape, 580 in 2015 and finally 880 in 2016.W: Nettabapparel.com IG: @nettabrielle Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailMarissa McGee is an author and educator. She released her debut title, Free the Curls in 2022. Teaching for over a decade, she’s read hundreds of children’s books. After visiting several stores and finding all the products for her hair type locked in a case, she decided she had a story to tell and picked up a pen. As an anti-bias educator, Marissa remains passionate about creating stories that serve as mirrors and windows for children. She has spent her career in communities that have been historically underserved due to systemic inequities. She taught kindergarten, first, and second grade in Washington, D.C. After leaving the classroom, Marissa moved back to the Bay Area where she served as an instructional coach in Oakland. Now, she is a Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for two school districts in the Bay Area. Marissa earned a BA in Sociology and a MA in Elementary Education from Stanford University, where she currently serves as a lecturer. W: FreetheCurlsFTC.comIG: FreetheCurlsFTC TikTok: @MarissaTeachableMoments Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailEllen Sebastian Chang(she/her), whose creative practice spans 45 years, is a storied figure in the performing arts, as a multi-disciplinary director(theater, opera, dance, and installation) arts educator and lighting designer. She has co-created with Deep Waters Dance Theater, 15 Episodes of House/Full of Blackwomen, that closed this past March 2023. Her credits also include acting as a Consulting Producer for “Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley” HBO and interviewee; “Fabulation”  by Lynne Nottage Lorraine Hansberry Theater with Margo Hall and Daveed Diggs, and the ongoing Creative Director and Teaching Artist for The World As It Could Be Human Rights Education Program (TWAICB). Between 2013-2017, she was the co-owner and events planner for the award winning West Oakland restaurant FuseBOX, with co-owner and Chef Sunhui Chang.She is currently serving as Resident Owner Board Member for East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative/Advisor for Esther’s Orbit Room Project/Artist Housing.Rarely on Instagram (@afterzora),  to find Ellen, google her!AD: BRANDLESS - 15%off your total purchase with code: BRANDLESS15Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailAlexis is the founder of We Are Talking, a platform providing empowerment, motivation and education on the topic of personal finance through one-on-one coaching, group workshops and fun events. She founded We Are Talking because she LOVES talking about money. She especially enjoys talking about how to set up a strong financial foundation and maximize your funds. Her mission is to turn the often avoided conversation about money into one you won’t want to stop! Instagram: @wearetalking_Josie is a long time educator, life-coach, dancer, and social justice advocate. When she is not practicing or teaching, she can be found facilitating workshops that support leadership development, developing diversity and inclusion strategies for organizations, or designing workshops on social-emotional development, trauma sensitive practices, and personal development. Josie leans heavily on the ancient practice of Yoga to sustain her as she strives to change the world with the fullest compassion. Instagram: @akiliwellAd:BRANDLESS - 15%off your total purchase with code: BRANDLESS15Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailClay Xavier is a music producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist from Berkeley, CA. Coming from a musical family he experimented with many instruments as a child leading to his love and passion for music. Starting with saxophone Xavier quickly expanded to many different wind instruments including flute, clarinet, harmonica, and recently trumpet. Since 2017 as the COO & Co-Founder of indie label OakTownSoul he has produced and recorded hundreds of local developing artists. Along with the rest of the OakTownSoul team he is currently on a quest to unite the Bay Area music scene and foster the growth of a professional level entertainment industry not reliant on LA.Personal IG: @ClayXavierBusiness IG: @OaktownSoulAds:BRANDLESS - 15%off your total purchase with code: BRANDLESS15In Conversation - a dancers insight series.Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailBabatunji Johnson was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii. Though never formally trained as a child, Babatunji was always moving his body to the beat. At the age of 15, he discovered the art of hip hop. Following over a decade of self-taught street performance, he has developed a unique approach to various styles of hip hop such as breakdance, popping, and krump. While cultivating his own movement language, Babatunji simultaneously trained in ballet, modern, and contemporary, going on to work and perform around the world with Alonzo King LINES Ballet for six years among other inspiring companies. In 2015 Babatunji was given a Princess Grace Award, as well as a Chris Hellman Award for his outstanding achievements and promise in the world of dance.IG: @babatunjiADs: BRANDLESS - 15%off your total purchase with code: BRANDLESS15In Conversation - a dancers insight series.Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailGenerous, compassionate and encouraging are a few key characteristics to define Willem Leeks. He is known as the “gentle giant”, always matching his 6’7 external height with the height of love and compassion that he expresses to others daily. He is a transformative thinker and poet; Leeks love for poetry was commenced in his adolescent years, finding a love for rhythm of words.W: Willemleeks.com IG: @w_mr.leeksADs:  BRANDLESS - 15%off your total purchase with code: BRANDLESS15Donate to the pod!Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape

Send us Fan MailMarc Allen is an Oakland native and has been practicing photography professionally for ten years. Starting early with an education at the Museum of Children's Arts (MOCHA) and influenced by his mother, a talented musician, he has been an artist his entire life and always shifting and expanding his interests and mediums. See Marc in person! - Trap Art - Jan 15, 2023W: Marc Allen Design IG: @Marc.My.TerritoryAD:  BRANDLESS - 15%off your total purchase with code: BRANDLESS15Support the showDon't miss out, Subscribe to the Patreon today!Patreon.com/TheBlackLandscape