Why Race Matters

Guests Earl Arms and Enjoyiana Nururdin explore the challenges Black media professionals face navigating identity, authenticity and audience expectations. From representation gaps to workplace dynamics, they discuss humanizing stories, building community trust and creating inclusive spaces in journalism. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/black-journalism-identity-and-industry/?seriesID=69908

Climate change is reshaping cities — and deepening racial inequities. Host Angela Fitzgerald talks with Dr. Nicole Robinson about how environmental shifts and rising property values are accelerating gentrification in Milwaukee’s Black neighborhoods. They explore the ties between climate, housing policy and community displacement. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/climate-change-and-gentrification-in-milwaukee/?seriesID=69908

Racial identity is simultaneously personal and shaped by society, culture and history. Angela Fitzgerald speaks with Jonathan Delgado about navigating identity in a world where who you are may be questioned or denied. They explore how stereotypes, rejection, and isolation impact mental health, and what it means to find strength in identity despite exclusion. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/racial-identity-and-belonging/?seriesID=69908

Food deserts limit access to healthy, affordable food — especially in communities of color. Angela Fitzgerald visits with Marium Nunez of Luna's Groceries in Madison who shares how neighborhoods are tackling food inequity through local action. Together, they explore the racial and systemic barriers to food access — and the grassroots solutions changing that reality. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/food-deserts-and-racial-disparities/?seriesID=69908

Reentry after incarceration poses major challenges, especially in Wisconsin, where Black residents face the highest incarceration rate in the U.S. Guest Dynae Saba explores what it means to rebuild a life after prison, focusing on systemic barriers to housing and employment—and how race shapes reentry experiences. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/reentry-after-incarceration-in-wisconsin/?seriesID=69908

Black spirituality in the United States is deeply rooted in the resilience and creativity of African-descended communities. But where did the Black church originate, and how does it connect to the history of Black enslavement, civil rights and Black joy? This episode explores the church's cultural legacy and evolving relevance. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/black-spirituality-and-resilience-in-the-u-s/?seriesID=69908

In America, identity is complex. Black and African American are often used interchangeably but have distinct meanings. For some, it's about heritage. For others, culture. And for all, it’s personal. Host Angela Fitzgerald sits down with Naman Siad and Harry Kiiru to discuss identity, history and belonging within the Black community. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/black-vs-african-american-identity/?seriesID=69908

Black communities existed in the Midwest long before the Great Migration. In this episode, Dr. Christy Clark-Pujara outlines how early Black residents shaped the region through labor, land ownership and community building — despite legal contradictions and cultural resistance to their presence. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/the-history-of-black-midwesterners-before-the-great-migration/?seriesID=69908

Oftentimes, the many lived experiences of queer and trans communities of color are underrepresented, untold, and understated. Find out what it means to exist at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities – and how Black queer and trans folks create community and fight for their spaces. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/lgbtq/?seriesID=69908

While conversations around COVID-19 may have subsided, the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt in many areas - especially for students of color. Scholar and public education advocate Dr. Kevin Lawrence Henry Jr. has been working to improve educational outcomes for underserved students and is here to share his experiences and recommendations. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/covid-19/?seriesID=69908

Public safety remains a relevant issue globally, and specifically within the United States when layered with racial inequality. But how do we understand the need for safety and think about the idea of it when considering the Black American perspective? Aaron Hicks of Focused Interruption gives his thoughts on the issue. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/public-safety/?seriesID=69908

DEI and workplace climate and culture can be a personal topic for some and a political topic for others. But history and present-day disparities support the fact that it remains an important topic for all of us. Workplace Culture Strategist Chevon Bowen provides her perspective on its impacts in and around the workplace. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/dei-workplace-culture/?seriesID=69908

Art can bring attention to serious issues and create momentum for social change, but it’s also a space to celebrate culture and community. Milwaukee artist Anwar Floyd-Pruitt joins Angela Fitzgerald to explain how he incorporates identity into his work and why Black joy is a revolutionary act. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/art-black-joy/?seriesID=69908

Home ownership is considered part of the American Dream, but that dream has not been historically accessible based on race. Decades of discrimination have had an impact that still lingers today. Realtor Tiffany Malone and new homeowner Myesha Thompson talk about the difficulties facing Black home buyers. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/home-ownership/?seriesID=69908

A college degree can be an important step for starting a career, but many colleges and universities struggle to create a welcoming environment for students of color. Angela Fitzgerald sits down with Tiffany Tardy from All-In Milwaukee, a nonprofit working to improve college retention and graduation rates for students from underserved communities. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/higher-education/?seriesID=69908

Critical Race Theory is not a new concept, but it has received renewed attention in recent years due to anti-CRT legislation created across the United States. But what is CRT? Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings breaks down the history of CRT and how it’s used in educational settings. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/critical-race-theory/?seriesID=69908

Black women make up just 6 percent of Wisconsin’s population but 21 percent of women in the state correctional system. Angela Fitzgerald talks with Carmella Glenn, coordinator of JustDane’s “Just Bakery.” They discuss the roadblocks and solutions for Black women leaving incarceration and returning home. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/women-and-barriers-after-incarceration/?seriesID=69908

What happens when society celebrates art while overlooking communities who created it? Angela Fitzgerald hosts dance artist Papa-Kobina Brewoo as they discuss issues around cultural appropriation and how Black artists are underrepresented within the creative and artistic spaces they helped forge. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/black-artists-and-appropriation/?seriesID=69908

The birth of a child is a time for celebration, but for Black women, it comes with a higher risk. Angela Fitzgerald sits down with certified doula Tracey Russell to discuss problems and solutions when it comes to Black maternal health. Topics include representation, pain stereotypes, and cultural awareness. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/maternal-health-and-birth-equity/?seriesID=69908

Food is essential. Where food comes from and who has access to it makes a difference in the health of a community. In this episode, Angela Fitzgerald sits down with Robert Pierce, a farmer who works to address food insecurity in Black neighborhoods. They'll discuss organic foods, the importance of land ownership and the stereotypes Black farmers face. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/black-farming-and-land-ownership/?seriesID=69908

Wisconsin has one of the widest achievement gaps in the country. In this episode, Angela Fitzgerald talks to Rudy Bankston, a survivor of the school-to-prison pipeline. Rudy shares his story of being wrongly convicted and sentenced to life in prison at the age of 19. They’ll also discuss intersecting themes of identity, as well as how education gaps and strict disciplinary policies in schools can lead to the suspension, expulsion and incarceration of Black students. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/the-school-to-prison-pipeline/?seriesID=69908

Why care about politics when you feel more like a prop than a constituent? Black voters are told their votes matter, but after an election their concerns often go unheard. In this episode, Angela Fitzgerald sits down with grassroots activist and coalition leader Tatiyana Benson to talk about civic engagement. They’ll also discuss representation in government, policy reform and the hurdles preventing political participation. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/civic-engagement-and-representation/?seriesID=69908

Angela Fitzgerald sits down with Myra McNair, a licensed therapist, to talk about mental health struggles within Black communities, and how the Black church and financial barriers contribute to these issues. They discuss on how images of Black death, racial trauma, social media and more are provoking a public health crisis for Black communities. They also identify solutions and how finding joy can be a revolutionary act. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/mental-health-trauma-and-black-communities/?seriesID=69908

Host and producer Angela Fitzgerald expands on the motivation behind the series in this teaser of the upcoming season. She previews forthcoming guests and topics, and describes the urgent call to action she felt after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, calling all of us in to explore Why Race Matters in Wisconsin. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/angelas-journey-and-why-race-matters-in-wisconsin/?seriesID=69908