The BLK IRL Podcast
By Anuli Akanegbu
The BLK IRL PodcastDec 07, 2021
Stop Waiting for Perfect with L'Oreal Thompson Payton
For the Season 3 finale, Anuli speaks with award-winning journalist, motivational speaker, and blogger L’Oreal Thompson Payton about what life is like after you get the things you’ve always wanted. Spoiler: It’s still not perfect.
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Enter the world of Season 3 on the BLK IRL website (https://www.blkirl.com/season-3). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
In Our Carefree Era with Oludara Adeeyo
In this episode, Anuli talks with Los Angeles-based mental health therapist, author, and social media content creator, Oludara Adeeyo, about what it means to embrace being carefree, her pivot from working in the media industry to pursuing a career in social work, and the power in moving away from your home base.
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Enter the world of Season 3 on the BLK IRL website (https://www.blkirl.com/season-3). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
Becoming Your True Self with Sierra Imari
In this episode, Anuli talks with tech-focused Creative Advisor and Strategist, Sierra Imari, about her current chrysalis era, her love of The Sims, and how it feels to bet on yourself.
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Enter the world of Season 3 on the BLK IRL website (https://www.blkirl.com/season-3). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
Know Thy Country, Know Thyself with Kimberly Binns
In this episode, Anuli talks with interdisciplinary artist Kimberly Binns about knowing yourself well enough to know what environments you work best in, determining when it is time to pivot or change careers, and what it means to truly have a curatorial eye.
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Enter the world of Season 3 on the BLK IRL website (https://www.blkirl.com/season-3). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
Self-Discovery through Self-Portraiture with Autumn Nelson
In this episode, Anuli talks with artist Autumn Nelson about asserting sexual agency through art, dating yourself to find yourself, and how the consumer of an art piece impacts its meaning and interpretation.
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Enter the world of Season 3 on the BLK IRL website (https://www.blkirl.com/season-3). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
Representing for the Hot Girls with Ariel Dannielle
In this episode of Black in Real Life, Anuli talks with artist Ariel Dannielle about the importance of friendship among Black women, what it means to be a hot girl, and why it is okay for art to simply be “fun.”
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Enter the world of Season 3 on the BLK IRL website (https://www.blkirl.com/season-3). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
Manipulating Memories with Jasmine Best
In this episode of BLK IRL, Anuli talks with mixed media artist Jasmine Best about what it means to be a “true Southern artist,” her creative process, taking agency as a Black femme, and something called “folk punk.” Jasmine is full of surprises, so you won’t want to miss this conversation!
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For season three of The BLK IRL Podcast, Anuli explores how Black people create worlds for ourselves through our creative work and everyday rituals where we are reflected, represented, and ultimately respected. Enter the world of Season 3 on the BLK IRL website (https://www.blkirl.com/season-3).
Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blkirl/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blkirl/support
Living and Leaving a Legacy with Sierra King
In this episode of Black in Real Life, Anuli talks with multidisciplinary artist, archivist, and curator, Sierra King, about how she got into the work of archiving, her personal approach to self-documentation, and how to curate your own career as a creative contract worker.
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For season three of The BLK IRL Podcast, Anuli explores how Black people create worlds for ourselves through our creative work and everyday rituals where we are reflected, represented, and ultimately respected. Enter the world of Season 3 on the BLK IRL website (https://www.blkirl.com/season-3). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blkirl/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blkirl/support
Living and Working as an Independent Artist feat. Garth.
In this episode, Anuli talks to New York City-based singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Garth about their shared history, his musical influences, and the ins and outs of trying to make it as an independent artist. Listen to find out why this conversation has been a long-time coming!
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Follow Garth.
Artist website: https://garthofficial.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tweetgmt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garthofficialmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garthofficial/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSy3W3p7B9ICYw_ljKfEfoA
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/garthofficial
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7aEP0AzwgG0Bs0Bw7I2sqI?si=s3uYLFB7TU6NA3XtUz0esQ
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For season three of The BLK IRL Podcast, Anuli explores how Black people create worlds for ourselves through our creative work and everyday rituals where we are reflected, represented, and ultimately respected. Enter the world of Season 3 on the BLK IRL website (https://www.blkirl.com/season-3). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
A Whole New World
Influence starts as an inside job. For season three of The BLK IRL Podcast, Anuli explores how Black people create worlds for ourselves through our creative work and everyday rituals where we are reflected, represented, and ultimately respected.
For the first episode of Season 3, BLK IRL producer and host, Anuli Akanegbu, shares where she’s been over the past year and offers a sneak peek of what to expect this season.
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Engage with multimedia extensions for Season 3 on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
I Love Seeing "Us"
For the final episode of season 2, Anuli talks to digital media entrepreneur Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista about her career as a content creator, how she has expanded her business over the years, and her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
You can access the media extensions for Season 2 on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
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As rapper Andre 3000 from the Atlanta-based duo Outkast proclaimed to the world during the 1995 Source Awards: “The South got something to say!” For Season 2 of the BLK IRL Podcast, Anuli travels to Atlanta, GA to learn more about the local tensions between "Old Atlanta'' and "New Atlanta'' that began to take root in the 1990s as the city prepared its bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games and how Atlanta has since evolved to become one of America’s cultural capitals.
They Almost Don't Feel Local Anymore
In this episode, Anuli talks to the award-winning reporter and podcast host Jewel Wicker about her childhood in Atlanta, her career trajectory, and her overall thoughts on the state of the American journalism industry as an Atlanta-based reporter.
You can access the media extensions for Season 2 on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
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As rapper Andre 3000 from the Atlanta-based duo Outkast proclaimed to the world during the 1995 Source Awards: “The South got something to say!” For Season 2 of the BLK IRL Podcast, Anuli travels to Atlanta, GA to learn more about the local tensions between "Old Atlanta'' and "New Atlanta'' that began to take root in the 1990s as the city prepared its bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games and how Atlanta has since evolved to become one of America’s cultural capitals.
The Memory and Reality of Atlanta
As rapper Andre 3000 from the Atlanta-based duo Outkast proclaimed to the world during the 1995 Source Awards: “The South got something to say!” For Season 2 of the BLK IRL Podcast, Anuli travels to Atlanta, GA to learn more about the local tensions between "Old Atlanta'' and "New Atlanta'' that began to take root in the 1990s as the city prepared its bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games and how Atlanta has since evolved to become one of America’s cultural capitals.
In this episode, Anuli talks to documentary filmmaker, journalist, and podcast host King Williams about the history of gentrification in Atlanta, the tangled relationship between Atlanta and Decatur, and the Great (Re)Migration of Black people (myself included) from the American North to the American South, among a host of other topics.
You can access the media extensions for Season 2 on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
History is Happening Now
As rapper Andre 3000 from the Atlanta-based duo Outkast proclaimed to the world during the 1995 Source Awards: “The South got something to say!” For Season 2 of the BLK IRL Podcast, Anuli travels to Atlanta, GA to learn more about the local tensions between "Old Atlanta'' and "New Atlanta'' that began to take root in the 1990s as the city prepared its bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games and how Atlanta has since evolved to become one of America’s cultural capitals.
In this episode, Anuli talks to Kristian Weatherspoon, the Vice President of Digital Storytelling at Atlanta History Center, about the role cultural institutions like Atlanta History Center play in interpreting history, the lasting impact of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games on the city of Atlanta, and Atlanta’s influence in the Southern U.S. as a region and America as a whole.
You can access the media extensions for Season 2 on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
Welcome to Atlanta
As rapper Andre 3000 from the Atlanta-based duo Outkast proclaimed to the world during the 1995 Source Awards: “The South got something to say!” For Season 2 of the BLK IRL Podcast, Anuli travels to Atlanta, GA to learn more about the local tensions between "Old Atlanta'' and "New Atlanta'' that began to take root in the 1990s as the city prepared its bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games and how Atlanta has since evolved to become one of America’s cultural capitals.
In this episode, you’ll travel to Atlanta with Anuli to hear how native Atlantans talk about the city’s heritage and the differences between “Old Atlanta” and “New Atlanta.” Think of this episode as an audio documentary in its purest form!
You can access the media extensions for Season 2 on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
Mapping it Out
As rapper Andre 3000 from the Atlanta-based duo Outkast proclaimed to the world during the 1995 Source Awards: “The South got something to say!” For Season 2 of the BLK IRL Podcast, Anuli travels to Atlanta, GA to learn more about the local tensions between "Old Atlanta'' and "New Atlanta'' that began to take root in the 1990s as the city prepared its bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games and how Atlanta has since evolved to become one of America’s cultural capitals.
In this episode, Anuli shares the story behind the illustrated map of Atlanta, Georgia she created in collaboration with Georgia-based illustrator, Beaux Xavier for Season 2. An interactive version of the map is available on the BLK IRL® website at www.blkirl.com/season-2. Prints of the map are also available to purchase!
You can find citations for the reference materials mentioned in this episode and explore the media extensions for Season 2 on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/blkirl/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/blkirl/support
Georgia on My Mind
As rapper Andre 3000 from the Atlanta-based duo Outkast proclaimed to the world during the 1995 Source Awards: “The South got something to say!” For Season 2 of the BLK IRL Podcast, Anuli travels to Atlanta, GA to learn more about the local tensions between "Old Atlanta'' and "New Atlanta'' that began to take root in the 1990s as the city prepared its bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games and how Atlanta has since evolved to become one of America’s cultural capitals.
In this episode, Anuli shares what she has been up to since BLK IRL last hit your podcast feeds and what it means for the future of her doctoral research.
You can access the media extensions for Season 2 on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/blkirl/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/blkirl/support
What It Means to be Black
The BLK IRL Podcast is an audio docuseries that explores the business of “influencing” and the power dynamics at play in the act of cultural exchange. Join host Anuli Akanegbu as she dissects themes related to race in the influencer economy through research-supported commentary and intimate interviews with predominantly Black content creators, scholars, entrepreneurs, activists, marketing experts, and cultural critics.
In this season finale episode, you will get to hear each of this season's guests share, for the first time ever, their individual responses to the question, "What does it mean to you to be Black?" It is my hope by putting the responses to this question in one episode, listeners will take away the truth that Black people are not a monolithic group and that America's Black population includes many differences that must be acknowledged and celebrated.
Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by visiting www.blkirl.com and following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/blkirl/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/blkirl/support
More Than Just Your Token Black Girl
The BLK IRL Podcast is an audio docuseries that explores the business of “influencing” and the power dynamics at play in the act of cultural exchange. Join host Anuli Akanegbu as she dissects themes related to race in the influencer economy through research-supported commentary and intimate interviews with predominantly Black content creators, scholars, entrepreneurs, activists, marketing experts, and cultural critics.
In this episode, Danielle Prescod and I talk about the beauty and fashion industry’s reaction to last summer’s racial uprising, how she creates boundaries in her online and offline lives, and her plans to leave New York City.
You can find citations for the reference materials mentioned in this episode as well as some additional background reading on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/blkirl/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/blkirl/support
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/blkirl/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/blkirl/support
Making It as a “Social Beauty” in Hollywood
The BLK IRL Podcast is an audio docuseries that explores the business of “influencing” and the power dynamics at play in the act of cultural exchange. Join host Anuli Akanegbu as she dissects themes related to race in the influencer economy through research-supported commentary and intimate interviews with predominantly Black content creators, scholars, entrepreneurs, activists, marketing experts, and cultural critics.
In this episode, Anuli talks to Andrea Lewis about her career expansion from acting to now also content creating and producing, the need for more diverse representation on-screen and behind-the-scenes in Hollywood, and how Covid-19 has affected the production of her upcoming feature-length documentary project, “Social Beauty.”
You can find citations for the reference materials mentioned in this episode as well as some additional background reading on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com).
Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/blkirl/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/blkirl/support
The Memeification of Black Women and Girls
The BLK IRL Podcast is an audio docuseries that explores the business of “influencing” and the power dynamics at play in the act of cultural exchange. Join host Anuli Akanegbu as she dissects themes related to race in the influencer economy through research-supported commentary and intimate interviews with predominantly Black content creators, scholars, entrepreneurs, activists, marketing experts, and cultural critics.
In this episode, Anuli talks to Dr. Aria S. Halliday, Assistant Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies and African-American and Africana Studies at the University of Kentucky about the memeification and commodification of Black women and girls on social media as well as representations of Black women and girls on television.
You can find citations for the reference materials mentioned in this episode as well as some additional background reading on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
Get in Loser, We're Going Viral
The BLK IRL Podcast is an audio docuseries that explores the business of “influencing” and the power dynamics at play in the act of cultural exchange. Join host Anuli Akanegbu as she dissects themes related to race in the influencer economy through research-supported commentary and intimate interviews with predominantly Black content creators, scholars, entrepreneurs, activists, marketing experts, and cultural critics.
In this episode, Anuli talks to Sofiyat Ibrahim (also known online as @TheOdditty), a Washington, DC area based international affairs industry professional and social media influencer about her experience of going viral five times in a span of three months and the misconceptions people have about virality and influencing.
You can find citations for the reference materials mentioned in this episode as well as some additional background reading on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl). If you like what you hear then please rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, so more people can be introduced to The BLK IRL Podcast!
Performing Self-Care Online
The BLK IRL Podcast is an audio docuseries that explores the business of “influencing” and the power dynamics at play in the act of cultural exchange. Join host Anuli Akanegbu as she dissects themes related to race in the influencer economy through research-supported commentary and intimate interviews with predominantly Black content creators, scholars, entrepreneurs, activists, marketing experts, and cultural critics.
In this episode, Anuli talks to Saleam Singleton, a Brooklyn based men’s skincare + beauty advocate and content creator about how he creates boundaries between his online persona, the Method Male, and who he is offline as well as how performing self-care online came to be one of the ways that he honors himself.
You can find citations for the reference materials mentioned in this episode as well as some additional background reading on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl).
So, you want to become a professional influencer?
The BLK IRL Podcast is an audio docuseries that explores the business of “influencing” and the power dynamics at play in the act of cultural exchange. Join host Anuli Akanegbu as she dissects themes related to race in the influencer economy through research-supported commentary and intimate interviews with predominantly Black content creators, scholars, entrepreneurs, activists, marketing experts, and cultural critics.
In this episode, Anuli talks to Qianna Smith Bruneteau, the Founder and Executive Director of the American Influencer Council (AIC), about what it means to be an influencer and why she feels that the influencer marketing industry is in need of stewardship.
A (New) Cult of Personality
The BLK IRL Podcast is an audio docuseries that explores the business of “influencing” and the power dynamics at play in the act of cultural exchange. Join host Anuli Akanegbu as she dissects themes related to race in the influencer economy through research-supported commentary and intimate interviews with predominantly Black content creators, scholars, entrepreneurs, activists, marketing experts, and cultural critics.
This is the first full episode of Season 1! In this episode, Anuli talks to culture writer Shamira Ibrahim about how influencing has become the new cult of personality and how the exploitation of Black people and Black creative labor has become central to the inner workings of Internet culture.
You can find citations for the reference materials mentioned in this episode as well as some additional background reading on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl).
Introducing the BLK IRL Podcast
The BLK IRL Podcast is an audio docuseries that explores the business of “influencing” and the power dynamics at play in the act of cultural exchange. Join host Anuli Akanegbu as she dissects themes related to race in the influencer economy through research-supported commentary and intimate interviews with predominantly Black content creators, scholars, entrepreneurs, activists, marketing experts, and cultural critics. In this short teaser episode, Anuli introduces herself and shares a bit of what to expect in Season 1 of the BLK IRL Podcast.
You can find citations for the reference materials mentioned in this episode as well as some additional background reading on the BLK IRL website (www.blkirl.com). Stay updated on all things BLK IRL by following the podcast on Instagram (@blkirl) and Twitter (@blkirl).