Two Interchangeable White Ladies Start a Podcast

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Generally, when white people get together we talk about everything else but race. We don't talk about it because we think we don't have to--and it feels weird. So we ignore it.

Specifically, when white women get together, we spend hours talking about leggings, scarves, wine, mole skin notebooks, and a bazillion other things. If we bring up race it’s either in relation to makeup (Ivory? Beige 1?), undergarments (nude, white or black?), or attraction (tall, dark, and handsome).

There’s nothing wrong with talking about those things, but, white folks need to start having conversations that communities of color are having (have had for a long, long time) about race, class, and power. We need to realize that, while a social construct, race has real implications for daily life and is a crucial part of identify formation for many people. We need to stop ignoring it because it's hard to talk about or makes us feel uncomfortable. We need to acknowledge that we have a place in the conversation and we need to figure out what the heck that is. 

In effort to deconstruct this thing called race and the privileges, burdens, and baggage that accompany it, I’m co-hosting a podcast. Our hope is that our show will be a place to discuss education, culture, and local activism. We’ve committed to eight episodes that will attempt to answer our essential question:

How can white women use their privilege to deconstruct white culture, confront their own biases, be better allies, and be less basic?  

This year, I am working with one of my favorite interchangeable ladies, Annie Jansen, to launch our first podcast! We are lucky to join Channel 253, a podcast network sponsored by Move to Tacoma with other gems such as Nerd Farmer Podcast, Citizen Tacoma, and FloundersBTeam.

The podcast mode should allow us to grapple with some tough issues while making fun of ourselves and the culture of white women in this country in a way that traditional writing can’t quite capture. No, it's not just for white women. 

We hope you will join us on this new adventure, listen to our show and feel free to DM us on Twitter @IWL_Podcast with ideas and topics you’d like us to explore.