SW POD: sounds & stories

Welcome to #SWPod! SW stands for Sisi Wote ('all of us' in Swahili) and this is the podcast where you can listen to casual commentary on Black music and literature from Global Majority writers from the perspective of a casual reader and everyday music listener just like you! aka me, Mandi.In this episode, we explore the bittersweet and necessary theme of 'Goodbyes: I’ve Gotta Go My Own Way'. In our Lemme Tale You segment: We discuss the importance of practicing the art of letting go, even when it involves multiple attempts at saying "goodbye for now." In our Sounds segment: We dive into UMI’s biggest song to date, "Remember Me," a track with a warm, soft delivery that captures the longing and questioning that comes at the end of a relationship. In our Stories segment: We feature an interview with author Kelechi Okafor to discuss her debut novel Awakened and short story "Councilwoman" from Edge of Here, exploring the theme of goodbyes as moving into a new dimension, or "the other room." In our Soundtracking Stories segment: Discover six new tracks related to the theme, including "Ne Me Quitte Pas" by Nina Simone and "Goodbyes" by Jorja Smith. Listen and save the playlist here:SW POD: 'soundtracking stories' playlist stories Get Involved! Share your thoughts and opinions using #SWPodUK and contribute to 'Lemme Tale You.' Send your stories, thoughts, or opinions inspired by this episode (max 500 words or 2-min voice notes) to our socials @SWPodUK or email [email protected] to be featured!See you lot in the next one! <3

Welcome to #SWPod! SW stands for Sisi Wote ('all of us' in Swahili) and this is the podcast where you can listen to casual commentary on Black music and literature from Global Majority writers from the perspective of a casual reader and everyday music listener just like you! aka me, Mandi.In this episode, the theme is 'Carefree: Girls Just Want To Have Fun'. In our Sounds segment: We dive into Kehlani's "After Hours" to explore the spirit of reckless abandon, the thrill of the forbidden, and uninhibited club energy. In our Stories segment: The discussion centers on the quintessential modern literature great, Toni Morrison's Sula, analyzing how the "imperfect protagonist" Sula embodies the theme by living life completely on her own terms, free from external expectations. In our Soundtracking Stories segment: Discover five new tracks related to the theme, including "Distraction" by Kehlani and "Who’s That Chick" by Rihanna. Listen and save the playlist here:SW POD: 'soundtracking stories' playlist stories Get Involved! Share your thoughts and opinions using #SWPodUK and look out for the new listener contribution segment, 'Lemme Tale You,' in the next episode. Send your stories, thoughts, or opinions inspired by this episode (max 500 words or 2-min voice notes) to our socials @SWPodUK or email [email protected] to be featured!See you lot in the next one! <3

Welcome to #SWPod! SW stands for Sisi Wote ('all of us' in Swahili) and this is the podcast where you can listen to casual commentary on Black music and literature from Global Majority writers from the perspective of a casual reader and everyday music listener just like you! aka me, Mandi.This week, Mandi is joined by her friend, Deborah, a book publicist, to discuss the theme of 'Coming of Age: Emerging from My Cocoon'. In our Sounds segment: We dive into Laufey's "Street by Street" to explore the tentative but necessary process of self-discovery, focusing on the powerful lyric "I’m reclaiming what’s mine." In our Stories segment: The discussion centers on the themes of coming of age and parental trauma through Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's debut novel, Purple Hibiscus, analyzing the oppressive and authoritarian household of the main characters, Kambili and Jaja. In our Soundtracking Stories segment: The playlist is updated with five new tracks related to the episode's theme. (Note: Specific song examples were not available in the transcript). Listen and save the playlist here:SW POD: 'soundtracking stories' playlist stories Get Involved! Share your thoughts and opinions using #SWPodUK and contribute to 'Lemme Tale You,' our listener contribution segment. Send your stories, thoughts, or opinions inspired by this episode (max 500 words or 2-min voice notes) to our socials @SWPodUK or email [email protected] to be featured!See you lot in the next one! <3

Welcome to #SWPod! SW stands for Sisi Wote ('all of us' in Swahili) and this is the podcast where you can listen to casual commentary on Black music and literature from Global Majority writers from the perspective of a casual reader and everyday music listener just like you! aka me, Mandi.In this episode, we tackle the personal and pervasive theme of 'Grief: Until We Meet Again'. In our Lemme Tale You segment: We hear a listener's emotional story about rejection, a contribution inspired by the theme of our previous episode. In our Sounds segment: We explore the raw emotion of loss through the classic Philly soul track "I Miss You" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (featuring Teddy Pendergrass), analyzing the feelings of solitude and heartbreak. In our Stories segment: The discussion centers on Jyoti Patel's debut novel, The Things That We Lost (winner of the 2021 Merky Books New Writer's Prize), which follows Nik's journey into discovering the truth about his late father amidst family secrets and generational trauma. In our Soundtracking Stories segment: The playlist is updated with five new tracks related to the theme. (Note: Specific song examples were not available in the transcript). Listen and save the playlist here: SW POD: 'soundtracking stories' playlist stories Get Involved! Share your thoughts and opinions using #SWPodUK and contribute to 'Lemme Tale You.' Send your stories, thoughts, or opinions inspired by this episode (max 500 words or 2-min voice notes) to our socials @SWPodUK or email [email protected] to be featured!See you lot in the next one! <3

Welcome to #SWPod! SW stands for Sisi Wote ('all of us' in Swahili) and this is the podcast where you can listen to casual commentary on Black music and literature from Global Majority writers from the perspective of a casual reader and everyday music listener just like you! aka me, Mandi.This week, we welcome our first-ever guest, Jessica, a writer, playwright, poet, and newly qualified doctor. The theme for this episode is 'Rejection: It’s Not You, It’s Me'. In our Lemme Tale You segment: The new listener contribution section is officially introduced with a voice note about familial and friendship love. In our Sounds segment: We discuss how UK artist Hamzaa’s song "Doing Time" (from her 2023 EP Rush) explores the feeling of rejection as a "prison sentence". In our Stories segment: We dive into a novel by Caleb Azumah Nelson—Jessica's favourite author—to explore the theme of rejection, particularly in light of a major plot point where "one of the characters dies". In our Soundtracking Stories segment: The playlist is updated with five new tracks related to the episode's theme, including "Far” by SZA and "Let Me Go" by Daniel Caesar. Listen and save the playlist here: SW POD: 'soundtracking stories' playlist stories Get Involved! Share your thoughts and opinions using #SWPodUK and contribute to 'Lemme Tale You.' Send your stories, thoughts, or opinions inspired by this episode (max 500 words or 2-min voice notes) to our socials @SWPodUK or email [email protected] to be featured!See you lot in the next one! <3

Welcome to #SWPod! SW stands for Sisi Wote ('all of us' in Swahili) and this is the podcast where you can listen to casual commentary on Black music and literature from Global Majority writers from the perspective of a casual reader and everyday music listener just like you! aka me, mandi.In our debut episode, the theme is 'Grateful In Love: I’m So Glad You Chose Me'. In our Sounds segment: We dive into Ginuwine's R&B classic "Differences" to explore the bliss and contentment of being chosen in love. In our Storiessegment: The discussion flips to examine the pain of unrequited love through Peace Adzo Medie's debut novel, His Only Wife (a Reese's Book Club pick), which follows main character Afi and her arranged marriage in Ghana. In our Soundtracking Stories segment: Discover five new tracks related to the theme, including "Love Of My Life" (LOML) by Shae Universe and "Kwangwaru" by Harmonize and Diamond Platnumz. Listen and save the playlist here: SW POD: 'soundtracking stories' playlist stories Get Involved! Share your thoughts and opinions using #SWPodUK and contribute to 'Lemme Tale You.' Send your stories, thoughts, or opinions inspired by this episode (max 500 words or 2-min voice notes) to our socials @SWPodUK or email [email protected] to be featured!See you lot in the next one! <3