Rephonic
Artwork for Busy Being Black

Busy Being Black with Joshua Rivers

W!ZARD Studios
Grief
HIV
Black Meme
Black Women
Lynching Postcards
Queer Identity
Vulnerability
Belonging
Empathy
Visual Culture
Afro-Pessimism
Anti-Black Violence
Public Art
Creative Space
Art
Literature
Community Support
Stigma
Healthcare System
Sobriety

The award-winning podcast that centres and celebrates queer Black liveliness.

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes137Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Busy Being Black

Latest Episodes

Today marks eight years since Busy Being Black first came to life: on 21 October 2017, I produced and hosted an event called Forbidden Fruits, anchored by a conversation about love, intimacy and belonging among queer Black men. I couldn't have known ... more

A tender meditation on grief, healing and courage with multidisciplinary artist Phoebe Boswell, who creates portals that return us to our miraculous hearts.

You can surrender to Phoebe's paintings at Ben Hunter Gallery in London until 12 December.

more

Inspired by Afrosurrealism, surrealist philosophy and the archetypal imagination, the Black Marvellous is a growing collection of conversations that adventure into Black imaginative vigour—in art, attitude and life.

Who better than Mojisola Adebayo ... more

You’ll no doubt have heard of and read Kuchenga Shenjé's debut novel, The Library Thief, which brings together her passions for history, mystery and rebels; and you’re likely to have felt the warmth and humour of her writing in publications like Brit... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ben Ellis
A poet and marketer, survivor of sexual assault and conversion practices.
Episode: all my poems are sad n*gga poems with Ben Ellis
Phoebe Boswell
Artist known for her work addressing trauma, healing, and identity
Episode: our miraculous hearts with Phoebe Boswell
Mojisola Adebayo
A Black British performer, playwright, director, producer, workshop leader, and teacher of Yoruba and Danish heritage.
Episode: Black duende with Mojisola Adebayo
Kuchenga Shenjé
Writer, journalist, and speaker with contributions to Stylist, British Vogue and Netflix.
Author of The Library Thief
Episode: a life worth writing about with Kuchenga Shenjé
Legacy Russell
Executive Director and Chief Curator at The Kitchen, focusing on gender performance, digital selfdom, internet idolatry, and new media ritual.
The Kitchen
Episode: rehumanising the Black meme with Legacy Russell
Maleke Glee
Cultural worker, writer, and professor, curator, and consultant for the GoGo Museum
GoGo Museum and Cafe
Episode: a posture of improvisation with Maleke Glee
Angelina Namiba
HIV advocate and active member of the 4M Network, with decades of experience supporting women living with HIV.
4M Network, National HIV Nurses Association
Episode: our stories told by us with Angelina Namiba
4M Network
A peer mentoring project working with mothers living with HIV.
4M Network
Episode: our stories told by us with Angelina Namiba
NAS Project London
A project focusing on communities affected by HIV.
NAS Project London
Episode: our stories told by us with Angelina Namiba

Host

Joshua Rivers
Host of the podcast, who brings personal insight to discussions while engaging guests in deep conversations about their experiences.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 316 ratings
  • Human

    Listened to Busy Being Black for the first time today. Beautiful nuanced, emotionally intelligent, fun and human conversations. More people need to hear this brilliant podcast. I’ll be back

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    blackisqueen
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Such an excellent podcast.

    I listen to many podcasts across a range of topic areas and I struggle to think of another that matches the quality of the guests, conversations and production of Busy Being Black. I've been a listener since the beginning and it is consistently raising the bar, warming the soul, and introducing incredible minds and a breath of ideas one doesn't find anywhere else. What's more, despite this level of excellence, there is zero pretentiousness - there is only authenticity and open hearts and minds. ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lifelong Leaner
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Underrated

    I’m not black but I’m learning when I listen to this Podcast as a Kweer poc. It’s apparent guest’s on this feel comfortable enough to say how they feel and in turn as listeners we get to hear something more than just the usual responses. So far I learnt who Bayard Rustin is, note the bastardisation of belly dancing,discovered Londons Hungama club,Kelechi Okafor,Lady Phyll,and tons more. I recommend you give this a try

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    theeighties
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • I was there

    I was at a live recording of one episode at the BFI in London and I thought the episode was very interesting and intelligent. While since I’m not gay or black I won’t listen to more episodes as I don’t feel that interested in the subjects covered I still think it’s a very well done podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    redviola87
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • The Art of Creating Space.

    In searching for the words to describe this authentic and beautiful way of storytelling - the word that came to mind for describing this oeuvre’s embodiment was nuance. Nuance in the same way that a photo might have many different shades of gray. Rivers uses his lived experience, as well as those of others, to frame and articulate what it is to be a black queer body in this world. Being black and queer is not a monolithic experience and these in depth, evocative, conversations are a testimony to... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kidd97
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many listeners find the discussions enlightening and uplifting, often highlighting how the show offers unique perspectives on race and sexuality.
There is appreciation for the high quality of guests and production, as well as a sense of community fostered through shared experiences.
Listeners praise the authenticity and vulnerability present in the conversations, noting the emotional intelligence of both the host and guests.
Some listeners recognize the podcast as an educational resource, especially beneficial for those wanting to understand queer Black narratives.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

our miraculous hearts with Phoebe Boswell
Q: How do you manage the balance between your desire for creative expression and the challenges that arise when presenting your art to the public?
Phoebe sees herself as a conduit for others and balances her personal feelings while being aware of how her work will be received by the audience.
our miraculous hearts with Phoebe Boswell
Q: Did you feel courageous at the time of your exhibition?
Phoebe expresses that she didn't feel courageous at the time; she viewed art as a means of survival rather than an act of bravery.
our miraculous hearts with Phoebe Boswell
Q: How's your heart?
Phoebe shares that her heart is good, robust, and healing.
a posture of improvisation with Maleke Glee
Q: What role does aliveness or liveliness play in your vision for what the gallery can be?
Maleke highlights the importance of improvisation in cultural institutions, aiming to create spaces that react to artists' and audiences' needs.
a posture of improvisation with Maleke Glee
Q: How's your heart?
Maleke describes his heart as bright and beaming, feeling positive and appreciative of new connections.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Busy Being Black

What is Busy Being Black about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content primarily focuses on the exploration of queer Black identities through engaging conversations with a diverse range of guests. The discussions often delve into topics including mental health, personal trauma, creative expression, and the intersectionality of race and sexuality. A notable aspect is the authentic storytelling of guests, alongside host Joshua Rivers' personal reflections, which enriches the narrative and creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. The podcast likely appeals to listeners who are interested in social justice, creative arts, and community healing, making it a unique space for both celebration and critique of queer Black experiences.

Where can I find podcast stats for Busy Being Black?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Busy Being Black. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Busy Being Black and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Busy Being Black get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Busy Being Black, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Busy Being Black?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Busy Being Black, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Busy Being Black have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Busy Being Black has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Busy Being Black?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Busy Being Black:

1. Code Switch
2. Vibe Check
3. It's Been a Minute
4. Tricycle Talks
5. For The Wild

How many episodes of Busy Being Black are there?

Busy Being Black launched 8 years ago and published 137 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Busy Being Black?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Busy Being Black?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Busy Being Black from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Busy Being Black?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Busy Being Black. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Busy Being Black?

Recent guests on Busy Being Black include:

1. Ben Ellis
2. Phoebe Boswell
3. Mojisola Adebayo
4. Kuchenga Shenjé
5. Legacy Russell
6. Maleke Glee
7. Angelina Namiba
8. 4M Network

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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