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Code Switch

NPR
Civil Rights Movement
Trump Administration
Cultural Identity
Donald Trump
Race
Immigration
Racism
Israel
Education
NPR
Martin Luther King Jr.
Gaza
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
United States
Mental Health
Black Love
Panama Canal
Resistance
Voting Rights
Voting Rights Act

What's CODE SWITCH? It's the fearless conversations about race that you've been waiting for. Hosted by journalists of color, our podcast tackles the subject of race with empathy and humor. We explore how race affects every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, food and everything in between. This podcast makes all of us part of the conversation — because we're all part of the... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes630Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Code Switch

Latest Episodes

The DOJ created a $1.776 billion fund to compensate January 6 defendants. The fund may not survive, but the federal redress system it was reaching into — built by Native nations over generations — is still intact. So today on Code Switch: who counts ... more

It’s no secret that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has embraced the idea of crusading for American dominance — he published a book titled American Crusade and has several tattoos of crusader iconography. And that language has become a part of how ... more

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program has been around for almost 14 years — long enough that the so-called "DACA kids" are now middle-aged adults with jobs, mortgages and families. But the Trump administration is making it harder to hold... more

YouTube

The Supreme Court is about to rule on whether states can ban transfeminine student athletes from playing on girls' and women's teams. But we're talking to journalist Imara Jones about why these cases aren't just about school sports. They come out of ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Adam Aleksic
Linguist, influencer, author
Manhattan, based linguist; author of Algo Speak
Episode: It's giving incel: The evolution of internet slang
Jasmine Romero
Writer, producer; former executive producer at Code Switch; later learning to swim
Code Switch/NPR
Episode: Why so many Americans never learned to swim
Jeff Wilty
Historian at the University of Montana; author of Intested Waters, A Social History of Swimming Pools in America
University of Montana
Episode: Why so many Americans never learned to swim
Ana Reyes
Jasmine's mother; appears in conversation about family memory and intergenerational learning
Family of Jasmine Romero
Episode: Why so many Americans never learned to swim
Geraldo Cadava
Latino Studies Professor at Northwestern University; author of The Hispanic Republican
Northwestern University/The Atlantic
Episode: Why do Latinos join ICE?
Issa Nakazawa
Astrologer, host of Stars and Stars with Issa
Self-employed / Stars and Stars
Episode: Is astrology real? Depends who you ask
Carlos Orci
Brazilian science journalist
Book: What Science Says About Astrology
Episode: Is astrology real? Depends who you ask
Josh Levin
Writer and journalist; author of The Queen; contributor to The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: What the Savannah Bananas have to do with race and baseball
Hansi Lo Wang
Correspondent for NPR, reporting on voting rights; Code Switch alum
NPR
Episode: How the Supreme Court gutted Black voting power

Hosts

Gene Demby
Co-host/host with NPR background; central voice in race and culture conversations
Parker BA
Host with focus on race, culture, and social policy discussions

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 18.3k ratings
  • Provocative Topics

    This is one of my favorite Podcasts. The topics covered are thought provoking and bridges racial & generational lines. My only “complaint” is for Gene to slow down his speech. I am from the Northeast myself and as a NYer I admit that we tend to speak very fast however when you’re in podcasting a slower pace would be helpful for the listeners.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    *Jaybyrd10
    United States21 days ago
  • Deep and thought-provoking reporting especially in the past year!

    I almost feel the episodes have gotten better in the wake of the 2024 backlash to social progressivism - deeper, more nuanced, dealing more with real policy issues than the relative fluff of DEI and “implicit bias”. You remind us that racial discrimination is real and tangible and structural. As a woman this is exactly the discourse we need more of. And thank you for telling it like it is throughout 2025, when so many media outlets tended towards “both-siding” everything.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ConfusedAcademic
    United Statesa month ago
  • Too much victimhood

    Update: the podcasts on looks….make sure to look the other way. It isn’t only a look of MAGA, what about the blue hair and nose ring look???

    Update: listened to cult and Trump verbiage episode. I don’t know what the point was. If you don’t agree with a side, they are a cult??? Poor reporting and explaining, because I never found the cult in the speech.

    We need to learn the past, we need to hear points of view, but what we really need is for people to tell the story of where they and as a nati... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    kabess77
    United States2 months ago
  • Terrific

    Great hosts, and topics are almost always interesting and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    yeknom29
    United States2 months ago
  • Great Podcast to Cover a Diverse Range of Political Topics

    Started listening off and on several years ago on the recommendation of a friend. Recently started listening more regularly. I find generally that the topics are quite interesting and range from hyper relevant and topical to some more historical deep dives. The guests don’t always supplement the topics but in general BA and Gene are quite engaging to listen to.

    And for conservatives that are upset that this is a left leaning podcast. What did you expect? The truth is left leaning and it’s a po... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TayFalco
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Provocative topics spark thought-provoking discussions that bridge racial and generational lines.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#84
United States/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#221
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#79
Singapore/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#104
South Korea/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#117
Russia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#149
India/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

It's giving incel: The evolution of internet slang
Q: I got to say, etymology is such a specific thing to get into. What got you started?
I see etymology as everything around us; we use words constantly, so understanding their origins helps reveal deeper truths about who we are and how language shapes our world.
The minefields of parenting and race
Q: What should this foster parent do about nails and gender expression?
Surround the child with Black people who can model different gender expressions and expose him to media that includes Black characters with diverse identities, while choosing age-appropriate content.
Hate it or love it, is DEI a distraction?
Q: Okay, so we are at this moment, Jennifer, where the Trump administration is fixated on getting rid of anything that has the whiff of DEI. What do you see as the problems with DEI?
DEI programs often fail to achieve their stated goals, don't reliably reduce bias or increase diversity, and are frequently used as a management tool rather than a genuine effort to improve workers' lives; true effectiveness lies in race-neutral policies that promote inclusive practices and address structural inequality.
In college admission, trauma is shorthand for Blackness
Q: Why is trauma used as a signal of worth in these admissions?
Trauma is used as a proxy for resilience and hardship that supposedly proves an applicant's character and fit for elite institutions, a practice that is criticized for reducing complex identities to a narrative of suffering.
In college admission, trauma is shorthand for Blackness
Q: What does this process tell us about the way race works in this country outside of elite university admissions?
The episode argues that the framing of Black students' pain in essays extends beyond academia and reflects broader societal expectations and stereotypes about Black identity, shaping perceptions of worth and belonging in higher education and beyond.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Code Switch

What is Code Switch about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show continually surfaces nuanced conversations about race, culture, and power, balancing historical analysis with contemporary relevance. Episodes frequently blend expert voices—from academics and journalists to educators and cultural critics—with personal stories to explore how race shapes politics, media, education, and everyday life. A notable edge is its willingness to tackle controversial topics—ranging from DEI debates to voting rights and Black masculinity—while maintaining a thoughtful, often data-informed lens and a hopeful call for deeper understanding across audiences.

A standout aspect is the presence of diverse guests who bring scholarly insight, on-the-ground reporting, and cultural critique, creating rich, multi-perspe... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Code Switch?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Code Switch:

1. It's Been a Minute
2. Throughline
3. Reveal
4. Up First from NPR
5. This American Life

How many episodes of Code Switch are there?

Code Switch launched 10 years ago and published 630 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Code Switch?

Recent guests on Code Switch include:

1. Adam Aleksic
2. Jasmine Romero
3. Jeff Wilty
4. Ana Reyes
5. Geraldo Cadava
6. Issa Nakazawa
7. Carlos Orci
8. Josh Levin

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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