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Artwork for What's Ray Saying?

What's Ray Saying?

Ray Christian
Military Service
Black History
Racial Identity
Oscar Micheaux
Storytelling
Chaplain Colonel Shabazz
History
United States Army
Black Masculinity
Street Dogs
Black Cinema
Gulf War
Richmond, Virginia
Racism
Cultural Identity
Emotional Expression
Generational Differences
Masculine Identity
Father-Son Relationships
Black Podcast Awards

Storyteller Ray Christian shares personal stories as a sixty-something combat veteran, historian, and goat-wrangling father of six living in the rural mountains of Appalachia, all told through the fabric of centuries of Black history.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes63Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Arts

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Artwork for What's Ray Saying?

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Ray explores how a simple stretch of desert can turn into a place that asks bigger questions. He examines the pull of solitude, the way the land tests you, and the strange moment when the ground itself seems to rise up and remind you... more

An exploration of voting as a lived experience rather than a political act. Through personal stories, community memory, and historical context, this episode looks at how ordinary people understand the moment they step into a voting booth. From first-... more

The Chaplains Corps was created to offer comfort, guidance, and moral clarity to soldiers in the hardest moments of their lives. But chaplains also serve inside a system that demands obedience, violence, and silence. In this episode, Ray examines the... more

Ray and Chaplain Shabazz turn toward the future — what must change, what leadership should look like, and how the Chaplain Corps can evolve to meet the moral challenges of a new generation. Drawing on lived experience and institutional insight, Shaba... more

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Recent Guests

Chaplain Colonel Shabazz
First Muslim full Colonel Chaplain in the United States Army
United States Army
Episode: The Making of a Moral Leader: The Story of Chaplain Colonel Shabazz
Avery Trufelman
Host of Articles of Interest, podcast about uniforms
Articles of Interest
Episode: Bonus: Gear - Articles of Interest
Ray Christian
Army veteran, educator, storyteller, podcaster, and former public radio storyteller.
What's Ray Saying?
Episode: Bonus: Death, Sex and Money - What Military Service During “Peacetime” is Really Like
Chenjerai Kumanyika
Assistant Professor of Journalism, Peabody Award-winning podcaster, poet, and hip hop artist.
NYU
Episode: Know Your Place
John Good
Writer, poet, fellow storyteller and veteran from Richmond.
Episode: Black in the Military

Hosts

Tiffany
Co-host introducing and guiding discussion; contributes production and closing touches
Ray Christian
Host, storyteller, and interviewer; veteran perspective and historical storytelling

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 844 ratings
  • I really love this podcast. Ray Christian has immense life experience, stories aplenty, and wise questions. He also interviews some very interesting people.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Languidita
    a month ago
  • Top Notch Pod

    The only thing wrong with this podcast is it’s not long enough. I could listen to Ray all day long. What a quality human sharing stories with a powerful moral compass, but never preaches or lectures. I love his deep and melodious voice and have fantasized about going up to Boone, North Carolina and having a cup of coffee with Ray and his wife.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    StellaMacy
    United States2 months ago
  • Amazing storyteller

    What a great discovery. I could listen to Ray all day. His voice was made for storytelling and his stories are profound, tragic and hilarious, the kind that stays with you for a long time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MonkeyBolo10
    United States4 months ago
  • Fidelity to the Constitution

    Wow, excellent job on this one!!!! Bravo, sir!!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FZMA4523
    United States5 months ago
  • Ray is a really great guy who has lived (and continues to live!) a full life, *and* he knows how to tell stories like nobody's business. Sometimes you can learn something from his stories; sometimes they just leave you with a lot to think about. Either way, they're always fantastic.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    TedinRVA
    a year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host's storytelling voice and moral clarity.
Show is described as deeply insightful and emotionally resonant.
Feedback highlights the mix of personal narrative with historical context and leadership themes.
Audience notes high regard for authenticity and breadth of guest backgrounds.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#66
South Africa/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#175
India/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bonus: Gear - Articles of Interest
Q: How did Banana Republic begin and what was the initial intent behind the brand?
Patricia and Mel started by reworking surplus gear into stylish, narrative-driven clothing; they used storytelling in catalogs and branding to elevate utilitarian items into aspirational fashion.
Bonus: Gear - Articles of Interest
Q: What drew you to explore uniforms as a fashion and cultural artifact?
Avery explains that uniforms are loaded with meaning, telling stories about power, identity, and social norms, which makes them rich material for understanding history and fashion.
Bonus: Death, Sex and Money - What Military Service During “Peacetime” is Really Like
Q: When did you get the diagnosis of PTSD? How did you start to think of yourself as someone with PTSD?
I was forced to go see a psychiatrist, and it didn't take him no time to diagnose me with severe PTSD, with psychotic features.
Bonus: Death, Sex and Money - What Military Service During “Peacetime” is Really Like
Q: What do you think your reason was at 18? How do you say it? Like, just like, why'd you join? Why'd you do this?
My reason, our classic reason is to get ahead, just as a start, to start my life, to be taken seriously in the broader, you know, white dominated world.
Bonus: Ray on "Know What You See"
Q: What does storytelling mean for you?
It describes my lived experience and allows me to communicate feelings that are difficult to articulate.

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 What's Ray Saying?

What is What's Ray Saying? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on personal storytelling that blends history, military experience, and family life with broader Black history. Narratives often braid lived experience in Appalachia with centuries of cultural memory, featuring conversations that range from leadership and faith to fashion history and civil rights. A hallmark is intimate, first-person storytelling that invites listeners to understand complex social topics through human-scale anecdotes, while occasional guest conversations broaden perspectives on military service, history, and culture. Potential listeners who enjoy thoughtful, character-driven narratives, historical context, and cross-disciplinary discussions will likely find this compelling and unique for its mix of veteran i... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with What's Ray Saying?:

1. Snap Judgment
2. The Moth
3. RISK!
4. This American Life
5. Selected Shorts

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What's Ray Saying? launched 10 years ago and published 63 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 What's Ray Saying??

Recent guests on What's Ray Saying? include:

1. Chaplain Colonel Shabazz
2. Avery Trufelman
3. Ray Christian
4. Chenjerai Kumanyika
5. John Good

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