podcast

The push for a federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday began almost immediately after Dr. King’s assassination in April 1968, when the late Representative John Conyers introduced the first motion to make King’s birthday a federal holiday. Yet it would take another 11 years for the proposal to reach the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote in 1979. When the bill fell just five votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass, it was music that helped galvanize the nation.

British singer-songwriter dodie has spent half her life in public. Long before algorithms and engagement metrics ruled the day, she began posting homemade songs and videos on YouTube as a teenager from Essex. Her soft voice, self-effacing humor, and unfiltered honesty drew millions of viewers who watched her grow up online—sharing heartbreaks, mental-health struggles, and moments of joy in real time.

This inaugural episode of Season 2 explores the social and psychological costs of being outed in middle school by school officials for being queer.

In this Season 2 conclusion, CWS talks with three young college students about their use of personal pronouns, and how these terms relate to their sense of their own gender and place in the world.

CWS speaks with two transgender people,Benjamin and Juliette, about their lives and how they have navigated the complex social, psychological, and familial consequences of living transgender lives.

CWS explores resilience in the face of racial terror by speaking with Dr. Terry Roberts, a member of the Little Rock Nine, who at fifteen years old volunteered to help desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.

CWS explores the connections between music, mania, and the creative process with Sparni, a talented young musician who lives with Bipolar Disorder.

A new season of CONVERSATIONS WITH SYDNEY explores the mental health consequences of outing middle school students, the experiences of young trans people, teen resilience in the struggle for civil rights, and the connection between music, creativity, and mania.

For enthusiasts of jazz and a broader spectrum of engaging cultural content, WBGO's official YouTube channel is an absolute must-follow.

Join Dorthaan Kirk on the Bright Moments podcast as she shares memories from 1987, exploring the humble beginnings of Jazz at Lincoln Center and its impact on New York City's jazz scene.