podcast Tag

Ntanya Lee speaks on Black Work Talk

Just finished listening to this show with my former boss and comrade in the struggle Ntanya Lee talk about the following subjects on “Black Work Talk” podcast:

  • Organizing and building organizations
  • Co-opting of movement language by corporations
  • Freedom for Black people
  • Defeating the right and the neoliberals
  • LeftRoots-a left organization

Definitely worth a listen. I worked with Ntanya Lee when she was the executive director of Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth in San Francisco. My path before and after was more aligned with art, but I have always and will always work for and towards progressive and revolutionary change and Ntanya is someone I look up to to for guidance and direction.

Dig this? Check out some sticker artwork I did for Convergence Magazine

Asian American History 101-Podcast

Link to interview with Be a and Harvey of EastWind Books. Last Spring I got the chance to speak and table at an event in Berkeley California supporting a new model curriculum about Ethnic Studies; one of my favorite things to talk about. And while I was there I got a chance to speak to Bea and Harvey. They were both so kind and actually carried one of my books! I regret not going to EastWind more when the physical location was open, but as you’ll hear in this episode they are still publishing and selling books. Their advocacy and work is so freaking important so please check out their work here

Really enjoyed this episode of “Asian American History 101” which I found through an awesome interview w/ my good friend and fellow kid lit creator Nidhi Chanani. This seems like a really cool podcast to follow and listen to for historic and current perspectives on AAPI in the US! Love the fact that is a father daughter duo too:)

Dig this? Check out this Inspiration Board I made featuring books, art, film, and more.

Inspiration board 45

I’m still not out of a funk of creativity and a dirth of inspiration but we keep going right? Here are some things I can share with you that caught my eye, ear, or heart. Some I’m sure you already know. Some I’d be happy to introduce you to.

Starting from top to bottom, left to right:

  1. Devon Blow (Art)– Dev has been pumping out some critical and necessary art about genocide, war, social justice issues, and finding joy. Follow her here.
  2. Self (Film) – This is an incredible stop motion/ cg animated short film by Searit Huluf about self love
  3. Alexandra Gater (Interior design)– This is an interior decorator w/ a niche of helping those in small apartments make better use of their space with style.
  4. Calida Rawles (Art)– Found Calida through Amy Sherald. Shes an incredible photorealistic painter who depicts Black folks relationships to water
  5. BUSD (Community)- I attended several Berkeley School Board meetings re: Palestine, teachers who’ve been fired, trans and queer student rights, and ethnic studies
  6. Story Sun Birds (Kid Lit/ activism)- This is a group of folks who work in kid lit who stood for a ceasfire in Palestine and who now are carving a path for an alternative kid lit space
  7. Fights (Graphic Novel)– This is a great book by Joel Christian Gill who is a cartoonist and professor based in Virginia
  8. Farah Audhali (Music) – Farah is a talented singer songwriter from the uk and i love this collab with Blue Lab Beats!
  9. Butterly in the Sky (Film) – This is a great doc about the history of Reading Rainbow featuring interviews from the entire team behind it.
  10. Belly (Music) – 96 Miles from Bethelhem is a dope EP by MC/Singer Belly in response to the genocide in Palestine
  11. Vittoria Macioci (Art) – Love the illustrations of this Italian illustrator and comics artist
  12. Microcosm (Podcast) – Been knowing about Microcosm for years but just started listening to their podcast about indy publishing and it is great!
  13. James Shields (Art)-James’ watermelon couch is an incredible work of sociology, US history, narrative, and immersive art.
  14. Ruha Benjamin (Speech)– I know of Ruha’s name but this speech she gave at an HBCU grad ceremony caught fire because it is so true!
  15. Mackelmore (Music)– Man, was not expecting this bombshell of a song from Macklemore titled Hinds Hall, but I was so happy to hear his stance!
  16. ABC’s of Lowriding (Book) – This kids book by Ricardo Cortez is a testament to lowriding culture and helps introduce it to a new generation

Did you miss the previous inspiration board? Here it is, plus a few more

Inspiration board 44

Inspiration board 43

What’s this? This inspiration board is one of the ways I stay inspired and sane through all of life’s trials, and tribulations, work, etc. I’ve been making inspiration boards full of films, books, music, events, people, artists, movements, and more for over a decade. Do you have an inspiration board? Please share in the comments. Who am I? My name is Rob Liu-Trujillo and I’m an artist working in kid lit, public art, and other disciplines. Go to my website, or follow me on IG or YouTube. You can also cop my first art book here.

Podcast interview w/ the Multicultural Classroom

Hey fam, I was invited to be a guest on the Multicultural Classroom podcast where Roberto German interviews teachers, artists, educators, and activists about education both in and outside of the classroom. I’ve been following his wife Lorena German for a while hearing about their collective work to not only share insights from people who work in education, but their work as teachers who develop curriculum. Give the interview a listen and check out their website here.

Dig this? Check out this podcast interview with Art Concordia talking about why we need ethnic studies.

Podcast Interview- Art of The Bay!

I was invited to be a guest on the “Art of The Bay-Sessions” podcast last summer and I’m super excited to share that its out. This podcast interviews and features Bay Area artists of many different disciplines and I’m honored to be on it. Big shout out to Nando for having me on.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Kids books
  • The biz of art
  • Exhibiting at markets as a vendor
  • Murals
  • and working with kids

LINK TO LISTEN or you can listen on your favorite podcast app.

Dig this? Check out this interview I did for Oakland Creates

Inspiration Board 44

Hey fam, I hope you’re well. Whew with life this past year and moving, war, family health, inspiration has gone down the tube. I mean, I still read, listen, watch, feel, and experience but I have felt exhausted and uninspired to keep it real. I still create because I’ve been doing this for a long ass time, but sometimes it needs to be said that you don’t feel it. Anyway, for the past 6 months or so these are some things that fed or made me feeeeeeel.

Starting from top to bottom, left to right:

  1. The Purpose of Power – book by Alicia Garza. Reallly great read and reminder that the fight is long ahead (Organizing/Activism)

2. Texas Book Festival – 1st time visiting this historic book fest in Austin,TX. Shout out to Lee & Low, Reading Rockets, and the Fest (event)

3. The Spirit of the Palestinian People! – With over 75 years of colonialization they still stand and it is both painful and inspiring to have to witness time and time again. Thank you to the everyday people and the Palestinian organizers! (Resistance)

4. Dr. Marc Lamont Hill– Marc has been doing a lot of work to question society from multiple viewpoints and I’m thankful (Journalism)

5. Bisan Wizard– I’m in awe of this young journalist who has been sharing news in Arabic and English, risking her life to show us what US, European, and Israeli wont; what is happening is genocide (Journalist)

6. Jewish Voice for Peace– BIG shout out to my Jewish fam in the US acting up and showing out to show solidarity and prove that questioning Zionism does NOT equal antisemitism. They have lifted the veil for many Jews, Christians, Muslims, and atheists alike. (activists)

7. Olivia Dean – Love this singer songwriters music. Check her out! (music)

8. LaRussell and Tietta – This duo’s work to put their name, art, and biz savvy has been inspiring to watch. From Vallejo Ca (Business/Art)

9. Maurice Carney – I loved learning about what is happening in the Congo from Maurice of “Friends of the Congo” (Activism)

10. Frizzy – Graphic novel about hair, self acceptance and mentorship (Graphic Novel)

11. Sara Trellez– There’s something life giving and undescribable about this dance routine Sara gives. I could see and recognize the years of work, talent, research, and history she put into this (Dance)

12. Lowkey – This MC from the UK came to me through my boy Pele. I’m so happy I found Lowkey because his skills and wit inspired me. So smart and so relentless! (Hip Hop)

13.  Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers? – Shout out to Angela Dalton who showed me this book. Contrary to what adults may think, these are exactly the kinds of questions I think kids can and should grapple with. Policing has got to go (Kid Lit)

14. Motaz Azaiza– Brother Motaz is an incredibly talented and brave photographer who once again is showing us in English and Arabic what the regime of Israel is doing to the people of Palestine. Genocide. (Photography)

15. Amanda Seales– I’ve watched Amanda go through being an MC, a singer, a poet, actor, and now social media activist who has challenged and critiqued not only Israel but many other things. And she’s not just talking, listen-you’ll see in addition to living shes also studied! (Social Media)

16. Artie and the Wolk Moon– Great GN about a young Black girl who learns she is part werewolf!! Perfect for older elementary students and middle grade readers (Graphic Novel)

Did you miss the previous inspiration board? Here it is, plus a few more

Inspiration board 43

Inspiration board 42

What’s this? This inspiration board is one of the ways I stay inspired and sane through all of life’s trials, and tribulations, work, etc. I’ve been making inspiration boards full of films, books, music, events, people, artists, movements, and more for over a decade. Do you have an inspiration board? Please share in the comments. Who am I? My name is Rob Liu-Trujillo and I’m an artist working in kid lit, public art, and other disciplines. Go to my website, or follow me on IG or YouTube. You can also cop my first art book here.

10 Years of Revision Path!!!!

 

Ey, we gotta give big props and credit to Maurice Cherry who has spent the last decade researching, contacting, featuring, interviewing Black designers and artists. I started listening to the show off and on when my friend Qa’id Jacobs was a featured guest(2016). I knew Qa’id from Brooklyn and was astonished at the time to see a podcast dedicated to Black artists and designers like this. It did NOT exist back then. But folks Like Andrea Pippins, John Jennings, Kimberly Bryant, Goldi Gold, Craig Brimm, Gabriele Smith, and Dawn Okoro were working HARD even back then.
If you’re interested in architecture, graphic design, illustration, UI UX, etc go to the website and listen to some of these episodes. LINK

Listen to this episode about the history of Revision Path where he breaks down some of the hardships he’s faced over the years and some of the triumphs. Thank god he has kept it going! 
Thank you Maurice!!! Who himself is a great designer. This is his company.
Dig this? Check out Black Work Talk podcast or these Business Podcasts

LLAG Radio – Art Nelson Concordia interview

 

This is a really great interview with educator, activist, and dad Art Concordia Nelson about his work in Ethnic Studies. He has been a teacher in schools for over 20 years, was instrumental to the fight for ethnic studies in San Francisco public schools, Ethnic Studies as a requirement for all California high schoolers, and is now working on a program in Santa Barbara.

Some of my favorite topics he brought up in this video are:

  • Ethnic Studies going from the margins to the center and the attacks that come with that
  • Why Ethnic Studies and Critical Race Theory are under scrutiny and threat
  • How race was invented to divide people
  • The path of inquiry to understand systems
  • The experience of working with young people and the responses or questions they have
  • Anti Oppression/ Anti Racism
  • Sorting neighborhoods into workers, managers, and owners
There were more gems but heres a good quote: “Ethnic Studies is history from the perspective of racialized communities of color”
Dig this? Check out my last Ethnic Studies in Every School painting and the Coalition for Liberated Ethnic Studies