Meet the Front End Marketing Team
Tanaya Vohra
Co-Head of Media
Political Science Major, Human Rights & Health and Society Double Minor
Why did you join KSB?
I’ve always had a passion for storytelling, and as an international student of mixed Asian heritage, I was immediately excited to learn about the work that KSB does to elevate POC voices on campus. The idea of having a safe space to tell personal anecdotes, express concerns, and laugh about shared experiences in a predominantly white institution felt so welcoming, and after meeting and getting to know the rest of the team members, I knew I had made the right decision. Joining KSB allowed me to build on my love of storytelling by shaping topics that I felt were important and worth talking about into a well-researched and engaging final product that could reach a wide audience. On top of that, I get to use my skills in digital marketing and graphic design to help build the KSB brand and continue to grow our podcast – it’s the perfect win-win situation if you ask me!
What is your favorite KSB episode and why?
I am an extremely strong believer in power of food as a symbol of culture, history, and even social change. My favorite episode, therefore, is without a doubt “Decolonizing Diet”, an oldie but a goodie that discusses how so many aspects of our diets are, unbeknownst to us, shaped by the legacies of colonialism. It really forced me to think about my relationship with food, the recipes I’ve inherited from my relatives, and what it really means to be eating “authentic” cuisine. I learnt so much from the guest speaker on the episode, Tambra Raye, gave such interesting insights into everything from what we consider healthy to how we choose what to buy at the supermarket. It was everything you want in a podcast, and all in a bite-sized 25 minutes!
Myles Xavier
Co-Head of Media
History Major, Human Rights Minor, International Relations Masters Program
Why did you join KSB?
Firstly, I appreciate the name “Kinda Sorta Brown”. From my experience, especially within the United States, things (and people) are often defined as black and white. When filling out forms and I check a race or ethnicity box I never know what to choose. I am not white, and I am also not African American/Black as I define myself as mixed race. This challenge of definition is not unique to me, and one thing I admire about Kinda Sorta Brown is the diversity of backgrounds the team members represent. One of my main motivations for coming to the US was to engage with people I would otherwise never have the opportunity to encounter, and being apart of Kinda Sorta Brown was the perfect platform me to not only to share my experiences, but to listen and learn from others. KSB cultivates an open and welcoming environment, and I felt as though my experiences and perspectives are valued would be valued and help diversity the content KSB produces. I had previously wanted to be involved with a podcast, and had recorded one previously covering the history of hip-hop. Being involved with KSB was the the perfect segue to deepen my involvement and understanding of the podcast process.
What is your favorite KSB episode and why?
"A Dream for C.R.E.A.M." was an episode which kept on giving. Aaron's deep dive into the melanin archives to contextualize African American social and economic history in reference to the statement "Cash Rules Everything Around Me" is informative, accurate, concise and engaging, succinctly summarizing significant socio-economic changes in US history. The podcast is intellectual and accessible, and the inclusion of the guest speaker diversifies the perspectives. The overall podcast made me reflect on my own experiences, especially back home in the UK, where the history of black British people significantly differs to the black diaspora in the United States, yet the social and economic attitudes towards money being the “motivation” or “ruling everything around me” similarly run true.
Jordan Smith
Head of Outreach
Undecided Major
Why did you join KSB?
I joined KSB because I wanted to help foster a space where black and brown students could share their stories and provide commentary on the communities we exist in as well as the world. KSB covers many topics that often fly under the radar or aren't given enough attention on campus, and after hearing an episode, I knew that I wanted to help spread the word. I also appreciated the diversity in upbringing, identity, and lived experiences of the team. The idea of collaborating with such special people made me feel like KSB was a space that I could not miss out on. Being able to come together with people who look like me and have had similar experiences yet are so unique in their own ways has been a great privilege.
What is your favorite KSB episode and why?
My favorite KSB episode is “Black to the Future”. The hosts delve into a literary space we are underrepresented in, highlighting Black Feminist Science Fiction and Afro-futurism. They make the episode extremely engaging as they explore fiction’s effect specifically on black women. When we are given the space to be creative, not only are great stories born, but we can also begin to imagine a future that is kinder and safer for us. We get to see ourselves be heroines, invent and explore things, and have a happy ending, uplifting us and reminding the world that we are more than just black bodies.