One doesn’t normally think of Netflix as producing podcasts, but the streaming entertainment giant just debuted a new podcast.
On February 12th, it premiered “Strong Black Lead,” a podcast (iTunes, Spotify, RSS) focusing on African-Americans who’ve had an effect on Hollywood and the entertainment world. The first season is entitled “Strong Black Legends.” “The first season will be hosted by Tracy Clayton, the former host of BuzzFeed’s well-received ‘Another Round’ podcast, and looks to have a strong guest list,” Engadget reported.
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This marked Clayton’s return to podcasting. Clayton’s former podcast had been very popular but came to an abrupt end. There was “a dustup that included a departure from BuzzFeed and an eventual stoppage of the podcast,” Vice reported.
Clayton is now head the “Strong Black Legends” season of the “Strong Black Lead” podcast, which will feature 10 Back TV/FILM legends from John Witherspoon to Lynn Whitfield. “Each segment will be one on one in nature, and dive deep into personal journeys within Hollywood from a black millennial perspective,” Vice reported. Clayton’ former “Another Round” partner, Heben Nigatu, will not be joining her at Netflix.
Clayton has a clear vision for her new podcast. “I just want people to have fun, learn more about their faves. I want them to be reminded of their favorite movies and TV shows they forgot about. I want them to relax and take it easy even if it’s just for an hour,” she told Vice. “Hang out with me because I miss everybody. I’m actually starting to remember why I started doing this in the first place. But unless y’all listen, it’s just me in a room by myself screaming at my producers (laughs). I’m doing it for y’all and I’m doing it for the culture. It’s gonna be a good time.”
There are a few lessons she has learned from her previous podcast experience. “The biggest thing that goes through my mind is the importance of putting yourself first because that’s basically what Heben Nigatu and I did with ‘Another Round.’ Once we took ownership of the podcast, it could of been us trying to get back on it, but we were just tired. Not only physically but negro spiritually tired (laughs). It was difficult in the beginning because I didn’t anticipate what the response would be. People really missed the show and some of them re-listened for the third time, I’m thinking… there are other things to listen to, you know,” Clayton told Vice.” It seems like a weird thing for me to come to grips with, because I had to get used to people missing a show I was a part of that much. I knew that people liked it but it really meant something to some people.”
There are some things she said she will approach differently, this time around. With “Another Round,” she said: “You had people saying that the show was really great, but questioning why it’s just a podcast…low production value, or low something they used to call us. I was like listen, you haven’t interviewed a single person that put this show together. You don’t know if it’s low. If it sounds effortless, it’s because effort went into making it sound that way. That’s a huge thing I want people to know. People believe it’s easy, but I had four anxiety attacks on the way to the studio (laughs). It’s a lot of work. If it were that easy I wouldn’t be so stressed out.”
For Clayton, podcasts remain very relevant, especially to people of color. “There are a couple. For one, it’s such a fitting forum for POC, women and other marginalized groups because we don’t need anyone’s permission to say what we want to say. With any podcast, it’s you only yourself. You don’t have to ask to use the N-word. You don’t have to go through another editor and wonder if you can talk about a person,” she explained. “You set the standards in saying what you want to say. You have the microphone, and being handed that after so many times of being silenced is a relief. You can breathe easier and tell honest and true stories. Another thing I wish people really knew was how much work goes into making a really great podcast.”
Future seasons of “Strong Black Lead” will include interviews with Lynn Whitfield (“Nappily Ever After,” “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate,” “Greenleaf”), Academy Award winner for costume design Ruth E. Carter (“Black Panther,” “Do The Right Thing,” “Dolemite is My Name”), actor/comedian Garrett Morris (first Black actor on “Saturday Night Live,” among other roles), actress Loretta Devine (“Family Reunion,” “Waiting to Exhale”), actor John Witherspoon (“Friday,” “The Wayans Bros.”), actor/director Bill Duke, and others.
