Cross Streets: Recent Episodes
Brittany Buongiorno and Chris Burton
Cross Streets is a podcast about race, culture and soul care. We are friends living in Brooklyn with a passion for empowering people and a collective mission for racial justice and community healing. By sharing and discussing the stories of our friends and neighbors in our community, we hope to promote the possibility of authentic cultural exchange between people of different races.
On this episode of CrossStreets we speak to Mbye Njie. Mbye is the founder and CEO of Legal Equalizer, an emergency contact app that allows you to get in touch with your loved ones through the use of text, video, and livestream. We speak about protecting yourself from trauma, the challenges of fundraising, and policing around the world.
Learn more about Legal Equalizer here: legaleqapp.com
Episode Highlights
1:10 working with students in entrepreneurship
3:15 Creation of Legal Equalizer App
9:25 Protecting yourself from trauma
14:00 New updates for the app
23:00 Challenges of fundraising
26:00 conversations with law enforcement
28:30 conversations with attorneys
30:00 policing around the world
32:50 Call to Action
On this episode, we speak to Vanessa Williams. Vanessa is the cofounder of Red Rice and Beans Diaspora Bookstore as well as the program manager for Teaching for Change in the DC area. We speak about the relationship between history and the present, how Black women in the south lead the way for liberation, and … Continue reading Time to Seek Justice and Joy →
On today’s episode we speak to Eddie Maisonet III, also known as EdTheSportsFan. Eddie is a Senior Editor at ESPN, adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, and founder of the Brown Liquor Collective. We speak about the journey of being a creative, his passion for helping others flourish and the legacy he continues … Continue reading Fatherhood, Family and Legacy →
On today’s episode we speak to Aria Halliday, author of Buy Black. We speak about the need for embodied scholarship, feminism In hip-hop and the contributions of Black people to the global culture. Buy Black available here: https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=83zmd7ed9780252044274 Learn more about Aria Halliday here: https://www.ariashalliday.com/ Episode Highlights -Aria’s lineage and influences 1:15 -The said … Continue reading Buy Black →
On this episode, we speak to Andre Henry, author of All the White Friends I Couldn’t Keep. We speak about the relationship between his music and his movement work, his journey of decolonization, and why the work needs to be joyful. All the White Friends I Couldn’t Keep available here: https://andrehenryofficial.myshopify.com/products/all-the-white-friends-i-couldnt-keep Learn more about Andre … Continue reading We Do This For Joy →
On this episode, we speak to public theologian and author, Ekemini Uwan, about her work as a writer and co-host of Truth’s Table Podcast. Listen as we discuss her journey as a writer, the conception and evolution of the podcast, and the church’s responsibility in social justice movements. “Truth’s Table: Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation” available here: https://truthstable.com/book Learn more about Ekemini Uwan here: https://www.sistamatictheology.com/ Episode Highlights -Inspiration … Continue reading We Have A Living Hope →
On this episode, we speak with author David Dennis Jr. about his new book, The Movement Made Us. Listen as he shares about the power of writing this story with his father, civil rights activist, David Dennis, and his journey to this moment. “The Movement Made Us” available here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-movement-made-us-david-j-dennis-jrdavid-j-dennis-sr?variant=39664845652002 Episode Highlights -Talking about English major … Continue reading The Movement Made Us →
Welcome back to Cross Streets! Listen to learn more about what to expect on Season 3 of the show.
On this episode, the Season 2 finale of CrossStreets, we speak with Brianna Burton. Brianna is a childbirth educator and postpartum doula with @thedoulasgarden. She talks with Brit and Chris about virtually supporting parents during the pandemic, Black maternal mortality rates, and why all pregnant people need an advocate.
On this episode of CrossStreets, we speak to Stephanie, founder of StyleBox Salon in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. Stephanie shares her vision of creating a salon that serves and represents the community and the challenges of being a Black entrepreneur.
On this episode of CrossStreets, we visited Stages Grooming Lounge and Barber Shop to talk to John the Barber about owning a local business, the loyalty of his customers and the culture created in a barbershop.
On this episode of CrossStreets, we speak to Kydee Williams, Manager of Diversity and Inclusion at CBS Corporation. Kydee speaks about her inspirations in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion, the influence of her Jamaican roots and the importance of giving back.
On this episode of CrossStreets, we hear from education thought leader, Jason Brooks, who believes, “justice is at the intersection of an understanding of history, humility and creativity.” Jason shares with us his educational journey, why access to resources is vital and the significance of vigilance over progress.
On this episode, we hear from our friend Kenton Kirby, a social worker and Director of Practice at the Center for Court Innovation, as he describes working with youth all over the five boroughs, the importance of being a responsive resource and why asking for an invitation is better than making an assumption.
On this episode of CrossStreets, we recorded a remote interview via Skype with our friend Nick George about the importance of listening, why good readers make good writers and letting your voice be heard in Central Virginia and beyond. Nick is the founder and executive director of The Listening Inc, a performing arts community in … Continue reading Employ the Art of Listening →
Lupus?! A wha dat?!
Zechariah 10 has been my comfort. A counter to the narrative that faith is anemic in times like these. Some take comfort in criticizing rage and pretend that God can be reduced to a justice less peace. This desire to preserve normalcy, this desire to have one behave one’s self while there are knees on our necks is borne in fear. Fear that your myopic readings of Romans 13 won’t be enough. Fear that you didn’t spend enough time with the prophets. All that book learning and you never took the time to see how much God cares about justice? You look for God in your things. You look for God everywhere but the margins. Where God always is. You speak of reconciliation. You have soothed yourself to sleep with the dream of bringing together. You refuse to acknowledge that reconciliation is the repair of the master-slave dialectic. You want…
View original post 62 more words
On this episode of Cross Streets, we have a conversation with Ms Zelma. Ms Zelma is the site director for the Freedom School Program at the historic Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. We talk about her passion for education, the importance of empowering young people and her hope for Bed-Stuy. To learn … Continue reading A Good Teacher Shows Integrity →
Welcome back to Cross Streets! Listen to learn more about who we interviewed for Season 2!
On this final episode of Season 1, we hear from Chris as he shares his vision of equity, the impact of his upbringing and his belief in resilience.
On this episode of Cross Streets, we hear from Jamal Simon as he shares about violence playing an important role in people’s lives, the value of knowing your neighbors and pursuing his childhood dream while defeating the odds against him.
On today’s episode of Cross Streets, we have a conversation with Keynara Merrill. Listen as she shares about the importance of positive family influence, her love for her neighborhood and the value of embracing the skin you are in.
On this episode of Cross Streets we hear from Jimmy Euro as he shares his desire for happiness, how he maintains his hope, and the challenging necessity of staying positive.
On today’s episode we hear from Janele Henderson, a born and bred Brooklynite. Listen as Janele shares stories about the strength of family, overcoming discrimination and surviving cancer.
On today’s episode we hear from Cory Morgan, a New York City native who grew up on the Lower East Side. Cory shares about family, the significance of belonging and the importance of perseverance.
On today’s episode we hear from Ron Taylor, a local gallery owner and artist who grew up in Birmingham, Alabama during the civil rights movement. He shares about being a young black man in a segregated city and the effects that had on his journey becoming a painter.
A brief introduction to the story behind Cross Streets from the hosts, Brittany Buongiorno and Chris Burton.