Best Ismatu Gwendolyn Podcasts (2025)

1
THE WAR IS NOT A METAPHOR: The Capitalist, the Defector, the Traitor, and the Revolutionaries 1:06:02

13d ago1:06:02

1:06:02

The global working class engages in active revolution as we speak (and here I am to pontificate about it). As I (ismatu, artist, the pen behind these essays) become more powerful in my world-making, where do I go? Will I defect out of the working class and join the rank of capitalists? Or will I stake my personal powers for collective gain?…

1
Targeted Deportations and the Changing Face of Fascism 22:34

2M ago22:34

22:34

In which writer and child of immigrants ismatu gwendolyn discusses the systematic deportations of academic immigrants. Beyond debating whether fascism has “taken hold” in the United States… what do you do when you are afraid for yourself? What happens now that plain-clothed “officers” hunt in broad daylight? All transcripts and sources available at…

1
Ismatu Gwendolyn: Class Traitor 38:16

3M ago38:16

38:16

In which Ismatu Gwendolyn, young revolutionary with a pen in hand, seeks to stake their power with and for The People, rather than utilizing the trust of their masses as a site of endless extraction. Link to essay: Link to video: https://youtu.be/jaEMTluGj5E Show Notes: Twenty Enemies by James Forman twenty enemies james forman.pdf you've been trau…

1
Notes on the Moment [02.02.2025] 17:14

4M ago17:14

17:14

Midnight musings on Bird Flu, Yahtzee, and the merits of taking a jumping break with your resident one year old. Pour some tea for this one. All essays (transcripts) available at threadings.ioBy Ismatu Gwendolyn

1
The Mythical Black Artist™ 28:18

5M ago28:18

28:18

Otherwise entitled, “Everybody wanna be Nina Simone; don’t nobody wanna sing Mississippi Goddam.” In which ismatu gwendolyn, writer and public scholar, unpacks our collective desire for artists that reflect the times (and holds up a persistent and unforgiving mirror). The full transcript can be viewed at threadings.io.…

1
State of the Constituency 2024 37:36

5M ago37:36

37:36

The purpose of the State of the Constituency is to reorient ourselves to who I am (the invisible pen behind all these essays, Ismatu Gwendolyn) what I do, why I do what I do, and how you all affect me. You are also invited to explore what you want from your participation in this ether community. I’m also sitting here with blueberry chamomile lemon …

1
On Fear. 26:29

6M ago26:29

26:29

in which ismatu gwendolyn returns to their stage to talk about what’s keeping them up at night. Transcription available at threadings.io https://www.threadings.io/on-fear/By Ismatu Gwendolyn

1
There are a great many springtimes: notes on Bethann Hardison’s Invisible Beauty 17:00

9M ago17:00

17:00

The strangest part about terminal illness is how often death comes for a peck on the lips and nothing more. A few weeks ago, I flew home to attend my mother's final affairs. Now we sit, smoothies and champagne glasses, watching a movie to spend time together. It's sunny this Tuesday. Here are reflections from Invisible Beauty on Bethann Hardison, f…

1
Harris, Palestine, and the Spectacle of Liberation. 43:16

10M ago43:16

43:16

a series of musings nearly entitled, “I am frightened by the way people tire of the world.” I have had a negative amount of desire to write but Toni Morrison said it’s your job to write when evil wishes to distract you so. Here I am, I suppose. The thesis of today’s musings are that we want the fiction of a happy ending more than we want actual lib…

1
The Question of Agency and Creation 15:27

10M ago15:27

15:27

Questions for your consideration: how do I appreciate you well for taking part in this space? And, how best can we a public good? Please whatever comment features you have available and let me know! ft. Afternoon of a Swan by Speedy West This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, …

1
Girl go to SLEEP! ft. lessons from night life, grad school, and strangers 1:00:52

12M ago1:00:52

1:00:52

Sleep tips for those who struggle to sleep when they could. Essay (and transcript) available at ismatu.substack.com. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ismatu.substack.com/subscribeBy Ismatu Gwendolyn

1
The Case for a Global Strike 21:34

1y ago21:34

21:34

A letter written for Bisan, circulated to my constituency: Peace. I write to you from the floor of my bedroom in Sierra Leone. Two days ago, Iran launched successful counter-attacks against the apartheid regime occupying the land of Palestine, currently known as Israel (which bombed their embassy in an open act of war on April 1). I can hear constr…

1
the role of the artist is to load the gun. 46:38

1y ago46:38

46:38

an essay nearly entitled, “the orange trees teach me art-making.” This essay is a continuation of my prolonged look at revolutionary healers in practice to become one— where healing also includes artistry. What is my role as an freedom-minded artist, this side of revolution? Check the link to donate to the universal basic income program for Ebola S…

1
toni cade bambara: i start with the recognition that we are at war 1:14:09

1y ago1:14:09

1:14:09

captioned live! we took one hour to read four paragraphs together. excerpt from: Conversations with Toni Cade Bambara, edited by Thabiti Lewis. I don’t usually save my lives because (1) that requires editing and I am already drowning in administrative work and (2) I enjoy existing in temporal space for only a moment in time, rather than being repla…

1
you’ve been traumatized into hating reading (and it makes you easier to oppress). 39:54

1+ y ago39:54

39:54

In which we engage the following theses: (1) the ruling class benefits from illiteracy. (2) short-form video entertains more than it sticks. (3) reading is a discipline distinct from listening, watching, or other forms of literacy. It’s a skill that needs to be honed separately. (4) Absolutely no one comes to save us but us. Full and accurate trans…

1
I want my community to outlive me. 10:04

1+ y ago10:04

10:04

internet friends, I am still burning alive. Today is February 10, 2024, which marks two years since my entrance into the social internet. This has been a terrifying, incredible, world-changing transition— maybe not (yet) for the world, but most certainly for my world. I did not have any social media previous to virality on my first TikTok video. Ho…

1
everything is free! no more paywalls. have tea with me. 21:34

1+ y ago21:34

21:34

Threadings. and quite literally everything I do is free! I only can do this because people voluntarily pay! Wow! Thank you!!!! Transcription below because someone asked for the still words. Long time no see. Hi there. If you're new here, which if you're here, I doubt you're new. I mean, but just in case. My name is Ismatu. E-S-M-A-TU. I like E, S l…

1
revolution, then, is a faith-based practice. 21:42

1+ y ago21:42

21:42

a letter to my daughter on the religion of revolution. Please lend your support to A Little Juju Podcast in their return! Juju Grant is a writer, ethnographer, show host and spiritual tower actively practicing wisdom anarchy. She so brilliantly archives African and Black Diasporatic Spiritual Traditions for free, and for the good of the people. don…

1
Listen As I Get Financially Planned 33:55

1+ y ago33:55

33:55

Today on Other People's Pockets, you're going to hear what it's like to receive financial planning advice, and the person receiving the advice is ... me! My income, savings, and retirement goals will get scrutinized by Isabel Barrow, director of financial planning at Edelman Financial Engines and frequent guest on the podcast Everyday Wealth, along…

1
From The Vault: Advice, Three Years or so After My First Wedding 22:35

1+ y ago22:35

22:35

An essay from The Vault on how miraculously pain steals language. CW: mentions of self-harm. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ismatu.substack.com/subscribeBy Ismatu Gwendolyn

1
There Is No Revolution without Madness. 38:30

1+ y ago38:30

38:30

The first essay of the Revolutionary Healers series. WHAT USE is "measured rationality" when to be Reasonable means to dying quietly, all the time? Notes from the text, “How to Go Mad Without Losing Your Mind.” Full transcript, with sources, at ismatu.substack.com. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or ge…

1
a prelude: “blessed,” meaning washed with blood. 18:44

1+ y ago18:44

18:44

in which ismatu delivers a free-styled, spoken essay where they realize Grief as a seed blooming their bones. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ismatu.substack.com/subscribeBy Ismatu Gwendolyn

1
Information Anarchy: The Case Against Sponsorships 47:58

1+ y ago47:58

47:58

The primary goal of this essay is to argue for a healthy skepticism of sponsorship-saturated media amidst a new age in information sharing, with secondary goals as following: * to commit myself to The People and my people publicly by way of refusing to sell my word online, and * to name explicitly the ways refusing traditional sponsorship places me…

1
Mutual Aid is Mutual! Recap + Readings 22:36

1+ y ago22:36

22:36

Since y’all stay asking me for resource lists. The here, damn! of it all. Full list and links associated at ismatu.substack.com. happy reading!! jazz of the episode: Tony x Larry Nozero, Dennis Tini Souvenir d’Italie x Lelio Luttazzi He Knows She’s Good For You x Cyril Chambers Two For The Road x Eddie Daniels, Bucky Pizzarelli I Cover the Waterfro…

1
Things are different now with our money 53:00

1+ y ago53:00

53:00

It's hard to believe it, but this is the 35th episode of Other People's Pockets, which means it's the end of our first season! For this special episode, we reached out to some of our past guests for a "Look Back" -- an update on their financial situations & viewpoints. Cord Jefferson stopped earning money for a while and didn't know when more would…

1
How I do money after severing ties with my family 34:45

1+ y ago34:45

34:45

Building credit. Being on your parent's cell phone plan. Learning to drive. There are many financial benefits to having a relationship with your family of origin. Today's guest, Jessica, has experienced what it’s like to not have those advantages. Jessica severed ties with her biological parents due to emotional abuse she experienced from them thro…

1
Raychel Sanner, Storm Chaser 40:35

1+ y ago40:35

40:35

How does a love of extreme weather translate into making money? Raychel Sanner is a storm chaser and co-founder of Tornado Titans, a media brand by self-described “weather nuts” who capture images of supercells, monsoons, blizzards and more. As a Choctaw trans woman born and raised in Oklahoma, Raychel is transforming the image of storm chasing awa…

1
Revolutionary Healers: A Syllabus 12:22

1+ y ago12:22

12:22

In which Ismatu Gwendolyn, new to the healing profession and rooting in revolutionary thought and action, provides structure for their studies in public. As my Auntie Dequi says, “Struggle is protracted.” What we are not about to do is sit up here and study five things for five seconds. And I’m guilty of this! I constantly fight the desire to be fr…

1
From The Vault: On Grief and God 7:35

1+ y ago7:35

7:35

sharing an old piece of creative writing because I, a mountain dweller, am stuck in the city and think of the sea. Originally written June of 2018 This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ismatu.substack.com/subscribeBy Ismatu Gwendolyn

1
Surprise! I am just like my father. 39:10

1+ y ago39:10

39:10

In which we: unpack the “is she mad?” mentality, contemplate informed consent for a podcast space, and be explicit about the care infrastructure and needs of Ismatu Gwendolyn. Thanks for listening <3 Read the full transcription, annotated, at ismatu.substack.com. Jazz of the Episode: My One and Only Love x John Coltrane, Johnny Hartman Say It (Over…

1
Ismatu Gwendolyn, Community Health Worker 37:09

1+ y ago37:09

37:09

Ismatu Gwendolyn is a mental health professional and life coach who is trying to rethink how we care for those in need. Ismatu has navigated sex work in order to afford life and graduate school, and they discovered that as a stripper, talking to men in a club was not so different than counseling a client as a therapist. Ismatu let us have a peek in…

1
Pocket Dial: Jared Ball Explains the Myth of Black Buying Power + more 41:26

1+ y ago41:26

41:26

It's time for another Pocket Dial! That's where we pause to reflect on the money themes coming up on Other People's Pockets. Jared Ball is a professor of Communications and Africana Studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore and the author of "The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power." He helps unpack the lies around "passion work" and wh…

1
Deandra McDonald, Real Estate Investor 33:55

1+ y ago33:55

33:55

What is this whole "financial-freedom-through-real-estate-investing" thing people are doing, and is it real? Maya interviews Deandra McDonald, a real estate investor and influencer with 320k+ followers on her TikTok, @simplerealestate. Deandra says she became financially free at 28 after five years of house-hacking (buy a property, rent part of it,…

1
Bari Tessler, Financial therapist 32:24

2y ago32:24

32:24

Have you ever thought about how money feels in your body? Or how sticking with a budget might start with healing your money wounds first? Today Maya interviews Bari Tessler, a financial therapist and author of "The Art of Money: A Life-Changing Guide to Financial Happiness." Bari explores what it feels like to even hear the truth about other people…

1
How we do money as a couple 48:50

2y ago48:50

48:50

Today Maya interviews a couple we're calling D+A, because they wanted anonymity so they could discuss their finances openly. D+A are in love, engaged and have been living together for about a decade, but financially it's as if they're just roommates. Separate bank accounts. Separate credit cards. One of them will ask the other to Venmo them $7 afte…

1
Kyle Coon, Blind Paralympian 42:18

2y ago42:18

42:18

Kyle Coon is a blind Paralympian triathlete on Team USA. Kyle was diagnosed with eye cancer at 10 months old and had his eyes removed at age 6. His blindness didn’t stop him from becoming a competitive rock climber, downhill skier, runner and triathlete. He revealed how personal finance is different as a blind person, and what it means to rest almo…

1
Jaya McSharma, Weed Doctor 42:18

2y ago42:18

42:18

A few weeks ago, I had the cockamamie idea to fly to Shreveport, Louisiana. I wanted to visit a weed doctor, get a medical marijuana prescription, and then smoke weed and interview her while high. And that is exactly what I did! Jaya McSharma is a medical doctor and the co-owner of CannaCare of Louisiana, a medical marijuana clinic. Jaya is also an…

1
Blair Pogue, Episcopal Priest 31:40

2y ago31:40

31:40

How does money mix with religion? Blair Pogue is a church leader who works for the bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. She's a longtime former priest at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul, where she helped manage the church's finances and encouraged people to give 10% or more of their income. She shares how much she's paid and whet…

1
Revolutionary Love costs you something. 48:20

2y ago48:20

48:20

notes on refusing to charge for client services. Cited: In Pursuit of Revolutionary Love by Joy James | Oshun’s Flight Cliff notes: stop asking me to settle for manna when the opportunity for community arises. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ismatu.substack.com/su…

1
Khalid Kadir on Islamic Finance in America 55:43

2y ago55:43

55:43

As a Muslim, Khalid Kadir navigates personal finance differently than most of his fellow Americans. That means not obtaining traditional loans (because you're charged interest, which is forbidden) or buying conventional insurance (because it often relies on speculation). Khalid, who teaches engineering at UC Berkeley, explains how following the rul…

1
Chelsea Fagan, Money whiz who rebounded from shitty credit 35:27

2y ago35:27

35:27

Once upon a time, Chelsea Fagan was a financial mess. She had a credit score of around 450, debt that went to collections, and so many unpaid traffic tickets that she got arrested. She whipped herself into financial shape by writing about her journey at The Financial Diet, where she's co-founder and CEO. She explains why some of her employees earn …

1
first draft thoughts: on revolutionary love and existing outside of myself 23:05

2y ago23:05

23:05

[The Preview]: Oh, then in regards to mutual aid, I keep faltering with this series because I can't, like… I think I need to find a balance between what I wanna talk about and what I feel like the public needs. Because I keep curriculum planning and then realizing we are way behind as a public where I thought we were when it comes to understanding …

1
Philip Persson, Rock Salesman 42:09

2y ago42:09

42:09

Can you put yourself through college by selling rocks on eBay? Philip Persson did! He's a geologist and mineral dealer who's been obsessed with digging things out of the ground since he was little. Sometimes it means trespassing. And sometimes it means confronting moral questions about where amazing crystals actually come from. Phil explains the co…

1
Yumprincess Elle, Audio Erotica Creator 40:43

2y ago40:43

40:43

This episode contains adult content and listener discretion is advised. Maybe the sexiest voice you will hear on this show? Yumprincess Elle is a voice actor, writer and singer who stumbled into the world of creating audio erotica on a whim. Now she has an avid fan base and has built a new financial future by doing this style of online sex work. Sh…

1
a former stripper, current workaholic finds balance. 30:07

2y ago30:07

30:07

No stripping did not ruin my relationship with men but you should hear how many hours in a row I can work nonstop hahahahah <3 on treating myself as a body that breathes and moves slowly. Much love. Jazz of the Episode [incomplete list]: Hour of Parting x Sun Ra Send In The Clowns x Pat Martino Lena’s Song x The Sweet Enoughs Cicada Season x Fuubut…

1
Laura Lyster-Mensh, Death Doula 32:45

2y ago32:45

32:45

In witnessing people go through the dying process, Laura Lyster-Mensh has discovered some surprising things: family-related financial shenanigans, aloneness, and secrets come to light. She's also realized that unlike being a birth doula or a hospice nurse, being a death doula is not a way to earn money. Why? Listen to find out. Follow Laura Lyster-…

1
Coss Marte on post-prison life: legal weed, workouts, and entrepreneurship 35:36

2y ago35:36

35:36

Coss Marte is a lifelong entrepreneur and the founder of CONBODY, a workout program he created in prison that employs formerly incarcerated fitness instructors. He also founded CONBUD, a legal cannabis dispensary that's taking advantage of licenses being given to people convicted of marijuana-related offenses. Coss talked about why being in prison …

1
Jeremy Bowditch, Politically-active, Wine-loving Ad Man who is redistributing the wealth 42:22

2y ago42:22

42:22

Jeremy Bowditch is many things: Neighborhood Council Member in Los Angeles, Lakers fan, wine snob. He's not afraid to admit that what he does to make money — being a creative director in advertising — doesn't light his fire. Lately, he's focused on redistributing the wealth he discovered by marrying his wife, and on being transparent about how they…

1
Ingrid Nilsen, Former YouTube Star & Entrepreneur 43:22

2y ago43:22

43:22

Ingrid Nilsen was one of the quintessential YouTube stars of the 2010’s, known for her candid, girl-next-door style videos about makeup and "boyfriend-approved" outfits. Then one day, she quit YouTube, saying goodbye to her 8 million followers and the fortune that came with them. Now, Ingrid runs a fragrance company, The New Savant, that she co-fou…

1
Therapists Are Also the Police: Social Work, Sex Work, and the Politics of Deservingness 36:33

2y ago36:33

36:33

Therapists are part of the Soft Police (signed, an MSW). Read the full essay at Ismatu.Substack.com. Thank you for listening with an open mind! Sources: No Soft Police! Event Recording organized by Interrupting Criminalization "No Soft Police,” a chapter in No More Police! written by Andrea Ritchie and Mariame Kaba (please email me if you would lik…

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