This is an episode for the kids who never saw their names on those keychains at the giftstore- like our guest, Nigerian American bestselling author, speaker and fellow podcaster-  Luvvie Ajayi Jones. Many of us grew up with names that were made fun of, and Luvvie's new children's book 'Little Troublemaker Defends her Name' is all about being proud of our names as kids. We have a conversation with Luvvie-  plus Hana shares a story from her kids podcast Folktales from Sudan about a goat who just won't listen..

For Pride Month, we are throwing back to our award winning episode, PolyFree Loving multiply or polyamory.  We already do it (we love our families, we love our friends, we love our pets), but it’s different when it comes to our romantic relationships.  In this episode, we meet Ambi, Ex and Intro, a triad on the verge of change, as well as Kevin Patterson, author of Love’s Not Colorblind: Race and Representation in Polyamorous and Other Alternative Communities. Crystal Byrd Farmer, who is a solo polyamorist, says that being polyamorous is a part of our Black heritage.  

A father's day favorite.  We hear from dads, people talking about their daddies, and we hear about the joys, and challenges, of Black fatherhood. We see you, Black dads. Featuring dads Chris Stewart, Rob Fields, and Sam Adewumi.

The Queen is here! Today we’re Stoopin' it with award-winning Nigerian author and ground-breaking cultural icon, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie! Hana has SO many questions for her favorite author- from how African stereotypical narratives are changing, to being a Nigerian mama in 2025 America, to book bans, and returning to writing fiction after 12 years since her groundbreaking novel Americanah.  We’re chillin’ with Chimamanda!

Do you ever feel like you may be carrying patterns that aren’t yours? Do you notice the way you deal with stress, love, parenting, or hustling feels inherited? In this episode, Leila asks herself these questions as she recalls a story from her childhood, and we dig into epigenetics—the science that says the trauma of our ancestors can leave marks on our DNA that echo through generations. We discuss the toll of push-through culture (hey, John Henry!), and why some bodies feel like they’ve been weathered by storms they never experienced firsthand. It’s science, personal, and a conversation about breaking cycles—before they break us.

You know it is Black History Month all year long on this podcast! And we know that this Black History month has a lot of us feeling heavy, fixated on the news- from DEI being dismantled, to government agencies being shut down... It's alot. The changes are daily, and drastic and… exhausting.  So, we wanted to step back, reflect and highlight what we know will keep us going- our stories, our voices. Today, we're sharing an episode that is one of our favorites to celebrate Black History Month: The Sounds of Blackness, where we ask people to share a sound that embodies Blackness to them.  Plus we sit down with the late and great, Nikki Giovanni, who was a Stoop fan.  So get that cup of tea, relax, and enjoy the episode! 

When Hana was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2011, she went on a research quest to find a donor that could save her life. Through this process, she discovered that another Black donor who shared her ethnicity would be the best fit. But studies show there aren’t enough Black donors to fill the need for Black folks who need transplants. Why? In this episode, we explore Black organ donation through the story of Arlinda Timmons-Love, a mom who lost her 15 year old son, and navigated the complex feelings related to organ donation.

CPT, African Time—yeah, we’ve all heard of it, but are we really running late, or are we just moving to our own beat, on our own terms, in our own rhythm? In this episode, we hear from some folks who dig deep into theories, and ancestral philosophies and practices, related to time. Do we need to rethink how we define time?  One thing’s for sure—we know what time it is. Time to press play on this episode.

When you meet Greg Eskridge, you’ll notice his smile, how easy it is to talk to him, and you’ll lean in when he tells you his story. After being incarcerated for 30 Christmases, he's making this one special. Today, award-winning journalist and storyteller Greg Eskridge reflects on love, family, and what this season means to him.

'Have a seat in my chair..' Today we're at the braiding salon with Ghanaian American playwright Jocelyn Bioh, creator of the Tony Award-winning Broadway play,  Jaja's African Hair Braiding. We chat with her about braiding salon culture, and the different kinds of people she portrays in the play. We explore the African American-African immigrant dynamics that can happen at braiding salons, we talk immigrant life,  audiences that maybe don't get it, and the practice of Black playwrights holding "Black out" nights at the theatre.

As Black country music is having its moment, Hana has always wondered why her Sudanese mom loved Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. You can hear country music playing in cafes in African capitals. There is a love of American country music among our African elders, many say they grew up with it.  While for many, country music is associated with white culture and isn't relatable, for many African elders it holds a very special place in their hearts. Why?  We explore the surprising histories and the appeal, and follow the story of legendary Ivorian country music duo Peter One & Jess Sah Bi. This ain't Texas. It's Africa.

Let’s take a moment. It was a tense few months leading up to the election. Today we want to pause, and share an ode to the Black women who continue to show up.  Featuring an essay by writer Stacia Brown.

We don't hear alot of personal stories about what it is to be a big man in Black spaces.  Today we go there with Ronald Young Jr., award-winning podcaster and creator of the hit show “Weight for It.” We stoop it out as he takes us back in time to when he was roasted at church, and unpacks what it feels like to be on the receiving end of ridicule by those who you feel closest to. 

Ring Ring! Is anyone there?  After George Floyd’s death in 2020, companies across the US were called upon to acknowledge the ways they were discriminatory and inequitable towards Black people. In response, they vowed to create space for Black voices, support Black content, and put Black people in positions of power. Black projects were greenlit and Black creators were asked to pitch their ideas.  The “Black jobs” were on fire! Until it wasn’t a priority anymore. The phones stopped ringing. Today we talk about the wave that subsided and meet with PR expert Ekaette Kern to hear her story of how she navigated the promises of corporate America that many now see as a grand facade.

What if we told you there's an entire book dedicated to the things Black folk say?  Historically Black Phrases by jarett hill and Tre'vell Anderson introduces and explains sayings like "I AIN'T ONE OF YOUR LIL' FRIENDS"  to  "WHO ALL GON' BE THERE?".  The book is a blend of the many things you grew up hearing and their definitions and usage all in one place. We sit down with the authors to talk about what makes a phrase "Black" and ask, 'are some phrases reserved for only some Black people?'Join us! 

We should all be free to be, free to love, and be celebrated in that process - if not by others, then definitely by ourselves. In this episode, Hana and Leila explore three stories that center queerness and spirituality, Black drag culture, and shifting relationship structures through polyamory. Through it all, the episode guests had to wrestle with disapproval from their communities - and sift through feelings of being outcasts - to eventually accept themselves. Bob the Drag Queen, Darnell Moore, Bishop Yvette Flunder, and The Verts make an appearance.  

It's our 100th episode! We're celebrating by going back to some special episode moments over 10 seasons of the show. Some made us laugh, others made us cry, some moments made us question whether we should really go there, and others made us even question ourselves. It's a look back, behind the scenes, of what makes The Stoop, The Stoop. Thank you for Stoopin' with us for 100 episodes!

Welcome to our Mother's Day special! There are many unexpected ways that people step into parenting. In this special from The Stoop, we hear stories about redefining family on your own terms.  We explore the term ‘Auntie’ and how some women find it problematic, we hear about the challenges of IVF for Black women, and we meet a family that shows us how co-parenting can evolve. 

Hana loves perfume, and there’s a long heritage of traditional perfume making in Sudan. But sometimes, sweet smells come with some controversy. As she explores the history of racism and colonialism in the global perfume industry with perfume enthusiast and historian Razan Idris, she discovers an intriguing story about an iconic Sudanese scent that has her bothered.

This is an ode to Black men's voices. Celebrating some of the voices that soothe, excite, or give us a sense of feeling grounded. Over the years, Black men’s voices have symbolized comfort, affection, and authority in pop culture. From the baritone of Barry White to the reliable tone of James Earl Jones, we're celebrating voice. We also meet voice actor and writer Kingsley Okafor of the group that became a viral sensation: Bearded Black Men Reading. Kingsley Okafor: @rukuslive