Celebrating Global Blackness: An Afros & Audio Festival Testimony ft Corey Gumbs & Weyu Hodge

Raphael Harry [00:00:00]:

Welcome to White Label American Podcast. This is a podcast that brings you bold, in-depth interviews with interesting people who are mostly immigrants taking down artificial walls 1 story at a time. This is a podcast that empowers immigrants to share their stories and listen to those of others. Thank you for joining us. Welcome to another episode of White Label American. Thank you all for joining us today on this super special episode. So who do I have in the studio here with me today? We shall start with our first Timer. WeYu.

Weyu Hodge [00:00:51]:

Hello, everyone. My name is Weyu Hodge, and I am also a podcaster. I'm happy to be here today and join the show.

Raphael Harry [00:00:59]:

Awesome. Awesome. And we have another returning guest. You know what? We should start charging this gentleman rent. You

Corey Gumbs [00:01:09]:

know? Maybe I should start charging you.

Raphael Harry [00:01:11]:

No. We should charge you for

Corey Gumbs [00:01:12]:

guest appearances.

Raphael Harry [00:01:14]:

Well, no. We're not charging you for guest Guest appearance. We charge you for rent, so that'll cover your guest appearance. But welcome back, and let the audience know who you are again.

Corey Gumbs [00:01:24]:

My name is Corey Gumbs. I am the founder of the Black Podcasters Association and Black Podnews .com.

Raphael Harry [00:01:30]:

That's right. That's That's right. Welcome again. So how's everybody doing today? Doing well. Good. And thank you for joining me. So today, it's It's gonna be a little bit different from the usual. And we're gonna have, a 1 on 1 with coming up soon.

Raphael Harry [00:01:47]:

She just has to lock down the date, so that's for transparency purposes. So I know people are like, we've never heard before. I'm like, yes. You haven't, but we're just sprinkling the salt so you guys know That's coming. It's coming. Might be a Christmas bonus. I don't know. I won't tell you all anymore.

Raphael Harry [00:02:03]:

But, we all were in Baltimore recently. And why were we in Baltimore? Where you wanna let people know why we're in Baltimore?

Weyu Hodge [00:02:10]:

Yes. We were at a podcast festival, an Afro podcast festival, and It was it was great, to see so many black creators, in the space, producers, creators, every every aspect of the creation world was there.

Raphael Harry [00:02:29]:

Awesome. So, Curry, what was it like for you? Well, you

Corey Gumbs [00:02:35]:

know, Afros and Audio is our community partner, so it's, it's important that I'll be there. It was it was great. It was a great venue. I had a great time. It's like a family reunion. You get to see people you talk to virtually or, you know, cross paths here and there every once in a while. But To finally get to hang out with them for the weekend and actually learn some stuff about podcasting from some of those great people that you, you know, you've learned to become friends with, but also idolizing the space or I won't say idolize, but, you know, you respect the work that they do. So it was a great experience, and it was a great venue, and I just had a great time.

Raphael Harry [00:03:15]:

Oh, yeah. It's a family reunion is the word. Yeah. I think that's that, yeah, that's become my family reunion event because it was just It was so good to see people that, I'd seen last year, and then there were others who you built that relationship with online. And, you know, you know, you're like, oh, man. You're here. I see you in person. And yeah.

Raphael Harry [00:03:41]:

Just as awesome as They are online in person, so you're like, woah. Woah. And the vibe was just right, And you didn't feel like, oh, I don't wanna hang out with you. You're not gonna no. You feel like, yeah. I wanna hang out with you. Even though the music is too loud, I still wanna hang out with you.

Corey Gumbs [00:04:03]:

It was loud.

Raphael Harry [00:04:07]:

But, yeah, it was it was beautiful, the city of Baltimore. Shout out to Baltimore. Loved it. I forgot to go back to the HBCU Store that I found on Friday when I arrived. I asked. I saw that store, and I said, I'll I'll circle back to this, and then I completely forgot because, You know, the the event was just so engaging, doing so much that yeah. By the time it was time to rest, I just went straight to rest.

Corey Gumbs [00:04:35]:

So did you see the email that was sent out on Friday? So Baltimore is now the home of I have an audio conference, so it's gonna be happening there more often. So you have a chance to go back to the HBCU store.

Raphael Harry [00:04:47]:

Okay. Awesome. Awesome. Okay?

Weyu Hodge [00:04:49]:

Yeah. And I'm also excited about that because I wanted to explore the museum a bit more.

Raphael Harry [00:04:54]:

Yeah.

Weyu Hodge [00:04:54]:

And I didn't get to see the museum because there were so many, sessions during that time. So I'm excited to go back and be able to have time to do that.

Raphael Harry [00:05:03]:

And for those who do not know, what's the name of the museum?

Corey Gumbs [00:05:07]:

Reginald F Lewis. That's right. With one of the first black billionaires in America. They have a museum out in Baltimore for him. So,

Raphael Harry [00:05:18]:

that's what I'm

Corey Gumbs [00:05:19]:

trying to do so.

Raphael Harry [00:05:19]:

I did not know that. I just thought it was, Oh, you know, one of the black historical figures out there. Mhmm. Yeah. And he is a black historical figure, but I wasn't aware of the billionaire part of it. And I've just listened to let me pull up the name so I'm sure I get Right. That was Mary I think it was Marion Plumb on Driptomaniacs. Shout out to Driptomaniacs team, The most recent episode, and I was like, oh, she she was like the, one of the 1st black or if not the 1st black woman billionaire in history, and I was like, oh, and coming down.

Raphael Harry [00:05:59]:

Oh, blah blah blah. I'm just getting black billionaires all of a sudden. Is It's a sign. Might be a sign I might become a black woman. Yeah. Who knows? Who knows?

Corey Gumbs [00:06:08]:

Or you might know one.

Raphael Harry [00:06:10]:

I might know Oh, man. I don't know. Who might throw some 1,000,000 my way too? Hey. All I know is a good sign. It's a very good sign. Yeah. So, Yeah. Oh, wow.

Raphael Harry [00:06:21]:

Let me see. Mary Ellen. I was close. I knew that was a Mary or something. That was close with me.

Corey Gumbs [00:06:25]:

Yeah. So close, and you're so far away.

Raphael Harry [00:06:27]:

So far away. Yeah. Like, I'm 5 1000000000 right now, but so can you share a moment from Afro's audio festival that, stood out to you the most?

Weyu Hodge [00:06:46]:

I think for me, I just started podcasting, so it was a great event to meet different people and also like put myself out there and say, like, this is something that I'm doing. Right? But something that really stood out to me was the End of, Afro audio when, it was announced, you know, if anyone wants to say anything about the festival, like, what are you took from it or If you would like to say anything to people that you've met, and a couple of people went up. And there were just a lot of people expressing gratitude for being in the Community. As a black creator, it can also often feel like you're lonely and you're doing this work. People are listening to you. Right? And you know you have an audience, but You're often doing this work by your on your own. Right? So it feels good to be in a space where I had so many conversations with different people. There were people from, like, England that were creators.

Weyu Hodge [00:07:40]:

There were people from, like, all over, somebody I met, from Jamaica. Right? So

Raphael Harry [00:07:45]:

people suspects. That's amazing. She's us. We'll be on the podcast soon too.

Weyu Hodge [00:07:51]:

But it was wonderful just to see and be in a space together and have Conversations around what our struggles are, what our obstacles are, but what did what is the beauty that we're actually creating too?

Raphael Harry [00:08:04]:

Yeah. Corey.

Corey Gumbs [00:08:05]:

So me? Alright. So, you know, my experience is a little different. This is the 2nd in person 2nd time I we attended In person. Yeah. I I gotta shout out to Rafael because Rafael held down our table. He did his, a whole day of interviews. He could've, you know, gone to the conference. So, and I think that was it.

Corey Gumbs [00:08:23]:

It was the sense of community, like, you know, just everybody stepping up, everybody helping you know, having fun, but also, You know, stepping up and helping not only, you know, and the team there, but also myself, having community members saying, what do you need? But I think, you know, I think this one was a little bit special because it almost didn't happen. Oh. So I think that's the Takeaway is, like, you know, when there was a need, a call to the community Yeah. For assistance, people stepped up to help Many you know, to help mitigate some of the cost of the gap that was there. You know, because a lot of us were in limbo. A lot of us were like, well, This is happening. It's just not. And typically, people tend to panic and say, oh, if it's not yeah.

Corey Gumbs [00:09:08]:

If I don't know, I'm not going to go. So, you know, I think For me to turn out and just the community being there was the biggest takeaway. And there was just a lot of great, you know, hearing from people, and seeing their presentations was just like, okay. It's great content.

Raphael Harry [00:09:23]:

Yeah. Yeah. Presentations were fire. And, shout out to my team here. You know? Walter, gosh. You know? They they they gave me some of the skills that I was able to apply over there with my photography, with my, you know, video taking. You know? Yeah. What? I was doing all that too.

Raphael Harry [00:09:42]:

No. But, it's, well, it was also my 2nd time attending in person. Mhmm. And, it's I don't think if it was if I hadn't attended last year in person and, you know, even from when I attended virtually, If I don't felt the community, if I don't felt like this was my place, I don't think that I would have Being comfortable enough to step up, and you're like, yeah. I wanna participate. I wanna be involved. So being able to manage the table confidently and black. Yeah.

Raphael Harry [00:10:21]:

I'm I'm enjoying myself. I'm still hearing people speak, so it's not like I'm losing out. So I can't I I can do this. Don't worry. Google does what you need to do. And I'm not feeling like I'm losing that. No. I was gaining a lot, and I'm still building new skills, and I'm Having fun.

Raphael Harry [00:10:37]:

I'm interacting with people and reconnecting with people who I thought I'd lost touch with. And it it was just, you know last time I manned the table, you know, at an event, I think it was on first first let's say, first time I manned the table at an event was I was barely 3 months in America. 2, 3 months in a mere of let's say 4 months in America. And Person was like, no. You go I'm gonna give, like, 500 or $4, $500. I was like, oh, I don't make money, and I never saw that man again till My mom asked me after the event. It was like it was our tribal event. It was in New Jersey.

Raphael Harry [00:11:16]:

It was like, oh, how much did that man give you? I said, give me. I never said man, the man said he would call me. She said, call you? Yeah. he's not gonna call you. So I think why you introduced me to the man and at the table and, you know, that kind of that that was so that was, like, my experience from doing manning tables and being being at an event that's supposed to

Corey Gumbs [00:11:36]:

be community.

Raphael Harry [00:11:36]:

Then so I'm like, wow. I I don't care about community. That's not this is how community treats you, and, no, I'm not coming community. Keep com keep your community. Okay. So that was already the beginning of my interactions with so with community with the world community, and You you can't understand why I wasn't too keen on coming out to events and then but Afro's and audio has begun to change That I'm not I'm not like, I'm not I'm I'm not like, I don't hear that word. No. I know that it's a great community.

Raphael Harry [00:12:09]:

It's a great place to The and it's just love. The vibes the vibe is right. So, yeah, I'm I'm I I'm so grateful for it. So, and the British normally, when when when I hear the British are coming, I'm like, that's bad news. Bad news, Jones. Especially for if you're a soccer fan, you you you know you know where I'm coming from. You You know, it's probably walk off season. You hear that, like, oh, here we go.

Raphael Harry [00:12:37]:

Here here we go. Here it goes. Loud noise makers. Here we go. But that was a great presentation. Those guys chose the rights. They're they're they're good. Their wordplay was good.

Raphael Harry [00:12:50]:

Their titles, Respect them. I hope they told me they will come on the podcast, so, yeah, I hope I hope to have them here. My relationship with Britney might be on demand. Let's put it that way. We're we're not friends. So Oh,

Corey Gumbs [00:13:10]:

No. I think it was great to have them there too because now it's showing you we're in an international. Yes. And it's not just I think one of the issues in, you know, this, Raphael, because I talk about this all the time with the community is, trying to bridge these using podcasting to bridge the gaps. Mhmm.

Raphael Harry [00:13:26]:

So that

Corey Gumbs [00:13:27]:

we can start having those conversations. And me personally dispel the myths and the stereotypes and, You know, in the in the confusion that happens in that diaspora between, you know, here in Britain and Caribbean and Africa and Even parts of east Asian wants this.

Raphael Harry [00:13:45]:

It's not just parts It's the south part of Asia.

Corey Gumbs [00:13:47]:

Yeah. South America, Latin America, all that. World.

Raphael Harry [00:13:50]:

If if you what's, what's She's been on this podcast. I'm trying to remember her channel. I'm terrible. I remember her name, not her channel, but she doesn't use her name on YouTube. But her channel show that there's The black community in every single country on Earth.

Corey Gumbs [00:14:05]:

Yeah.

Raphael Harry [00:14:05]:

And, I'm sorry my sister. I keep forgetting your channel's name at this at the wrong time. But, to come to him probably at the end. But she's the moment that that's why I had to bring on on the podcast because when I stumbled on her YouTube channel. I was like, oh, wow. From every single country she touched on this, on black history, from even, when the Russian revolution happened, there were black people involved that you know? And that the stuff that It makes people turn into that claim they love socialism now, but nobody knows the the black people that were involved there. The, Tokyo, Ottoman Empire, there's black people involved. Every single country, there's 1 black person who nobody knows.

Raphael Harry [00:14:49]:

They were asked like, what? What? That's I'm like this 1 black person involved in every single country. So, There's connections. There's bridges we can build into all these places. Yes. There's language barriers, but we can overcome it. That's the good thing we can do. And I already have a design for a panel next year, which I've borrowed an idea from the British, and I can say it right now. We still will fine tune the rest.

Raphael Harry [00:15:16]:

It's called the end of diaspora wars.

Corey Gumbs [00:15:21]:

You know?

Raphael Harry [00:15:22]:

Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.

Corey Gumbs [00:15:23]:

I'm glad you came up with that because Yeah. That was that was one of one of the first things when I started the BPA was that, you know, I remember they used to talk to you about, like, How do I meet you know, connect with the the the the, you know, the African contingent so that we can start figuring out how to work together in this podcast space? So Yeah. That's it. Now you have a you got me excited. I wanna see that happen.

Raphael Harry [00:15:41]:

Yep. We're we're we're gonna start it. I have a few people who bring Yeah. We'll have a lively discussion and should throw some of that. I don't know because

Corey Gumbs [00:15:50]:

the way you guys were acting, you know, the the whole the whole little African Continue that was going on. I hope y'all well, y'all was going at each other. I don't know. Do we need to have, like, Security is home.

Raphael Harry [00:16:03]:

Yeah. You need security. You you know? It's, it's look. The audience was

Corey Gumbs [00:16:09]:

all love too. I was gonna say it was all about what's the 40

Raphael Harry [00:16:12]:

year house. East East Africans finally met me, and I've met my version. You know, if you're watching Loki, you know, there's variants. And I met a variant of myself times 20 From East Africa, and, lord, have mercy. She said she'll be on the podcast. I'm like, I don't even know how we'll record the episode. So it's it's like a smaller version of me with way too much energy. I'm like, they need they need to ban you from energy drinks.

Raphael Harry [00:16:38]:

They need to ban you from coffee. They need to ban you from I'm like, dang. Right? They make they made you? Who made Ali? Why why did I approve that? And she's like, why did I approve you? And I'm like, you got a game. I can see we're we're gonna be good friends.

Corey Gumbs [00:16:52]:

Yeah. It was it was good. It was good entertainment just watching y'all.

Raphael Harry [00:16:56]:

Yeah. It was,

Corey Gumbs [00:16:57]:

So but that's what makes the conference so fun. Like, you know, 2 people meeting, and then they just hit it off. And, you know, now look. Yeah. You guys are, like, almost the best of friends.

Raphael Harry [00:17:08]:

So that's why I've I've been trying to talk to some of, our brethren in Australia, in, the Czech Republic. I will definitely reach out to black women in Europe. They have a large network of black women whom they know all over the European, diaspora, and and they know more people too in Asia and other places. So, Yeah. We need to reach out to us. Many people and y'all come. Y'all come. Y'all bring something.

Raphael Harry [00:17:43]:

Bring bring whatever you wanna bring to the table, and all that contributes to the end of, this diaspora war and all this stuff because All that stuff is just it's just, engage it's all part of the engagement thing on social media. But, you know, that well, I lost, a former friend. I used to be a friend, but, you know, the day I lost him on Twitter was He was fighting someone else who I don't know, but he was in another fight, and then he tagged me and said like, wanted me to come Respond and fight, and I was like, I don't know the person. So what is going on here? Why are you in this fight? I know you've never left the city in Nigeria that you live in. You never left that region. So what is this? And he's like, oh, so You're not gonna you're not gonna back back me. That's why you deserve to be shot by cops. And I'm like, oh, Okay.

Raphael Harry [00:18:43]:

That escalated quickly. But, this was just like, this was, like, 2, 3 years before the end SARS protest. And I was like, bro, but, I know I know where you live in Nigeria. I lived in that city, and I know how the police treat you there. So You're saying I'd get I deserve to be shot by police in America, but don't police mess you up too? I know you're a boy like me. So, Yeah. I know how police treat you. So, 's next thing I knew, he was targeting people I didn't know, and they were all coming too.

Raphael Harry [00:19:17]:

Alright. That's it. I I'm I'm not I'm not gonna spend 30 minutes gonna be shouting much online where we can hear each other. So Deleted. Blocked and deleted by sorry to lose you, but not sorry to lose you. That was the end of the relationship, and That was it. It happens. So Trust me.

Raphael Harry [00:19:34]:

Right now. Every now and then, I see that diaspora one. I just look like I'm like, who's the 1st person to have started this online? It's probably a bot, somebody who's not who does not look like us, but they figure

Corey Gumbs [00:19:47]:

that out. Is it diaspora, like, a diaspora war, like, Account, or something?

Raphael Harry [00:19:53]:

I wouldn't be surprised. Or hashtag? Hash but it's just like where the agenda was. There's there's always it always picks up. You know? I don't look for it anymore, so it never pops up on my timeline. Yeah. You know, because I'm like, I deserve I deserve entertainment. I deserve laughter, but it's not even entertaining anymore because it's just you just see people who are Unlimited it's like they have unlimited anger. Because every now and then, it strays into my vision or somebody would think they are doing me a favor, so they Report, hey,

Corey Gumbs [00:20:25]:

bro.

Raphael Harry [00:20:25]:

You should talk about this on your show. I'm like it's like the the person who thought he was attacking me on YouTube. I was like, Wayne, go bring up Joe. What's Joe Biden's son? The problematic one. When are you gonna talk about his laptop?

Corey Gumbs [00:20:38]:

So That's clearly you could tell who doesn't listen to your

Raphael Harry [00:20:42]:

stuff. Right? I'm like, hey, man. You can buy merch too, though. You know what I mean? You can buy merch. I'll set it on fire. Do Try the match first.

Corey Gumbs [00:20:51]:

Once you pay for it, you can do whatever you wanna do

Raphael Harry [00:20:52]:

with it. If you wanted to Protest.

Corey Gumbs [00:20:55]:

Please make a video so more people can buy it and burn it.

Raphael Harry [00:20:58]:

Just please please do that first before you know

Corey Gumbs [00:21:02]:

Share the link.

Raphael Harry [00:21:03]:

Share the link. This Ghana is we cancel this liberal. Call me whatever. He won't call me. Yeah. He won't call me the n-word. Okay.

Corey Gumbs [00:21:12]:

Slow down. Alright. I'll pray for that one.

Raphael Harry [00:21:14]:

That is alright. Yeah. I mean, they're not doing it to my face. Don't come come in my face. You know? Yeah. Do it on your video. Say this guy, Whatever y'all call me there, but still by the match first. Light it on fire.

Raphael Harry [00:21:25]:

Shoot shoot it. Shoot it.

Corey Gumbs [00:21:26]:

Listen to the episode too so you have even more things to be angry about.

Raphael Harry [00:21:30]:

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Please do. This is the episode. So Hi, everyone. If you're new to the podcast or a returning listener and you enjoy what we are doing here, did you know that you could enjoy more of our content and also support our work via Patreon? For as little as $3 per month, you'll get access to loads of bonus content that you'll find nowhere, and be the first to latest news. Don't miss out. Go to patreon.com/whitelabelamericanpod or just search for the White Label American podcast on Patreon, p a t r e o n.

Raphael Harry [00:22:11]:

Yeah. But, When I see people like that, it hits me up. I'm like,

Corey Gumbs [00:22:19]:

Yeah. But I think, you know, you're talking about that. I think that's why this Conferences like conferences like these are important Yeah. Because those types of microaggressions happen at other con conferences. Now I can't Talk about others because I haven't been to them. But Mhmm. I you know, my stairs where I'm at, people come to talk to me. We talk about these things behind the scenes, and it's like, really? That happened? Like, really? That somebody did that to you? And it's like and then when somebody says to me, well, why is there a Black Podcast Association? Why is there Afro Negro? And I'm like, the fact that you even had to ask that is the answer to the question.

Corey Gumbs [00:22:54]:

Mhmm. But, it's just a good space for you to come. You don't have to worry about all this stuff and, you know, the does a great job. You know? He really tries his best to, like, incorporate black businesses locally and stuff into the process.

Raphael Harry [00:23:06]:

Shout out to Talib, man.

Corey Gumbs [00:23:07]:

So I think it's it's important, but, It's really a good safe space. You can you know? This was your first time. Right?

Weyu Hodge [00:23:14]:

Yes. It was. Yeah. And I think the conversation about having more, Conversations about what global looks like is really important because that is something that I deal with on my podcast, especially my season is gonna be bilingual. And I had a moment where I was like, is this a good like, I know my audience is probably the majority of color. Should I introduce that I'm doing things bilingual or trilingual? Right? Are they gonna stop listening to me? So, like, going to an audios is really helpful to see, like, okay. Like, We're trying to introduce this conversation around what blackness look like globally Yeah.

Weyu Hodge [00:23:52]:

And conversations around, like, my podcast. We're talking about Blackness in Central America, right, in the Caribbean and organizing around that. Mhmm. So I really loved how that conversation is, like, part of this community, and I hope expands beyond that too.

Raphael Harry [00:24:09]:

Alright. So we don't have much time, so I will limit the amount of questions I ask.

Corey Gumbs [00:24:17]:

Well, now you've got

Raphael Harry [00:24:18]:

a lot of them. Oh, I got a lot. I got a lot. You know, I got a lot. Like, I got, like, 20 questions, but, you know, I'll I'll I'll turn it down. Do you know? I'm I'm bringing it down. I'm not I'm not like miss minutes for lucky fans. But, what advice would you give to someone who is preparing to attend their 1st Afros and audio podcast festival?

Weyu Hodge [00:24:44]:

Let's go first.

Corey Gumbs [00:24:45]:

I could go first. Oh, man. There are so many things. I think if I was gonna get somebody, advice when they first You know, be prepared to meet some cool people. Right? Be prepared. Don't don't be shy.

Raphael Harry [00:25:02]:

Mhmm.

Corey Gumbs [00:25:03]:

Everybody's welcoming. Everybody show love, you know, and they'll probably most likely introduce you to a ton of people. So have plenty of, business cards, your own merch, Or some stuff. Whatever you're gonna do to help promote yourself, have that with you, and, you know, Tell people about it. Like, let people know you're going. Let peep don't hide don't keep it to yourself.

Raphael Harry [00:25:26]:

Yeah. That's right. If you're

Corey Gumbs [00:25:28]:

a podcaster or you even if you come Somebody comes in who's interested in podcasting, you wanna come to the conference, come with your questions. There's there's plenty of people that can answer your questions That are gonna be there, but, come prepared with questions, be there to learn, be there to have fun. So, Yeah. I I think that's really about it. And just make sure you have your contact, your websites, all that stuff. You know, let Rafael knows. I've put that in the group. Hey.

Corey Gumbs [00:25:55]:

Make sure your stuff is set up, your your your episodes, you know, your, you know you're gonna promote yourself, make sure you have all that lined up, double check it, Double check your bags. Make sure you don't leave your laptops or or anything necessary at home. K. Speaking from experience. Yes. Speaking from experience. Like so just double-check all your stuff and just make sure you have everything you need to promote what you're doing.

Weyu Hodge [00:26:22]:

Yeah. I would say, it's really good to reflect on what the conferences mean for you. So if there's something that you're struggling with or if you haven't even started a podcast yet, think about, like, topics and things that you would like to explore that you would like to ask. And we have a really great app for this conference. It's called Whova. And we got to see, like, who's gonna be the speakers, what were the topics. I would say beforehand, just look at that and think about how you're gonna plan out your day because there were so many interesting places I wanted to go to. But, it's really good to, like, hone in on what what are some things I wanna pick up and learn.

Weyu Hodge [00:27:00]:

Right? And who do I wanna meet? Right? What are they doing? Right? And sharing that with them As well.

Corey Gumbs [00:27:07]:

Awesome. Oh, I'll do you because you said something. Yep. Don't come the day off. Come a day or 2 ahead if you can or stay you know, even if maybe stay a day or 2 after because people's some a lot of people stay. They come beforehand. I don't want people to miss, like, the kickoffs and

Raphael Harry [00:27:24]:

Yeah.

Corey Gumbs [00:27:24]:

You know, people coming, like, in the middle of Saturday, and you're missing some great content. So if you plan on come, dedicate your weekend to it. If you wanna sightsee in the city, whatever. Come a day early or stay a day later if you can afford to, so that you can get a chance to do the full experience versus And even maybe do some breakfast with some people who might have been busy during the conference that might have some time because they stayed extra day.

Raphael Harry [00:27:48]:

That's right. Great. That was great. That was great. So, 2 questions that will be that will step away from, let me step away from the Festival. Afro's an audio podcast festival. If you could have any dream guest on your podcast, who would it be, and why is it me? But yeah. Go ahead.

Weyu Hodge [00:28:16]:

You wanna start? Me?

Corey Gumbs [00:28:17]:

You go for it.

Weyu Hodge [00:28:20]:

I'm thinking about I know, like, season 3, I I wanna focus on, black people in in South America. So I'm I'm thinking about. I know that that is Farfetch, but Afro Colombian group that is very Pro black. Okay. And, I would I I would love to learn more about that and hear about, like, what they're currently up to and what they're doing now. So I would love to have, some Afro Colombian folk on my my podcast.

Raphael Harry [00:28:51]:

Okay. Well, that that's, That's not beyond the reach of possibility.

Weyu Hodge [00:28:56]:

Yeah. Very true. Very true.

Raphael Harry [00:28:59]:

But you must have, like, a dream guest that's, like that looks

Weyu Hodge [00:29:03]:

A dream guest.

Raphael Harry [00:29:05]:

Mhmm.

Weyu Hodge [00:29:08]:

I find that, like, the people that I'm thinking about, like, people that I admire, I I wanna hear, like, stories from people that, like, are doing things for the communities every day, and I don't even, like, know their names. Right?

Raphael Harry [00:29:21]:

Okay.

Weyu Hodge [00:29:21]:

So, like, I guess I'm thinking about, I've done a lot of work in Bolivia with Afro Bolivians there. So, like, even having folks To Moca Sabal, which is an Afro-Bolivian movement there in Bolivia. Right? So, like, having them and showcasing the work that they do. So thinking about, like, people we don't really know. You know? They're not famous necessarily, but they're, like, doing the work on the ground, in these places.

Raphael Harry [00:29:47]:

Okay. That's a that's a group in, I think they're Columbia Afro Colombians. They're they're a music band of women. They do Afrobeat, not the thing people call Afrobeat. The real Afrobeat, The yeah. I think Colombia. I'll I'll I'll send them to you on Instagram. I'll follow them on Instagram.

Raphael Harry [00:30:12]:

They might interest you. They might be of interest to you. So I know, Kari, this question is a little bit different for you, but still oblige me.

Corey Gumbs [00:30:22]:

I don't know who I said last time you had me here and they asked me that question, but I'm gonna say, for me, Who? Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs. I have questions.

Raphael Harry [00:30:37]:

I've I've been trusting him.

Corey Gumbs [00:30:39]:

I have things that I I conversations I wanna have with him about building products and building a company from the ground up and Understanding how, you know, markets and users and all that stuff. So, yes, t jobs.

Raphael Harry [00:30:53]:

Fair enough. All the question I have for him would have been, why did your company not, No. Why did they have to deny me my credit when I was brand new in America, and that's why I never owned an iPhone? Because I was like, f y'all Since you all said, I don't have credit, and I got deposited a ridiculous amount of money. I said, I was never gonna own an iPhone. That's why I never Join team Apple until this day. Love, man.

Corey Gumbs [00:31:19]:

It's been your loss ever since, but okay. What?

Raphael Harry [00:31:25]:

Oh, man. I don't do that. That that that discriminated against me when I was at the bottom.

Corey Gumbs [00:31:31]:

I mean, that's how credit works.

Raphael Harry [00:31:35]:

Oh, man. True. Creditworthiness. Samsung didn't Samsung showed me love. They accepted me and said, come on. Come on. Come on here. And that's why.

Raphael Harry [00:31:45]:

It's like never never to Apple. But I I like Apple TV, so we we can still work things out.

Corey Gumbs [00:31:57]:

So you mean there's a chance?

Raphael Harry [00:32:00]:

I I don't know by chance, but, okay, I've also used, Apple and MacBook back in days.

Corey Gumbs [00:32:05]:

It was probably a variant of you with us, like, all mapped out. Well, you're probably from the timeline.

Raphael Harry [00:32:11]:

I don't wanna think about that variant. Terrible variant. You're probably pure villain. Pure evidence. I hate your likes. Does DC Comics only.

Corey Gumbs [00:32:23]:

You can add these e comments

Raphael Harry [00:32:25]:

on me. So what's the most and this is gonna be the final question. What's the most unexpected lesson you've learned about podcasting, the industry in general since you've been in this game?

Corey Gumbs [00:32:42]:

I'll let you take this one.

Weyu Hodge [00:32:44]:

So as a new podcaster, I'm learning How can I say be patient. Because a podcast is not something where, I mean, for some people, you know, it blows up, and it's like, my god. Great.

Raphael Harry [00:32:59]:

Mhmm.

Weyu Hodge [00:32:59]:

But, for most people, this is something that you have to be, like, really passionate about, and it Sometimes takes a while for you to really establish, yourself within the field to figure out who your audience is and also be able to monetize, that. Right? So I think it's really helpful to be able to, like, talk to people and ask them what their experiences were, as a new podcaster. And also learn how they are, like, monetizing because it's really important for you to be passionate about the work that you do, but I think for especially black creators, it's very important that you're getting paid for the work that you do as well. So That is something that I learned.

Corey Gumbs [00:33:42]:

What have I learned? There are people out there that will support you no matter how crazy your idea is. You know, I've learned that I think so I think the ring thing I learned is, like, people gonna support you. There are companies that will support There are people that will support you. There are communities out there that will support you. I think in the podcast industry right now, we're still trying to sort out, like, community stuff, but, there are some really great people. Just you know, I've reached out to people. They've reached out to me, and we've become I I consider some of those people friends now. And you would think, oh, this person is in the hall of fame, or this person's running this company or doing that.

Corey Gumbs [00:34:24]:

And you just realize there's, like, a regular person like So, that that's been a big surprise. And that also, you know, in the black in the just in people of color content creation space, we are not monolithic. I think that I I'll drive that that point home all the time, but there are people out here with some really great shows that are talking about things like gardening or, you know, tech. There's a lot of shows out here that are struggling, and they're they're fighting to stay alive in this space. But they you know, we're not it's we're not just Sports gossiping, you know, relationship podcast.

Raphael Harry [00:34:59]:

Mhmm. Yep.

Corey Gumbs [00:35:00]:

And I think it's important for not only our communities to know this, but also, like, brands and companies to understand, like, This this type of content has its place Mhmm. But not all of us are engaging in that content. So you should be looking stop looking just in one direction

Raphael Harry [00:35:14]:

That's Right.

Corey Gumbs [00:35:15]:

And look in other directions.

Raphael Harry [00:35:16]:

That's right. That's right. Excellent. Excellent. I can I can't talk about that, but both of you covered my thoughts on that, answer? You covered my answer, in fact, so I'll leave it there. Baltimore. Shout out to Baltimore. Love Baltimore.

Raphael Harry [00:35:38]:

And shout out to Talib, Jasir, and The organizing team of the Afros on Audio Podcast Festival, love you guys. Loved It was just it's a great experience. I can't recommend it enough to people. Yeah. If you can't, for any reason, come out there or you're not a black creative. Buy a ticket for a black creative.

Corey Gumbs [00:36:00]:

You know?

Raphael Harry [00:36:00]:

You know? Sponsor somebody. Perfect. Because I

Corey Gumbs [00:36:03]:

know you have a diverse audience. I want people to know too, like, you know

Raphael Harry [00:36:06]:

Yeah. You can come too.

Corey Gumbs [00:36:07]:

Yeah. Sure. Yeah. Come come come, you know, come through because you might learn if you're trying to podcast, you might learn something different. Yeah. Do you know? Mhmm. Get a different perspective, and you build your network of different content creators. So

Raphael Harry [00:36:18]:

That's right.

Corey Gumbs [00:36:19]:

Even though it's kinda for us, by us, you know, It's open to people.

Raphael Harry [00:36:24]:

I mean, we we we have people from the the Latino community there. Yeah.

Weyu Hodge [00:36:27]:

Yeah. Apple Latinx too.

Raphael Harry [00:36:30]:

Yeah. Yeah. And they came in support, and we appreciate that. So come out there. Show support. I mean, we support, our we have support our communities in New York here. So come come to support us. Show us love.

Raphael Harry [00:36:44]:

We need you all, and, keep the love coming in. So any final words before we wrap up?

Weyu Hodge [00:36:51]:

Just stay inspired. Yes. And continue to meet people as we mentioned before. If you're in the podcasting Space or seeking to get into the podcasting space. That's my advice for you.

Corey Gumbs [00:37:03]:

Alright. You know, Thank you for having me here and being a part of this. And, you know, podcasting is a is a is a marathon, not a race. It takes time. It takes It's a learning curve. You're not just gonna jump on the mic and become, you know, the best podcaster ever. And if you're independent Podcasts stop looking at the celebrity podcast. Oh.

Corey Gumbs [00:37:26]:

You know, they have their place as well, but you wanna bring your own flair and your own touch to it. So don't be afraid to learn. Always be learning.

Raphael Harry [00:37:36]:

Always be learning. Always. Always. If you're not learning, you're dead. Yeah. Even zombies land. I mean, check check check out some of the new movies on zombies. You.

Corey Gumbs [00:37:47]:

Kinda saw that in The Last

Raphael Harry [00:37:50]:

of Us. Right? Hey.

Corey Gumbs [00:37:51]:

Yeah. Just kinda

Raphael Harry [00:37:53]:

yeah. Alright. Please let the people know where they can find you guys, how to get in touch?

Weyu Hodge [00:37:59]:

So, again, my name is Wei Yu. I am, the host of Labyrinth of the First Gen. You can reach me on IG, Labyrinth of the First Jack.

Raphael Harry [00:38:08]:

Alright.

Corey Gumbs [00:38:09]:

Alright. My name is Corey Gumbs, the founder of the Black Podcast Association. Look. It's a long name. Just go on your favorite, social media platform. We're we're most likely on there, but, typically, Instagram, Twitter, or x, whatever it's called, TikTok. And just search for Black Podcast Association, and we'll come right up. And yeah.

Raphael Harry [00:38:29]:

Awesome. And if they wanna submit their podcast on the black Oh. Pod newsletter.

Corey Gumbs [00:38:35]:

If you wanna subscribe or if you wanna learn more about Black Pod News, you can go to black podnews.com. That's blkpodnews.com. And you can subscribe and, you know, on there, you can learn how to submit for our future Friday, submit your podcast before our news new releases and a whole lot more.

Raphael Harry [00:38:53]:

Awesome. Awesome. So I can't thank both of you enough for Coming here, Mbanas, my people say, or Dankashin, as my wife says. I forgot the rest of it. Thank you. So my Arabic sick people also say. And to everyone listening, hey. Thank you for being on this incredible journey with me.

Raphael Harry [00:39:12]:

I'll see you in the next episode. And if you're angry, remember what to do. Buy merch first before you complain. Buy merch first. Alright? Share with your friends and loved ones. See you at the next episode. Thanks for listening to White Label American. If you enjoy the show, please give a 5-star review on your favorite podcast app.

Raphael Harry [00:39:33]:

You can follow the show on all social media platforms. Visit the White Label American website for links, donations, episodes, feedback, guests, merch, and newsletter. Don't forget to download the free White Label American app on the Google Play Store and Apple coming soon. Thank you for the privilege of your company.