Fo’ Yo’ Soul Podcast

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Real People, Real Talk, Real Stories, and Real Conversations. The African American Cultural Center’s “Fo’ Yo’ Soul” podcast seeks to provide black students, faculty, and staff with a liberating space of freedom to unpack topics that are good for the mind, body, and soul!

Our podcast may occasionally contain strong language and topics that may be triggering listeners’ discretion is advised. If you are a student who is looking for support after listening to this podcast you have access to free therapy via the NC State Counseling Center. If you are a faculty/staff person at NC State. You also have access to free therapy via your university benefits. Please let us know if we can help make connections.

Views expressed by individuals in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily represent the views held by the African American Cultural Center, the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity, or NC State University.

Wondering how you can be featured on this podcast? Contact Isaiah Lucas, Program Coordinator.

Our Latest Episode

Episode 7: Black Girl Maverick

On this episode of the Fo' Yo' Soul Podcast, we will have an authentic conversation with Avery Bolden as she talks us through what it means to be a black girl maverick.

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Fall 2021 Episodes

Episode 1: New Vision, New Direction

Tune into the Fo Yo Soul Podcast as we meet with the African American Cultural Center to understand the new vision and the new direction of the center. In this episode, the AACC staff shares their purpose, vision, and direction for the center through various lenses. Learn how to make the center your home and a place of rest! You don't want to miss this.

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Episode 2: Being Black in the Pack

Our latest episode invites student leaders from the black community to a safe space to unpack what it means to be a black student at North Carolina State University. Through transparent and honest dialogue, this conversation allows the NC State Community to hear some of the diverse perspectives our black students have around the navigation of a historically/predominantly white institution. You don't want to miss this!

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Bonus Episode: Storytelling with Toni "Mama" Thorpe

Toni Thope affectionately known as Mama Thorpe in this bonus episode of the Fo' Yo' Soul podcast walks us through some pivotal moments that have led to our privilege of an African American Cultural Center. Mama Thorpe reminds us of the importance and power of passing down oral history through storytelling in black communities. This episode instills in listeners the power of learning from the past to build our future. Let the words of this podcast episode contribute to your and our liberation.

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Episode 3: We do More than Step and Stroll

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (Divine 9) has a long-standing historical reputation of being an integral and energetic addition and enhancement to the student experience at institutions of higher learning across the United States. But the Divine 9 is so much more than that, the divine 9 is more than stepping, the divine 9 is more than strolling, the divine 9 was and is a key change agent and the ongoing fight for racial justice, the divine 9 is a key group in the ongoing advocacy and education of African American communities.

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Episode 4: Welcome Black

On this episode of the Fo' Yo' Soul podcast, the African American Cultural Center welcomes back three distinguished alum; Shawn Penn, Jamila Simpson, and Mariah Walker. This episode explores the black alumni experience, how the black student experience has evolved, and highlights the feelings around returning home for Red + White Week. The episode closes in a powerful way and our black alumni give meaningful advice for our current students and future alumni. Don't miss this special Red + White Week episode.

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Episode 5: Find Your Way Back

The African American Cultural Center explores the most recent wave of the African Diaspora in the United States and identity formation as NC State students. This episode is an exploration of the many cultural exchanges that happen every day on campus.

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Episode 6: Hey Girl, Hey!

Our latest episode is a conversation about navigating collegiate life at a PWMI (Predominately White Male Institution) when you don't match the gender or racial identity. We use Kimberlé Crenshaw's term and framework Intersectionality to talk about Crenshaw's original demographic Black Women. We explore from academics, social life to home life what it means to be a Black Woman in totality in higher education.

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Spring 2021 Episodes

Episode 1: Welcome!

In this intro episode, we outline the mission behind our podcast. Through this podcast, we hope to create a space that provides students, staff, and faculty with resources and allows them to share and celebrate their passion and perspectives. Edited by Alex Valencia, music by Tim Mensa.

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Episode 2: Cultivating your Passion: Ashley Gaddy

In this episode, we interviewed Ashley Gaddy, founder and head consultant of Ashley Gaddy Enterprises. Tune in to discover what Ashley's passions are, how she was able to cultivate her passions, and how her passions continue to aid in her personal liberation. Edited by Alex Valencia, music by Nate Browning.

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Episode 3: Cultivating your Passion: Dr. Tiffany Wiggins

Tune in to this episode where we talk with Dr.Tiffany Wiggins, founder and creator of Black Girl Mentor, and the host of the Black Girl Mentor podcast. We discuss how she discovered her passions and how she is cultivating her passions through her work with Black Girl Mentor. Edited by Alex Valencia, music by Nate Browning.

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Episode 4: History and Importance of the Library

This special episode of the AACC Podcast is dedicated to Mrs. Angela Jenkins, the previous library coordinator. In this episode, interim library technician, Andie Batt (she/her), discusses the history of the library, its collection, and the impact of the library on the campus community. Several guests' perspectives on the library are also featured in this episode, including: Michael Lewis (he/him), angela gay-audre (she/they), Nashia Whittenburg (she/her), and Tonya Hines (she/her). Edited by Alex Valencia, music by Nate Browning.

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Black Wellness with Trumane Lee

Tune in to this special episode where the AACC interim Program Coordinator, Aminat Bashorun, along with special guest Trumane Lee, discuss Black Wellness; how we define wellness as black folx, the barriers to wellness for black folx, and how wellness can be attainable and sustainable. Edited by Alex Valencia, music by Nate Browning.

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