Episode 36 - Emma Francis Snyder - “Pa’lante” & “Que Bonita Bandera”
Photo Credit: Brian Galderisi
[Image Description: Emma is pictured from the torso up against a black background. She has shoulder-length brownish, blonde hair and wears black glasses and red lipstick. She wears a black long-sleeved top.]
In the first full episode of 2022, I chat with the filmmaker and activist Emma Francis-Snyder about her Oscar-shortlisted short Takeover! We talk about her journey as a white person and the obligation to uncover and celebrate these hidden histories and all things Takeover! Including the history of the Young Lords, her many interactions with journalist and Democracy Now! co-host Juan Gonzalez. This week’s episode has not one but two songs! The first is the resistance anthem “Pa’lante” by Hurray for the Riff Raff. From 1948 to 1957, flying the Puerto Rican flag was illegal and so was singing patriotic tunes. The second song for this episode, “Que Bonita Bandera” by Pepe Y Flora, directly responded to that bigotry. Here is our conversation, which was recorded in January 2022.
Episode 22 - Steven Eastwood & Elhum Shakerifar - “Cactus”
Photo Credit: Elhum Shakerifar
[image Description: Elhum is pictured from the neck up. She wears a teal blouse, a gold necklace, and glasses. She smiles at the camera. She is turned slightly to the side and black hair is swooped to the side.]
Photo Credit: Steven Eastwood
[Image Description: Steven is pictured from the chest up. He wears a teal flowered t-shirt. His head is turned slightly to the side.]
In this episode, I speak with UK-based artist-filmmaker Steven Eastwood and producer, Elhum Shakerifar about their collaborative work on the film ISLAND and how that work has shaped their thoughts on the exploration of death and dying in the time of COViD. We also chat about their current film and multiscreen installation the Neurocultures Project which not only centers on the neurodiverse experience but is being co-created with autistic artists. Because Steven, Elhum and the artists with whom they work center the diversity and complexity of the human experience, this week’s song is “Cactus” from the London-based neurodiverse funk band the Fish Police.