Blacklining Forum

Feb 17, 2026 · 40m

Moving with a loved one overseas to start a new life is a dream shared by lots of couples. But what would you do if the relationship ended after you moved? Would you stay in your new home, navigating in a new language and living in a new culture? That was a choice guest Nigel Lovell faced when he left Birmingham, UK for Barcelona, Spain. Not only did he sort out the details of his own life, but he also found a way to build community along the way.Chapters 00:00 Intro04:26 Guest intro06:36 Nigel’s journey13:29 Navigating18:26 Opportunities abroad?20:00 Diversity and racism28:54 Classical music and curry32:10 Barcelona’s Black community34:19 Kwanzaa or Juneteenth?38:18 Conclusion

Feb 3, 2026 · 48m

Empire is global. There’s no outside place for anyone to escape. However, Joris Lechene offers seeds of hope and shares his thoughts on the places where we may begin to find antidotes to capitalist systems of control. But, he argues, we need to change how we perceive the world in order to recognize and build upon those creations. Join us on a conversation that spans the globe from Greenland to Papua New Guinea.Chapters 00:00 Intro05:35 Bubbles of hope09:04 Coping mechanism12:50 Culture16:53 Greenland25:00 Colonization vs Invasion27:45 Clinging on to survival35:42 Diaspora42:30 Call to action48:10 Conclusion

Jan 20, 2026 · 55m

In the two years that have passed since our first conversation with Sheena Collier from Boston While Black, the optimism that was buoyed by generous corporate and institutional support has evaporated under the scorched-earth tactics of people determined to erase progress and memory by every means available. But is that our fate? As Sheena and Derek discuss, we’ve been here before. So how do we prepare for the times ahead?Chapters 00:00 Intro02:22 A different timeline06:19 Guest introduction09:26 Celebrating12:00 Safety15:26 Cycles21:54 IRL27:40 Context and connectivity35:49 Curated spaces43:20 Positioning BWB54:11 Conclusion

Dec 16, 2025 · 1h 6m

A lot has been said about the potential impact Zohran Mamdani’s soon-to-be mayoralty will have on New York City’s wealthy. But what about his effect on New York City generally? It’s a big place with millions connected - and affected - by the ribbons of highways built by Robert Moses four generations ago. As those highways reach the ends of their lifespans, what are the opportunities Mayor Mamdani will have to reconnect communities and improve the lives of city residents? Adam Susaneck returns to share his thoughts. Show notesNYCThe Power Broker: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1111.The_Power_Broker Loving the Bronx: https://bronxriver.org/partner/loving-the-bronx Cross Bronx Expressway: https://www.segregationbydesign.com/the-bronx/the-cross-bronx-expresswayBostonCentral Artery: https://www.segregationbydesign.com/boston/the-central-artery Rose Kennedy Greenway: https://www.rosekennedygreenway.org/ MBTA: https://www.mbta.com/mapsNewmarket, Boston: https://newmarketbid.org/ Chapters00:00 Intro05:20 Mayors and governors09:19 Guest intro13:19 Change elections18:13 Infrastructure and affordability21:16 Zohran v Barack25:04 Representation-plus28:48 Robert Moses35:47 Highway removal40:44 Passenger vs freight45:04 Boston went wrong49:28 Imagining reconnection1:00:23 Entrenched beliefs1:04:33 Conclusion

Dec 2, 2025 · 58m

How do you reverse 400 years of economic disconnection? That’s the question Paul Laka’s work at Fuest Construction Brokers aims to address as he builds new collaborations between Africans in and from the diaspora with local communities, specifically in Cameroon. Paul describes his efforts as a shift in the flow of capital away from charity and toward sustainable investments. But, with the world increasingly competing for the African market, how does he envision people with greater means participating in African economies without replicating colonial systems of extraction and entitlement?Chapters00:00 Intro03:07 Chrysalis08:20 Guest intro13:27 Diaspora17:04 Safety net23:20 Growth and sustainability26:39 Entitlement/Partnership32:36 Bushfallers37:08 Not charity42:41 Risk and Returns50:58 What’s next?58:07 Conclusion

Nov 18, 2025 · 1h 2m

Today's episode is brought to you by the number 3, and by the letter X. If that sounds vaguely familiar to you, you probably grew up watching Sesame Street. In this episode, three Gen Xers cover a broad range of topics, from Larry Bird to LeVar Burton, and yes, Sesame Street, as well as how those collectively influenced Gen X to think about what community looks like. NotesBlacklining Forum websiteThe Greatest Night in Pop (movie)Chapters00:00 Intro02:10 Melony’s landline04:58 80s pop icons08:14 Malia’s show and tell12:53 Pan Africanism and the diaspora18:36 Blue collar Boston26:08 PBS 33:48 Latchkey kids42:22 Jobs & allowances50:00 Mix tapes and cigarettes53:43 Building community in the 80s57:25 The new elders1:02:24 Conclusion

Nov 4, 2025 · 1h 2m

Joris Lechêne took us on an extraordinary journey of the mind and around the world! Although the conversation began modestly by talking about walls and healthy environments, it quickly expanded to encompass coloniality, decoloniality, and our current state of global Empire. However, Joris also suggested a way out of our current system, and named a very specific group of people who he believes are not really in community with the rest of us. Can you guess who they are?Chapters00:00 Intro03:34 Walls07:57 Guest intro11:24 Joris’ Journey15:10 Coloniality20:53 Decoloniality25:19 Collapse36:18 Planetary empire39:30 Power worship46:10 Wealth52:20 Black Capitalism54:58 Core vs colonized59:38 What’s next?

Oct 21, 2025 · 50m

Scientific research. Public education. Public health. Civil rights protections. Voting rights protections? The list of milestones by which American society once measured democratic progress is steadily being eroded. As some reap the benefits of this changing social and political landscape, many others are asking what about us? Wilnelia Rivera shares her thoughts on how she's navigating and evolving in this moment.Chapters00:00 Intro02:30 What about us07:22 Guest intro08:56. Rejection12:17 Mindbreaking17:39 Competition27:39 Vulnerability30:11 Clarity31:50 Otters35:04 Relating38:21 Dreaming46:02 Danger50:15 Conclusion

Aug 5, 2025 · 36m

It's midsummer. You're going to a cookout. Who're you inviting? It's a simple question, but that decision could make or break your party.We used the idea of a cookout as a metaphor for a tight-knit gathering of community with whom we'd like to share stories, ideas, and dreams. Cousin Malia Lazu joins us again to expand the conversation by discussing what community is and how people from different communities could communicate with each other.Chapters00:00 Intro01:34 The Cookout02:34 The future04:35 The past08:30 The jokes09:42 Community is…13:17 Bringing communities together17:49 “Citizen”24:06 Mob mentality vs accountability26:53 “Black” community is…33:37 Sinners (film), with spoilers36:26 Conclusion