Code Switch
NPR
What's CODE SWITCH? It's the fearless conversations about race that you've been waiting for. Hosted by journalists of color, our podcast tackles the subject of race with empathy and humor. We explore how race affects every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, food and everything in between. This podcast makes all of us part of the conversation — because we're all part of the story. Code Switch was named Apple Podcasts' first-ever Show of the Year in 2020.Want to level up your Code Switch game? Try Code Switch Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/codeswitch
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 24, 2021 • 32min
Ask Code Switch: Thought For Food
It's Thanksgiving week, so we're bringing you a second helping of one of our favorite episodes, where we answer your questions about race and food. We're getting into the perceived whiteness of vegetarianism, what it means when H-Mart becomes a little too mainstream, and the etiquette around bringing pungent-smelling food to the (proverbial) office.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Nov 17, 2021 • 31min
'The Characters Are The Light'
You already know we love books here on Code Switch — and given that we're smack dab in the middle of Native American Heritage month, we thought we'd introduce you to some of our favorite recent books by Indigenous authors.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Nov 10, 2021 • 35min
'Being Fly Is An Act Of Community'
When 'Soul Train' first aired in 1971, there had never been a show like it. Fifty years later, that's still true. So this week, we're passing the mic to our friends at NPR's It's Been a Minute podcast, who did a deep dive into the age of Black joy — and Black flyness — that Soul Train kicked off.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Nov 3, 2021 • 22min
Love And Blood Quantum
If you're Native American, there's a good chance that you've thought a lot about blood quantum — a highly controversial measurement of the amount of "Indian blood" you have. It can affect your identity, your relationships and whether or not you — or your children — may become a citizen of your tribe.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 27, 2021 • 43min
Ask Code Switch: Parents Just Don't Understand
Or do they? This week, we're answering some of your toughest questions about race and your parents. How do you create boundaries with immigrant parents? What dynamics might interracial couples bring to families? And why do so many Black parents want to prevent their kids from looking "too grown"?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 20, 2021 • 32min
Painting By Numbers
The 2020 census data is finally here! At first glance, it paints a surprising portrait of a changing United States: The number of people who identify as white and no other race is smaller; the share of multiracial people has shot up; and the country's second-largest racial group is... "some other race." But resident census-expert Hansi Lo Wang told us that when you start to unpack the data, you quickly find that those numbers don't tell the whole story.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 13, 2021 • 32min
Skeletons In The Closet
In a small suburb of Washington, D.C., a non-descript beige building houses thousands of Native human remains. The remains are currently in the possession of the Smithsonian Institution. But for the past decade, the Seminole Tribe of Florida has been fighting to get some of them back to Florida to be buried. The controversy over who should decide the fate of these remains has raised questions about identity, history, and the nature of archaeology.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 6, 2021 • 24min
The Once And Future 'Karen'
If you've been paying attention to the news over the past couple years, you know what a so-called 'Karen' is: a white woman who uses her race and gender to wield power over someone more vulnerable. But long before most people became familiar with the term Karen, POCs have been calling out Karen-esque behavior.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Sep 29, 2021 • 29min
The Rise Of The BBL
Black women have always faced immense pressure to make their bodies look a certain way. But if done the "wrong way," achieving that idealized figure can lead to just as much scrutiny and critique. So today, we're talking about the cosmetic procedure known as a Brazilian Butt Lift, and what its rise in popularity illustrates about the type of bodies that do and don't get valued.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Sep 24, 2021 • 19min
The Dramatic Life Of The American Teenager
Kacen Callender started out as a kid in St. Thomas writing fan fiction. Today, they are the author of multiple middle grade and young adult novels full of empathy, learning, and a healthy dose of high school drama.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
