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
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
Sep 22, 2021 • 35min
Who You Calling 'Hispanic'?
But seriously, who? Because while it is Hispanic Heritage Month, the notion of a multiracial, multinational, pan-ethnic identity called "Hispanic" is a relatively recent — and somewhat haphazard invention — in the United States. So on this episode, we're digging into how the term got created and why it continues to both unite and bewilder.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Sep 15, 2021 • 56min
The Making And Remaking Of Afghanistan
For two decades, many Americans have seen Afghanistan depicted primarily through the lens of war. But that's not the full story — not even close. Afghanistan has a long, rich, complex history and culture. A lot of it flies in the face of the images those of us in the U.S. are exposed to. So this week, our friends at Throughline are helping us understand the fuller story.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Sep 8, 2021 • 47min
The Lost Summer
Twenty years ago, during the dog days of summer , a fledgling journalist named Shereen Marisol Meraji — maybe you've heard of her? — headed to Durban, South Africa. Her mission: to report on a meeting of thousands of organizers and ambassadors gathered at a global conference on racism. The conference filled Shereen with hope and optimism — all of which would soon be wiped away.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Sep 1, 2021 • 38min
The Folk Devil Made Me Do It
What moral panics reveal about the ongoing freakout over critical race theory in schools.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
