
The Stoop
The Stoop podcast digs into stories that are not always shared out in the open. Hosts Leila Day and Hana Baba start conversations and provide professionally-reported stories about what it means to be Black and how we talk about blackness. Come hang out on The Stoop as we dialog about the diaspora.
Latest episodes
Jun 12, 2025 • 27min
Yes, we see you Dads
A father's day favorite. We hear from dads, people talking about their daddies, and we hear about the joys, and challenges, of Black fatherhood. We see you, Black dads. Featuring dads Chris Stewart, Rob Fields, and Sam Adewumi.
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May 29, 2025 • 29min
Chillin' with Chimamanda
The Queen is here! Today we’re Stoopin' it with award-winning Nigerian author and ground-breaking cultural icon, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie!Hana has SO many questions for her favorite author- from how African stereotypical narratives are changing, to being a Nigerian mama in 2025 America, to book bans, and returning to writing fiction after 12 years since her groundbreaking novel Americanah. We’re chillin’ with Chimamanda!
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May 15, 2025 • 32min
I get it from my Mama?
Do you ever feel like you may be carrying patterns that aren’t yours? Do you notice the way you deal with stress, love, parenting, or hustling feels inherited?In this episode, Leila asks herself these questions as she recalls a story from her childhood, and we dig into epigenetics—the science that says the trauma of our ancestors can leave marks on our DNA that echo through generations.We discuss the toll of push-through culture (hey, John Henry!), and why some bodies feel like they’ve been weathered by storms they never experienced firsthand. It’s science, personal, and a conversation about breaking cycles—before they break us.
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Feb 6, 2025 • 26min
Finding Joy in the Sounds of Blackness
You know it is Black History Month all year long on this podcast!And we know that this Black History month has a lot of us feeling heavy, fixated on the news- from DEI being dismantled, to government agencies being shut down...It's alot. The changes are daily, and drastic and… exhausting. So, we wanted to step back, reflect and highlight what we know will keep us going- our stories, our voices.Today, we're sharing an episode that is one of our favorites to celebrate Black History Month: The Sounds of Blackness, where we ask people to share a sound that embodies Blackness to them. Plus we sit down with the late and great, Nikki Giovanni, who was a Stoop fan. So get that cup of tea, relax, and enjoy the episode!
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Jan 23, 2025 • 27min
Bury Me Whole
When Hana was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2011, she went on a research quest to find a donor that could save her life. Through this process, she discovered that another Black donor who shared her ethnicity would be the best fit. But studies show there aren’t enough Black donors to fill the need for Black folks who need transplants. Why?In this episode, we explore Black organ donation through the story of Arlinda Timmons-Love, a mom who lost her 15 year old son, and navigated the complex feelings related to organ donation.
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Jan 9, 2025 • 25min
I'm on CP Time
CPT, African Time—yeah, we’ve all heard of it, but are we really running late, or are we just moving to our own beat, on our own terms, in our own rhythm?In this episode, we hear from some folks who dig deep into theories, and ancestral philosophies and practices, related to time.Do we need to rethink how we define time? One thing’s for sure—we know what time it is. Time to press play on this episode.
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Dec 19, 2024 • 23min
This Christmas Will Be
When you meet Greg Eskridge, you’ll notice his smile, how easy it is to talk to him, and you’ll lean in when he tells you his story. After being incarcerated for 30 Christmases, he's making this one special. Today, award-winning journalist and storyteller Greg Eskridge reflects on love, family, and what this season means to him.
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Dec 5, 2024 • 24min
Braids on Stage
'Have a seat in my chair..'Today we're at the braiding salon with Ghanaian American playwright Jocelyn Bioh, creator of the Tony Award-winning Broadway play, Jaja's African Hair Braiding.We chat with her about braiding salon culture, and the different kinds of people she portrays in the play. We explore the African American-African immigrant dynamics that can happen at braiding salons, we talk immigrant life, audiences that maybe don't get it, and the practice of Black playwrights holding "Black out" nights at the theatre.
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Nov 21, 2024 • 34min
This ain't Texas, it's Africa
As Black country music is having its moment, Hana has always wondered why her Sudanese mom loved Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. You can hear country music playing in cafes in African capitals. There is a love of American country music among our African elders, many say they grew up with it. While for many, country music is associated with white culture and isn't relatable, for many African elders it holds a very special place in their hearts. Why? We explore the surprising histories and the appeal, and follow the story of legendary Ivorian country music duo Peter One & Jess Sah Bi.This ain't Texas. It's Africa.
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Nov 7, 2024 • 7min
Black Women are Something Else (again)
Let’s take a moment.It was a tense few months leading up to the election. Today we want to pause, and share an ode to the Black women who continue to show up. Featuring an essay by writer Stacia Brown.
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