When a ballet teacher told co-host Leila Day that her back should be straight on the ground, no light shining through, and Leila couldn't make it happen, her dreams to be a ballet dancer disappeared. The world of classical ballet is extremely difficult to break into, and for those who do, there's a lot that comes with it, especially when you're "the only". This episode looks at breaking the line.   We talk about ballet, bodies, and skin tone with former ballerina Aesha Ashe, and dance educator and writer Theresa Ruth Howard.

Season 2 is here! We explore the history of colorism, from Compton to the markets in Sudan. Dissecting a Hollywood casting call, and asking why are Black people bleaching their skin? It gets personal.  

The Stoop is back. Warm those feeds and get ready for a full season of going deep into stories from the Black diaspora. We can't wait to show you what we've been up to!  Hosts Leila Day (the 'fro)  and Hana Baba (the scarf) 

Writer, mother and part-time hippie Stacia Brown is making our hearts sing and fingers snap with all she has to bring in this essay about the strength of Black women and the myth of the angry Black woman.   Listen in and relax. 

It's been a season! Now we wrap things up with a visit to a therapist. Talking some things out and shaking it out with some line dancing senior citizens.    Keep following us on  twitter:  @thestooppodcast  or on Facebook @thestoop  

We explore the phenomenon of African immigrants returning to the continent from the US through the stories of three 'returnees'. Guests include actress  Maame Adjei, award-winning author Yaa Gyasi, and radio entrepreneur DJ Taha Roubi.

Tone it down, Angry black woman. A conversation with two black women in the corporate world who sometimes tone it down in order to avoid stereotypes. What's behind the Angry black woman stereotype, and what's it doing to people psychologically?

Many immigrants imagine the US to be heaven. A moneymaking, perfect paradise but when they get here, it's a different story. We meet African immigrants who tell their stories of Coming to America, and what the wish they knew before they came.

When you're from an immigrant community, becoming a successful musician isn't an easy journey. We meet 3 dope diaspora musicians: Meklit Hadero, Oddisee, and AlSarah - each with their own struggle that comes with belonging to two identities- African, and American. For more about the featured artists check them out!   Alsarah and the Nubatones Odissee Meklit Hadero Episode art by: @neemascribbles

"You're black, but you ain't BLACK black." Like many African kids in the US, Stoop host Hana Baba was ridiculed for being from Africa. She was called names like "African booty scratcher." And the name calling came only from the black kids. What's behind this black disconnect and where did it come from? The Stoop explores this with a young Sudanese American and her African American friends.