Code Switch
Code Switch has been hosting insightful discussions on race for years, but it only reached No. 1 on the Apple podcast charts this year, at a moment when, following the killing of George Floyd, white people en masse seemed to suddenly begin considering their role in systemic racism. It’s fantastic that this four-year-old podcast continues to earn new listeners because it deserved that attention long before anti-racism became a buzzword in 2020. Hosts Gene Demby and Shereen Marisol Meraji explore how race touches culture, politics, public health—everything—in frank discussions with guests. Recent episodes have delved into Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ Indian heritage and why it has gotten less attention that her Black identity; analyzing how coronavirus fears devolved into xenophobia; and tracing the origins of the “Karen” meme (or at least the concept behind it) to the early days of America’s history. Crucially, the conversations often draw from the personal experience of the hosts or their guests, grounding what could otherwise become an academic discussion. Code Switch offers listeners a better understanding of the current state of politics and culture than even the best politics and culture podcasts.
Storyline
Code Switch has been hosting insightful discussions on race for years, but it only reached No. 1 on the Apple podcast charts this year, at a moment when, following the killing of George Floyd, white people en masse seemed to suddenly begin considering their role in systemic racism. It’s fantastic that this four-year-old podcast continues to earn new listeners because it deserved that attention long before anti-racism became a buzzword in 2020. Hosts Gene Demby and Shereen Marisol Meraji explore how race touches culture, politics, public health—everything—in frank discussions with guests. Recent episodes have delved into Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ Indian heritage and why it has gotten less attention that her Black identity; analyzing how coronavirus fears devolved into xenophobia; and tracing the origins of the “Karen” meme (or at least the concept behind it) to the early days of America’s history. Crucially, the conversations often draw from the personal experience of the hosts or their guests, grounding what could otherwise become an academic discussion. Code Switch offers listeners a better understanding of the current state of politics and culture than even the best politics and culture podcasts.
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