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Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.
In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.
Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?
Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.
The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.
32 Episodes
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In this deeply personal episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers is joined by Dani Shapiro, the bestselling author and host of the podcast Family Secrets. Dani shares the stunning revelation that changed her life: learning through a DNA test that the man who raised her was not her biological father. Raised in an Orthodox Jewish family with deep cultural and religious roots, Dani takes us through the unraveling of family secrets, the discovery of a new biological lineage, and the complex emotional terrain of love, loss, and identity. She reflects on what it means to belong—to a culture, to a religion, to a family—and how nurture, nature, and narrative intertwine. From her father’s hidden marriages and a poetic Aunt Shirley who preserved generations of Jewish family history, to the new “sister-friend” she never knew she had, Dani's story expands the idea of what family can be. Together, Dani and Nabil explore the paradox of knowing and unknowing, and the quiet power of claiming your own truth in a world full of assumptions. Guest: Dani Shapiro Host: Nabil Ayers Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Produced by Palm Tree IslandSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers is joined by Devi Mambouka, the artist and producer behind Masma Dream World, for a reflective conversation on ancestry, spirituality, and chosen family. Born in Gabon and raised by her mother’s Bengali side of the family, Devi opens up about the early disconnection from her father’s culture and how she set on a journey to rediscover the Gabonese side of her identity—through food, music, language, and spirit. The conversation explores the power of rituals, especially around cooking and feeding others, as a way to form bonds, process grief, and reclaim lost traditions. “If I cook for you,” Devi says, “you’re family.”This is one of the most spiritually resonant conversations in the series so far. Host: Nabil AyersGuest: Masma Dream World (Devi Mambouka)Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Produced by Palm Tree IslandSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers sits down with David Cross—Emmy-winning comedian, writer, and actor, best known for Mr. Show with Bob and David, Arrested Development, and The Ben Stiller Show. Over the course of his career, David has earned multiple Emmy and Grammy nominations and shared three SAG Award nominations for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Behind his sharp wit and cultural commentary lies a turbulent upbringing: frequent evictions, extreme poverty, a volatile father who vanished, and a mother doing everything she could to stay afloat. David recounts how those early years shaped him—not just as a comic, but as a person still reckoning with identity, responsibility, and what it means to create a different life for your own child. They explore themes of Jewish identity, inherited trauma, the gradual disconnection from his British-Jewish extended family, and the firm decision to cut off contact with his father—despite living in the same city for over 20 years. Now a father himself, David reflects on the gravity of being present, the legacy of emotional absence, and the quiet work of choosing a better path than the one you came from. Guest: David Cross. Host: Nabil Ayers. Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji. Identified is produced and distributed by Palm Tree Island.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers talks with Youngmi Mayer—comedian, author, and host of the acclaimed Feeling Asian podcast—about growing up biracial in South Korea, the long shadow of generational trauma, and the unresolvable contradictions that shape our identities. Youngmi, who was born in Korea to a Korean mother and white American father, opens up about the deep stigma around mixed-race children in Korean society—stories that include institutional rejection and even state violence in recent history. She shares how being “slightly different” in appearance made her feel completely othered, despite speaking Korean fluently and being raised in Korean culture. The conversation travels through her complex ancestry—including the discovery of Jewish lineage through a 23andMe test that rewrote part of her family history—and the paradox of being descended from both Jewish people and German Nazis. Mayer speaks candidly about intergenerational trauma, including a family legacy shaped by war, loss, and silence, and how these inherited narratives continue to affect how she views success, emotion, and even motherhood. As a single mother co-parenting her son with her ex-husband, Youngmi reflects on building a version of family that defies tradition. She’s blunt, funny, and brilliant as she challenges romanticized notions of family, while still admitting to the deep, inescapable bonds that tether her to her roots. This episode is a powerful meditation on biracial identity, cultural belonging, and what it means to both honor and critique the families that raised us. Host: Nabil AyersGuest: Youngmi MayerExecutive Producer: Kieron BanerjiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this standout episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers sits down with EGOT-winning artist, activist, and cultural icon John Legend to talk about family, race, ancestry, and the stories that shape who we are. John opens up about growing up in a tightly knit Black church community in Ohio, being surrounded by music, and taking piano lessons from age four—learning gospel by ear from his grandmother and classical from a local teacher. But behind the harmony was hardship. He shares how the early loss of his grandmother led to his mother’s decade-long absence and how that trauma shaped his sense of home, responsibility, and resilience. The conversation traces his family lineage, including revelations from his appearance on Finding Your Roots—stories of enslaved ancestors, a great-grandmother who could have passed for white, and a landmark court case in Ohio that secured his family’s freedom generations ago. It’s a deeply personal look at the complexities of Black American identity. John also talks about raising four children with his wife, Chrissy Teigen, and what it means to parent a multicultural, multiracial family in the spotlight. From Thai temples to Black church traditions, he reflects on how he and Chrissy are teaching their children to embrace their mixed heritage and proudly identify as Black, Asian, and Blasian. This is an episode about legacy—musical, cultural, and personal—and what it means to know where you come from, even when some stories were almost lost.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers is joined by Laura Lee, founding member and bassist of the globally acclaimed band Khruangbin, for a vulnerable and wide-ranging conversation about family, ancestry, identity—and what it means to raise a child while on tour. Laura shares the emotional story of her parents’ abrupt separation when she was just six years old, a rupture that left her bouncing between homes and questioning the meaning of “family.” She talks about the pain of being labeled a “rebel” as a teen when she was simply hurting—and how the emotional safety she found in her grandparents’ home shaped her sense of belonging more than anything else. The episode also dives into her Mexican and Spanish lineage, including a fascinating (and literal) claim to South Padre Island through a centuries-old lawsuit. Now a mother herself, Laura talks candidly about touring with her baby and partner, carving a path for motherhood in an industry with no blueprint. She calls her Khruangbin bandmates her family, describing their deep trust, creative intimacy, and the joy her daughter has brought to the entire touring crew. This is a story about making peace with the past, building your own version of home, and finding family in both bloodlines and bandmates. Host: Nabil Ayers Guest: Laura Lee (Khruangbin) Executive Producer: Kieron BanerjiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers sits down with acclaimed artist, author, and entrepreneur, Chase Jarvis, for a candid and deeply reflective conversation about family, memory, and the evolving nature of connection. Chase talks about growing up as an only child in a tightly knit but unusually small family—no cousins, no siblings, and early exposure to adult conversations. He reflects on a childhood full of contrasts: thrift and sacrifice at home, but also travel across Europe thanks to his parents’ clever savings and his dad’s unexpected connections to pro athletes and musicians. Much of the conversation centers around grief. Chase opens up about the recent loss of his mother to Alzheimer’s and how it’s changed his understanding of family, purpose, and presence. He shares the strange beauty of feeling closer to her now than he did in the decade before she died, and what it’s like stepping into a new role of caretaker and companion for his father. Through stories of childhood creativity, repressed artistic urges, and a life that’s circled back to his creative roots, Chase brings warmth, honesty, and insight into the evolving role of family—how it’s inherited, how it’s chosen, and how we hold onto it, even as it changes shape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this profoundly personal episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers speaks with musician, actor, and visual artist Tunde Adebimpe—best known as a founding member of TV on the Radio—about identity, ancestry, and surviving deep personal loss. Tunde traces his journey from growing up between Pittsburgh and Nigeria, through his family’s expectations, to building an unconventional artistic path grounded in music, animation, and punk culture. He shares vivid memories of his Nigerian roots, his father’s gentle influence, and his extended family’s blend of spiritual traditions—from Baptist Christianity to Yoruba priestesses. Much of the conversation centers around grief. Tunde opens up about the heartbreaking losses of his father, his older brother, his bandmate Gerard Smith, his closest friend, and most recently, his younger sister. He reflects on how creativity, community, and fatherhood have helped him navigate the void—and how his daughter’s compassion gave him a reason to keep moving forward. This is an episode about what it means to lose family—and to hold on even tighter to those who remain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers is joined by acclaimed musician and author Neko Case for a powerful, wide-ranging conversation about inherited silence, cultural disconnection, and what it means to choose your own family. Neko shares the experience of growing up with emotionally unavailable parents—her mother absent by choice, her father quietly burdened by trauma—and the deep loneliness that shaped her early years. She reflects on the generations of silence in her Ukrainian family, including the erasure of language and identity, and the heartbreak of losing family records in a house fire. In a surprising and moving twist, Neko recounts discovering a great-aunt—professional wrestler Ella Waldek—through a documentary. Their connection offered a rare sense of validation, visibility, and power within a lineage that otherwise remained unspoken. The conversation explores found family, the responsibilities of being a stepparent, and how Neko has redefined her role within a fractured past. Host: Nabil Ayers Guest: Neko Case Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Production Company and Network: Palm Tree IslandSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the premiere of Identified Season Two, Nabil Ayers speaks with musician and activist Tom Morello about his extraordinary upbringing and journey toward understanding his identity. Tom shares stories about his trailblazing mother—an adventurous white teacher from a small Illinois town who raised him alone as a Black child in a segregated suburb—and the complex legacy of his absent Kenyan father. Their conversation traverses generational resilience, the racism Tom faced growing up in Libertyville, Illinois, and the emotional reckoning of meeting his father for the first time at age 30. Tom discusses finding belonging in unexpected places: among childhood friends, through music, and ultimately, with the Kenyan family he never knew he had. He also opens up about being a sperm donor in the '90s—and the surprising family connections that have surfaced in recent years. This episode explores what it means to define family on your own terms, and how connection can transcend distance, time, and silence. Host: Nabil Ayers Guests: Tom Morello Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Production Company and Network: Palm Tree Island Music: Nouela and Patricia Brennan Palm Tree Island Team: Sophia Moore & Asli PehlivanliSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
That's a wrap on Season One of Identified. In this final recap episode, Nabil Ayers revisits memorable conversations with guests. Highlights include Ione Skye's poignant connection with her musician father, Geoff Rickly's stories of family legacy and rebellion, Dawn Richard's reflections on the impact of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina on her identity, and Foo Fighters bassist Nate Mendel's evolving relationship with the late Taylor Hawkins. Identified will be back in early 2025 for Season Two.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the season finale of Identified Season One, Nabil Ayers interviews activist Nelini Stamp. In their conversation, Nelini reflects on her upbringing with a large but disconnected network of half-siblings from her father's side in Belize, contrasted with a close-knit Puerto Rican family on her mother's side. The conversation delves into cultural and political histories of Belize and Puerto Rico, addressing themes of race, class, and identity. Nelini discusses her complicated family dynamics, the community that supported her and her mother, and her personal experiences with grief and identity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers talks with musician and record label founder Mac McCaughan. They discuss the various ways McCaughan defines family, from his upbringing in South Florida to his influential music career with Superchunk and Merge Records. Mac shares personal stories about performing music with his father and son, the impact of moving to North Carolina, and the evolution of his band and record label. The conversation delves into McCaughan's musical journey, family traditions, and the challenges and joys of maintaining personal and professional relationships. Host: Nabil Ayers Guest: Mac McCaughan Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Production Company: Palm Tree Island Music: Nouela and Patricia BrennanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers sits down with graphic novelist, tattoo artist, and filmmaker, James Spooner. They delve into the nuances of family dynamics, the complexities of growing up in non-traditional households, and the unexpected bonds formed with both family and friends. Spooner shares stories about his diverse family background, his journey discovering over 20 siblings, and the continuous challenge of building a meaningful relationship with his own children. Through candid conversations, they unpack the importance of trust, community, and the inevitable cycles of family life. Host: Nabil Ayers Guest: James Spooner Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Production Company: Palm Tree Island Music: Nouela and Patricia BrennanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers interviews Ukrainian chef and food writer, Olia Hercules. Olia reflects on her efforts to document family history and the challenges faced due to lost records from the Soviet era. She shares poignant family stories of displacement, survival, and the strong sense of community that characterized her upbringing. The conversation touches on the importance of food and cooking, highlighting traditional recipes and the skills passed down through generations. Olia also discusses coping with current hardships in Ukraine by drawing strength from her ancestors' resilience. Host: Nabil Ayers Guest: Olia Hercules Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Production Company: Palm Tree Island Music: Nouela and Patricia BrennanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers interviews Ahmed Gallab, the musician behind Sinkane. Ahmed shares his multicultural upbringing, spanning London, Sudan, Boston, and Provo, Utah, and how these experiences shaped his understanding of family. He recounts his first encounter with music through his grandfather's religious chanting and his journey into hardcore music in Ohio. Ahmed discusses the significance of community in his life, the challenges of fitting in, and the cultural traditions that continue to influence him. Tune in to explore the intricate connections between music, identity, and family. Host: Nabil Ayers Guest: Sinkane Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Production Company: Palm Tree Island Music: Nouela and Patricia BrennanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers sits down with Fabi Reyna, founder of She Shreds Media and musician behind Reyna Tropical. They discuss Fabi's upbringing in Mexico, her complex relationship with her father, and her journey to amplify the voices of women and non-gender conforming people through her art. From childhood memories to her love for touring, Fabi shares how movement and music shape her identity. Tune in as they delve into themes of family, tradition, and chosen kinship. Host: Nabil Ayers Guest: Fabi Reyna (Reyna Tropical) Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Production Company: Palm Tree Island Music: Nouela and Patricia BrennanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers explores the deep familial connections and musical journey of the brothers Alejandro and Estevan Gutiérrez, known collectively as Hermanos Gutiérrez. The Gutiérrez brothers share insights into their childhood, the influence of their cultural heritage, and the profound impact of their sibling bond on their lives and music career. The episode delves into their creative process, their unique relationship, and their reflections on family and identity. Host: Nabil Ayers Guest: Hermanos Gutiérrez Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Production Company: Palm Tree Island Music: Nouela and Patricia BrennanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers interviews the accomplished musician and broadcaster Nabihah Iqbal. Nabihah reflects on her family history, untold stories from World War I and the Partition of India, and her own experiences growing up in a large immigrant family in London. She discusses the impact of the pandemic on her family connections and highlights the challenges faced by non-white individuals in various professional fields, including the music industry. This conversation sheds light on the profound influence of family and history on personal and cultural identity. Host: Nabil Ayers Guest: Nabihah Iqbal Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Production Company: Palm Tree Island Music: Nouela and Patricia BrennanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers sits down with musician Norman Brannon to explore his complex journey of identity and family. Norman delves into his difficult upbringing, his departure from home at 16, and his connection with Hare Krishnas. Following a life-changing accident, Norman experienced a breakthrough with his mother, leading to a deeper understanding of his indigenous Mapuche roots. Norman shares his unique perspective on family, emphasizing the innate connection within the queer community, which he considers his primary ethnicity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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