The Bottom Line Podcast

The Bottom Line: The best thing we can do for our community is what we can do for ourselves. In this conversation about mental health in the Black community, Janah is joined by Nyla Bowers, a current freshman at Cornell University. Janah and Nyla approach the discussion through multiple lenses (including historical and contemporary) to explain the conditions that create Black exhaustion and the roots of the stigma surrounding mental health practices. Mental health is especially important for the Black community. Generational trauma has been passed down since the enslavement of Black people. Trauma manifests itself onto our bodies, in our genes, and in our daily social interactions and relationships. Minimizing the necessity and urgency of Black people’s mental and emotional well-being poses a grave threat to our liberation. When leaders and individuals are burnt out and suffering from mental exhaustion, they are not equipped to function, excel, and advance social movements. Nyla and Janah dive into the necessity of self-care, spirituality, and choice in bringing levity and hope to Black people's lives.

The Bottom Line: Weaponize your white privilege to dismantle systemic racism. In this episode, Janah is joined by Lily Gies, a senior at Walter Payton, in a conversation about allyship and activism. When discussing race, empathy and honesty are essential. However, the inability to interrogate one’s implicit bias and under systemic issues from outside perspectives prevents fruitful conversations from occurring. In this discussion, Lily and Janah discuss the ways white privilege, white guilt, and internal bias not only make discussions about race more difficult but sustain and uphold cycles of violence against people of color and water down movements. The two unpack why it is difficult for white people to recognize their bias and acknowledge the ways they are complicit in perpetuating structural issues. Lily and Janah explain what effective activism looks like and how white people can use their position in society to work with people of color to advance liberation movements.

The Bottom Line: You will grow where you are planted. Today, Janah is joined by Jon-Edward Stokes, a current sophomore at Howard University. In this conversation, JE and Janah talk about what it means to explore and define your Black identity in college and the symbolic power of Black students' presence and success at HBCUs and PWIs. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are entirely necessary for our country. They were created for Black people when Black students were barred from attending predominately white institutions (PWIs). However, through government mandates and more inclusive admissions, Black students have access to PWIs and an array of college options. Janah and JE explore what those options look like for Black students. JE also explains his process and decision in choosing to attend an elite HBCU instead of an elite PWI. Ultimately, the college admissions process is about best fit and choosing the community that will best suit you.

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Season 2 of The Bottom Line Podcast! This season, we will talk about race, faith, politics, and progress. After being on a hiatus, the show is back and better than ever. Be prepared for more enriching and insightful conversations, increased engagement and consistency, and more opportunities for your feedback. You can expect weekly uploads wherever you listen to the show and content throughout the week on Instagram @thebottomline.podcast.

The Bottom Line: When the debate space draws a circle that will shut you out, design your own circle that will draw you in. Today, Janah is joined by Maggie, a sophomore at the University of Chicago, as they discuss competitive debate. Although debate teaches young people to be politically and socially aware as they research and argue complex domestic and foreign policy, the nature of the sport creates lines that have proven to be harmful to certain debaters. Elite debate has historically been dominated by white, male, and wealthy students, widening disparities between students who do not have access to resources. Janah and Maggie discuss the racism, toxic masculinity, and classism that have defined argument preferences, judge paradigms, and debate styles. The two draw parallels between the overcompetitiveness and elitism that appeared in their team to the larger debate community.