SPOTLIGHT: BIPOC WOMEN IN PODCASTING – TANGIA R. ESTRADA, BIPOC PODCAST CREATORS
A co-founder of BIPOC Podcast Creators, Tangia is a storyteller, business builder, and podcast strategy consultant. She’s been featured in publications such as USA Today, Bustle, and The Identity of She Magazine. Tangia is building BIPOC Podcast Creators to be the premier resource for BIPOC identified creators across the podcasting space. Having served in roles from grassroots organizing to directing state-wide campaigns, Tangia knows what it takes to do the messy work of fighting for change.
Shreya Sharma (SS): Why does podcasting need more representation?
Tangia R. Estrada (TRE): We live in a multifaced multicultural society. Podcasting should reflect that, period.
SS: Do you think the talk of diversity in podcasting is performative or even moving in that direction?
TRE: It may sound pollyanna to some, but we choose to believe that most people mean well when they say they care about diversity. We try to extend them grace by giving them the benefit of the doubt. Are there people out there talking the diversity talk and failing to walk the walk? Absolutely. The truth of their actions tends to be obvious.
For our efforts, we try to focus our energy on those that are sincere in their desire to ensure diversity and equity in media. However, their efforts can fall flat due to a lack of experience and knowledge in multicultural spaces. That work is difficult and requires true commitment. While we are committed to doing the work, we always have our eye on the trends in the industry, and unfortunately, we have witnessed many “diversity” efforts that are treated as nothing more than the latest trend and are gone just as quickly. There is work to do, and we will always be pushing the industry to move toward meaningful diversity, equity, and inclusion.
SS: What are the measures and actions the podcasting industry needs to undertake to walk the talk of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
TRE: There are many opportunities for the industry to ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive space. It’s not as simple as making a to-do list and then checking things off.
Conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion happen in pockets, but not necessarily at an industry level. First, it would make a huge difference if the major podcasting companies made a clear and public statement on their commitment to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive industry that includes specific actions they are committing themselves to follow through. Such a move would signal to the industry an acknowledgment that there is, in fact, a lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion at a structural level. As they say, the first step to fixing a problem is admitting that there is a problem.
Next comes data. At the moment, podcasting collects a lot of data on listeners but does not collect that same data on creators or the various roles within podcasting. Without more meaningful data, it’s hard to understand gaps in opportunity, measure impact, or get a clear picture of how and where money flows in and out of the industry in relation to underrepresented folks. With better data, we would have a much clearer picture of exactly how diverse the industry truly is, what their impact has been so far, and where opportunities exist to support underrepresented people.
SS: What message would you like to share with young BIPOC women in the podcasting space?
TRE: Please don’t listen to people telling you that the industry is “crowded.” Your voice matters, and you should feel free to use it however you see fit. Take up space!
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