the summer 2024 tamia talks rewind
welcoming all of my lovely new subscribers and revisiting some of my favorite posts of the year <3
Hello Tamia Talkers!
Happy Sunday, happy summer, and happy Cancer season to all who celebrate!
I can’t believe it is almost July!
As we step into the second half of the year, I thought it appropriate to do a quick catch-up and check in with all of you. I am grateful to see that with each week that passes, this community of readers, listeners, and Tamia Talks appreciators grows, and am delighted in the challenge of writing for you each week.
With every essay, media rewind, and podcast episode, I learn something new about myself and the world around me. I connect with people who share my passion for journalism, the arts, pop culture, politics, and all of the many other subjects that fall in between. And, I find some additional fuel to propel me toward a life full of adventure, openness, and excitement for the future.
Your support means the world.
When I started this Substack on December 31, 2023, I did so with great apprehension and nervousness about what it would mean to share any fraction of myself online. But I’ve found it to be incredibly rewarding to have something of my own to build and reflect on. I am excited to continue writing, podcasting, connecting, and hearing from you through the next six months and beyond.
For all of the day-one subscribers (my mom) and the newbies, I’m sure some posts have been missed. So, in this Tamia Talks Rewind, I am revisiting some of my favorite entries of the year. Please consider giving them a read or listen and if you’ve liked your time as a subscriber, please share Tamia Talks with a friend <3
The Tamia Talks Podcast
Kayla Starr Simmons, the founder of Black Girl Book Fest, was a guest on Tamia Talks in February. During our conversation, Simmons and I discussed her popular Instagram account BlackGirlBookAdventures, her experience moonlighting as a bookfluencer between shifts as a production coordinator for ABC News, and books by our favorite Black authors. Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Simmons has connected with audiences by sharing book reviews, visiting bookstores and libraries across the country, and documenting her journey toward establishing the inaugural Black Girl Book Fest in 2023.
When Leah Kramer stepped into New York City’s comedy scene after making a big move to New York City in 2022, she longed for a safe place to build her craft. After a few months of performing sets at different comedy clubs, she decided to create her own. Then, came Crush Comedy, a living room comedy show Kramer created with her friend Eve Wallack. During our conversation, Leah and I chat about building safe spaces for up-and-coming comedians, our shared all-girls high school experience, and (of course) our crushes.
In March, I hopped on a Zoom call with two of my favorite journalists, Noella Williams and Ruth Etiesit Samuel to chat all about Beyoncé’s new album “Cowboy Carter.” Ruth, Noella, and I discuss our favorite songs from the album, growing up in the South, and the history of Black country music.
In June, I chatted with Teen Vogue Associate Editor Aiyana Ishmael about building a career in journalism, her Teen Vogue series CTRL+C, and our shared love of theatre. Ishmael’s work focuses on the culture of fashion and how it affects marginalized communities.
Actor and podcast host Erica Ito joined Tamia Talks in June to discuss her starring role as Nessarose in the 2024-2025 national tour of Wicked and “Seaweed Brain: A Percy Jackson Podcast," which she co-hosts with her best friend. During this episode, we chat all about her journey from Hawaii to the University of Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. We also discuss the interesting path she took to join the cast of Wicked’s national tour.
Advice, Insight, and Exploration
Media Rewinds
Every month, I compile and offer insights into the media I’ve engaged with. Over the past six months, dozens of insightful news articles and investigations have captured my attention, while podcasts have expanded my knowledge of the happenings of the world and popular culture. Scan through some rewinds and let me know what I should add to my list! For me, one thing remains true every month. I am still watching “Glee.”
