The Sit Down hosted by Shawnee Dez, brought to you by the Chicago Reader, is a bi-weekly podcast that highlights the beauty of the city’s arts and culture ecosystem. From visual arts and music, to food and film, host Shawnee Dez has engaging conversations with the individuals who embody community, and help make this such a dynamic place to call home. With new episodes dropping twice a month, grab a seat and get ready to be inspired, uplifted, and to learn something new.
Chicago Reader multimedia content producer Shawnee Day engages in conversation with some of the city’s most dynamic individuals across various disciplines and sectors on The Sit Down hosted by Shawnee Dez.
The latest episode can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Art19.
On Episode 6 of The Sit Down, Shawnee speaks with frsh waters about poetry, the connections between his spirituality and his work as a music artist, his upbringing and more.
Bonus Quote: “Church on the move!”
On Episode 5 of The Sit Down, Shawnee Dez speaks to Bridget Botchway about how she found her way to film, her childhood being a Ghanaian-American growing up in Chicago and PG County, and how her nuanced experience impacts her work.
From each episode Dez likes to offer an inspiring quote from each guest. From Episode 5 with Botchway, here is the Bonus Quote: “Believe you are what you want to be RIGHT NOW!” – Bridget Botchway Bradley
Episode 4 TW: On this episode of The Sit Down, Shawnee speaks with Trina T and Sarah Conway about the two-year investigation they conducted to get a closer look into the ways that CPD handles missing persons cases and the disproportionate impact on Black women and girls in Chicago.
This episode comes on the leap day 02.29.24, a day Shawnee considers to be the intersection between Black History Month and Women’s History Month and for that what better time to talk about an issue that is plaguing Black women at alarming rates.
For the contents of this episode, Shawnee would like to offer a TRIGGER WARNING as some of what you may hear can be difficult. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, or may be missing please reach out to a trusted community member and professionals to seek the help you/they deserve.
On Episode 3 of The Sit Down, Shawnee speaks to Nikko Washington about his latest exhibition, For The Old Gods and The New, his childhood growing up in Chicago, and the places and people that made him the artist he is today.
On Episode 2 Shawnee speaks to Justus Cornelius Pugh about storytelling, what it means to adopt Afro-Transcendentalism as a life long practice, and the power of writing.
On Episode 1 Shawnee sits down in the home of the talented Nico Segal, fresh off his solo album release. They speak on the process of making the Tell The Ghost Welcome Home album, the spirit of creativity, and what it was like to witness and participate in the creative process of other artists.
Bonus Quote by Shawnee: when in doubt, always ask yourself “who gone beat my ass?” and keep creating your life the way you see fit :).
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