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After a summer hiatus, we’re back! For our first episode back, I had the chance to speak to Kendra James, author and podcast producer at Crooked Media. We discuss Kendra's memoir 'Admissions,' which recounts her experiences as a Black girl at Taft School. Our conversation delves into our shared experiences of Black girlhood, the complexities of writing a memoir, and of course, all of the books that shaped Kendra’s reading experiences as a kid.
00:00 Welcome Back to Unbound
00:32 Introducing Kendra James
01:36 Diving into Kendra's Memoir
03:31 Kendra's Childhood Reading Influences
05:16 Exploring Historical Fiction and Girlhood
15:29 Harry Potter and Fan Fiction Beginnings
25:47 Boarding School Expectations vs. Reality
30:56 Navigating Identity and Social Dynamics at Taft
41:04 Reflecting on Early Career Challenges
41:40 Navigating DEI Work in Independent Schools
43:12 Self-Reflection and Program Issues
44:33 Subtle Racism and Personal Experiences
49:26 Writing a Memoir: Process and Boundaries
52:57 The Journey to Publication
01:03:39 Bookish Lightning Round
01:14:11 Final Thoughts and Future Plans
For a full list of books mentioned, join the Unbound community on Substack
Admissions: A Memoir of Surviving Boarding School by Kendra James
Follow Kendra James on instagram: @kendrajames_
Follow Mbiye Kasonga: @mbiye_K
Produced by Moyo Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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For this episode of Unbound, I’m talking to writer, editor, and author of A Hundred Other Girls, Iman Hariri-Kia!
Tune in as we discuss:
The complexities of girlhood being reflected in Young Adult fictionThe publishing industry’s relationship with the Romance genre Book Tok as a tool for communityThe disparity of sex education in AmericaThe methodology behind writing a sex scene Her sophomore novel, coming soon, The Most Famous Girl in The WorldI am left with the thoughts of how our own familial love can be reflected in fiction writing and being a character in New York’s story rather than New York a character in mine.
For a full list of books mentioned, join the Unbound community on Substack
Follow Iman Hariri-Kia on instagram: @imanharirikia
Follow Iman Hariri-Kia on TikTok:@imanharirikia
Visit Iman Hariri-Kia website: https://www.imanharirikia.com/about
Check out Iman’s Substack: Cherry Picked
Follow Mbiye Kasonga: @mbiye_K
Produced by Moyo Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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For the first episode of Unbound I knew that I had to start off by talking to beauty and culture writer and author of Homebodies, Tembe Denton-Hurst!
Tune in as we discuss:
The intimacy of reading Being both a deep reader and a deep writerRepresentation in children’s fictionThe key elements of space and place within HomebodiesThe promise that New York City holdsLeaving me to ruminate on books as affirmation and answering the question of do we truly have to like the protagonist in the books we cherish.
For a full list of books mentioned, join the Unbound community on Substack
Follow Tembe Denton-Hurst: @tembae
Check out Tembe’s Bookish Substack: Extracurricular Substack
Follow Mbiye Kasonga: @mbiye_K
Produced by Moyo Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
