We recently connected with Jane Anyanwu & JT Barrie and have shared our conversation below.
Jane & JT, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
When Jane and I (J.T.) decided to create a podcast, we aimed to craft one with a meaningful purpose – something relatable, specifically targeted towards our generation (people in their 20s and 30s). Podcasts are ubiquitous nowadays, so we had to consider how to stand out and be different, most importantly, non-toxic.
The journey started in July 2020, amidst the COVID summer. Jane reached out to me (J.T.) for a one-on-one interview regarding housing options for Californian residents facing homelessness due to the pandemic. During that period, I held the position of Fellow at the state’s housing agency, actively involved in emergency responses to safeguard people’s housing. Jane, being an education professional by day, co-hosted a sports-focused podcast. The interview turned out to be a success and sparked an idea: an informative yet entertaining podcast for our modern culture.
Fast forward to February 2022, at Jane’s place, we brainstormed a podcast name and outlined the initial topics we wanted to discuss. We settled on the name “Black Coffee” – coffee being stimulating, symbolizing our aim to provoke thoughts on topics, including controversial ones, that people could be educated about and relate to but rarely discussed openly. Equipped with minimal equipment, including an old bass mic, a guitar plugin recording module, and Zoom, we recorded our first audio episodes. The sound quality wasn’t the best, but we managed to navigate through our initial sessions. However, as the first season progressed, the quality of our episodes improved with each release. We engaged in conversations covering a wide range of subjects, spanning from colorism and body image to Roe vs. Wade and student loans, along with lighter topics such as the surge in popularity of Afro-beats.
Now, in 2023, we are in our second season and have implemented some changes. We rebranded our name to “BlaqKoffee,” and more notably, we transitioned to YouTube and TikTok while continuing our audio releases. Despite these changes, our core purpose remains the same: to educate, inform, and entertain. Season two primarily focuses on mental health topics, including dealing with anxiety, insomnia, and the effects of social media. We also explore current events in our culture and later introduce a series titled “Trailblazers & Friends,” featuring interviews with inspirational friends of our age who are trailblazers in their respective creative fields.
Overall, our goal is to shed light on topics that are not discussed enough in the mainstream while leaving our audience with newfound knowledge, all with a touch of laughter in between.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
J.T.: I am the child of a Liberian father (who fled the country’s first civil conflict) and a Black-American mother who later became a victim of America’s crack epidemic. My father taught me the importance of education and discipline, and my mother instilled in me street smarts, intuition, and relatability.
At age 4, I was placed in foster care before reuniting with my dad several years later. I grew up in Queens, New York City, in the mid-2000s/2010s, and living in such a melting pot helped shaped my early experiences and views about culture and society. As a kid, I was fascinated with history and how groups interact with one another. I was also musically inclined: I could sing & play several instruments…and most importantly learned the essence of a universal language. At age 13, I began volunteering with a local education enrichment program to bring resources to kids who came from similar backgrounds as mine. This inspired my desire to give back and advocate for issues that plagued my community.
After moving back to California during high school, I later graduated from college with a degree in Public Policy & Administration and began working for the State in housing policy in 2019. While I enjoy my “day” career, I always wanted to use my smooth voice (I give credit to my music background lol) as well as my skill in teaching others to discuss society in a more direct, impactful manner.
So, in 2020, I and my close friend from undergrad, Jane, decided to start the BlaqKoffee podcast to share our views on issues in our modern culture, but in a way that’s informative and uplifting, not toxic. This sets us apart from many of today’s podcasts.
What I am most proud of are the obstacles I had to overcome as a kid to where I am now at age 26. From experiencing homelessness at an early age and foster care to shaping policy for California and educating others through a podcast, I can honestly say I’ve been tremendously blessed on this journey called life. All in all, I would like my followers and audience to know that anything is possible with faith and consistency in work. My personal legacy is to leave a positive difference in our world. And BlaqKoffee podcast is just one of many vehicles in which I aim to do that.
Jane:
My father used to say, “Your name is the only thing that truly belongs to you in this world.” Those words really stuck with me and made me realize how important it is to create a good reputation and become well-known.
I believe education is the key to success and I am committed to aligning my passion for education with my aspiration to uplift and assist others. Like countless individuals, I encounter obstacles along my journey. However, the manner in which people respond to challenges differs significantly. I firmly believe that obstacles and hardships can serve as catalysts for personal growth. Refusing to allow failure to define me, I strive relentlessly to stay ahead and continually improve.
School has always presented its difficulties for me, and I have encountered numerous individuals who doubted my ability to enter college, let alone graduate. Today, I proudly stand as a first-generation college graduate within my family, defying expectations and proving that determination knows no bounds.
During the height of the pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement, I found myself engaging in meaningful discussions about the pressing issues that have been affecting the Black community in our country. One of my closest friends, JT, shared my passion for these conversations, and together we birthed the BlaqKoffee podcast. Our objective is to provide a unique and refreshing outlook on the challenges present in today’s culture while ensuring our content remains informative and uplifting. We are dedicated to setting ourselves apart from the often toxic landscape that pervades many podcasts today. Through BlaqKoffee, we aim to spark insightful conversations that inspire positive change and encourage listeners to view the world from a new perspective.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Our mission is to elevate culture and ignite change! We fearlessly unravel challenging conversations, confront controversial subjects, and analyze the latest social phenomena. Through our platform, we delve into the perspectives that shape the Black experiences of our generation. We are committed to providing genuine, unfiltered discussions without unnecessary distractions or negativity. With authenticity and humor, we engage in meaningful dialogues on what truly matters.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creator is educating our audience and the public about things they either didn’t know beforehand or that uplifted and encouraged them in their daily lives. Whether it’s shedding light on topics like student loans, colorism, or the impact of social media on mental health, it brings immense joy to witness the positive responses and feedback received.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @_blaqkoffee
- Twitter: @BlaqKoffee_
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@BlaqKoffee_
- TikTok: @blaqkoffee_