Art, Activism, and Sustainability in Podcasting | Stephanie Graham (Nosey AF)

In this episode of Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, host Talib Jasir sits down with Stephanie Graham, a Chicago-based artist, filmmaker, and the creator of the podcast Nosy AF: conversations about art, activism, and social change.

Stephanie shares how her podcast centers honest conversations with artists, organizers, and changemakers navigating creativity, labor, money, and sustainability. The conversation explores podcasting as an archival practice, the realities artists face behind the scenes, and why community and collaboration matter more than metrics or visibility alone.

This episode also covers the importance of creating spaces for administrative care through projects like Artist Admin Hour, the value of local and regional storytelling, and Stephanie’s vision for the Avalon Park Film House, a community-centered independent cinema on Chicago’s South Side. It’s a thoughtful conversation for artists, podcasters, and cultural workers thinking about longevity, shared resources, and building creative ecosystems that last.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:19 Stephanie Graham’s Background and Podcast 00:54 Conversations on Art and Activism 01:40 Local and Regional Focus 02:53 Professional Nosiness and Real Talk 10:50 Challenges and Realities for Artists 22:00 Collaboration and Community 22:46 The Importance of Community in Podcasting 23:57 The Role of Afros & Audio 25:05 Archiving and Preserving Stories 27:28 The Concept of Artist Admin Hour 31:46 Shifting Focus to Sustainability and Relationships 39:21 Creating Local Movie Houses 41:53 Spotlighting Black Business Owners 43:24 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

To learn more about Stephanie Graham and Nosey AF podcast visit: www.noseyaf.com

Follow on Social Media:

https://www.instagram.com/stephaniegraham and https://www.instagram.com/noseyafpod

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