Living For We Recognized as Webby's People's Voice Winner
“It was an honor working with the incredible team at Ideastream on this podcast, and we’re pleased to see our collaboration being recognized by this award,” said Brigid Coyne, Executive Vice President of Production for Evergreen Podcasts. “We look forward to renewing our partnership in a future season.”
Cleveland, OH — Evergreen Podcasts (Evergreen) and Ideastream Public Media (Ideastream) are elated to announce that their collaborative podcast series Living for We has been awarded the 2024 Webby's People's Voice Winner in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Podcast category. This prestigious accolade celebrates the series' profound engagement and discourse around the systemic issues impacting Black women in Cleveland, Ohio.
Marlene Harris-Taylor, Host and Executive Producer
“This podcast was created by a team of primarily women for Black women. The stories of struggle, loss, and in many cases triumph over oppressive systems, touch the hearts of so many listeners. Winning this award is affirmation that the hard work and care put in by the team to tell the authentic lived experience of Black women was worth it. We are so grateful that our listeners rallied to support this podcast.”
Living for We was sparked by a 2020 cityLAB of Pittsburgh study that ranked Cleveland as dead last regarding livability for Black women. The study prompted researchers Bethany Studenic and Chinenye Nkemere of Enlightened Solutions to produce Project Noir, a comprehensive survey detailing the experiences of over 450 Black women in Cleveland. The podcast is a key part of Ideastream's Connecting the Dots between Race and Health, an ongoing initiative that examines how racism affects health outcomes in Northeast Ohio and identifies actions to dismantle structural barriers to health equality.
The Team Behind Living for We:
Marlene Harris-Taylor: Host and Executive Producer, directing engaged journalism at Ideastream Public Media and managing health initiatives including the Living for We podcast.
HeyFranHey: Creative Director and Contributing Producer, renowned for her engaging content creation on The Friend Zone and Insecuritea podcasts.
Chinenye Nkemere: Researcher and Contributor, Co-Founder and Director of Strategy at Enlightened Solutions, instrumental in the development of Project Noir.
Bethany Studenic: Researcher and Contributor, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Enlightened Solutions, deeply involved in the research and advocacy of Project Noir.
Hannah Rae Leach: Senior Producer, enhancing the podcast with her extensive background in production, hosting, writing, and music.
Afi Scruggs: Composer, a Cleveland-based talent adding musical depth alongside her journalistic and literary skills.
Sean Rule Hoffman: Mix Engineer, elevating the auditory experience with his expertise in Music Technology and Electronic Media.
Living For We unfolds over 11 episodes, each rich with firsthand accounts and expert commentary. The series sets the stage with the cityLAB study. It includes discussions with notable figures such as Samaria Rice and Ayesha Bell Hardaway, who share their personal and professional insights on overcoming systemic barriers. Living for We is praised for providing actionable advice from psychologist Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett, who provides strategies to navigate and challenge the systemic inequities discussed in each episode.
The Webby Awards, led by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), recognize excellence on the Internet and have honored Living for We for its impactful exploration of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Watch the 28th annual Webbys Monday, May 13th on Socials
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X: @TheWebbyAwards
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Linkedin: The Webby Awards
Facebook: Facebook.com/TheWebbyAwards
YouTube: youtube.com/thewebbyawards
The success of Living for We has paved the way for a second season, aiming to further the dialogue and foster positive changes not just in Cleveland but across the nation. Living for We is available for streaming on major platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For more insights into the series and its impactful narrative, visit Ideastream Public Media’s website and Evergreen Podcasts’ website.
About Ideastream Public Media
Ideastream Public Media serves as Ohio’s largest independent, publicly supported media organization. Ideastream is the home of Northeast Ohio’s PBS, NPR and classical music public broadcasting stations: WVIZ, WKSU and WCLV. We produce free programs and services to 3.6 million people in 22 counties across radio, TV and digital platforms, meeting the communities we serve where and when they need us. All our content is accessible online at ideastream.org, the Ideastream Public Media App, the PBS App, the NPR One App, and on major social media and digital content platforms.
About Evergreen Podcasts
Evergreen Podcasts is one of the world’s largest independent podcast networks with a premier catalog of over 300 entertaining and thought-provoking shows. A full-service podcast production, brand marketing, and sales organization, Evergreen is rooted in high production values and artistic integrity. With a diverse roster of storytellers from true crime, pop culture, comedy, and beyond, Evergreen Podcasts connects listeners with content that informs, entertains, and inspires. For more information, visit evergreenpodcasts.com.
