BKLYN Community Audio

BKLYN Community Audio is a sampling of the best sound from Brooklyn Public Library, created by staff and patrons at BPL. Listen to artist interviews on BKLYN Mixtape, hear first-person stories from Brooklynites on Hear Me Out, BKLYN Outpost Redux, and Who Tells Your Story. And, keep checking this feed! The library is always making stories for your ears. We’ll post new shows and episodes as they come out.

Bed-Stuy Tea: Jenn Small 09/09/2025

Bed-Stuy Tea: Jenn Small Welcome back to Bed-Stuy Tea! In today's episode, Riann and Krishna sit down to chat with local Bed-Stuy resident and entrepreneur, Jennifer Small! Jennifer Small is the Founder and CEO of J Small Services, LLC, a boutique consulting firm based in Brooklyn, NY. Her career spans almost two decades in investment banking, including covering international markets while living in London, and she recently entered the world of tech at an iconic American fashion retailer. Jenn shares personal stories of growing up in Bed-Stuy and her exciting career journey. She shares insight on owning her own business as well as advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. So pour yourself a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy today's episode! /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/38142585

Flatbush + Main: Flatbush + Main : Whose Crown Heights? 09/04/2025

Flatbush + Main: Flatbush + Main : Whose Crown Heights? This episode was originally published on August 24, 2016. In episode 05 of Brooklyn Historical Society's podcast Flatbush + Main, co-hosts Zaheer Ali and Julie Golia do a deep dive into the history and future of Crown Heights, a neighborhood in central Brooklyn, on the 25th anniversary of the 1991 Crown Heights Riot. Throughout Crown Heights' history, its many diverse residents have debated the boundaries, ownership, and meaning of this ever-evolving neighborhood. Julie and Zaheer consider how the question "Whose Crown Heights?" has shaped the neighborhood's history from the 18th century to the present, they crack open the "Crown Heights" folder from the Vertical File in BHS's Library and Archives, and they listen to residents Rabbi Simon Jacobson and Iyedun Ince reflect on their relationship with and observations about Crown Heights. For complete show notes, go to bklynlibrary.org/podcasts/flatbush-main. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/38084880

Flatbush + Main: Hip Hop in Brooklyn 09/04/2025

Flatbush + Main: Hip Hop in Brooklyn This episode was originally published on July 27, 2016. In episode 04 of Brooklyn Historical Society's podcast Flatbush + Main, co-hosts Zaheer Ali and Julie Golia examine the history and evolution of hip hop in Brooklyn. Joined by Wes Jackson, founder and Executive Director of the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, we consider how Brooklyn shaped the trajectory of this powerful cultural genre - and how hip hop, in turn, shaped Brooklyn and Brooklynites. We chat with media producer, archivist, and educator Martha Diaz about what it means to document and archive such a multilayered and global movement as hip hop. Finally, in the "Voices of Brooklyn" segment, we listen to author, filmmaker, and cultural critic Nelson George describe how hip hop communities operated on the ground in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Fort Greene. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/38084825

Flatbush + Main: Queering Brooklyn Spaces 09/04/2025

Flatbush + Main: Queering Brooklyn Spaces This episode was originally published on June 21, 2016. In episode 03 of Brooklyn Historical Society's podcast Flatbush + Main, Zaheer and I tackle the history of queer spaces in Brooklyn. We sit down with curator and writer Hugh Ryan, who helps us define "queer" as a historical construct and shares some amazing hidden queer histories that he has uncovered. We also visit in the neighborhood of Park Slope to talk with co-founder Deborah Edel, and listen to the reflections of one Brooklynite who shared his life and experiences in our oral history collections. We usually plan each episode a month or two in advance, and we knew we wanted to do an episode honoring Pride for the month of June. But on Sunday, June 12, the episode took on new and heartbreaking meaning for us when we learned of the mass shooting of 49 people at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. This tragedy and this unthinkable loss of life makes examination of Brooklyn's complex and layered queer history all the more imperative. Zaheer and I dedicate this podcast to the victims of the Pulse massacre, and those who have lost partners, family members, friends, and loved ones. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/38084805

Flatbush + Main: Brooklyn's Working Waterfront 09/04/2025

Flatbush + Main: Brooklyn's Working Waterfront This episode was originally published on May 24, 2016. In the past several years, Brooklyn's waterfront has transformed into a high-value, celebrated space lined with bucolic parks and new developments. In Episode 02 of Brooklyn Historical Society's podcast Flatbush + Main, co-hosts Zaheer Ali and Julie Golia travel back in time to a different waterfront: a 19th- and 20th-century site of production, storage, and back-breaking labor for millions of Brooklynites who lived and toiled along its industrial shores. Through stories of people, goods, and work, Julie and Zaheer discuss how Brooklyn's waterfront was a crucible of American capitalism and labor. Julie and Zaheer vividly describe the rise of the commercial waterfront in the early 19th century, back when Brooklyn was dubbed "the Walled City" because of its miles of fortress-like brick warehouses. They sit down with BHS Assistant Public Historian Katy Lasdow to learn how Katy pieced together the story of one dockworker who lived and died at Brooklyn's Empire Stores warehouse. Zaheer and Brett Dion, BHS Oral History Archivist, discuss a clip from BHS's . Finally, listeners hear from BHS Director of Education Emily Potter-Ndiaye and Teen Council Member Sam Pepere on the amazing work that teens have been doing at BHS this Spring. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/38084765

Flatbush + Main: Histories of Waste in Brooklyn 09/04/2025

Flatbush + Main: Histories of Waste in Brooklyn This episode was originally published on April 24, 2016. Last Friday, April 22, was Earth Day, recognized since 1970 as a day to agitate for environmental consciousness and protection. In honor of that, Episode 01 of Brooklyn Historical Society's podcast Flatbush + Main tackles one of the most pressing topics shaping Brooklyn's past and future: waste. With the help of guests historian Elizabeth Pillsbury and artist Barry Rosenthal, co-hosts Zaheer Ali and Julie Golia dive into the trash, sewage, and general yuckiness that is produced by a densely-populated urban center like Brooklyn. Julie and Zaheer learn how Brooklyn's sewer system prompted the demise of the oyster industry in Brooklyn, and discuss trash as a symbol of inequity for 1960s Civil Rights activists. Zaheer shares clips from BHS's . Finally, Julie checks in with photographer Barry Rosenthal to learn more about his process creating art out of found trash. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/38084740

Welcome to Flatbush + Main, a podcast from Brooklyn Historical Society 09/04/2025

Welcome to Flatbush + Main, a podcast from Brooklyn Historical Society This episode originally published on April 24, 2016. Brooklyn Historical Society is excited to launch Flatbush + Main, a monthly podcast dedicated to Brooklyn's many-layered history and its dynamic present. Each week you'll hear co-hosts Zaheer Ali and Julie Golia dig into some of the most compelling stories that we come across everyday in our work as historians at BHS. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/38084675

8: Places We Gather: Organizing 08/14/2025

8: Places We Gather: Organizing To end the tour, we look at some of the ways that residents have advocated for changes in their neighborhood. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/37819010

7: Places We Gather: Celebration 08/14/2025

7: Places We Gather: Celebration This segment is about Commodore Barry Park, past and present. Ms. Denise Evans shares memories about the establishment of the public pool located in the park. She also talks about Old Timers Day, a day to honor elders in the neighborhood, held in the park annually. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/37818970

6: Places We Gather: Education 08/14/2025

6: Places We Gather: Education In this segment, public historian Prithi Kanakamedala, professor of history at Bronx Community College and the CUNY Graduate Center, talks about the roots of mutual aid organizing in Fort Greene, and in Brooklyn more broadly, in the 19th Century. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/37818960

5: Places We Gather: Distribution 08/14/2025

5: Places We Gather: Distribution This segment is about Hall Street Shelter Volunteers, a mutual aid group established to distribute food, clothing, supplies to asylum seekers temporarily housed in the shelter on Hall Street, which has closed since the time of the interview. Volunteers Delmy Lendof, Tamar Ettun, and Lizzie Presser talk about building community through this work. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/37818915

4: Places We Gather: Food 08/14/2025

4: Places We Gather: Food In this segment, listeners hear about One Love Community Fridge, an organization established during the peak of the pandemic to feed community members. Asmeret Berhe-Lumax and Kristina Garrity speak about the community fridge formerly located on Myrtle Avenue. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/37818895

3: Places We Gather: Choir 08/14/2025

3: Places We Gather: Choir This segment includes interviews with Janis Russell and Edward Moran, who each independently moved to Fort Greene in the 1980s, and are members of the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church (LAPC) in the neighborhood. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/37818830

2: Places We Gather: Art 08/14/2025

2: Places We Gather: Art In this segment, listeners hear from Ms. Denise Evans, who speaks about the Ingersoll Houses Community Center where she teaches art classes. Ms. Denise reflects on the important role the community center plays in the neighborhood and the positive impact of art therapy. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/37818815

1: Places We Gather: The Library 08/14/2025

1: Places We Gather: The Library An introduction to the Places We Gather audio tour and to the Walt Whitman Library. This stop explores the role that the library plays in the community from the point of view of librarians and library patrons. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/37818775

Finding Trace/s - Part Two 06/18/2025

Finding Trace/s - Part Two "Finding Trace/s" is a companion podcast to the Center for Brooklyn History’s exhibition . Brooklyn-based podcast producer Ula Kulpa takes listeners behind the scenes of the making of the exhibition, using oral history excerpts, interviews with the exhibition’s curators, and deep dives into the primary sources that reveal the story of slavery’s impact on the borough of Brooklyn. Whether you can’t make it in person to the Center for Brooklyn History, want to prepare beforehand, or want to keep learning after your visit, consider “Finding Trace/s” your immersive guide to the exhibition, from wherever you are! “Finding Trace/s” is made possible through an internship partnership with NYU’s History Department and their Archives and Public History Program. Special thanks to Program Director Ellen Noonan, and the podcast team at the Brooklyn Public Library for their support. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/37062035

Finding Trace/s - Part One 06/18/2025

Finding Trace/s - Part One "Finding Trace/s" is a companion podcast to the Center for Brooklyn History’s exhibition . Brooklyn-based podcast producer Ula Kulpa takes listeners behind the scenes of the making of the exhibition, using oral history excerpts, interviews with the exhibition’s curators, and deep dives into the primary sources that reveal the story of slavery’s impact on the borough of Brooklyn. Whether you can’t make it in person to the Center for Brooklyn History, want to prepare beforehand, or want to keep learning after your visit, consider “Finding Trace/s” your immersive guide to the exhibition, from wherever you are! “Finding Trace/s” is made possible through an internship partnership with NYU’s History Department and their Archives and Public History Program. Special thanks to Program Director Ellen Noonan, and the podcast team at the Brooklyn Public Library for their support. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/37061960

Bed-Stuy Tea: Shakoor Watson 02/21/2025

Bed-Stuy Tea: Shakoor Watson Welcome back to a new year of Bed-Stuy Tea! In today's episode, Krishna and Riann sit down and talk to Chef Shakoor Watson, owner and creator of The Sweet Tooth Bakery & Catering. Sweet Tooth Bakery & Catering is located on 376 Marcus Garvey Blvd. and has been a Bedford-Stuyvesant community staple since 1999. We talk to Chef Shakoor about his journey into creating his business, his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and more. Please note that this episode talks about topics that some listeners may find sensitive including drug use and family death. Sit back and enjoy our first episode of 2025! /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/35383235

Bed-Stuy Tea: Lesley Enston 12/30/2024

Bed-Stuy Tea: Lesley Enston Krishna and Riann wrap up the 2024 year with local cookbook author Lesley Enston! Lesley Enston is the author of Belly Full, Exploring Caribbean Cuisine Through 11 Fundamental Ingredients and Over 100 Recipes. Enjoy this seasonal episode as they discuss what's on the menu for the holidays, Lesley's journey and inspiration that led to writing a cookbook, her favorite spices, and more! Stick around for the end of the episode to hear from the Macon staff on what their grateful for as the year winds to an end. This episode was recorded in November 2024. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/34660485

Bed-Stuy Tea: Jatee Kearsley & Je T'aime Patisserie 10/17/2024

Bed-Stuy Tea: Jatee Kearsley & Je T'aime Patisserie On this episode of Bed-Stuy Tea's A La Carte series, focusing on chefs and food lovers in the neighborhood, Krishna, Peter and Riann chop it up with Jatee Kearsley, owner and operator of Je T'aime Patisserie, a local bakery serving French-inspired goods just around the corner from Macon Library. Jatee talks about putting all of herself into her business, finding inspiration and room to experiment in classic recipes, and the joy of bringing delicious croissants, cakes, and more to the community. Join us for a scrumptious sit-down and enjoy! Please Note: This episode was recorded in April of 2024. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/33169847

Bed-Stuy Tea: Jennella Young 07/31/2024

Bed-Stuy Tea: Jennella Young On today’s episode of Bed-Stuy Tea, Krishna, Peter and Riann sit down with artist and Bed-Stuy resident, Jennella Young. Jennella is a 2024 fellow for the Laundromat Project and does art pop ups around the neighborhood. We spoke to Jennella about her creative process, how she came to incorporate book binding into her art practice and her interest in drawing portraits and exploring untold stories. You can check out the accompanying booklist ! /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/32071357

Paerdegat Speaks: CABS Health Network 06/04/2024

Paerdegat Speaks: CABS Health Network Paerdegat Speaks is a show dedicated to amplifying the voices of our incredible library patrons and celebrating the diverse and vibrant community that calls Paerdegat Library its home. Each episode will feature an interview with someone who has navigated life's challenges and triumphs with the support and resources provided by Brooklyn Public Library. From the ambitious student who found the perfect study corner to the aspiring writer who discovered a wealth of literary treasures, our guests will share their experiences and express gratitude for the vital role this library has played in their lives. The guests on this episode are members of CABS Health Network, a frequent partner of the Library and community organization. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/31603662

Bed-Stuy Tea: Nicole Taylor 04/16/2024

Bed-Stuy Tea: Nicole Taylor Krishna, Riann, and Peter continue their A La Carte Series with food and beverage lovers from around the neighborhood as Bed-Stuy Tea sits down with cookbook author Nicole A. Taylor! Splitting her time between Athens, Georgia and Brooklyn, Nicole has written several cookbooks, most recently Watermelon & Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations; she discusses finding and preserving her Southern voice, the pleasures of restaurant research, and her favorite local spots to eat and drink. Check out Nicole's cookbooks and some of her favorite reads here: /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/30850058

Bed-Stuy Tea: Jamilla Wright 04/01/2024

Bed-Stuy Tea: Jamilla Wright Continuing their A La Carte Series featuring food and beverage lovers from around the neighborhood, Bed-Stuy Tea sits down to chat with Jamilla Wright, co-owner of Brooklyn Tea! Brooklyn Tea is located in Bedford-Stuyvesant and has a location in Atlanta, Georgia. Pour yourself a cup of tea as we dive into Jamilla’s passion for tea, insight into her tea-making process, her influences, and her favorite books to curl up to with a hot cup of tea. Be sure to check out the accompanying booklist to see all the books mentioned in today’s episode: /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/30625683

Paerdegat Speaks: Heidi Washington 03/11/2024

Paerdegat Speaks: Heidi Washington Paerdegat Speaks is a show dedicated to amplifying the voices of our incredible library patrons and celebrating the diverse and vibrant community that calls Paerdegat Library its home. Each episode will feature an interview with someone who has navigated life's challenges and triumphs with the support and resources provided by Brooklyn Public Library. From the ambitious student who found the perfect study corner to the aspiring writer who discovered a wealth of literary treasures, our guests will share their experiences and express gratitude for the vital role this library has played in their lives. The guest on this episode is Heidi Washington, a frequent library patron and active member of the community. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/30327838

Bed-Stuy Tea: Amadeus Broger 03/11/2024

Bed-Stuy Tea: Amadeus Broger Join hosts Krishna and Riann as they sit down with Amadeus Broger, owner and operator of Bed-Stuy’s own farm-to-table French dining spot, L’Antagoniste! We were thrilled continue our A La Carte series celebrating the flavors and personalities of our neighborhood’s chefs and eaters, and dish with Amadeus all about the business of French food in Bed-Stuy, his memories and plans for the food business, and his dream dinner date. Don’t miss this look into Amadeus’s decades of history in the neighborhood and the ins and outs of a food lover’s life in Brooklyn. /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/30320913

Bed-Stuy Tea: Edwin Hughes 02/15/2024

Bed-Stuy Tea: Edwin Hughes Join Bed-Stuy Tea for À La Carte, a series celebrating the flavors and personalities of our neighborhood’s chefs and eaters, as we sit down with Edwin Hughes, owner-operator of local fixture Wadadli Jerk! We dove into the personal and cultural background to Edwin’s sumptuous Caribbean flavors and the communal nature of cooking. Look for him on Putnam and Tompkins Avenues, and keep an eye on the Community Audio Feed for more interviews with Bed-Stuy chefs, restauranteurs, and more! /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/29972233

Bridging the Gap: Berena interviews Raihanul Bari 02/15/2024

Bridging the Gap: Berena interviews Raihanul Bari Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate at BPL is a 3-cycle pilot debate series that pairs teens with older adults. Using the Benson model of debate created by Dr. Thomas Benson, participants work in intergenerational teams to craft persuasive arguments and develop public speaking and research skills as they get to know one another across the generational divide. These episodes highlight the scope of the program as well as the debate experiences and backgrounds of the participants. Teens interviewed the older adults in lively discussions about generational gaps, colonialism, mental health, working from home vs. the office, and even The Beatles! Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate at BPL is made possible through the generosity of The Eisner Foundation. Episodes were produced by Emily Boghossian at BRIC and the theme music is "Gentle Marimbas," courtesy of Podington Bear and the Free Music Archive. Please take our after you listen to let us know what you think! /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/29971913

Bridging the Gap: Berena interviews Carol Harris 01/10/2024

Bridging the Gap: Berena interviews Carol Harris Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate at BPL is a 3-cycle pilot debate series that pairs teens with older adults. Using the Benson model of debate created by Dr. Thomas Benson, participants work in intergenerational teams to craft persuasive arguments and develop public speaking and research skills as they get to know one another across the generational divide. These episodes highlight the scope of the program as well as the debate experiences and backgrounds of the participants. Teens interviewed the older adults in lively discussions about generational gaps, colonialism, mental health, working from home vs. the office, and even The Beatles! Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate at BPL is made possible through the generosity of The Eisner Foundation. Episodes were produced by Emily Boghossian at BRIC and the theme music is "Gentle Marimbas," courtesy of Podington Bear and the Free Music Archive. Please take our after you listen to let us know what you think! /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/29428223

Bridging the Gap: Berena interviews Sandra Surita 01/02/2024

Bridging the Gap: Berena interviews Sandra Surita Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate at BPL is a 3-cycle pilot debate series that pairs teens with older adults. Using the Benson model of debate created by Dr. Thomas Benson, participants work in intergenerational teams to craft persuasive arguments and develop public speaking and research skills as they get to know one another across the generational divide. These episodes highlight the scope of the program as well as the debate experiences and backgrounds of the participants. Teens interviewed the older adults in lively discussions about generational gaps, colonialism, mental health, working from home vs. the office, and even The Beatles! Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate at BPL is made possible through the generosity of The Eisner Foundation. Episodes were produced by Emily Boghossian at BRIC and the theme music is "Gentle Marimbas," courtesy of Podington Bear and the Free Music Archive. Please take our after you listen to let us know what you think! /episode/index/show/bklynmixtape/id/29307638

BKLYN Community Audio

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