Ep. 38: Black in the Time of Corona; Pastry Chef & TV Judge Cherish Finden; Performance Artist Travis Alabanza; Musician Samantha Crain

Across the world COVID-19 has laid bare the damning levels of racial inequality. Daily we receive real time data that exposes the discriminatory hurdles faced by black people in the UK and the US as they fight the virus. In the UK we are 4 times more likely to die due to the virus according to the government's Office for National Statistics. We wanted to discuss the UK data and uncover how it can inform decisions right now as well as interrogate what is missing for the future. Chrystal Genesis is joined by Shanae Dennis, a biochemist, journalist & campaigner who works in healthcare research for the Department of Health and Social Care and Charlene Prempeh whose company, A Vibe Calle Tech, was set up in 2019, to address the absence of black voices in technology conversations, and has advised some of the UK’s top media and arts companies in cultural & digital marketing.

Cherish Finden, Judge on Bake Off: The Professionals

As we move into the third month of lockdown, a quiet revolution is happening in our kitchens and, according to a recent UK study: 20% have baked for the first time ever and more than 40% are doing more home-baking. During these strange times we’ve been thinking a lot about what food, family and taste mean to us and have been getting tips from award-winning pastry chef and Bake Off: The Professionals TVjudge, Cherish Finden. Born in Singapore and after a meteoric rise, she moved to London in 2001, winning multiple awards and working as Executive Pastry Chef at The Langham where she was known for her innovative and delicate creations. She launched her TV career on BBC 2’s show, Bake Off Creme de la Creme and she is known for her direct, on point but warm approach.

Travis Alabanza performing Burgerz — Travis Alabanza performing *Burgerz*

Hailing from the south-western English city of Bristol, Travis Alabanza is rising to become one of the most exciting queer performance artists in the UK. At the age of 24, their current show Burgerz won last year's Total Theatre Award and they’ve become the youngest recipient of the artist in residence programme at Tate. We explore the boundaries of queer identitiy in the arts and contemporary culture.

Samantha Crain is a singer, producer, musician, songwriter, and poet who blends folk, alternative rock, country and soul to cinematic effect. Born and raised in Shawnee, Oklahoma and of Choctaw heritage, her new album A Small Death is a searingly honest piece of rootsy folk, poetry and warm melodies.

Samantha Crain - A Small Death album cover

Stance wanted to take you away, as we did last month, with our quarantine journals from around the world. In this episode we hear from Sao Paulo, Hong Kong, La Drome, Ubud, Kampala and Guadalajara.

EP cover artwork: Travis Alabanza Burgerz — EP cover artwork: Travis Alabanza *Burgerz*