Podcasts for Multiracial Families

In many Western societies, there is a sense of independence that is fostered from birth. We teach kids to “blaze their own trail” and “march to your own drum”. This is so they won’t bow to peer pressure as they pursue their personal goals, dreams, and aspirations. According to Matthew Lieberman, this is a story we like to tell ourselves rather than what really happens. Which is why today I want to talk about my favorite podcasts for multiracial families that I rely on for a wider perspective.

Podcasts for Multiracial Families

One of the ways I felt most interconnected to home as we were traveling the world as a diplomat family was to listen to podcasts.  We listened to author interviews, current events, sports, etc. Additionally, we also connected with other multiracial families through podcasts. We, like many multiracial families, are simply trying to navigate the nuances of society, in jobs, in neighborhoods, etc.

Pew Research Center did a study on multiracial identity and how you were raised, how you see yourself, and how the world sees you have a profound effect in shaping multiracial identity, the survey finds. As we were raising a biracial child, we were also raising a third-culture kid who was multilingual. You can imagine, we had a lot of questions and very few answers.

Multiracial Families are Not Born in a Vacuum

So we sought out answers from families just like ourselves. We sought to educate ourselves as an interracial couple first and foremost. Remember, you put your own safety mask on first. However, we also wanted to understand how to navigate raising biracial children.

I want to share with you three instrumental resources for our family that has truly given us hope. These multiracial education resources have been an inspiration when we have hard days.  We know we are not alone, and if you are a multiracial family reading this, we don’t want you to be alone either.  From top scholars to just regular folks, below are my top three multiracial education podcasts.

Embrace Race

Melissa Giraud and Andrew Grant-Thomas have truly lived out their namesake. With diverse perspectives, they share information and insight to help parents and caregivers. The expertise of the guests they host on the podcast will bring ample conversation into your family dynamics.

I can personally guarantee they are authentically trying to cultivate a community of unity. Their conversations are truly breaking down racial barriers through their multiracial education platform.  Join the EmbraceRace community conversation online, every 4th Tuesday, starting at 5:30 pm PT, 8:30 pm ET.

Multiracial Media

The Multiracial Family Man Podcast is a multiracial education podcast is hosted by comic and writer Alex Barnett; a White, Jewish man married to an African American woman (who converted to Judaism). They have a 6-year-old biracial son.

His interview program explores issues of concern to multiracial people and people in multiracial families and relationships. Alex also includes discussing the dynamics between members of the same family who are of different races (aka your mother-in-law).

Alex brings humor through his experience as a comedian, which is a breath of fresh air to multiracial families.  Sometimes the battles we fight on a daily basis are all consuming.  This podcast turns the challenges of being in a multiracial family to an advantage.  

The Mixed Experience

I think the most prevalent conversation I have with other parents of multiracial kids is that the way in which the kids see themselves doesn’t always match the way they believe others see them. I have two daughters now, a 6-year-old and an 8-month-old and my daughters are Caucasian and African American.

What I love about The Mixed Experience with host Heidi Durrow is that she addresses various multiracial identity in the arts, culture, academia, and history.  I love Heidi’s interviews with authors who address low self-esteem for many biracial adults.  Low self-esteem is often a result of  “micro-aggressions”,  as well as the isolation of being incessantly considered “the other.”

You can listen LIVE on show days every Monday at 5 pm Eastern during the regular season.  Or subscribe to the show on iTunes and never miss an episode.

3 must-listen #multiracial podcasts for #IRMC families! Share on X

Multiracial Children’s Books

There is a myth going around the world of “kidlit” that good stories will rise to the top. I believe they won’t unless we as a community do something about it.

It needs to be an outcry of multiracial and multicultural families as well as their allies that our voices need representation in children’s literature.

I want to introduce you to my very favorite resources for multiracial children’s books.  As we educate ourselves on where to find high-quality diverse books, we, in turn, pay it forward.

We will share them with our neighbors, our children’s teachers, and anyone who will listen.

Find the perfect book that helps the children in your life learn literacy skills through diverse books.

The Multiracial Children’s Literature Guide is filled with resources I use on a daily basis for my own children, as well as my students, to advocate for multiracial children.

This way they can tap into their potential and embrace their power by reading about children who mirror themselves on a daily basis.

*this article was originally posted on The Parent Voice.