Bklyn Mixtape

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 Pfizer Brooklyn Oral History collection. Finally, Julie checks in with photographer Barry Rosenthal to learn more about his process creating art out of found trash.

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.

To end the tour, we look at some of the ways that residents have advocated for changes in their neighborhood.  

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

"Finding Trace/s" is a companion podcast to the Center for Brooklyn History’s exhibition Trace/s: Family History Research and the Legacy of Slavery in Brooklyn. 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.

"Finding Trace/s" is a companion podcast to the Center for Brooklyn History’s exhibition Trace/s: Family History Research and the Legacy of Slavery in Brooklyn. 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.

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!  

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.   

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.

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 here!

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.

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: https://discover.bklynlibrary.org/?booklist=701497

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: https://discover.bklynlibrary.org/?booklist=700687

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.