Finding the Funny & Redefining Black Masculinity

In this episode of The Bridge to U Podcast, I sit down with the amazing Kiara “Kiki” Walker — a powerhouse producer, storyteller, and podcast host. Kiara is the co-host of the wildly popular CockTales: Dirty Discussions, a sex-positive comedy show turned national tour, and the host and producer of XO Man, a groundbreaking podcast exploring Black masculinity through the voices of celebrity Black men.

We talk about how humor became her healing tool, what it takes to create authentic conversations in podcasting, and how she uses curiosity to go beyond assumptions and make her guests feel truly seen. From her stories about CockTales to the behind-the-scenes of XO Man, Kiara shows us what it looks like to hold space for vulnerability, laughter, and cultural truth.

You’ll walk away with insights on:

• How finding the funny helps us heal and grow.
• Why too many voices can lead to “manufactured authenticity.”
• The gap XO Man is filling for Black men and their stories.
• What performance vs. message means when interviewing high-profile guests.
• The reality of building, scaling, and touring a podcast from scratch.

About My Guest: Kiara “Kiki” Walker

• Host & Producer of XO Man
• Co-host of CockTales: Dirty Discussions
• Digital strategist and storyteller with 6+ years of experience
• Graduate of Howard University, background in media and journalism
• Cookbook author (Klassy-Baste), book club founder, and group travel host

 

Follow Kiara here:

• CockTales Podcast
• Instagram: @kikisaidso
• XO Man on all podcast platforms

If you loved this conversation, please share this episode with your community and on your favorite platforms. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Bridge to U Podcast and leave a review so more people can discover these transformational conversations.

Listen to the episode and share your biggest insight or learning moment.

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Or email with feedback or questions: leadership@clearcommunicationsolutions.com

Produced by Breadfruit Media

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