Episode 127 Notes and Links to Raina Kelley’s Work
On Episode 127 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Raina Kelley, and the two discuss, among other topics, their shared love of the Oxford Comma, Raina’s single mindedness in reading widely, her circuitous route from studying theater to journalism, cultural criticism, and editorship, the intricacies of keeping a multimedia presence, Andscape’s mission and goals and structure, and political activism in sport.
Raina Kelley is Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of Andscape, formerly The Undefeated, a Black media platform dedicated to creating, highlighting, and uplifting the diverse stories of Black identity. She is also a former deputy editor at ESPN The Magazine.
ESPN Press Room Bio for Raina Kelley
Andscape Website
Raina on ESPN PRod Pod in March 2022
February 2022 Article from New York Times: “ESPN Rebrands Black-Focused Undefeated Site as Andscape”
At about 1:25, Raina talks about her “superpower” of always reading
At about 3:40, Raina discusses One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest as an indicator of grade-level reading
At about 5:00, Raina discusses favorite books
At about 6:45, Pete and Raina investigate Castaway and its a passive/proactive protagonist
At about 7:45, Raina responds to Pete’s questions about Raina’s writing and reading journey, and Raina gives background on her formidable drama base
At about 10:20, Pete and Raina geek out over Anna Deavere Smith’s “magnificent” Twilight: Los Angeles
At about 12:30, Raina keeps it cool about her alma mater Yale’s Skull and Bones, and how her career path took shape after college
At about 15:20, Raina talks about her “long and winding road” to journalism, and how “storytelling” was always her highest priority
At about 16:10, Pete asks Raina to compare and contrast theater writing and journalism
At about 17:50, Raina and Pete reminisce and lament over 2008-2022 in talking about the drastically-different worlds of Obama and Trump
At about 20:20, Raina talks about ideas of “authenticity” and inclusion in contemporary society
At about 21:00, Pete uses James Patterson’s recent comments as a springboard to ask Raina questions about her experiences as a Black woman in worlds often heavy on white men’s influence
At about 25:50, Raina explains her role at ESPN: The Magazine, including a detailed explanation of what a “deputy editor” does
At about 28:00, Raina responds to Pete’s questions about an editor’s balancing act in respecting a writer’s autonomy and voice while performing one’s editing duties
At about 31:00, Pete wonders about Raina’s sports fandom/interest
At about 33:05, Raina shouts out the Best American anthology and its collections of great sportswriting
At about 35:00, Raina is asked about reasons for the rise or perception of the rise of players as activists
At about 37:50, Raina talks about multimedia’s rise in line with the decline of physical newspapers and magazines
At about 41:25, Raina talks about what drew her to The Undefeated
At about 43:30, Raina discusses the audiences for The Undefeated and Andscape and “fine-tuning” voice and inclusion
At about 44:40, Raina talks about a dream collaboration with Hamilton and The Undefeated, under the care of Kelley L. Carter
At about 45:40, Raina further discusses Andscape’s name origin and its changing role in 2022
At about 47:50, Pete and Raina talk about the idea of the diversity within and among Black points-of-view
At about 49:10, Pete highlights three representative articles from the week’s Andscape that show a diversity of thought and subject matter
At about 50:00, Raina discusses future projects for Andscape, including Jason Reid’s book, The Rise of the Black Quarterback, being published through the company’s imprint
At about 51:30, Pete’s son and his jaguar toy make an appearance!
At about 52:20, Raina gives contact/social media info
You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 128 with Vania Patino. Vania is a news reporter for KERO-TV in Bakersfield, CA, a former reporter for KFDA in Amarillo, Texas, and a former standout student in Pete’s English 10 honors class. This is going to be quite a treat for Pete!
The episode will air on June 21.
Episode 96 with Dr. Frank A. Guridy, Historian, Deep-Thinker, and Connector of Sports and Societal Issues Through The Sports Revolution: How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics
Episode 95 with Diana Lopez, Imaginative Author of Books for All Ages, Including Coco, Sing with Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla, and Lucky Luna
Episode 94: Lasting Literary Images with Naomi Shihab Nye and Francisco Goldman
Episode 93 with Steph Cha, Food Writer, Book Reviewer, and Author of the Award-Winning Juniper Song Series and Your House Will Pay
Episode 92 with Alan Chazaro, Hip Hop Head, Baller, Aesthete, and Writer of the Prize-Winning This is Not a Frank Ocean Cover Album and Piñata Theory
Episode 91 with Annie McDermott, Passionate Translator of the Eccentric and Magnificent The Luminous Novel by Mario Levrero
Episode 90 with Bill Esparza, Writer for Eater LA, Fixer, Professional Musician, and Food Ambassador
Episode 89 with Luke Epplin, Writer of Nonfiction with the Best Qualities of Fiction, and Author of Our Team: The Epic Story of Four Men and the World Series That Changed Baseball
Episode 88 with Father Greg Boyle, S.J., Founder and Director of Homeboy Industries, the World‘s Largest Gang-Intervention and Rehabilitation Program
Episode 87 with Natalia Sylvester, Heartfelt Writer of Stirring Works for Kids, Teens, and Adults
Episode 86 with Mark Athitakis, Inquisitive Writer, Critic, and Chronicler of Literature for The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Many More
Episode 85 with Brett Marie, Multifaceted Artist, Aesthete, and Brilliant Writer of the Brilliant and Beautiful The Upsetter Blog
Episode 84 with Noah Hurowitz, Curious Reader, Journalist, and Author of 2021‘s El Chapo: The Untold Story Of The World‘s Most Infamous Drug Lord
Episode 83 with Larry Strauss, High School Educator, Mentor, Basketball Coach, and Writer for HuffPost, USA Today, and Author of November‘s Light Man novel and Many Other Books
Episode 82 with Sara Elkamel, Passionate and Profound Poet with an Artist‘s Soul and a Journalist‘s Eye for Detail
Episode 81 with Cerise Castle, Producer, Podcaster, Journalist, and Intrepid Writer of The Important Series ”A Tradition of Violence: The History of Deputy Gangs...” for KnockLA
Episode 80 with Dave Zirin, Journalist, Activist, Host of The Edge of Sports for The Nation, and Author of 2021‘s Important The Kaepernick Effect: Taking a Knee and Changing the World
Episode 79 with Matt Ortile, Keen Observer, Masterful Editor, and Profound and Witty Writer of The Groom Will Keep His Name
Episode 78 with Adam O‘Fallon Price, Skilled Tactician of Voice and Narrative, and 2020 Edgar Award Winner for Best Paperback Original, The Hotel Neversink
Episode 77 with Danielle Fuentes Morgan, Professor at Santa Clara University and Expert and Nuanced Chronicler of Pop Culture through her Book, Laughing to Keep from Dying: African American Satire
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Lit Society: Books and Drama
Ex Libris
Write The Book: Conversations on Craft
Black Beauty
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Fresh Air
Myths and Legends