State of Mind: My Relationship with Self-Harm

In this episode, Matthew Cuban opens up about his experience with self-harm and its relationship to his other mental health issues. The poet reminds viewers that it’s important to speak up about mental health struggles, and that it’s the first step toward daily healing. Cuban’s poem serves as a reminder of all the blessings he would have missed out on if he would have given in to his impulses towards self-harm.

Local Noise: Alexander Spit

Whether it’s creating an entire album in 10 hours or mixing jazz with rap and synth, Alexander Spit rarely shies away from a creative challenge. Writing music in the basement of a warehouse, Spit opens up about how his music has become a creative outlet for him to express his emotions.

BESE Explains: Title X Family Planning Program

<
span style=”font-weight: 400;”>The Title X Family Planning Program was enacted in 1970 to make affordable reproductive health services accessible to everyone in the U.S. Since then, thousands of health centers around the country have received Title X funding, and more than 4 million people use it every year. But newly proposed rules could put that access at risk.

Be You: Gabriella Sanchez

Artist and graphic designer Gabriella Sanchez is best known for pairing vibrant, feminine colors with male figures. While much of her work is reflective of her complex family history, the concept of duality is present throughout every piece she creates—whether it be the type face or object symbolism. In this episode of Be You, Gabriella Sanchez wades through her family archives as we come to understand the process in which she collages her multifaceted familial history with her present day self.

State of Mind: Thriving with My ADHD

Poet Angela Aguirre talks about rising above the negative stigmas attached to ADHD diagnosis.

Hidden Figuras: Maria Montez

Maria Montez was Hollywood’s first Dominican actress. She was the “Queen of Technicolor” during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and was best known for playing strong female leads. Montez knew her worth and refused to be pushed around by industry executives.

Local Noise: Kablito

Artist Kablito moved to the U.S. from Ecuador at the age of 15. In this episode of Local Noise, the singer opens up about growing up as a Latina in the U.S., and how it influenced her music.

BESE Explains: Tribal Sovereignty

There are currently 573 federally recognized Native American tribes in the U.S. and every one of them has the right to govern themselves and their lands. But maintaining that sovereignty hasn’t always been an easy task. In this episode of BESE Explains, we look at the impact that U.S. policies have had on tribal nations.

Folkslore: Countdown in Caracas

In this episode of Folkslore, Veronica Leon shares her Venezuelan family’s quirky rituals as they countdown to a New Year. If you have a Folkslore story, share it with us! Call 1-833-GOT-LORE or send us a message at stories@bese.com.

Be You: Nena Soul Fly

Nena Soul Fly shows us how adornment challenges mainstream perceptions of beauty—ultimately asking us to love ourselves for who we are.

State of Mind: Dealing with My Trauma

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Black Americans are more likely to experience certain factors that increase their risk of developing a mental health condition, like environmental trauma. In this episode of ‘State of Mind’, Alyesha Wise-Hernandez tells us how her childhood environment still affects her in her adult years.

Hidden Figuras: Mary Golda Ross

Mary Golda Ross was the first, female Native American engineer who excelled in missile and aerospace research. She worked with NASA and conducted then-top secret research for the Lockheed Corporation. She paved the way for other women and Native Americans to excel in STEM-related careers.

Local Noise: Kelman Duran

LA-based artist Kelman Duran’s latest album, “13th Month” is based off of the lunar calendar and his time spent on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. In this episode of Local Noise, we take a voyeuristic journey through Duran’s musical process and what he hopes to achieve with it.

BESE Explains: The Climate Gap

When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, 73 percent of those displaced by the storm were black. Climate change affects everyone, but not equally. It’s called the climate gap, and in this episode of BESE Explains, Zoe Saldana breaks it all down for us.

Hidden Figuras: Bill Melendez

José Cuauhtémoc “Bill” Melendez was one of the most influential animators of our time and is a part of all of our childhoods. His credits include “Pinocchio,” “Dumbo,” “Bambi,” and the beloved, “A Charlie Brown Christmas Special.” But being one of the few Latinx in his industry did not come without its challenges.

Sea of Change: Empowering Female Janitors with Ya Basta

Anabella Aguirre, a janitor for 18 years, has been sexually assaulted while working at night—twice. Today, Annabella is a self defense trainer with Ya Basta, a California-based group created by female janitors for female janitors. In the latest episode of Sea of Change, we hear Annabella’s story and learn why Ya Basta is imperative in empowering some of the most vulnerable and necessary members of our community.