Living For We Wins 2024 Webby’s People’s Voice Award

CLEVELAND, April 25, 2024 (Newswire.com) - Evergreen Podcasts (Evergreen) and Ideastream Public Media (Ideastream) are elated to announce that their collaborative podcast series Living for We has been awarded the 2024 Webby's People's Voice Winner in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Podcast category. This prestigious accolade celebrates the series' profound engagement and discourse around the systemic issues impacting Black women in Cleveland, Ohio.

“This podcast was created by a team of primarily women for Black women. The stories of struggle, loss, and in many cases triumph over oppressive systems, touch the hearts of so many listeners," stated Marlene Harris-Taylor, Host and Executive Producer. "Winning this award is affirmation that the hard work and care put in by the team to tell the authentic lived experience of Black women was worth it. We are so grateful that our listeners rallied to support this podcast.”

Living for We was sparked by a 2020 cityLAB of Pittsburgh study that ranked Cleveland as dead last regarding livability for Black women. The study prompted researchers of Enlightened Solutions to produce Project Noir, a comprehensive survey detailing the experiences of over 450 Black women in Cleveland. The podcast is a key part of Ideastream's Connecting the Dots between Race and Health, an ongoing initiative that examines how racism affects health outcomes in Northeast Ohio and identifies actions to dismantle structural barriers to health equality.  

The Team Behind Living for We:

Marlene Harris-Taylor: Host and Executive Producer, Director of Engaged Journalism at Ideastream Public Media. 

HeyFranHey: Creative Director and Contributing Producer, renowned for her engaging content creation and community engagement. 

Chinenye Nkemere: Researcher and Contributor, Co-Founder and Director of Strategy at Enlightened Solutions, instrumental in the development of Project Noir.

Bethany Studenic: Researcher and Contributor, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Enlightened Solutions, deeply involved in the research and advocacy of Project Noir.

Hannah Rae Leach: Senior Producer, enhancing the podcast with her extensive background in production, hosting, writing, and music.

Afi Scruggs: Composer, a Cleveland-based talent adding musical depth alongside her journalistic and literary skills.

Sean Rule Hoffman: Mix Engineer, elevating the auditory experience with his expertise in Music Technology and Electronic Media.

Living for We is praised for providing actionable advice from psychologist Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett, who provides strategies to navigate and challenge the systemic inequities discussed in each episode. 

The Webby Awards, led by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), recognize excellence on the Internet and have honored Living for We for its impactful exploration of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“It was an honor working with the incredible team at Ideastream on this podcast, and we’re pleased to see our collaboration being recognized by this award,” said Brigid Coyne, Executive Vice President of Production for Evergreen Podcasts. “We look forward to renewing our partnership in a future season.”

The success of  Living for We has paved the way for a second season, aiming to further the dialogue and foster positive changes not just in Cleveland but across the nation. Living for We is available for streaming on major platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

About Ideastream Public Media

Ideastream Public Media serves as Ohio’s largest independent, publicly supported media organization. Ideastream is the home of Northeast Ohio’s PBS, NPR and classical music public broadcasting stations: WVIZ, WKSU and WCLV. We produce free programs and services to 3.6 million people in 22 counties across radio, TV and digital platforms, meeting the communities we serve where and when they need us. All our content is accessible online at ideastream.org, the Ideastream Public Media App, the PBS App, the NPR One App, and on major social media and digital content platforms. 

About Evergreen Podcasts

Evergreen is one of the world’s largest independent podcast networks with a premier catalog of over 300 shows. A full-service podcast production, brand marketing, and sales organization, Evergreen is rooted in high production values and artistic integrity. Evergreen Podcasts connects listeners with content that informs, entertains, and inspires. For more information, visit evergreenpodcasts.com.

Source: Evergreen Podcasts