When Courthney Russell and Emily Braucher first met in 2019, they were searching for new ways to make Colorado more inclusive and equitable. But when the pandemic hit, they faced a quandary: How could they have meaningful conversations about social justice in a world suddenly at a standstill?
Braucher had an idea: a podcast. Russell had never done one, but his response was clear: “Alright, fuck it. Why not?”
And just like that, The Humanize Podcast was born.
“We thought it would be fascinating to have two different perspectives coming together to talk about something as emotionally charged as race, culture and belonging,” Russell, 45, says. “We grew a relationship while podcasting. Now, that’s big sis right there. Emily is family.”
At first glance, Russell and Braucher might seem like an unlikely duo. He’s a Black man from Atlanta who was at times homeless while putting himself through medical school. She’s a white woman from New England with an Ivy League degree who has traveled to 30 countries doing international development work with NGOs.
But their differences are what makes Humanize work. “We need each other,” Braucher says. “Black and white people need to all be in this fight together toward liberation.”
Advancing the conversation
With nearly 100 episodes under their belt, Russell and Braucher — who call Estes Park and Boulder home, respectively — have honed their approach to interracial dialogue across five seasons. The pair’s podcast conversations don’t just discuss social justice in theory; they share personal stories, challenge each other’s perspectives and create a space where guests feel comfortable.
“I’m an anthropologist, so I take a cultural lens to things naturally, but keeping things authentic and raw helps our listeners better navigate barriers that come up,” Braucher, 47, says. “We’re trying to have non-defensive conversations. It’s not uncommon to cry and laugh in the same episode.”
Inspired by the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, Humanize was born from a desire to normalize race discussions in the wake of rising outrage surrounding police killings of Black people in the U.S.
“I follow a lot of Black activists who were asking, ‘Why is this taking off right now?’” Braucher recalls. “It was because his words about not being able to breathe and calling for his mother were so deeply humanizing that it countered the intense history of dehumanization that justified slavery. The question is: How can we sustain that? Our goal is to bring in people on the periphery who wouldn’t normally be in the social justice fight.”
As they found their rhythm, the podcast’s scope expanded. Subsequent seasons began bringing in guests, mostly BIPOC activists, to share their experiences. To keep the discussions dynamic, the hosts don’t write a script and instead encourage guests to speak from their hearts.
“We keep our conversations centered on humanity and culture,” Russell says. “We don’t ask how you make your money or what accolades and degrees you have. We care more about if you’re willing to show your humanity so that we can show our listeners this is for everyone. If everyone’s fighting racism, it’s much more powerful.”
While the early days featured weekly episodes, they’ve shifted to releasing new installments every month or so. “We’re paying out of pocket for production,” Braucher says. “We have Shopify and Patreon, but we’re still figuring out sponsorships. Right now, we just know we have to keep these conversations going.”
‘Lessons from a Liberal Bubble’
One way Russell and Braucher plan to diversify their revenue streams is by using their public speaking skills in boardrooms, classrooms and larger public event settings. The duo’s first experiment with this shift is their live series, Amplifying Black Culture in Boulder at the Museum of Boulder.
The first two events — featuring Lafayette-based visual artist Adderly Grant-Lord on parenting Black children in Boulder County, and Longmont filmmaker Katrina Miller on DEI under fire — sparked meaningful conversations among attendees. The next installment, scheduled for March 27, features Dr. Amy Pickens discussing “The Cost of Performative Progress: Lessons from a Liberal Bubble.”
“Boulder is obsessed with this image of itself as progressive; however, I don’t see it as a super progressive space in terms of racial equity,” Braucher says. “There’s so much weird racism in subtle, manipulative, smart ways … we think one way, but act another.”
The duo is also preparing for another event April 17 with DaWon Baker, CU Boulder’s associate director of DEI for athletics, about diversity in college sports. For Russell, this series has been a powerful way to engage with audiences.
“Hearing people react in the moment makes these conversations more dynamic,” he says. “We can push deeper, challenge ideas and see how they land in real time.”
“This is a great opportunity to bridge a gap,” Russell continues. “If I’m talking about race, I want to do it with white people, because I know what [people of color] are going to say to certain questions: ‘It’s rough.’ But when you talk to a white woman who doesn’t navigate these waters every day, that leads to a whole different conversation.”
ON STAGE: The Humanize Podcast live event series: Amplifying Black Culture in Boulder. 6 p.m. Thursday, March 27, Museum of Boulder, 2205 Broadway. Free (donations encouraged)