‘Living For We’ Honoured With Webby’s People’s Voice Award In DEI Podcast Category

Evergreen Podcasts, in collaboration with Ideastream Public Media, has achieved a significant milestone by winning the 2024 Webby's People's Voice Winner in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Podcast category for their series, Living for We. This recognition underscores the series' impactful exploration into the systemic challenges faced by Black women in Cleveland, Ohio, and highlights the collaborative effort's commitment to fostering discussions on important societal issues.

The inception of Living for We was inspired by a 2020 study from cityLAB of Pittsburgh, which positioned Cleveland as the least livable city for Black women. This alarming revelation led Bethany Studenic and Chinenye Nkemere of Enlightened Solutions to initiate Project Noir, a detailed survey capturing the experiences of over 450 Black women in Cleveland. The podcast serves as a crucial component of Ideastream's Connecting the Dots between Race and Health initiative, aimed at dissecting how racism influences health outcomes in Northeast Ohio and identifying measures to dismantle health equality barriers.

The team behind Living for We includes Marlene Harris-Taylor as Host and Executive Producer, HeyFranHey as Creative Director and Contributing Producer, Chinenye Nkemere and Bethany Studenic as Researchers and Contributors, Hannah Rae Leach as Senior Producer, Afi Scruggs as Composer, and Sean Rule Hoffman as Mix Engineer. Their collective expertise has been pivotal in shaping the podcast's direction and enhancing its narrative depth.

Living for We not only presents findings from the cityLAB study but also features discussions with notable individuals like Samaria Rice and Ayesha Bell Hardaway. Their personal and professional insights add valuable perspectives on overcoming systemic barriers. The podcast is also lauded for offering practical advice from psychologist Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett on confronting and navigating systemic inequities.

The Webby Awards, overseen by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), celebrates excellence on the Internet. Brigid Coyne, Executive Vice President of Production for Evergreen Podcasts, expressed honor in working with Ideastream on this project and anticipation for future collaborations.

Following its success, plans for a second season of Living for We are underway, aiming to extend its influence beyond Cleveland to foster nationwide dialogue and change. The podcast is available on major streaming platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

About Ideastream Public Media: Serving Northeast Ohio, Ideastream Public Media is a dynamic multimedia source that reaches 3.6 million people monthly across a 22-county service area. It operates five public television stations, WKSU (an NPR news station), and WCLV (a classical music station), producing content like the award-winning children's series "NewsDepth".

About Evergreen Podcasts: As one of the world’s largest independent podcast networks, Evergreen boasts over 300 shows in its catalog. It stands out for its high production values, artistic integrity, and ability to connect audiences with content that informs, entertains, and inspires.

The accolade from the Webby Awards not only celebrates Living for We's contribution to diversity, equity, and inclusion discussions but also sets a precedent for future collaborative efforts between Evergreen Podcasts and Ideastream Public Media in creating meaningful content that addresses critical societal issues.