Meet the BIPOC Podcast Creators Team

Founders

Tangia Al-awaji Estrada

Black and Latina; She/Her

Co-Founder of BIPOC Podcast Creators, Tangia is a storyteller, business builder, and PR consultant. She’s been featured in publications such as USA Today, Bustle, and The Identity of She Magazine. Tangia is building BIPOC Podcast Creators to be the premier resource for BIPOC identified creators across the podcasting space. Using her background in community organizing, organizational leadership, and public policy Tangia is passionate about advocating for equity in all things. Having served in roles from grassroots organizing to directing state-wide campaigns, Tangia knows what it takes to roll up her sleeves and do the messy work of fighting for change. 

She is also the creator of the wellness podcast, Wellness Confidential, and the USA Today recognized podcast, That's What She Did, a show that amplifies the voices of brilliant women.

Maribel Quezada Smith

Mexican and Indigenous; She/Her

A media producer and writer with over 17 years of expertise developing meaningful content with an eye towards equity.

Her TV credits include producing on shows for the Discovery family of networks, Netflix, Oxygen and A&E (among others). She's the Co-creator of the podcast, Birdies Not BS, which helped amplify the voices of people of color in the golf industry. Most recently she co-host and Produced The Pulso Podcast and was the Story Editor & Writer for the second season of Award-Winning iHeart Podcast, Sacred Scandal.

She co-founded BIPOC Podcast Creators in order to help amplify the voices and stories of people of color.

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Executive Advisors

Donald Albright

Is an entrepreneur, producer and co-founder of Atlanta-based content creation company, Tenderfoot TV, a content creation company that he launched with friend and music video director Payne Lindsey.

  • Tenderfoot works with fellow creators to bring stories to life through an array of entertainment media -- including podcasts, live shows, television, film, and other digital platforms.

    Since its launch, Tenderfoot has amassed over 650 million podcast downloads, releasing award winning series like Up and Vanished, Atlanta Monster, and To Live and Die in LA. Through Tenderfoot TV, Albright has garnered partnerships with media companies including iHeartRadio, NBCUniversal, Spotify, HBO, Netflix, FX, and Issa Rae’s label Raedio. He currently serves as Chairperson for The Podcast Academy and in 2020 he won the Audible Audio Pioneer Award.

Christabel Nsiah-Buadi

is an award-winning journalist, podcasting expert, and editorial consultant who is passionate about supporting audio creators.

  • She has worked with NPR, Marketplace, the BBC, Macro, and the Webby-award nominated podcast, Sista Brunch.

    Throughout her 20-year career, she has produced high-quality, culturally nuanced cotent, and helped creators and storytellers develop and sharpen the editorial direction of their work. Christabel is the lead Spotify’s “Sound Up: Behind the Mic” fellowship for Black early-career podcasters. She also developed the program. In addition, she amplifies the work of global Black creators who are changing old narratives in her podcast,The Cipher. She also holds group creative support and 1:1 mentorship sessions for Black creators.

    Before this, Christabel led the production of award-winning shows on National Public Radio and Public Radio International. She has reported from Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

    Her writing on cultural representation in the media has appeared in British Vogue and The Independent.

Chris Colbert

Is the CEO and Founder of DCP Entertainment, a media platform for underrepresented voices, including people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and other overlooked communities.

  • He began his career at SiriusXM creating Jamie Foxx’s comedy & music channel, "The Foxxhole", before going on to create "Que Funny", the first 24/7 bilingual comedy channel and (George) "Carlin's Corner". He finished his time at SiriusXM as the Director of Urban Talk & Comedy, before serving as the VP of Programming for the podcast company, Cadence13.

Twila Dang

Passionate about creating media content that respects, encourages, understands and uplifts women. She created her digital Media company to do just that. Matriarch is the home of on-demand entertainment that is made with women in mind.

  • She combines women-focused content with actionable steps to build community across audio, social media platforms and live events. She is also a news producer at Minnesota Public Radio and the co-host of the MPR podcast, small change: Money Stories from the Neighborhood.

Elsie Escobar

15+ year veteran in the podcasting industry and inductee to the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame, Co-founder of She Podcasts, a podcasting community for women + non-binary that has over 20k members with a corresponding podcast and conference.

  • Libsyn’s Community Manager and co-host/producer of The Feed: The Official Libsyn Podcast.

    She’s a podcasting advocate, pundit and mentor to primarily gender non-conforming podcasting leaders. Her thing is driving dialogue in the podcasting industry focusing on podcasts’ impact on society, and culture as well as their power to drive social change.

Evo Terra

Grew up with podcasting, but was already 36 when he launched his first podcast back in 2004. At the time, it was the 40th podcast ever. So perhaps it’s better to say that podcasting grew up with him?

  • Evo’s had the privilege of writing Podcasting for Dummies back in 2005. During his tenure in the podosphere, he’s been the host or co-host of over 20 different podcasts. And counting! Professionally, he’s either consulted for, edited, or advised on over 700 podcasts. And still counting!

    Today he draws from those skills and the 20+ years he’s been in business operations for digital advertising agencies to run a boutique strategic podcast consultancy, Simpler Media. A company focused on the unique challenges businesses face in podcasting, both today and tomorrow.

Yolanda Sangweni

Is NPR's Senior Director for Programming. In this position, she is a key member of the programming leadership team, helping drive NPR's strategy to reach new audiences, including developing new programs and initiatives.

  • She also serves as the executive sponsor for several podcasts, including Throughline and Code Switch, and acts as programming's senior liaison with the Marketing division.