All Episodes

From childhood days spent checking out the maximum number of books at the public library to writing stories that reflect the beauty and complexity of real life, author Sheryl Lister knows what it means to be a true book lover.
On this episode of Black in the Stacks, I sit down with Sheryl to discuss her journey from healthcare to writing, the reality of traditional publishing, and the inspiration behind her latest hit novel, All My Sisters and Me. Whether you're looking for a heartwarming family drama, brilliant character growth, or a tissue-worthy journey of forgiveness, this episode will have you running to your local indie bookstore or library to grab a copy!
 
LEARN MORE & CONNECT WITH SHERYL
Click to follow Sheryl on Instagram
Click to visit Sheryl’s website
Click here to buy a copy of “All My Sisters and Me”

Ordained from the start, Richard Ashby, Jr.’s librarian journey is far from typical. What sounds like the plot of a Ryan Coogler film, Richard’s life is one of intrigue, happenstance and faith. From growing up in Queens, New York, a short stint as a private investigator on the west coast, to taking on a history-making role, you could say he’s done it all and then some. But, Richard is far from finished. 
On this episode of Black in the Stacks, we laugh—a lot—but we also discuss some profoundly real life lessons about resilience, community, his passion for making a difference in people’s lives and what it actually means to hold it down in the stacks for the culture.
 
LEARN MORE & CONNECT WITH RICHARD
Click to follow Literacy Nation on Instagram
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Pennsylvania Library Association
HBCU Connect Article

Have you ever wondered what happens when a 112-year-old library system decides to boldly rewrite its future? On this episode of Black in the Stacks, I chat with Lola DeWitt, the groundbreaking Executive Director of Live Oak Public Libraries. As the first African American and one of only a handful of women to lead this massive 14-branch system, Lola is redefining what a modern public library can be.
From making Live Oak the very first Book Sanctuary system in the state of Georgia, to transforming a historic Carnegie branch into a vibrant hub for Black Savannah and Gullah Geechee culture, she is fighting tooth and nail for the freedom to read. Tune in as we talk about legacy, community care, and why the library remains our most radical democratic space.
 
LEARN MORE ABOUT LIVE OAK
Web: https://www.liveoakpl.org/home
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveoakpl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveoakpl
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@liveoakpl
 
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On this episode of Black in the Stacks, we’re digging into a story about heritage, literacy, and the incredible impact of showing up for your community.
Known to many around the world, including Oprah Winfrey, as the Black Cowgirl my guest today is Caitlin Gooch, and if you’re wondering if we are related, we haven’t gotten there yet but the likelihood is high. Caitlin is the driving force behind the non-profit Saddle Up and Read. Based in North Carolina, this brilliant organization is tackling the childhood reading gap by doing something completely unexpected: bringing kids together with her horses so they can read to them. She’s taking the deep cowboy and rodeo roots passed down by her father and using that unique energy to inspire the next generation of readers.
In this episode, we’re talking about what happens when you combine cultural preservation with community care, how the calming presence of a 1,000-pound animal can break down a child's reading anxiety, and how honoring your family roots can spark a movement.
 
ATTEND THE TRAIL RIDE - September 12, 2026
Register Here: https://ogfestgsa.eventbrite.com/
 
CONNECT WITH CAITLIN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblackcowgirl
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@theblackcowgirl
Web: https://www.theblackcowgirl.com/
 
SUPPORT SADDLE UP AND READ
Learn More: https://www.saddleupandread.org
Donate: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-saddle-up-and-read

Back in 2010, Ebony Walden was a city planner who looked at her life and decided to trade the blueprint for a blank page. She spent eight months backpacking across 15 countries and 5 continents. She didn't just pack a bag and cross borders; she stepped into a new journey where she didn't just find the world, she also found herself.
 
On this episode of Black in the Stacks, Ebony and I discuss what it really means to leave a predictable career behind, why every major life transition starts with the simple act of quitting what no longer serves you, and how stepping into the unknown opens up entirely new spaces for personal growth.
 
Today, Ebony is an author, filmmaker, and creator. Her upcoming memoir, "Where I’m From: A Poetic Journey Across Five Continents", isn't just about a passport full of stamps. It’s an invitation to drop the armor, risk the unknown, and discover and love different cultures not as a digital aesthetic, but in the raw and beautiful truth of the present moment.
 
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CONNECT WITH EBONY
Web: https://ebonywalden.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebonywalden80/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@ebonywalden80
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ebony.aroundtheworld
Click here to watch “Black Beyond Borders”

When society looks at athletic giants like Marshawn Lynch, Steph Curry, or Deion Sanders, it loves to reduce them to a single script: the 'beast' to be feared, managed, or objectified. On this episode of Black in the Stacks, I sit down with Dr. Gary F. Green,II, a former college athlete turned author, to look at how these iconic figures frustrate those racist cultural boxes. We talk about womanist theological ethics, embodied spirituality, and how athletes can break free from moralized frameworks to reclaim their true physical agency. 
Dr. Green shares insights from his journey across sports, the Black church, and higher education and how he incorporated what he learned from Black stand-up comedians to break down these heavy dynamics in his book, “Playing the Game: Embodied Brilliance Beyond the Moral Limits of Race in Sport.” The book also examines everything from the double-edged sword of athletic tropes to the revolutionary power of play.
Dr. Green is a professor, consultant, and a curator of conversations that expose hierarchies of power that play out in plain sight. He is also the designer and founding director of Racial Intelligence Systems at United Theological Seminary, a three-tiered reconditioning program designed to develop racial acumen among the faculty, staff, and students.
 
CONNECT WITH DR. GREEN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreenideas/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@drgreenideas
Web: https://www.greenideasconsulting.com/about
Book: https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9798889833581/Playing-the-Game 

What happens when that tired old storytime at the library gets all the way turnt up? Billy Allen is what happens. An award-winning librarian, community leader, and innovator, Mr. Billy, as he's known online, carved his own path by bridging hip-hop instrumentals while reading and sometimes rapping popular children’s books, to make a one of a kind experience no library had ever seen. Often imitated but never duplicated, Billy has taken the library world by storm using his passion for inspiring lifelong learning to redefine what a library can be for the next generation. 
As Manager of the newly built NoMa Library in Wilmington, Delaware, Billy is leading the vision of a modern “Think. Do. Hub.”— a library that blends technology, entrepreneurship, workforce development, creativity, and community engagement. He has built a national reputation for making libraries exciting, relevant, and impactful through social media, strategic partnerships, and innovative programming. 
FOLLOW MR. BILLY!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3kingvisions/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@3kingvisions
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@3kingvisions
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3kingvisions/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@3kingvisions

On this episode of Black in the Stacks, we’re sitting down with literary agent and mastermind behind Highly Lit, R’Chelle Lynn. She’s in the business of helping authors—especially authors and creators of color—ditch the hustle burnout, build brand longevity, and turn complex stories into visual gold.
R'Chelle is a former English teacher turned brand strategist with a deep-rooted love for books and the business behind them. She’s passionate about helping authors map their careers and build sustainable careers while navigating their publishing pathways and positioning themselves for traditional publishing success. With a background bridging education, marketing, and storytelling, she brings a rare combination of creative insight and strategic thinking to the author space. A passionate book content creator and developmental editing student, she's committed to growing a platform where authors don't just write, they thrive.
 
Connect with R'Chelle
https://www.instagram.com/rchellelynn/
https://www.threads.com/@rchellelynn 
https://rchellelynn.substack.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@rchellereadsalot 

Black in the Stacks is back!!On this episode, I chat with Anayo Auwzie, the brilliant mind behind Carefree Magazine, a digital platform that is both a mirror and a window into the lives of Black Women across the diaspora, sharing stories of life, love, adventure and everything in between. We also discuss how Anayo is turning her platform into a physical coffee table book called "Black Women in Bloom." The book features 30 essays from women sharing their compelling stories, including one from Anayo herself. Anayo Awuzie is the founder and editor-in-chief of Carefree Magazine, a digital platform that publishes personal essays by Black women around the world—exploring the in-between spaces of Black womanhood where healing, identity, and everyday life unfold.
Anayo Awuzie is the founder and editor-in-chief of Carefree Magazine, a slow storytelling platform publishing personal essays by Black women around the world—exploring the in-between spaces of Black womanhood where healing, identity, and everyday life unfold.
You can pre-order "Black Women in Bloom" by visiting www.carefreemag.com/book.To learn more about Black in the Stacks and purchase merch, visit www.blackinthestacks.com.

What happens when the stories we read fail to reflect the skin we live in? On this episode of Black in the Stacks: Where the Culture is Kept, we explore the vital necessity of representation in literacy and the journey of navigating the world with a rare condition.
Marquita chats with Megan Cauthen, the founder of The Golden Impact and author of the children's book Nellie & Ollie: A Friend Like Me. Megan shares her firsthand perspective on growing up with albinism and how her personal history inspired her to write for the next generation.
We discuss:
-The transition from lived experience to the written word.-Why diverse characters are essential for childhood development.-The reality of life with albinism and the power of reclaiming your own narrative.
Megan believes that our differences are our greatest strengths. This conversation is an honest look at how we can use storytelling to foster confidence and intentional growth.
 
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📲 Be sure to follow Megan on one or ALL of her social media platforms below for updates on the release of her book:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HdcnehcpS/?mibextid=wwXIfr
IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_golden_impact_?igsh=bzNneGU5YjkzbDR6&utm_source=qr
TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@megan.cauthen?_r=1&_t=ZP-953Hav1nRS2
 

On this episode of Black in the stacks, Marquita chats with Kayla Turner Thomas about her film debut, "Framing Freedom: The Inspiring True Story of Black Landownership in Mississippi. It's a gripping feature length documentary told through the lens of Thomas’ grandfather, Henry Harris, a retired second-generation farmer whose father, John Harris, managed to buy and keep farmland while Jim Crow laws were still in effect.
The film combines interviews from historians that give insight into what factors and events contributed to massive Black land loss like mob violence, federal loan discrimination, and the impact of the Great Migration. Aiming to enlighten and inspire, Farming Freedom also looks ahead to the opportunities for closing the wealth gap between non-Black and Black landowners today.
Kayla Turner Thomas, a producer and 2x Emmy-nominated creative services professional, has worked in local television for nearly 15 years. Raised on family land in the Mississippi Delta, Thomas is a proud product of Bolivar County public schools. She studied Media and Communication Arts at Pace University, Westchester, and is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
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Connect: www.blackinthestacks.com
Film: https://filmfreeway.com/FarmingFreedom

On this episode of Black in the Stacks, Marquita chats with Kaetrena Davis Kendrick about the systemic causes of low morale and workplace harm within library environments, recognizing and naming instances of workplace harm, and practical strategies for personal recovery after such experiences. 
Kaetrena Davis Kendrick is a dynamic and uplifting researcher, leader, consultant, and coach. Her mission is to inspire authentic collegiality, and to promote well-being, share the gifts of creativity, and cultivate empathetic, engaged leadership in the workplace. She also helps people who are struggling in dysfunctional workplaces recognize, reconcile, and begin to recover from their experiences.
Learn more about Renewals by visiting www.renewalslis.com.
 
Listen & Subscribe: blackinthestacks.podbean.com Connect: www.blackinthestacks.comShop: www.etsy.com/shop/blackinthestacks
 
 

On this episode, Marquita chats with Christopher Fleming, aka "The People's Librarian", about his idea that libraries don't fail because people don't care, but because the systems (how they talk, work, and move) aren't built with intention and how poor institutional design can lead to both poor patron engagement and staff frustration.Christopher Fleming is a public library leader and librarian with over a decade of experience in community engagement, access, and organizational improvement. Rising from frontline service into management, he applies systems thinking, data-informed strategies, and is the creator of the "Library Systems Persuasion Model", which examines how people, processes, and institutional design influence engagement and outcomes.

On this episode, Marquita chats with documentarian and journalist, Brandis Griffith Friedman, about her documentary, Opportunity, Access & Uplift: The Evolving Legacy of HBCUs. The 30-minute documentary focuses on the changes, misconceptions, and current state of Historically Black Colleges and Universities through the stories of the students themselves and expert insights. Brandis Friedman is the Alexandra and John Nichols Chief Correspondent and Anchor for “Chicago Tonight” on WTTW.
Watch the Documentary: https://tinyurl.com/3pszhwfk
 

On this episode, Marquita chats with author Tonya Abari about her latest publication, a picture book titled "The Six Triple Eight: A True Story of the Black Woman Battalion of World War II."
Tonya not only created a picture book about The Six Triple Eight's legacy, she is also involved in retired Army Master Sergeant Elizabeth Helm-Frazier's letter writer campaign to get 10,000 letters to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend, and the U.S. Postal Service to issue, a Forever Stamp honoring the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion—an enduring tribute to their service, sacrifice, and trailblazing legacy.
Sign the petition here: www.change.org/p/honor-the-6888th-central-postal-directory-battalion-with-a-u-s-forever-stamp
Send Your Letters Here:The Stamp Project, P.O. Box # 616, Bowie, Maryland 20718
Email: the6888stampproject@gmail.com
 
Buy the Book Here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-six-triple-eight-tonya-abari/1146795671