Writer, Podcaster, and Actor Khanisha Foster with Jamie Thome

On 27 August 2020, we spoke with writer Khanisha Foster.

Ms. Foster, as a 2017 Fox Fellow, completed a two-year study of the multiracial voice and code-switching on page, stage, and screen. Her writing, along with her life experience of being the daughter of a Black Panther father and a mother whose family invented Bubble Wrap, landed her a writing gig with K&L Productions (Kay Cannon & Laverne McKinnon). 

She has also written for Probably Monsters, the video game company founded by the creators of Halo and Destiny, and the story game Episodes by Pocket Gems. Her solo show Joy Rebel, directed by Obie Award winner Lou Bellamy, received critical acclaim and was chosen as a DC Metro Staff favorite for 2019. 

Foster was a featured storyteller on NPR's The Dinner Party. Along with Lena Waithe, she was named one of 18 Black Women We Think Are Phenomenal by Mater Mea Magazine. American Theatre Magazine named her in their Role Call series as one of the 6 Theatre Workers You Should Know. Broadway World named her Best Director for The Bluest Eye, which also won Best Production. 

Her film acting debut, Chicago Boricua, was an official selection of the Tribeca Film Festival. Foster hosts and produces the podcast How I Wrote That, where she interviews the top women writing for tv and film. Some featured guests include Kate Gersten (The Good Place), Valerie Woods (Queen Sugar), and Tanya Saracho (Vida). The podcast can be found at: www.howiwrotethat.com

We talked about storytelling, the power of telling one's own story, and representation in theater and film. Please join us!

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Thanks for watching!