Finding My Rhythm: An original podcast exploring how Musicians of Color sustain their identities

Musicians of color are active storytellers, sharing their vibrant cultural traditions and beliefs through their musical practices. However, musicians of color have been historically underrepresented in the performing arts, as their contributions are often overlooked and marginalized by the dominant culture. Despite facing these barriers, musicians of color have engaged in identity-centered performance, composition, and cross-cultural collaboration, enabling them to resist the dominant culture and honor their intersectional identities. This capstone takes the form of an original podcast, titled “Finding My Rhythm,” which highlights three women of color: Natalia Lafourcade, Chen Yi, and podcast producer, Anna Mei Hedrick. The concept of identity-sustaining pedagogy, or the practice of culturally responsive teaching, is the cornerstone of the podcast. Through musicological research and insightful commentary, Anna Mei Hedrick examines the life and work of each musician and shares her own story, as well. “Finding My Rhythm” serves to educate others about the importance of visibility and identity-affirming work for musicians of color, while encouraging listeners to engage in their own identity-sustaining practices. [Accessible transcripts and fair use evaluations for the podcast episodes are included as supplementary files.]