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Scene on Radio
Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University
United States
Scene on Radio is a Peabody‑nominated mosaic of cultural inquiry, where John Biewen and collaborators treat complex social themes—from white supremacy to capitalism—as human dramas unfolding in real time. With the narrative depth of a documentary film and the urgency of moral journalism, it challenges listeners to rethink the stories we tell about ourselves and the systems we inhabit.
"This one is probably the most self-explanatory. This show is about big issues explained so, so well. I WISH I could be this good at explaining things."
- Chioke Ianson, RESONATE Podcast Festival
Scene on Radio is a searching, structurally ambitious podcast that interrogates the roots of American identity through deeply reported, thematically driven seasons. Hosted by John Biewen and featuring frequent collaborator Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika, the show moves beyond surface commentary to explore race, gender, democracy, and power with both scholarly depth and personal urgency. Each season—whether unpacking whiteness, patriarchy, or the fragility of democratic ideals—unfolds with moral clarity and narrative patience, treating audio not just as a medium, but as a tool for cultural excavation. Scene on Radio stands as a benchmark in socially conscious podcasting: thoughtful, provocative, and rigorously humane.