Akilah Hughes

Provided/Photo By Samuel McGuire

Akilah Hughes is a writer, comedian and podcast host based in LA. She was the founding host of Crooked Media’s “What a Day” podcast and published a book of essays with Penguin Randomhouse called, “Obviously: Stories from my Timeline.” She’s a WGA Award-nominee and a USC MacArthur Foundation Civic Media Fellow. Her work combines humor, politics, and being supremely online. She is the creator of Rebel Spirit.

Describe Rebel Spirit in 10 words or less.
One Virgo’s dedication to progress and justice with Kentucky accents.

How would you describe the sound / vibe of the show?
The show sounds incredible with a ton of archival footage and interviews, but the vibe is very much a procedural murder show if there was no murder but the mystery was how a school can still get away with having an objectively fucked uo mascot and team name. 

Why did you make it?
I truly felt compelled to. The reality is, even if my experience in small-town Kentucky was 20 years ago, there are kids right now who are Black cheering for a team inspired by the confederacy. So that needs to change. And to me it’s a perfect metaphor for why ugly traditions on a grander scale die hard.

Fill in the blank: You will like Rebel Spirit if you like __________.
The Last of Us (I could elaborate but it really does feel like a parallel.)

What (and when) was the moment when you decided this would be a podcast?
Kinda the first time I spoke to the producer at my management company. I had written about it several times for a variety of outlets, but actually trying to affect change seemed like something more long-term and episodic. 

Why is audio a great format for this project?
Beyond the beautiful, buttery southern accents, I think there’s a vulnerability in audio that rarely comes across in nonfiction video. I interviewed a ton of people, and whether we were discussing their high school mascot, designing mascots, or why NFL players would now be scared out of taking a positive stand for ANYTHING, there’s a much more human and emotional tone than I think you get from the posturing of video.

You decided to go with biscuit, were there other ideas that were left on the cutting room floor?
No I always thought biscuits were a positive representation for the south. Also food mascots are the cutest ones.

What was the most surprising thing that happened making Rebel Spirit?
The lengths that the school and Boone County Board of Education have done to cover up the truth about the history of the town and the history of the mascot. They talked a very big (lying) game and have been pretty silent since we debunked their story in a single trip to the county library.

You get some really great tape on this show. Was it hard to get? What’s the process for agreeing people to allow themselves to be recorded?
Well there *were* several people who declined to go on the record, but I think the truth is this isn’t a scary topic once you start talking about it. Once we reached out people almost immediately wanted to add their voice if they could.

What’s your biggest goal for the show?
More than anything it’s to change the mascot. It’s great that people are enjoying it and hearing it, but I want for the kids at my Alma mater to have something to cheer for. After that I’d really hope that this is a springboard for more schools to write a new story for themselves and just dump the tradition of having offensive mascots. Not all traditions are worth holding on to.

What do you wish you could go back and tell yourself before you started making it?
I think to negotiate for more episodes. Sounds silly but the story is sprawling and there’s so much we didn’t get to cover. It’s a fruitful sandbox to play in.

What’s a podcast you love that not enough people know about?
Once Upon a Time in Nashville is one that came out this past summer that kept me company while I cooked dinner every week. I’m too chicken to be into true crime as a rule, but this spared us the gore and was a riveting story about corruption in a city that has grown way faster than anyone was ready for. 

What’s a podcast you love that everyone already knows about?
Jamie Loftus is just PEAK on Sixteenth Minute. I believe very deeply that it will be a referential text for the future when we can finally be removed enough to examine social media of the early aughts as the foundation to what’s going on now.

Are there too many podcasts?
I mean yes but it’s not illegal.

If you could make a new podcast, don’t worry about budget, whether or not anyone would like it, or even if it’s feasible…what would it be?
I do also think scripted podcasts are cool, so maybe I’d make a heist show about two people who believe the Disney Vault is real and attempt to heist it to get a copy of a movie no one else remembers.

What didn’t I ask you that I should have?
You didn’t ask for a picture of my very cute dog, Fauci. But it’s fine, he’s on IG @fauci.kpup

lol thanks, Akilah!