Dr. Chioke I'Anson

Dr. Chioke I’Anson runs the VPM+ICA Media Center at the ICA in Richmond, VA. He’s founder of RESONATE Podcast Festival and a voice of underwriting at NPR. He wants you to know that RESONATE is all capps.

What is your relationship with your voice? How would you describe it?
Every broadcaster has to accept that they will hear their own voice out in the wild, whether they want to or not. I am thankful to my voice for getting me this far in life. I also like to shut the fuck up when there isn’t a mic nearby.

Why’d you start RESONATE?
It was part of the plan for the VPM+ICA Community Media Center from the beginning. Our mission is to provide media education to the public. We knew that we wanted to have a conference--an event that would be a concentrated dose of podcast education for students and professionals in the south.

What’s the ethos?
I was a professor for years. I’m trying to bring the best parts of class. I think there is magic in giving someone a stage on which to freely share the lessons they’ve learned the hard way. And there is no better way to learn something than altogether in a room with others, where you can share your own mind with an interested crowd. I guess the ethos is class, recess, and community. Also, no panels. We don’t do panels.

Who is it for?
I think we serve the narrative audio people, the cats who like to make scripted, investigative, creative work, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. But really, it’s for anyone who wants to get better at telling stories.

Why is it needed?
Podcast people tend to work alone. They only see each other at special events and festivals. One could argue that, especially since the pandemic, there aren’t enough events where podcasters can gather, celebrate one another and improve their craft. A festival like RESONATE is simply a container for attendees to make magic with their peers. What we need is more magic.

How will this year be different than the first two?
We got themes now, yo. This year, it’s Telling Stories. It’s about fiction and non-fiction and what they can learn from one another. I figure that themes will allow us to have a new experience every year from here on out.

Was there a thrilling moment that first year of RESONATE when you thought ‘yes this is really something!’?
Nick van der Kolk gave Tawnya Pettiford-Wates a baseball bat, which she used to destroy a life sized hot pink paper mache salvador dali statue. That felt pretty good.

How do you spend your time at RESONATE?
I spend most of it being thankful that I have such an amazing team. For two days, the entire ICA staff work together to create the best possible experience for everyone in attendance. They work so hard, I don’t even notice my anxiety.

What’s your advice for anyone going to RESONATE for the first time?
RESONATE is in an art gallery. There are three amazing new exhibitions that you can see while you’re there. Also, it’s hard to get on our wifi. Make sure you follow the convoluted instructions.

What’s a podcast you love that everyone knows about?
I’m bad at knowing what everyone knows. But I sure do like Short Wave and Planet Money. It will shock you to learn that Snap Judgement is a good show.

What’s a podcast you love that not enough people know about?
Abridged. I will scream about that show from the mountaintops. But also, Benjamin Walker made a damn dissertation on his Theory of Everything feed called Not All Propaganda is Art. And also my co-host Kelly Jones did this amazing season of American Prodigy.

Who is someone in the audio space doing great work but who needs some recognition?
Oh man. Twila Dang. Priscilla àlàbí. Anna Deshawn is out here hustling like no other. Lisa Woolfork has turned her show into a movement. Amanda B Nazareno makes a podcast about cats that somehow I enjoy listening to. I am not a cat person.

What are you most excited about for this year’s RESONATE?
So many things. The film screening on Saturday morning. Ray Christian’s keynote. For the first time, there will be satellite events put on by other people happening around the festival. That’s gonna be cool. And we’ll have snacks.

How can people reading this support you and RESONATE?
If y’all could introduce me to potential funders that would really be great.

What didn’t I ask you that you wish I did?
No one is asking me about the parade. If you’re coming to RESONATE, you’re going to be in a “parade” fyi.

Thanks, Chioke!