Welcome to Annotations, the podcast that thinks critically about criticism. Hosted by Beandrea July, a writer, film critic, film programmer, audio producer and real one. In each episode, we go behind the scenes - and between the lines - of Beandrea's story as a cultural critic and that of another critic whose work she admires. We dissect the art and practice of critique, discuss the state of arts journalism today and envision the future we want to see. Each episode wraps up with what Beandrea always craves from the culture podcasts she listens to but has yet to hear: an annotated bibliography audio-style. Make the thing you want to see right? Oh and did I mention, we're doing all this through the glorious prism of the Black femme gaze? This is Annotations with Beandrea July.
SEASON FINALE!
Funding for this project comes from Critical Minded, a grantmaking and learning initiative founded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation and Ford Foundation to support cultural critics of color in the United States.
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Episode description: Beandrea waves a magic wand over her career and concludes her reflections on the lessons of her Harvard Nieman Fellowship year. Then she chats with Journalist, Critic, Podcaster, Authoress and and Overall Bad Bitch Tre'vell Anderson (https://www.instagram.com/slayzhon/).
Buy a signed copy of Tre'vell's excellent book: We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film; The audiobook (https://share.libbyapp.com/title/9788012) is also very special.
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For full show notes, annotation links and news about the future of the show, subscribe to the companion newsletter.
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Thanks for your support of the launch of this project! xo Beandrea
Shoutout to the Annotations Fan Club co-presidents: JZ and Kristi
14 Oct 2025
The Psychology of 'Representation Matters' feat. Harvard Prof. Josephine Kim
Funding for this project comes from Critical Minded, a grantmaking and learning initiative founded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation and Ford Foundation to support cultural critics of color in the United States.
Episode description: Beandrea reflects on the role of identity in film criticism with Professor Josephine Kim, Ph.D., with whom she took classes at Harvard's Graduate School of Education during her Nieman Fellowship.
For full show notes and annotation links, subscribe to the companion newsletter.
#annotationswithbjuly (Tag your posts)
@annotationswithbjuly (IG)
@beandreadotcom (https://www.instagram.com/beandreadotcom/) (IG)
@beandreadotcom (https://letterboxd.com/beandreadotcom/) (Letterboxd)
24 Aug 2025
Reading Against the Grain: the Paradox of Black Cinephilia feat. Anna Everett, Ph.D
Funding for this project comes from Critical Minded, a grantmaking and learning initiative founded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation and Ford Foundation to support cultural critics of color in the United States.
Episode description: For full show notes and written annotations, subscribe to the companion newsletter.
#annotationswithbjuly (Tag your posts)
@annotationswithbjuly (IG)
@beandreadotcom (https://www.instagram.com/beandreadotcom/) (IG)
@beandreadotcom (https://letterboxd.com/beandreadotcom/) (Letterboxd)
3 Aug 2025
Lean In to the Mess feat. dessane lopez cassell
Funding for this project comes from Critical Minded, a grantmaking and learning initiative founded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation and Ford Foundation to support cultural critics of color in the United States.
Episode description: For full show notes and written annotations, subscribe to the companion newsletter.
Film series in Los Angeles (remaining dates: Aug 3, Aug 8, Aug 10, Aug 15, 2025): The Devil Finds Work: James Baldwin's Cinema of the Mind. Free and open to the public.
Follow:
@beandreadotcom
@annotationswithbjuly
Letterboxd
21 Jul 2025
Permission to Imagine, feat. Lovia Gyarkye
Funding for this project comes from Critical Minded, a grantmaking and learning initiative founded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation and Ford Foundation to support cultural critics of color in the United States.
For full show notes and written annotations, subscribe to the companion newsletter.
Film series in Los Angeles (July 25 - Aug 15, 2025): The Devil Finds Work: James Baldwin's Cinema of the Mind. Free and open to the public.
Follow:
@beandreadotcom
@annotationswithbjuly
Letterboxd
6 Jul 2025
Embodied Criticism, feat. Angelica Jade Bastien
Funding for this project comes from Critical Minded, a grantmaking and learning initiative founded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation and Ford Foundation to support cultural critics of color in the United States.
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Host Beandrea July sits down with Vulture Magazine critic Angelica Jade Bastien.
For full show notes and written annotations, subscribe to the companion newsletter.
Film series in Los Angeles (July 25 - Aug 15, 2025): The Devil Finds Work: James Baldwin's Cinema of the Mind. Free and open to the public.
@beandreadotcom (https://www.instagram.com/beandreadotcom/)
@annotationswithbjuly
Letterboxd
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
16 ratings
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