DEF-EDucation

About DEF-EDucation

DEF-EDucation is a podcast that focuses on public education, social justice, and the arts. Our guests represent a cross-section of America's urban culture, shedding light on the context of authentic learning. Guests range from artists to educators. Let's Develop, Engage, and Flourish together.

Publisher

André Benito Mountain

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Jan 2021

Latest episode

30 May 2026

Latest episodes

33 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 May 2026

   SPECIAL EPisode: Dr. André Benito Mountain on Hale House London Radio's "Out to Lunch" w/Paul Nataraj

   Recorded live in Leeds, United Kingdom, during Dr. André Benito Mountain's April 2026 masterclass tour at the Institute for Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP), this episode of Out to Lunch with Dr. Paul Nataraj explores Hip Hop as a global cultural movement, educational force, and vehicle for storytelling. The conversation traces the influence of Gil Scott-Heron and poetry, examines the artistry and social commentary embedded in Hip Hop, and reflects on classic works such as Nas' I Gave You Power. Dr. Mountain also discusses the importance of preserving the culture's authenticity, the vision behind The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, and the growing international connections linking Hip Hop communities across London, Liverpool, Leeds, Lisbon, and beyond. Listeners will also hear about the award-winning Hip Hop Literacy Laboratory and how Hip Hop continues to inspire new approaches to teaching, learning, and youth development around the world. Recorded on the campus of the Institute for Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) in Leeds, this conversation offers a unique perspective on Hip Hop's past, present, and future—from the Bronx to the world. 10:02 – Gil Scott-Heron and discovering poetry through Hip Hop 10:30 – Artistry and message in Hip Hop 18:04 – Nas' perspective on I Gave You Power and how Hip Hop reveals lived realities often left unexamined 18:47 – The ongoing tension within the culture to remain untethered, unbought, and unboxed 26:15 – The vision of The Hip Hop Museum and its role as a global cultural institution 36:46 – Connecting globally through Hip Hop, with reflections on London, Liverpool, Leeds, and Lisbon 47:55 – The Hip Hop Literacy Laboratory and the role of Hip Hop in education

2. 

   13 Apr 2026

   DEF-ED EP 27: From Brixton to the Bronx

   In this powerful 130-minute conversation, Dr. Andre Benito Mountain sits down with Patrick Bedeau and Debo Amon of Studio Knox to explore the depth and complexity of the Black experience in the United Kingdom. From the streets of Brixton to the global reach of Hip Hop culture, this episode unpacks the connections between diaspora, identity, and artistic expression. Together, they examine how history—particularly the legacy of the British Empire—continues to shape cultural consciousness, education, and lived experience for Black communities across the UK. This dialogue moves beyond surface-level conversations about music and culture. Instead, it positions Hip Hop as a global language—one that documents struggle, preserves memory, and creates space for new narratives to emerge. Through reflections on migration, generational identity, and the evolution of UK sound—from grime to drill—the conversation highlights how Black British voices are both rooted in history and actively redefining the future. Recorded inside Studio Knox, this episode is a meditation on culture, power, and possibility.

3. 

   20 Jun 2025

   DEF-EDucation Podcast EP 25 (Part 2) Kalonji Jama Changa

   Kalonji Jama Changa discusses the political ramifications of the January 6 riots, the failures of American leadership, and the revolutionary potential of art, particularly Hip Hop, in this interview.

Who has been a guest on DEF-EDucation

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Kalonji Jama Changa
• John Robinson
• StaHHr

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

29

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact DEF-EDucation

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.