Groovin' Griot

About Groovin' Griot

Groovin’ Griot is a podcast about how we use dance to tell stories. The term “griot” comes from the West African tradition of oral and embodied storytelling. Griots are traveling poets, musicians, genealogists, and historians who preserve and tell stories via a variety of modalities. On Groovin’ Griot, we are centering the African Diaspora, honoring the legacies of the griot by talking to the storytellers in our communities who help us understand the role of dance in remembering and reimagining the lessons embedded in these stories. We’ll talk roots, rhythm, rituals, recommendations, and much more. Episodes released bi-weekly. Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot!

Publisher

Azsaneé Truss and OreOluwa Badaki

Category

education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Apr 2024

Latest episode

10 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

17 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Oct 2026

   Groovin' Griot Season 3 Trailer

   Groovin' Griot is going global! This season we're taking you to a city that is super important to the story of dance in the African Diaspora. Listen to find out where as well as hear an exciting update from Azsaneé. Produced & Edited by OreOluwa Badaki with support from Jennifer McCord. Part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/)

2. 

   4 Apr 2026

   Groovin' Griot Season 2 Finale

   We've come to the end of Season 2 and it's been a great ride. In this finale episode, we recap some of the major themes from this season and thread all the interviews together. Thanks to all of our amazing guests this season, and to all you for listening. Catch you in Season 3! Produced & Edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/)

3. 

   6 Mar 2026

   Bridging dance and ecology

   Who knew movin' and groovin' could be such a great way to learn about the environment? Well...Dr. Jamē McCray did! On this episode we chat with her about how she combines her work as an ecologist and as a choreographer to design innovative education and policy initiatives. She takes us behind the scenes of some of the movement-based work she has done with the Schuylkill River, and shares insights from a project on the future of agriculture in light of climate change. Dr. McCray is also a seasoned salsera, so for this movement break we take you along with us to a local salsa night. Make sure to bring your dancing shoes! Find episode resources here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRb9-L5ilsrBcpOZc0aEjjJ-xZQkts7A1s7Ad27PWZceaEiSRj5Q0viC0tYv2CWJNxsq0ow7AsOZEs3/pub) Find episode transcript here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSOSKL8y3ISN4lPWBRnveJoKGXS2hcc6BV8VvRo6-lsohqHLNoImpGxNcgiXMJCdQ/pub) Produced & edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute (DFI) at Teachers College, Columbia University. Check out more DFI podcasts here (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/digitalfuturesinstitute/media/). Don't miss the latest episodes from Season 2 of the Curriculum Encounters (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/digitalfuturesinstitute/media/curriculum-encounters/)podcast with Drs. Jacqueline Simmons and Sarah Gerth van den Berg! Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/)

4. 

   16 Feb 2026

   Echoes that orient us

   Africa in Stereo: Modernism, Music, and Pan-African Solidarity (https://english.duke.edu/books/africa-stereo-modernism-music-and-pan-african-solidarity) is a book that's been really influential for how we think about Diaspora on this podcast. Among other important contributions, the book uses the metaphor of echolocation (the process of orienting oneself by emitting sounds and listening to the echoes that come back) to describe diasporic experiences. On this episode, we get to talk with the book's author, Professor Tsitsi Ella Jaji, and hear the behind the scenes scoop on the music and movement experiences that led her to this work, as well as on the multimodal projects she has been pursing since the book's publication. We reflect on our time with Professor Jaji while perusing Hakim's Bookstore (https://www.hakimsbookstore.com/); credited as the first Black-owned bookstore in Philadelphia and on the East Coast. A special thanks to owner of Hakim's, Ms. Yvonne Blake, for showing us around. For our movement break, we take you to a rehearsal session for a piece OreOluwa is part of called "Echoes of the Diaspora." The piece traces rhythms from the African diaspora and will be performed by a dynamic ensemble brought together by Baba Kala Jojo. Don't forget to clap, sing, or dance along if you feel so moved! Find more episode resources here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRb9-L5ilsrBcpOZc0aEjjJ-xZQkts7A1s7Ad27PWZceaEiSRj5Q0viC0tYv2CWJNxsq0ow7AsOZEs3/pub) Find episode transcript here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQIXu30KaZywIi-7xE4i_aAkCBdvyXQifT9PzijG0lpWsp7jZMYvGQABo13DOGISXZZ5p8hwoucMMsB/pub) Produced & edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute (DFI) at Teachers College, Columbia University. Check out more DFI podcasts here (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/digitalfuturesinstitute/media/). Don't miss the upcoming launch of the Black and Asian Solidarity Collective (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/articles/2024/february/tcs-black-and-asian-solidarity-collective-showcases-the-power-of-community/)'s podcast with co-hosts Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz and Dr. Judy Yu! Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/)

5. 

   1 Feb 2026

   Mapping diasporic rhythms

   Travel with us across the Black Atlantic with Deirdre Molloy, a dancer, ethnographer, and multimedia artist who specializes in Afro diasporic rhythms. We'll take you behind the scenes of Deirdre's Unity Map (https://unityatlantic.org/), unpack what rhythm codes are, and trace popular rhythms like tresillo across the globe...all while hanging out at our new favorite record store in Philly. Special thanks to Rashid Amon for showing us around Sook Vinyl and Vintage (https://sookvinyl.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopMCI8jhAmrUEocFjsyH9gAIUNaqDLASlpXePFTw5MMr7dKIzaU) For our movement break, we'll take you to an event at Congo Square, New Orleans, hosted by the Congo Square Preservation Society (https://www.congosquarepreservationsociety.org/). Buckle up, it's gonna be an exciting ride! Find more episode resources here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRb9-L5ilsrBcpOZc0aEjjJ-xZQkts7A1s7Ad27PWZceaEiSRj5Q0viC0tYv2CWJNxsq0ow7AsOZEs3/pub) Find episode transcript here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR46lMuU1GDmscbYFkWlujReCqTebKsAMeGYFulV-vZS0Kk-TxHNDhhLH7VttTDmg/pub) Produced & edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute (DFI) at Teachers College, Columbia University. Check out more DFI podcasts here (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/digitalfuturesinstitute/media/). Don't miss the latest episodes from Season 2 of the Curriculum Encounters (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/digitalfuturesinstitute/media/curriculum-encounters/)podcast with Drs. Jacqueline Simmons and Sarah Gerth van den Berg! Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/)

6. 

   16 Jan 2026

   Indigeneity in dance pedagogy and performance

   "Behind-the-scenes" on this episode means calling back the ancestral and indigenous practices that are integral to both dance pedagogy and performance. We talk with Dr. Ojeya Cruz Banks, who specializes in the unique intersections between African diasporic and indigenous Pacific dances. Dr. Cruz Banks share insights on the role of ethnography in dance research, what to make of "ancestral currency", and how altar making can support performance and practice. She even graces us with a beautiful song from a recent performance piece, which we play during our movement break. Find episode resources here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRb9-L5ilsrBcpOZc0aEjjJ-xZQkts7A1s7Ad27PWZceaEiSRj5Q0viC0tYv2CWJNxsq0ow7AsOZEs3/pub) Find episode transcript here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTHTdzjFN7DXkYcWSPoR5A5QQg-2rqPRkcxY1AHL3mp1nQY4k2wMwhHxbZ-7gMzRw/pub) Produced & edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute (DFI) at Teachers College, Columbia University. Check out more DFI podcasts here (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/digitalfuturesinstitute/media/). Don't miss the latest episodes from Season 2 of the Curriculum Encounters (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/digitalfuturesinstitute/media/curriculum-encounters/)podcast with Drs. Jacqueline Simmons and Sarah Gerth van den Berg! Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/)

7. 

   13 Dec 2025

   Dancing with the camera

   On this episode, we dive into the world of screendance with Professor Gabri Christa. She shares how her multidisciplinary beginnings as a mover and a filmmaker in Curaçao, as well as her embodied research into her Surinamese roots, helped her find innovative ways to merge her cinematographic and choreographic work. We talk through what it means to take the moving body seriously within the moving image medium, and how both spirituality and technology play important roles in this process. For our movement break, we take you to a Media Movement Salon hosted by the Movement Lab at Barnard (which Professor Christa helped found). Special thanks to Tatiana Vasquez and Evelyn Chen for helping to record the audio! Find the episode transcript here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSNy83DOkd6bSWw77tiZ_Z0YHmpjkGWWWi8Z5tqrpidYnw0OUlbfFGEqLZBC6dPAQ/pub) Find episode resources here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRb9-L5ilsrBcpOZc0aEjjJ-xZQkts7A1s7Ad27PWZceaEiSRj5Q0viC0tYv2CWJNxsq0ow7AsOZEs3/pub) Produced & edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute (DFI) at Teachers College, Columbia University. Check out more DFI podcasts here (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/digitalfuturesinstitute/media/). Don't miss the upcoming launch of the Black and Asian Solidarity Collective (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/articles/2024/february/tcs-black-and-asian-solidarity-collective-showcases-the-power-of-community/)'s podcast with co-hosts Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz and Dr. Judy Yu! Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/)

8. 

   24 Nov 2025

   The dramaturgy of “village on the stage”

   The theme this season is "behind the scenes" so this episode we're talking dramaturgy; a field of practice that deals with how an idea goes from the page to the stage. We sat down with Dr. Margit Edwards to unpack "village on the stage"; a popular dramaturgical structure behind many neo-traditional and contemporary African dance performances. Dr. Edwards shares how her early beginnings as a dancer and actor led her to Orixá dance and other Afro-Brazilian dance forms with specific storytelling structures, and how these forms influence her work as an ethnographer and educator. And for our movement break, we take you to the Peoplehood Parade; a Philadelphia tradition that centers participatory theater and brings together performance, pedagogy, and politics. Find the episode transcript here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQYOhjhmBNSV0HUh4n_pWbauCAmRwggLakukD8MIIkbt2eP8EDFyR7K0DmEA6tSuKFtZG8oUMlhnh2T/pub) Find episode resources here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRb9-L5ilsrBcpOZc0aEjjJ-xZQkts7A1s7Ad27PWZceaEiSRj5Q0viC0tYv2CWJNxsq0ow7AsOZEs3/pub) Produced & Edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute (DFI) at Teachers College, Columbia University. Check out more DFI podcasts here (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/digitalfuturesinstitute/media/). Don't miss the upcoming launch of the Black and Asian Solidarity Collective (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/articles/2024/february/tcs-black-and-asian-solidarity-collective-showcases-the-power-of-community/)'s podcast with co-hosts Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz and Dr. Judy Yu! Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/)

9. 

   10 Oct 2025

   seed & sound

   Get the behind the scenes scoop on a show Ore worked on called seed & sound. Here how themes of diaspora and echolocation helped guide the choreographic approach, and how a dance called Kuku dance, as well as Manjaco rhythms, were incorporated into the piece. Produced & Edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/)

10. 

    6 Oct 2025

    Groovin' Griot Season 2 Trailer

    We're back! Produced & Edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Check out our new website! https://www.tc.columbia.edu/digitalfuturesinstitute/media/groovin-griot/ (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/digitalfuturesinstitute/media/groovin-griot/) Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot. Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

11. 

    5 Jul 2024

    Groovin' Griot Season 1 Finale

    That’s a wrap on Season 1 of Groovin' Griot! For this last episode, OreOluwa and Azsaneé give highlights and connect the dots between the stories from this season. They also share what they’re groovin’ to these days and take you on a sonic journey through New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, NYC, and Philly. Check out the Episode Resources (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRwQil97j2QmTnyh7BS_r-v5CdxjJ6CGTMWynMjE-v8OkPc3lHfCgjKGnjjO-ffW-CTq4jB7Yvk68oh/pub) (also https://tinyurl.com/GroovinResources)  for more on Ore and Azs’ work, and make sure to listen all the way to the end of the episodes for glimpses at some behind-the-scenes antics! See Episode Transcript (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR1rWRFxFYXPYjsxZ7clD6t-ohuiQTG5cELwutVMw1OD4BuQeCKIzq-s45YEsWmfQ/pub) Produced & Edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/)

12. 

    21 Jun 2024

    Improvisation as Tradition and Technology

    What does West African dance have to do with fractal codes, hormetic healing, and technological innovation? Dr. S Ama Wray  unpacks these connections and more on this episode of Groovin' Griot. Dr. Wray shares how her early experiences with modern, jazz, and Afro-Cuban dance peaked her interest in  improvisational forms, and how her work on the Ewe concept of Seselelame in Ghana helped her develop a practice of "Embodiology" that utilizes  improvisational movement  to support collective wellbeing and dexterity. And for our movement break, Ore and Azs take you along for a Rhythm and Improvisation Dance class! See Episode Resources (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRwQil97j2QmTnyh7BS_r-v5CdxjJ6CGTMWynMjE-v8OkPc3lHfCgjKGnjjO-ffW-CTq4jB7Yvk68oh/pub) (also https://tinyurl.com/GroovinResources)  for more on Dr. Wray's work and for the article about the Kopeyia School visit mentioned in the episode. See Episode Transcript (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSyvC6g1ddhfkd7D8rw-cQMeh5r9DAcFsM6Z09GGAsMqDlySD5wYts--Jyycuis8w/pub) Produced & Edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/)

13. 

    7 Jun 2024

    Dancing the Diasporas

    Dr. Lela Aisha Jones takes us on a journey through African Diasporas, sharing dance stories from across the US, Brazil, Cuba, Ghana, and Senegal. She talks about archiving social dances that build community, honoring collectivity and individuality through freestyle, and merging technique with àṣẹ. Plus, for this episode's movement break, Ore brings you along for a House dance class! See Episode Resources (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRwQil97j2QmTnyh7BS_r-v5CdxjJ6CGTMWynMjE-v8OkPc3lHfCgjKGnjjO-ffW-CTq4jB7Yvk68oh/pub) (also https://tinyurl.com/GroovinResources) for a glimpse at some of the performances mentioned in the episode. See Episode Transcript (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSyvC6g1ddhfkd7D8rw-cQMeh5r9DAcFsM6Z09GGAsMqDlySD5wYts--Jyycuis8w/pub) Produced & Edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/)!

14. 

    24 May 2024

    Histories of African Dance Systems

    OreOluwa and Azsaneé talk with Dr. Ofosuwa Abiola about her experiences founding Suwabi African Ballet, bringing together dance histories and cultural histories, and understanding African diasporic movement practices as "dance systems." Episode resources (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRwQil97j2QmTnyh7BS_r-v5CdxjJ6CGTMWynMjE-v8OkPc3lHfCgjKGnjjO-ffW-CTq4jB7Yvk68oh/pub) Produced & Edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot (https://www.instagram.com/groovingriot/reels/)!

15. 

    10 May 2024

    Unbounding the body through dance

    OreOluwa and Azsaneé talk with Dr. Deborah Thomas about her experiences dancing with Urban Bush Women,  transitioning into a career as an anthropologist, and drawing from African Diasporic movement practices to build collective spaces for "unbounding" bodies. Episode resources (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRwQil97j2QmTnyh7BS_r-v5CdxjJ6CGTMWynMjE-v8OkPc3lHfCgjKGnjjO-ffW-CTq4jB7Yvk68oh/pub) Episode transcript (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQQDCkPHrHVL6ebWPBfKtWV0oeFoJCQgkuzX4N0nt9CD7kBnV-6elZUKjR-hNLPVQ/pub) Produced & Edited by OreOluwa Badaki and Azsaneé Truss with support from the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot!

16. 

    26 Apr 2024

    Dance as "Reparative Art"

    On episode 1 of Groovin' Griot, OreOluwa and Azsaneé talk with Dr. Jasmine L. Blanks Jones about her work on “reparative arts” and how dance can help us unpack the complex histories and experiences of African Diasporic communities. Produced & Edited by Azsaneé Truss and OreOluwa Badaki with support from the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot! Episode resources: https://shorturl.at/fwEQ6

17. 

    11 Apr 2024

    Groovin' Griot Trailer

    Groovin’ Griot is a podcast about how we use dance to tell stories. The term “griot” comes from the West African tradition of oral and embodied storytelling. Griots are traveling poets, musicians, genealogists, and historians who preserve and tell stories via a variety of modalities. On Groovin’ Griot, we are centering the West African Diaspora, honoring the legacy of the griot by talking to the storytellers in our communities who help us understand the role of dance in remembering and reimagining the lessons embedded in these stories. Come groove with us! Produced & Edited by Azsaneé Truss and OreOluwa Badaki with support from the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Theme music: Unrest by ELPHNT on Directory.Audio Licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot!

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Contact Groovin' Griot

Guest appearances

Books guests

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