Spotify’s Outside Voice is evolving into a new podcast

As a home for creatives of all backgrounds, Spotify strives to create spaces that celebrate and elevate BIPOC. In 2020, Spotify launched Outside Voice, a narrated playlist series celebrating and amplifying BIPOC voices in the global creative community. This series began by giving each curator a platform on Spotify to tell personal stories, discuss their creative passion, and address important social issues affecting underrepresented communities with original playlists featuring their favorite music and spoken commentary.

Building on this program, Spotify is now developing the Voice from outside series into a new podcast that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion. Hosted by award-winning podcast host, producer, author and co-founder of POC in Audio Directory, Zakia Gibbonsthe Outside Voice podcast, spotlights BIPOC professionals who have built equity in businesses and personal brands through programs that authentically uplift their communities.

“I’m thrilled to announce that I will be hosting Spotify’s new ‘Outside Voice’ podcast. As an ‘outside voice’ myself, I’m excited for the opportunity to partner with Spotify and shine a spotlight on BIPOC creative and marketing leaders. These individuals have propelled their companies and industries forward over the course of their impressive careers with stories that demonstrate the power of diversity, equity and inclusion when done right.” – Zakiya Gibbons, host of the Outside Voice podcast

The inaugural season of Outside Voice was created in collaboration with Molten Heart and includes guests such as Voice Behind AI DJ and Head of Cultural Partnerships at Spotify, Xavier “X” Jernigan,

Founder and CEO of CultureCon & The Creative Collective, Imani Ellisand Executive VP, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer of Sony Music Group,Tiffany Warren and the chart-topper in R&B, EGOT winner and head coach on The Voice, John Legend. These inspiring voices will share the life experiences that have influenced their careers and the work that has made a difference for their companies.

“The Outside Voice podcast puts BIPOC experts front and center and gives them the microphone to share everything from inspiring stories to their everyday challenges – these are the stories we all need to hear,” said Tye Comer, Creative Director at Spotify Advertising and executive producer of the Outside Voices podcast. “We’re excited to provide a space for these conversations on Spotify with this new podcast to inform and inspire the creative industry to strive for change.”

The podcast builds on the success of Spotify’s Outside Voice series, which features curators such as Mike Shum, an Emmy-winning film producer whose work focuses on telling immigrant stories, Nwaka Oswusa, former chief curator and vice president of curatorial affairs at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and the first African-American curator in the history of the museumRania Robinson, President of WACL (Women in Advertising and Communications, Leadership) and diversity advocate and more.