Knowledge Gumbo

Alicia Thomas

English Education History Personal Journals Self-Improvement Society & Culture

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Episodes 53

Avg. Duration 12m

Activity Highly Active

Since Jan 2025

Latest Episode Jun 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule

Weekly

Format

Episodic

Consistency

98%

Hosting

feeds.captivate.fm

About This Podcast

"Empowering Black women through untold stories, inspiring quotes, and actionable insights from history. Join us weekly as we rediscover Black women’s contributions, engage in critical thinking, share a laugh, and inspire community.” *Knowledge Gumbo* is a soulful blend of wisdom, history, and culture, filtered through the lens of Black women, for Black women, and about Black women. Hosted by Alicia Thomas, a former mechanical engineer turned seeker of untold stories, this podcast dives into powerful quotes, proverbs, and book excerpts—primarily from Black women from maids to renowned thought leaders—and unpacks their meaning with humor, insight, and a touch of reflection. From thought-provoking sayings to timeless words of wisdom, every episode brings history to life—not through dates and places, but through voices, stories, and the lessons they leave us. Perfect for Black women from Generation X and more, *Knowledge Gumbo* is a space for learning, laughing, and passing down knowledge to future generations. Pull up a seat, stir the pot, and let’s share a bowl from the rich mixture of voices and stories of the past to inspire the present. **New episodes available weekly. Jump in, listen, and share the gumbo with a few friends!**

Podcasting 2.0 Features

episode medium

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English Podcasts Report Education Report History Report Personal Journals Report Self-Improvement Report Society & Culture Report English Education Report

Recent Episodes

Benefiting Myself Too: Melinda Russell and the Cookbook That Almost Disappeared

Jun 08, 2026 8m

Melinda Russell wrote something down in 1866 that Black women were never supposed to say out loud. In this episode of the Knowledge Gumbo Podcast, Alicia Thomas follows one line from Russell's own…

Edna Lewis: When Daily Cooking Becomes an Act of Preservation

Jun 01, 2026 6m

Edna Lewis spent her entire life trying to recapture the flavors of her childhood in Freetown, Virginia, and in doing so she preserved something far greater than recipes. In this episode of the…

She Patented Sight. Then Gave It Away.

May 25, 2026 7m

Dr. Patricia Bath, the first Black woman to patent a medical device in America, believed that geography and income should never determine whether someone can see. In this episode of the Knowledge…

Wangari Maathai: You Can't Protect What You Don't Own

May 18, 2026 5m

Wangari Maathai believed you cannot protect the environment unless people are empowered to claim it as their own. In this episode of the Knowledge Gumbo Podcast, host Alicia Thomas reflects on that…

Every GPS Signal Passes Through Her Work

May 11, 2026 7m

Dr. Gladys West is the mathematician whose calculations made GPS possible — and most people have never heard her name. In this episode of the Knowledge Gumbo Podcast, host Alicia Thomas sits with one…

The Foundation She Laid Before the Rest Showed Up

May 04, 2026 6m

Dr. Jane Cooke Wright helped build modern cancer medicine from a Harlem hospital, and most people have never heard her name. In this episode of the Knowledge Gumbo Podcast, host Alicia Thomas sits…

Own the Signal, Not Just the Sound

Apr 27, 2026 9m

Visibility without power is just decoration — and Melissa Harris-Perry built a career proving exactly that. This episode of the Knowledge Gumbo Podcast opens with one of her most clarifying insights:…

She Filmed What History Tried to Forget

Apr 20, 2026 8m

Kathleen Collins directed one of the most important films in Black cinema history in 1982 — and almost no one saw it for decades. This episode of the Knowledge Gumbo Podcast explores the life and…

Credibility Is Not Given, It Is Claimed

Apr 13, 2026 7m

Charlene Hunter-Gault never felt she had to prove herself. She felt she had to be herself. In this episode of the Knowledge Gumbo Podcast, host Alicia Thomas reflects on that quiet but radical…

The Truth She Refused to Bury | Ida B. Wells

Apr 06, 2026 7m

Ida B. Wells knew that truth sitting in a drawer does nothing. In this episode of Knowledge Gumbo Podcast, we sit with her challenge to all of us: are you willing to turn the light on, even when it…

Claiming the Power to See on Our Own Terms

Mar 30, 2026 6m

Black women's visibility is not a simple gift — it's a question. Who benefits when we are seen, and who benefits when we are not? In this episode of the Knowledge Gumbo Podcast, host Alicia Thomas…

Creating Images That Reflect Us Fully

Mar 23, 2026 5m

Black women's representation in visual culture has never been just an art world conversation. It has always been a matter of power. In this episode of Knowledge Gumbo, we center a quote from Carrie…

When Spaces Reflect Who Matters: Norma Merrick Sklarek

Mar 16, 2026 4m

Norma Merrick Sklarek believed that architecture should reflect the dignity of the people it serves. In this episode of the Knowledge Gumbo Podcast, we explore the extraordinary legacy of Norma…

Documenting Because No One Else Would

Mar 09, 2026 5m

Doris Derby civil rights photographer picked up her camera in Mississippi in the 1960s — when witnessing what was happening to Black people was dangerous, and documenting it was even more so. As an…

Painting the Stories No One Else Would Tell

Mar 03, 2026 4m

Faith Ringgold believed art was not what you see, but what you make others see — and she spent a lifetime proving it. Born in Harlem in 1930, Ringgold became one of the most important visual…

Diaspora Faith: How Black Women Shaped Theology Worldwide

Feb 23, 2026 4m

Black women across the diaspora shaped theology worldwide. In this episode, a June Jordan quote opens a reflection on spiritual inheritance, self-love, and the refusal to be severed from our…

The Spiritual Roots of Black Women's Activism

Feb 16, 2026 5m

Episode 36: The Spiritual Roots of Black Women's Activism - Fannie Lou Hamer on Faith & JusticeFannie Lou Hamer's powerful quote reminds us that faith and justice are inseparable forces in the…

Faithful Disobedience: Black Women in the Pulpit

Feb 16, 2026 4m

Rebecca Cox Jackson was born into slavery, became free, and then became a powerful preacher who founded an all-Black women's Shaker community when the AME church refused to let her lead. Her story…

When You Build the Table: Black Women Founders

Feb 09, 2026 4m

EPISODE 34: Jarena Lee on Building Sacred Space"If it is wrong for man to hold property in man, it is wrong for woman to hold property in woman." — Jarena LeeABOUT THIS EPISODEIn 1819, Jarena Lee…

Knowledge Gumbo — A Reflective Podcast for Black Women

Feb 02, 2026 1m

This short episode introduces the current tone and direction of The Knowledge Gumbo Podcast.Knowledge Gumbo is a reflective podcast centered on the stories and wisdom of Black women who shaped the…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Knowledge Gumbo have?

Knowledge Gumbo has published 53 episodes since January 2025, covering topics in Education, History.

Is Knowledge Gumbo still active?

Knowledge Gumbo is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 12m.