In a deeply intimate conversation, Stone Written host Dr. Rhon (@DoctorRMB) sits down with grammy nominated American jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon to discuss her new book and album, exploring how jazz improvisation, deep listening, and ancestral presence shaped her journey through loss.

They reflect on grief’s non-linear nature, the healing power of creativity and community, and the ways memory, music, and everyday rituals open pathways from sorrow to hope.

Sources:

• Nnenna Freelon's website
• Nnenna's stunning guidebook, Beneath the Skin of Sorrow: Improvisations on Loss (Duke University Press, 2025)
• Nnenna's latest album, "Beneath the Skin" (Origin Records, 2025)
• Support the Sonja Haynes Stone Center (linktree)

On International Podcast Day (September 30th), Stone Written celebrates the power of storytelling at the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Research in Black Culture and History. Host Dr. Rhon shares seven lessons she’s learned since stepping into her role at UNC–Chapel Hill, from why “those who know, know” isn’t enough, to how platforms like this one help us tell our story before someone else gets it wrong. This episode is a brief but timely love letter to the stories that shape us—and to the people who make them worth telling.

Sources:

• The Power of Podcasting: Telling Stories Through Sound by Siobhán McHugh (Columbia University Press, 2022)
• 100 Best Black Podcasts
• The Sonja Haynes Stone Center Linktree

Host Dr. Rhon speaks with artist Mark Anthony Brown Jr. and curator Ming Joi Washington about The Book of Mark a solo exhibition at the Stone Center that explores spirituality, ancestry, and diasporic practices through photography, sculpture, and time-based media.

The conversation covers their collaborative process and trust-building, the influence of Black church traditions, tensions between artistic integrity and the market, and efforts to make art accessible. The exhibition opens September 2025 and runs through the fall semester.

Sources:

• The Book of Mark exhibition catalog
• more about the artist, Mark Anthony Brown, Jr.
• more about the curator, Ming Joi Washington
• The Sonja Haynes Stone Center Linktree

Stone Center Director Dr. Rhon Manigault-Bryant (@DoctorRMB) opens Stone Written Season 2 on the 21st anniversary of the Stone Center building. Reflecting on the Stone Center's legacy and Toni Morrison’s powerful lessons on centering Black life, Dr. Rhon speaks to the urgent need to secure sustainable funding to expand research programs, fellowships, and student support.

Tune in for a pithy, but powerful conversation on creating a future that honors Black scholarship, creativity, and community — and learn how your support can make that vision possible. Join us in building the future we’ve always deserved.

Sources:

• The Sonja Haynes Stone Center website and linktree.
• Toni Morrison's novel Paradise (1997).
• Check out the full video and transcript of the 1998 “Toni Morrison Uncensored” Conversation with Morrison and Jana Wendt.
• Give to the Stone Center!

Stone Written Podcast proudly presents "Stones Senior Stories," a 10-episode series celebrating the inspiring journeys of our graduating seniors.

On this final episode of Stone’s Senior Stories, we sit down with Evan Andrews, a senior from Winston-Salem majoring in Political Science and Peace, War & Defense with a minor in History. Evan is deeply involved in campus leadership, serving as the Basileus (President) of the Psi Delta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and holding past roles as Vice President of the UNC National Pan-Hellenic Council and leader in organizations like the UNC Black Pre-Law Association, Richard Epps Emerging Leaders Program, and Order of the Omega. His work with Democracy NC and Cheri Beasley’s Senate campaign reflects his passion for civic engagement and advocacy. In this conversation, Evan shares his thoughts on campus culture, Black UNC, Greek life, and the challenges of elitism and collaboration in student spaces.

Guest Host & Stone Written Assistant Producer: Melanie Cabrero

Stone Written Podcast proudly presents "Stones Senior Stories," a 10-episode series celebrating the inspiring journeys of our graduating seniors.

On this episode, Guest Editor Melanie Cabrero sits down with Krystal Lacayo, a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Urban and Regional Studies. Krystal is a powerhouse advocate, including her role as the Founder and President of HBUNC Media Group. She is passionate about holistic community development, blending sustainability, media, and social advocacy to create lasting change. We’ll discuss her journey as a student leader, her global perspective gained through study abroad, and her vision for the future of equitable and sustainable development.

Guest Host & Stone Written Assistant Producer: Melanie Cabrero

Stone Written Podcast proudly presents "Stones Senior Stories," a 10-episode series celebrating the inspiring journeys of our graduating seniors.

In this episode Guest Editor Melanie Cabrero sits down with Christopher Lee Williams, a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate who majored in Peace, War, and Defense with a minor in Entrepreneurship. As the Student Body Vice President, an advocate for financial literacy, and a leader in the Union of Black Men, Christopher dedicated his time at Carolina to service, mentorship, and institutional change. We discuss the state of the Black community at UNC, the importance of financial literacy for students, and the challenges of navigating leadership and advocacy in a changing political climate. Christopher also shares his thoughts on mentorship, the legacy he hopes to leave behind, and advice for students looking to step into leadership roles. Tune in for an insightful conversation about leadership, service, and creating lasting impact!

Guest Host & Stone Written Assistant Producer: Melanie Cabrero

Stone Written Podcast proudly presents "Stones Senior Stories," a 10-episode series celebrating the inspiring journeys of our graduating seniors.

In this episode Guest Host Melanie Cabrero sits down with Brooklynn Barnett, a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill majoring in Biology with a minor in Health & Society. Brooklynn will soon take the next step in her journey at the #1 pharmacy school in the nation, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She shares insights on navigating higher education as a first-generation college student, overcoming imposter syndrome, and her passion for health advocacy. Brooklynn also highlights her experience as a mentor in the SPARK program, empowering underrepresented women at UNC, and reflects on her favorite Carolina memories.

Guest Host & Stone Written Assistant Producer: Melanie Cabrero

Guest Editor: Tobi Onsanya