The public radio program and podcast Our Body Politic is pausing production.
The program is “at a crossroads with its current level of production and service to stations and listeners,” Katie Kemple, the show’s national program representative, wrote in an email to stations Friday. “They are implementing a six-month production hiatus. For radio, this means an end to the weekly Content Depot distribution.”
Stations that air the program can continue broadcasting previous episodes through February, Kemple wrote. The final episode will be released Feb. 23.
“As of January 26, 2024, Our Body Politic made the tough decision to pause production, putting the show on temporary hiatus,” co-EP Shanta Covington said in an automated email response.
Farai Chideya, the show’s founder, host and co-EP, did not respond to a request for comment.
The weekly show launched in 2020 with startup support from KQED in San Francisco, KCRW in Santa Monica, Calif., and KPCC in Los Angeles. The show was airing in 93 markets as of October 2022.
The show centered women of color in the political landscape, with episodes focusing on topics such as the economy, health, education and the environment. The most recent episode focused on Black maternal health. Earlier this month, the program released an audio documentary interviewing investigators of color on the congressional January 6th Committee.
“While we are proud of our success, the reality is radio and podcast production work is grueling,” a post on the show’s website said. “… We appreciate your patience and grace as we regroup and recast the vision for the next chapter in Our Body Politic’s journey.”
I hope “Our Body Politic” returns soon. It’s informative and entertaining. I miss it.
I knew something was amiss. I hate that yet another Black woman host has left the airwaves from NPR. The anti-blackness that is pervasive in every corner of American society is driving this trend and it’s sad because I really, really loved this show!