Gen X Gon Give It To Ya: Samuel Wilson Jr. on Black music, radio, and preserving the culture Deshanta sits down with Samuel Wilson Jr., creator and host of the Black Soul Music Experience Podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation about the music, TV, movies, and cultural memories that shaped a generation. The episode centers on black music as history, identity, and family legacy, while also tracing Samuel’s path through the Bronx, school, radio, and podcasting.We discuss how music, TV, and film function as cultural memory, why preserving black music matters, and how Samuel built a podcast around documenting artists, genres, and the stories behind the songs. Key topics Samuel Wilson Jr. shares how growing up between Harlem and multiple Bronx neighborhoods shaped his perspective and sense of community.In this episode, he talks about childhood favorites in the Bronx, including shopping, bike riding, and going to movies.We discuss the schools he attended, the teachers he remembers, and the impact of being moved from private school into public school.Samuel explains how his first summer job at a church-based community program helped spark a longer relationship with media and communication.He reflects on classic TV shows like Sanford and Son, Barney Miller, The Jeffersons, Good Times, and The Twilight Zone, and why those shows still matter.We cover his favorite movies, including Star Wars, Sounder, and She Hate Me, and how those films connect to race, politics, and social commentary.Samuel breaks down his love of black music across gospel, jazz, blues, soul, funk, disco, hip hop, Caribbean music, and Afrobeats.He shares how hip hop’s roots connect to Jamaica, Black radio, and James Brown, and why the genre’s evolution matters.In this episode, he explains why Donna Summer and funk deserve more recognition as foundational Gen X-era music.Samuel walks through the origin of the Black Soul Music Experience Podcast, which began in 2021 and grew from music talk into interviews, history, and social issue coverage.He describes interviewing guests across genres and backgrounds, including family members, singers, DJs, and artists from the U.S. and abroad.We discuss how music connects to education, fashion, social issues, emergency preparedness, mental health, and Black History Month programming.Samuel talks about radio broadcasting, technical direction, and his long career working behind the scenes at WVOX and related stations.He reflects on job loss, AI, and how technology is changing media and employment while also creating new tools for creators.The conversation closes with a focus on preserving black music for future generations and passing cultural knowledge through family, church, and community. Timestamps (00:00) Opening and why black music matters to Gen X (01:00) Meet Samuel Wilson Jr. and the Black Soul Music Experience Podcast (02:09) Growing up across Harlem and the Bronx (04:20) Bronx life, movies, and childhood hangouts (05:54) School path from private schools to PS 160 and Truman High (07:25) Teachers who left an impact (08:00) First summer job at church and being transferred to another site (12:41) Favorite TV shows from the 70s, 80s, and 90s (14:02) Celebrity favorites and why Anthony Mackie stood out (18:20) Classic TV jingles, including Super Golden Crisp and Kool-Aid (19:19) Favorite cereals, candy, and arcade games (21:23) Beating games, checkers, connect four, and perfection (22:14) Comic heroes, especially Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four (26:48) Sneakers, Nikes, Reeboks, Converse, and Pro-Keds (28:01) Mets, Yankees, Shea Stadium, and the 1972 game vs. the Reds (29:27) Old-school shows still worth watching today (31:04) Black music, disco, Elton John, and Benny and the Jets (33:22) Star Wars, the original trilogy, and good versus evil (35:00) Twilight Zone and Nightmare at 20,000 Feet (36:40) Hip hop’s roots in Jamaica and the first time hearing Rapper’s Delight (38:31) Caribbean influence, James Brown, and early sampling (40:13) A surprising film pick: Sounder (41:41) Why radio broadcasting felt like the right career path (44:11) CBS, WVOX, WRTN, and working behind the board (48:18) Childhood advice to his adult self (48:43) Thoughts on AI, ChatGPT, and Copilot (51:22) The origin of the Black Soul Music Experience Podcast (53:19) From music talk to guest interviews and hot-button topics (55:46) Why music connects to education, fashion, and social issues (58:13) 230 episodes, bonus episodes, and global interviews (61:36) How Samuel chooses guests and spots overlooked stories (64:14) Funk and disco as underappreciated Gen X-era genres (65:41) Seeing Donna Summer live and keeping the autograph LP (67:23) What he has learned from artists and producers (68:11) Preserving black music for future generations (71:00) Job loss, layoffs, and the reality of changing work (72:05) Family reunions, hidden relatives, and lineage (74:09) What he wishes he could redo from childhood (74:49) Platform shoes, ripped jeans, and styles that came back (75:50) Quotes from Dr. King and Malcolm X (76:22) A shoutout to Mayor Mondani and community change (76:59) Where to find the Black Soul Music Experience Podcast (78:12) What Substack is and why creators are using it (80:59) Closing thoughts, gratitude, and future collaboration Notable quotes “Music was our life.” “Pay close attention to the legends of the past that made black music great.” “You have to learn how to travel.” Music during the episodeUptight Soul Full - Catch22 Music Funky Jazz Shuffle Groove - Catch22 Music UpbeatHip-Hop - playstarz_music Soulful groove with deep bass, mellow Rhodes and jazzy brass - Chelikok Your Love Hip Hop - Music Unlimited