White People Work

For me Scott is bringing wisdom and nuance that I have found to be missing from many white affinity spaces and leaders. He is avoiding the shaming and blaming that white people often do to each other in these conversations. But he is also not pulling any punches in terms of calling white people to be better and being clear about the abhorrent harm that is caused in the current status quo of racism in the US. The content is approachable and challenging.

I remember growing up and being fascinated by other people’s cultures. I was jealous of the way I saw people celebrating traditions that had been passed down through generations and history. Scott and his podcast guests have helped me to take a good look inward at my own cultural heritage and even identify some of those same traditions exist in my own life, I just wasn’t aware of them in the same way. This inward self discovery even goes a step further through White People Work as I’m also continuing to learn about how my own culture can and has affected people outside of my culture. If you have questions or opinions about whiteness, identity, culture, or society in the US, this podcast is a gracious way to learn and be active in the conversation.

There’s a lot of pithy buzzwords around “whiteness” that take up a lot of oxygen in the public discourse. It’s refreshing to have a podcast in the market that unpacks whiteness, frames it in its historical and cultural space, and offers practical ways to understand and engage with it.

Even if you’re not white, this is an essential listen for understanding how insidious white supremacy is, especially for people who consider themselves progressives. Scott gives a historical look at the establishment of white racial hierarchies. But what really draws you in is his vulnerable sharing about mistakes he’s made, lessons learned, and choices he’s made to live out his values.