At the onset of the pandemic, a mother relocates and experiences several unexpected life changes, including a whirlwind romance for which her 11-year-old daughter had a front-row seat.

Ep. 10 - Letting Go of Girl-Dads

Feb 2nd, 2020 18m 11s

A meditation on the loss of Kobe Bryant and his unabashed approach to raising daughters. A single mother's musings on what it means to defer to her daughter's dad.

Ep. 9 Atatiana and the Sonic Imagination

Oct 17th, 2019 12m 17s

A meditation on navigating retreat and residency culture as a Black artist, who's constantly being reminded how risk Black people are, wherever we are, in this country, and abroad. Sound for this episode was recorded at the Black Artists Retr

Ep. 8 As for Me and This House (and Senate)

Nov 15th, 2018 12m 55s

Mother explores her relationship to civic duty, after taking her daughter to vote in the 2018 midterm election. Sound notes: Cuicuitte, Komiku, Podington Bear, Dilla, A Different World, The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and news broa

Ep. 7 Something Hollowed, Overdue

Oct 9th, 2018 21m 5s

A mother meditates on marriage, in advance of her daughter's father's wedding.

Ep. 6 The Art of Knowing When to Retreat

Jul 31st, 2018 13m 38s

Hope Chest returns with a new essay written at SPACE on Ryder Farm's Family Residency in July 2018. A week-long artist's residency for parents and their children, SPACE on Ryder Farm affords families that ever-elusive commodity that's so diffic

Ep. 5 Birth Daze: A Co-Parenting Story

Oct 3rd, 2017 18m 2s

A single mother navigates the shifting dynamics of her family -- at a slower pace than everyone else.

Ep. 4 Woman to Will-Be Woman

Mar 28th, 2017 14m 38s

This Hope Chest essay is about self-reflection and the challenging means by which women work to define themselves.

Ep 3 (Don't) Forget Paris

Feb 19th, 2017 16m 26s

Adapted from an essay of the same name, this episode takes listeners on an excursion to Paris, as remembered by one Black mother and as told to her daughter.