Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Mason and Trey Leonard.
What started as a personal outlet for her own viewpoints and experiences as a black woman in Georgia, quickly became weekly social media posts that people looked forward to every Wednesday. Hannah’s passion for political activism as well as her unapologetically honest outlook on current culture in the south and across the country made for popular Facebook posts and videos that she called #WokeWednesday.
Trey, a student at the University of Georgia who founded a production company called LENENCO, saw Hannah’s posts and immediately knew that he wanted to help her share her story, her voice and her opinions on a larger platform. Trey shares a similar passion for culture and politics, with his ultimate goal in life being to share stories and foster meaningful discourses around important topics.
Trey approached Hannah with the idea of creating a podcast that could reach people everywhere and start conversations about topics influencing our country. She loved the idea, and since the summer of 2018, the pair have been working to produce a high-quality podcast that can appeal to all types of people, regardless of political ideology.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
While we’ve had so much fun creating this podcast, we’d be lying if we said it was always easy. One of the struggles we had to face right away was the balance between voicing our opinions and still creating a show that cultivated conversation, rather than turning those who have different beliefs away. We worked hard to ensure that all people can listen to the show, and we strive to present the facts on our topics without our personal opinions getting too much in the way.
Another struggle has been carving out dedicated time to produce the show, as Trey is still a current student at UGA (graduating in May) and Hannah moved to Houston, Texas after she graduated a year ago. We’ve overcome this challenge by forging an efficient process for recording, editing and producing each episode. Our strong lines of communication also equip us to overcome this potential battle.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
The Woke Wednesday podcast is a weekly update on political and cultural news with commentary on a specific topic each Wednesday. We specialize in socially relevant topics ranging from environmental injustice to mass incarceration. We are known for intellectually challenging discourse layered with an entertaining flair brought by irreplaceable personality. This is what truly sets us apart from other politically-oriented podcasts: a layered approach to the material with an unmatched host who infuses every single episode with a deeply personal touch.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, Hannah was extremely extroverted and a big nerd. She always loved reading and would even win local book-reading contests in her hometown of Dublin, Georgia. She was also a tom-boy and always played sports growing up. Hannah did use to get in trouble for her mouth, however, as she always shared what was on her mind and never understood what was so wrong with saying exactly how she felt. She grew up in a conservative home and challenged herself throughout college, eventually becoming passionate about activism and the law.
From the time he was a kid, Trey has always been enamored by storytelling. Whether reading, watching movies or writing his own stories, he fell in love with the idea of using different art forms to say something. As he grew up, his passion grew as well, which inspired him to figure out a way to spend his life telling stories that matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wokewednesdaypodcast.com/
- Instagram: instagram.com/haveawokewednesday
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haveawokewednesday/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
Image Credit:
Hannah Mason, Trey Leonard
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