PhD students produce podcast series on intimate partner violence

Four friends sit in a recording studio, deep in discussion about topics considered taboo in some circles. They are Black women. They are scholars. And they are talking about intimate partner violence in the Black community in a way that’s never been done before.

These women are the brains and voices behind a new podcast called BBRIDGE, which stands for Building Black Relationships by Initiating Development, Growth and Empowerment. Created by four UB doctoral students with intersecting academic interests, the show features research-based discussions about a complex topic that disproportionately impacts women of color, their families and communities.

Three of the creators are studying in the School of Social Work’s PhD in Social Welfare program; the fourth is a PhD student in global gender studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Jennifer Elliott, MSW ’23, says the whole purpose of the show is to understand the myths and facts around intimate partner violence, its contributions to generational trauma, the complexity of the issue and its physical, emotional and psychological impact on women. Discussions on the show and feedback from listeners also inform research and practice.

“From the first day of the doctoral program in theory class, we could see gaps in research and practice and interventions,” explains Ogechi “Oge” Kalu. “We started asking, ‘What do we do about this?’ This podcast is allowing us to identify gaps, fill them with research and bring information and solutions back to the community.”

As part of their PhD studies, all four hosts are studying a different, specific aspect of intimate partner violence. Elliott’s research centers on cultural responsiveness from service providers and interventions for survivors. Vanity Jones, MSW ’24, examines the long-term effects of intimate partner violence and its impact on intimacy and trust. Joyce Adeola Jekayinoluwa looks at gender-based violence toward African women, prevention and policy analysis. Kalu, who hosted a radio show in Nigeria before she got into social work, studies the impact of domestic violence on children, maternal mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Each show is based on the hosts’ independent research, bolstered by examples from popular culture, peer-reviewed papers and anecdotes from the field. They say it’s the first time these resources are being shared with the public in such a comprehensive and approachable way.

“We did not want this information gatekept in academia,” Elliott explains.

The podcasters designed the show to reach a broad audience, beginning first and foremost with Black women, and as Jones puts it, people in relationships with Black women. They’re also speaking to service providers and community organizations that serve Black women and families.

While the topic is serious, the tone of the show is energetic, conversational and inviting to a variety of listeners.

“It’s everybody’s business,” says Jekayinoluwa. “As much as we say it’s for Black women — and it is; they’re statistically at greater risk for intimate partner violence — we want everyone to hear it. We’re talking to children to help them plan futures and define boundaries for themselves. Men, too, as partners, as allies, as victims themselves and as fathers of daughters.”

The first three discussions centered around Elliott’s studies. Episode one, released Aug. 17, dove into common Black women tropes (like the Jezebel, the Mammy, the Gold Digger), their roots in history and how they impact the Black community. In the second episode, the group tackled celebrity relationships and their role in modeling behaviors, healthy and otherwise. Episode three looked at gender roles in relationships, on social media and in everyday lives.

Future topics will be derived from the co-hosts’ research interests and may feature guests, including academic colleagues and community partners.

The show, recorded on campus and edited by the self-taught team, is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, with release announcements and discussion on Instagram (@bbridge_buffalo) and Facebook (Bbridge Buffalo). All four creators say they welcome feedback and questions about anything they cover during the show.

Despite juggling the rigors of PhD research, classes, jobs and lives, the BBRIDGE creators plan to release a new episode every other week. It’s a project Elliott says feels less like work and more like time spent with friends talking about things they’re passionate about — because, ultimately, that’s what it is.

“Our topics and research can get dark,” Elliott acknowledges. “So this show feels like self-care for us. We’re friends, we’re ourselves and we can joke, all while having a good discussion that benefits others in the community.”