What's Ray Saying?
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What's Ray Saying?
Storyteller Ray Christian shares personal stories as a sixty-something combat veteran, historian, and goat-wrangling father of six living in the rural mountains of Appalachia, all told through the fabric of centuries of Black history.
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Tropes: Saying What You Mean
In this episode, Ray takes another look at tropes, specifically euphemism, stories that follow the path of misunderstanding by substituting words and...

Bonus: Death, Sex and Money - What Military Service During “Peacetime” is Really Like
We want to share with you this special episode of Death, Sex & Money, a Slate podcast. Ray joins host Anna Sale to share why he enlisted in the U.S. A...

Tropes - That Sounds Familiar
In this mini-episode of What's Ray Saying?, Ray is joined by Kory Thomas May and Tiffany Christian. He ponders the characteristics of familiar narrati...

Bonus: Our Ancestors Were Messy - Oscar Micheaux and the Family Feud That Launched Black Hollywood
Let us introduce you to Our Ancestors Were Messy, a podcast covering the gossip, scandals, and pop culture that made headlines in the Black newspapers...

Juniper Ray Christian - Dickens: Crown of Blooms
In this episode, Ray lets Tiffany take over the microphone as host and Interviewer of their daughter, author and award-winning storyteller Juniper Ray...

Bonus - Best of RISK! 15
Let us introduce you again to another show we think you'll enjoy. RISK! is a live show and weekly podcast where people tell true stories they never th...

Talking with Dogs on the Street
In this mini episode of What’s Ray Saying, Ray whimsically explores his encounters with the “dog on the street” and the diversity of canine culture. T...

Bonus: Ray on "Know What You See"
If you’ve been enjoying "What's Ray Saying?", here's another podcast we think you’ll like.
On “Know What You See”, host Brian Lowery delves into...

Bonus: Ray on "Little Devils"
We want to share with you a new podcast I was proud to do an episode for. It's called "Little Devils", hosted by Jasmin Bauomy. "Little Devils" explor...


Voluntary and Chance Encounters: Black Fraternal and Sororal organizations
In this mini episode of What’s Ray Saying?, Ray talks about the significance of intentional black social connections and a chance encounter with a gro...

Bonus: Ray on Volume Knob
In this bonus episode Ray explores story, memory and song with the podcast, The Volume Knob.
The Volume Knob is a personal storytelling podcast...

Ray's Ruminations: Empty Nesters
In this episode, as their two youngest prepare to leave home for college, Ray and Tiffany contemplate a new phase of their life together. What will it...

Bonus: Ray Steps Into The Confessional
Here's another great podcast featuring a conversation with Ray. The Confessional is hosted by author and ordained Lutheran pastor, Nadia Bolz-Weber. S...

Ray's Ruminations: Healthcare and caring for the sick and elderly
In this episode, Ray takes a trip back home and talks with his sister Janice about the challenges of caring for the sick and elderly at home. They dis...

Ray's Ruminations: Military Misinformation
In this episode, Ray talks with Tiffany about the nature of military stories he hears on various shows and the degree of mis-information he perceives...

Bonus: Spooked - Creepy Crawly
A Ray story produced by Spooked: "The Birds" - As a little boy in Richmond Virginia, raising pigeons, Ray Christian made a friend with the same hobby....

Ray's Ruminations: Gender Perspectives
In this episode, Tiffany takes over the direction of the discussion and asks Ray to examine his views and perspectives on gender expectations for thei...

Bonus - Snap Judgment: Fight Club
A Ray story produced by Snap judgment: The first rule about fight club is you do not talk about fight club. Ray Christian breaks that rule. Produced b...

Ray's Ruminations: Staying Flexible
In this episode, Ray talks with Tiffany about the need for Black Americans to be flexible to move forward in their chosen profession, and the differen...

Bonus: Snap Judgment - Acid Jump
A Ray story produced by Snap judgment: When morale is low among the paratroopers in his company, Sergeant Ray Christian takes them on an unexpected tr...

Ray's Ruminations: Stay in your lane
In this episode Ray asks Tiffany if and when it is appropriate to speak about groups outside of your own, particularly should he do an episode about w...

Bonus - RISK!: Black Lives #5
We know you love a good story, so here's another show we think you'll enjoy. RISK! is a live show and weekly podcast where people tell true stories th...

Ray's Ruminations: What's a Story?
In this episode, Ray reflects on the elements of a story, and in a conversation with Tiffany, gives an example of a story he is contemplating.

A River Runs Through It
Ray goes back to Richmond and examines his evolution from ghetto kid to seasoned storyteller, taking a prideful look at the ways our environments and...

What Do I Tell My Son About Being a Man?
In a drive to the airport with his son, Ray talks about the perilous crossroads he faced in defining his masculinity.
What’s Ray Saying? is crea...

Letters Home
After getting a response from a 30-year-old letter, Ray explores a legacy of correspondence—from his personal experience writing for illiterate parent...

Know Your Place
Ray has a candid conversation with scholar and journalist Chenjerai Kumanyika, looking at the historic legacy of Jim Crow, how each of their families...

This is the Sound of My Voice
A young Ray Christian becomes captivated by the mysterious voices coming out of the radio and quickly discovers that there are rules and repercussions...

Black in the Military
Ray looks back on his decision to join the army, unraveling a complicated history of Black military service and reflecting on the surprising changes t...

Ruffling Through Our Closet
A look at Black fashion—from zoot suits to Soul Train to a complicated history of advertising. Plus, Ray reflects on the time he dropped out of school...

Black Medicine
To better understand the treatment of the ills, injuries and minds of Black Americans, Ray reflects on his first experience of going to the doctor.

What's Ray Saying is Back!
What’s Ray Saying is back!
Immerse yourself in a world of Southern-baked personal narratives, interwoven with Black American history, all told t...

WRS Classic: Childs Play
In this episode, Ray explores the legacy of Black Children taken as slaves from Africa, growing up on plantations and the impact on their social worth...

WRS Classic: Blacks and Indians
Ray explores the complex history and relationship between Black Americans and the Native people of America.

WRS Classic: Black Leadership Part 3—Challenging Authority
Ray explores Black leadership from the 1940s to now to reflect on it challenges and its legacies.

WRS Classic: Black Leadership Part 2—The Elite Class
Ray explores Black leadership from the emergence of an elite class, with varying perspectives and experiences.

WRS Classic: Black American Leadership Part 1—Sources and Origins
In this episode part one of a three part series on Black leadership, Ray explores the origins of Black influence and authority in America.

WRS Classic: Black Hair Issues
Ray explores the cultural and historical significance of Afro textured hair.

WRS Classic: Black Americans and the Police
Ray explores the history and complicated relationship with Black Americans and the police.