The Amplify Project, a podcast dedicated to championing Black British writers, has launched the second season of its hit series, supported by public funding through the Arts Council England.
Season two will have 10 episodes in total, hosted by award-winning writers Patricia Cumper MBE and Pauline Walker. The episodes will feature a range of literary guests including screenwriter Ben Tagoe, poet Dean Atta, award-winning author Dreda Say Mitchell MBE, poet and playwright Inua Ellams MBE, novelist, journalist, and academic Leone Ross, playwright Roy Williams, screenwriter Theresa Ikoko, and award-winning writer Yomi Sode.
“We are thrilled to bring back The Amplify Project for a second season and continue our mission of celebrating the voices of Black authors,” said Cumper. “We firmly believe in providing a platform for Black authors to share their stories, ideas, and contributions to literature. By doing so, the podcast aims to foster inclusivity, inspire aspiring writers, and engage a global audience in thought-provoking conversations about race, culture, and the transformative power of literature.”
Episodes of the new season will explore both historical and contemporary works within Black literature as well as highlight emerging talent shaping the current literary landscape. The series will also feature additional guests including trailblazers and renowned Black British writers during a one-off special “Titans” episode during UK Black History Month in October.
Season one of The Amplify Project launched in 2021 as a response to publishers saying that they couldn’t find Black British writers, but the discussions for the podcast came long before that, before the pandemic, as both the founders Cumper and Walker saw similar patterns in the publishing and theatre industries.
The podcast received wide support from listeners as well as organisations including Arts Council England, Spread The Word, the National Centre for Writing, New Writing South, Peepal Tree Press, The Society of Authors, Talawa, and Writing our Legacy.
