Five Things We Learnt From 1Xtra’s If You Don’t Know Podcast
If You Don’t Know has been a trailblazer. Hosts De-Graft Mensah and Roshan Roberts, have spent the last 15 episodes talking all about the culture and current affairs. From music and relationships; to the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, the podcast has become a space for young Black Brits to laugh and learn about what’s going on in the world, from their perspective.
Here are five things we’ve learnt on the If You Don’t Know Podcast.
1. Dragons' Den’s Steven Bartlett refuses to wear a suit on the show
In May, 28-year-old Steven Bartlett was named as the latest dragon to join the Â鶹ԼÅÄ’s Dragons' Den business programme. What we didn’t know is that the founder of the social media company, Social Chain, was kicked out of school for poor attendance and dropped out of uni after one seminar! But apparently, in order to succeed in business you need to know how to quit.
And so by being a Black man in a snapback, I will appeal to other Black men, and let them know that they can sit at the table."Steven Bartlett
"People don't talk about the art of quitting and how pivotal that will be,” said Steven. “[That’s] probably even more important for you to become a success."
As the youngest dragon in the programme’s history, Steven made sure to bring his authentic self to the judging panel - so he flat out refused to wear a suit.
"I'm not against white men in suits, but I am against leaving talent off the field because they don't feel included. And so by being a Black man in a snapback, I will appeal to other Black men, and women… or anybody that comes from an underrepresented background, and I will let them know that they can sit at the table."
This episode contains some serious motivation.
Listen to: How to secure the bag and a place on Dragons' Den ft. Steven Bartlett
2. Prank callers claimed to have found Richard Okorogheye’s dead body
Back in March this year, 19-year-old Richard Okorogheye was reported missing by his mum after leaving his family home in west London. Two weeks later, his body was found in a pond in Epping Forest. How and why Richard ended up in Epping Forest is still unclear, but at the time of his disappearance his best friend, Hala Mohammed, decided to take to social media to raise awareness of his missing whereabouts. Hala opened up to De-Graft and Roshan about the pressure she experienced trying to find her best friend and the responses she received along the way; from people in the local community to trolls and pranksters.
"I could barely sleep because every time I'd sleep I'd get a call and think even though it's no caller ID, maybe it's the police or maybe someone did find something. So I couldn't just let calls go, I had to answer every call that I could."
This episode is a tough listen about Black missing people, but most importantly celebrates the life of Richard Okorogheye.
Listen to: The Richard Okorogheye Story
3. Tolly T from The Receipts Podcast paid for a listener to go to therapy
In episode ten of the If You Don’t Know Podcast, Tolly and Audrey from The Receipts podcast came through for a good time. As well as bringing the vibes and spilling the tea, they talked about the launch of their first book, Keep The Receipts, racial fetishisation on this year’s season of reality show, Love Island and getting through the pandemic. As we all know, this last year has been hard for everyone, but when one listener wrote to The Receipts sharing her dilemma, Tolly decided to give back in the best way she could.
When one listener wrote to The Receipts sharing her dilemma, Tolly decided to give back in the best way she could.
She paid for her therapy.
“It was mainly because I didn’t know how to help,” she said. “That was the only thing I knew to do.”
This is an episode filled with great intentions, great chat - and the occasional bad joke!
4. 1Xtra’s Yasmin Evans questioned her identity after the murder of George Floyd
To mark one year since the murder of George Floyd and the resurgence of the global Black Lives Matter movement, De-Graft and Roshan reflected on what got them through the year; from music and memes to fitness and friends. The fact that we’re still here after this mad year is worth celebrating. But that’s not to say that they didn’t reflect on the self growth and journeys of discovery that they went on too. 1Xtra’s Yasmin Evans got real as she spoke about coming to terms with her identity during the movement.
“Sometimes I don't know how to act because I'm mixed race,” she said. “I felt like when I have reacted it’s not met with the right response then I question myself - am I black enough?”
“I will say I'm a mixed race black person. I’m a black person because I go outside and I'm looked at as black. [But] I know I'm not a dark skinned black dark woman and I'm aware of the privilege I have.”
This is an episode you didn’t know you needed. The ultimate safe space after an exhausting year.
Listen to: Good Vibes in a Bad Year ft. Yasmin Evans
5. Prison ‘saved’ Bouncer Play Dirty’s life
The CEO of Play Dirty Music came on to If You Don’t Know at the start of the series to talk to us about his journey of fasting and training during ramadan. Bouncer made it clear that above all he is first and foremost a Muslim, and if it weren’t for his on-and-off 10 year stint in prison, where he completed a vocational training course offered to inmates, he wouldn’t be the man he is today. For Bouncer, prison was ‘life-changing.’
"Prison saved me, I could have ended up dead. I'm very grateful."
"Prison saved me, I could have ended up dead. I'm very grateful."
A feel good episode full of gratitude.
Listen to: Eid Mubarak! ft. Bouncer Play Dirty
If You Don’t Know returns to Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sounds (and all the other podcast platforms) as well as 1Xtra on Thursday September 2nd. Subscribe to the podcast to tune in to De-Graft and Roshan.
