Madison365 is proud to announce the return of the award-winning podcast Black Oxygen, hosted by Angela Russell, on Monday, April 14.
Launched in 2020, Black Oxygen has become a vital platform amplifying the voices and experiences of Black Wisconsinites. After a hiatus, the podcast is returning to its roots at Madison365 — and Russell says it feels just right.
“I am coming home,” Russell said in an interview for the 365 Amplified podcast. “It does feel like I’m coming home and I’m excited about the continued partnership.”
Listen to the full interview:
The podcast was inspired by a moment in 2019 when a colleague from California told Russell she needed “more Black oxygen in your life” — a phrase that instantly resonated.
“I just sat with that phrase and journaled about it,” Russell said. “What does this even mean? … For me, this podcast around Black Oxygen was really an attempt to amplify Black voices in Wisconsin.”
Since its debut, Black Oxygen has featured over 150 episodes, earned a Wisconsin Innovation Award and a Milwaukee Press Club award, and has even become part of university curricula across the state.
“I feel very humbled by this — that there are professors throughout Wisconsin that use Black Oxygen as part of their curriculum, and then send me feedback that they hear from the students on the episodes,” Russell said.
More than just a podcast, Black Oxygen is a space for authenticity, vulnerability, and connection — especially among Black Wisconsinites who are often underrepresented in media.
“One of the things that I hear so much is that there aren’t Black people in Wisconsin. That’s just not true,” Russell said. “I wanted to amplify Black voices throughout Wisconsin, but also amplify the diversity of Blackness that exists throughout Wisconsin.”
Listeners can expect deeply personal, funny, and sometimes emotional conversations grounded in real experiences.
“You’re going to hear my laugh a lot,” Russell joked. “I laugh a lot … but I try to really have conversations that are much more authentic, much more real.”
The upcoming season has a special focus: amplifying the voices of Black women in Wisconsin. Russell has dubbed the season “The 92 Percent,” a nod to the 92 percent of Black women who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
“There’s something that Black women know and have told us this whole time — we’ve been telling y’all,” Russell said. “So I really want to focus this season on amplifying the voices of Black women in the state of Wisconsin … What do Black women in the state of Wisconsin need to remain whole and hopeful and keep moving forward?”
The new season launches with an interview with Sagashus Levingston, author of Infamous Mothers, and will continue with bi-weekly episodes. Russell said she plans to produce 15 to 20 episodes in this season.
“There’s a lot to talk about as Black women,” she said.
For Russell, the podcast also offers personal sustenance.
“My son notices when I stop recording or take breaks,” Russell said. “He’s like, ‘I notice that not recording Black Oxygen impacts you, Mom. You need to keep doing this.’”
Subscribe to Black Oxygen on your favorite podcast platform and catch the first new episode on Monday, April 14.
