What's Ray Saying?
Episodes
Bonus: Gear - Articles of Interest
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we're sharing an episode of the acclaimed podcast Articles of Interest, a show that explores the hidden history and surprising cultural pow...
Obedience, Loyalty, and Survival
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Ray breaks down how obedience, loyalty, and survival collide in America — in the military, in politics, and in Black life. From lawf...
Tropes: Saying What You Mean
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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....
Tropes - That Sounds Familiar
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 cult...
Bonus: Ray on "Know What You See"
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 int...
Bonus: Ray on "Little Devils"
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
What's Up with Ray?
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A message from Ray.
Voluntary and Chance Encounters: Black Fraternal and Sororal organizations
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 g...
Bonus: Ray on Volume Knob
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode Ray explores story, memory and song with the podcast, The Volume Knob.The Volume Knob is a personal storytelling podcast produce...
Ray's Ruminations: Empty Nesters
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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?
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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?
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 created...
Letters Home
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After getting a response from a 30-year-old letter, Ray explores a legacy of correspondence—from his personal experience writing for illiterate pare...
Know Your Place
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 scho...
Black Medicine
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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. W...
What's Ray Saying is Back!
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What’s Ray Saying is back! Immerse yourself in a world of Southern-baked personal narratives, interwoven with Black American history, all told thro...
WRS Classic: Childs Play
18 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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
21 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ray explores the complex history and relationship between Black Americans and the Native people of America.
WRS Classic: Black Leadership Part 3—Challenging Authority
06 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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
21 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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
14 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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
26 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ray explores the cultural and historical significance of Afro textured hair.
WRS Classic: Black Americans and the Police
11 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ray explores the history and complicated relationship with Black Americans and the police.
WRS Classic: Black in the City
31 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ray explores Black American association with the South and why Black are concentrated in urban areas of the country.
WRS Classic: Black American Naming Practices
24 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ray talks about Black American naming practice, history, traditions and conventions from slavery to the 20th century.
WRS Classic: The Storyteller's Journey Part 3
13 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ray completes the long journey of getting his stories heard, tells his life story and puts storytelling in context.
WRS Classic: The Storytellers Journey Part 2
17 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Ray continues to explore his storytelling journey after the RISK! show. He talks about his appearance on The Moth Radio Hour, a story in Readers Diges...
WRS Classic: The Storytellers Journey Part 1
29 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This episode traces storytelling in African American culture, from its roots in Africa, through the Middle Passage and slavery, and continuing through...
WRS Classic: An Imaginary Past
08 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Ray looks at the origins of a false narrative of Black American history, its racist origins, the founder of revisionist history regarding the Civil W...
WRS Classic: Changes and Adaptation
30 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Ray examines the nature of Black American assimilation into white culture.
WRS Classic: Education—in Black and White
19 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
What, when, how, and why Blacks learned in the US as well as what others were taught about them, from the slave quarters to HBCU’s.
WRS Classic: Dying While Black
26 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
What happens after death? Not in the metaphysical, existential sense. But quite literally, what happens after death? The history of the handling of ...
WRS Classic: Line of Departure
18 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This special episode marks a dividing line between the old and new, where you were and where you're going, what was and what will be. Follow the jour...
WRS Classic: Brothers in Arms
14 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
From the birth of this nation until today, Ray explores the complexities of life as a soldier of color in the US.
WRS Classic: Hunger
11 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
From food stamps to gov'ment cheese—what it meant, how it helped, how we felt about it then, and what we think about it now.
WRS Classic: Complexion
21 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
A literal discussion of skin color—the range of visual nuances of appearances that we consider "Black", how those divisions came to be and their man...
WRS Classic: Life After Slavery
02 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In this premiere episode, Ray details the hardships that Blacks experienced after slavery and explores the themes and patterns of struggle that contin...
WRS Classic: Welcome to "What's Ray Saying?"
26 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Want to know what this podcast is all about? Listen to Ray, the host, share a little of his vision and focus for the show as well as a little about hi...