Podcast Overview
Lost Credits is a podcast that emerged from a single question: what happened to all of the Black girls that used to occupy our screens? Each episode invites listeners into two friends’ quest to find answers. Hosts Ashleigh Wade and Timeka Tounsel draw on their expertise as Black feminist media scholars to offer fascinating insights about popular culture and the inner workings of Hollywood. Together they examine Black girls’ representation within late twentieth century and new millennium entertainment media. With equal doses of fan criticism and educational content, Lost Credits is designed for Black culture enthusiasts as well as students and teachers.
The Lost Credits artwork was designed by Kiyah McBride. Season 1 of Lost Credits was edited by Taylor Richmond, a 2025 graduate of the University of Washington’s Journalism and Public Interest Communication program. Season 1 of Lost Credits was completed with support from the Plait/Form Black Feminist Public Works Incubator at Rutgers University RAGE Lab, directed by Dr. Brittney C. Cooper.
The Team
Ashleigh Greene Wade, co-creator
Dr. Ashleigh Greene Wade is an Associate Professor of Media Studies and African American Studies at the University of Virginia. Her research explores Black cultural production with special attention to Black girlhood and popular media. Dr. Wade is the author of Black Girl Autopoetics: Agency in Everyday Digital Practice, which explores how Black girls use digital media as a way to express themselves and represent their own lives.
Timeka N. Tounsel, co-creator
Dr. Timeka N. Tounsel is an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Washington whose research explores Black popular culture. She is especially interested in the stories society constructs about Black women and the narratives that Black women craft about themselves, examining how these representations shape broader conversations about identity, citizenship, and cultural power.Dr. Tounsel is the author of Branding Black Womanhood: Media Citizenship From Black Power to Black Girl Magic, which traces the evolution and commodification of Black women’s media visibility from the Black Power era to contemporary digital movements.
Malea Williams, research assistant
Malea Williams is a second-year student at the University of Virginia from Philadelphia, PA. She plans to major in Public Policy and Leadership with a double minor in African American and African Studies and American Sign Language. Her academic interests include education, health, and criminal justice policy, and she is especially drawn to how policy intersects with nearly every aspect of society. In her free time, Williams enjoys reading stories and watching television shows that center on Black experiences, as well as spending quality time with friends and family.
Lost Credits 