The Stoop · Hana Baba and Leila Day

Take a Breath

August 13, 2025·19 min·1 clip

Leila and Hana announce they're taking a break from The Stoop, admitting it gives them a stomach-churning feeling.

Hosts Leila and Hannah reflect on their nine-year journey producing "The Stoop," a podcast about stories from across the Black diaspora. They announce they are taking a break from the show to rest and recalibrate. The episode explores their personal reasons for this pause and the broader cultural necessity of rest. Leila recalls watching her eight-year-old niece lead a yoga meditation with uninhibited confidence, which made her crave that childlike wonder. She explains the podcast became a space to nurture curiosity and share deeply personal stories, like her past difficulty looking at children because she didn't have any. Hannah notes their initial tagline described conversations they'd stop if someone walked in, highlighting the show's role as a safe space. They reference Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry, who appeared on a past episode and frames rest as a divine human right and a form of legacy work. Hersey argues rest is a "healing portal" and a subversive act that disrupts systems stealing people's ability to simply be. The hosts admit they are tired from nonstop producing, editing, and running the business side of the podcast. They distinguish this fatigue from simple sleepiness, describing it as a need to recalibrate and listen in a new way. Leila confesses her journalistic training sometimes makes her listen for potential stories rather than listening deeply to people in her life. Producer Natalie Pert responded to a request for a "sound of Blackness" by sending a simple, unproduced meditation focusing on breath and relaxation. The hosts initially wondered where the "piece" was but realized her offering of stillness was exactly what they needed. They acknowledge the grind of podcasting made them move faster and become more reactive, causing them to overlook small joys like a niece's invitation to meditate. The episode ends by thanking listeners and encouraging them to explore the show's back catalog of over one hundred episodes. The tone is intimate, reflective, and conversational, blending personal narrative with cultural commentary. The style is meditative at times, incorporating actual guided breathing and moments of silence. Listeners who enjoy thoughtful discussions on Black culture, creativity, and personal sustainability would appreciate this episode. Those seeking a highly produced narrative story or current events analysis might find it too introspective.

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