The Secret Life of TK Dutes is the story of what it means to become when the system won’t let you be.

HOST +
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

TK Dutes is an award winning multidisciplinary creative, audio storyteller, and host who believes in healing through creativity. After leaving healthcare to follow a lifelong passion for sound, she’s produced and hosted projects including Open World, Good Words with Kirk Franklin, Beyond Voting and more. Her most personal work to date, The Secret Life of TK Dutes is an example of a lifelong commitment to authenticity, curiosity, and community. Inviting listeners into intimate stories of transformation, play, and the art of becoming.

PRODUCER

Kristen Bennett is an LA based podcast producer, writer, multi-disciplinary artist, and the former co-host of the indie podcast, Your Fave is Problematic. Her work examines history, pop-culture, and politics through the critical lenses of race, gender, sexuality, class and religion. Her work can be heard on the Audible series The Godfather: A Film We Can’t Refuse, the Arcus Center’s Beyond Voting, and NPR’s Bullseye.

PRODUCER

Tré Jones is a young audio producer and writer who has been working in the podcasting world since 2019. He enjoys being a part of the creative process and has been on the production teams for projects such as the 2-time Webby-winning podcast, The Godfather: A Film We Can't Refuse, as well as HBO's Between The World And Me Podcast, which received a Signal Awards bronze medal in 2022.

PRODUCER

Mike Brown is a storyteller, producer, and host dedicated to creating spaces for honest conversations. Through his podcast The Art of Letting Go, he explores identity, mental health, and connection within the Black queer experience. His work centers on vulnerability, creativity, and the power of being seen.

PRODUCER

Amanda B. Nazareno is a musician, trauma-informed educator, audio producer and creator of award-winning indie cat-themed culture, history and science podcast 6 Degrees of Cats. She currently consults on education and community production, produces podcasts and volunteers for OkaySo, an LGBTQ+-affirming mental health non-profit for youth. Follow catsuitmuse on IG and TikTok.

PRODUCER

Mark Pagán is an award-winning journalist, producer, and digital storyteller, and the creator of the acclaimed platform Other Men (formerly Other Men Need Help). His work has appeared on Latino USA, Radiotopia, 99% Invisible, and Code Switch, and has been recognized by The Atlantic, The New York Times, TIME, and the New Yorker. A former teacher, social worker, and comedian, Mark now lives in New York City with his wife and an emo pit bull named Soca.

PRODUCER

Aseloka Smith is an audio nerd, an elephant enthusiast and a lover of good storytelling. She is the host and creator of The Colored Girl Beautiful which explores our many expressions of black womanhood. Aseloka looks to find the beauty of our shared humanity in her work by exploring self-reflection and authenticity through narrative audio.

PRODUCER

Siona Peterous is a storyteller and professional yapper with a decade of experience as a journalist who gets excited about bringing narratives to life through podcasts, events, and visual media. Her creative production company, OwnYourStories, was founded with a deep-rooted belief that people's lived experiences are a source of expertise and has since developed shows with outlets including Audible, Dear Media and Religion of Sports, as well as previously producing for Vox’s Today, Explained and WNYC’s Notes from America.

LEAD ENGINEER + PRODUCTION SUPPORT

Manny Faces is an award-winning journalist and podcast professional, author, and TEDx speaker. His boutique audio production company, Manny Faces Media, has won multiple industry awards for podcasts across several genres, including journalism, politics, society & culture, and music. He is also a DJ, can ride a motorcycle, wrote a book endorsed by Dr. Cornel West, and if none of that is impressive enough, he’s also a living kidney donor, so there’s that.

THEME MUSIC +
AUDIO SUPPORT

Pat Mesiti-Miller is an Artist and Audio Producer based in Oakland, CA. Known for his inventive storytelling and immersive sound design, Pat's music often pushes boundaries of genre and form. In addition to his own releases, he composes music for film and podcasts having worked with Proximity Media, Snap Judgment, Ear Hustle and more.

MARKETING

Faybeo’n Mickens (FM Digital LLC) is an award-winning marketing director, data analyst and creative strategist.  She specializes in music podcasts, events marketing and social impact collaborations. She's a proud member of the Recording Academy,  The Black Podcasters Association, GLAAD's BQCS and is co-founder of Banjee Boombox.

VISUAL STORYTELLER

Gabrielle Smith is a British-born cultural producer and visual storyteller of Grenadian heritage. Her work spans news media, technology, and cultural spaces, with a focus on identity, youth culture, and creativity. She is best known as the founder of the:nublk – a digital arts and culture platform and archive celebrating Black creatives through art, conversation, and film.

PRODUCTION & ART SUPPORT

C. (pronounced cee) is a multi-disciplinary New York artist with a focus in abstraction. Pushing internal boundaries visually through paint, paper and recycled materials. While not limited to those mediums he avoids a static approach or particular style in order to access and deliver truly open and spontaneous work.