From musicians to doctors, activists and students, Ermias Hagos welcomes a variety of guests onto his weekly podcast. Each offers nuanced stories from their own lives: challenges and triumphs, isolation and inspiration, and everything in between.
Interviewees also share a crucial commonality. They represent part of the 1.3% of Whatcom County residents, or 4% of Washington state residents, who are Black. Hagos’ podcast, “The Black Experience,” is dedicated to amplifying their voices.
Hagos, 23, began the podcast out of a desire to help other Black students feel supported and seen. Born in Eritrea and raised in Seattle, he obtained an engineering degree at Western Washington University, whose student population is just 3.4% Black as of 2022.
“There’s all these Black mentors of mine that helped me in my first two quarters,” said Hagos, who is also the former president of Western’s Black Student Union. “What if I could put … all these incredible stories on a central platform where people could go to hear people’s journeys, stories, the good and bad, and how they found success here in Whatcom County?”
Hagos’ original plan was a five-part podcast focused on Western students and alumni, but the project grew into something much bigger. Hagos has now completed 75 episodes; 10 were published with KMRE, and all are available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. New episodes are released each Wednesday.
Hagos and his guests cover topics spanning from careers to creativity, mental health, religion and family. Previous guests include community leaders like Donnell Tanksley (Whatcom County’s first Black sheriff) and Skip Williams (Bellingham’s first Black city council member).
But Hagos said he’s not just seeking out well-known names when selecting guests. Rather, he’s open to any Black individual “willing to share their story, their impact and their experience here,” and prioritizes “people that care to give advice to the next generation.”
Among this year’s interviews, Hagos was especially moved by Ken Miller’s story. Miller overcame decades of addiction, trauma and homelessness before founding his successful consulting business.
“I was blown away because of how open he was with his past. I’ve never met someone more open with the ups and downs of his life like him,” Hagos said.
Other standout interviews include Bill Newmon, the first Black set designer in Hollywood according to the Art Directors Guild (ADG). Newmon was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from ADG and is the most famous guest Hagos has talked to so far.
In a recent episode, Hagos even shared his own experience navigating young adulthood and mental health, as well as finding solace in faith and community.
“It felt a little bit emotional at times, considering my story of coming from Africa and coming here and all that,” he recalled. But he also found the experience rewarding: “There’s a sense in me that felt like I want to help people — with mental health issues, with anything, just inspire people to get out of that rut that whatever they’re in.”
Though Hagos’ current listener demographic is mostly fellow Gen Z and millennials, he hopes this base will broaden over time. He also underlined that the podcast, while specific to Black lived experience, isn’t just for Black audiences.
Certain topics discussed — including family relationships and mental health — have universal elements. Ultimately Hagos hopes these stories can serve as “touch points” for listeners with different lived experiences, creating a sense of empathy and togetherness.
“We’re all human at the end of the day,” Hagos said. “That’s what I’ve gotten from all my guests … We’re all just trying to get by, in any way we can.”
To close each interview, Hagos poses a question: What advice would you give to the next generation? Each guest gives a different answer, but after 75 episodes, he’s picked up on a trend.
“A central theme that I realize, and advice that people give, is: Be yourself,” Hagos said. “Be your authentic self,” he said. “Know who you are, understand who you are, find out who you are — and help others do the same.”
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
