It’s the fall 2021 semester, where new and exciting things are happening. From classes to clubs and broadcasted shows, Quinnipiac University students and colleagues introduce, “Curl Talk.”
The attention-grabbing series made its debut on September 16th, after being in the works for over a year. “Curl Talk” was founded after the series “The Cut,” – a space where men of color discuss important topics, founded by Esau Greene – became popular at the university.
Both students and faculty at Quinnipiac were interested in providing a safe space for women of color to be represented on campus, the way men of color were in “The Cut.”
Being a woman of color, you’re not going to have the same experiences as being a man from the black community, from the Latin community, from the Asian community.
Ambar Pagan, Co-creator of “Curl Talk”
Ambar Pagan, a senior political science major, and Olivia Barrios-Johnson, a sophomore journalism major, played an important role in both creating, contributing to, and releasing the series. As part of the team, it was their goal to provide a space for underrepresented students to be heard, especially women of color who are a part of a PWI (predominantly white institution).
“There are so many differences that come with that, not only about race but about gender as well,” said Pagan.
The goal of the series is to promote discussion amongst students, to create a safe space to not only feel heard but for women of color to relate to, and to learn new things about themselves and others.
The series was filmed equipped with cameras, mics, and lighting that contributed to making the series possible. There are many team members involved in the creating, editing, and publishing of the show. The IMC (Integrated Marketing Communications Office) and the DCGE (Department of Cultural and Global Engagement) helped play a major role in filming and editing, along with Peter Gallay, Director of Film and Video for Quinnipiac Productions. Don Sawyer, the Vice President for Equity, Inclusion, and Leadership Development also had an influential role in the production and inspiration.
The show is available for the public to watch on YouTube, with its first episode hitting 7.1k views. Each episode is about 5 minutes long and contains a variety of different, but important topics. These topics include, but are not limited to, hair discrimination, relationships, self-love, self-care, and relationships with others.
These episodes have already had positive feedback from their audience, and the team plans to keep a public connection with their viewers. They are always looking to improve their episodes through their feedback. Many students have been reaching out to the team members, according to Ambar Pagan, and are looking to be a part of “Curl Talk.”
With a huge umbrella of topics, there is the opportunity for students to join in on their topics of interest within the series if they are interested. Students can do so by reaching out to the team and scheduling a meeting to discuss their interests and desire to be a part of “Curl Talk.” The team is always looking for new and passionate students to join their discussion, as long as they are ready to talk about the delicate and personal topics that the show entails.
Each episode of the series aims to target serious topics that give voice to students who may be struggling, or have struggled in the past.
This is about taking space, this show is about centering the voices of people who have been historically marginalized in a number of spaces, but specifically on college campuses throughout our nation.
Don Sawyer on impact of “Curl Talk”
“This is about taking space, this show is about centering the voices of people who have been historically marginalized in a number of spaces, but specifically on college campuses throughout our nation,” said Sawyer.
Being able to have discussions and to be open and honest was a priority for the team of “Curl Talk.” On Pagans end, she was inspired by daytime shows such as “The Real” and “Red Table Talk.” She admired the ability for people to just have a seat at the table and wanted to bring something of the sorts to Quinnipiac University, which she succeeded in doing with this series.
Beyond the basics of the show, “Curl Talk” is filmed on Quinnipiac University’s York Hill campus and is joined by a professional set of equipment that keeps the show intriguing to the viewer’s eye.
“We recorded each panel in the Rocky Top Student Center, with a full production team, equipped with cameras, mic, and lighting, the set of Curl Talk was able to come alive,” said Barrios-Johnson.
The set of the show features a backdrop and a panel of hosts and guests. With every set of new guests, the discussion is shifted to match the energy and topic passionate to the guest.
In its most recent video, the show centers on racism in relationships and is a riveting watch.
As for the future of “Curl Talk” Pagan has high hopes that it will stay running after she graduates this year. “Seeing the energy and dedication that Olivia has put into this, I think her heart is for this and she will continue it. She is a journalism major so it aligns with her career passions as well,” said Pagan.
Barrios-Johnson shared the same sentiments, “I still have two more years at Quinnipiac, so I plan to continue this for years to come. However, in the future, I would love to pass the Curl Talk torch to another student and I would love to see it become something long-standing at QU.”
As the discussions plan to also remain alive, there is more new and creative content in the works for the series. The team hopes to shoot a version of “The Crossover” which may feature both “Curl Talk” and “The Cut.” Along with this, the idea of a live audience has been in the talks, and though COVID-19 halted these plans in the past, the team remains hopeful that this idea will become a reality soon enough.
Available for viewing on Quinnipiac University’s YouTube channel, which has just under 5,000 subscribers, “Curl Talk” hopes to continue to grow over time and make its mark here on campus more so than ever.
Candid and open conversations bring people, communities, and general discussions closer together. “Curl Talk” has and continues to achieve these goals all on its path embrace our differences and love them.
Give “Curl Talk” a watch, and learn something new.