Episode Details

It's time to explore creativity on 'The Truth in This Art' podcast, where Rob Lee takes the lead on this meaningful conversation with Isis Asare. A visionary serial cultural entrepreneur with a track record of transformative ventures. Her groundbreaking initiatives include Sistah Sinema, which she conceived in her living room and swiftly expanded across 20 cities in the US and abroad, all while making strides at major corporations like Microsoft, Shutterfly, and Brightroll. With a successful exit strategy in 2015, she left Sistah Sinema in the capable hands of community investors. Leveraging over a decade of finance and business development expertise at Fortune 500 giants like Amazon, Sears, T-Mobile, and Microsoft, Asare brings a formidable background to her latest endeavor, Sista Sci-Fi, the pioneering black-owned bookstore focusing on science fiction and fantasy. A distinguished scholar with a joint MBA/MPP from Columbia Business School and Harvard University, as well as a BA from Stanford University, Isis Asare is a leading advocate of Afrofuturism and is committed to amplifying diverse voices in literature and pop culture. Based in Oakland, CA, she proudly identifies as a queer, Ghanaian-American sapiophile, reflecting her multifaceted identity.

About Sistah Scifi:

Started on February 2, 2019, Sistah Scifi is a strong niche sci-fi brand with over 11K engaged Instagram followers located throughout the US and Canada, 8K Facebook followers, and an email list of over 3K. Sistah Scifi has been featured in The New York Times, Oprah  Magazine, BookRiot, Buzzfeed,  VentureBeat, and Facebook's Boost My Business. Sistah Scifi's number one product is the Sistah Scifi Author list shirt, and major clients include the Museum of Popular Culture (Seattle), Oakland Museum of California, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Sistah Scifi has hosted author interviews with John Jennings, NK Jemisin, LL McKinney, Jewelle Gomez, and Nisi Shawl to name a few. Sistah Scifi has developed strong collaborations with major international publishers such as Hachette/Orbit, Akashic, Abrams, Macmillan/Tor.com, and Simon and Schuster. 

Inside this recording, we venture into:

• The captivating realm of Afrofuturism as Isis Asare intricately unravels how this genre ingeniously merges African diasporan culture with futuristic technology, casting a spotlight on empowered black characters in an alternate tomorrow.
• Explore the profound significance of representation and empowerment within the multifaceted tapestry of Afrofuturist creations, delving into how these crucial elements resonate throughout the genre's rich narratives.
• Embark on a fascinating exploration of the dynamic role of black women as both avid enthusiasts and prolific creators within the captivating worlds of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, unraveling their unique contributions and perspectives.
• Immerse yourself in the inspiring initiatives of Sista Sci-Fi as Isis Asare unfolds how this trailblazing platform passionately uplifts the voices of black women in the genre through a mosaic of events, collaborations, and transformative partnerships.
• Join the conversation on a visionary endeavor led by Isis Asare, where the mission to cultivate opportunities and enhance visibility for self-p