From Mic to Movement: Documenting Stories, Sharing Resources, and Fostering Reciprocal Support Systems
Session Description:
This live podcast conversation will feature a prominent Baltimore-based podcaster, Rob Lee Watkins, whose work since 2019 has amplified the untold stories of Baltimore’s creative community, deepening the broader public’s connection to the arts. In this special recorded episode for The Truth In This Art Creativity, Culture & Stories that Matter (The Truth In This Art), Rob will take the mic and step into the spotlight as the guest, while aspiring podcaster M’Balou Camara leads the conversation. Set to launch her own podcast in summer 2025 – dedicated to capturing the reflections and dreams of artists of the African diaspora – she will explore Rob’s journey, impact, and aspirations as a pivotal archival voice for one of Maryland’s most vibrant cities.
This session will offer participants the opportunity to engage with local podcasters in an intimate setting, embodying the essence of healthy, collective support through mutual exchange and reciprocity. By highlighting Rob’s dedication to mentorship and resource-sharing, this conversation aims not only to inspire but also offer a practical roadmap for those looking to build holistic support systems around documenting and sharing stories through podcasting. This session is designed for aspiring podcasters, storytellers, arts advocates, and artists who seek to preserve and elevate the voices of creative communities through audio storytelling.
Presenter: M'Balou Camara
M’Balou Camara (Founder of Höröya) is an arts consultant, researcher, and a creative facilitator with a passion for exploring and documenting the arts’ contribution to a more equitable, healthy, and liberating society. Currently, she serves as Program Coordinator for the Peaceworker Program at the Shriver Center at UMBC. Throughout her career, M’Balou has led projects with organizations including Benvenuti Arts, the African Development Bank, the African Seed Access Index, the Sadie Collective, and the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) at UMBC. She has also worked as an arts administrator with Elements Urban Arts Collective, a dance studio whose mission is to preserve and elevate the culture of Hip-Hop. M’Balou received an MA in public policy from Duke University and a BA in economics, political science, and global studies from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Outside of her professional life, M’Balou enjoys camping, DJing, storytelling, and reading/writing poetry. In the summer of 2025, she will launch a podcast that will highlight the reflections and dreams of artists from the African diaspora.
Presenter: Rob Lee
Rob Lee is a Baltimore native and Executive Producer and host of ‘The Truth in This Art’ since 2019, where he’s spotlighted over 800 individuals in the arts and culture space. A passionate educator, Rob teaches podcasting essentials and has instructed at the Baltimore School for the Arts (2023-present) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC, 2024-present), sharing his expertise with aspiring podcasters. A veteran podcaster with nearly 20 years of experience in the field, he specializes in podcast production and shares conversations connecting arts, culture, and community.
Date, Time, and Location
Wednesday, June 18th
Breakout Session 5: 1:45 – 2:45 PM
Room: CPA 113