Radiotopia from PRX is set to debut Red for Revolution, a six-part narrative podcast series created, written, and directed by filmmaker Jana Naomi Smith. The award-winning drama, which explores intergenerational Black womanhood, queer love, and the fight for liberation, will premiere February 4 through the Radiotopia Presents podcast feed.
The series boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Loretta Devine, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jordan Hull, Rutina Wesley, Renée Wilson, S. Epatha Merkerson, Danny Glover, Renée Wilson, Alimi Ballard, Jennifer Beals, Vanessa Estelle Williams, adrienne maree brown, Don Daniels, and Caro Guzmán.
The heart of Red for Revolution centers on the passionate love story between jazz singer Lorraine Giovanni and activist Ella Ali. Framed through the perspective of Jazmine, an 18-year-old navigating her queer identity, first love, and a strained relationship with her homophobic mother, the narrative weaves between past and present. Seeking solace and wisdom from her grandmother, Jazmine’s journey transports listeners back to 1971, where Lorraine and Ella—two women from vastly different worlds, divided by political beliefs and geography—forge a romance that defies societal norms and expectations.
The cast includes Jordan Hull (The L Word: Generation Q) as Jazmine, Renée Wilson (Ray) as young Lorraine Giovanni, Rutina Wesley (Queen Sugar) as young Ella Ali, Loretta Devine (Family Reunion) as present-day Lorraine Giovanni, and S. Epatha Merkerson (Chicago Med) as present-day Ella Ali.
Smith first wrote Red for Revolution in 2017, but the project remained shelved for years before she adapted it for audio. “A large, beautiful chorus of people came together to bring this show to life,” Smith shared. “It was truly a labor of love, and we hope listeners feel that love poured into every episode.”
Renée Wilson, who serves as an executive producer alongside Smith and Meta Mana Media, echoed the sentiment: “This story is about belief in ourselves, collaborative partnership, and never giving up. It’s about Black women working together to create something meaningful about love and liberation.”
Before its official release, Red for Revolution won the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival’s Independent Audio Fiction Award. The production team includes Liz McBee as producer, Collin Gerald Thomas leading sound design, and Grammy-winning composer Tammy L. Hall as musical director.
Audrey Mardavich, Executive Producer at Radiotopia from PRX, praised the series as a “gorgeous portrayal of queer love, resilience, and the pursuit of liberation across generations,” adding that the network is proud to introduce it to listeners.
New episodes of Red for Revolution will be released weekly, available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Overcast, and Pocket Casts.