Critical Minded

Welcome to the Critical Minded Podcast

Welcome to the Critical Minded podcast! 
This inaugural season of the Critical Minded podcast looks at the organization’s new report, "Topdogs and Underdogs: Critics of Color and the Theatrical Landscape,” which explores the challenges facing theater critics of color. Hosted by Steven Vargas, an LA-based theater and dance critic.

The State of Criticism for Writers of Color

Arts & culture criticism in the U.S. has never seemed as endangered as it does now. This is especially true for critics of color. Join host Steven Vargas, Washington Post theater critic Naveen Kumar and BIPOC Critics Lab founder Jose Solís as they explore the challenges facing theater critics of color in today's climate & unpack Critical Minded's new report, "Topdogs and Underdogs: Critics of Color and the Theatrical Landscape."

A Day in the Life of a Critic

Culture criticism may sound glamorous, but being a critic takes resilience, a lot of writing and (in most cases) a day job.
Host Steven Vargas speaks with freelancer Brittani Samuel, educator Cristina Pla-Guzman, Playbill Editor-in-Chief Diep Tran, and Washington Post critic Naveen Kumar for this episode of the Critical Minded podcast. Together, they’ll share an authentic look into a typical workday for a critic of color today, and discuss the common challenges they face.

What Does It Take to Be a New Critic Today?

Entering a career as a critic today takes more than a good resume. The next generation of writers faces the aftermath of a global pandemic, a volatile job market and low pay rates.
With personal accounts of navigating publications and industry constraints, host Steven Vargas unpacks the current criticism landscape for new writers of color with Washington D.C. critic Nathan Pugh, New York critic Brittani Samuel, and Miami critic and educator Cristina Pla-Guzman.