#GYALCAST Presents: The #GYALCAST Academy

FADED4U July 11, 2016

There’s no question that creatively, Toronto is having a moment, a renaissance if you will - and quietly leading the movement are the collective networks of women with vision; creators of innovative cross-platform content. #GYALCAST, an all-black female creative collective and host to renowned self-titled podcast will be introducing their first cycle of The #GYALCAST Academy.

The six-part workshop series will focus on providing young, black and creative entrepreneurial women in attendance, the skills and knowledge needed to navigate successfully towards their seemingly impossible goals. The programs’ alumni will be given access to mentorship opportunities with relevant industry professionals as well as gain ongoing fellow support from black female peers after the cycle is finished. The objective of The #GYALCAST Academy is to increase the personal, professional and emotional development of local black female emerging creatives.

Currently on their fourth season, #GYALCAST is a space where music, sex, and black girl magic meet. Powered by The Known Unknown's subsidiary brand BAREGYAL, #GYALCAST is a weekly podcast that was founded by former MTV Canada personality Tika Simone and writer Sajae Elder. The show consists of a handful of black women from Toronto who are not afraid to voice their opinions and concerns about pop-culture, feminism, racism or politics. Featured as one of the The FADER’s DIY Collectives You Should Know.

#GYALCAST consistently proves itself as being a force to be reckoned with "We started #GYALCAST because we saw a huge, undeniable gap in the way black women were being represented in Canadian media—even in urban and hip-hop media." Despite being an all-female cast, the show makes it a point to have prominent male guests on episodes such as Reggie Ossé AKA Combat Jack, Ty Harper of OTA Live, and Sean Leon.

#GYALCAST plans to grow bigger and louder, so that Canadian minorities know that being heard isn’t an option… it is a right!