Baratunde Thurston is an Emmy-nominated host, author, and cultural activist. He’s the Executive Producer and Host of “How to Citizen with Baratunde,” which Apple named one of its favorite podcasts of 2020. He is also the host of the PBS show ""American Outdoors,"" where he explores the diverse array of regions across the U.S. and how the landscapes shape the way Americans work, play and interact with the outdoors. Thurston’s ability to hold space for hard and nuanced conversations juxtaposed with his sense of humor, inquisitive nature, and his ability to synthesize themes of race, culture, politics, and technology earned him a Social Impact Award from iHeartRadio. His TED talk, which sits at over 5 million views and counting, received compliments from MSNBC’s Brian Williams who called his talk “one of the greatest of all time.” Thurston has worked for The Onion, produced for “The Daily Show,” advised the Obama White House, and wrote The New York Times bestseller “How to Be Black.” He serves on the boards of BUILD and the Brooklyn Public Library, and lives in Los Angeles. As a child, he was a Boy Scout and still remembers how to build a fire without matches.
