The Filter is a women-led podcast amplifying unheard voices with honest conversations. Focusing on national issues affecting our communities at the local level, The Filter brings real talk to real issues affecting real people. Each half-hour episode taps into topics affecting different communities in Kansas City, but often go unexplored, including colorism, natural hair, faith, feeling othered and much more.
Hosted by journalists Ieshia Downton and Vicky Diaz-Camacho, and nominated for a Public Media Award in 2020, this Flatland original podcast offers a unique window into areas sometimes hidden from the light. Listen to The Filter wherever you get your podcasts.
Season Two Podcast Episodes
The Filter | A Lesson on Grief and Resilience
Is it possible to break through the mental fog of loss? In this show, we learn how to embrace grief while also finding joy from counselors and scientists.
Trailer: Listen to a Teaser of the Filter’s Season Finale
In this teaser, you’ll get a peek at what episode four is about: belief systems and misinformation.
The Filter | Verify This
Ever wonder how belief systems are shaped? How about misinformation? In episode four of the Filter podcast, our hosts Ieshia and Vicky do just that.
Trailer: The Filter Ep. 4 Teaser on Beliefs and Misinformation
In this teaser, you’ll get a peek at what episode four is about: belief systems and misinformation.
The Filter | Idle Hands
In episode 3, Filter podcast hosts Ieshia Downton and Vicky Diaz-Camacho feature people who’ve done something they find meaningful with the extra time we all found ourselves with during lockdown.
Trailer: The Filter Ep. 3 Teaser on Time and Projects
In episode 2, Filter Podcast hosts Ieshia Downton and Vicky Diaz-Camacho tackle the topics of parenting and education.
The Filter | Home Alone, Parenting Edition
In episode 2, The Filter podcast talks with parents, educators and parent advocates about what this past year taught us about education.
Trailer: The Filter’s Ep. 2 Teaser on Parenting and Education
In episode 2, Filter Podcast hosts Ieshia Downton and Vicky Diaz-Camacho tackle the topics of parenting and education.
The Filter Extra | Hear More From a Therapist Who Helps Domestic Violence Survivors
In this episode extra, you’ll hear from one of our guests, licensed counselor, Breora Page whose focus is helping domestic violence survivors.
The Filter | Therapize This: Therapists Talk Mental Health
In our season 2 debut, The Filter podcast shares lessons learned about mental health.
Listen: Here’s The Filter Podcast, Season 2 Trailer
Flatland’s culture show, The Filter Podcast with Ieshia Downton and Vicky Diaz-Camacho is back for Season 2 on Sept. 29!
Season One Podcast Episodes
The Filter Ep. 6 | ‘Melanin’
Have you ever heard of colorism or featurism? This episode tackles what these forms of discrimination look like. (Vicky Diaz-Camacho | Flatland)
The Filter Ep. 5 | ‘Be Free’
The Filter podcast talks about the evolution of slavery, starting with Juneteenth and book-ending with the Black Lives Matter movements.
Dropping June 24: The Filter Connects the Dots, From Juneteenth to Black Lives Matter
The Filter podcast gives you a brief history lesson on Juneteenth and how race relations unfolded for Black Americans and how it connects to Black Lives Matter movements in KC.
The Filter Ep. 4: ‘Graduation Day’
College as we know it has been upended. But what are the silent struggles of higher education’s minority population? Three folks take it back to middle school, high school and colleges days to paint the picture of life in school as a minority.
The Filter Ep. 3: ‘Dear God’
For many, spirituality is a source of strength in times of crisis. We talked to three Kansas Citians about why it’s important to them.
The Filter Ep. 2: ‘Alone Together’
The Coronavirus is changing life as we knew it. It’s also revealed other symptoms. Racism. Othering. Political confusion.
Introducing a new podcast from Flatland: ‘The Filter’
Flatland is launching a new podcast, “The Filter,” to examine under-reported cultural issues in the Kansas City area.
About The Filter
Iesha Downton
Ieshia Downton (she/her/hers) is the co-host and creator of The Filter podcast and social media coordinator at Kansas City PBS. She is a Kansas City native with Caribbean roots and an interest in cultural storytelling and reporting. Before joining Kansas City PBS, Ieshia contributed to KC Studio magazine and un’ruly magazine as a feature writer. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, with an emphasis in magazine writing.
Vicky Diaz-Camacho
Vicky Diaz-Camacho (she/her/hers) is the co-host and creator of The Filter podcast and the community reporter for Flatland at Kansas City PBS. Raised in El Paso, Texas, a border city in the Southwest, Vicky’s roots as half-Mexican and Puerto Rican inform much of her reporting, which tends to focus on culture, race and health. Before joining Kansas City PBS, she interned at NPR and worked as a Kansas City Business Journal data journalist. She graduated from the University of Kansas School of Journalism focused on news and editing and is a proud University Daily Kansan alumna.