South Carolina ETV and Public Radio (SCETV) announces the premiere of The AUXdacity, a new video podcast exploring the intersections of music, culture, fashion and politics, which debuts on Feb. 26 across SCETV’s platforms.
The AUXdacity is a 30-minute multi-platform series designed to amplify local voices and spark thoughtful conversation through performances, interviews and cultural analysis. Blending street-level perspectives with in-studio discussion, the program examines how music reflects lived experiences, shapes movements and fuels identity. From lyric breakdowns to cultural commentary, each episode invites audiences to listen deeper while celebrating creativity and community.
Produced as a video podcast, The AUXdacity will be available in full video format across SCETV’s online and streaming platforms. Audio-only versions of each episode will be available on SC Public Radio’s online platforms as well as on popular podcast apps. The series is also expected to air on broadcast television this spring, with potential future broadcast on SC Public Radio.
The season opens with “Political Beats,” examining how music and political expression influence one another. The premiere episode features South Carolina State Representative Hamilton Grant and healthcare executive and leadership strategist Anton Gunn, a former senior advisor to President Barack Obama. Through conversation and analysis, the episode explores how protest songs, public messaging and cultural movements intersect with policy, civic engagement and public discourse.
The AUXdacity is co-hosted by Courtney Thomas and Kennedy Alexander with contributions from correspondents Claudia Banks and TréDay. Music direction and commentary is provided by DJ Shejay T.O. Thomas, an advocate and storyteller whose work centers around the Black South, and Alexander, a comedian and longtime host and educator, guide discussions that balance insight with accessibility.
Future episodes explore songwriting craft, the evolution of sound, and the relationship between image and performance. Additional conversations examine global influences and emerging technologies, looking at how artificial intelligence and innovation may redefine creativity and artistry.
Season one features notable guests including poet Nikky Finney, ethnomusicologist Dr. Birgitta J. Johnson, and cultural storyteller Natalie Daise.
The AUXdacity is produced by SCETV with production funding provided by the ETV Endowment of South Carolina. Additional support for the season premiere episode “Political Beats” was provided by the Koger Jazz Heritage Festival.
Ahead of the premiere, SCETV introduced audiences to the hosts and creative team during a promotional preview event in Dec. 2025, offering an early look at the series’ conversational style and cultural focus before its public debut.
New episodes will be released throughout the season across SCETV’s digital and broadcast platforms. Full video episodes will be available on the SCETV website, SCETV YouTube channel, SCETV Facebook page, the SCETV app and the PBS app. Audio-only versions are accessible on the SC Public Radio website, the SCETV app and through major podcast platforms.
QUOTES
“The AUXdacity represents a fresh way to engage audiences in conversations that connect culture and community. By meeting viewers online, on air and in dialogue, the series reflects public media’s role in encouraging understanding and shared experiences.” –SCETV President and CEO Adrienne Fairwell
“The project grew from a desire to bring authentic voices and contemporary storytelling into public media spaces. Music provides a natural entry point into deeper discussions about identity, education and civic life.” –SCETV Assistant General Manager/Deputy Director Dr. Stephanie Cook
“The AUXdacity invites curiosity. We want audiences to recognize their own stories in these conversations and feel empowered to join them.” –The AUXdacity Producer Raven Favor
“Our goal visually and creatively was to make conversation feel alive. The show moves with the rhythm of culture: energetic, thoughtful and unapologetically human.” –The AUXdacity Director Shae Winston
“The AUXdacity creates space for stories that don’t always get a microphone. We’re celebrating the creativity, language and lived experiences that shape culture in the South and beyond, and inviting audiences to think about music as both expression and documentation.” –The AUXdacity Co-Host Courtney Thomas
FAST FACTS
- SCETV announces the premiere of The AUXdacity, a new video podcast exploring the intersections of music, culture, fashion and politics, which debuts on Feb. 26 across SCETV’s platforms.
- The AUXdacity is a 30-minute multi-platform series designed to amplify local voices and spark thoughtful conversation through performances, interviews and cultural analysis.
- The AUXdacity is co-hosted by Courtney Thomas and Kennedy Alexander with contributions from correspondents Claudia Banks and TréDay. Music direction and commentary is provided by DJ Shejay T.O.
- Full video episodes will be available on the SCETV website, SCETV YouTube channel, SCETV Facebook page, the SCETV app and the PBS app.
- Audio-only versions are accessible on the SC Public Radio website, the SCETV app and through major podcast platforms.
About South Carolina ETV and Public Radio
South Carolina ETV and Public Radio (SCETV) is the state's public educational broadcasting network. SCETV amplifies South Carolina voices, provides educational experiences and strengthens communities, while working toward creating a stronger, more connected and informed South Carolina. In addition to airing local programs, such as The Know Show, Making It Grow, and This Week in South Carolina, SCETV also presents multiple programs to regional and national audiences, including Books By The River, After Action, Reconnecting Roots, Reel South, Downing of a Flag and Southern Songwriters with Patrick Davis.
Media Contact
Landon Masters
media@scetv.org
(803) 737-3337
