A Soulful Storm
A Soulful Storm is hosted by Tasha Sampa, sometimes with guests, and explores pop culture, life in the UK, and K-pop from a Black perspective. The show mixes personal storytelling and cultural commentary on fandom, identity, and everyday survival. Listeners can connect through @SampaTasha on Instagram and Twitter or @asoulfulstorm on other social platforms.
Episodes
The Kpopification of the Heated Rivalry Fandom
Hosts Tasha Sampa and Brie return from a six‑month break to chat about the surprising cultural surge around "Heated Rivalry". They trace Connor Storrie and Hudson William’s rapid rise A-list status and examines how K‑pop fan habits have influenced Western fandom behaviour.
BLACKPINK 'DEADLINE' Album: Was it worth the wait?
Host Tasha is joined by journalist Jeff Benjamin and Ashley from A3 Day Podcast in part two of their conversation about Blackpink’s latest EP, "Deadline" (released Feb 27).
They share candid reactions to the five‑song project, the shift toward English‑language tracks, production choices (including controversial Dr Luke credits), how the solo releases compare, and what this release means for fans a
KATSEYE Controversy: Is Manon's hiatus based on racial discrimination
Host Tasha Sampa is joined by journalist Jeff Benjamin and K-pop commentator and historian, Ashley, to unpack this week's K-pop fallout: Manon of KATSEYE announcing a hiatus, contradictory messages, and the intense reaction from fans and prominent Black artists. They explore how HYBE has handled the optics, differences between Western and K-pop media responses, and the broader issues of race, repr
Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl: A Cultural Mic Drop
Host Tasha and unofficial co-host Brie unpack Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show, celebrating its cultural references, guest moments, and impact on Latinx visibility.
They also explore the ongoing conversation about representation for Asian artists and whether a K-pop idol will ever headline the Super Bowl?
Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova talks "Heated Rivalry", identity and K-dramas
Host Tasha sits down with actor Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova to discuss her journey from circus training in Russia to acting, playing Svetlana on "Heated Rivalry", and what bilingual, biracial representation means on screen.
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Black Girl Roundtable: K‑Pop In 2025 Review — Hits, Misses & Hot Takes
Host Tasha Sampa reunites the Black Girl Roundtable with guests Brie, Sydney (SydTheKid), and Ashley of a3day podcast for an end‑of‑year K‑pop special. They name their best, worst and most unexpected things that happened in K-pop in 2025
Heated Rivalry season 1 finale review feat. Versha Sharma
Tasha with guests Brie and former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, Versha Sharma, reviews the season 1 finale of the hit show, Heated Rivalry.
The Girls Don’t Want to Perform Any More (with journalist Jeff Benjamin)
Back with another episode of A Soulful Storm and I'm so excited to have the wonderful Jeff Benjamin joining me on the show! We discuss LISA's new album, BLACKPINK'S solo music, why everyone wants to drop like Beyoncé and how unforgiving fandoms can be...
New York & Milan Fashion Week
Topics of the week - Lollapalooza Berlin from Karen's POV, SEVENTEEN with DJ Khalid and the best/worst K-pop looks from New York & Milan Fashion Week
SEVENTEEN headline Lollapalooza Berlin
Topics of the week - SEVENTEEN & Burna Boy at Lollapalooza Berlin. Brie asks Tasha in her exclusive interview with Tommy Hilfiger, Stray Kids and the impact of K-pop idols in luxury fashion
SEVENTEEN’S historic Glastonbury performance
SEVENTEEN became the first K-pop group to perform at Glastonbury and Tasha (journalist), Karen (YouTuber AfroMinx), and Brie reviewed the show.
Cowboy Carter and SEVENTEEN Follow Tour encore
Topics of the week - review of Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album and SEVENTEEN's Follow Tour Encore concerts
The Oscars & K-pop idols at fashion week
Topics of the week - The Oscars, Beyoncé's country album, the best & worst dressed K-pop idols at fashion week and S.coups not enlisting in the military
Interview with cast & crew of BBC show ’Gangnam Project’
Special interview with showrunners Sarah Haasz, Romeo Candido & actor Julia Kim Caldwell of BBC's upcoming K-pop dramedy "Gangnam Project". Streaming CBBC and BBC iplayer from 26th February 2024.
Megan vs Nicki and the DPR Drama
Topics of the week: Megan Thee Stallion vs Nicki Minaj, why the DPR Gang are in turmoil, Stray Kids to headline BST Hyde Park
Oscars’ snub Barbie & Hyuna’s bad decisions
Black Girl Roundtable of K-pop 2024 - Hyuna dating a man affiliated with the Burning Sun Scandal, Oscars snub Barbie, and do we need rap in K-pop?
FKA Twigs’ banned Calvin Klein ad and Nana Tour with SEVENTEEN
Topics of the week: Katt Williams interview, FKA Twigs banned Calvin Klein interview, BTS docu-series on Disney+ and Nana Tour With SEVENTEEN
Black Girl Roundtable of K-pop: Things we are leaving in 2023
Grammys writer Ashlee Mitchell, Metro journalist Sarah Deen, K-pop YouTuber Karen (AfroMinx) and Sydney, unofficial co-host Brie and Reuters freelance producer Tasha discuss things in K-pop we want to leave behind in 2023
The Black Girl Roundtable of K-pop
Grammys writer Ashlee Mitchell & Metro writer Sarah Deen, K-pop YouTube reactors Karen (AfroMinx) & Sydney, Brie and Tasha have a Black girl gathering to discuss our best K-pop moments of 2023
Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé review
Topics of the week: Tasha and Brie talk about SEVENTEEN winning their first MAMA Daesang and review Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé
SEVENTEEN Comeback Special: ”SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN”
Special epsiode: Brie and Tasha discuss SEVENTEEN's highly anticipated new album SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN
Top Five K-pop performances of all time
Mini episode: Dame Diddy, Ambitious Ace, and Bang Bang Boomerang of the YouTube channel TRC Reactions drop by to give their top 5 K-pop performances
SHINee: Can we leave colourism in 2023
Topics of the week: 15-year-old murder in Croydon, Taemin & Key's colourist comments (this was recorded before they apologised), SEVENTEEN & Hongjoong from ATEEZ at fashion week
Case of the ex: Sophie Turner & Taylor Swift vs Joe Jonas
Topics of the week: My recap of Vogue World (London Fashion Week) is K-pop finally part of mainstream media, our top 10 K-pop songs, and the revenge of Sophie Turner
Women’s World Cup final: we saw you kiss her in 4K
Topics of the week: YouTube reactor Karen (AfroMinx), Brie and I talk the Women's World Cup Final and the non-consensual kiss, Omega X, and why ITZY deserves better
Usher is a villain: shout out to Keke Palmer
Topics of the week: The guys from the TRC Reaction channel joins me to discuss Keke Palmer in Usher's MV, Fifty Fifty's legal updates and if we really need two K-pop comebacks per year
BTS are not your political pawns, and leave Joshua from SEVENTEEN alone!
Topics of the week - K-pop reactor Karen (AfroMinx), Brie and Tasha talk about the disaster of the World Scout Jamboree, Joshua of SEVENTEEN'S dating protests and which K-pop stars would be at Beyoncé's Renaissance concert
KISS OF LIFE talk about their single ”Shhh”, debut album & songwriting for Le Sserafim
Special episode: K-pop girl group KISS OF LIFE talk about their debut, being a trainee, and answer some fun questions
Men Are Mad - For Right & Wrong Reasons: Ariana Grande & Halle Bailey’s boyfriend & SEVENTEEN’s concert
Topics of the week - Ariana Grande's divorce, Halle Bailey's boyfriend's insecure album rants and SEVENTEEN's Follow to Seoul concert review
Keke Palmer’s Baby Daddy Drama
Topics of the week - British GQ Journalist Lucy Ford, regular guest Brie and I talk about Keke Palmer's boyfriend shut shamming her oN Twitter, EXO's new album, parents' filing a police complaint against Hwasa, and all things Barbie
BLACKPINK in your area: BST Hyde Park
Topics of the week - NME journalist Rhian and TashaSampa talk about BLACKPINK headlining BST Hyde Park, HBO's The Idol and Fifty Fifty's contract problems
Descent into Caratland: How I became a Seventeen fan
Mini episode - finds out how Brie made sure I became a Seventeen fan
Ashlee Mitchell talks on interviewing BTS, Rosè from Blackpink & Oceangate
Topics of the week - TashaSampa & content creator Ashlee Mitchell talk about interviewing K-pop idols (BTS, BLACKPINK, ENHYPEN, etc), Oceangate, Jonathan Majors & Meagan Good, and Pharrell Williams's Louis Vuitton show
BTS’ 10th Anniversary and EXO’s Chaotic Comeback
Topics of the week: BTS' 10 year anniversary, CBX of EXO suing SM and Jeonghan (Seventeen) & Ten (NCT WayV) attend fashion week
KAMP L.A: The K-pop Fyre Fest
Topics of the week: KAMP L.A. being the K-pop Fyre Fest & BTS enlisting to the military
BTS Chapter 2: Sun’s Out, Chest & Thighs Out
Special mini episode: TashaSampa & Brie recap our top 5 BTS moments
BTS: ”We Are On a Break!”
Topics of the week: BTS said they were going on a break and the world went mad.
Love & Leashes and The Tinder Swindler
Season 2, episode 1: Topics of the week: A review of the BDSM film Love & Leashes - A review of the Netflix docu-film The Tinder Swindler
Ep 35| The Bonnet of Salvation feat The Report Card Podcast
Topics of the week: Introductions to K-pop - underrated artists - Derrick Jaxn & the bonnet of salvation
Ep 34| The Grammys Used BTS & Beyoncè
Topics of the week with celebrity interviewer Lucy Ford: The Grammys Used BTS - WAP still makes you men mad - Beyoncè is the Greatest of all time but her Grammys don't reflect it
Ep 32| The K-pop Thanos Snap
Topics of the week: Half of a K-pop being removed from Spotify - BTS face racism from German Radio host - Asian Hate Crimes - SHINee's Back
Ep 31| Bridgerton: The Best Part of Christmas
Topics of the week - Soul - Jingle Jangle - Bridgerton - GOT7 leaving JYPE - The Best & Worst K-pop songs of 2020
Ep 30| Tiffany Haddish vs The Grammys & Ivy Pak Allows Black-fishing
Topics of the week: Ivy Park allowing Black fishing - Tiffany Haddish vs The Grammys - Snoop Dogg vs WAP
Ep 29| Fenty Beauty and Black representation on T.V.
Topics of the week: Since its Black History Month we brought back the Black Girl Round Table
Ep 27| Breonna Taylor and Megan Thee stallion. Everyone fails Black Women
Topics of the week: Breonna Taylor convictions- Megan Thee Stallion and disrespectful Tory Lanez - Why does everyone fail Black women?
Ep 26| Chadwick Boseman’s Impact & BTS Explode Like Dynamite
Topics of the week: Chadwick Boseman passes away - BTS go number 1 and perform at the VMAs.
Ep 25| BTS Is Coming Back In English feat Ikran Dahir
Topics of the week: BTS's English Single - K-pop VMA nominations - BTS unpopular opinions - BTS Lightning Round Quiz
Ep 24.5| The Avengers of Kpop: Girl Group Edition
To celebrate the comebacks of so many female K-pop idols, Tasha & Helen (from UKPOP PODCAST) decided to play a game and create our own girl group.
Ep 24| Ateez Culturally Appropriate & The Battle of the Thirst Traps
Topics of the week is: The men of South Korea are thirst trapping - Hoonjong from Ateez wears blue cornrows- Seulgi & Irene single review
Ep 17| Colourism here, there and everywhere
Special guests Helen from UKPop Podcast, Nezzy from Tales From The Plantation Podcast & TashaSampa discuss Nella Rose being canceled, how colourism affects the musicians we like (Solar from Mamamoo) and how colourism has affected our lives.
Ep 23| Hospital racism and the return of BlackPink & President Hwasa
Topics of the week: Institution Racism Tasha experienced in hospital- BTS's Stay Gold - Blackpink's new song & video - Hwasa's new album & song
Ep 22| Kpop fans sabotage Trump’s Rally feat The Jess Lyfe
YouTube sensation The Jess Lyfe & TashaSampa discuss the struggles of being a Black Kpop fans - Kpop fans sabotaging Trump's Rally - The Agust D scandal - KCON
Ep 21| Black Lives Matter: We Asked For A Spark And Got A Bomb
Topics of the week- George Floyd- Amy Cooper - Black Lives Matter - Should K-pop stars show support for Black Lives Matter
Ep 20| Magnificent Seven Music Review
Topics of the week - TashaSampa and guests Asela & Stefan discuss new music releases - The members Of BTS, NCT 127, Seventeen & Astro caught in the Itaewon Scandal
Ep 19| The Celebration of Agust D 2
A surprise episode where TashaSampa and Stefan from Self Over Sickle podcast discuss Suga from BTS (aka Agust D), dropping his new mixtape, D-2, after a four year wait.
Ep 18| Boris’s whatless announcement & Quarantine TV shows
Topics of the week: Vera from Hear The Noise Pod is back with Tasha to discuss Boris's ridiculous Covid announcement- the best/worst Quarantine shows such as Tiger King, Too Hot Too Handle & Crash Landing On You.
Episode 16: BangBangCon: Barefoot & Pregnant
Special guests Shari from Inseoulable, Immy from DaebakKpopwithIMMY & Tasha discuss GOT7's new album - BangBangCon the BTS online concert- play a hilarious game of snog, marry avoid. Disclaimer - Jonghyun is mentioned in the episode. Please know that the three of us love and respect the deceased and nothing is meant with ill will.
Episode 15: Ticketmaster is trash, Harry Potter memories & Solar is coming
Topics of the weeks: Ticketmaster is trying to steal our money - Harry Potter memories - Bang Bang Con, the online BTS concert is coming - GOT7 comeback trailer - Solar from Mamamoo's solo project is coming - TXT is proving that the dreams of fanboys can come true
Episode 14: Itaewon Class Review
Topics of the week: Vera from the Hear The Noise podcast is back with Tasha to talk about life before Coronavirus - How we got into K-dramas - Reviewing how Itaewon Class handled issues of racism, transgender rights, and dysfunctional love.
Episode 13: Love Is Blind
Topics of the week: Host TashaSampa & guest Zee (host of Hear The Noise Pod) discuss Love Is Blind
Episode 12: Buzzfeed: Map Of The Soul:7 Listening Party
Topics of the week- We are celebrating the release of BTS's new album - BTS on Jimmy Fallon' s Late Show - Storytime: The BuzzfeedUK Map of the Soul:7 Listening Party
Episode 11: Golliwogs at the dinner table
Topics of the week: Parasite (spoilers from 1:00 -6:00) - Love Island - Katy Perry is British Asian- How We Got Into Kpop - BTS's Ego & Black Swan performance- Story time: Golliwogs at the dinner table
Episode 10: OscarSoWhite 2.0, Love Island & Chen from EXO getting married isn’t anti- feminist
Topics of the week: Chen is getting married - Connect BTS, BTS army enlistment plans - Parasite - Oscars So White AGAIN - Harry & Meghan- Love Island
Episode 9: Meghan & Harry escaping the Royal Family, Wiley v Stormzy and BTS are back!
Topics of the week- Ivy Park Advert - WWIII - Golden Globes - BAFTAS So White- Wiley v Stormzy - Meghan and Harry are leaving Royal Family- BTS's comeback schedule and Shadow Interlude - Kpop ticket prices
Episode 8| B2k Baby Mama Drama, Gabrielle Union Fired from AGT & BTS at MMA and MAMA
Topics this week: B2K Baby Mama Drama - Gabrielle Union Fired from AGT - George Zimmerman suing Travvyon Martin's family - BTS MMA performance - Review of MAMA - Suga & Halsey collaboration
Episode 7|T.I at the Red Table Talk, Grammy Snubs & BigHit Won’t Sub
Topics this week: T.I on Red Table Talk- The Grammys Snub BTS - BTS's wins at the AMAs- Big Hit won't give fans subtitles for paid content- Goo Hara's death- Game: Which video do you prefer
Episode 6|Amber Liu defends police brutality, BT21 Pop Up Pre launch, Mamamoo’s comeback
Topics of the week: Amber Liu defends police brutality - Story time: My exclusive look at BT21 Pop Up Pre launch - Mamamoo's comeback
Ep 5| T.I’s annual hymen check-up, American Son & Simon Cowell trying to rival kpop with UK-pop
Topics this week: Reviewing American Son- The Tories crap comments on Grenfell - Simon Cowell trying to rival kpop with UK-pop - Jungkook car accident - T.I's annual hymen check Shownu's nudes - Hyuna & Dawn's comeback - GOT7's Comebacks
Episode 4| The Neighbour From Hell Towed Our Car & Wonho leaves Monsta X
Topics this week: Wonho leaves Monsta X - Shownu's alleged affair with a married woman- How I got into BTS - Storytime when the Neighbour from Hell Tolled Our Car
Episode 3| GOT7 Concert Recap
This is a special episode where host TashaSampa and guest Nymeria recap the joy of seeing Kpop group GOT7 live in concert
Episode 2| Tyler Perry’s Studios, The Black Magic Awards & are SuperM really the Avengers of Kpop
Apologies for the sound quality this week. We had serious technical issues but we didn't want to lose the episode. Topics this week: Tyler Perry's Studios- The Black Magic Awards - SuperM debut - Ateez comeback - Snog, Marry, Avoid Kpop edition
Episode 1. Was J-Hope culturally appropriating and BTS are facing xenophobia again!
Topics this week: Will Smith releasing a Fresh Prince inspired clothing line - J-Hope' song Chicken Noodle Soup - The Hollywood Reporter's xenophobic article about BTS - Comeback season for many Kpop groups - Avoid Blackface during Halloween
