Media Girlfriends is an award-winning production company led by journalists of colour — co-founders Nana aba Duncan, Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung.

The company began in 2016 as a podcast created by Nana aba, who interviewed her friends working in news media about their lives, accomplishments, feelings of inadequacy, money anxiety, intersectionality, Beyoncé’s work ethic and what it’s like to navigate Canada’s journalism industry.⁣⁣ It’s since been incorporated into an award-winning production and consulting company that aims for joyful creativity and to honour historically misrepresented voices through audio storytelling done with care. 

Media Girlfriends’ debut show Strong and Free/Fort et Libre is a Black history podcast and video series for Historica Canada. The series was recognized by the Black Podcasting Awards, the RTDNA Canada Awards, the Digital Publishing Award and the Canadian Online Publishing Awards. Other Media Girlfriends shows include Humans of The House, Signal For Help, which Nana aba hosts, and Between Us with Wes Hall. 

We honour, respect and centre historically misrepresented voices through audio storytelling done with care. We aim for joyful creativity.

Our core talent represents over half a century of award-winning journalism and storytelling experience with the CBC, The Globe and Mail, Hot Docs, The Walrus Lab, Huffington Post, MuchMusic, RBC, Historica Canada and more. We’ve taught at universities including the University of Western Ontario, the University of British Columbia, and Carleton University’s School of Journalism. We’ve led workshops for leading organizations like Hot Docs Podcast Festival, the Rotman School of Management, Artscape Launchpad, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Toronto International Film Festival, among others.

Media Girlfriends worked with Historica Canada to produce Strong and Free, or Fort et Libre in French, a Black history podcast and video series. Led by Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung, the series features pioneers including Black abolitionist Mary Ann Shadd, the first woman newspaper publisher in North America. Available now.

Garvia Bailey, Hannah Sung, and Nana aba Duncan

OUR TEAM

PODCASTS

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

WHO WE’VE WORKED WITH

  • The Globe and Mail
  • Toronto Public Library
  • Spotify
  • The Walrus Lab
  • CBC
  • Fidelity Investments
  • AGO Art Gallery of Ontario
  • TVO
  • Historica Canada
  • Pacific Content
  • Antica
  • Mount Sinai Hospital
  • RBC
  • Hot Docs
  • TIFF
  • Jazz FM91
  • Institute for Canadian Citizenship

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

TESTIMONIALS

  • “One of the most exciting additions to the Canadian media landscape and deeply engaged with the most important cultural conversations in the world today.”

    — Will Di Novi, Hot Docs

  • “If you started a church, I would join it. I need y'all in my life every week!”

    — Workshop participant

  • “Media Girlfriends are the best. They recently gave one of the most compelling speaker series we've held. The conversation and debate that resulted was game changing for the industry.”

    — Jane Zumwalt, Spotify U.S.

  • “We went looking for a company that would bring passion, professionalism and polish to telling the stories of Canadians of different backgrounds. We found Media Girlfriends and could not be more satisfied with the process and results. First-rate – and they can do it all.”

    — Anthony Wilson-Smith, Historica Canada

  • “Media Girlfriends share an expertise that comes from decades of reporting, producing, interviewing, scripting and hosting. Add their creative flair, boundless curiosity and deep sense of humanity and you are guaranteed a compelling podcast. And did I mention how fun they are to work with?”

    — Anna Maria Tremonti, broadcast journalist

  • “I wanted to share that it was incredibly affirming to see and hear your processes and know that there are others who are creating work in these ways who are also doing it big! Y’all are geniuses!!”

    — Hot Docs workshop participant

  • “Hannah Sung is a brilliant producer. She creates engaging and meaningful journalism, even on the most sensitive and complex subject. I look forward to the day I can work with her again.”

    — Shannon Busta, Opinion Audio, New York Times

  • “Garvia is one of the most thoughtful, nuanced and exciting interviewers I've worked with. She makes every story she unpacks both relatable and thrilling, and does it with unparalleled charisma.”

    — Natalie Kertes, Toronto Public Library Cultural & Special Events

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