Everything and Nothing at Once: A Black Man’s Reimagined Soundtrack for the Future

Leon, a performer, storyteller, and creative director at the New York Times’s T Brand Studio, pens a debut collection of essays exploring what it means to be a Black man in the contemporary United States. Offering a vibrant audio narration of his own book, Leon walks listeners through a series of encounters that describe his years growing up in the Bronx, juxtaposing these with his life as a single father to two daughters. He makes a case for his audience (particularly Black men) to seek out an abolitionist mindset and destroy oppressive systems in order to develop healthy relationships to Black masculinity. Leon also urges listeners to reflect on the harm caused by not unpacking one’s personal traumas. He notes that taking risks in this arena can help people reimagine their lives, find a blueprint for living more simply, and recognize the joy within friendships, community, and vulnerability. Leon’s stream-of-consciousness writing style is complemented by his rhythmic, animated audiobook performance, conveying the energy of rap with an affecting poetic cadence.