Janae Pierre is an award-winning journalist from New Orleans, Louisiana, with over 15 years of experience covering music, culture, and politics. Known for her laid-back style and thoughtful conversations, Janae draws listeners in with curiosity-driven discussions that aim to inform, engage, and entertain.

 

Over the years, she’s sat down with a wide range of creatives and changemakers. Some memorable conversations include Grammy Award–winning artist PJ Morton, who spoke with Janae about his album Gumbo and his performance at the Essence Music Festival, and New Orleans funk master and pianist Jon Cleary, who shared stories about his album Go Go Juice, his love for the city, and more.

 

One of Janae’s most meaningful interviews was with legendary poet, professor, and activist Nikki Giovanni. Just months before her passing, Janae met with Giovanni over Zoom to discuss her documentary Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project. Their conversation touched on the legacy of Black storytelling, gospel music, what Giovanni called “original libraries,” and her push to get more Black women involved in space travel.

 

Janae currently hosts NYC Now, a daily podcast covering the latest local news from across New York City and the surrounding region. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.